Merry Christmas

It was a very merry Christmas. The weather in South Carolina has been quite variable in the last days, but on Christmas Day it was clear and bright, warm and pleasant.

On Christmas eve, Alan and I enjoyed time with my mom, sharing lunch and the afternoon with Doug and Devilla. We made butterscotch haystacks. Yum

Christmas Day we celebrated with Alan's family - first at his parents and then at Grandma Black's. It really was a lot of fun.

Now it is the 26th - Alan's mom's birthday. We slept in and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together (I made omelets). Then dad and I went for a walk and talk. Alan helped his dad with a few projects while his mom and I drank coffee and talked. It's been a quiet and relaxing day. I've even had time to blog (:



My favorite gift that I gave this year was seeds to Alan's dad. He is going to become a Master Gardener in 2009 and grow me some edamame. Thanks, Dad!

40 fabulous fun

I made it through my 30s. Whew! Those were tough years. My co-workers helped me celebrate Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon Alan took me, Wayne and Sarah to the NC Arboretum to ride off-road Segways.

The CateLawFirm

Here we are.

Happy Hubby

Fresh from the Congaree on September 20th:


Return trip to the headwaters of the Congaree, Oct 11th:


It's striper season, for sure. I really enjoy watching Alan fish. I enjoy it more when he catches something, especially something BIG!

The End of Summer is Near

Wow! Mid-September already. What have we done since Germany? A LOT of exciting things going on at NewSpring. Work Work Work for me. Alan finally got wise and kicked Nestle to the curb. Just not a match for him. So he is on sabbatical and we are EXCITED to see where he goes next, what God has for him that is a good fit for his skills and personality. I took a ChiWalking class, loved it, but took a ribbing from the family for finally learning how to walk. Alan and I went to The Sassy Goose for our 16th anniversary Sept 6th. It's a great B&B mini-resort in our favorite area - Cedar Mtn, NC. Spent a beautiful and restful weekend there. Clemson football season is on; 3 games in and my Tigers are just as mediocre as ever. Oh well.

So, life is good. Probably better than it's been in quite a while.

Thanks to the Zumpe family

July 4 cookout

Day 10 - Shopping in Bad Bergzabern

Day 9 Breakfast in France

OK this time we went to France on purpose, to have breakfast in a pastry shop.

Dinner in Gleiszellen

Day 8 - Resting in the Country House

Yes, we finally made it to Johannes' family's lovely vacation home in the Pfalz region. The house has two guest apartments, so we set up "central command" in Mother's second floor rooms, with the balcony.

The view East was simply magnificent. We did little to nothing all day, reading, napping, sunning on the back deck. It was wonderful just to be there.

Tour

The Tour de France is over, and my blog report on our tour of Germany is not finished. Creating a photo album for Mother of the trip was more important this month than blogging. But I'll do my best to finish up soon.

The Tour de France started on the day we returned from Europe. It is my favorite sporting event in July. Actually it is the ONLY sport I follow in July, since I could not possibly care less about baseball and it is the only sport on. Even my favorite ESPN shows are boring in July. But The Tour is on almost constantly, so long as you can get to Versus to see it.

I love coming home at lunch to watch cycling and many times was able to pick up after work right where I had left the broadcast. If I didn't catch the finish at lunch or dinner, I would try to stay awake until the 8-11 edition but invariably I'd fall asleep before the finish.

Of course it is too hot to exercise in South Carolina this time of year. So no walking or biking for me right now. The evenings don't cool off enough, even after dark. It's like being wrapped in a warm, damp blanket out there. I suppose early mornings are cool enough to walk, but I'm still struggling to get out of bed lately.

Day 7 - Tuesday July 1

I was fascinated by the architecture in Meerburg, which seemed both ancient and colorful, by the half-timber houses, especially this one built in the moat. Yes, the MOAT of a 7th century castle, complete with drawbridge, tower rooms, hunt room, armory, garden and cafe, of course.

The views of the Lake and of the local vineyards from the castle were spectacular.


From Meersburg we drove through the Black Forest, stopping at the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock so Mother could make a purchase. (Shipped home and arrived safely)

Our final adventure of the travel days was the GPS' fault. It tried to lead us on a shortcut through the corner of France, but there was no ferry when we got to the Rhine River. Next mistep was third right in the roundabout, which put us on a dirt road in a French cornfield. GPS recalculated and finally sent us back into Germany.

Day 6 - To the Bodensee

Our first stop on Monday was in Weis, literally in a cow pasture, the most beautiful Baroque church imaginable.

Mother, Emily and Vikki, looking their best.

After the church in Wies, we had lunch at a farmhouse cafe and then drove to Lindau harbor on Lake Constance (In Ger: Bodensee) for ice cream!





And on to the medieval city of Meersburg where we stayed at the Bear Hotel, seen here, and happened upon a concert in the town square by a local boys' music school that was hosting a band from Norway. Amazing sites and sounds.

Day 5 - Sunday

We started the day with a FABU brunch, then Peace Church where Emily delivered the message in a worship service that really spoke to my heart. Afternoon in the English Garden, kind of Munich's Central Park, at a biergarten picnicking with friends Claudia, Dirk, Toby & Lynette. Highlight this day for me was BIKING thru town. Johannes was my patient tour guide. After a nap, the four Grande Dames managed to stay awake to see the last soccer match. Unfortunately Germany lost to Spain in the finals of Euro2008.

Day 4

Saturday was for shopping in Munich; see the bags Mama and Vikki have with in bikerickshaw they took from Marienplatz back to Emily's apartment.


One highlight of this day was Happy Birthday sung to Mama by a marauding group of groomsmen. We saw three of these crowds - the first with soccerball hats playing games with the crowd in Marienplatz, and the second (with the BunnyEared groom) sang to us just outside St. Peter's church.

Germany - Friday night

What a DAY! I haven't laughed this much in a year. A few highlights, because I could never recall all the moments.

Emily and Johannes both had to work today so we were on our own. Late breakfast at the apt then Vikki and I walked to the center of the city. Four hours on our own with Mama alone in the apt, kind of trapped - across the river, by the museum, a few shops, the 'vi twa lian mart' (outdoor market), the marianplatz (town hall), then back to the house. A FUN route because I made the effort to orient myself so I could get to and from the city center.

Home to rest our feet until Johannes came in and took us to dinner outside of town in the lake district south of Munich where we caught a vista of the Alps for the first time. Breathtaking! He rented a Mercedes for a business trip tomorrow to Frankfurt and made it a two dramamine trip for Mama by speeding along curvy two lane roads, through tiny hamlets, and even on the autobahn at 100mph. Mom said she hoped to live to tell her friends about it.

We do a LOT of eating and then talking about what and where to eat next. I can't even describe the food I've eaten so far without pictures, but it has all been good.

Germany - Friday morning

It seems unreal that less than 3 days ago I was in Spartanburg until noon. We have traveled so far and done so much since then, it seems impossible that it is still the same week.

Thursday was a busy day for us. We slept in a bit (Mama and I are staying at the Holiday Inn just up from Emily's apt) but managed to meet Vikki and Emily just after 10:30 to take the S-ban train from the station under our hotel to the main station in Munich and then a 1.5 hr trip by train to Salzburg, Austria. The weather was overcast and pleasant for the day. First we enjoyed the Mirabell Gardens before
taking The Sound of Music bus tour of the sites around town used in the movie. A four hour tour (I just wanted to tzpe that because of the repetition) that ended at the main train station, where we made the most of a 30 minute delay by sharing the pictures on our cameras and modeling the scarfs and hats Em brought along for when it turned cooler, as it had by then.

Johannes picked us up at the train station in Munich in the Frog, their cute, all green VW Golf. And then straight to dinner at 9pm at the beerhall closest to their house. I had premium 'mac and cheese', enjoyed my second beer of the trip (a wheat with lemonade that Em traded me because it was better than the radler i had ordered. So far I've had a beer, an expresso, and a latte (milchkaffe) every day. I am eating a LOT, often, frequently, whenever offered, seen or even thought of. (:

Mama and I hit the bed at midnight and slept until 9:15. What a vacation!

Germany - Day 1

Did zou know the z is in the y's place on the keyboard in Germany? This is so confusing.

Completely uneventful flight from Charlotte over night on Tuesday. Didn't sleep much. Rested a bit at Emily's flat this morning while Mama slept. Then out for ice cream near Hofbrauhaus (I got a scoop of Leechee and of Eggnog), a short driving tour of the neighborhood, shopping in a children's shop
and an early evening meal at a sidewalk cafe. Then Johannes met us at the hotel 2 blocks from their flat. Germany is playing Turkey in some soccer match on TV tonight so he and I went to Aldi and HIT groceries under the hotel to pick up dinner food. All over the city friends are gathered to watch the game, many in beer gardens outside. When Germany just scored, I ran out on to the balcony at their place to hear the cheers rise up around the city. It was COOL to hear.

First beer todaz - with lemon. Tasty. Eating and drinking anything offered. All delicious so far. FABU cafe with milk this afternoon. Having a great time!

Germany wins! Tons of fun with Dirk and Claudia.

I häve been awake two straight daze with 1 hour sleep. Whoo Hoo Whoo Hoo Hoo Hoo