Where in the World Are B & B?

Normandy

2011-10-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

So, here we are in Normandy! And, of course, it's beautiful! Arrived Friday evening (by the time we flew into Paris, then connected with a train for the 2.5 hour ride), pretty tired, but not falling down. As it was very nearly dark, we had to wait until morning to get a good look around. That's the front of the Von and John's cottage above. Charming and in a beautiful setting; large

A Norwegian Tragedy

2011-07-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

Of course, you've all heard about last Friday's (22 July 2011) bomb blast in Oslo and the horrible shooting of so many young people at a youth camp not far away. The tragedy has been a great shock to Norway, a country with such a small population, social equality, and commitment to peace. The picture above is from Asgardstrand on Saturday. All through the small town, flags were at half-mast.

Oslo

2011-07-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Said farewell to Cassie and the Petersen kids and headed into Oslo this morning. A beautiful city, subdued somewhat by the tragedy on Friday. We'll tour more tomorrow and post more pictures. Meanwhile, here's a taste:

A Day in Horten

2011-07-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

Horten is the town just to the north along the fjord, home of a former naval base and the junction for the ferry. Ellen had arranged a tour of the local historical museum with Mr. Odd Bjonnes, one of the curators. The museum was created by the people of Horten to represent life there from WWII to the 70's or so, but much of the 20th century is represented. Replicas of a typical general store

Quite a hike!

2011-07-14T13:14:00.000-05:00

It started out like any other morning, until Anders and Carsen knocked on the door and asked us if we wanted to join them on a walk to the Viking burial grounds in Horten, the next town north. And we said, sure, we'd love to, as this had been on our list of "to dos" for the week, anyway. So we met Lisa (yes, I promised more on her later, but Betty hasn't gotten to blogging yet) and the four

Some Pig!

2011-07-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

Before heading off to the southern end of the peninsula and Verdens Ende, we spent a very nice afternoon at the farm of Ellen's sister, Ingrid. Eva, Ellen and Ingrid's mother, lives next door. We went out there with a neighbor, Lisa Peterson and her 4 kids. More on Lisa later. Anyway, had a lovely afternoon, with coffee and pastries, very nice company, and all the animals (a pot bellied pig,

Verdens Ende

2011-07-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

Per Betty, we've now been to the end of the world and found it's beautiful! We're told that on a clear day, you can see Denmark from here. Can't imagine a clearer day-- maybe we did see it. Settled on top of one of the rocks at a very nice restaurant, sat outside on the deck with Cassie, had a great meal, some nice wine and soaked up a gorgeous evening in an incredible place. Take a look.

The Fisherman

2011-07-13T14:22:00.000-05:00

Arne is a fisherman, just like Ellen's Dad was. Three times a day, he goes out to check his nets for salmon. Used to be, he'd catch fish every time. The last couple of years, not so much. But he does catch some and he invited me to go out with him. So, we arrived at Arne's house at 2PM, as agreed, and introduced ourselves (Betty and Cassie were with me.) I really had no idea what to expect

It's July 10th, this must be Norway!

2011-07-11T07:05:00.000-05:00

Our abode in Asgardstrand, Norway. Flew into Oslo from Stockholm yesterday morning and were met at the airport by our friends, Ellen and Ove and Cassie (pronounced Casey.) And they are currently on a plane, headed for Shelbyville (not Cassie, she stayed with us.) Arrived in Asgardstrand by car approximately two hours later. A lovely town perched on a slope leading down to a fjord. I've

The Vasa Museum

2011-07-11T06:50:00.000-05:00

The Vasa Museum deserves a blog of its own. The Vasa was a war ship ordered built by the King for his fleet in the early 15th century. It was huge for its day, with two gundecks, and was ornately decorated to intimidate the Poles. Unfortunately, the plans changed many times over the duration of the construction, not least because of the personal preferences and suggestions of the King. So,

Stockholm

2011-07-11T06:38:00.000-05:00

I think the pic sums it up pretty well. We liked Stockholm-- a lot! It's a beautiful city, Claes' apartment was spectacular, the weather was perfect-- only the time was too short. We plan to get back here someday. Anyway, I've posted pictures in Snapfish. You'll see scenes of Stockholm, both the "new" city (most of the waterfront pics are in an area where the apartment is located, rebuilt

Swedish strawberries are the sweetest!

2011-07-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

I don't know if that's actually true since I haven't tasted all the strawberries from all over the world, but I just couldn't resist writing the title. They're called jordgubbar in Swedish. I can write it but can't pronounce it very well. Swedish vowels have really challenged my lip muscles. Actually, some Swedish consonants aren't all that easy either. And the musical lilt? No way. I

Just for fun

2011-07-06T03:50:00.003-05:00

Got a couple of pics that I want to share that don't really warrant a blog, so here goes. Back in England, we did visit one city, which, by concensus, didn't have a lot to offer for us tourists (lots of shopping, but no major attractions.) However, we did find some interesting hot chocolate in a store window a bar with a compelling marketing scheme and this statue in one of the squares Oh,

Mount Omberg and Alvastra Monastery

2011-07-05T15:09:00.000-05:00

Headed south this morning, toward Mount Omberg, which borders Lake Vattern. Some extraordinary scenery. Then a very fine lunch at a hotel on the mountain. But the highlight of the day was the ruins of Alvastra Monastery, built in the twelfth century on the inland side of Omberg. More pics here.

A little taste

2011-07-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

It's been quite busy, keeping up with class work and trying to see all that we could. Betty and I hope to catch up on the blogging in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, here's some pictures to whet your appetite. This is the Castle in Vadstena. We've spent a couple of afternoons in the town, wandering, shopping, eating. Met Charlotte, a friend of Susanne's with a wonderful shop (tea, cheese

Here we are in Herrestad

2011-06-30T04:12:00.001-05:00

Herrestad is the small (6 families) village where Thomas, Susanne and their two girls live, near the city of Vadstena (5 miles.) Thomas and his brothers, Peter and Stefan, operate a 700 acre farm here, producing grain and eggs (with approx 52000 laying hens.) So, we arrived Wednesday morning and met all the Maalstrom's. Spent a great day. The weather is perfect and the house is gorgeous.

Chalford Hill

2011-06-25T06:25:00.000-05:00

Thought you might like to see some pics of the house, the pets, and some of the "local" sites and countryside. I find that, when I think about England, I picture the big city and crowds. But when you get here, it's not really like that at all. And, oh, the roads! See pics

Chipping Camden

2011-06-25T06:03:00.000-05:00

Another claimant for most charming village-- and this one is a real contender. This house we noticed on our way out of town and had to capture. Note the for sale sign. Don't ask-- it will be a minimum of a million pounds!! A lovely church, old graveyard, a girls' choir singing in the old marketplace (one of their selections - "Shalom Haverim"- really!), even a museum dedicated to the Arts

Berkeley Castle

2011-06-25T05:42:00.000-05:00

Pronounced "Barkley" (go figure.) Beautiful old castle and grounds that have been the Berkeley family home for 850 years! Unfortunately, no pictures allowed inside. Betty will have to provide descriptions. Pics

Bath

2011-06-25T05:20:00.001-05:00

The Romans came to Bath around 45AD. It's amazing to wander through the baths and realize that they were built 2000 years ago! Went on a 2 hour walking tour of the town, then explored the baths. John - this one's especially for you See pics

Barnsley House & Gardens

2011-06-25T04:51:00.000-05:00

It seems that every village in the Cotswolds claims the title of "most charming" or "most beautiful." Barnsley is no exception, but the highlight here is Barnsley House, a manor which has been transformed into a pricey hotel. But, oh, the gardens... word is Prince Charles was so impressed with the formal garden that he invited the designer to consult on his personal garden. And the kitchen

Back in The Butcher's Arms

2011-06-25T03:55:00.002-05:00

So, yes, we made our way back to the pub--only because I saved it in Garmin as The Butcher's Arms Really! Wednesday we had a lovely day out in the village of Chipping Camden. We had a nice lunch, visited shops, a museum, the old church, and then headed back south towards home. But because of a few wrong turns (thanks, Garmin), it took a little longer than we expected. Because of Garmin's

Talking Flowers!

2011-06-20T11:33:00.000-05:00

Just for you, Mel.

Sunday, June 19th

2011-06-20T11:27:00.001-05:00

Abbreviated version: Drove to Berkeley Castle, about half an hour from here. We knew it's pronouced "barkley", but we also learned that our American way of pronouncing it is actually closer to the original. The Great Vowel Shift, don't you know? (Mel remembers.) The castle is old...not just old, but really, really old! http://www.berkeley-castle.com/index.php We had a great tour of the castle

Finally Found: The Butcher's Arms

2011-06-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

Remember last Sunday while we were in Gloucester for the emergency trip to PC World, a couple told us about THE most authentic English pub in a town called Sheepscombe that we couldn't find? Since then we've tried three more times and gotten lost every time. The GPS gets into a tizzy and starts sending us in crazy circles, round and round. So today, we went to a garden nearby, called the

Quick post

2011-06-12T13:32:00.001-05:00

I really thought I would have more (and longer) posts by now, but we haven't settled into a routine. We were at a B & B nearby Thursday and Friday nights, then moved into our house yesterday. We got settled, went shopping, had dinner at an Indian restaurant (very good, ate way too much) and pretty much collapsed last night. This morning we woke up to fairly heavy rain and gusty winds, very

Congratulations, Iron lady!

2011-05-08T12:05:00.004-05:00

Candace Weber Shiffman, wife of Corey and mother of Gaby, completed her first triathlon yesterday in Panama City, Florida in under 6 hours. Gulf Coast Triathlon: Swim 1.2 miles, Bike 56 miles, Run 13.1 miles Here she is all suited up, looking like the champ she is: I can't help it, Can. I just gotta put this in: But this one is more appropriate and uplifting: Ok, so Susannah says

Mystery Bread

2011-05-03T17:10:00.000-05:00

We came home this afternoon and went to check the mail. There, rright beside the door, we found two giant loaves of rye bread and a big bag of dinner rolls. No note. Nothing else. So we don't know if someone thinks we're destitute. Or, as one friend suggested, knowing that Bob is gluten intolerant, maybe it's an attack! Death by gluten! I'm so afraid we'll never know the answer to this

Rainy Saturday in Shelbyville

2011-04-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

April is always a fickle month with beautiful balmy days followed by chilly rainy ones. Except for April 2011--which has featured a few of those beautiful days but mostly the rainy ones. Right now, we're considering an ark. Despite the rain and stormy weather that's been sitting on top of us for days, with more to come, we've still enjoyed the usual routine. Yesterday, Bob and I went across

Sweet Smells from the Past

2011-04-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

I meant to write about this much earlier. While we were in Florida in March, we were driving north on Merritt Island just cruisin' along (Merritt Island--hard to believe it's so close to civilization) and I caught a whiff of the sweetest smell on earth--orange blossoms. Instantly, I was transported to my days growing up in Florida. But more specifically, the smell was like a time machine to

Spring Break

2011-03-16T20:09:00.001-05:00

Yep, here we are, cruising down the East Coast. We stopped this evening at Port Orange just south of Daytona. Perfect weather, and we had a yummy dinner. We lucked into a restaurant next to our hotel. As we entered, the smell of good food took us right back to Japan. The menu was extensive so it made choices really difficult. Oh, I forgot the most important part: they're gluten-free aware.

I'm a dummy

2011-02-22T16:33:00.000-06:00

A & W Diet Cream Soda has caffeine in it. I shoulda checked! That might explain why I haven't been sleeping very well the last few weeks and why I've been grumpy. In the middle of last night as I was in and out of sleep, a little voice spoke to me: "Check for caffeine in the cream soda." I did this morning. And, yup, it's there. What was I thinking? So, no more afternoon cream soda treats

Grumpy

2011-02-11T10:28:00.003-06:00

So I guess it's time to bring back my grumpy kitty. This is how I felt all day yesterday. Why, you ask? I woke up to what was dawning as a sunny day. Yay for sunshine! But the temperature was 9 degrees ...Fahrenheit. For you celsius people, that's....wait a minute....minus 13C (-13!). Right now the temperature here is 20 degrees F, exactly the same temp as in Oslo and

Happy Mel-Day Indeed!

2011-02-08T10:23:00.000-06:00

She may look like just a pretty face, but under that stylish hat (worn for the Oaks Race at Churchill Downs), there's a powerful brain and determination of iron. Congratulations to #3 child, Melinda/Mindy/Mel for passing ALL of her written comprehensive exams for her masters in speech language pathology at the University of Louisville. She graduates in May......just in time to go job-hunting.

Snowy January

2011-01-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, after complaining about the gray skies and dreary weather, we have a beautiful change--SNOW! I don't mind the cold so much when it's snowing. We have two large nandina bushes on either side of our front porch. In the winter, the berries are so bright red against the evergreen leaves that people stop by to ask us what the bushes are called. With snow on top, they look like Christmas.

Tooth Fairy Alert

2011-01-17T08:10:00.000-06:00

Gaby has lost her first tooth. I do hope she's properly compensated for her loss.

How cold is it really?

2011-01-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

We're actually having a heat wave. The current temperature is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Hold on a minute while I go to Google to translate that into Celsius............. Ok, it's 2.777777. That sounds much colder to me than 37. A few weeks ago, I got a cool new 4G (3G?) phone, a 'Droid. Here it is: I'm still figuring out how to do stuff--like calling the people I mean to call instead of some

Ask me: What's a warrantee?

2011-01-03T18:47:00.000-06:00

Just saw this tempurpedic commercial on TV. At about 37 seconds, the announcer announces that the mattresses come with a 20-year "warrantee." (I don't even know how to spell that non-word.) Why would they use such a made-up word when there are perfectly good ones already. Warranty (accent on first syllable)? Guarantee (accent on first or last syllable)? I know the English teacher nerd is

Day after New Year's Day 2011

2011-01-02T11:27:00.000-06:00

Sitting here absentmindedly watching Trouble bathing himself in a patch of sunlight on the sun porch, all I can think of is how badly those windows need washing. Will I stir myself to go do it? Maybe on the inside, but it's too darn cold outside. Seems like a good day for reflection. I like reflection much better than resolutions. What shall I reflect on? I think I'll choose this very moment

And a very happy 2011 to all!

2010-12-31T20:13:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas to everybody all over the world!

2010-12-25T09:16:00.000-06:00

Lots of love from Bob and Betty

Arctic weather

2010-12-14T16:51:00.000-06:00

Not to worry, polar bears. If it gets too warm for you at the North Pole, you can move to KY. Weather forecast:

Trying something

2010-12-05T10:55:00.005-06:00

I want to see if I can embed a little piece of music. This is a haunting melody done by Cafe Musique from San Luis Obispo, I think. Ok, it worked, except that it downloaded the whole collection. The song I want you to listen to is "Hallelujah."

Voting Legacy

2010-10-30T09:44:00.011-05:00

I was reading the Shelbyville Sentinel-News Friday which had printed the ballot for the various precincts in Shelby County. I was glad to see it because there are so many local races that we've never voted in before. But seeing the ballot reminded me of my parents, Arthur and Una Garrison, who set such a civic example for my brother and me. Before every election, the two of them would sit down

Cyclones, oh my!

2010-10-26T20:41:00.006-05:00

"A tornado reportedly touched down in Louisville, Ky., as the thunderstorms blew through around 11:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday."Just a few minutes after that, we heard the sirens sounding the tornado warning. My first class was just ending, so I began ushering them into the small inside room adjacent to our classroom. Meanwhile, in the glass-enclosed (on two sides) lobby, others were clustered around

October in Kentucky

2010-10-24T15:41:00.008-05:00

Beautiful Sunday afternoon in Kentucky. Although it looks like fall, it doesn't feel much like it. Incredibly, the high temperature yesterday was 80 degress F! We haven't even had a single frost yet.This picture reminds me of last Sunday afternoon when Bob, Joan, and I went to Shaker Village nearby. Such a peaceful place and I love it especially in the fall. For the first time we took the

It's a new backyard!!

2010-09-24T17:08:00.000-05:00

So, I guess I could have cleaned things up a little, but I know you guys wanted to see the new look. Now I guess we'll have to go buy furniture and stuff! A few more pics here.

It's Coming Together

2010-06-26T08:58:00.004-05:00

OK, Betty's not getting this posted, so I'll do it. We bought new furniture for the living room and like it alot. In addition to this stuff, a matching loveseat was delivered today. Looks great! Comfy, too.And in the dining room, Betty has been trying to figure out what to do with the wall between the two windows. She had a brilliant idea and here's the result. How cool is that?And, just

And one more thing

2010-06-25T21:27:00.002-05:00

While I'm at it, you've all heard stories of the first car I ever actually bought. It was Spring semester, my Freshman year at KU. A 1960 Austin Healy Bug-Eye Sprite. Well, someone in town has decided that one very much like it would make a good planter for wildflowers. So, here you go. Please keep in mind that mine was much shinier, had hubcaps and nerf bars, and was a chick magnet.

What's new at 912?

2010-06-25T20:54:00.004-05:00

I know I've been promising you guys pics of the "living fence" and my table, so here 'tis. Fence first. We had a landscape architect over to give us ideas about what to do with the backyard (think patio/deck.) Turns out he had some great ideas, many of which we can't afford, but we're thinking we'd like to implement. Meanwhile, we mention that we'd really like to raise the fence between us

Legacy of a Master Gardener

2010-06-09T16:51:00.018-05:00

All Spring, Betty and I have been delighting in the work of Barbara Troyer, the former owner of 912 Main. Every few days, something else blooms in the yard. If I could only keep up with the weeds! Anyway, we wanted to share:The vegetable garden layout, of course, is Barbara's, but everything except the strawberries (just finishing) and a couple of the herbs are our plantings. Mom's got

Spring

2010-04-10T08:29:00.005-05:00

Isn't that just the cutest little house you've ever seen? Actually, it's not as little as it looks. But we can thank the previous owner, Barbara Troyer, for the beautiful garden, as well as all the meticulous upkeep she and her husband Jerry did during the 14 years they owned this house. We are the beneficiary of all their hard work. But, oh, the pressure to keep up the standard. Barbara came

Celiac Awareness Month is May

2010-04-08T11:40:00.002-05:00

Gluten Free

Good Friday in Shelbyville

2010-04-03T09:33:00.017-05:00

Living in Ajijic, we were so excited to have unexpected parades come down our street, right outside our front door. Well, Shelbyville is not much different. Late Friday afternoon, we noticed a group of people gathering on the street corner just to the west of us. Our street, Main Street, is a one-way street going east. Then we noticed people in costume begin to arrive, and the priests in their

Spring has sprung

2010-04-03T09:31:00.004-05:00

What can I say? Thanks to Barbara, the previous homeowner, who designed this glorious garden, we get to reap the benefits. The daffodils are brilliant, tulips just beginning to bloom, creeping phlox across the low wall alongside the sidewalk, the redbud tree is about to explode. Rewards for enduring winter.

Another Snow Day!!

2010-02-16T08:29:00.002-06:00

But that's ok. We're toasty and warm inside. Don't know what the latest total is--maybe 6-8 inches in the last 24 hours. It's just cold with almost continuous light snow--sort of like a snow globe. For dinner last night I made beouf...uh, bourguignon....or, as Bob calls it, beef stew with lots of wine. He likes it in any language.

All but the shoutin'

2010-02-07T09:54:00.004-06:00

It's finished, except for towel bars and other accessories. The workers are gone. Now I'm working on painting the bedroom, so we can move back in and enjoy our "master suite." Should be back in by mid-week, maybe earlier depending on school work.

Should be this week!!!!

2010-01-30T18:04:00.007-06:00

Floor is done. Cabinets in. All we're missing is the installation of the toilet and sink, carpet in the closet, hang the sconces, closet lights and shower door, some switches. Almost!!

Weekend in Walhalla

2010-01-20T18:59:00.011-06:00

Most of you know that Betty and I spent last weekend in Walhalla and saw a bunch of family on the Butts' side. That's Aunt (Aint?) Ruth and Marshall above. 89 and 91, respectively.Then there's Paula and JohnBarbara, Liesl and ZackHaley (also Liesl's)Aunt VeraWayne and Wandaand, of course, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains

Making progress

2010-01-20T18:43:00.005-06:00

Ok, so we're making progress. This is one of the cabinets built to custom fit our strange little place. There will be shelves and doors. More pics below. Today we got about half the tile around the bath and the first coat of paint after the primer. Drywall is obviously finished and all is in place except for the sink and toilet, which have to wait for the hardwood floor (still subfloor at

Snow

2010-01-09T20:46:00.004-06:00

OK, I promised you pics of the snow, so here you go. It's been really cold (in the teens the last several nights) and constantly snowing a bit, so these pictures, taken today, are after the third day in a row that I shoveled. I'm guessing around 5 inches overall. We're pretty much hunkered down! Enjoy.

It's coming along!

2010-01-08T19:53:00.003-06:00

First, I should mention that we've had 5 inches of snow since Betty blogged on Jan 3. Sorry, no pictures yet, but I have shoveled the sidewalks and driveway twice. But that's another story. I'll try to remember to take pics tomorrow.So, the pic above confirms the installation of the skylight in our new bathroom. Construction moves along (we've done a bit of waiting on the plumber), but today

Brrrrrrrr

2010-01-03T08:58:00.007-06:00

January 3, 2010I knew there would come a time when we would smack our foreheads and say: "What were we thinking????" leaving Mexico for colder climes. Yes, today might be one of those times. The sun is brilliant but there's absolutely no warmth in it whatsoever, but fortunately no moisture either. It's 7 degrees F (-4 C)and bone dry. We've spent the last few days snuggled inside with both dogs

Goodbye 2009

2009-12-31T12:48:00.003-06:00

December 31, 2009Shelbyville, KYWell, don't fall over, those of you who used to read this space. I finally overcame my blogging inertia and decided to post an end of the year update. One of you readers told me a few months ago that you kept checking for some update since Passover...but there was nothing here. So, here goes.Recapping the end of last year and early 2009, we left Mexico to spend

Happy Passover

2009-04-09T17:47:00.003-05:00

We're about to start our family seder, this second night of Passover. Last night we spent a wonderful evening with friends Mark and Mary Jane at their seder. Then Mark amd Mel arrived late last night from Louisville. So tonight it's just family and will be Gaby's first seder. But I'm missing Susannah and John so much. It's been a very long, long time since we've had a seder with the whole

The latest dispute in a long marriage

2009-03-29T10:40:00.003-05:00

(Hey, look, I'm blogging!)As if there weren't enough issues in long-term relationships, this is the most recent. Article in today's NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/fashion/29netflix.html?ref=fashionHere's a quote:“I had ‘English Patient’ for more than six months,” Mr. Marino confessed. “It was an insane amount of time.” He recalled starting the same discussion with his wife, night

Reflections: Part 1

2009-01-31T11:22:00.014-06:00

Today seems like a good time to reflect on our experiences since starting this grand adventure.To recap, the adventure started in the spring of 2007 when Bob decided to retire from Lexmark. (This was, of course, his second retirement after retiring from the navy in 1992.) But I wasn't sure I wanted to retire yet:I had a job I loved, great students, best colleagues, wonderful flexibility. So we

Poor Kentucky

2009-01-30T11:34:00.002-06:00

For those of you living in warmer climes (like us at the moment), you'll probably take great satisfaction in being where you are instead of in this picture--Louisville. An ice storm Tuesday night, followed by a few inches of snow, has caused great havoc and massive power outages across the state that may last as long as two weeks. Yikes! Let's get that stimulus package going to work on the grid.

Oh Happy Day!!

2009-01-20T08:10:00.003-06:00

I'm not a very religious person, but I woke up this morning with the echo of words from one of the Jewish prayer books:a prayer for our country.Our God and God of our ancestors: We ask Your blessings for our country, for its government, for its leader and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights of our Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state

This is just a test

2009-01-14T12:45:00.004-06:00

Do not adjust your set. I don't like sending the whole blog post as email because it messes with my layout that I spend a looooong time setting up. So what I'm trying to do is just send notification that there's a new post.

Nothing in particular

2009-01-14T11:09:00.020-06:00

I keep thinking, after every move we make, that soon life will evolve into some kind of routine. Of course, that never really happens, and I guess "routine" would soon become boring. Mindy/Mel's emergency surgery in December postponed our settling in here in Fairhope for a little while, but between Christmas and New Year's we were finally able to finish unpacking boxes packed in Mexico and find

Slow Blogging

2009-01-02T10:22:00.003-06:00

I read an interesting blog today that took me back to a NYT article here:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/fashion/23slowblog.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperwhich described Todd Sieling's Slow Blog. In this second link, http://toddsieling.com/slowblog/?page_id=10, he describes his manifesto of slow blogging. I like it, and I'm intrigued by the possibilities of using blogs in a first semester freshman

Happy 2009 to everyone!

2008-12-31T20:30:00.002-06:00

December 31, 2008Fairhope, AlabamaTo our family family and friends all over the world, have a happy and healthy 2009!Betty and Bob

I'm feeling grumpy...

2008-12-27T21:23:00.002-06:00

....because I worked really hard at my blog and nobody, make that NOBODY, has commented. I'm feeling underappreciated.

Back in Fairhope

2008-12-27T09:46:00.010-06:00

So we're back in Fairhope for about 6 months before we return to KY and me to my job. It's such a lovely little town, and our cottage--truly a cottage--is in a neighbor of similar homes mixed with bigger renovated (and new) homes. This neighborhood is located on the bluff above the bay. Just half a block's walk to the west takes us to the wide grassy park area overlooking the bay, the city's

Christmas Eve—Driving south in the driving rain

2008-12-27T09:28:00.003-06:00

Heading back to Alabama so Mark and Melinda can have some much needed time alone together after her extended hospital stay. Susannah and John are in Pennsylvania with John's family--lots of Brewers gathering there. They'll be having a terrific time. Corey, Candy, Gaby, and Eliza (their dog) are arriving in Richmond, KY today to spend the holidays with Candy’s whole Weber family. I hope they’re

Poor Mindy/Mel/Melinda

2008-12-27T09:01:00.004-06:00

December 24, 2008(For those of you who don't know, our daughter Melinda has a split personality. Until age 13, when she decided Mindy was entirely too babyish or something or other, she went by Mindy to everyone--family, friends, strangers, whoever. In the 8th grade, however, she took up the nickname of Mel and has gone by it ever since to new friends, husbands, etc. She still doesn't mind

Tangerines

2008-12-13T21:56:00.005-06:00

Before we left Ajijic, we harvested one last batch of tangerines from the tree in our garden, knowing we would have to surrender whatever we hadn't eaten once we got to the border. So for two long days, between a hearty breakfast and a very late dinner, all we really ate was tangerines--that is, Bob, Daisy, and I ate them. Howdy's not too fond of fresh fruit. I had an image in my mind of us

Crossing the Border

2008-12-13T21:18:00.005-06:00

13 December 2008We took a different route this time. Spent the night in Matehuala at Las Palmas, our usual spot which felt very comfortable and familiar. But today we headed northeast and crossed the mountains with a very steep descent. It was beautiful, with narrow canyons and gorges, but about 15 miles from the bottom, we began to smell something burning: the brakes were protesting the

One Day More

2008-12-10T21:15:00.003-06:00

Busy, busy day today. More packing. A last visit to the tianguis to buy some trinkets. I had lunch with Janel and Jan at Roberto's. Then Martina came to bathe and groom the dogs for the last time. Then off to the dentist for check-ups and cleaning. Then a cocktail party at Howard and Susan's. After that, Jan and Jack came over to help us clean out the fridge. We grilled chicken breasts

Still Packing

2008-12-09T21:35:00.003-06:00

Dec. 9, 2008At least, Bob is still packing. I've been playing. Yesterday I played poker with a group I've been playing with once a month since we got back. Yesterday, we went out to a ranch where the couple raises horses, cattle, and sheep. Very cool. Maggie put her Andalusian mare through her paces via voice commands. Then we drove home through very dusty back roads winding through brown

Packing

2008-12-07T19:54:00.002-06:00

Haven't written since we got back from the coast. It's been very chilly in the house in the mornings and evenings. I think because of the construction of the house, 16 ft ceilings, and so on. I do understand why people who live here most of the year opt to spend the winter months on the coast. Without heat in the house to take off the chill, it can be quite cold.We've got the kitchen and

Sunday, Nov 30, 2008

2008-12-03T15:44:00.001-06:00

Today is our last full day here. We woke up to another beautiful morning. We went to bed about 10:30 (central?) and slept in longer this morning. It got a bit chilly during the night so we pulled up a blanket over the sheet. This morning we have our hoodies on (minus the hoods) until we get coffee. Our only plans for the day are to meet a guy with some horses on the beach about 4 pm (

Saturday, Nov 29, 2008

2008-12-03T15:31:00.006-06:00

It’s overcast this morning and quite blustery with rain showers off to the west over the ocean. The big birds that we think are frigate birds are soaring on the air currents, so lovely to watch until they hit a headwind and then have to flap their wings not so gracefully and drop down to another level.Recap: Late Thanksgiving Day, the two new guests showed up: Brian and Sue from Colorado.

cont'd

2008-12-03T14:23:00.005-06:00

After about 45 minutes, we headed back up the Cliffside—not too bad a climb with the flat stretches to take a breathing break. Back at the villa, we found a hose and tried to wash all the sand out of the dogs’ coats. Later, when they had dried off, I brushed them out and they’re amazingly sand-free—even Daisy! We debated going into town to find a cyber café but just couldn’t summon the need to

North Beach

2008-12-02T18:27:00.010-06:00