Willkommen

I am coming out of a travel and pastry withdrawal haze.  You know the sensation where you are swimming under water and when open your eyes everything is sort of blue and wavy, and it's a bit disorienting?  That's how I felt all day yesterday after arriving home the night before.  But today I feel more human and ready to tackle some pictures.

The friends that we stayed with in Hamburg lived in a cozy apartment overlooking the most beautiful (and tidy) gardens.  I peeked out the window in the morning to see the neighbor below giving a morning welcome with a colorful array of sheets drying in the breeze.  I was enchanted.

We were treated to a German breakfast of ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella sprinkled with herbs, crispy, sliced cucumbers, scrambled eggs, and fresh pastries from the bakery. And the company of best friends that we hadn't seen in too long. It was a perfectly gorgeous start to our vacation.

  

We took the train into downtown Hamburg and spent the day walking around, taking pictures, drinking coffee, and sampling any bakery that we passed (which would turn out to be a recurring theme).

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany.  Much of the city was devastated during the bombings in the second World War, and by a fire resulting from the Allied "firebombing".  My great-grandparents on my mother's side immigrated out of Hamburg in 1902.  So I felt like the city held a bit of my history as well.

 Welcome to Germany.

Germany!

I've been so quiet lately because we are getting ready to leave for Germany tomorrow!  It's amazing how many people start sprouting the German that they know when they find out that you are going overseas.  My German is a little sparse.  I can say "I love you", a swear word, "No" and "Forbidden".  Most of which I learned from World War 2 movies.  I'm guessing that if I love you doesn't work, then one of the other words might be appropriate.  I believe in balance after all. 

Hopefully I will be back in June with stories and PICTURES!

Grammys and Cellos

My mom's coming today and we are so excited!  My grandparents used to come and visit us every year when we were growing up.  They would often arrive with presents from their travels, new puzzles to do together and slight-of-hand tricks.  We would get so excited, and eagerly wait for weeks in anticipation of their visits.  My brother and sister and I would even call a truce and suspend all of the hair pulling, fighting, and otherwise scallywaggish behavior in order to not spoil the event. 

Aidan and Chloe have cleaned up their rooms, argued over whose bed she was sleeping in, and Chloe made a huge welcome banner that is face high as you walk into her room.  (It's been up for days, and we have to duck everytime we walk in and out of her bedroom-which is frequent as we fulfill all of her nightly requests!)  Now every other sentence is punctuated with "I can't believe Grammy is almost here!".  My dad was unable to travel in the last few years, so now my mom is making up for lost time by scooting around the country visiting her loads of grandchildren.

AND we only have a week and a half before we all head off together for a visit to Germany!!

Aidan had another cello event over the weekend-the Razzle Dazzle Benefit for Impact for Education.  (More to come after I get the sweet husband to help me get video off my cell phone.)

Most of our yard is filled with weeds.  Which is an improvement on the bare dirt that it was when we moved in.  Little bits at a time we are reclaiming the space into what we imagine it should look like.  Some of the projects have gone slightly awry like the one where I sprinkled wild grass seeds that I had collected around the path to the stone patio area.  I was imagining tall grass growing on the side of the path in a sort of wild English garden look.  Well, it is definitely a wild sort of look now; and I'm not sure how to tame it.  It has turned into a raging beast with a mind of it's own on a quest to take over the world.

My newest idea was to install a white picket fence to create a little area near the house where we could plant some grass.  Then I had the brilliant idea to mix the grass seed with an abundance of crimson clover.  I'm aware that there are those who consider clover a weed.  I am not among them.  I love clover.  And it feeds my need for instant gratification and immediate results.  Plus it's good for the soil, and the bees.  And it's green. 

Sweetness at the Bottom of a Pie

I had a conversation with a newish friend recently who asked me what I liked to photograph.  I sheepishly admitted that I liked old, rusty, metal things.  Now, not everybody shares my affinity, so I was getting ready to defend my position when she unloaded on me with excitement.  It was the perfect Me Too moment.  But I should have known since her name is Esther too.  Although she's much taller than me, talks with a Scottish accent and sings with haunting gypsy vibe.  But we're both married to a man named Chris/Kris...crazy, huh?  Anyway, she gets finder's credit for these pictures. 

I received several curious looks while I was out this morning taking pictures of an old wheel, because this is the location that I was at.  But sometimes beautiful things are found in the ditches as well; you just have to be looking.

I had my new super cute camera bag with me that doesn't look at all like a camera bag-more like a stylish purse. But since I was dressed like I was going to be wading through weeds while carrying a Kelly Moore bag, I did look sort of odd. But that's nothing new, really.  Fortunately I have no problems waving my freak flag high.

One more picture because it's the first of May and the flowers are blooming!

Oh, and check out the other Esther's art here which is kind of like old rusty metal in a vocal form.  Because awesome things need to be shared.

Chickens

It's that time again for a chicken update.  All of the little chicks are growing up, and the ones that we have been fostering for friends have moved on to their own places.  Well, except for one.  Because I am almost 100% certain that she is not a she.  Her name was Rosie, but we are now calling her Rosie Roosevelt Roy just to have all of our bases covered.  And now is the perfect time for us to prove exactly how hardcore of homesteaders we are and prepare the stew pot.  Yeah, that's not gonna happen.  She will probably be pawned off on a friend who has more moxie than I do in that area; and all the children involved will be told that she went to a happy place. 

Is there any doubt?  Doesn't she look rather Roosterish?

Aidan's sweet little lady, Jojo

Chloe's pretty girl, Cinnamon Bun

Once again, Aidan and Chloe's chickens are the best of friends. This time though, in direct contrast to our older hens, Aidan's chicken is the feisty, brave one, and Cinnamon Bun is the calm, laid back follower. (Although she looks like some kind of fierce hawk like creature)

Rosie has been guarding the young chicks fiercely until the other night when she abandoned the young ones to nestle up in the nesting box with the big girls. She/he had a smug look of satisfaction being surrounded by all the fluffy hens.

More Babies

I had the privilege recently of photographing a friend's brand new treasure.  He is the sweetest little peanut, and still in that perfect, snuggly, sack of beans stage.  And no, it didn't make me want one...  not really anyway. I'm super happy that my little ones can feed themselves, and clean up their own messes.  And tuck me in bed when I have a headache.

(Isn't he gorgeous?!)

(It's my personal opinion that wee little baby feet are possibly one of the cutest things ever. )