A little catching up

I have a huge list of post ideas. Huge. I wonder why I don't post more often?

Anyways, here's a little catch up post. We went on vacation in September. 3 weeks after we moved, we left for 2 1/2 weeks. It was great to leave all the boxes behind.

and live out of a suitcase.

We went to the US (of course), starting off our holiday with a few days at my aunt's house in Glenwood, Maryland. She lives very close to Washington, DC, so we spent the day in the nation's capital. We took a bus tour - the kind where you can get on and off the bus at your own pace in any number of different spots. It even had an open top, so you could really see the sites!

The Capital Building

The Washington Monument (it's not crooked in real life. I'm the crooked one.)

reflection of the Washington monument in the Vietnam War Memorial

a squirrel taking a drink on the mall (near the war memorials)

We had a really good time there, and it was even better to get to see my aunt (she's a great cook and host!) and most of her family again. It's been too many years to count since I've seen them.

We did a lot of things this vacation, but it seemed very relaxed.

The Kinzua Bridge

Hills Creek State Park (the fall colors were fabulous this year!!)

punkins punkins everywhere!

Chilly at Cinco C's Alpacas

Alpaca yarn from Cinco C's

The yarn above is SO soft and SO yummy and SO luscious. It's the first time I've ever worked with alpaca (I think?), and I am hooked. I wish there was an alpaca farm near me here that I could go visit. And volunteer! Just so I can be near this yummylicious yarn.  

I've made mittens from that yarn, by the way. I'll save that for another post.

Another post idea on the list. Let's hope I show it to you!

xxx

Vacation Part III: Pittsburgh

We’ve been home over a week, and it feels like we weren’t gone at all.

We’re getting back into real life here finally. Ludi is back to work, and I am back to my FUNemployment. That vacation-state-of-mind is fading. So sad to see that go. But life has to keep moving forward, right? We can’t forget about our responsibilities forever. As much as we’d like to never vacuum again, the dust bunnies would eventually take over.

I keep sitting down to write the post about our Pittsburgh part of our vacation, but the words aren’t coming. Writer’s block. I wanted to do a whole post about it, like the other part, but perhaps that’s not needed. I’ll just say a few words here. And some pictures! Of course.

There’s always pictures.

Every time we’re in The States we go to Pittsburgh, PA. I lived there for 16 years after college, so it’s a given that we’d visit.  We (my mom, sister and I) love the shopping opportunities there. Target, Michael’s, Joann’s...

This year visited Heinz Field, where the (American) football teams Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Panthers (University of Pittsburgh’s team) play. I hadn’t ever been there, but as you know, I always support ‘dem Stillers.

 

Gate A of Heinz Field - the backside of the score board

 

view from the cheap seats - though a view worth it's weight in gold

the bounce house

They designed the stadium's upper deck with shock absorbers (the yellow things in the picture above). When all the fans are jumping up and down after a touchdown, then the shock absorbers help keep it from collapsing.

Glad they thought of that.

It was an interesting tour, and it looks like a very nice stadium to watch a live football game. After the tour, we bought some Terrible Towels in the gift shop. Double Yoi!!! Bring on the next Superbowl, we’re ready!  Now if the NFL would settle their differences so we can have a season in September...

Another tradition when we go to Pittsburgh is a visit with my friends from my old place of work. We arranged an after work dinner at a local spot and had some good laughs. I meant to get a picture of us all, but we were having such a good time I forgot all about it until everyone was in their cars driving away. Darnit. Next time, someone remind me please?

On our way home we stopped at the outlet mall in Grove City. What a huge place. But it’s got everything! We even found the bread Ludi loves in the Pepperidge Farm shop they have there. Amazing. It wasn’t a great day for outdoor shopping though. We got rained on twice. But it was fun anyways. Shopping is always fun, right?

I always enjoy my trips to Pittsburgh. There’s always something else to do, things that I never did while I lived there. I hope there are many more trips to Pittsburgh in the future.


xxx

Vacation Part IV: Home again

We got back home this past weekend. Back home in The Netherlands, that is. The trip back was a bit of a problem. We were delayed by almost 4 hours (3 of them after we were already ON the plane). I was very glad at the end of the flight to be on land. Any land. Anywhere besides on that plane.

It’s been difficult to adjust to European time. I have to think twice about what day it is. I’m still suffering from jet lag, I guess. I never really noticed/suffered from jet lag before. Perhaps it’s my age? Does everything have to fall apart after 40? Sheesh. I’ll eventually get back into the swing of things. Back to a regular schedule.

Back to reality. Bleh.

It’s overrated.

All in all, we had a very nice vacation. It had all the elements required. Long and tiring travel, getting rained on, spending time with family and good friends, cook-outs, beach time (very small beach, but sandy none-the-less), experiencing local wildlife, over eating, bug bites.

What more could you ask for in a vacation?

I promise info on the Pittsburgh portion of our vacation will show up soon. I haven’t forgotten about it!


xxx

Vacation Part II: Karen's Visit to Potter County

The first week of vacation was great. I forget how quiet it is here. Other than the peepers, it’s mostly silent.

Fantastically silent.

I so don’t miss my neighbors. Or city noise.

My friend Karen (and her husband and daughter) came up to our neck of the woods to visit over the first weekend of our vacation. We had a great time! She stayed at a local camping grounds, Potter County Family Camping. They are experienced campers, having done it for a few summers now, but this is the first time they came to North Central PA. Since the weather was a little iffy (likelihood of rain), they decided to rent a cabin instead of take a chance with their tent. It was the cutest little cabin.

Too bad I didn’t get a picture while it was light out?

It was just one room (sleeps 4 probably) with a little porch. There was a picnic table and a firepit, of course. The other cabins around them were empty (pre-holiday weekend). It felt like we had the whole campgrounds to ourselves!

Mountain pie and roasting a weenie over the campfire

We sat around the campfire for dinner, making mountain pies and then dessert - S’MORES!!! You have to have s’mores when you camp. It’s some sort of law I think? At least with us it is. It was Ludi’s First Official Marshmallow Roasting.

graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallowy goodness

After we ate we took a short walk around the campgrounds, and then came back and sat around the campfire until it was just embers.

hypnotic campfire

My clothes still smelled of campfire days later, but it was worth it. I love sitting around a campfire. There’s something about staring into the fire, listening to the great outdoors outside your circle of light, and fighting the smoke column that makes your eyes water and lungs burn. Nothin’ better.

Earlier that afternoon we visited the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. If you are ever in the area, I do recommend a visit here. When the region was first settled, since it was so thick with forest, they naturally turned to logging. This museum has all sorts of lumbering memorabelia and even a logging locomotive on display. And very very nice people working there too.

engine number 4

house for engine number 4

It looks like it's snowing, but that was fluffy stuff from the trees (no idea what kind of tree). It was everywhere! You couldn't take a deep breath without inhaling some of it.

logging pond

mess hall stove

I can't imagine cooking up a meal for anyone on that, let alone dozens of hungry woodhicks.

Saturday we all went to The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. We stopped first at Leonard Harrison State Park, where they have a fantastic lookout.

definitely grand

Down at the bottom of the canyon, there is a trail that follows along Pine Creek. It used to be a railroad, but they’ve taken out the rails and left it groomed for bikers and hikers. The entire trail is over 60 miles long, and starts near the Grand Canyon. Since it’s flat, we thought we’d give it a shot and do some biking on there. Certainly not the entire way, but just a little ways.

early in the trip, when we still had energy

Karen and her family brought their own bikes, but my sister, Ludi and I rented some from Pine Creek Outfitters. They aren’t right next to the trail, but they shuttle your rented bikes to the trail for you! How cool is that?

We (I?) still over estimated how far we could ride. We ended up going over 16 miles total.

16 miles.

25.7 kilometers

84, 480 feet.

It was way too far. Times two. We were hurting by the end. (At least I was!) That’s why there’s no pictures after about a quarter of the way. It was all I could manage to stay on the bike. On the way back I had to walk about half of it.

Now I know.

But in the end, now that it doesn’t hurt to sit anymore, I can say we had a good time. We made a lot of good memories, so it was worth it. We got rained on twice, swallowed bugs, ate our lunch at the ladies “Comfort Station” (fancy name for the bathroom) and spent time with good friends.

Well worth the effort.

Stay tuned for a post of our visit to Pittsburgh!


xxx

Vacation 2011

We’re on vacaaaaaayshun... we’re on vacaaaaaayshun! Yay!

I wasn’t sure about posting the fact that we’re on a trip in my blog. I mean, I hear/read stories about people who post stuff like that online, and when they get home their entire house has been emptied of it’s contents. But not enough people read my blog right now to worry about it. Plus, I think the ones who read it are not even on the same continent as where I live so it’s even less of a chance of happening. Right? eeks, I hope so!

Vacation is great (it started a little iffy - the airline/airport lost our luggage! But we got it that same night, so no harm, no foul.). It is so great to be back home. I finally get to see Mom’s new floor in person! She took up the decades old carpet in the living room and the same age vinyl in the kitchen and replaced it with a hardwood look-a-like, and it’s fabulous!

Brazilian Cherry

I’m scared of scratching/scuffing it, but it looks great! It makes me want some in my apartment too!

I’m also doing more crafty stuff here. I don’t have a sewing machine at home, so I am taking advantage of the one here and making some quilted coasters (pattern found at MarthaStewart.com, of course!).

quick and easy and fun to make! 

 

There is a quilt/fabric shop in town, and we went there to get some supplies for my crafty endeavors. I was drooling over the fabric, and also their quilting machine. A long arm quilter. Oh. My. Gosh. I wish I could move back to here just so I can get to use this machine. I’m going to try to go back there and take some pictures for my reader(s), and hopefully see it in action!

oooh, I hope that happens. *hyperventilate*

We’ve done some shopping, some cooking on the grill, some visiting... and also watching it rain. It hasn’t really stopped since we got here. And it’s showing no signs of stopping, unfortunately.

Who needs sun, right? It just gives you sunburns and wrinkles.

It’s been the wettest year ever here, I think. In our region anyways. In the mid-south (Texas) they’re having extreme droughts. It’s strange that their neighbors, in the Missisippi Valley, they’re having the worst flooding they’ve had in years. Can’t they just ship a little of their water to Texas, and then everyone would be happy? Hook up a hose or something? Sump pump?

No? Not possible you say? Oh well, I tried.

It’s also very very dry in Europe. Go Go Global Warming.

This weekend a friend is coming up to camp and see the PA Grand Canyon. I hope it’s not too wet to enjoy! It will be a good time anyways, showing someone around my home town and the surrounding area.

In a few days we are traveling to Pittsburgh to visit the city where I lived for 16 years before moving to The Netherlands. It’ll be nice to be back in the Burgh again, and I’ll get to see friends there too. That’s always a good time! Really looking forward to it.

I hope the weather is more friendly where you are. I’ll see you soon!



xxx



NOTE: I still would like to know if you read my blog! If you could leave a comment, that would be fantastic. I’m trying to see if this is worth doing, or if I should just do a letter to my Mom each week. Let me know you stopped by, and what else you’d like to see here!  Thanks!!!

Countdown to Vacation

Gees Louise, time flies doesn’t it?

It’s already just two weeks until our vacation. Two and a half weeks back home in the States. yeehaw!!! It seems like we just bought our plane tickets! Well, we did buy them late this time, but we have had them for a few months I think. But still... it got here so fast!

And I can’t believe April is over already. I’ve been FUNemployed for a month now. Though it hasn’t been much fun, really. Some has been. Knitting all the time, sleeping in, staying in jammies all day just cuz I can. That’s been fun. Ooh, and I DID get to watch The Royal Wedding live on Friday (William and Kate).

Has anyone else had enough of Royal Wedding Madness? I’ve noticed that almost every headline I see is about this wedding. It was a beautiful event, and very touching when he whispered “you look beautiful” to his bride at the alter. But I’m over it now.

It’s also been stressful worrying about money and of course the inevitable depression thinking I’ll never find a job here, feeling like I don’t know enough Dutch yet and that no one wants me

everyone hates me


guess I’ll go eat worms.



Anyways, it’s been a fast month. I hope my time in the States doesn’t go as fast, but vacations always do. Even faster than your regular ol' time-flies-when-you’re-having-fun times. We have a lot planned, packing as much FUN into it as humanly possible! We’re both really looking forward to it.


Now if I could just get someone else to pack for me.


And somehow get upgraded to first-class on the plane.



xxx

It feels like Friday.

But it's Wednesday!

I suppose it is because I am now on vacation. yay! Well, just a little one. The company I work for is on The Netherlands' version of Spring Break now. Normally the office people (I am one of the Office People) would stay there and continue working while the students are off. But this time the big boss said we were all off.

YES SIR! He didn't need to tell us twice!

Well, actually he did, because we weren't sure we understood correctly. But we did, and we're now off. For a week and a half. About. My next day back is March 15th. NICE.

I'm going to enjoy it, I think! I have plans. I am going to do some spring cleaning. The kitchen and bathroom really need a deep cleaning. Wouldn't it be great if the weather would cooperate and it would get a little bit warm, so I could open the windows and get some fresh air in? I'm pretty sure I won't be quite that lucky. Just some sun will be enough!

I also plan to do some hooking. Of course. Oh, and I have a new hobby/addiction:

my first knitting stitches 

I've been wanting to learn how to knit for a while now, ever since I started hooking. I decided this was the year to learn it. I've started my first project too! I'll take some photos when the sun comes out and show you.

It was only a matter of time, right? Before I made the jump from crochet to knitting? And then the jump to a yarn stash so big I could open my own shop.

hee hee, just kidding, Ludi.



or am I??????


xxx

Germany Trip: Part 2

Hello again! How have you all been doing? I hope everyone is well! We're good here. I'm enjoying another one of MY Days. Yesterday, May 13th, was a holiday here for most folks. It's called Hemelvaart here, and in English it's Ascension. And it's a national holiday here. Go figure! Since it's always on a Thursday, we (well, some of us) get the Friday after it off too. That sounds okay to me!

I've been putzing around, doing a little cleaning, a little hooking (crochet, folks! Crochet!!!),  and a little websurfing. I'm looking for yarns for my Next Big Project. I can't find exactly what I'm looking for but I'm sure whatever I do find will work well enough. All in all I'm just enjoying my MY Day. This might be the last one for a while. Work has approved me to do some more hours. Yippee! I was enjoying my free time, but I can't do that forever, right? Reality has to come around sooner or later.

Hmm...I haven't done that second post of our Germany trip pictures, have I? Well, goodness, I'm a slacker. Let's get that taken care of right now, shall we?

On the last day of our trip, we wanted to do something a little lighter than what we had done the previous days (visiting concentration camps). So we went to visit the town of Weimer. Here are some facts about the town:

• It's a very old town. Oldest records date back to 899.
• It was the capital of Germany before WWII.
• Weimer (along with Dessau) was the center of the Bauhaus movement

We walked through the city center, mainly. We saw the palace of Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. 

palace gates

Take note of the floor under the arch...

it's wood!

Bet you never woulda guessed that, huh? Me neither! From a distance, it looks like normal bricks, but up close, you can see the growth rings. I have no idea why anyone would use wood there. Can anyone enlighten me?

Behind the palace was a bridge over a little river.

you can see the palace on the left

At the end of the bridge were stairs leading down to the path beside the river. But under the bridge, in the 3rd and last arch, there was a little doorway. You can sort of see it in the above picture.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes," 

by Marcel Proust (a French novelist). 

You can see the stairs leading into the bridge. They lead into the right hand side oval cut out (seen in the picture of the whole bridge). I was feeling adventurous, so I climbed up.

the cute couple

It didn't really give me a new perspective on things (like the quote might suggest), but it did give us a cute picture. I love the view over our shoulders, the other side of the river.

Just off the palace grounds is the city park. This is where Goethe's garden house was. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but it was decorated to look almost the same as it was when he lived there.

early spring at Goethe's Garden House

It looks a little plain now, but I imagine in the summer when all the flowers are blooming it's a beautiful spot. Especially if some sort of climbing flower grows up all the sides of the house (as the lattice everywhere indicates).

anemone - ground cover throughout the park

It was a nice day in Weimer. And a good way to end the trip to Germany.


xxx

Germany Trip: Part 1

If you're wondering why I hadn't posted in so long, it's because we were on vacation last week. We took a trip to Germany with Ludi's parents and another couple who are friends of Ludi's parents.

It was not entirely a pleasure trip. You see, Ludi's grandfather (his dad's father) was a victim of WWII. He died in one of the concentration camps. During the war, after the German occupation of The Netherlands, Ludi's grandfather went to work for the Germans at an airport/plane factory near home. We will never know if he went voluntarily (because he needed the money for his family) or if he was recruited by the Germans. By "recruited" I mean he was more than likely forced. After being transferred a few times, he eventually ended up at Mittelbau-Dora camp (concentration camp). This is the place that the Germans set up a V2 airplane bomb factory in tunnels in the mountains. And that is where Ludi's grandfather was basically worked to death. He died there and was cremated there. His ashes were most likely dumped on the hillside next to the crematorium.

Mittelbau-Dora memorial (crematorium in the background)

There are a few other camps in the area that Ludi's grandfather was sent to. The first one he was sent to was probably Buchenwald.

 Buchenwald Memorial

There they had a quarantine area for new prisoners (to try to prevent the spread of diseases), so that was where most prisoners get sent to first before being transferred again. Ludi's grandfather was sent then to Dora to work in the tunnels (the bomb factory). When he was too weak/sick to work anymore, he was sent to another camp (Ellrich). It was basically a death camp, where prisoners were sent to die when they were no longer useful because of being too weak or too ill.

Ellrich Memorial (crematorium spot in the background)

This is probably where Ludi's grandfather died. At the time, there was no crematorium. All of their dead were sent back to Dora for burning. (The crematorium was built at Ellrich about 6 months after his death.)

Every year (I believe) the camps have memorial services on the date of their liberation by the Allied Forces. Every few years, Ludi's family goes to these services. It was the first year for me. I knew before hand that it wouldn't be a fantastic fun happy time. I thought it would be sad. Depressing. Haunting. Well, it was all of those. It also made me really angry to see first hand how these people were treated. How could a human being treat another human being so? It is beyond comprehension. The terrible conditions. The awful, purely evil things the German army did. Not just to Jewish, either. Because Ludi's grandfather wasn't Jewish. He just had seen too much for the Germans to let him go free.

In America, we didn't feel the same ... (searching for a word) ... torture about these events. It was so far away, and so long ago. 65 years ago now, basically. But here in Europe, where they experienced it first hand, they remember it like it was yesterday. I used to think "Oh, it was so long ago, can't we try to let it go?" I have since changed my mind about that. 65 years is not long enough to heal that wound.

Not enough by a long shot.

More information about the camps we visited can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mittelbau-Dora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchenwald

I'll make another post about our Germany trip, a more pleasant one. To leave you with a little more positive picture, these flowers were growing all over the place. I don't know what they are, but they sure are pretty. They're short, kind of like ground cover. Anyone know what they are?

Happy blue flower in a sad sad place

See you again soon.


xxx