Down East

Just to let you know, I'll be mostly incommunicado for a week--in Maine at the inlaw's, celebrating their 60th anniversary. My husband's folks live right on the coast, and last night we spotted seals out in Frenchman's bay, sunning on a rock. One of these days when the sun peeks out, we'll take turns paddling their kayak around in front of the house. It's only a short drive to Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert island. Definitely my kind of terrain!

And my mother-in-law is a gourmet cook. She insists on stuffing us with fresh-picked crab, scallops the size of silver dollars, blueberries, rhubarb crisp, and countless other treats. If I don't gain a million pounds this week, it'll be a miracle. That's why I'm trying to walk a lot--last night, David, Jeff and I pounded the back roads and ended up putting in 6 miles.

I'll blog next from Oregon, Anna and I fly there on the 24th. Have a great week!

I Know I've Lived In Germany For Awhile When...

*My child says, "Let's skip the castle. Can we go to the park instead?"

*Apple juice and other drinks taste better without ice.

*Listening to the latest Stau report on the radio, I can't remember the American word for Stau (traffic jam).

*I wait to mow the lawn until afternoon quiet hours are done.

*It isn't incongruous to see an eighty year old woman with perfectly styled hair, fancy blouse, and skirt riding a bicycle down the cobblestones (dangling her Sunday purse on the handlebars).

*The local cult of Spargel-adoration doesn't seem quite as silly anymore. In fact, it's kind of endearing.

Spargel = white asparagus, or as I call it, albino asparagus.


Photo is of David and Anna in the nearby town of Schwetzingen, where this sculpture honors the region's spargel crop .

How do you know you've lived somewhere (whether Germany or otherwise) for awhile?

African Children's Choir

Africa's children are the hope for the future. Good reminder that even little kids can make a difference.

Plus, I love their singing! (no, I'm not biased, why would you say that?)

Murphy Monday

Here's the Murphster...in his favorite location, sniffing after mice and other creatures out in the farm fields around us.

Lately, Murphy's been getting carried away with his herding instincts--barking whenever the phone rings, until I go answer it--problem is, he also tries to nip at my heels on the way to the phone. Any ideas for breaking him of these bad habits? I plan to check out "The Dog Whisperer" book for additional insights.

Why do I feel as if I'm raising a toddler all over again??