ONE FAMILY, TWO WORLDS

the.waiting.game.

2011-07-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever been pregnant and gone past their due date knows exactly what I am talking about. I'm not here to whine. Quite the opposite, actually.

The boys were whisked away yesterday by K's parents so that I could rest and relax (so maybe things would start happening???)... Isn't that the sweetest!!??

Soooo, K and I took advantage when nothing was really happening last evening to go to the city and have dinner on top of the clock tower hill (Schlossberg). It was lovely despite my being very uncomfortable (oops, sorry for the whine)...

My handsome husband...

And here I am in all of my overdue glory in the ladies' room...

This picture I took last week when I took the boys and their good friend to get a clown ice cream after school one sweltering hot day...

This is one of those random iphone shots where I got really lucky... I have to admit that my heart wants to burst with happiness when I see my three beautiful boys. I feel overwhelmed with blessings when I think that very soon there will be yet another little man on that lap... Oh this sweet life.

love and hugs,

nesting...

2011-07-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hello again. Yep, we're still here, hanging on by the seat of our pants. Life is full and rich and we are blessed.

Soon we will be joined by our third little man and we can hardly wait!! I absolutely love preparing for a new one and this one was no exception, although I definitely started later than usual.... Anyhow, a few pics of the preparations.

Could be called nesting or madness... either way it's me and it's been a ton of fun!

This wonderful hammock was a gift from K's parents and we couldn't be more excited to see if our little man likes it as much as we do! It can be moved from our room to the living room, where we have another hook installed.

I love this giraffe sticker (made with vintage wallpaper) -- a great relief to all of the white walls and the white Pax closets!

The crib bumper I made following Lotta Jansdotter's instructions in her book Simple Sewing for Baby. The crib skirt was sort of a wing-it deal I played around with. The shrug was one of my first knitting projects for this baby, taken from this book, which I ended up making two of. The pants were made with this pattern.

This diaper bag I made with the pattern from (again) Lotta Jansdotter's book.

This beautiful bassinet was lent to us by K's sweet brother and his (equally sweet!) wife. My mother-in-law helped me sew the bumper and I made the canopy out of some Ikea curtains.

Our snuggling/reading/nursing place.... room enough for all!!

One of the blankets I made for our babe. Pattern and yarn from Pickles. Details on Ravelry.

One of the sweaters I made for this little man and the belly he is still residing in. Pattern here. I used the softest hand dyed wool yarn from Uruguay.

Bib pattern from The Purl Bee. Diaper cover pattern from here.

Changing pad pattern from Simple Sewing for Baby (again!!). Patterned fabric from Ikea, inside organic flannel.

Hat pattern from Pickles. Booties from here.... For more of my ongoing projects, you can visit my Ravelry page (yes, that is where I have been spending my free time!!!). I most definitely have "cast-on-itis!!!" Yarn is Pickles Soft Superwash.

Another little sweater from this book... I was running out of the wonderful yarn and so I added the stripes in front.

(And last but certainly not least) -- Our big boys are such joys. They love to share the one normal swing that we have..

I can't quite tell you how curious we are about how this little man will look -- these two look nothing alike, don't you think?!!!

this I know....

2011-02-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

:: I'm already head-over-heels in love with our third little man. We got to see him again yesterday and I tell you my heart just melted!!! He looks healthy and is super active (surprise surprise!!). I have already knitted him a sweater and am working on a blanket (there'll be show-and-tell later, I promise).

:: Baby steps make my world go 'round. We worked very hard looking at school options for L for next fall and it was a tight race to the end to get him in, but he will (oh so thankfully!!) attend a really special Montessori-based private school not far from us. More on that later. But for now, a wonderful baby step!!!

:: Life is funny. Shortly after we moved here, a good old friend from Vienna called to say that we must run out and buy the most recent issue of Woman Magazine. O.k. Did so. Flipped through only to find an advertisement for our wedding photographer using one of our wedding photos!!!

Fast forward to a week ago or so. Another good old friend from Vienna sends us an email with this link. Pretty funny, right? It seems like centuries ago and yet only just yesterday. Good times, that's for sure. And mostly because of all the wonderful memories we made with special family and friends!!!

This is the beloved photo, including our famous "black velvet" rose arrangement with around 1400 roses!!

:: It's amazing what a little energy will do for one's mojo! I have reeeeeaally lagged during the first part of this pregnancy, but I am starting to get some great bursts of energy, for which I am eternally thankful. I have started nesting (yeah!!!) and the wheels are bigtime turning about what I want to make for the baby's room to make it "his" and for how we can best utilize the tiny space our two big boys share in order to also accommodate an addition to the closet and a desk!!! It's already exploding as it is!

:: We hope that everyone's 2011 has gotten off to a wonderful start! To all of you who are so very far away, we miss you and love you!!!

oxox,

moments...

2011-02-05T03:06:00.000-08:00

The other night after dinner we were sitting around the table and W walked around to me (my belly actually).

He said "Hi Baby, I'm your brother W. Do you like to swim?"

To which I replied: "Yes, the baby loves to swim. That's what he is doing all the time inside Mama's tummy."

Then "Does he have a swimsuit?"

"No Love, he swims naked."

"O.K. I will give him one of mine. I have two."

~~~~~~~~~

About a week ago, while rubbing W's back during bedtime:

Suddenly nervous, W opens his eyes and sits up "Mama, we don't have any pajamas for the baby."

"Oh yes we do. Don't worry. We have all of the pajamas from you and L in boxes and I promise you can help Mama get all of them ready before the baby comes. I promise, okay?"

W smiles, says "O.K." and instantly turns and falls asleep.

One day when Papa and L were skiing, I took these pics of W in the room that he shares with his big brother since September....

W showing off his "big boy bed."

He made a little "bed" for himself in the middle of the floor with his "minkie."

Proudly showing off big brother's space, which is a double-sized bed.

traumhaft...

2011-01-24T01:32:00.000-08:00

... or "just like a dream." Whichever you choose. It was.

My wonderful husband surprised me with a trip to my favorite place and when he told me the boys would be coming too, I wasn't so sure it was a fit, as this place is so serene and quiet and we have two active and not-so-quiet boys.

It was perfect and they were perfect and I am so thankful. Two full days. One night. Heaven....

One of our absolute favorite things about this place is going to breakfast in your bathrobe... Apparently the hotel had looked at my birthdate (as you have to include this information in your registration, interestingly). They prepared our table with flowers, confetti, cloth napkins, freshly squeezed o.j. and strawberry nectar for the boys and me and even champagne! Then they brought me a little chocolate almond cake with candle....

L took this picture from the window next to our table. You can see the outdoor area (one at least) of the thermal water pools. It was very cold outside, which is the perfect contrast to the warm water.

The boys couldn't get enough of the water and of course they made new friends along the way (they are so not shy, those two!). The second day they even went to the free-to-hotel-guests kindergarten and played games and crafted for a couple of hours so that mama and papa could enjoy the adult-only areas of the spa... and take a long nap, of course ;-). I'm kind of a fan of sleep these days ;-).

Thanks again to my wonderful K.

love and hugs,

happy 2011

2011-01-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I am gladly saying goodbye to 2010. It was a painful year on most every front. The main exception being, of course, our beautiful boys.... They fill me with love, hope, courage and faith.

We are looking forward to 2011 with much positive energy and thankfulness for an already good start with the job (thank you!!!), some now pretty-established friendships, supportive family (again, so thankful!!!!), and of course the anticipated birth of our third child....

We are wishing you all a wonderful 2011, full of health, happiness and intentional fullness in every way!

much, much love,

Happy Holidays and we have news...

2010-12-29T06:51:00.000-08:00

Baby boy #1

Baby boy #2

Baby boy #3 (at least an 80% chance)

... with an estimated arrival date of July 11, 2011.

my two cents on interiors

2010-10-26T04:43:00.000-07:00

I have pored over interior design magazines since I can remember. I have likewise been a "nester" equally as long, designing and re-designing my own personal spaces.

I love to look at a beautiful spread of a thoughtfully designed room and many of those rooms evoke a certain feeling, which is a great thing. I tried for many years to create such spaces within our home and although fun and always a challenge, I have come to some conclusions about what really defines my ideal space...

I love personal spaces, where you enter the room and you ask yourself "who lives here?? -- they must be interesting!" I see this coming from books, pieces of art, and the kind of inviting furniture that invites you to curl up and grab one of the many books and a glass of wine....

I love white walls. What can I say -- I just do. And wood, especially when it's worn.

(Above two photos from www.rue.com)

I love personal. Don't you just want to know the details of those photos or of the bowls full of trinkets? Maybe it's just me, but j'adore...

(photo from here)

Tasteful combinations of old and new...

(also from here)

I think I've shared this photo with you before, but I just love it. It's Ilse Crawford's London loft. Anyhow, the old worn wood floors, books and more books, white walls, and even a plant (another living personal element that I cannot live without!).

(found again here)

This one kills me. I actually totally would love a wood-burning oven someday. If you've ever experienced the warmth of a wood-burning oven and the smell... And can you believe that wonderful butcher block??? I even love the painted white wood floor...
Wishing you all a wonderful week.oxox,h(photo from here)

bella umbria

2010-10-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

We had the great fortune of being able to stay in a villa in Umbria, Italy for one week with my parents in June. It was a dream. The villa was huge, modern inside with the feel of an old estate, had views from every window, was perfectly perched and yet surrounded by the most serene forest blanket.... The boys could not get enough of the space to run, the swimming pool, the playhouse full of toys, and the library of DVDs for after dinner (when the grown-ups were still visiting on the terrace). It was a memorable time for all, which stroke a perfect balance between lazy days by the gorgeous pool eating the fabulous leftovers from the "home-cooked" (by our housekeeper) meals from the night before, and day-trips to the ancient towns in the surrounding area....

Perugia, the capital of the province of Umbria

Our "appetizers" for our final meal at the home (we had 4 total staggered every other night). Here we had fried sage leaves, zucchini blossoms and zucchini sticks and roasted eggplant with olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic reduction and fresh parsley.... I could have been easily satisfied with this, but the meal continued with a mind-blowing version of wild boar stew.

Yep, pretty great......

oxox,

silly boys

2010-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some of our pictures from this Summer and these stood out to me...oxox,h

fried elder flowers

2010-10-06T01:24:00.000-07:00

I know you're probably wishing for pictures of lovely far-away places. Those will come. I though it might be fun to show you this.... Fried elder flowers, gathered near a river on a summer run/bike ride with the boys. They are lovely and delicate and perfect when dusted with a touch of powdered sugar.

tidbits

2010-10-05T00:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, W is wearing underwear on his head, but would you really expect anything less than some sort of shenanigan from this kid???

A fun rainy-day project.

W is quite our little budding artiste.

Oh, look what I did. Don't know how long it will be around, but it's been a fun change.**I know, those sunglasses are pretty bad. I sadly lost my favorite aviators while in the U.S. ;-(**
Slowly but surely I am getting back on board with this blog. I am learning how to use Flickr and to somehow streamline the (previously cumbersome) process a bit so that it is less frustrating and more fun! I hope to soon post pics of some of our wonderful Summertime adventures! We went to Italy, Paris, Amsterdam and the U.S.!!!
Hope all is well.oxox,h

here we go

2010-10-01T01:48:00.001-07:00

Wow. We've had a hugely eventful Summer and I don't really know where to begin after such a long pause. I will surely revisit some of our adventures in pictures and stories, but for now I will tell you were we are right now.

On Monday the 13th of September the boys went to "Kindergarten" together. That is, L's kindergarten year and W's first year of preschool (in American terms). They were (and still are) thrilled to be there together. And I have to admit that so are their parents. After this long and exhausting journey we seem to have been on these last two years it feels so satisfying to have them in this little "nest" of a group. With only 25 children and three "Aunties," they are so loved and nurtured and treasured and it does this mama's heart good.

Of course I have quizzed the teachers daily about how they are doing and most specifically how W is doing. "Oh perfect" is the usual answer. "They are soooo sweet to each other" they say. One told me that in the 15 years the Kindergarten has been operating they have never before seen a sibling pair who is more loving and kind to one another as our boys. Blown. Away. I mean, at home it's of course a whole other story, but it does make me feel so grateful. I truly believe that this is a result of who they are as people. Those little spirits that blessed our family with their presence.

It has been a mixed bag for this mama, I tell you. I mean, suddenly I have a couple of hours to myself in the AM, which is great, but I sooo miss having my littlest buddy to chat with and tickle and tell stories to, and eat snacks with.... I find I check my phone about every 20 minutes to be sure they haven't called me, but no.

He still does run into my arms with a glowing smile when I arrive for pick up, which somehow makes up for it all. He is happy. He is thriving. And so is his big (proud) brother....

hello there...

2010-09-19T23:16:00.001-07:00

I am working on getting back to this space.

For now, here's a little video I made last week of W singing at the top of the mountain next to K's parents' house..

oxox

three lovely years

2010-05-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hmm. How to actually put our (or at least my) feelings about this little man into words??? We are totally crazy about our W, who has easily multiplied the love and happiness in our little family by ten since his arrival. Mama's "Angel Boy", he is the first to laugh at something, possesses a killer smile that has captured even some of the toughest hearts we know, is extremely physically coordinated, and is known to have feathers that don't ruffle too easily (a good trait when you have a big brother!).

W loves to sing, dance, ride his glider bike, play with any and all "friends", is a bit of a picky eater (we're working on it!), prefers the chocolate version of pretty-much everything (who can blame him???), and adores cracking up all matter of children with his favorite word "Putzi."

I am a bit struck by how much this birthday is getting me. Three years?? Can it really be??? It feels like yesterday I held his tiny newborn body in my arms and sent prayer after prayer of thanks for his health and presence. I guess that's the point, right? No matter how big he gets, to still have that thanks in my heart and to let him know of it every day....

To my Angel Boy, Mama and Papa love you more than you might ever know and wish you the happiest of birthdays!

sending kisses...

playing at the beach on a recent trip to Italy

Those feet kill me. They are literally just not-so-much bigger versions of those he had at his birth. A reminder to me of how tiny he still really is.

Always wanting to play and joke, that's W.

Our little chef, he still loves his kitchen and cooking for all of us.

oxox,

to brighten your day...

2010-04-19T01:25:00.000-07:00

Gotta love the bit where he wipes his nose on his arm. That black thing on his arm is a temporary tattoo ;-).

oxoxo,

it was a happy easter

2010-04-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

Although yes, I realize some time ago. Sorry about the delay.

We had a blast dying our eggs this year. Both boys did a wonderful job handling the eggs and dyes and they turned out beautiful, if I do say so myself ;-).

The boys have been beyond thrilled to have a couple of days where they haven't had to wear their jackets outside to play.

The view from our car as we were driving to K's parents' house for Easter.

First thing in the morning Easter Day, the boys got to hunt for their baskets. Note the glazed look on L's face -- he wasn't quite awake yet.

W playing with the modeling beeswax the Easter Bunny brought him.

The egg hunt outside required full winter gear, but didn't slow down the boys one bit.

Too bad he doesn't like chocolate much ;-).

K's mother had a skiing accident (hence the crutches) but is doing great in spite of it all.

Lots-o-loot

We made felted eggs following this great tutorial and then "the Easter Bunny filled them and hid them for us to find" -- L

An "Ueberraschungs Ei" -- a thin layer of chocolate with a capsule inside filled with a small toy. Definitely a favorite around here.

And another favorite: Pez. Both K's mom and my mom are (and were throughout our childhoods) fans of Pez! The boys have caught right on and love getting them from Oma and Nana.

Our Easter Sunday meal was marinated lamb fillets. Mmmm. W is doing so well eating with a fork and knife -- a true European, I tell you.

L made this drawing for me at school the other day. Is there anything more precious than childrens' art????

Our Easter display which is typical for Austria -- pussy willow branches strewn with decorated eggs. We have a fun collection in the meantime of eggs from Oma and those we have made ourselves. This year I blew the eggs out and the boys just painted them however they wanted with acrylic paints. When they were dry we used the napkin technique to add some fun designs from some Ikea napkins we had at home. Tie a pretty ribbon around it, hot-glue it to the egg, and voila!

We hope that you all had a fun-filled celebration with yours as well!

oxoxo,

finally, welcome spring!!!!

2010-03-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

We have been literally covered in snow until yesterday (okay, slight exaggeration, but it doesn't feel too far off). The sun feels oh-so-good on our parched winter skin!!!

Hoping that your beginning of Spring is full of much sunshine and happy tales.

Seems the appropriate combo, no? Bubbles require a bike helmet, no doubt. The thing is, he's attached to his bike 24/7, so it's most convenient to just leave the helmet just in case.

A visit to our forest requires a strategy for a house built out of sticks....

Some Easter crafting...

L and buddy M busily stuffing their pockets with rocks.

Soooo good to see some green!

much love from our neck of the woods,

oxoxo,

pouf love

2010-03-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Have you seen these before? Maybe the gorgeous ones at DWR made by Dutch textile designer Christien Meindertsma? I just love them and I think I will take advantage of the free pattern on the Norwegian textiles website Pickles and make one!!! What do you think? Lovely, no? I can totally see it as a nesting spot while playing with Legos on the floor with the boys.

photo from Pickles

Photo from Christien Meindertsma's website

The organic wool that the designer uses comes from sheep in Idaho!!! Here you can listen to her tell about the process and the product. If only they didn't cost $800 plus!!!

listen to your life

2010-03-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and the pain of it, no less than the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."

{The closing line of my Grandmother's pastor's sermon on Sunday, as shared with my Dad and then with me. I love it and I love them.}

lucky

2010-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

Today, I got really lucky.

Well actually that's not true. I got lucky about 17 years ago (yikes -- can that math really be right???).

Way back then I made a dear friend. A crazy thing really, because at a time when I didn't have a clue who I really was, where I was going and what I wanted (heck, I'd gladly erase most of those years from my life if I could) I met someone who touched my heart in such a deep way. We instantly clicked and alas a friendship was born.

Those pomegranate bath salts (mmmm) say "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." -- Oscar Wilde

My Dad has always told me that I should feel blessed if I have as many "true" friends in my lifetime as I can count on one hand. I recount those words often as I know now more than ever that they are golden.

I am so blessed. I do have some "true" friends in my life. The friends who are in your heart nearly every day, despite distance, time away, disagreements and misunderstandings.

My dear dear friend A is one of those. She and I have some incredible stories to tell and those during a time in my life where I didn't often really like myself, so to connect with a friend in such a way was incredibly powerful.

One of her many remarkable qualities (she's talented beyond words, so I will only touch the tip of the iceberg here) is her thoughtfulness. If you are out and about with her and shopping, for example, she's always picking up a little something for so-and-so and she is one to always remember birthdays and exactly what's going on in your life regardless of how crappy a friend you might have been.

Aren't those gorgeous goodies in those pictures??? I think so. Most of all my heart is full of love and thanks for her intention. You see, it isn't about the stuff, it's about the fact that each and every one of those notions was gathered slowly over time with me in mind. And that she knows me well enough to know that I would love each and every one. And I do. Especially the collection of lovely handwritten notes (she's always been good at that!). Thank you thank you thank you, My Dear Friend. First for your enduring friendship and second for this tremendous gift.

Big big hugs from across the pond.

oxoxo,

a new Austrian anthem....

2010-02-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

This video was created as a part of a new campaign for education reform. I like it. How many of those famous Austrians do you recognize?

Did you know that the German way of saying Austria is Österreich?

I wish you a happy day.

oxoxo,

brothers

2010-02-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to two of the three loves of my life.

february

2010-02-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

Meet my one of my favorite plants. I love it for many reasons. First is that it was a gift from K's very sweet aunt. I was drooling over it and she just gave it to me (after she assured me she had more). I love the color of it too. The other thing: as you can see in the second photo, it closes up it's delicate leaves at night.... love.

Favorite plant number 2. Bought it at Ikea, so no cool story behind it, but I just love to look at it. It is a succulent, but I don't know the exact name. It just looks like a giant flower.

Cracked me up. Seems a logical place to undress, no?

One of two projects we managed to complete this month. Definitely the favorite. From Amanda's second book, it's the "family heart." We made one for our neighbor girl who was struggling with homesickness every time she went somewhere to play. The boys picked the fabrics out for her and helped cut the hearts and pocket out. Then, of course, they needed one of their own (logical, right!). L's is on the right (he proudly sewed the felt flower on too!) and W's is on the left. Inside the pockets are little sentimental notes from Mama and Papa. At the "heart" (sorry for the pun) of each is a small handful of dried lavender.

There were many mornings during these last few months where the fog lay like a thick blanket on the city. I am so thankful that we are high above it. Always (knock on wood).

"Our forest" dressed for winter.

L dressed for the carnival party at his school. He wanted to be Batman. I think he makes a wonderful one.

Our igloo.

Our lovely ladies Mia and Zoe.

We did start the felt booklets... not quite finished yet....

Waiting patiently....

Hope that your month has been a good one!

oxoxo,

care of the soul (a.k.a. farewell and good riddance january)

2010-02-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

I wrote this post on the above date, but procrastinated on posting it.

Yesterday I took the boys (and a neighbor boy) to a nearby ice cream cafe for ice cream.... On a very cold 2nd of February. Yep. My dear sweet W decided not to take a nap and I knew that I had a long night ahead as K was to be away on business.

You see, I have decided that the funk of January is in the past, and that as of February life will somehow be a bit brighter.

Yes, we did have some fun last month (you saw the video???). Nobody was ill and nothing really happened (although I have to admit being devastated by the stories coming from Haiti), it was just a month of pure drudgery. Ever have those?

I have been thinking about the idea that "we are what we think" and how that really is true... and wondering how I can change how I think... if just about winter, since I'm really not a winter person....

Here, some positive thoughts gathered....

LOOOOve this video I saw here. Of course it makes me cry and think about how I dare not get lost in my head long enough to "lose" any of this precious time with my babies...

photo seen here

This is really cool. Made me smile.

Lovely spaces make me feel good and serve as a reminder of the healing power of our personal spaces. Ours is full of our creations, sentimental gatherings and photos of us. Makes me feel blessed when I walk in the room. Maybe because winter means more time indoors, I am intensely aware of the importance of our homes, our "nests". I love to look at images of interiors that seem to be full of the kinds of intimate details that make our spaces uniquely ours.

this photo from here

Above is a photo from Ilse Crawford, who I adore. In her books, she writes almost exclusively about life in general, and then the wonderful spaces just seem to be created as a result. I love this quote from this interview:

"I’m obsessed by humans as primal creatures and by the way that we can trigger emotions. One of the key routes into that is our senses: we have very strong sensual recognition of things from the times when we were using our senses to survive, so they’re very strong. I don’t see it in a romantic way at all, I see at as an instant way to access the part of the brain that makes decisions about whether we are in the right place at the right time or not. That sense of whether it’s a good place to be, a safe place to be, a place where you could belong comes partly – but not exclusively – from sensorial triggers. There are lots of places that appeal visually, but which actually make you feel quite uneasy."

photo from here

Mmmm. Sark. Reminds me of my very dear friend A (big hugs!!!)who gifted two of her books to me many years ago. Pure sunshine on the page. And a good reminder. This mama-gig is sometimes challenging, but these children are little miracles and it is blessing to be able to be with them every day and watch them grow into themselves.

a bit about january....

2010-02-02T13:51:00.001-08:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

lovely ideas...

2010-01-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for the blogging world. Two reasons, really. First, it is a first-line connection to some of my very dear friends, which means the world to me, especially since we are literally worlds apart.... Secondly, though, it does me such good when I see ideas that seem to speak to my heart in a way. Do you know what I mean? Anyhow, maybe these few speak in some small way to yours....

From Shivaya Naturals, this wonderful "tutorial" about restorative yoga for children from a mama who also works as a "Yoga Therapist "(as well as a doula and artist!) After reading it twice, I tried the "spine stretching" on the boys one night after their bath and they loved it. I look forward to exploring it further....

Photo via Shivaya Naturals

This tutorial from Enchanted Mama for felt notebooks. I love this idea as a gift for anyone. L is loving simple stitches right now and felt is just so forgiving and fun to work with. I wouldn't recommend typical craft felt, though. Definitely a blend with real wool is in order, don't you think ;-).

Photo via Enchanted Mama

This tutorial from Garden Mama for Waldorf window stars. Wouldn't a few of these just brighten up your winter days???

Photo via Garden Mama

This TeePee project from Smile and Wave looks like a ton of fun -- almost as much fun as actually using it!!! My grandmother made a similar teepee for my brother when he was young (although significantly smaller). While on our recent visit to the U.S. the boys and I pulled out that teepee again and had a little pow wow in the t.v. room. Such room for childhood magic!!!

Photo via Smile and Wave

Joslyn's dollhouse remodel for her girls is to-die-for adorable. I never had a dollhouse as a child and I can't say that I really wanted one (I liked playing with the more baby-like dolls), but I think that digs this gorgeous would tempt any little girl to hours of play! Don't you just adore those wallpapers???? I have to admit a love of wallpaper at the moment.

Photo via Simple Lovely

From The New York Times, the last ten years in a chart (do double-click on it to see it larger!).

Photo via The New York Times

A really fun-looking project from Giddy Giddy that should also be speedy (we like that!!!). L just got his first calendar this year and is sooo loving it.

Photo via Giddy Giddy

Another great project via Bookhou Crafts for origami numbers.

Photo via Bookhou Kids

This is another wonderful project from Bookhou Kids, their "Found Objects Mobile" that L and I made some 1 1/2 years ago, I think. At the time he was struggling a bit with sleep (we had just given up the "binky") and the idea was to hang it over his head so as to bring "sweet dreams" and give him something to admire should dreamland be a little elusive.... He cut many of the felt pieces (whatever shape they turned out was perfect), mama cut a bird and cloud out of felt and we found metal washers, buttons, paper clips etc. to add to the whimsy of it.

That pom pom in the background?? That is one of Martha's oh-so-addictive and simple tissue paper pom poms. One afternoon we decided to try them out with the insane stack of white tissue paper I still have from Costco, and both boys ended up with one -- L's is rounded, W's "pokey" as L says. I think they look incredible in different colors as party decor!

L already loves origami, thanks in large part to my mother-in-law, who introduced it to him. Last Summer he and I made a bird house out of popsicle (craft) sticks (photo above) and then folded origami cranes, thanks to another You Tube video, found some sticks in the yard for the perches, and cut little leaves out of green felt to make leaves and "grass." He is so proud of that thing -- it is still in his room.

This video for how to make an origami box. I remember making countless boxes just like this at one point. They are so fun, easy, and incredibly satisfying. They'll be one of our next endeavors, I'm thinking.... Perfect for organizing all of the tiny accessories that his life seems to necessitate ;-) (or simply for some fun-loving gift-giving!).

I'll be back soon with some fun cultural stuff! Hope everyone's well in 2010!!

oxoxo,

babies...

2010-01-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to see this film when it comes out.

hello again.

2010-01-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

Many apologies for being so MIA lately.

Here, a few updates:

:: We had a fabulous two+ weeks in the U.S. visiting many special people, laughing, crying, snuggling yummy new babies, cheering Thanksgiving, enjoying.... Needless to say, it was very sad to say goodbye.... Thank you especially to my parents, who are the most gracious hosts and who took such good care of us and our babies!

:: Once we arrived back home we had to hit the ground running, but that isn't really anything new to anyone during this time of year, surely. That first weekend back we visited our dear friends near Vienna and spent a lovely weekend playing, catching up, exploring "their forests" and checking out K and my all-time favorite Christmas market at the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna. Truly an experience, people, I tell you, it still gives me chills being there-- extraordinary architecture all around, surrounded by hundreds of bundled up visitors from all over the world, sipping warm spiced wine, listening to the live carolers singing under the gargantuan lit Christmas tree.... If you are really lucky, like I was this last time, you'll get to walk around a bit and check out the enchanting handmade goods being sold mostly by local craftspeople.

:: Just as L seemed to be integrating into his class again, it seemed we were ready for our holiday break. There's been quite a lot of celebrating, cookie-baking (and EATING!), Christmas-caroling, decorating, crafting, etc. around our house this last month...

:: K officially has a job. Thank goodness. After almost exactly one year of unemployment he has settled in to a really nice position that allows him almost all of the flexibility he has when self-employed, and yet a wonderful network and constant development opportunities. The team seems to be really great, too. He did so well during his first month that we were invited to the company's Christmas party, which was lovely. I just need to remember next time that we are in Europe, and that means LATE people, late. I mean, we told the sitter we'd be home around 11 and we hadn't even completed our 7-course meal at that time. When we wanted to call her and say we'd shoot for 12, K's boss asked if we could push it back more, since he had a champagne toast planned for midnight (someone's birthday). Apparently the last of the crew left around 5AM. I think I'm too old for that much fun, no?

:: Christmas turned out to be at our house this year with K's parents. It was really low-key and perfect. They arrived Christmas Eve (the main day of celebration here) and we all went in to the city to enjoy the Graz Christmas markets one more time. It was fun (see photos below!), but cold and the snow was gone, so we went home to begin our own party! We had raclette, which is a wonderful way of grilling at the table. Quite typically here people do either raclette or fondue for special celebrations and we just love the range of raclette (and I especially love how great the veggies are -- something tricky to get with fondue, I think).

Once we feasted, the boys went upstairs to play and the Christ Child (as the local tradition goes) visited our house and delivered the presents. The bell rang, alerting the children to come see what was under the tree. It was great fun for all. For the first time ever, L was really interested in opening as many presents as possible as quickly as possible, and W really didn't care who the presents were for, he just wanted to open them all. Right. Now.

We sure hope that all of your festivities were joyous and memorable!

With that, here are a few snapshots from the last month....

Christmas Eve in the city -- this year's official "Christmas greeting."

once again, hammin' it up when he was on "cleaning duty" -- he he

Spritzer cookies are such a tradition for me -- I remember so vividly making them with my mom as a child. Both boys did a great job decorating (which I will admit actually surprised me when it came to W). It seems he had an alternative motive : eating the sprinkles!!!! Who would'a thunk???? (note the green lips and fingers!!)

His nose, you ask? Well, he's two. He insisted on getting out of the car by himself the other day. Result: faceplant on the asphalt. Ouch. As of today that nasty scab is all gone, although he asks me regularly if it's still there, which would of course result in more kisses to make it better ;-). I am more than happy to oblige on the kisses, even though his "owee" is all gone.

Our tree. We got it two days after returning from the U.S. {Papa insisted ;-)}

Our forest all dressed for Christmas (sadly it was gone by then, but we enjoyed it while it lasted!)

The Christmas market at the Hauptplatz (or main square) in Graz -- that's the town hall with the projection shining on it.

Those tiny lights up there are from the giant Christmas tree.

Schloss Schoenbrunn in Vienna all decked out -- our all-time favorite Viennese Christmas market was such an experience for the boys, who both especially loved the live music.

Oh Tannenbaum!

The boys skiing in our yard.

The boys ice skating for the first time in the city with friends (they're in the background).

Okay, that's what I've got for now!

Terribly sorry for the huge gap. I promise to do better in 2010!

Happy New Year All!

Prosit Neu Jahr!!!

the joker

2009-11-19T00:44:00.000-08:00

Meet 2 1/2 year-old W.

He keeps us laughing all. day. long.

See why?

That grey band is from the inside of his construction hat. Outfit completed by tie and suitcase, of course. ;-)

He insisted on these two slippers, as is the case on many days.

Self-portraits on Mama's lap.

This is at the Laternenfest at L's preschool last week. All the kids in the school love W and when we go pick L up W has a ring of children around him. This little girl keeps asking if she can have W over to play after school. We have plans for after our return from the U.S.

Opa took this picture -- I love how W touches Opa's fingers despite his pouty expression....

Playing at L's birthday party.

Playing at our friends' house.

He sleeps with what he calls his "ta-dae" (Guitarre: guitar). His "pack-pack"(the thing with the stuffed animal on the back) has wheels, too, so it is easier to carry his guitar and pull his things behind him.

Here he is trying to put Mia's tail into his big brother's soccer glove. She loves him so much she just purrs.

He does this all on his own ....

**I am totally procrastinating, truth be told. I have been working up to the actual packing of our bags for over a week, but now what is left is the actual packing and then cleaning... ahhh the cleaning! So, I thought it would do me some good to do a fun blog post and then get down to work. Thank goodness I have this little man to keep me laughing!!!

Looking soooooo forward to actually sitting on the plane in the AM, knowing that we will see so many of you very soon!!!

Big Hugs,

f.i.v.e. (yesterday)

2009-11-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

Dear L,

I will never forget the joy that overcame me as I stared at all 3 of the positive pregnancy tests I took that day back in March of 2004 when we found out that you would be joining our family. But, as wonderful as that news and the pregnancy itself were, nothing (and I mean nothing) will compare to the day you were born and the 5 years(!!!!) since.

It seems that everything in my life was just leading up to that moment. I really have daydreamed about my own children since I can remember (and that's a long time!).

I got really really lucky when your Papa and I found each other. He is the best Papa and the best husband in the whole world and from our love, you were born!

When you were born you made me a Mama -- and I will forever be thankful for that. Definitely for me the most positively life-changing event in my life. You taught me about working hard for something that means the world to you and about how full a heart can truly be with love and appreciation. That was only the beginning though L, as you continue to teach us every single day about so many things.

You are and always have been our "Sunshine Boy." You have brought so much love to our family and I love you so much for exactly who you are.

All the Love in the Universe,

Your Mama

and then my baby was five....

2009-11-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

Wow. This one is really getting me. Forget the fact that he is incredibly bright and sensitive, that he speaks two languages, that he is amazingly creative, or that he teaches me more about life and love every day than I had previously learned in my 27 years before he was born.

No. Although I am (obviously) very proud of who he is, what really gets me about this birthday is the fact that he is soooo big. That these last FIVE years have gone lightening-speed fast, and that more than ever I am reminded of how little control I really do have in this whole story.

So, on to the party. Saturday was our celebration for L -- with family at our house. He wanted a Formula 1 car cake -- "white with a blue five." K and I planned it and on Thursday I baked the cake, thinking that it would be best if it could be chilled before attempting to carve our creation on Friday. I went for an errand on Friday AM and when I came back, the cake was complete!!! Imagine that!!! Papa knocked everyone over with his talents -- he'd better watch out, as he might just be the designated cake decorator from now on!

Uroma (K's grandmother) brought Krapfen for everyone to enjoy, so we lit those up first!

It was a memorable party for all, I think. I know it was for one very special little boy.

oxoxo,

italy with the babes....

2009-11-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

No, we didn't go. I'm just drooling.... What do you think?

Ciao Bambino is run by moms who love to travel the world with their children. They have scoped out lovely places in North America, Central America, Europe and the South Pacific that work well for a variety of ages of youngsters. Their site is full of reviews and great pics... you can definitely lose a couple hours there just browsing, so be careful!

This place looks like a dream....

from the pool looking back at the villa

the outdoor dining area... with a view inside to the kitchen

from the gazebo looking at the pool

the kitchen.... are you kidding me??? Kills me! Look at those rustic beams -- the perfect foil for the modern lines and materials. To the left is the indoor dining room, which is large (of course, right?)

All images from www.ciaobambino.com

'you and me'

2009-11-10T08:29:00.003-08:00

We can't really get enough of this song at our house right now. W pretends he is playing the guitar and L dances with his usual lively "helicopter arms."

I love "when the kids are old enough, we're gonna teach them to flyyyyyyy"

Last week marked the one year anniversary of our move across a continent, an ocean, and then part of another continent. Where there was once the two of us, there is now the four of us (plus our kitties, of course), our full lives, and cherished people.... one both sides of this earth.

ina may gaskin

2009-11-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Do you know who I mean? Have you ever heard of "The Mother of Modern Midwifery?" Or the books "Spritual Midwifery,""Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," or "Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding?"

Well, I have. And to say I am a huge fan is a bit of an understatement. This American woman has created an incredible body of work during her nearly 30 years working as a midwife in the U.S. and educator throughout the world.

Okay, here's where I get going, so please feel free to click away. ;-)

There is a wonderful organization here in Graz called EKIZ, which is an acronym -- meaning "center for parents and children." I regularly check their website as they offer a broad range of classes and hold weekly "advisory sessions" for parents at no cost. They also have a school where they train doulas(female pregnancy, birth, and post partum supporters), something close to my heart. During my time working as a nurse with women in labor I always felt the powerful need for a more consistent support and connection than the nurse was allowed -- given that she/he had to split their time among several patients, charting, etc. When we became pregnant with L, it was an automatic that I looked for a doula knowing what I knew about maternity care as I had experienced it -- lacking in the emotional support of women. I have had the idea in my head for a quite some time that becoming a doula would be something I would be interested in.

What I saw on the website was that they were offering an "Evening with Ina May Gaskin." What? Surely they will just talk about her work. Looked further -- nope, she's coming to Graz! What I later learned is that she actually taught the last three days of the doula training session! How cool is that?

During the time I worked as an intra partum and post partum nurse I was totally disenchanted by the "medicalized births" that 99% of women had, with a seemingly complete disregard for the "normal, natural" process that birth is meant to be. Of course it is wonderful when a c-section is absolutely necessary or there are post partum complications. I started to look at the actual data, which showed that for all of our "advances" in maternal-child healthcare, more women were dying from childbirth-related causes than in most other developed countries. It started to feel like our health care system was providing less of a service to women and babies than was hoped.

Fast forward 5 years. I am pregnant with L and I am scouring the internet to find good pregnancy and delivery reading. You know, the kind that would help me understand how I can prepare for that amazing act that my body inherently knows how to do on it's own. I find Ina May. A woman who was never formally trained as a midwife but rather has a Master's Degree in English Literature. She learned her trade "on the fly," (and eventually with some medical training from a physician) but with such passion and intuition that she has helped to bring nearly 3,000 babies into the world with a less than 2% c-section rate. It was only after 187 "natural" deliveries that she decided a woman needed to be transferred to a hospital for a surgical delivery. And of all of those babies and moms, there was never once a single casualty or injury. She began delivering the babies in the buses in which she and her husband and a band of some 1,500 hundred followers were living while her husband was on a lecturing tour throughout the U.S.

Eventually, she and her husband bought some land in the midwest and they slowly built houses there and developed what she refers to as her "community." It is officially called "The Farm." People travel from all over the world to give birth there, where they lived for many years without electricity or running water. Ina May and her team of midwives have gathered knowledge over the years and Ina May then teaches that knowledge to each new midwife on The Farm. The bulk of her work, however, has been trying to change the state of the maternal health care system of the developed world; she's trying to give women back their power and instill respect again in the abilities of women's bodies and educate on how harmful so many of the interventions of today's maternal medicine are. She is not anti-medicine. Quite the opposite. She believes (as do I) in the incredible importance of modern medicine, but only when it is truly needed. Giving birth, she argues, should not normally require things like an I.V., continuous fetal monitoring, for a woman to stop eating and drinking(for fear of aspiration should she have to be put under general anesthesia), vacuum extractions, forceps extractions, and c-section rates that are out-of-this world (currently 2 times that of 1982 in the U.S.) to name a few. Interestingly, she even has a maneuver named after her -- "The Gaskin Maneuver" -- simply moving to hands and knees -- which is used when the shoulders of the infant appear to not be able to pass through the pelvis. Ina May teaches it to care providers all over the world.

When asked if she thought that this trend "toward ignorance and stupidity" was financially driven, she said no. She believes that "stupid quite simply begets stupid." Ouch.

A fascinating idea that she talks about in her books as well is the idea that human beings were made to function just as well as all other mammals. But that the main differentiating factor is that we have thoughts and emotions that change the whole game.

Birth is, simply put, as emotionally charged as life gets. And the connection between how safe, loved, and supported a woman feels during this time directly impacts all aspects of her labor and delivery, and for women these are hugely defining moments that stay with us for the rest of our lives. It is such a sacred act, and as she says "you wouldn't be able to poop on cue surrounded by bright lights and strangers, so why should we expect people to give birth on cue."

It was an honor for me to hear her, see her, feel her energy. I was giddy all day knowing we (K went with me!) would be hearing her. I had no idea the group would be so intimate and that I would have the chance to ask her multiple questions and visit with her personally and shake her hand afterward.

Here she is talking at The Farm.

If this topic interests you, her books have been translated in to many languages, including German.

Also, this documentary is definitely a must-see for all pregnant women in the U.S.

dreams....

2009-11-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

... they really do come true.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to be able to fly to the U.S. in just two short weeks.

We can't wait to see all of our "special people!!!"

** Have you seen this??? Looove it.

just have to tell you

2009-10-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

I looooove Stella McCartney. I have forever adored her clothing designs and her ethics (she's a strict vegetarian and uses absolutely no leather or fur in her designs). I proudly own and love one of the jackets she designed for Adidas that I got on sale and after years (and a pregnancy -- aka big belly), it still looks and feels like brand new.

Anyhow, she is coming out with a one-time-only children's line designed for The Gap on November 4th. The line will include sizes newborn to size 12 and I think it will be sold out overnight. Here is a sneak peek:

From their recent W Magazine photo shoot:

and a look at the actual ad campaign....

Don't you just adore that Sargeant Pepper's jacket??? They say it will retail for $128 USD. I think it has enough of the M.J. vibe going for it that it will be gone overnight.

Hope that was as fun for you as it was for me...

oxoxo,

loving

2009-10-28T01:52:00.000-07:00

photo from here

All things felt and wool. Wet-felting, needle-felting, crafting with design felt, sewing with wool jersey -- you name it, I love it!

I really adore this (above) collection of wool roving, which can be used for wool and needle felting and even knitting!

This hat from Makie. Their stuff is gorgeous, but soooo pricey. I have a pattern for a similar hat from this book. I am pretty sure these are made out of wool jersey (even though she says soft felt), which is in any case what I would use for it's warmth, softness, and durability. I love the addition of the bright-colored tassels!!!

photo from nonchalantmom

This bunting. I love that it is made with circles instead of the traditional pendants. It is crocheted out of alpaca wool, which is a bit extravagant for me. I thought it would be fun to make one with design felt circles and grey seam binding all sewn together simply on the machine or crocheted in simple rounds. I love how the moody grey and browns temper the brighter colors.

both photos from www.oeufnyc.com

This inspiration for our next freezer paper project??? Love these birds!

this pretty tee is again from oeuf. (it's on sale, too, in case you are not too in to freezer paper and want it in pink!)

again, photo from here

This koi kite project looks like a blast, and would be another fun kids' craft that I wouldn't mind having around for a while!

{from here}

This Cezanne still life project made for 3-5 year olds. Another good rainy day idea!

from here

This project for a checker (&/or tic tac toe) set to have on the go. L is loving games of all kinds right now, and I think this would go perfectly with his current selection of goodies in his backpack.

photo from the small object

This project that L and I made quickly and simply with toilet paper rolls was inspired by this gorgeous green craft. I liked it in the original brown color, but L insisted that the forms are leaves and that they needed to be painted green.

I love all of her tutorials -- definitely worth checking out! The below gift wrap idea is from her site, too!!

photo from here

Now, if only to find the time and space.... ;-)

ribbit

2009-10-28T01:28:00.000-07:00

W cries every morning. Because he can't go to preschool with L. We already have him registered for next year. I promise him every day that once he learns how to use the potty that he will be able to go to "kindergarten" too. The "aunties" at the school said that he could come to the preschool every once in a while once he is 3 in May.

Mama, on the other hand, is savoring her time with this little man during those hours... just the two of us.

The frog "hat?" He did that all on his own. It's actually meant to hold your "jammies"..... Not a head. I won't tell if you don't.

a sick baby....

2009-10-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

... is a very rare chance for mama to get some photos of him sleeping peacefully in mama and papa's bead. There are multiple series of him sleeping (and laying calmly) in our bed as a tiny baby, not all so long ago.....

oxoxo,

p.s. for the grandmothers: it's only a cold. just enough to provide for some big-time cuddling ;-)

2009-10-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

loving this picture.

I took it when my gorgeous cousin S was here to visit last month. She was headed to Oktoberfest, so we got her a Dirndl (traditional dress) to wear. I think she looks stunning (as always).

I love how proud the boys are to be standing there with her. L had to be talked into the lederhosen and he doesn't like the suspenders, so we were lucky to get what we got. He was insisting on wearing his pirate dress-up costume instead. ;-)

beautiful

2009-10-21T23:30:00.001-07:00

Thank you Mom for sending me this video. It made my day.

Here is the attached story:

In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV one very unique
couple won one of the top prizes. The lady, in her 30's, was a
dancer who had trained since she was a little girl. Later in life, she
lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of
depression for a few years.

Someone then asked her to coach a Children's dancing
group. From that point on, she realized that she could not forget
dancing. She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again. So, she
started to do some of her old routines, but, having lost her arm, she
had also lost her balance.

It took a while before she could even make simple turns and
spins without falling. Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had
lost a leg in an accident. He had also fallen into the usual
denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. But,
she was determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her..
He had never danced, and to dance with one leg....are you joking
with me?? "No way!"

But, she didn't give up, and he reluctantly agreed
thinking, "I have nothing else to do anyway." She started to teach him
dancing. The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using
muscle, how to control his body, and knew none of the basic things
about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with
him, he would walk out. Eventually, they came back together and
started training seriously.

They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She
would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm)
flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg
with her leaning on him, etc.

In the competition, as you will see, they dance beautifully
and they legitimately won the competition.

you can thank me later....

2009-10-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

These are hands down the best chocolate chip cookies that you have ever tasted. I feel that confident about them. I have tried countless chocolate chip cookie recipes in my life, including the ever-famous Niemann Marcus cookie, but this one is truly special. Unforgettable.

We have made them at least four times now, and it's gotten to the point that if we don't have any at home, L asks when we can finally make some more chocolate chip cookies. It's bad, because mama doesn't need those 3 cookies a day.... ;-)

You can find the recipe here and here.

My notes:

* I didn't bother with finding those special disks. I used the chocolate chips from Costco that are a wonderfully dark chocolate.

* I have tried the recommended combo of cake and bread flours and using straight bread flour and can honestly not tell a big enough difference to go through the extra effort.

* I have never left the dough in the refrigerator overnight. Who are we kidding? Once we have gotten that far, it's only ten minutes to cookie-time! My mother-in-law did do the overnight thing, but I really didn't think it made a difference. I did put the dough in the fridge in between batches in the oven, though, although I don't know if that really did anything.

* I have found that if the dough is not refrigerated a baking time of about 9 minutes works great -- keeping in mind I use a cookie scoop to get them all the same size -- smaller or larger will of course change the baking time, too. I usually just watch them because if I walk away, regardless of a timer or not, they will get burned. I watch and when they turn just golden I remove them, let them sit for a minute (or so) on the baking sheet and then remove them to a cooling rack. They will still be rather soft, but after they cool are perfectly chewy/crispy.

* Be sure to do the sea salt part. This cookie has the most wonderful balance of flavors and textures. The delicate crunch of the salt balances out the sweetness in just the way the slight crunch of the outside balances out the slighty chewy inside of the cookie. I also think that the ratio of dough to chocolate is perfect....

Do I really need to say more?

a new little man to love

2009-10-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Our very close friends welcomed their second child, a boy, into their family yesterday (Oct. 20th). We are thrilled for them and can't wait to see them all again soon.

Dear Sweet A,

We love you already and can't wait to meet you and squeeze you soon.

Welcome to the world, Angel Baby.

With Much Much Love,

h,k,l,&w

amazing....

2009-10-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

Royal de Luxe - LE RENDEZ-VOUS DE BERLIN, DAS WIEDERSEHEN VON BERLIN from Nina. on Vimeo.

I have always wanted to visit Berlin. Would have been an incredible experience to have seen these giant marionettes.

Do watch the videos and also check out these fabulous pics.

I had a hard time finding the actual story in English, so I thought I would attempt a little translation of what I found on the official website. So, here goes....

"Long long ago, it was believed that Berlin was a marshland inhabited by giants. They supposedly planted roots in the water and massive trees grew, which they used to build their homes. In one of those homes lived a little girl giant with her uncle, the big giant. He gave his niece a wonderful boat for her to use to travel the continent with.

But one day a wall was created by giant waves in the middle of the city, which tore the two halves apart.

When this happened the big giant was separated from his niece. He was so upset about it that he flung himself into the river and from there he traveled the oceans searching for the sleeping geyser on the ocean floor. Many years went by until he finally found it.

He pulled the geyser under the wall of the city and woke it up in a wild way. The earth shook and the wall was washed away as it crumbled. A storm brought the boat of the young niece into motion and lifted the roots of the trees into the air.

When everything was calm again, the giant rose from the river and went searching.

The little niece giant awoke next to her boat and found a bag full of mail that was never sent. She decided to take them to the post office and began her journey through the city. During her travels through the city she found her uncle and they reunited in joy."

On the first of October, the French theater company Royal de luxe's presentation began in Berlin as a part of the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

interesting facts:

* it took 100 members of the Royal de luxe to operate the two marionettes and coordinate the entire story.

* they "live" in Nantes in France and are about 20 years old

* the girl can "breathe" with her lung apparatus (which can apparently be heard by on-lookers)

* they are made out of poplar and linden wood and steel. Their hair and eyelashes is made of horse hair.

* the little girl measures 7 meters in height, the man 15 meters

Hope that was interesting.

oxoxo,

absolut inspiration

2009-10-19T23:53:00.001-07:00

from this lovely blog

made in austria -- some favorites

2009-10-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Of course, there are the well-known ones:

Swarovski. Pretty glittery things that everyone loves to give and receive!

Here is a picture from their newly-opened Tokyo store.

I am going to be in trouble for not listing this one first (;-)), but Red Bull energy drink is also made in Austria. As many of you know, K worked for the company many years ago during their beginning. For seven years, to be exact, he worked for them in sales and on-premise management. We almost always have a few cans on hand and I have to admit I like the stuff, too.

The Original Sacher Torte. This is a special treat that I would definitely recommend when visiting Vienna -- with an afternoon Kaffee. Although the cake is dense, it is not overwhelmingly sweet, in my opinion. Traditionally the two layers of chocolate cake are separated by a layer of jam and the whole thing is covered in a chocolate ganache. No one really knows, though, because the official recipe is a well-kept secret of the Sacher Hotel.

And now, for some of the less-known gems:

Schilcher is (as Wikipedia best explains):

"a wine produced solely in the Austrian region of Western Styria (Weststeiermark), in the districts of Deutschlandsberg and Voitsberg, sharing a border with Slovenia and Carinthia to the south and west. The wine growing area is the smallest in Europe.

Wine from the Schilcher grape is also used for blending and for the production of sparkling wine. The wine has a strong acidity and is renowned for its exclusive aroma, often associated with strawberries. It should be drunk relatively young at a temperature of 9 to 11°C accompanied with traditional Austrian cold cured meats. Authentic Schilcher wine must carry the official emblem of the white horse (bred in Piber for the world-famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna) and also carry the official certification number of denomination."

The Schilcher wine region is located just 25 minutes south of our home. We've always been fans of this wine, although for many it is an acquired taste as it is remarkably acidic. It pairs wonderfully with the typical Brettljause (board snack) of the region, or, in my opinion perfectly with a soup made out of the pumpkins of the region topped with toasted rye bread croutons, pumpkin seeds and a generous dousing of pumpkin seed oil..... (wow, that was a convenient segway ;-))

These special pumpkins and their seeds and oil.... a daily treat for us on salads, but also wonderful as an addition to sweet dishes as well. One of my personal favorites is vanilla ice cream with these dark (and oh-so-healthy) pumpkin seeds (toasted) and then a drizzle of the dark green syrupy oil. The cold-pressed oil has a rich, nutty flavor and should never be heated. It is high in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and has a broad range of health benefits. We love most to purchase the seeds and oil directly at the farms that produce it in our region. They traditionally hand-paint a sign on the side of the road which indicates whether they have some oil to sell.

Wolford stockings and undergarments. Pretty-much world-famous. Wonderful stuff, and if you can swing it worth the splurge. I love these wool leggings -- would be great as an additional layer during our long, cold winters.

Popolini cloth diapers. I actually am a huge fan of cloth diapering. I used them with W up until a few months ago, when I simply couldn't keep up with the wetness of a large 2 year-old. I don't have any of these diapers, but I have looked at them many times and read only good things about them.

Fellhof products. This company, located in Salzburg (where The Sound of Music was filmed), creates the most wonderful products. My favorites are the lambskins for babies (especially cleaned and shorn), which we used with W after seeing how well it worked for our niece here in Austria. There are so many benefits of using lambs wool products, especially for babies (see info below). We found him to sleep better with it and we would just take it with us everywhere we went, and it was like taking his bed with him. The wool cleans itself naturally, so washing is very rarely needed (although possible on a cold setting(30 degrees Celsius)).

When we moved here last winter we invested in the stroller sack (below) and it is heavenly. It is huge and will be used again this year for sure. We even strapped it on the wooden sled that W rode on and tucked him in it. Even after hours of sledding (sometimes also at night!), he remained toasty warm!

This interesting information about lambskins comes from this website in the U.S.:

"Medical studies at Cambridge University have shown that lambswool pads have a soothing, swaddling effect on babies, resulting in better sleep, reduced stress, greater contentment and improved weight gain. Studies showing similar results have also been reported in the BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, LANCET, and THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL.

Researchers find when babies lay directly on lambswool, their activity rate is lowered producing a deeper, more restful sleep and promoting a faster growth rate. This is especially beneficial for premature and low birth-weight babies. Hospitals in England, Australia, and New Zealand have used lambswool pads to line their incubators for many years.

Wool has become a year-round mainstream nursery item. In the summer babies stay cool and dry when they are on wool because of natural air circulation through the fibers. In addition, wool absorbs perspiration and moisture more than any other material. Of course, wool also keeps babies warm in cool weather. Pure lambswool soothes and comforts baby with a soft, swaddling effect, reduces stress and restless movement, and promotes sleep. Wool fibers also limit the growth of harmful bacteria and are naturally fire retardent. It's hard to get all of these properties in one fiber!"

These baby swings are made out of thick wool felt. I have a thing for felt anyway. I love how simple and modern they are.

Zotter handmade chocolates are made with almost all locally organically grown products(except the cacao, of course) and Fair Trade certified. They have the greatest combinations like chocolate (usually high % cacao) with mango and brazil nuts or chili or bananas or cheese-walnut-grape. One of my favorites is filled with a lemon curd and another with the above-mentioned pumpkin seeds.

The list surely goes on, but fun to begin. I am learning constantly about the culture (of course) and about how much there really is to be proud of. For such a tiny country (roughly 8.3 million over 32,000 square miles), it truly is amazing. An interesting comparison: Washington State has an estimated 6.5 million inhabitants over 71,000 square miles).

my first ever giveaway!!!!

2009-10-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

This is so exciting! I was so thrilled when I found the community of women photographers of all levels on the website Clickin Moms. The amount of information, inspiration, and personal guidance was something I had never seen before, and on my first day of use I became quickly addicted!

From their website:

We are a community of women who have a passion for photography. Some of us are amateur photographers who just want to take better pictures of our family, some of us are hobbyists, and some of us are seasoned pros.

We learn from each other and help each other. We have all types of cameras, but most of us are working on our skills with our DSLR's. If you are in the market for a new camera, please ask our advice for body and lens recommendations!

This is a safe place to share your photos and chat about photography. Our forums and galleries are closed to non-members. All members must register through this site and Paypal, which makes it a more secure place than some of the free photo sites.

Our site features great and easy to understand tutorials, lessons and challenges. All of the contributions are from fellow members who are more than happy to help and give advice to one another.

All images from Clickin Moms

So, the giveaway is for a one-year membership to their website, which is valued at $50 USD!!!!

I can't wait to be able to give that to someone, as it is truly an amazing forum of women!!!

Wanna play? Just leave me a comment to this post ;-).

Happy Day All!

oxoxo,

** update 10.15: sorry for the lack of an end-date. I will have L "draw" a name on Monday the 19th!**

*************************************************************************************

Comments closed and the winner is

"Baboon!!!"

Congratulations! Please contact me with your email so can get you all connected!

*************************************************************************************

he did it!!!

2009-10-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Blown away. That's really the only way to put it. The dedication and mental training.... and the sheer physical exhaustion. To be a part of the event as a spectator was incredible. The energy vibrating through our beautiful city was only magnified by the open skies and spring-like weather.

The marathon began at 10Am, so K took the bus with our neighbor who was taking part in the relay portion of the race. His parents and the boys and I had a relaxed breakfast and then took our own bus into the city.

We had set a rough meeting time and place, but because K ended up running his first lap really fast, we had already missed him and the opportunity to hand him some isotonic drinks and "Power gel."

We figured out that we could meet up with him in another location, so made our way there. By that time, he had been joined by an old and dear friend who had originally planned on running the race with him (a family tragedy unfortunately changed his plans). He joined in for the last 12 km as K's pacemaker and support person. K was so thankful for this support, as these were the hardest kilometers, he says.

Here we are making our way from the first meeting place to the finish line to greet our K! This is the Jakominiplatz!

Waiting patiently at the finish line! L is standing inside the barricade waiting anxiously....

There he is!!! Even smiling! Amazing!!!

A very proud L!!! When I asked him if he thought he would like to run a marathon some day, he said "Mama, that's such a funny joke. Of course."

K's dear friend X, who helped him through the last 12 km!

Here's the map of the route they ran. Imagine this: the marathon began at the Opera House (where it says "Start" ;-)) and went for two full laps!!!! (you can click on the picture to enlarge it)

Here he is as he came through the finish line. Although the clock says 3:57, his actual time was 3:55 (it took him 2 minutes to get through the start -- as calculated by a chip that he wore on his ankle (along with all of the other participants)).

It was quite an event. They reported that there were runners from 42 different countries taking part. Will be interesting to see what the Vienna City Marathon is like in April (yep, that's right, he's already planning for another!!!).

So proud of him!!!

42 kilometers (or 26 miles)

2009-10-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

In other words, a marathon.

Sunday is a very important day for our family. You see, K has been training for his first ever marathon, and after months of incredible commitment, the big day is almost here. We are so proud of him. His parents will come on Saturday to stay overnight and then provide support on Sunday. I will be sure to account the occasion with photos-galore.

When we asked L what our "team" should be called, he quipped "we are the champions!" No matter what, K is surely our "champion" -- I am just hoping for a healthy finish.

The race, with a reported record 6810 runners, starts at 10AM in front of the opera house. Supposedly there is live music every couple of kilometers, snack stations with bananas and water, and a crowd of observers to rival any of the bigger marathons!

*photos from www.grazmarathon.at.

a dream is a wish your heart makes....

2009-10-07T23:39:00.000-07:00

It has officially been 6 months for us.

Six months of searching, of applications, of traveling to Vienna for interviews, of lowering expectations and expanding geographical search parameters and still being disappointed....

Please don't feel sorry for us. We are okay and we will be okay. It's just such a difficult time for so many, and we are just one of those many. We chose to make this move and after a much needed break of a couple of months, the searching began and still continues. K is truly amazing in his diligence, determination, and patience. But after over 70 applications and multiple rounds of interviews, as of today there is nothing.

We are oh-so-thankful for your continued thoughts, prayers, and any positive energy you might be able to send our way.

The "point" of this post is not to tell you that we are still unemployed. Rather, it is to tell any of you, our dear family and friends, who we have not yet had the chance to contact, that we will not be able to visit at this time. It is no easy decision to make, as there are so very many members of our "family" who we would love to see -- grandparents, parents, siblings, new babies, dear dear friends... and in November it will have been, after all, a year since we have embraced you all.

It is with a heavy heart that we tell you of our decision.

We promise that as soon as life feels a bit more secure we will make the journey and oh so happily at that.

Much Love in the meantime,

your h

a first, a second, and a third

2009-10-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

I love this pic. Can you see the "skip" in L's step???

September 21st marked a very special day for our L. It was for him:

:: his third preschool in his less-than 5 years

:: his second preschool during the less-than one year that we have lived in Austria

:: his very first first day of preschool

You see, in Yakima, he began in March, when a spot became open in the wonderful Montessori preschool there. The plan had been all along that he would begin there the following Fall. It was a really rough start to enter into the school year that late in the game. There were many tears....

When we moved here last year, we thought we would look to see what we could find and because the preschools (called Kindergarten here) are all free in our province, spots were very rare. We were glad when we found a half-day spot in one of our local public preschools -- the thought being that he simply needed to have something more to do that always "help" Mama and Papa unpack boxes, and to continue his social and language development. He began attending in February. It was fine, but just fine. The other children and parents were not welcoming or friendly at all and the transition was (again) rough for L, especially given the language issue.

The search for "something better" began as soon as we moved here. I compiled a list of preschools that were highly regarded, incorporated some level of Montessori pedagogy (as we felt strongly that it worked wonderfully for L), and wasn't too far of a drive. Then, with K's help, we called them all. We were added to monstrous lists everywhere, as the free preschool also applies to all the private ones, so everyone was suddenly eligible. We visited some and in the end, despite the guinea pig-stench and the dark old building, fell in love with this preschool. It is comprised of just one group of children (24 as of today) with three teachers (they are called "aunts" here), two of which have been there for 14 years. They have a full program which includes frequent visits to the theater, festivals galore, weekly day-trips to the forest during warm months, and three months where they don't use any materials (used to strengthen social development and prevent the ever-present need for "stuff" in order to play happily and learn). I know I totally gush about this place, but the truth is that it has meant the world to us, especially given how many other unknowns there still are, to have this magical place for L. As a side note, we have already put W on the list for next year. He would love to stay now already, and preferably play "store" and "house" with the little girls ;-).

The first day was great -- he was only there for a couple of hours. No tears, only big hugs. By the second day he didn't have time for the hugs. After the third day, he came home and told me "Mama, my Kindergarten is soooo nice."

Our favorite things:

:: they spend a wonderful amount of time outside in their "garden" -- doing what Maria Montessori would call "work," which is for the children only tons of fun. The other day they had a huge block of natural chalk and were working on it with all kinds of tools. The next day they had a huge tub of modeling clay for the kids. They have a garden house full of possibilities! They have an old bathtub full of the non-edible chestnuts that are to be found everywhere now. L loves to "bathe" in them! He was especially excited about the fact that they got to have a snack of nuts while playing outside the other day ;-). Which leads me to my next favorite....

:: they provide a nutritious snack and a warm lunch, which the "aunts" make themselves, with the help of the children. They have all these darling, child-sized tables in the kitchen, and the children are assigned to set the tables on a rotating schedule. They use table cloths and regular dishes. There are pitchers of water for the children on the tables so they can work on pouring their own. I got goose bumps the first time I walked in, saw this well-mannered but cheerful group of children sitting at these beautifully set tables, enjoying a homemade vegetable soup. They cook almost exclusively with local organic ingredients, and L is always coming home telling us how "lecker" (delicious)the food was. He loves to come home and tell us who he sat next to at lunch. They have a neat system for that: each child has a symbol which they got to choose upon entering the Kindergarten (where they hang their things, their spot is designated by for example in L's case a sunshine). They use place cards with these same motifs to "assign" the children their eating spot. It's so cool, because L is then always getting to sit with new children, and in his words "make more friends."

:: the children are all so sweet. Maybe that seems like an oxymoron, but in my experience to this point, it is not. They obviously are happy children, and it makes for a wonderful group to be with.

:: the parents are wonderful (no big surprise given the previous point, but nonetheless). The preschool is run not too dissimilar from the one in Yakima, except the parents and the "aunts" do everything and there is a lot to do, especially given that they remodeled this summer and the venture is not yet complete. From mowing the lawn to washing the laundry, to painting the walls, to buying and installing new curtains(my current assignment), it is all done by the parents. Now add in the fact that there are countless festivals throughout the year (including one this friday), for which the parents to a large part of the work. I am loving it, as the other parents are so friendly and warm and it's a mix of nationalities which means a lot to me especially.

Of course I had to make him something for his new adventure in Kindergarten. They needed to have an extra backpack for their exercise clothes (their regular backpacks will be used when they go on their forest expeditions!). I love the backpack from this book, but I don't have it, so I just sort of "winged" it and this is what I came up with (the inside of the bag is lined with that green "key" fabric. L picked out the felt creatures he wanted to have appliqued from this book (which we can't seem to get enough of right now), and told me exactly where he wanted them placed.

touching base....

2009-09-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

My apologies for being so absent. Life has been busy and full and rich.... Lots of travel, family celebrations, guests, more guests, and now the start of L's kindergarten (I will put a post up specifically about that asap, I promise)....

I just thought that I would touch base a bit here until I can get my feet a bit more on the ground. Grandma, this is especially for you, who I miss terribly and who I especially love for your devotion to this silly blog.

K's father had a birthday in August for which all the children and grandbabies (4) gathered at their home.

Opa certainly wasn't lacking in help with his candles. I think they got re-lit about 10 times.

Here the boys pose with our birthday gifts for my mom, which were of course packaged with some other small goodies and the boys' art work. We made her golf towels with fabric-photos of the kids to hang on her golf cart.... (down on the right hand corner of the photo you can see the little art gallery L set up so perfectly of their creations for Nana).

K's paternal grandmother lives only about 30 minutes away from us and still lives in the house she raised all of her 6 children in. The vast fruit orchards that were once tended by her now deceased husband are still in great health thanks to the loving care of her children (K's uncles mostly, I think). K's parents went to gather some of the fruit for themselves (she hopes that all will come and gather to spread the "love," make less work for the few, and reduce the chance that the fruit rots on the trees or ground). We asked if they would kindly bring us some as well. So, what does one do with some 20 pounds of gorgeous, perfectly ripe, organically-grown-with-love- by-family-for-generations fruit the day before leaving on vacation???? Make jam, of course!!!!

The boys were happy to put on their Pike Place aprons and "help."

Yum. We ended up with plum, blackberry-raspberry, and blueberry-red current jams. My favorite part??? K helped and had a blast doing so!!!

Here we are at K's maternal grandmother's 80th birthday celebration. The boys adore K's Oma, who they call Uroma ("Greatgrandma" -- which becomes "Umuma" in W-speak).

We were serenaded by the traditional Styrian music created by K's cousin and his friend, who are especially talented guitar and "Druckharmonika" players. L was really unhappy with having to wear the Lederhosen until he saw these two "cool" guys all decked out. The boys danced the afternoon away to their great tunes.

More shared candles....

As you are getting a glimpse of, our lives have been full and I keep waiting for the proverbial "slow down," to be able to blog a bit, craft some more, go for long walks, bake lovely goodies, but mostly to just eat up every moment just that much more....

So, I would love it if someone would.....

photo via d i s t i l l a t e

.... please make these incredible-looking lime tarts and tell me how they are!!!

Also, bis bald!
oxoxo,
h

welcome to the world sweet baby boy

2009-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

This video was taken on Sunday (the 6th) just moments after receiving the text message that very special friends of ours gave birth to their third child (another W!!!).... at an annual festival in a very special place called Altaussee in Upper Styria. This place was seriously so gorgeous, the homes so old and perfectly groomed with almost sickeningly amounts of the most perfect flowers.... Seriously, I couldn't stop talking about how "kitschy" it really was. We looked really strange since we were (honestly) the only ones there who were not wearing the traditional "Tracht" that is nearly required of guests of this fabulous party that draws from all over Austria. What a perfect birthday wish -- a song about what a beautiful day it is.

We love you guys and are so glad that your little W is here, healthy and happy. Life is good.

oxoxo,

the hills are alive....

2009-09-04T00:40:00.000-07:00

I promise I won't start getting all "Julie Andrews" on you, really. But, I do have to say that this post is almost sickeningly "kitschy." We have enjoyed some really wonderful weather during the last month, and although it has not lent itself to a lot of blogging, I assure you there is no shortage of photos on my computer.

Here, we revisit "our forest," which is growing and changing constantly.

Ahh, the lovely wild blackberries. Next year I want to plan to harvest the plentiful berries and make pies and jams.

He was so proud of his bouquet.

The view from the top of our hill.

I love these two trees. I photographed them the first time I was in the forest, and I seem to always be drawn to them.

Here we are at the "Wildalm" not far from K's parent's house.

L wearing his favorite t-shirt. A gift from Oma and Opa, it says "When Mama and Papa say no, I just ask Oma and Opa."

"Heidikraut"

The hut (Huette in German), our "landing spot," is at about 5,000 ft. elevation. The couple who lives in and operates the hut for 5 months out of the year are well over 70 and report that they have been "up there" for the last 19 years. They also care for the single cow who resides in the adjacent barn.

The barn where their solitary cow lives when she is not enjoying her freedom. They say she provides some 27 liters of milk each day, which is enough to drink, use in baked goods, and to make their homemade cheeses (Broeselkaese anyone??? anyone?) for them and countless guests during the season.

The "main attraction" after the hour-long (or so) hike up to the picturesque watering hole, is this: homemade cheeses (this one is soft with added caraway seeds), salami and speck, fresh garlic cloves, homemade bread and juice, water from the creek and beer. After that, we enjoyed what they call an "Almkaffee," which as far as I can tell is basically a warm, egg nog with the addition of some booze.... not sure which one ;-).

Here I am with W sticking our toes in the creek.

Schafgarbe (Yarrow) blossoms. We picked them and made juice out of them. Supposedly the Greek God Achilles used these plants to heal his wounds... they are believed to improve stomach or intestinal problems. Definitely a first for me.

This is a type of thistle that grows everywhere at this elevation.

Austrian pride.

The hut.

The barn.

W kept trying to turn the water off. This fountain (and the hut for that matter) is fed by the creek that runs through the land, and is probably the best tasting water I have ever tried. Guests typically bring their glasses over to enjoy the pure natural treat.

On the way home, some flowers and a house....

More to come, but for now I wish you all a lovely weekend. K and I are off to do some more hiking, while the boys enjoy the last of the Summer bounty at Oma and Opa's house.

oxoxo,

a little giggle

2009-09-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

In case you are in need of some laughs, just thought you might enjoy this.

Hugs from the four of us.

oxoxo

P.S. Much more to come soon, I promise.

wild things

2009-08-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

This just has to be shared. In case you haven't heard, the all-time favorite book of children and "grown-ups" alike, Where the Wild Things Are has been made into a movie. Oh joy.

Do gather any little ones and watch this. L can't get enough. Oh heck, neither can I!

I think it would be so cool to win this contest, and see the premiere in New York City on October 16th. Oh how magical New York is. A magical movie on top? With hotel and air? And an Urban Outfitters credit? Yes please. ;-)

Wishing you a magical day.

oxox,

sweet k is 3

2009-08-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

We were able to join the wonderful (and third!) celebration of K's brother and sister-in-law's oldest, K on the 9th. We played for hours in their rented "garden" just a couple blocks from their apartment in Baden bei Wien, a charming bedroom community just south of Vienna.

This "garden" is a virtual paradise for the children. Off to one side, they have an old, happy apricot tree that produces more fruit than they, their neighbors, family and friends know what to do with. It is beautiful and picturesque with it's partner, the hammock slinging from one branch to the neighboring apple tree.

Oh, the things they have planted and how lovely they are!!!! Her is what I can think of off the top of my head: A pear tree, countless raspberries, strawberries of various sorts, peas, tomatoes, grapes.... I am sure I am missing a ton. In any case, bountiful and such a joy for the children to harvest!

This doesn't even count the slide, the swing, the baby pool, the house of balls, the air mattress for use as a trampoline, the water pump in the middle of the yard, or the garden house that is full of toys and creative options.... what fun and oh the children had it!!!

Okay, on to some pics:

Here, the card L made for K -- he swore that their apartment house was blue. I love the windows and the two suns...

The inside of the card, which he of course got some help with. I love how he decided to sign his name. W signed too, of course.

The "birthday girl" with her Papa, M.

We were all so glad to be joined by K's maternal grandmother. Here she is with M, M's wife and K's Mama.

This is M & M's second daughter, I, who is now 10 months old.

I got to hold that delicious baby -- too fun!!

Uroma brought a huge box of the best treat: Krapfen. It is basically a donut filled with apricot jam and boy is it good!

The garden house...

Two babies in a baby swing!!!

We hope that you had as much fun as we did, K!!! Thanks again for including us!!!

oxoxo,

summer love

2009-08-19T05:02:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to have really wonderful friends. We had yet another great time with our very special friends M and T, who live near Vienna.

Photo notes: can't get enough of summer berries, this unforgettable flourless chocolate cake, our breakfast feast, W couldn't get enough of T, and L couldn't get enough of M, our favorite refreshment this Summer, a bathing boy, and more berries!

Danke noch einmal Freunde fuer den Besuch!!! Wir freuen uns auf ein Wiedersehen!!!

oxox,