lately

Since returning home, there is much to be enjoyed as well. The house is well and winter brought a host of snow and charming winter scenes. The kids had grown a great deal and I began working at Community again. The students were delighted to see me and I them...

Amsterdam- ages Ago

Although it seems like ages ago, the feeling of Amsterdam is still to be relished. It was a lovely trip and the canals fulfilled every expectation. I must truly say that this city was like no other I have ever been to. Despite the obvious differences, I felt safe and comfortable. I met some brilliant people and enjoyed an evening on a genuine houseboat. Anne Frank's abode offered some solemn contemplation in the midst of the hurrah. The delightful cafes and charming bicyles were certainly appealing. The food was less than desirable however and had to be compensated by the other varieties of fun. The Heineken museum is actually just a playland, and not to be taken seriously in the least...

Paris

Paris is truly unimaginable. I truly feel like I get the culture of the rest of the world because of the things I saw here. The art and culture are incredible. With a meager budget of less than 100 euros, I certainly got quite the experience. The hotel was shocking but I felt I had some real exposure. The food was brilliant. The chocolate croissants fully lived up to every expectation imaginable.

A few thousand things

Right...
So there has been a huge span of time, leaving some things out. I'll enlighten on a few...
included are pictures of some kids at the local school dancing a celiehd (said, kaylee) I took several dance lessons at the local club, but am not much to write home about. It's quite fun, and the best is the incredibly bossy partner who is always there instructing you when you have gone awry. It's like popular square dancing.
Elliot is making a cuppa tea for me... as the weather continues to freeze.
I have also included the new growths, the brussel sprouts, who knew they grew like that? And the last of the glorious brocolli.
The lambs have now been introduced to some rams, so they'll all be mamas in the spring.

My New Favorite

So, this is the Highland Cow.
It is my new favorite animal. Everytime we see one, I screech and ask them to stop the car.
I think I should start breeding them. Supposedly they are mean, but I don't believe it.
This is me in a cauliflower field. They are really pretty vegetables and make me smile. That is the sea in the background. Brocolli season has regretfully come to an end so cauliflower is the veg du jour.

London Town

A few other special places...
The large Farris wheel is called the Eye of London and can apparently see 25 miles on a clear day. It was built for the millinium celebration. A lamo picture of Westminster Abbey. There is no way to do this unbelievable building justice. of course, me in front of the palace gates and a lone soldier in a beefeater (the type of hat?). The stone building is the Tower of London, why not be locked up there for a while? And Let me tell you, London Bridge is not falling down, this is actually the view of the next bridge over from it.

The Infamous

This is Big Ben and the Parliment building. It is right on the waters edge. I was amazed at how small it was really. It is absolutely beautiful though and so ornately decorated. The clock is actually just called the big clock and Big Ben refers to the name of the bell housed inside. It was designed by a man neamed Ben that was only 5 foot, and therefore nicknamed Big Ben. When the clock first went into action, it took two men 32 hours to wind it up. The parliment building is lovely and shows when parliment is in session by a flag hanging outside. There was obviously no session that day...