tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103278582024-03-18T10:48:20.133+01:00In SoulGinnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.comBlogger1396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-2270878416348246392024-03-10T11:12:00.006+01:002024-03-10T11:13:54.102+01:00Den Bosch, NL, With Our New iPhone 15 Pro Maxes<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Believe it or not, it was <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2024/02/two-iphone-15-pro-maxes.html"><b>a month ago</b></a> that I posted about our new iPhone 15 Pro Maxes, the gifts Astrid and I received from Sander's inheritance. But it was 6 days later, on February 17, that we drove to Den Bosch (53 km/34 mi from home) to "practice" in earnest with them in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_Cathedral_(%27s-Hertogenbosch)"><b>St. John's cathedral</b></a> there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which is to say I need to quickly catch up...since we just returned from 6 days on Texel again, where we <i>really</i> "practiced." But first, Den Bosch.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've already made 2 posts on Den Bosch, first in <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2010/11/blowing-in-windand-den-bosch.html"><b>2010</b></a> and then in <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-den-bosch-photo-hunt-with-ayush.html"><b>2019</b></a>. So this isn't a post about Den Bosch, per se, but about the abilities and power of the iPhone 15 Pro Max camera, about which we're still learning and loving.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dRdV1ZQBkmhNMXLr1g2qz_7zgzCspcvYYb8UQFFdLyKh17cWrsqIj56LJi6Bfk6Kh0Br684jZNZmgbKOLJ5xLA0WeGy1pafOjOlXcpr6KXIXQK9BrFsLwS4fmVTqZhbEKr08sqSHKFFtMRifbhF7sTPlSZ3_UspGFJbdcdry_0JgO4YabX25I22H39Lg/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_2940S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="725" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dRdV1ZQBkmhNMXLr1g2qz_7zgzCspcvYYb8UQFFdLyKh17cWrsqIj56LJi6Bfk6Kh0Br684jZNZmgbKOLJ5xLA0WeGy1pafOjOlXcpr6KXIXQK9BrFsLwS4fmVTqZhbEKr08sqSHKFFtMRifbhF7sTPlSZ3_UspGFJbdcdry_0JgO4YabX25I22H39Lg/w400-h234/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_2940S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As we left the parking garage to enter the city, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieronymus_Bosch"><b>Jheronimus Bosch</b></a> welcomed us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was new for me, so, of course, out popped the iPhone for the first photo of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1REphG_XM7K-7Jtkap-jN-P-hZsQfTT8YQ8_fTmGrxds8lJxZcyHrWPGqck4sZONyg6R2JFWfBgjxvbnbmjAJsZv0Tq0wFJ68mYVoETA-PWamOxBCa2dDa69CHL_dehEZ0B9OKfb3lChAaSMln0f0A0g6n21DXGMjtLH3Y7pyv-CmkDQjvvggLCjGTma/s2000/Flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1REphG_XM7K-7Jtkap-jN-P-hZsQfTT8YQ8_fTmGrxds8lJxZcyHrWPGqck4sZONyg6R2JFWfBgjxvbnbmjAJsZv0Tq0wFJ68mYVoETA-PWamOxBCa2dDa69CHL_dehEZ0B9OKfb3lChAaSMln0f0A0g6n21DXGMjtLH3Y7pyv-CmkDQjvvggLCjGTma/w640-h480/Flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way into the city, I checked the camera's zoom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't bend down like Astrid (fake knee hurts when I do), so would the 5x zoom be good enough?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So far so good but you'll see it better later, inside the church. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstkqWWN0GLoqxvfgc30mA6UYsaUb0O0p_3GwCBc6wWtZoDshJc5iu00ABoWicVzK2PGunXYtUIByWvimCgSwFFT5gUafYMhrxqoSYCIxBmqfODJMj9lAPYLAJt5VrcaXkfRp2zWm5Wv9VXP37OiyNv0NSdA3wa9Yx2ynOpg8loZF2Kc2LG_eBIIq9L6w1/s2000/Latte%20Macchiato.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstkqWWN0GLoqxvfgc30mA6UYsaUb0O0p_3GwCBc6wWtZoDshJc5iu00ABoWicVzK2PGunXYtUIByWvimCgSwFFT5gUafYMhrxqoSYCIxBmqfODJMj9lAPYLAJt5VrcaXkfRp2zWm5Wv9VXP37OiyNv0NSdA3wa9Yx2ynOpg8loZF2Kc2LG_eBIIq9L6w1/w640-h480/Latte%20Macchiato.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we're wont to do, just outside the church we whetted our appetite with a latte macchiato.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See me practicing on the photo-blur focus (bottom-left)?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then it was all about using the B&W options...in this case, the <i>NOIR</i>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIhQoPpQPRFh8IJGZYJLo-dJiFJaDwH0EaiyD-oWLn8WTPC_vBRKkx0GdLsXRuaAAW21ViZQBbFSsmFSqAs7Gv4_O502-nl4cI32KC230yDkHX7MB7oYWEQJlimY-Bl0q4sGFY8pgP-XxO1L5TMYnhdPWIgeFYkB3CgHAwimcvJy_NZ3HSWz3nGWF0xQe/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2952S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="725" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIhQoPpQPRFh8IJGZYJLo-dJiFJaDwH0EaiyD-oWLn8WTPC_vBRKkx0GdLsXRuaAAW21ViZQBbFSsmFSqAs7Gv4_O502-nl4cI32KC230yDkHX7MB7oYWEQJlimY-Bl0q4sGFY8pgP-XxO1L5TMYnhdPWIgeFYkB3CgHAwimcvJy_NZ3HSWz3nGWF0xQe/w640-h338/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2952S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGbiF-bLJCK-wV7NtY-_ZJ8qdTri-HQbNfKScMzkX9Bzn-A0meoaLBsJ5vOLYVKF8eCKJnwum4uxyTNTeSQbJqZw1K_6uQe9aqyN7mZtCq4iLzj0Iu0yenXIluayhCYHR2npfpTMgvByOt1VUAT968zeVu94UiE4vc9XD35GwWn-yq2bvqVYXoqo2lYlj/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2958S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="725" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGbiF-bLJCK-wV7NtY-_ZJ8qdTri-HQbNfKScMzkX9Bzn-A0meoaLBsJ5vOLYVKF8eCKJnwum4uxyTNTeSQbJqZw1K_6uQe9aqyN7mZtCq4iLzj0Iu0yenXIluayhCYHR2npfpTMgvByOt1VUAT968zeVu94UiE4vc9XD35GwWn-yq2bvqVYXoqo2lYlj/w640-h360/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2958S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFxB4BceqKBaqT-qdVeYtHOjwzl5ayg50mE021J88POtMCV0Z2FVsfUSGMK9BoqP8Pci5PyQAtxrD9mHK6rrAtKTWzlAvrP9afBWtHXQ_RCAZU0IjvYXje64ci1qpI0WBs0SBvkCujwlW4fzAI7M8aJHOZf38yJKk-IPxZBV8Sc5aZumuoDoTzklsZspQ/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2961S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="725" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFxB4BceqKBaqT-qdVeYtHOjwzl5ayg50mE021J88POtMCV0Z2FVsfUSGMK9BoqP8Pci5PyQAtxrD9mHK6rrAtKTWzlAvrP9afBWtHXQ_RCAZU0IjvYXje64ci1qpI0WBs0SBvkCujwlW4fzAI7M8aJHOZf38yJKk-IPxZBV8Sc5aZumuoDoTzklsZspQ/w640-h342/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2961S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All 3 of these images were further tweaked in PhotoShop to make them warmer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it was clear to me that day that I had a penchant for the 16:9 size ratio and the <i>noir</i> option.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, once inside the cathedral, I first started with "normal" photos,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How would the camera handle the low-light ?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1mWxpCv7Jt7gTXzFR4PcgERkfV-GS4KhtxKVqrJYb00zK5VSzUYxPeUnSscVf65aU5DUevSjFD3pLG9LqPRUCFtTmvR_EdIXII7x6BngF_LoSb6QALdlfUpv6e5k3FAvaw2dfbKPUtT0stt3fNMWvluJcVexLzFGVc9MAZf2k59NeEk9DrvHajJ3CDVM/s2000/Nave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1mWxpCv7Jt7gTXzFR4PcgERkfV-GS4KhtxKVqrJYb00zK5VSzUYxPeUnSscVf65aU5DUevSjFD3pLG9LqPRUCFtTmvR_EdIXII7x6BngF_LoSb6QALdlfUpv6e5k3FAvaw2dfbKPUtT0stt3fNMWvluJcVexLzFGVc9MAZf2k59NeEk9DrvHajJ3CDVM/w640-h640/Nave.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The nave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1puWpqDWDRlzTtVr5kMPFbNtehQMFKwgZUZuAWVKs7RyQril1EyVXaiUW0nXjxfpIZAjchjTpbc2xmGtRcAcVCLxxqR98MxrxLls8FtGfjlGlsXFmrgQj8MJDuqfl_m3l7w5hQSzzOXq8c6r36m_PZXa6_d7VKi23uPw_qCtHojJfG3AoVaZzlAZuGks/s2000/Organ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2000" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1puWpqDWDRlzTtVr5kMPFbNtehQMFKwgZUZuAWVKs7RyQril1EyVXaiUW0nXjxfpIZAjchjTpbc2xmGtRcAcVCLxxqR98MxrxLls8FtGfjlGlsXFmrgQj8MJDuqfl_m3l7w5hQSzzOXq8c6r36m_PZXa6_d7VKi23uPw_qCtHojJfG3AoVaZzlAZuGks/w640-h576/Organ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The organ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VtyaAIEsNopjAEBHkuMERwwgm1HuRLDTxnGQb0mhmmyW3HYPd8miunMAAYNBMDgco7ShZZS-kVsTeREpK_zlf5Cugc-QV6LCR4HCAI3vgCmVpJZsdCjXzrEp3OxTFKLW5f7ZVoh5cyn1JGwa4QnBNM0XU6Nc9ecIlRs5Qz9Z5xxoSAkOAmAWAEqsplIc/s2000/Pulpit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2000" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VtyaAIEsNopjAEBHkuMERwwgm1HuRLDTxnGQb0mhmmyW3HYPd8miunMAAYNBMDgco7ShZZS-kVsTeREpK_zlf5Cugc-QV6LCR4HCAI3vgCmVpJZsdCjXzrEp3OxTFKLW5f7ZVoh5cyn1JGwa4QnBNM0XU6Nc9ecIlRs5Qz9Z5xxoSAkOAmAWAEqsplIc/w640-h576/Pulpit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The pulpit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of my COLLAGE photos in this post are SOOC (straight out of camera)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with tweaks inside the PicMonkey software.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu66zwtlvdonGz_2iwAN3P1GADZSbF4VlcBUj-4ouTa5FHLKCIkgAAXdgJH3R8aQrlyQL0BcfFDp3N1B4k7aCJ4do958Ic_JCOKBafiou9dPWTdLVf1a7Yn6G4IAir3hLk2KfOklongBiTEf977Ip1y29e2RQN_0clyrtEpL_jshqtAsQVlcnBxiZeGauD/s2000/Seeing%20Eye%20Pillars.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2000" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu66zwtlvdonGz_2iwAN3P1GADZSbF4VlcBUj-4ouTa5FHLKCIkgAAXdgJH3R8aQrlyQL0BcfFDp3N1B4k7aCJ4do958Ic_JCOKBafiou9dPWTdLVf1a7Yn6G4IAir3hLk2KfOklongBiTEf977Ip1y29e2RQN_0clyrtEpL_jshqtAsQVlcnBxiZeGauD/w640-h576/Seeing%20Eye%20Pillars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But would the zoom be strong enough to capture details I could get with my Canon camera???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my answer: see those 4 pillars near the "seeing-eye" cupola (top-left)?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, the zoom works!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc-DjteSAVeX7GVMdJyhcy2HTy6Z8Tzt8Unl1Nf31VYG219tzSMfxaUAFdcq8CV_6XgTzfoHZtkKoH6Hc0oiHQugS-aytzHRWbMynvYY6LQbclDaUh_jJhAlSPAlpkjJedc_KZiyJMGKKG3rf1BUo2PLxkLuPB5bF4aCc5EFZVs4vDvpBUrkvFQ7slBTF/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2977S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="725" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc-DjteSAVeX7GVMdJyhcy2HTy6Z8Tzt8Unl1Nf31VYG219tzSMfxaUAFdcq8CV_6XgTzfoHZtkKoH6Hc0oiHQugS-aytzHRWbMynvYY6LQbclDaUh_jJhAlSPAlpkjJedc_KZiyJMGKKG3rf1BUo2PLxkLuPB5bF4aCc5EFZVs4vDvpBUrkvFQ7slBTF/w640-h350/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2977S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY9eIH_S8oHuj2NQRek73tmWLUM0gNpYqKdHhxg8aTuqi1GO2lCEcvvI1VlJkuyL10Hn_K8MnQSaJ2OO7XGCnhGHCBpKvPpOT36Oty72d70q0qPlaJoGLKwWY269TvVwSqvrbyLg3DViQpKKALG-719B62pGEag2jEY5iokGNVeBTaV1OtIlxJJo4MJxp/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2984S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="725" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY9eIH_S8oHuj2NQRek73tmWLUM0gNpYqKdHhxg8aTuqi1GO2lCEcvvI1VlJkuyL10Hn_K8MnQSaJ2OO7XGCnhGHCBpKvPpOT36Oty72d70q0qPlaJoGLKwWY269TvVwSqvrbyLg3DViQpKKALG-719B62pGEag2jEY5iokGNVeBTaV1OtIlxJJo4MJxp/w640-h300/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E2984S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpdt5mXQZ_AiUu76pKIPWwJKuemnEAsecZQOei_rr3h7qAPJs8R12X-9sQnTtR7fKmuuxcW7GVZxSiDT2dn7VvZVKYP2aMbx4-JqdagpHC4cDjsNSS5WZ3x9ex5zH_7BP5EIKswPayhW7aBmB4icJV95qlyLZM_yWv03LYIe_FlRDY8ZUH7iNjvJsM72l/s725/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E3039S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="725" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpdt5mXQZ_AiUu76pKIPWwJKuemnEAsecZQOei_rr3h7qAPJs8R12X-9sQnTtR7fKmuuxcW7GVZxSiDT2dn7VvZVKYP2aMbx4-JqdagpHC4cDjsNSS5WZ3x9ex5zH_7BP5EIKswPayhW7aBmB4icJV95qlyLZM_yWv03LYIe_FlRDY8ZUH7iNjvJsM72l/w640-h338/Den%20Bosch%202024%20IMG_E3039S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you see, I then reverted back to my penchant for the 16:9 size ratio and the <i>noir</i> option,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">further tweaked in PhotoShop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzsWvnX-6sWoai0kukzlrTi5vkKjNZzuJ05T_aNoF7zXZo91Sncfwzfq0pWjjchJEIgNLhkL7NHdFPS9Kw_Q3qU_eyuO-js297kjZrg_ubY-dCms7AxlwC3DFIzyp4xu8cvkP6rvai7MykL1oZeVwd8tzQjOUWUPwyTvNXHA6xLDYdL0QZnS1ObhAtJro/s2000/Lunch%20Blur.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzsWvnX-6sWoai0kukzlrTi5vkKjNZzuJ05T_aNoF7zXZo91Sncfwzfq0pWjjchJEIgNLhkL7NHdFPS9Kw_Q3qU_eyuO-js297kjZrg_ubY-dCms7AxlwC3DFIzyp4xu8cvkP6rvai7MykL1oZeVwd8tzQjOUWUPwyTvNXHA6xLDYdL0QZnS1ObhAtJro/w640-h640/Lunch%20Blur.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the church, we had a delightful lunch where I practiced again with depth of field/blur.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It takes getting used to but is actually very user-friendly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Den Bosch, February 17, 2024: our first photo hunt with our iPhone 15 Pro Maxes (our Sanders, as our Dutch friend, Marjolein, calls them!). It was a great start on the learning curve....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait till you see Texel again, this time through our Sanders. In both photo hunts, I never once used my Canon PowerShot camera. That doesn't mean I'll never use it again, of course, but one does wonder what the advantages will be for taking it along on every trip?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">As a BTW, we both had iPhone lanyards around our necks holding our phones the entire photo hunt,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">which we highly recommend for those fearing loss, dropping or grabbing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">They're also nice for those hand-free times you need.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-81115896641415989242024-02-11T09:32:00.002+01:002024-02-11T09:32:28.845+01:00Two iPhone 15 Pro Maxes<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">This is one of those for-the-record posts so that we don't forget the how/why/what/when/where parts of the story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in November 2021, Astrid bit the bullet and bought her first smart phone, which was an iPhone 12, all about which I posted <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/01/an-iphone-12-camera-odyssey.html"><b>here</b></a>. In October 2022, almost a year later, I followed suit with my own iPhone 12, because I was totally impressed with its camera for inside shots in particular.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That was then; this is now.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we realized we'd get a bit of a windfall from Sander's inheritance, after <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/05/alexander-henricus-johann-wijdekop.html"><b>his death</b></a> last year, I told Astrid that as his "gift" to us both, for all the blood, sweat and tears, why don't we upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically for the camera. It was the only thing I wanted from him but I didn't want to have the better phone camera without her having it too. She was convinced enough to go along.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So this past Thursday (in sync with our 14th wedding anniversary on Monday the 5th!), we did the same routine as in 2021: we drove to Amsterdam's Museumplein to park, walked to the Apple Store a couple blocks away (with a quick latte macchiato along the way), picked up our new phones--with help in transferring everything from our old phones in 45 minutes, walked to Wagamama a block away for a celebratory lunch, and then drove back home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXug96b0AoY70f6FvAVt-bQ2agkinU-bbkGZRnC4H5p_EMQd0QZQ6FT5zRezphGArC6cnbeHa1jZz1wOlrir7JEXYfk0A3fY7ofbREAoWWTzinKA8OS59_W3tXkw73S8wYWyvOMTw5aw0VGOf2zxJ0EOPTy-Tz0LvMUg_yJcBq7AnqR66Mdle_y_Kxsvq0/s1000/IMG_2878S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1000" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXug96b0AoY70f6FvAVt-bQ2agkinU-bbkGZRnC4H5p_EMQd0QZQ6FT5zRezphGArC6cnbeHa1jZz1wOlrir7JEXYfk0A3fY7ofbREAoWWTzinKA8OS59_W3tXkw73S8wYWyvOMTw5aw0VGOf2zxJ0EOPTy-Tz0LvMUg_yJcBq7AnqR66Mdle_y_Kxsvq0/w400-h299/IMG_2878S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our celebratory lunch (last photo with my iPhone 12)!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now we're playing. It's a new learning curve, besides the fact that the Max part of the phone is what gives it a 5x zoom, instead of the 3x for simply the Pro. Since the phone camera is what we both use for certain situations, exceeding the strength our our Canon PhotoShot cameras, it was important to "go for broke," getting the best, which should last us a loooooooong time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xcMEC8-AilrwxczLBbt7cCutTwy9QAm0BQUKDVi01_VAAoTpOca0OH_piyoaNzKbQRG9BxXkGH9-wPTmQNbyacTOrOO8RR2gMLpyXyZYGKQIbQtH4GekqsFjhHH5UOUbNlIreR7SnLgzMmJuSFotGmNt94W41DX9EhxlpiZ5S05SPqh1Q-34JqKAaga3/s1960/Car%20iPhoneS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xcMEC8-AilrwxczLBbt7cCutTwy9QAm0BQUKDVi01_VAAoTpOca0OH_piyoaNzKbQRG9BxXkGH9-wPTmQNbyacTOrOO8RR2gMLpyXyZYGKQIbQtH4GekqsFjhHH5UOUbNlIreR7SnLgzMmJuSFotGmNt94W41DX9EhxlpiZ5S05SPqh1Q-34JqKAaga3/w476-h640/Car%20iPhoneS.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, YES, I started playing around in the car, especially with the depth of field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJQWpTf3Pd2Wdu0hmCqCX8GWCEYO1BXmanZJVn6aiGdvL3tg1HUw3XQGkO8gMNN2E7sXyDIIn8PGGm02R23OBlrbKXOu387vWwl99Ae5xeH7Y72YaMk2-qVvBBcu-cbeRw1uJTX_jKyNvl1pGCYulaZOI5JNVOwCWPjuESRE63WhSzh2Q4BIqR6tV9SSc/s1960/Apt%20iPhoneS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJQWpTf3Pd2Wdu0hmCqCX8GWCEYO1BXmanZJVn6aiGdvL3tg1HUw3XQGkO8gMNN2E7sXyDIIn8PGGm02R23OBlrbKXOu387vWwl99Ae5xeH7Y72YaMk2-qVvBBcu-cbeRw1uJTX_jKyNvl1pGCYulaZOI5JNVOwCWPjuESRE63WhSzh2Q4BIqR6tV9SSc/w476-h640/Apt%20iPhoneS.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then at home...options galore to explore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS_3aO5AGjlSi2w04-z7R_Wdvi-g3IAktpdsaVx30faOe7_NUwDbZi3iLpr1kFHSkw0wYnx_FHBCSZpQBgp2s7Qkw4neLUmZNt14_1Xn3Ua2TlSyNzSssGBvZ3yPxi_oGI6YKLqpkz_WsBC5dmxg75Fag37y6EgMiM-YXAdBeOqYgHM12iLsUYsJCWgmB/s1960/iPhone%2015S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1960" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS_3aO5AGjlSi2w04-z7R_Wdvi-g3IAktpdsaVx30faOe7_NUwDbZi3iLpr1kFHSkw0wYnx_FHBCSZpQBgp2s7Qkw4neLUmZNt14_1Xn3Ua2TlSyNzSssGBvZ3yPxi_oGI6YKLqpkz_WsBC5dmxg75Fag37y6EgMiM-YXAdBeOqYgHM12iLsUYsJCWgmB/w640-h558/iPhone%2015S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid, too, is exploring...at our Happy Hour (top--Willem's shoe) and at home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfnpJdR4EwW4TVf7rxDVcWJ5PUDFkaX_aS6gA4XfLEXyUrl7TF025OvlQIJH_UIhQ1WAwofmRDU2LeghidnWOD79yf0gF2DFjpoHE8sx5tALxJ6yPmlYeIH9dm05csoH7Z2waT60MKeNwZ2pNz3jU0laAEIHc4ivTlj_U_2_48KGOGRcYPQVnLwdRyMTD/s1958/iPhone%2015%20OutsideS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1708" data-original-width="1958" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfnpJdR4EwW4TVf7rxDVcWJ5PUDFkaX_aS6gA4XfLEXyUrl7TF025OvlQIJH_UIhQ1WAwofmRDU2LeghidnWOD79yf0gF2DFjpoHE8sx5tALxJ6yPmlYeIH9dm05csoH7Z2waT60MKeNwZ2pNz3jU0laAEIHc4ivTlj_U_2_48KGOGRcYPQVnLwdRyMTD/w640-h558/iPhone%2015%20OutsideS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and then on her bike ride yesterday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon we'll make a date to go out somewhere together, just to play around with our new "cameras." We'll continue to use both of our cameras, of course, because the Canons give us incredible zoom (70x) for when we need it. We even bought travel cases with straps for our iPhones, so that we can strap both phones/cameras around our necks to use interchangeably. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How's that for teaching old dogs new tricks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thank you, Sander, for the tear and the smile.</span> </span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-33279547706898680262024-01-18T14:10:00.007+01:002024-01-18T14:11:47.041+01:00The Start of 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It actually begins with 2023 when the Netherlands recorded its wettest (and warmest!) year since official records began in 1901, with December also the wettest on record. You might recall in my last post, about son Mark's visit from December 9-17, that we had lots of rain!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And because Astrid is the early bird (who gets the worm!) for walks, this is a post of HER iPhone 12 photos (in my collages) to show how we've started this new year weather-wise. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9278QHs20wdimnFq3aP9AP20CijWj97Kx3dZGTjWQ48lxXd4CDLL8vOF7yxfPMcjc8b3XnExoGoeZdGOpIXkOvWH2YWw5M3G3T8-dwnN8oAdPvM2WsRYXps134OMKO0J1LKo1h75Im2c6RUpxk-ZpGJRP2dZp89ngFg7Tjpb1W2AV0RcYfJtYX2gY-CRw/s1960/Highwater%2012-26-23S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9278QHs20wdimnFq3aP9AP20CijWj97Kx3dZGTjWQ48lxXd4CDLL8vOF7yxfPMcjc8b3XnExoGoeZdGOpIXkOvWH2YWw5M3G3T8-dwnN8oAdPvM2WsRYXps134OMKO0J1LKo1h75Im2c6RUpxk-ZpGJRP2dZp89ngFg7Tjpb1W2AV0RcYfJtYX2gY-CRw/w640-h640/Highwater%2012-26-23S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On December 26, our 2nd Christmas Day, she walked our citadel wall to get the lay of the land,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">itching to see what the high-water mark was, after all the news about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's a lot of water, especially when you see trees in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-9yrbaRpc2N9WEf-jhBdRdm9WjWeYZd8kOeRh3mVZ3TeGFXKRKWykse5hvigNos2DfDXHtLEWR-7nNJscjYjCc1kysS1b43j4Ue26fmlePl4JnjFAAGwaI1PL92uuMrH6dU_CYUqjEXf-DRrqMP3y1_7P30YUHXMasnlP1iZdiP07GznX4Omviznvhwt/s1968/Highwater%2012-26-23%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1668" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-9yrbaRpc2N9WEf-jhBdRdm9WjWeYZd8kOeRh3mVZ3TeGFXKRKWykse5hvigNos2DfDXHtLEWR-7nNJscjYjCc1kysS1b43j4Ue26fmlePl4JnjFAAGwaI1PL92uuMrH6dU_CYUqjEXf-DRrqMP3y1_7P30YUHXMasnlP1iZdiP07GznX4Omviznvhwt/w542-h640/Highwater%2012-26-23%202S.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gorinchem, our city, sits on the northern bank of the Merwede river, which needs water, of course,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for its constant traverse by barges to and from Rotterdam and Germany.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But even this was a bit too scary for comfort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By January 9th, when the rain was stopping but the temps were dropping to freezing point,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's emphasis changed to the rising sun, as Gorinchem awakened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkGN1sXHBqpQGphZ-d8IdTkfkCSBcm6e7oPqsKEceUVSJOV5_tqwiQhahtkYwmqqIySYpqRXVF-nemvnRdpz8_djjbvIYD2hJqavD69P9mSu74rolVd4tyNXT-vBHw4XfRKsUh6t5F77GliTbcHBIIvRkr_APyLouJ9CsBN-lhg-WnCem9NG1VtSVUJ3M/s4030/IMG_1510SC%20Bike%20Friday%202024%20Gorinchem%20citadelwalk%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="4030" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkGN1sXHBqpQGphZ-d8IdTkfkCSBcm6e7oPqsKEceUVSJOV5_tqwiQhahtkYwmqqIySYpqRXVF-nemvnRdpz8_djjbvIYD2hJqavD69P9mSu74rolVd4tyNXT-vBHw4XfRKsUh6t5F77GliTbcHBIIvRkr_APyLouJ9CsBN-lhg-WnCem9NG1VtSVUJ3M/w640-h272/IMG_1510SC%20Bike%20Friday%202024%20Gorinchem%20citadelwalk%20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62yem9H6xY-uteAuYc1HZtJxTj4T2VCnzZKJH-ZQE0ge2GOS5p6LcSqEWQOQLjANca9ln32LT2PBOlCCLHFjbuOuq9uOf484FrgmOk_q7eFJuFZjaoVSc9IKL-jO1Luxv46zIA8Rh0owmxGxxqZppSGCXmyZAxKtHc3WwwWj8gN_SFPCXBI9EBVsxOUVW/s3953/IMG_1518SC%20Early%20morning%202024%20Gorinchem%20Citadel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="3953" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62yem9H6xY-uteAuYc1HZtJxTj4T2VCnzZKJH-ZQE0ge2GOS5p6LcSqEWQOQLjANca9ln32LT2PBOlCCLHFjbuOuq9uOf484FrgmOk_q7eFJuFZjaoVSc9IKL-jO1Luxv46zIA8Rh0owmxGxxqZppSGCXmyZAxKtHc3WwwWj8gN_SFPCXBI9EBVsxOUVW/w640-h470/IMG_1518SC%20Early%20morning%202024%20Gorinchem%20Citadel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDqG0QjxExaw6fYrgFbl0uhsDZfg_AplAqvgbhakPwMNj6nGWTA20hPWDrqbDP7Q_i77ie9PLIbnjmCjuCgMPAl6bWNyRFo-zSodX2893ON9hNY9MGIPoQA1fr_dYbyzI5OyfFYHzP2z6q8B_2gPxNq1pJ9O2ajP-DBgpnDRecr0QFj1A5s41UwpMXzOS/s4032/IMG_1532SC%20Early%20Morning%20Gorinchem%202024%20Citadel%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDqG0QjxExaw6fYrgFbl0uhsDZfg_AplAqvgbhakPwMNj6nGWTA20hPWDrqbDP7Q_i77ie9PLIbnjmCjuCgMPAl6bWNyRFo-zSodX2893ON9hNY9MGIPoQA1fr_dYbyzI5OyfFYHzP2z6q8B_2gPxNq1pJ9O2ajP-DBgpnDRecr0QFj1A5s41UwpMXzOS/w640-h480/IMG_1532SC%20Early%20Morning%20Gorinchem%202024%20Citadel%20walk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All 3 of these last photos are her "manipulations" for our Shutterchance photoblog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you just love them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-_qllUmflvG_ivSVdThUy1vH8CyM3LsN1cs8ypIssNOjtTLYVsZv2T8NUFj02MksRqZPh7s3UZDYebz2ZFuu4ycuDrls8HPF4Oxs1756FMy3P6O9gXFSD9Do68TR4IoDBXpa079_RXNC4UN4XwOLRPghkqGDAZfgv62sJhnt433HGYe-ger9AHlCrU_P/s1968/Snow%2001-16-24S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-_qllUmflvG_ivSVdThUy1vH8CyM3LsN1cs8ypIssNOjtTLYVsZv2T8NUFj02MksRqZPh7s3UZDYebz2ZFuu4ycuDrls8HPF4Oxs1756FMy3P6O9gXFSD9Do68TR4IoDBXpa079_RXNC4UN4XwOLRPghkqGDAZfgv62sJhnt433HGYe-ger9AHlCrU_P/w640-h640/Snow%2001-16-24S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, guess what! On January 15, this past Monday, it started snowing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You might be thinking, "So what," but we can go years without snow here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Astrid went out early the next day to take these photos. </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLHCidAmIcYZG_P_LOpxdV06OKn4ZBB6sIXWUREwgdVWUOMNpWC9bh04gA5moinRuy8T_KJ3pojBNPgoof8sNX75DDW8lj4BvXTJ1A62Djx54nZYAe_WOuMgP3Wc4SwSp6AFYSBCQoYPJVoZx1f9S_kfEfsYLj24Iki6EXLweLBEv_8BZY2HJ5SQnwcJC/s1960/Snow%2001-16-24%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="1960" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLHCidAmIcYZG_P_LOpxdV06OKn4ZBB6sIXWUREwgdVWUOMNpWC9bh04gA5moinRuy8T_KJ3pojBNPgoof8sNX75DDW8lj4BvXTJ1A62Djx54nZYAe_WOuMgP3Wc4SwSp6AFYSBCQoYPJVoZx1f9S_kfEfsYLj24Iki6EXLweLBEv_8BZY2HJ5SQnwcJC/w640-h541/Snow%2001-16-24%202S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each day she returned, I told her I was envious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really am...even if I don't make the effort to go out early (8-ish) with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm more than eager to praise Astrid's efforts here and give her the glory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She deserves every bit of it, as you can see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I want YOU to see it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">THANK YOU, ASTRID!</span></div><p><br /></p>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-5218180884963374212023-12-28T17:27:00.000+01:002023-12-28T17:27:00.200+01:00Son Mark in the Netherlands, 2023<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">The last (and only) time my son Mark visited us here in the Netherlands was in <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2018/10/son-mark-in-netherlands-2018.html"><b>October of 2018</b></a>, 5 years ago. Needless to say, it was high time to have him back, even though we had just been with him a month earlier. He favors the colder weather, so it was a no-brainer to come now.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thus, from Saturday to Sunday, December 9-17, Mark graced us with his presence!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWu1Lq-pMNxJZ7rLblablDN_J442uzr4lFQNHwquD4jZfAtyMU-hkv17iDd7qVZiZe3kDFh6NwWT_GRZNvN5pZYjLyarIaHBX_-Cxlux3hSbs2sxzCknZRQkGv29fJktl1LOU2XLq6dmPrmBySZ2xeIb2mE67b7Lood40zRdMbuTaq43QzvcJV0vVE-F_/s1964/AirportS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1964" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWu1Lq-pMNxJZ7rLblablDN_J442uzr4lFQNHwquD4jZfAtyMU-hkv17iDd7qVZiZe3kDFh6NwWT_GRZNvN5pZYjLyarIaHBX_-Cxlux3hSbs2sxzCknZRQkGv29fJktl1LOU2XLq6dmPrmBySZ2xeIb2mE67b7Lood40zRdMbuTaq43QzvcJV0vVE-F_/w640-h216/AirportS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you just love airport meetups!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rather than depict each day's activities the way I normally do, here's the overall feel of the week, to show the territory we covered, even though it was rainy most of the time (and still is!). We all were troopers and did what we could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5NmEhp8GU9c9thkWdCbP7tOPOYgsQN9RlmqQGI5tjA6-X_ytGnsEobRsXZOiqU0UEFhGxNYtQtbmGtLCsmiAYL_aI21fsPNdo-S7el7e5BZlx3uEf1OAqC9LBMz0cOSU7fUL0j7c0X4PYgsf3ysskkI0BolxT0XkXG7fLV8bmO1YwbKuhIGZHodfUlXW/s1964/Femke%20and%20JeannetteS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5NmEhp8GU9c9thkWdCbP7tOPOYgsQN9RlmqQGI5tjA6-X_ytGnsEobRsXZOiqU0UEFhGxNYtQtbmGtLCsmiAYL_aI21fsPNdo-S7el7e5BZlx3uEf1OAqC9LBMz0cOSU7fUL0j7c0X4PYgsf3ysskkI0BolxT0XkXG7fLV8bmO1YwbKuhIGZHodfUlXW/w528-h640/Femke%20and%20JeannetteS.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Femke and Jeannette, our dearest friends here, always rise to the occasion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">whenever we invite ourselves over with my kids. We all just love it. Can you tell???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a good way to start off the week (Sunday) after Mark's long flight the day before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgkFcdjX15LB5vs8e-N_qJEpVyAknR_LYBwIWh8RTXYW5o7G7aZ3rXY0IKlXbk7SJGsjvE2TEcv_W9cXE1yXcpSTZTOaZ8n7yKF8kqF9cCLfxsNRmEiDHbrb7q36N6ZPv39n0zr41YmSBhbhBUFi_knPw9X5pX7aN6P01Q0EYrsbGK5zRnD5h-nZ2o0eG/s1960/Woudrichem%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgkFcdjX15LB5vs8e-N_qJEpVyAknR_LYBwIWh8RTXYW5o7G7aZ3rXY0IKlXbk7SJGsjvE2TEcv_W9cXE1yXcpSTZTOaZ8n7yKF8kqF9cCLfxsNRmEiDHbrb7q36N6ZPv39n0zr41YmSBhbhBUFi_knPw9X5pX7aN6P01Q0EYrsbGK5zRnD5h-nZ2o0eG/w640-h640/Woudrichem%202S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a restful stay-at-home day Monday, Tuesday was a morning-lunch outing to <a href="https://nl-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Woudrichem_(plaats)?_x_tr_sl=nl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc"><b>Woudrichem</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">across the Merwede river from us, ending up as one of our only sunny times all week for 2 hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, yes, that's the nearby Loevestein castle (bottom-right) where we took him last time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRODkhDFcq3HokXO37bH5RKRmwe0sDS7Ua3gA86Q89pmvGm_si9W4wgRykfgkn4UI8Ckv-O6EXjIOdFLQgtqzzyruCGmseGkZOUgYwjWSQ8gYhVKqDNZKdtH0wDDQQcbwLJan9PBmHoqMnt5-xDsm3qNTTz4CUtttV3G2nkJsCahbKLM_9ra7oRbvGkYOL/s1960/Woudrichem%20EatsS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRODkhDFcq3HokXO37bH5RKRmwe0sDS7Ua3gA86Q89pmvGm_si9W4wgRykfgkn4UI8Ckv-O6EXjIOdFLQgtqzzyruCGmseGkZOUgYwjWSQ8gYhVKqDNZKdtH0wDDQQcbwLJan9PBmHoqMnt5-xDsm3qNTTz4CUtttV3G2nkJsCahbKLM_9ra7oRbvGkYOL/w476-h640/Woudrichem%20EatsS.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's an adorable, quaint city we love for our guests,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">especially because we can eat on the barge docked off shore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Yb8f8ZONXGnU7_437_4qIiasSfnlLs0dbkY8dWyTlO6JsBHxiAlZrikNvZOJ3WpaZo_tnSE6XDXgYabwi6gKcF9t2HUxlBT0SiCs7xLaDquaUkXtnP9Iv1gFjpbJg-NYrqwCcZg-IJWT_kxvPZdJ7s-leRUkY5m84me_iu2CZHJlU5dKPAkbCI0GHb5I/s1960/WoudrichemS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Yb8f8ZONXGnU7_437_4qIiasSfnlLs0dbkY8dWyTlO6JsBHxiAlZrikNvZOJ3WpaZo_tnSE6XDXgYabwi6gKcF9t2HUxlBT0SiCs7xLaDquaUkXtnP9Iv1gFjpbJg-NYrqwCcZg-IJWT_kxvPZdJ7s-leRUkY5m84me_iu2CZHJlU5dKPAkbCI0GHb5I/w640-h640/WoudrichemS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly, right now the city is so flooded that we would NOT be able to park or walk to the barge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But that day, we were in heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kxg_M8G8qtYO1bzVrK-wtOs_3JGh58g6gziPbThJKT9yOkn5j0lEmfR6RPB2jHVfwoc9ZWY0OJnOBrr3FqOAY_qlq7zew8Sr4jZYSjghfrPKcbX8JoKjV4VdyqSuJ__bMg7UeRUHnyQwOBbyUOgZTt38RR2iwZNkGR8WIlXcd274zuIWnOQdWZTivnoY/s1964/BiesboschS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kxg_M8G8qtYO1bzVrK-wtOs_3JGh58g6gziPbThJKT9yOkn5j0lEmfR6RPB2jHVfwoc9ZWY0OJnOBrr3FqOAY_qlq7zew8Sr4jZYSjghfrPKcbX8JoKjV4VdyqSuJ__bMg7UeRUHnyQwOBbyUOgZTt38RR2iwZNkGR8WIlXcd274zuIWnOQdWZTivnoY/w638-h640/BiesboschS.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day after lunch, Wednesday, we drove out to the nearby <a href="https://nl-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Nationaal_Park_De_Biesbosch?_x_tr_sl=nl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc"><b>Biesbosch National Park</b></a>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to breathe in the silence and beauty of the place. No sun but also no rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi-gi3xbo1IYuAgD8cZ01oef1FpZR06m6dBVEm4mrdy3MSJgipEDyEqHuhyphenhyphenijipvHbp73MU2FNYIOjgD-tChbrUQ85g5BOE963btraAdA-K8aPDJHmRaJCnjM-l1keugj4uQeYj8N0qC25bj0_s4szKSbPdedHPIByzy7PwCJchKpwY3uh6h5aUDIvlQu/s1976/Jeroen'sS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1976" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi-gi3xbo1IYuAgD8cZ01oef1FpZR06m6dBVEm4mrdy3MSJgipEDyEqHuhyphenhyphenijipvHbp73MU2FNYIOjgD-tChbrUQ85g5BOE963btraAdA-K8aPDJHmRaJCnjM-l1keugj4uQeYj8N0qC25bj0_s4szKSbPdedHPIByzy7PwCJchKpwY3uh6h5aUDIvlQu/w640-h430/Jeroen'sS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That evening was a lovely "platter" meal to meet up with Astrid's son's family,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">including both kids and Jaap, Astrid's ex. Jeroen (age 35) and Mark (age 48) are step brothers, so</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> getting re-acquainted was important to them both. The last time they met, Hailey was just 3 weeks old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoedRxaW1CBCLvmQmZVlauy8ds9Ny0AaaJ2EKPftczKtBXiNnKRX2KGVaWBDa4HWcfPUHIDjyIYmZ5vzOn6HZr4pYF1TkG8LYdVaydp7pLS6vmh9lQpY9tErEof5CZpZU_slflN0_Ol2pJQHlXugvWiSL7Xlk0K5hiQ7ohvRTzZs7NTOUnT-Ahd_MINPO/s1978/HaileyS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="1978" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoedRxaW1CBCLvmQmZVlauy8ds9Ny0AaaJ2EKPftczKtBXiNnKRX2KGVaWBDa4HWcfPUHIDjyIYmZ5vzOn6HZr4pYF1TkG8LYdVaydp7pLS6vmh9lQpY9tErEof5CZpZU_slflN0_Ol2pJQHlXugvWiSL7Xlk0K5hiQ7ohvRTzZs7NTOUnT-Ahd_MINPO/w640-h592/HaileyS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hailey, now 5, has her own step-brother, Sem (only 5 weeks older), so they, too,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">got acquainted with Mark. Daughter Amy had sent pj's for Christmas for them to color,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">which was a big hit...even if it <i>will</i> take them forever to color, even with help.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGoohqhiRIMXbZotuPdNq0CqDIOLWOcpR5F0CrZwjeUGoSCO4Q3f7fdK8vvp46R5BSbQcb4Z4zpsXSMEx0pZKm5WyP8WZAUK6fC7g2NADJdzWROmU-8z6xxAL7dsfagEpu4nSYNGG2N4gzFxa5bWtpDB10iE0XwHcoCoEib5ooeIU4Qd_J8UlL4XYPqcv/s1972/DomS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1972" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGoohqhiRIMXbZotuPdNq0CqDIOLWOcpR5F0CrZwjeUGoSCO4Q3f7fdK8vvp46R5BSbQcb4Z4zpsXSMEx0pZKm5WyP8WZAUK6fC7g2NADJdzWROmU-8z6xxAL7dsfagEpu4nSYNGG2N4gzFxa5bWtpDB10iE0XwHcoCoEib5ooeIU4Qd_J8UlL4XYPqcv/w640-h430/DomS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our big excursion of the week (Thursday) was the 2.5-hr drive to Cologne, Germany,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not only to add another country-notch to Mark's belt but to visit the Christmas markets there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since we parked right at the Dom (cathedral), and it was still rainy, we started with it inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was Mark's first cathedral experience!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQZgjFNnyF7GRx-SlLs0HhCcLxMU-DA28b4fqs-nks3KJTm0U8saTh6REQONCL8WlNMqarRzemMj6PD_qCULePdw1yEVnwzQMlzsyaonyJWcXFpDBfqLo4bngzwF2csav9vAaCVjZZG9gwiR9yZyXWSntTEv0zu_61tRqRKEtf9BfzwGOjKNMSgx8baRp/s1970/Christmas%20MarketsS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="1970" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQZgjFNnyF7GRx-SlLs0HhCcLxMU-DA28b4fqs-nks3KJTm0U8saTh6REQONCL8WlNMqarRzemMj6PD_qCULePdw1yEVnwzQMlzsyaonyJWcXFpDBfqLo4bngzwF2csav9vAaCVjZZG9gwiR9yZyXWSntTEv0zu_61tRqRKEtf9BfzwGOjKNMSgx8baRp/w640-h558/Christmas%20MarketsS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the time we started the markets, the rain had stopped !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoAD9FnTt1lPGl1XeYBoY1cb5OKPP0z1Ge0B5ww02DLkDiX-eTTtzjoBIVbCbar9l5ertutEYwXbIdbP96TxKTB4FEo6Kid15fkw5VhBs2w4YJURs4_y2_LWgpuqE5wjJ0niWYMQ-YUrA7cELiYeq2IdzHfEqyxM2xSD8vHr325LYl0l5eaikxbKJIKbH/s1964/Cologne%20EatsS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoAD9FnTt1lPGl1XeYBoY1cb5OKPP0z1Ge0B5ww02DLkDiX-eTTtzjoBIVbCbar9l5ertutEYwXbIdbP96TxKTB4FEo6Kid15fkw5VhBs2w4YJURs4_y2_LWgpuqE5wjJ0niWYMQ-YUrA7cELiYeq2IdzHfEqyxM2xSD8vHr325LYl0l5eaikxbKJIKbH/w638-h640/Cologne%20EatsS.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark specifically wanted a German pretzel, which we all got (and loved),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">plus a good sit-down meal with traditional German food (think brats and sauerkraut).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbHi1OObpYqo2B7RYm1kmYHX70da7jh5Aq2Zx0yZYXHlla8kB5B0X0TWNa3-C-Vz1vw470ol280kNT18pTCPJKql8e2GMZb43emtG73ie0ALiVtYem4Y0IfFNNiIg0r7sA-QmfmVzdzl0VqsQ-CRWRgi0gZfRaxCBpirX-C5dpY4-xsO-VdDOOI9E82pJ/s1960/Astrid%20and%20GinnieSS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1960" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbHi1OObpYqo2B7RYm1kmYHX70da7jh5Aq2Zx0yZYXHlla8kB5B0X0TWNa3-C-Vz1vw470ol280kNT18pTCPJKql8e2GMZb43emtG73ie0ALiVtYem4Y0IfFNNiIg0r7sA-QmfmVzdzl0VqsQ-CRWRgi0gZfRaxCBpirX-C5dpY4-xsO-VdDOOI9E82pJ/w400-h278/Astrid%20and%20GinnieSS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Mark]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KkvMSnJ0E3yENCvZWM7fdKDJFs_LM4r5p13v_pYIvOHwjPaZfG7mbVXc33bsXAWFluH4_lF_oLaq1DpAKSVps-SO2xQeKl7ojvEVvPLpctzo3WLKbAXDSrwhiwIpB-G1-NnUNAXHKiY9jvIhBdO3ytVXXv3Rv0e9HddByuIN7ksvuMCU8YNFC-29DcJx/s1964/Happy%20HourS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1964" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KkvMSnJ0E3yENCvZWM7fdKDJFs_LM4r5p13v_pYIvOHwjPaZfG7mbVXc33bsXAWFluH4_lF_oLaq1DpAKSVps-SO2xQeKl7ojvEVvPLpctzo3WLKbAXDSrwhiwIpB-G1-NnUNAXHKiY9jvIhBdO3ytVXXv3Rv0e9HddByuIN7ksvuMCU8YNFC-29DcJx/w640-h216/Happy%20HourS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friday afternoon was our Happy Hour here where we live.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark was a good sport to join us, playing 5 Crowns with me to pass the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Truth be known, Astrid, Mark and I played a LOT of 5 Crowns while he was with us that week!]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFWAqmUrrG1-onV9ddPT2xXpXY9gwCw331loGhVNLxKKJZMaOHouOO5ZccuMC5c6q5eoep9Y7rQvSA4doN9jg2nrviwMlX-XxcWJaIkAzvphk8Zov-xQGv7aI_QkuivjvDM0LHvLMMn0qFL3mNB_ehZjQeX66TA6Es_drBjCJmgaDOkvWkpSMz2pYDJxW/s2048/Ginnie%20and%20Astrid%20Leerdam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFWAqmUrrG1-onV9ddPT2xXpXY9gwCw331loGhVNLxKKJZMaOHouOO5ZccuMC5c6q5eoep9Y7rQvSA4doN9jg2nrviwMlX-XxcWJaIkAzvphk8Zov-xQGv7aI_QkuivjvDM0LHvLMMn0qFL3mNB_ehZjQeX66TA6Es_drBjCJmgaDOkvWkpSMz2pYDJxW/w400-h300/Ginnie%20and%20Astrid%20Leerdam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Mark]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Saturday we ate lunch at a favorite restaurant in nearby Leerdam...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsLhaduhBcghs_ItdLLt8PU8zN-PJA-U5ek7hvBWtM8bjK6K-ZGaNn4TIgdikIyiZddn2BUdywViC5eZABD61fb_irLrC0BcxI6Uu-qXdKE86cDBualgKBedmDja1L1HxubwtB6i0AdrOmkVru_3I15IiwQf-4lUELQPJ8FbSXwigZtUtWV_rcbR56S5v/s1968/Santa%20RunS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="1968" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsLhaduhBcghs_ItdLLt8PU8zN-PJA-U5ek7hvBWtM8bjK6K-ZGaNn4TIgdikIyiZddn2BUdywViC5eZABD61fb_irLrC0BcxI6Uu-qXdKE86cDBualgKBedmDja1L1HxubwtB6i0AdrOmkVru_3I15IiwQf-4lUELQPJ8FbSXwigZtUtWV_rcbR56S5v/w640-h574/Santa%20RunS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after which was our city's annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/santarungorinchem/?locale=nl_NL"><b>Santa Run</b></a>, that we were thrilled to share with Mark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Afterwards, as we walked through town, he bought 3 apple beignets for us to share </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at home with Astrid's homemade hot chocolate. What a treat! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day, Sunday, came too soon to say good-bye till the next time, but with the holidays fast approaching, it really <i>was</i> time to bid farewell, knowing the memories would remain...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGptPS9bVyDJ96vm56PY4tatx0DTzqQKHLUmXGkgLn-rkhi7HrxhkL_D5HQt-m9dJHxx8PgAUeucGnF_W1UOA2O1bznbW1qdf_YCJQvFjt36Gn0D95bOaNQ8zOsX-V4ZNC-xITIbxgyg8vxRvg_sEq-WETYcPn_oymgeTgDVCOZTJfSOg2DSfeBpfd-pqB/s1960/Mark%20and%20GinnieS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGptPS9bVyDJ96vm56PY4tatx0DTzqQKHLUmXGkgLn-rkhi7HrxhkL_D5HQt-m9dJHxx8PgAUeucGnF_W1UOA2O1bznbW1qdf_YCJQvFjt36Gn0D95bOaNQ8zOsX-V4ZNC-xITIbxgyg8vxRvg_sEq-WETYcPn_oymgeTgDVCOZTJfSOg2DSfeBpfd-pqB/w640-h640/Mark%20and%20GinnieS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother and son!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By now, Christmas has come and gone,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">but the "passing of the years" this week means 2024 is around the corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Are we scared, ready or what?????</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE69y1Kc32ACyotJbo1sf6QN55FTQd1g2wm_SZNqbhkdK_rM2Nbp5yOoHsyy0mPrPBeSt6f5pdGp8RjzMAevYQYRh_xldUSRtCMxDI5CpjCCD5JLIEATLgmn-SA_BANmEz-OHXcxYBkcgWhBqw5oqmobAkqbrdDA9vt3uGHDzMat0CaEbwlhXutcfwS7GA/s1956/Astrid,%20Mark,%20GinnieS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1956" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE69y1Kc32ACyotJbo1sf6QN55FTQd1g2wm_SZNqbhkdK_rM2Nbp5yOoHsyy0mPrPBeSt6f5pdGp8RjzMAevYQYRh_xldUSRtCMxDI5CpjCCD5JLIEATLgmn-SA_BANmEz-OHXcxYBkcgWhBqw5oqmobAkqbrdDA9vt3uGHDzMat0CaEbwlhXutcfwS7GA/w400-h278/Astrid,%20Mark,%20GinnieS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Mark--in the Cologne parking garage elevator]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;"><b>to us all!</b></span></div><p><br /></p>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-19509065455718202902023-11-30T17:23:00.000+01:002023-11-30T17:23:03.073+01:00Merlot: Our New Car<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's another for-the-record post, lest we forget (and before November flies off the calendar)!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was an unexpected decision, to be honest. Astrid had just completed a major maintenance on our 2013 Škoda Citigo on September 19, including a new battery and brakes, making us feel like the car was good to go for at least a couple more years...until out of the blue, a couple of days later, I asked her if she thought this might be a good time to trade it in on a new car. Surprisingly, she had been thinking the same thing the day before, without telling me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, there you have it. Both of us were on the same page and our guy, Pedro, said that at 80K km, we were at the sweet-spot for selling it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">BUT, Škoda stopped making the Citigo after 2019! Bummer. We really liked the car and didn't fancy anything else...until Pedro said that the VW UP! car is almost exactly the same car, which we might be interested in?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward to quick decisions and Astrid LOVING the merlot-red he showed her, followed by us visiting him to make the deal the week before we left for America and picking it up 2 days after we returned, on November 10. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvlFQKRv4VqyltWKMPOKWZlUpwPBR1t8eFPNgAFStTXa92Rq-wMqovuDYLZTyIROHyYfM3FzDP_B5bw4dGysGKxfWi4Z1XqkhSpwbewnoRBBMCt05lhkOrFgs5MVLNtLZVB8jdElNk5-X_rrqUPFSN6x1QtTd5jfRYZVZTViaHrRlGfu12BCoWSbv52Yt/s1960/VW%20UP!4S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvlFQKRv4VqyltWKMPOKWZlUpwPBR1t8eFPNgAFStTXa92Rq-wMqovuDYLZTyIROHyYfM3FzDP_B5bw4dGysGKxfWi4Z1XqkhSpwbewnoRBBMCt05lhkOrFgs5MVLNtLZVB8jdElNk5-X_rrqUPFSN6x1QtTd5jfRYZVZTViaHrRlGfu12BCoWSbv52Yt/w640-h640/VW%20UP!4S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The red car on the dealership floor the day we made the deal was the car we bought...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">with only 17 km on the odometer. I</span><span style="text-align: left;">t's a 2023 car and the last year VW is making this model.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">European car makers are now gearing up for their electric cars.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUmdiMZ_h_3SkG8n6cp0p7fnLd3cICI-SS_H6CrO4wxGLKzukqygO1PKlLQxL-xLexUL_MRp4jfrjcH9adPeuCE57vtaecDIXxFETjDdCfp351eAQYn2nsuMrsi6hVOLghfIs3cNgsVNRizPvwcey1W8Qu1Qi4YypkolFfphwx3K_IJHsHP_Jh6SjqijF/s2000/VW%20UP!%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUmdiMZ_h_3SkG8n6cp0p7fnLd3cICI-SS_H6CrO4wxGLKzukqygO1PKlLQxL-xLexUL_MRp4jfrjcH9adPeuCE57vtaecDIXxFETjDdCfp351eAQYn2nsuMrsi6hVOLghfIs3cNgsVNRizPvwcey1W8Qu1Qi4YypkolFfphwx3K_IJHsHP_Jh6SjqijF/w400-h300/VW%20UP!%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the 3rd car Pedro has sold us</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and, each time, he has presented it to us like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvW8n8lsBn4oF7tb4QBb3dUIa83ZHCkJAL8GyQp_NG__wBmyEL4ND3F8Rv60LjU7A6hV0_J2yvBVpe1KJ3yg0LKzEik-ZOdM9jWQgVHEhyMjLsYNnAihysDH-ldMYjKXGN-7J0Kmpp5ZjaFOfg2I43RxGGAsrrY3n7w4sjUFaQTB9afKoCtkUX1U8j3kl/s1968/VW%20UP!S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvW8n8lsBn4oF7tb4QBb3dUIa83ZHCkJAL8GyQp_NG__wBmyEL4ND3F8Rv60LjU7A6hV0_J2yvBVpe1KJ3yg0LKzEik-ZOdM9jWQgVHEhyMjLsYNnAihysDH-ldMYjKXGN-7J0Kmpp5ZjaFOfg2I43RxGGAsrrY3n7w4sjUFaQTB9afKoCtkUX1U8j3kl/w640-h640/VW%20UP!S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It really WAS like opening a present! How fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And until we decide otherwise, we're calling her Merlot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The reason why I say this is for the record is because we really DO forget...until we look at the past posts and remember: "Ahhh, yes, THAT'S what we did and THAT'S how it happened."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I arrived here in the Netherlands on December 5, 2009. We got married on February 5, 2010, and bought <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2010/02/going-green.html"><b>our first car</b></a>, a 2010 Daihatsu Cuore, from Pedro on March 5, a month later:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoRiqsO8HrhjwuA3UCccr-AYYwaNem6EZ-xQXhjL9YDg-iuadaevboq1Y0ZiGN2naRDUa7F8Lkpf5pz4dxwfO94vMJYFMdwq5yjg5_b9zTfvlI-Kllx4typmseHkXNyZEHMOZDjjJHcLcriV4z6wjX8PIRA9zB6tK4cA7e4_H77joYQ0TYZdFN60aQ5GZ8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoRiqsO8HrhjwuA3UCccr-AYYwaNem6EZ-xQXhjL9YDg-iuadaevboq1Y0ZiGN2naRDUa7F8Lkpf5pz4dxwfO94vMJYFMdwq5yjg5_b9zTfvlI-Kllx4typmseHkXNyZEHMOZDjjJHcLcriV4z6wjX8PIRA9zB6tK4cA7e4_H77joYQ0TYZdFN60aQ5GZ8=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>We called her Granny Towanda</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because of Granny-Smith green apples and <i>Fried Green Tomatoes</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0G1C8ui6y-ZYpo4HfZMT3mfv-kXhU6yxsFJQEZHtNdrsjLHufX1fWVW4dgniA6AUoyeTSkfw06bfPmSAeKjyU3V-DNuKb_EX5zLm8-Ur8hm4MS8Ag249rReMOZLL0DH9K3-VRuj4g7XZfmUotTv_2JXRlxz30-xrG-QOGUE2ZJ2og8_611HdH4SsyUWGY/s973/Skoda%20Citigo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="676" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0G1C8ui6y-ZYpo4HfZMT3mfv-kXhU6yxsFJQEZHtNdrsjLHufX1fWVW4dgniA6AUoyeTSkfw06bfPmSAeKjyU3V-DNuKb_EX5zLm8-Ur8hm4MS8Ag249rReMOZLL0DH9K3-VRuj4g7XZfmUotTv_2JXRlxz30-xrG-QOGUE2ZJ2og8_611HdH4SsyUWGY/w444-h640/Skoda%20Citigo.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fast forward 4 years to January 2014 when, at 48K km, we decided to trade her in for <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-commercial-break.html"><b>our second car</b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No longer cost-effective, Daihatsu had stopped making the Cuore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Pedro was now selling Škodas and sold us a 2013 demo that had 6,500 km on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her official color was <i>silverleaf</i> but quickly became our Sand Dollar, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">never a true silver, especially when parked next to silver cars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There you have it, again. Our guess is that this will be our last car before we're forced to go electric. Right now Europe is way behind America in infra-structure readiness, so that could easily be several years from now. Our Škoda Citigo lasted us 10 years, so we expect nothing less from our VW UP! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, maybe by then neither one of us will be driving anything anymore! HA! (We really aren't getting any younger.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BTW, 16 years ago today I met Astrid in real life for the first time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>HAPPY ANNIVERSARY</b></span> to us!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-11856169239939669942023-11-19T11:01:00.004+01:002023-11-19T11:11:47.274+01:00Our Atlanta Trip 2023<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Just like clockwork, it's that time of the year again, when we look back on our annual reunion with my kids in the Atlanta area, which just happened October 19-November 7.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We've settled into a 3-part routine, now that son Mark has his own house: Amy's house, the cabin, and Mark's house. It works like a charm, 3 years in a row thus far.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">1. Amy's House in Roswell, GA, October 19-26 (Thursday-Thursday):</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEis1u-t5d_4trsBvMN0otRUAubDG_Z9pZJ62Oj83mZ_kiEfssePd0w9nF4FnRABqmzhoYxuM62XD_ETZwGxbXgoF_2D9Z2tzsG8ZjQgWG81yV4oxspkEboreVOWk1p-B-KGnArRX1CGy0bA3C67Zd4n9Ma9HbgSy_lbDUh_6osH-VeLWylmau2ZdASagJjb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEis1u-t5d_4trsBvMN0otRUAubDG_Z9pZJ62Oj83mZ_kiEfssePd0w9nF4FnRABqmzhoYxuM62XD_ETZwGxbXgoF_2D9Z2tzsG8ZjQgWG81yV4oxspkEboreVOWk1p-B-KGnArRX1CGy0bA3C67Zd4n9Ma9HbgSy_lbDUh_6osH-VeLWylmau2ZdASagJjb=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a 24-hour travel day for Astrid and me on Thursday, arriving late at Amy's,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which, for the record, will change going forward (says she who is too old for this sh**).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, Friday was our day to settle in before Angie joined us for Mexican that evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Angie has been Amy's BFF for years and finally got to meet Astrid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1-TocVko1zsanPKtnj71WdHoKdmuVM1C_bB-5Adm39is3N82bSHDNtTUw7Aa4EZfnJQBBX80wxJ6LxEnymzNftSbLotdwNotjqagGivevfLdhlssKw_JyztRZ0pP4goTGW5JwwbLrtVMGdno4oZ_Z3eces57kDk4j_gBgJ90MvZSU6qwKCSoEw13y8SCP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1-TocVko1zsanPKtnj71WdHoKdmuVM1C_bB-5Adm39is3N82bSHDNtTUw7Aa4EZfnJQBBX80wxJ6LxEnymzNftSbLotdwNotjqagGivevfLdhlssKw_JyztRZ0pP4goTGW5JwwbLrtVMGdno4oZ_Z3eces57kDk4j_gBgJ90MvZSU6qwKCSoEw13y8SCP=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid, btw, had a chance to walk the neighborhood that day while I went through mail, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9Aqf54W2zXsSJj5apXM4cml2iQ8iI1WEMozjMucAI0i8R7RBEcUvwYsCaHMKlXMvl9USII0LvXYvWv5a2G04kmZMHGKtl69bny8wP8DAubCfTMBvO7hC4u0NJYt68QrIjdV3F7F1p9wqUgs0rzKBE-6Z07F8Edg2ww5NqzB3HAE7oEe_qR14ZdhyI7qmZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9Aqf54W2zXsSJj5apXM4cml2iQ8iI1WEMozjMucAI0i8R7RBEcUvwYsCaHMKlXMvl9USII0LvXYvWv5a2G04kmZMHGKtl69bny8wP8DAubCfTMBvO7hC4u0NJYt68QrIjdV3F7F1p9wqUgs0rzKBE-6Z07F8Edg2ww5NqzB3HAE7oEe_qR14ZdhyI7qmZ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday was game day (MICHIGAN football), so Amy helped get me in the mood. HA!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hadn't even had a sip of her Bloody Marys before something set me off laughing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was probably the celery "trees." 😁</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif2U0Y1ICr_Y807TrifVpBjvLQYRWfmkzf6w0UeYRtlOY-MUHo-2DeA7opXgByo-UVkIWp4hQvfoHv-oM_kbqbtd0fz7Vda2-f4H578YOqM-I8Y152qxbbiNFuBoqg4m_5nkr3duoxbuZJcrGvkIlxYyl7CU66WfgsN-galsUCP69ttxx4LIxDjQnxn6vC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif2U0Y1ICr_Y807TrifVpBjvLQYRWfmkzf6w0UeYRtlOY-MUHo-2DeA7opXgByo-UVkIWp4hQvfoHv-oM_kbqbtd0fz7Vda2-f4H578YOqM-I8Y152qxbbiNFuBoqg4m_5nkr3duoxbuZJcrGvkIlxYyl7CU66WfgsN-galsUCP69ttxx4LIxDjQnxn6vC=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The good news is that son Mark joined us at Amy's for a 'wings" spread before the evening game...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and also that MICHIGAN blew out the game against rival MICHIGAN STATE, 49-0.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For all the times I've sat through nail-biters, it felt good to finally just relax.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I neglected to mention that Amy treated us to brunch that Saturday morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at her favorite Kona Grill, continuing a tradition she started with us last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHVRI3SUBU7jhvpBfn-y78RWBfNQ5-6qv375Gakoeb9D_CY7xbGv8sHzyQh0lLuk2VhfWczkBeSvJLtzfCae-1NsmTCgGVUDGg-UaK3Bo7sPZnw_o9l6SzjsYz4p85RhWmctH02tem8IlmVIZwWrxuxy9JwGh2bBQ0FXcU4w5K674tpb8X2cFVDDzyOEN/s1000/Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1000" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHVRI3SUBU7jhvpBfn-y78RWBfNQ5-6qv375Gakoeb9D_CY7xbGv8sHzyQh0lLuk2VhfWczkBeSvJLtzfCae-1NsmTCgGVUDGg-UaK3Bo7sPZnw_o9l6SzjsYz4p85RhWmctH02tem8IlmVIZwWrxuxy9JwGh2bBQ0FXcU4w5K674tpb8X2cFVDDzyOEN/s320/Book%20Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, because Mark was there, this was when I gave both kids my new book, <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/11/hart-whispers.html"><b>Hart Whispers</b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7kdAzfdC9bcgOXD-1IwdYs5w7Flkcsqz8rpVPYhggrteNH2WY5oXaadE7T3-N5huuTGlLamVaeE947WvVhim4cbG75-Jm241i1AQPsa47wEfi-ExlJF6u2lZLCqLpJl-oi9q4pZZrdu5KbLoKozjgrkl7GkI9Xm0Vizx_tv8jTk3qO94u83-uzCvryx8w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7kdAzfdC9bcgOXD-1IwdYs5w7Flkcsqz8rpVPYhggrteNH2WY5oXaadE7T3-N5huuTGlLamVaeE947WvVhim4cbG75-Jm241i1AQPsa47wEfi-ExlJF6u2lZLCqLpJl-oi9q4pZZrdu5KbLoKozjgrkl7GkI9Xm0Vizx_tv8jTk3qO94u83-uzCvryx8w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday was grocery shopping, playing games with Amy, and watching an evening movie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At some point Astrid and I also took walks in the lovely neighborhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF7Yt5t3BC5oNhIfFNI-_uoHm1DWNVcz19Lx8axyyKwtHegOc5Y1Rz66gW3HtikqFYmr00vw_wDEAN5C5nMCbFoHoB9xyknWoXGzsMJEw4qs4riLmu1oFulwU2CsKASeEEpG1kokxbgmbJeNUIhJ7859ogIB1HCs4Wiv7DvnqRkiN4sUCSvJ7i4mdq19hu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF7Yt5t3BC5oNhIfFNI-_uoHm1DWNVcz19Lx8axyyKwtHegOc5Y1Rz66gW3HtikqFYmr00vw_wDEAN5C5nMCbFoHoB9xyknWoXGzsMJEw4qs4riLmu1oFulwU2CsKASeEEpG1kokxbgmbJeNUIhJ7859ogIB1HCs4Wiv7DvnqRkiN4sUCSvJ7i4mdq19hu=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Monday morning we took a walk at the park along the nearby Chattahoochee River,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a tradition started 2 years ago, and a favorite of ours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1hzsgHJUSTKTfbgUn4O2xWKAwZT4SiAJgkfH-XbAjgQkZE5s8p1baqrAvahFAkidTJQEj0rnz0P9s3Uy7YdKp-w1IlnBijMZniCrEaRVkhFcMXki9rPbJ6mEykax3aV0j_LJiJ2wi8B13Lib809febEj8j69LsaxbCP2YNBq-W0Ly9Sv3bxRra3TtdY4d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1hzsgHJUSTKTfbgUn4O2xWKAwZT4SiAJgkfH-XbAjgQkZE5s8p1baqrAvahFAkidTJQEj0rnz0P9s3Uy7YdKp-w1IlnBijMZniCrEaRVkhFcMXki9rPbJ6mEykax3aV0j_LJiJ2wi8B13Lib809febEj8j69LsaxbCP2YNBq-W0Ly9Sv3bxRra3TtdY4d=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was Amy's "take" on us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin3-0coNLjkeR1LZdrUUXTroq-jLCbR1uWNTE0sbiy9Mt57vhlJf9kEnkaN3JX3yknugwqLm1gxx1YNKGQHLLJR_rMDuVdI53VacoIVx2urIHDiwM39HMEEB5nVqYS2KyqDnwr8L_gOcpkIJ7yDhngpLbWSu68LUeuwM5kb1fhOTqNC9Dsp6_1L2tpVvpY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin3-0coNLjkeR1LZdrUUXTroq-jLCbR1uWNTE0sbiy9Mt57vhlJf9kEnkaN3JX3yknugwqLm1gxx1YNKGQHLLJR_rMDuVdI53VacoIVx2urIHDiwM39HMEEB5nVqYS2KyqDnwr8L_gOcpkIJ7yDhngpLbWSu68LUeuwM5kb1fhOTqNC9Dsp6_1L2tpVvpY=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That evening she treated us to one of her favorite meals: clam linguine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a first for me and was delicious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieVbavEoqrS0HusF_HLKuq6dqE3DHo1P8CXBf-UlAa8aWemtkz5Ey5xz0Eo5lD3e25XCFxp-Ev6kNWanc-xUe2dtTgMnoqJuN7X1d0t2rou0Mx04ytIjUIXbwdo__pxgKIbAXPcEdFLvMX8pwbGoQ_2WU7u1xrI1YBo-O_dh1XAVOeFSf1Dt8IiBiwaHAn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieVbavEoqrS0HusF_HLKuq6dqE3DHo1P8CXBf-UlAa8aWemtkz5Ey5xz0Eo5lD3e25XCFxp-Ev6kNWanc-xUe2dtTgMnoqJuN7X1d0t2rou0Mx04ytIjUIXbwdo__pxgKIbAXPcEdFLvMX8pwbGoQ_2WU7u1xrI1YBo-O_dh1XAVOeFSf1Dt8IiBiwaHAn=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tuesday's big event was eating lunch at <a href="https://www.opentable.com/j-alexanders-dunwoody"><b>J Alexander's</b></a> where g'son Nicholas works in the kitchen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a proud moment for Mom and G'ma to watch him work,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as well as enjoying him for a few minutes while on break,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nicholas is now 23.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio6Mz7r2aFEFrHV4JVeuI9IJoso95dd7LDEi6qwPxg_IGsr092VEHz8TJQbHk5af-51WtrNajm46q6CDaVYu7w9PGrEJJs2gpS4BzsTKHAcrOv0c0MVdJPICf6tPUfSbpYaBg_t25io39aN4qBawt9TN-SgVkiHpBjgxtgWK0_p9K8yjolMrplaSAx9yzx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio6Mz7r2aFEFrHV4JVeuI9IJoso95dd7LDEi6qwPxg_IGsr092VEHz8TJQbHk5af-51WtrNajm46q6CDaVYu7w9PGrEJJs2gpS4BzsTKHAcrOv0c0MVdJPICf6tPUfSbpYaBg_t25io39aN4qBawt9TN-SgVkiHpBjgxtgWK0_p9K8yjolMrplaSAx9yzx=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another walk from Astrid outside the neighborhood on Wednesday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm-29A7qi0-5H0u71tTZpes3Jia4rcneeyOMa3_dlVoLfkXRbHIar64GikHkd9muNthdtjov8DQIqsaCdAsKlalNOpalXJjW1jPvJm-7JEQWxZSru2FDDE808nFHQ4WS9o69xGbKlXf5ki4DHGc-kyy3joq5aS9ogfwixnwTVkox6fZEaRXIAsaJmCl_LQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm-29A7qi0-5H0u71tTZpes3Jia4rcneeyOMa3_dlVoLfkXRbHIar64GikHkd9muNthdtjov8DQIqsaCdAsKlalNOpalXJjW1jPvJm-7JEQWxZSru2FDDE808nFHQ4WS9o69xGbKlXf5ki4DHGc-kyy3joq5aS9ogfwixnwTVkox6fZEaRXIAsaJmCl_LQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as well as restringing the lights on Amy's Japanese Maple tree in her terrace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She had done this once 2 years ago, lasting 6 months before the squirrels chewed them off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year Amy has a mint spray to apply twice weekly to hopefully solve the problem!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I guess we'll find out next year...but talk about a labor of love, twice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">2. The Cabin in the North Georgia Mountains, October 26-30 (Thursday-Monday):</span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What we all love about this middle time is that it's neutral ground where we can all live together for 5 days in the same house, forgetting the outside world and just having fun. "Eat, drink and be merry" comes to mind.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_DWv7nyKDZQzz-w7NUtTQPDoIa3Tcli-sqlhgeD9RjJdzmUh1IX5-C8A9e05RJGsVZnGyRiU90AT2Hf5BAkxfAh15RpKZy0M-VoEu0diNb-jBf2te5baGL75haxmLwWONzZl3ByAaaWcq8wqvIUn44zAkKxvPwuiCvcWs6sLHRp85EnzpIcFhi9YgPdL/s4000/IMG_3438.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_DWv7nyKDZQzz-w7NUtTQPDoIa3Tcli-sqlhgeD9RjJdzmUh1IX5-C8A9e05RJGsVZnGyRiU90AT2Hf5BAkxfAh15RpKZy0M-VoEu0diNb-jBf2te5baGL75haxmLwWONzZl3ByAaaWcq8wqvIUn44zAkKxvPwuiCvcWs6sLHRp85EnzpIcFhi9YgPdL/w640-h640/IMG_3438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First of all, it was a new cabin for us this year, in one of the valleys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We won't choose it again because we all decided we love the huge windows of the other cabins better,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">allowing us to overlook the mountains surrounding us. But for this time, it was was lovely and cozy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5p2NEZ59GCUBOH8eWBEwiftEwbOmWWUZl3xR28wYaRRxJhGkuJj_RMJnyxbW_M6Qyngv5FoyLZ92oxcxhz0vVRjUwtP69TXVaS7ZTK8AdZc3p5wgrcoom_r9fUZzTQD6BykOOChZbKyrC5kdQFm_TXAICjWD5uNw40RhD1hL1NtV-UICABK5ZcNImruA/s4000/IMG_3440.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5p2NEZ59GCUBOH8eWBEwiftEwbOmWWUZl3xR28wYaRRxJhGkuJj_RMJnyxbW_M6Qyngv5FoyLZ92oxcxhz0vVRjUwtP69TXVaS7ZTK8AdZc3p5wgrcoom_r9fUZzTQD6BykOOChZbKyrC5kdQFm_TXAICjWD5uNw40RhD1hL1NtV-UICABK5ZcNImruA/w640-h640/IMG_3440.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard to say what's most important to us in those 5 days, but my guess is it's the food,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">around which we have several hours total at the same table, enjoying each other!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Amy cooks breakfast and dinner, the boys clear the table and dishwasher,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and Astrid and I do the dishes...every year.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjurqK0129TqUqJpdlPTxITHr8FzDRwtpjaCY-U3bVoOuvhj_fjWyKaLqYUKOs4kZeX0Qmeg-TGJ3vJjoFhMKgRwWQXvvOdNF_8VPDcImClAEV-mJBkd9Wt6GaEYaXX4i_YGJlWZvgxx9pe5yUk7YdbzaBtyOwQ2ZF8O_U7MSNgfjQuz45F-w6jAjOxoHVk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjurqK0129TqUqJpdlPTxITHr8FzDRwtpjaCY-U3bVoOuvhj_fjWyKaLqYUKOs4kZeX0Qmeg-TGJ3vJjoFhMKgRwWQXvvOdNF_8VPDcImClAEV-mJBkd9Wt6GaEYaXX4i_YGJlWZvgxx9pe5yUk7YdbzaBtyOwQ2ZF8O_U7MSNgfjQuz45F-w6jAjOxoHVk=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy's shrimp boil on the porch was the winner this year, added to the "tradition" list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then all the rest: jigsaw puzzle, board/card games, football and movies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTjNndP-azhMHm5ioky9xuiQdu5Whe9Kji8k2T3fY-LJ1ewfxqPRTK1ungG8uYI4vJpmkk6v0g5rjMIYw-p8DozJ3sOr3lZqJgJzIIBshW3vuLpP1hBh0yFRIsy4LGFt7irGp5k7aBqDigatPVr-Pwg5U_DACIG1L34aUkyEOYK-yqFYUC6qvbQj6_b59/s4000/IMG_3436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTjNndP-azhMHm5ioky9xuiQdu5Whe9Kji8k2T3fY-LJ1ewfxqPRTK1ungG8uYI4vJpmkk6v0g5rjMIYw-p8DozJ3sOr3lZqJgJzIIBshW3vuLpP1hBh0yFRIsy4LGFt7irGp5k7aBqDigatPVr-Pwg5U_DACIG1L34aUkyEOYK-yqFYUC6qvbQj6_b59/w640-h640/IMG_3436.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because the weather was unseasonably warm (in the 70s F each day),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we spent most of our daytime on the covered porch, playing games.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and Astrid and I learned Cribbage this year, finally.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq2QzoW5-hK4MFioKfsvCFiI73CUx3OcE-BrfEOOcl5TydBlEzkdm5IQHzocQDvw_NjMUoMqg2H8uIOIoIe64PKWJGjvaSy9SxacssJQVZSEAhbhuaVtyVH3TRqR9_xvtiW1zJcJEsHUUVi1NEa-VRnbDsB8EDev4YsRl5D5DjrRKxLMXmp59nBkVxNaJ/s4000/IMG_3439.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq2QzoW5-hK4MFioKfsvCFiI73CUx3OcE-BrfEOOcl5TydBlEzkdm5IQHzocQDvw_NjMUoMqg2H8uIOIoIe64PKWJGjvaSy9SxacssJQVZSEAhbhuaVtyVH3TRqR9_xvtiW1zJcJEsHUUVi1NEa-VRnbDsB8EDev4YsRl5D5DjrRKxLMXmp59nBkVxNaJ/w640-h640/IMG_3439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Astrid and I were the main ones who did the puzzle this year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">on the new (movable!) puzzle case Amy found for us to use each year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4OjlhrueXaPkrXG5FX42EuWYAQhZNpefd6zf5xXZnx8T_nQjgukmX9ryt3yUwjB-mGZSznKgoqYb2BNfcs9oIIJMwUGbN90-DC9VxWgNSrbXZ1s16m-Qp80OoTKPDGNk9MxVS9QA5bFOZKij3va6M3sTaZ0kDw5Kz2_UltTxbjV-Sbbu6RtbUqwTa3AFH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4OjlhrueXaPkrXG5FX42EuWYAQhZNpefd6zf5xXZnx8T_nQjgukmX9ryt3yUwjB-mGZSznKgoqYb2BNfcs9oIIJMwUGbN90-DC9VxWgNSrbXZ1s16m-Qp80OoTKPDGNk9MxVS9QA5bFOZKij3va6M3sTaZ0kDw5Kz2_UltTxbjV-Sbbu6RtbUqwTa3AFH=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For some strange reason, Astrid and I are almost always the only ones who take walks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because we were in the valley, we had incredible options for walks in the forest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just what the doctor ordered for us both!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkj1M-lrt-MsYq56iTh8dBEjrrhkGoq1-ze2SeomQ20ctT8NmRHZM1CTZsJtcrFmWWb5hUxaWnCU6luxdnbTSDgn_uR-NKz8W7dbg4tuyHXwoqd9il2N6BCPWPqm5T-sWtcJqUvTKWy8c0F1UpdYc8pK_hAFaDhJ0ILFEnFgjJ0iCkldGKaBbazyEdK2uT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkj1M-lrt-MsYq56iTh8dBEjrrhkGoq1-ze2SeomQ20ctT8NmRHZM1CTZsJtcrFmWWb5hUxaWnCU6luxdnbTSDgn_uR-NKz8W7dbg4tuyHXwoqd9il2N6BCPWPqm5T-sWtcJqUvTKWy8c0F1UpdYc8pK_hAFaDhJ0ILFEnFgjJ0iCkldGKaBbazyEdK2uT=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I must say, Astrid does the most walking, beating even me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH2aBFKMaIF1VpUXigID_fZQLE1FodUUQEyZS7h_xKDATvfoBHUxq91FyuU1O0aR9YLb-i4IOj4eWv_DS90p49e6XnPBfRaaki9TCDtt2i5fhi4sbIDCuxaryAKzE2hGEUWcZnASEWImd-RfIRUj5owAUg-bjnSDHzkRK57A4dFqlCmDpOMKb74glMS6o/s4000/IMG_3437.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH2aBFKMaIF1VpUXigID_fZQLE1FodUUQEyZS7h_xKDATvfoBHUxq91FyuU1O0aR9YLb-i4IOj4eWv_DS90p49e6XnPBfRaaki9TCDtt2i5fhi4sbIDCuxaryAKzE2hGEUWcZnASEWImd-RfIRUj5owAUg-bjnSDHzkRK57A4dFqlCmDpOMKb74glMS6o/w640-h640/IMG_3437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div>Once Monday comes, it's time to pack up and drive down the mountain back home,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eating a late breakfast around 10:30 at Waffle House.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see why this "Middle Time" is our heaven on earth, every year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">3. </span></b><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Mark's House in Flowery Branch, GA, October 30-November 7 (Monday-Tuesday)</span></b><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">From Waffle House we said our good-byes to Amy and Nicholas and headed with Mark to his home for the duration.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCH3B6NUyOlsJXkBH7rkg1jic6LsRzNEdFgpp4tOo499vThWWSnAMLyHSrDyAzy2rmKpPou48y3dCX5FJ6TbNkuL4rcQ29R4VEcOf2kTv_DE_Ey9gVgmL2rNP9aW1mmcKQOuylZklyboZ6tiB531AiAztOWYZMYapXesQtiAMtny5G1N4koJNYlL5Q5SOl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCH3B6NUyOlsJXkBH7rkg1jic6LsRzNEdFgpp4tOo499vThWWSnAMLyHSrDyAzy2rmKpPou48y3dCX5FJ6TbNkuL4rcQ29R4VEcOf2kTv_DE_Ey9gVgmL2rNP9aW1mmcKQOuylZklyboZ6tiB531AiAztOWYZMYapXesQtiAMtny5G1N4koJNYlL5Q5SOl=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Mark's, it's MOVIES in his downstairs theater on his full-wall screen. OMG.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The new Avatar movie was what we had especially been waiting to see (and did not disappoint).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIUjpv8JvaXaTFX-XENWK_KZidsH2oJ1H2WeG40pXM501K3JJxYsyoNCm7InBU3tBXu1MUEOnaBQR-ZC1DxLIe53BQ8OL38j5idkChOnHS2hlM4tBPJL7vTt9JZQbDcVBnLx9_vc3xDHL2Cchbd3jEHsLE4kDgaCOuDvCcI1jFxrI_JhvQb8PWkFH9Vdo/s4000/IMG_3397.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIUjpv8JvaXaTFX-XENWK_KZidsH2oJ1H2WeG40pXM501K3JJxYsyoNCm7InBU3tBXu1MUEOnaBQR-ZC1DxLIe53BQ8OL38j5idkChOnHS2hlM4tBPJL7vTt9JZQbDcVBnLx9_vc3xDHL2Cchbd3jEHsLE4kDgaCOuDvCcI1jFxrI_JhvQb8PWkFH9Vdo/w640-h640/IMG_3397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But he's also the food genius when it comes to his pellet grill...another "hobby."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was my first time to ever eat meatloaf cooked on a grill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG5ys2sPvl6hulCb1RRu6TsH7C7YXexhJeGk4qBwFHN4ZAEQQCP8mhN47Iuan8BCUZJjjUhjzTcmgYmV7-uFcxQ9Cw15eN875FpJCiOdTz-QMJ4JfC-nF83g5Jc5R4h8siAwfWC8Q3vah_gGFW5wCa0CGV3Px5V-6pUtKHRmJtP9c1mKQdDdUgtuy6XQa/s4000/IMG_3477.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG5ys2sPvl6hulCb1RRu6TsH7C7YXexhJeGk4qBwFHN4ZAEQQCP8mhN47Iuan8BCUZJjjUhjzTcmgYmV7-uFcxQ9Cw15eN875FpJCiOdTz-QMJ4JfC-nF83g5Jc5R4h8siAwfWC8Q3vah_gGFW5wCa0CGV3Px5V-6pUtKHRmJtP9c1mKQdDdUgtuy6XQa/w640-h640/IMG_3477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And speaking of the grill, he made another brisket for Dungeons & Dragons night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with one of his 4 campaign teams...another tradition we love keeping, making a potluck out of it,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and still getting our education about that game, while we listen in the background!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjADj27BkNQxexxVYgeBOti-ChH5fAvK6AcGy1UB7F8LiTYH4NcZI5gZ5SUuHqQYCqSYNCKCBGlzMtXGxsfYIoUB3nV1ns6D6tG3kzloztfi7053NaVJqPs70DRIXYrt2Ru9ixLUZaAeoTMQfsYbGbjbSTRBpTAuxyioJ3gZ9U5emzpNF0vZhEzJ_FGX2/s4000/IMG_3502.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjADj27BkNQxexxVYgeBOti-ChH5fAvK6AcGy1UB7F8LiTYH4NcZI5gZ5SUuHqQYCqSYNCKCBGlzMtXGxsfYIoUB3nV1ns6D6tG3kzloztfi7053NaVJqPs70DRIXYrt2Ru9ixLUZaAeoTMQfsYbGbjbSTRBpTAuxyioJ3gZ9U5emzpNF0vZhEzJ_FGX2/w640-h640/IMG_3502.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes the good eating was while we were out-n-about at lunch time,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with Mark's special "take" on us, which made us happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(BTW, this was the year Astrid and I both bought clothes we needed...a first for us!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5viyNytsBCTDZGw7aAh4gBd2aZNBOSZeW5nS_Kr8BzpSHKFZ8KR3syz-ihp9czj-ZuRsSnxG4_BE8f-elEEBE3HMJ4bQQSLVT1v3GYQFkpP2W7Mx8B4q1GJ6Vcy9mGC081Z9inl4KxOqKQLtsb_jjUG6VcAj_R20lhiIBmPMS85E3e57dW7LQKWNvwFC/s4000/IMG_3502.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27_c8MQ8L2osHIiC5vdgCTRanQnDbMBvB0lZM10wsfdnbrNEabxfePLq1RIRhe3-slU3tbKWrtHgKbV_810hfSMkvPQmRORd3CNlS35FFCmLd_8OparnqxLqfE-3VHtNNGZjcUXtlVgS17xZxU14mky5ig_ENOAmgLWe4EkboWpepNGhr6tU6c2oTVA7S/s4000/IMG_3504.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27_c8MQ8L2osHIiC5vdgCTRanQnDbMBvB0lZM10wsfdnbrNEabxfePLq1RIRhe3-slU3tbKWrtHgKbV_810hfSMkvPQmRORd3CNlS35FFCmLd_8OparnqxLqfE-3VHtNNGZjcUXtlVgS17xZxU14mky5ig_ENOAmgLWe4EkboWpepNGhr6tU6c2oTVA7S/w640-h640/IMG_3504.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even Piper, the cat, seems to enjoy the life we live at Mark's. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B56Z6KMqCEhHxpZCTWg8vrr3_4zhr10WA4fuU5eYCgQSpdUKPh0QUO1jZDbb7KI3Erw79KrJdh_TxV0CrC-znxCRRSKsbZU_lNkgICx7ImjXKQ1ASf4NtUQE49BOT5mvz3T_df96eJWuLXWOd4RrTAst3a-zy7aIAQRigZTsoLXVVu7rqPnBc9L390iq/s4000/IMG_3503.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B56Z6KMqCEhHxpZCTWg8vrr3_4zhr10WA4fuU5eYCgQSpdUKPh0QUO1jZDbb7KI3Erw79KrJdh_TxV0CrC-znxCRRSKsbZU_lNkgICx7ImjXKQ1ASf4NtUQE49BOT5mvz3T_df96eJWuLXWOd4RrTAst3a-zy7aIAQRigZTsoLXVVu7rqPnBc9L390iq/w640-h640/IMG_3503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More walks for Astrid and me in the neighborhood on beautiful, warm days...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbrN8NEkLiyMrjSMR_Vh3xyT5_rI83se2qQyCaeLrB8oKujjhlJy2lm5UY7EreE-fOc4bZLbPkiqZh22gWN4nkMlIAzkPDRqTZHnRmczF-vRJrfk1bmGWXE3vflxLhnWGVEcHAc9s5Z8AgG_IqgmNrqqCof5g7qzKOkekJD0Cq2P6yIwmSWGvwYzwOKadL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbrN8NEkLiyMrjSMR_Vh3xyT5_rI83se2qQyCaeLrB8oKujjhlJy2lm5UY7EreE-fOc4bZLbPkiqZh22gWN4nkMlIAzkPDRqTZHnRmczF-vRJrfk1bmGWXE3vflxLhnWGVEcHAc9s5Z8AgG_IqgmNrqqCof5g7qzKOkekJD0Cq2P6yIwmSWGvwYzwOKadL=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and on one unexpected very-frosty morning for Astrid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi64sPVAqMtk1OXwzmfb7iinSuH8x1TbEX0NkhIlv0TpTszEQwoCvrPy5wk9D-jCkj0Yuik9gWNOqRKS0_5vncBV10UMCJVOg8vrQKQfXDLyQjDHw4rV_f47ezUgWDa35l0TAZ4LcgFzikdYFUsX3xEJrdgdet7N0PcrwRHw_c-dbz_DApZDcRPCu9SUHuO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi64sPVAqMtk1OXwzmfb7iinSuH8x1TbEX0NkhIlv0TpTszEQwoCvrPy5wk9D-jCkj0Yuik9gWNOqRKS0_5vncBV10UMCJVOg8vrQKQfXDLyQjDHw4rV_f47ezUgWDa35l0TAZ4LcgFzikdYFUsX3xEJrdgdet7N0PcrwRHw_c-dbz_DApZDcRPCu9SUHuO=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>[credit: Astrid]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid wins, hands down, the walking challenge, no matter where we are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm proud of her and am inspired by her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikNeAYxfLIaNnjdSl3ehAZ9cPdf-D5M5kzo8bTqN3ghYWx-aZ1eRSMjPJMQD9S1-jRkrkdHlXFog8RUzzB5Q6vEhf0QYTNnjpFZjivqGE8ykkPawUkc0I-cq4NfYKgsJSL2nq5qZwVgFsHV0UnQ0CeDspWo7c9ZSHHOKCEL4shoSG41oEnIhQVdN_Ja9Ds" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikNeAYxfLIaNnjdSl3ehAZ9cPdf-D5M5kzo8bTqN3ghYWx-aZ1eRSMjPJMQD9S1-jRkrkdHlXFog8RUzzB5Q6vEhf0QYTNnjpFZjivqGE8ykkPawUkc0I-cq4NfYKgsJSL2nq5qZwVgFsHV0UnQ0CeDspWo7c9ZSHHOKCEL4shoSG41oEnIhQVdN_Ja9Ds=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then, when all good things come to an end, we have our "last supper,"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with Amy and Nicholas joining us for Japanese hibachi...another tradition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's when we all say good-bye to each other until next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This trip is the biggest peg on which our year hangs and will continue as long as we're able.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're getting smarter each year with how we travel, flying direct, for one thing,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">using smaller suitcases and taking fewer clothes with us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, as Astrid says, we're old enough to finally start being "selfish" about our choices.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope that makes sense to you because it sure makes sense to us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-39213146445063745822023-11-12T10:07:00.004+01:002023-11-18T11:25:06.169+01:00Hart Whispers<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another photo book is now added to my left sidebar under My Photo Books, given to my children, Amy and Mark, during our just-finished annual trip to Atlanta:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTlAtlMz9FOqg7C89YQxiywgVFMlxlAYoC8HDoSRys7PDmTiGsy4c3Vb7-WpasNKOoJNLX3CUfRfSNLHoOtIk-HHvPgX6TSc2GtjRw16u18CATLjN8mVlrr_7MvIFhyphenhyphenNcFHjYNFx_oP5qbzto8kwQVElLO9YkWvTAsobFk62j0bmGhXcjwJUDhqtvpoxR/s1000/Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1000" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTlAtlMz9FOqg7C89YQxiywgVFMlxlAYoC8HDoSRys7PDmTiGsy4c3Vb7-WpasNKOoJNLX3CUfRfSNLHoOtIk-HHvPgX6TSc2GtjRw16u18CATLjN8mVlrr_7MvIFhyphenhyphenNcFHjYNFx_oP5qbzto8kwQVElLO9YkWvTAsobFk62j0bmGhXcjwJUDhqtvpoxR/s320/Book%20Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Click <a href="https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=80dceab6-ead2-4d98-9707-b4d7f0b45e5f&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPREM" style="color: #ffcc77; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>here</b></a> to view the book, click on the book, and then click on "Full Screen" in the top-right corner.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The book is 11 x 14 inches, 111 pages. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My foreward to them:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For when neither Time or Place or Memory capture the moment</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">more than the hallowed recognition of Something Bigger than ourselves,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">begging for whispers...if we speak at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over time, little by little, I'm compiling what I deem my best photos into photo books for my children for when I'm gone. They always say they'll want to do something with my photos from my myriad photo files, which I know will never happen. For me, this is a much better way to "give" them what they want.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In this case, these photos represent the Mother Nature shots I want them to have.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-72384720286289132982023-10-05T16:39:00.004+02:002023-10-05T16:46:11.893+02:00A Working Vacation on Texel Island, NL<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">You may remember that, <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/06/family-time-on-texel-island-nl.html"><b>back in May</b></a>, Astrid and I spent time with her family (including Jaap, her ex) at their bungalow on Texel Island, the first time we had been there since we went alone in <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2011/10/texel-heaven-on-earth.html"><b>2011</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It so happens that Jaap needed to do yard maintenance before the coming winter months and asked if Astrid would be willing to help him (just like she had always done when they were married). Needless to say, he didn't have to ask us twice!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, we left on Thursday morning, September 28, and returned on the following Wednesday, October 4, yesterday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWhe1QbM4LuYadcDkv6l5KJXrDA80ZSsPyGVncTWSZTUuIle2J116__ppR7PtizF2j-jhv_GgpPbNyc_VtwpvpaJs_MxGJJPdAFGqcwviXQ1B1ufOOi7Lpa2KqyUUB8iPHm6KkNaw61r61vftw8K4guORsvbsS0F44cMrDC3Zo5P0Ug3jY4j6u-ye8HB8/s1000/IMG_0313S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1000" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWhe1QbM4LuYadcDkv6l5KJXrDA80ZSsPyGVncTWSZTUuIle2J116__ppR7PtizF2j-jhv_GgpPbNyc_VtwpvpaJs_MxGJJPdAFGqcwviXQ1B1ufOOi7Lpa2KqyUUB8iPHm6KkNaw61r61vftw8K4guORsvbsS0F44cMrDC3Zo5P0Ug3jY4j6u-ye8HB8/s320/IMG_0313S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a 2-hour drive from home to Den Helder, where we catch the ferry to Texel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once on the ferry (a 20-min. ride), the vacation has already started!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkkaeo8GEbdUqf1DzDnFFoZppUh_5l8PbHjtLNhE-Dc67C963Y0vH2V3f-q4DRDtG1auFGtNaBN2763vpOTtJSbRQhMti1GXyFhuSFWbYOQ58pEx2GFnj-GZvWcY5TpUNGEz4kgvAPjob_zN04KvF1zouzG972RFdi32kwSQmPso4SH0lSf5J0MQV6PV1/s1000/IMG_0316S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkkaeo8GEbdUqf1DzDnFFoZppUh_5l8PbHjtLNhE-Dc67C963Y0vH2V3f-q4DRDtG1auFGtNaBN2763vpOTtJSbRQhMti1GXyFhuSFWbYOQ58pEx2GFnj-GZvWcY5TpUNGEz4kgvAPjob_zN04KvF1zouzG972RFdi32kwSQmPso4SH0lSf5J0MQV6PV1/s320/IMG_0316S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And believe it or not, before going to the bungalow, we stopped in De Koog</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to exchange my sheepskin slippers (from May) to a smaller size and style...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and added our first ice cream of the vacation for good measure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">VACATION!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyjZ93S2GNaeuaZ0JKdtCR5et7eC6kndhOWA_nehbQVBQ2ioDio1XmxBOw00RovfjS08DPXtN8DqPRHxJ8kkdVXxPINMy_ID1Scd0ulDgXnVe1rMVB8eBatMs2RkVZ_lO6_VD765ith1A6mLa1ISrRq44kjaSc89m9O-6SKAM0P1mhz8csP5YirGc05op/s3936/IMG_3104S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyjZ93S2GNaeuaZ0JKdtCR5et7eC6kndhOWA_nehbQVBQ2ioDio1XmxBOw00RovfjS08DPXtN8DqPRHxJ8kkdVXxPINMy_ID1Scd0ulDgXnVe1rMVB8eBatMs2RkVZ_lO6_VD765ith1A6mLa1ISrRq44kjaSc89m9O-6SKAM0P1mhz8csP5YirGc05op/w640-h640/IMG_3104S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That afternoon we went for a walk in the nearby woods,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">past the "Sander" bench (for another Sander) which we've claimed as our own,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in honor of Astrid's brother Alexander (Sander).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIu4cj2sTkx6rB68pxPJCz93oO8EuiBVHJKVomhmYZ5XHZz8JMaucN3lGvwocCS2qVnq5gGx2pla2W0PRqGb4Ro3XYbIpyBWscLRBr9zbA-CjjwMIKi5p9qGkXIW2FtLbaNKLEy_idkXhXmxsPyjgT5IUg8yDYSCxZBzR3lkGz7yLAF4Y6NtGJd-LbUbG/s1960/Lighthouse%20CoffeeS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIu4cj2sTkx6rB68pxPJCz93oO8EuiBVHJKVomhmYZ5XHZz8JMaucN3lGvwocCS2qVnq5gGx2pla2W0PRqGb4Ro3XYbIpyBWscLRBr9zbA-CjjwMIKi5p9qGkXIW2FtLbaNKLEy_idkXhXmxsPyjgT5IUg8yDYSCxZBzR3lkGz7yLAF4Y6NtGJd-LbUbG/w476-h640/Lighthouse%20CoffeeS.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day, Friday, we drove to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eierland_Lighthouse"><b>Texel lighthouse</b></a> at the northern tip of the island,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where we stopped first for a latte macchiato and a shared appeltaart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">VACATION!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN4NaNMqOnLgnHZDqVIPQceOswVyvB7k2M1u1pOs6zkzgaAJSbEnP5CmMujPMLV2lF0iBSkDqKL2Xxs61KGtD3ttdIiA5JjNZWSDVJgvovkGwpd5zJ5ventVRSdgNXobh5BLeh4yfjb3ryj3SThtZBdLwTsEqQ24sbk5jDnRRF3LliTIzjj8hZNYfhtwk/s3936/IMG_3103S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN4NaNMqOnLgnHZDqVIPQceOswVyvB7k2M1u1pOs6zkzgaAJSbEnP5CmMujPMLV2lF0iBSkDqKL2Xxs61KGtD3ttdIiA5JjNZWSDVJgvovkGwpd5zJ5ventVRSdgNXobh5BLeh4yfjb3ryj3SThtZBdLwTsEqQ24sbk5jDnRRF3LliTIzjj8hZNYfhtwk/w640-h640/IMG_3103S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be calm my beating heart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL4_vopj7SlGm2BvQugO-Z2OuyozDbks5yPXluDLWu8ONq8bLIgjp68LHtGNUuJqVfUSRgybeOSSphp2G79CtKFIAqO377SRtY3_DO8Hs6MnkrZCZILaUJWzoXeGAhJqybQRlbkq0MQBPZsU8lxvCoLZyvV-Si8tqomdsjyhbvSie2AoaQMaPcc7H_646/s1500/IMG_4271S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1017" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL4_vopj7SlGm2BvQugO-Z2OuyozDbks5yPXluDLWu8ONq8bLIgjp68LHtGNUuJqVfUSRgybeOSSphp2G79CtKFIAqO377SRtY3_DO8Hs6MnkrZCZILaUJWzoXeGAhJqybQRlbkq0MQBPZsU8lxvCoLZyvV-Si8tqomdsjyhbvSie2AoaQMaPcc7H_646/w271-h400/IMG_4271S.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day, Saturday, we drove to Den Hoorn,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">known for its quaint <a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Den_Hoorn_(Texel)"><b>little church</b></a>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMd1LnXn77q6DsUU8RL2ySu21y5XCqc8hNnDKtGGxcDGFyBph1pIlYfEcn2KVO-OpHXP-A-ucGyjjphMpB6RjRLTdsj5ZKVxk8_U-Bux4Gu3aIUv4Mflm-fxBpXtlA8MjDxG871nxAWygOKFWBT6jR82JhvgQCjLidvys8gHI_ZXxWFJOvvNy_jbsLcD/s3936/IMG_3100S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WMd1LnXn77q6DsUU8RL2ySu21y5XCqc8hNnDKtGGxcDGFyBph1pIlYfEcn2KVO-OpHXP-A-ucGyjjphMpB6RjRLTdsj5ZKVxk8_U-Bux4Gu3aIUv4Mflm-fxBpXtlA8MjDxG871nxAWygOKFWBT6jR82JhvgQCjLidvys8gHI_ZXxWFJOvvNy_jbsLcD/w400-h400/IMG_3100S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>with its many faces...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET75nr-LE6T7GNZNa2fhGEdFYKyp0sfORhyRMXy92tbUsqgaIQNZEz9UlmC2ooDV1nQu7jWhtXNqq51fwYEXS4dEWesmpINy8cFsHtteiJxbLRZmBtRcE0pVyOmZ6WjJuPLJUaDi6YK6ni9wqqUJU88k1Ab1ZA6AgbYcaofTzurB_hd4ax-vziLLWqlPQ/s3936/IMG_3098S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET75nr-LE6T7GNZNa2fhGEdFYKyp0sfORhyRMXy92tbUsqgaIQNZEz9UlmC2ooDV1nQu7jWhtXNqq51fwYEXS4dEWesmpINy8cFsHtteiJxbLRZmBtRcE0pVyOmZ6WjJuPLJUaDi6YK6ni9wqqUJU88k1Ab1ZA6AgbYcaofTzurB_hd4ax-vziLLWqlPQ/w640-h640/IMG_3098S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">which we visited <i>after</i> another morning latte macchiato break, of course. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">VACATION!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kb98zl-bxwd2NAaTU8QuId23NvdJLlyXf-VVcR8aomFuh9mHv0VGm67Be1wmOXq89iYI4BlBhcYMZ1etOVjTR7LZNx6F_PSqv13Wf4VCdj97aOAZMq4lorT2UK4wNPLzHHbKbt5eThwFOGjj9DlDZX8bbKNj7MSXeLW96sSsvbvQ1210i9ZuUzq6HBN7/s3936/IMG_3101S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kb98zl-bxwd2NAaTU8QuId23NvdJLlyXf-VVcR8aomFuh9mHv0VGm67Be1wmOXq89iYI4BlBhcYMZ1etOVjTR7LZNx6F_PSqv13Wf4VCdj97aOAZMq4lorT2UK4wNPLzHHbKbt5eThwFOGjj9DlDZX8bbKNj7MSXeLW96sSsvbvQ1210i9ZuUzq6HBN7/w640-h640/IMG_3101S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because it was Saturday, several members were preparing the place for a special Sunday service,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">apparently with 20 violinists present (which we missed, regrettably).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But see what I mean by quaint!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jaap arrived that afternoon, after which we ate out in the bungalow park for our first main meal together,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfb1L8FpxOuEHJW6k83DvD-UkpDCQNSfy7nW0yWuze38GV0fuYd1gY54Ak3wXyjvTcNfavHkbqbEP_7LNo_CoOGTTWRDp2xxC5l48mQggm1l7tUPx0a93RoDIUDuuDTAWdf1HpXrBpRF3YI-BgDp4tFdrzASadsmwZQyih0v6Jb7hoSono7auZheDwOwG/s3936/IMG_3122S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfb1L8FpxOuEHJW6k83DvD-UkpDCQNSfy7nW0yWuze38GV0fuYd1gY54Ak3wXyjvTcNfavHkbqbEP_7LNo_CoOGTTWRDp2xxC5l48mQggm1l7tUPx0a93RoDIUDuuDTAWdf1HpXrBpRF3YI-BgDp4tFdrzASadsmwZQyih0v6Jb7hoSono7auZheDwOwG/w400-h400/IMG_3122S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">following which we played Five Crowns...and every evening thereafter (except one).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-cX16-G1jH4RGmG_Z5-ASJ9RjeYs5ZS7bZgXD3V784k0oJtW-mx9c7-47_9uItWoPHP8botXLy6Yp9qZ_1Ts6ZPq7IqlFkB43qdOatPJelK5WQbcQegfnB81ybX7uxVETp8Ag8gFFNX-vRhgEbw-UFgVTwKboy-rYs0KeX4MDSWSu67NJitSVXtnEfQ5/s3936/IMG_3097S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-cX16-G1jH4RGmG_Z5-ASJ9RjeYs5ZS7bZgXD3V784k0oJtW-mx9c7-47_9uItWoPHP8botXLy6Yp9qZ_1Ts6ZPq7IqlFkB43qdOatPJelK5WQbcQegfnB81ybX7uxVETp8Ag8gFFNX-vRhgEbw-UFgVTwKboy-rYs0KeX4MDSWSu67NJitSVXtnEfQ5/w640-h640/IMG_3097S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday was Jaap and Astrid's first working day on the yard...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uynnYaxUO8OmjgY3FncNt3SJH9TnNhp4gPDOLQr_lswrckTpL-Xu-zCgBJlve9XN42xpbu7CW4iiV5KkbXW5tOv2rJQa1h57CbNMh1Xnh4tVsFHBrtF4ge2xy38Bz0UrEh13dkKCvgQxU8tkwOXnOCMc1QeA3POMaHGC7EBqNfHcPxXhunQt03qR9bIK/s3936/IMG_3095S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uynnYaxUO8OmjgY3FncNt3SJH9TnNhp4gPDOLQr_lswrckTpL-Xu-zCgBJlve9XN42xpbu7CW4iiV5KkbXW5tOv2rJQa1h57CbNMh1Xnh4tVsFHBrtF4ge2xy38Bz0UrEh13dkKCvgQxU8tkwOXnOCMc1QeA3POMaHGC7EBqNfHcPxXhunQt03qR9bIK/w640-h640/IMG_3095S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">continued the next day, Monday. And because it rained off-n-on all day Tuesday,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was easy to say that was enough. Jaap would finish the rest on his own, after we left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRR23ekS3Vljpe0IBNTiKNI04XDhGMEUpP3lXyqPMwjIaTd3VkSNXV97yDlVpwFQQD2XCubmrMkLTH5SoZX-l2LtpFzNjTMAKdAiEmLOhbsH5Msaqb8hAhA-oSl0EJAfASe5Ig_OtdoSMZSxJX7SlEdZ1imTo0V2h-Sj1AN4LHfnpogpxv9VwYr5Tcgn3/s3936/IMG_3093S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRR23ekS3Vljpe0IBNTiKNI04XDhGMEUpP3lXyqPMwjIaTd3VkSNXV97yDlVpwFQQD2XCubmrMkLTH5SoZX-l2LtpFzNjTMAKdAiEmLOhbsH5Msaqb8hAhA-oSl0EJAfASe5Ig_OtdoSMZSxJX7SlEdZ1imTo0V2h-Sj1AN4LHfnpogpxv9VwYr5Tcgn3/w640-h640/IMG_3093S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remains of the day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnrPSzwLt1VgSfbHVbI8whb12L0TR6h68S-ac0W9EqYOuK7-x-5jzb8s3Hp0NpbwvaC-515z8JUmpczY2fRSbEXL80MqUoRyg79mA2G0ToR8MePn97YfwufZm93GcfBz0NCw9nqOJYH9IiPlIy66FsD2vCGfZct-deRtG-hacSIneHc-TT130TqXYz7wf/s3936/IMG_3096S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnrPSzwLt1VgSfbHVbI8whb12L0TR6h68S-ac0W9EqYOuK7-x-5jzb8s3Hp0NpbwvaC-515z8JUmpczY2fRSbEXL80MqUoRyg79mA2G0ToR8MePn97YfwufZm93GcfBz0NCw9nqOJYH9IiPlIy66FsD2vCGfZct-deRtG-hacSIneHc-TT130TqXYz7wf/w640-h640/IMG_3096S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And because we could, each day we ate out, this time (Sunday) at the <a href="https://www.paal17.com/"><b>Paal 17</b></a> on the beach...</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvlO44vaQkkGyoFmYZDPItPWP6v6tBmitxDEp2nnUl3iokRJqS2vbVZ-ikDEtSFES9YvpS0sRIvS-QyYZViu4CqbJYLsWnuPyP_21pL3MrBVzOQHizskNlNJc5SZKvex42-Cjz3iDnPek62Ql1St3k9dLN3WbYdj76ZiiJZ3aerV-SlGutC0uVVcQ9L5Q/s3936/IMG_3094S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvlO44vaQkkGyoFmYZDPItPWP6v6tBmitxDEp2nnUl3iokRJqS2vbVZ-ikDEtSFES9YvpS0sRIvS-QyYZViu4CqbJYLsWnuPyP_21pL3MrBVzOQHizskNlNJc5SZKvex42-Cjz3iDnPek62Ql1St3k9dLN3WbYdj76ZiiJZ3aerV-SlGutC0uVVcQ9L5Q/w640-h640/IMG_3094S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and this time (Monday) at my favorite <a href="https://www.catharinahoeve-texel.nl/"><b>Catharinahoeve pannekoeken restaurant</b></a> in the woods...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUB-0vL_l0U27x96ajkXcSHndbYqVmlxNRLGZLFmorx3rt4sVKYTXp3fBQlvW_9srIZGrIkj5s4r2zdvdrIr1MrjGJUGnkINZ1D-ar-GruMwDSmJaEOmsa7qHBEGxBaRuaysftpHi5i7YvEvJxegBbDXoOq12va8h0tqk8z_TLnSBTmW2djzzo_-lMVn-I/s3936/IMG_3092S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUB-0vL_l0U27x96ajkXcSHndbYqVmlxNRLGZLFmorx3rt4sVKYTXp3fBQlvW_9srIZGrIkj5s4r2zdvdrIr1MrjGJUGnkINZ1D-ar-GruMwDSmJaEOmsa7qHBEGxBaRuaysftpHi5i7YvEvJxegBbDXoOq12va8h0tqk8z_TLnSBTmW2djzzo_-lMVn-I/w640-h640/IMG_3092S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after which Jaap stopped at his favorite honor stand to buy sand-dune potatoes for himself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have a very distinct taste, he says, that he really likes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9mwlH-SnlrYeXkvX-KLxqiEW5RSXan1acm4cGViJ8ImUFmxs7ZFeuxK9eISKs5yhZ702buJYUzEouH555VtCu17CSKP9Xky_706zI-h4Rj14xXyx_C6jR13twncCKCjrnD0AqM3k5_4PdW4N6y2ADjqS-Ynz5ORfRtsEPW0RlaY4hJ-obfgF-GEXBdQm/s3936/IMG_3102S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9mwlH-SnlrYeXkvX-KLxqiEW5RSXan1acm4cGViJ8ImUFmxs7ZFeuxK9eISKs5yhZ702buJYUzEouH555VtCu17CSKP9Xky_706zI-h4Rj14xXyx_C6jR13twncCKCjrnD0AqM3k5_4PdW4N6y2ADjqS-Ynz5ORfRtsEPW0RlaY4hJ-obfgF-GEXBdQm/w640-h640/IMG_3102S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was fun to watch Jaap and Astrid plan things out...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskE-NkQ_e_7TRbVX8RrBD7UWjgqZsGZeklw8yDuvopnJHmR_CzJK_MnL1EmU3RlcEXpachJItuzk6lTJ2LY6Hqp62YTzMAP8ztQ-vK4tynEeG_qNVS3cCCkbk_sveHIHch6WTrxi6sxQi3hNdqnG5JFNuIR1DoYS0nrxI8YDg-gLay-QMYg2YdS3rHdXJ/s2000/Ginnie%20in%20Chair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskE-NkQ_e_7TRbVX8RrBD7UWjgqZsGZeklw8yDuvopnJHmR_CzJK_MnL1EmU3RlcEXpachJItuzk6lTJ2LY6Hqp62YTzMAP8ztQ-vK4tynEeG_qNVS3cCCkbk_sveHIHch6WTrxi6sxQi3hNdqnG5JFNuIR1DoYS0nrxI8YDg-gLay-QMYg2YdS3rHdXJ/w400-h300/Ginnie%20in%20Chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>while I sat in my corner playing games, Sudoku, or knitting mutsjes for next Easter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5CCeBdPMAzLFd5jvtqsdYj-dea04gPL7aAOcfRSsyVq27S0Ef3B5LPrICqpQpVr731le280TAPMw-k74uvxfN3Jf83Aai_qyBlibtg3NHeM8qk_BNxZ-2bFLAo53lm4PrhRDmllRpCb2mlxn_ScHtGT3Ye3y3LwLWAKqB6mBGMcztKCxrmJIqQfgLLP9/s3936/IMG_3126S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5CCeBdPMAzLFd5jvtqsdYj-dea04gPL7aAOcfRSsyVq27S0Ef3B5LPrICqpQpVr731le280TAPMw-k74uvxfN3Jf83Aai_qyBlibtg3NHeM8qk_BNxZ-2bFLAo53lm4PrhRDmllRpCb2mlxn_ScHtGT3Ye3y3LwLWAKqB6mBGMcztKCxrmJIqQfgLLP9/w640-h640/IMG_3126S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our last full day, Tuesday, when it wasn't raining, Astrid and I took another walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2tQhMlt9MMXI7o4oH9aM2hXLUjbREcKNkylrSDFniphkGCBU3d5UaVliCIQO3hchcyHEdS3vB51BJvjPbQ1iyadjDL4GFIne58RLS20YTJ1LRplp6TgR7ppA-YmbyK8vanopCORkI5k76yEH7A_Zg1uj2GnbA9sJDDgW69lAMPCSmpC0HvEoY7qORJ_U/s3936/IMG_3125S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2tQhMlt9MMXI7o4oH9aM2hXLUjbREcKNkylrSDFniphkGCBU3d5UaVliCIQO3hchcyHEdS3vB51BJvjPbQ1iyadjDL4GFIne58RLS20YTJ1LRplp6TgR7ppA-YmbyK8vanopCORkI5k76yEH7A_Zg1uj2GnbA9sJDDgW69lAMPCSmpC0HvEoY7qORJ_U/w640-h640/IMG_3125S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life on the island for kids is a whole other world!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe-YfAog3uNlOyEX5WmBj0Ky5kAflB43kWHGJve0dqYixA0kmKGR0Psa67HxSVVoBNg-iH2RX6LR7NVKaT_Zy9541egEiLj9RQmmkbY4C4QtAY2h2o_eu002ucDYY4FWZ4ohkIPLp9LUxhCzPr1Wcq7kHkEOZhdL4F6gLeVaIvr-fkMIaM4hV45bbFkLO/s3936/IMG_3124S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe-YfAog3uNlOyEX5WmBj0Ky5kAflB43kWHGJve0dqYixA0kmKGR0Psa67HxSVVoBNg-iH2RX6LR7NVKaT_Zy9541egEiLj9RQmmkbY4C4QtAY2h2o_eu002ucDYY4FWZ4ohkIPLp9LUxhCzPr1Wcq7kHkEOZhdL4F6gLeVaIvr-fkMIaM4hV45bbFkLO/w640-h640/IMG_3124S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But Astrid's and my world is still about photographing what we see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those tiny ants actually kept the maggot from falling off the log as they rounded the tree knot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Sorry that the main photo is not sharp but it started the series.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn_uR5HcXR7m1o_ktn_jS4fF2AxvKDtKIaRQP5mph2XEDwod6LdCC6_H_QwUUkupe8tC_FgGzD-vsPD3ATh4GNRXmFzoM0HO7crP8ZwXFRjQkNQGuYsvPZSZnytoEkeqo8KHdX8DyQdlqv5xpBo2ambm70HqEoK4foriay_MdM54KxQMoaRT1iX917nlA/s3936/IMG_3123S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn_uR5HcXR7m1o_ktn_jS4fF2AxvKDtKIaRQP5mph2XEDwod6LdCC6_H_QwUUkupe8tC_FgGzD-vsPD3ATh4GNRXmFzoM0HO7crP8ZwXFRjQkNQGuYsvPZSZnytoEkeqo8KHdX8DyQdlqv5xpBo2ambm70HqEoK4foriay_MdM54KxQMoaRT1iX917nlA/w400-h400/IMG_3123S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All God's creatures great and small!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXTJleCjUmHr_kw4TQjBopJe-rS2On1-NONomcjxTDvYqpVnjUthefQ0Q_o59SJX4phkHn9OtRZy_iQRBZEHXEctJ1hsgkc9RfnZZUaG5FVkIpbeW6Gax1XVw9RcYHVyGRC7gT29HybrMqZtYf4iHwx3UPe-Xf9GX2d9s2-X1w8CDQ_8cb-rBSBPrfy8_/s3936/IMG_3138S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXTJleCjUmHr_kw4TQjBopJe-rS2On1-NONomcjxTDvYqpVnjUthefQ0Q_o59SJX4phkHn9OtRZy_iQRBZEHXEctJ1hsgkc9RfnZZUaG5FVkIpbeW6Gax1XVw9RcYHVyGRC7gT29HybrMqZtYf4iHwx3UPe-Xf9GX2d9s2-X1w8CDQ_8cb-rBSBPrfy8_/w640-h640/IMG_3138S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our last evening meal together was at this delightful <a href="https://www.pollodekoog.nl/"><b>chicken restaurant</b></a> in De Koog...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">finished off by another ice cream at the same place where we were on Thursday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">VACATION!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYOR9NdA65DTXp0hrd6CggULh75LFKK2UHJWpwIpLETpWjroqoKrZtyFTvNhr42QG1t-a5fZq9v3454RsmUudgTl_d5v3Q0R2XeTHzPwa9tI18yUDOD8MxG8A9DPqGA2yoqzS48b-VGHTKXRPdA-MCZSJx2iR4xDU6oE0-Ifg7Oc4ssiCQe0SKxYB1-Pq/s3936/IMG_3128S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYOR9NdA65DTXp0hrd6CggULh75LFKK2UHJWpwIpLETpWjroqoKrZtyFTvNhr42QG1t-a5fZq9v3454RsmUudgTl_d5v3Q0R2XeTHzPwa9tI18yUDOD8MxG8A9DPqGA2yoqzS48b-VGHTKXRPdA-MCZSJx2iR4xDU6oE0-Ifg7Oc4ssiCQe0SKxYB1-Pq/w640-h640/IMG_3128S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we left yesterday morning, Wednesday, with the morning sun favoring us all,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we said our fleeting good-byes to yet another Texel "experience" in one year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Working or not, it's a... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">VACATION!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And on that note, we now prepare for our annual trip to Atlanta, 2 weeks from today. Did I ever mention that this is the time of the year when I feel like I'm sliding down to the New Year?!</div></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-75502528551462614372023-09-24T16:22:00.005+02:002023-09-24T16:30:52.674+02:00Our 2023 England Trip Overview<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/06/our-england-trip-overview.html"><b>May of 2022</b></a>, last year, when we last visited England, to be with our Shutterchance's photoblog friends, so it felt good to keep the every-year schedule, even if at a different time of the year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like last year, we split up our 10 days between two friends: first it was Lisl and then Bill (with wife Ange).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>1. With LISL in Winsley, Wiltshire, England, from September 4-11:</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_LZfRXONA_EPVZjHdShHloSJxtRVZ-HRlZVtSu3EboSW18yCokk-Ba8Psgz6lmg_YL143qoKcT3SqqjCJGbsU7nf6n_EOWekDOtCrDJ06IcFj3--lBD-VyyZP0BJB1SnFo5QZvluRehSAOzxIJ-H2Ama8NoF1seMGELYiIoCeQYZgiA9gEN5hyoo481cr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_LZfRXONA_EPVZjHdShHloSJxtRVZ-HRlZVtSu3EboSW18yCokk-Ba8Psgz6lmg_YL143qoKcT3SqqjCJGbsU7nf6n_EOWekDOtCrDJ06IcFj3--lBD-VyyZP0BJB1SnFo5QZvluRehSAOzxIJ-H2Ama8NoF1seMGELYiIoCeQYZgiA9gEN5hyoo481cr=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">As we always do with Lisl, we take walks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">This (Sept. 5) was a Winsley parish-church walk that we didn't do last year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">And, yes, we hit the wild-blackberry bushes along the way big time!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2mZqnieIrXo00_l1foQPz-8B-zYwitXJ217vgG8lgdk7_mKahaUm2oHMh7nMMv-UOzNrob3u37DNfn0nHLFSeObzS-8DVC31AN0OZmxjCnuptsp4PeoGifHt0MD1gh89FjIzSnQprequLxhmHecWabuYHsA5kTR947-8Fmwb9m9qPN2X018gOLlv1FF1/s725/England%202023%20IMG_3635S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="725" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2mZqnieIrXo00_l1foQPz-8B-zYwitXJ217vgG8lgdk7_mKahaUm2oHMh7nMMv-UOzNrob3u37DNfn0nHLFSeObzS-8DVC31AN0OZmxjCnuptsp4PeoGifHt0MD1gh89FjIzSnQprequLxhmHecWabuYHsA5kTR947-8Fmwb9m9qPN2X018gOLlv1FF1/w400-h236/England%202023%20IMG_3635S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaJhZRL389xZU6YB3k0EmIdAZcuu91jZMJbHbVT__WGaGVpB_sxrGqeUctzcekTcgbqFITyBVCAy9hh42AvGyzkh2Gn3_VJOnWBiCXu_CU3j0SCdnC4_ZDIO1eAZqlXmmzIhY7mY3TxHveFODO9YM2jiLaGCi-45YJ2_L6_U4hdyrBaLLn_OMrxavO2fO/s725/England%202023%20IMG_3644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="725" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaJhZRL389xZU6YB3k0EmIdAZcuu91jZMJbHbVT__WGaGVpB_sxrGqeUctzcekTcgbqFITyBVCAy9hh42AvGyzkh2Gn3_VJOnWBiCXu_CU3j0SCdnC4_ZDIO1eAZqlXmmzIhY7mY3TxHveFODO9YM2jiLaGCi-45YJ2_L6_U4hdyrBaLLn_OMrxavO2fO/w400-h250/England%202023%20IMG_3644.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #f1c232; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjriaqqrFwhPjygUCPYs6wvKNBD-TRi0aQj52H6ls4ez525WQbEQDXoo1NcV_rz8eYGZorjCUK_hBocKTcjsYANAtfPa_wxG4BTHE2R3cksXWA1-BauE7wnytHzQNbTXC0OOJmbzYQwYMR9JOfSw9931sAwo055ANSS047hoTSiFWo1AfpF7ASrVDKZYYK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjriaqqrFwhPjygUCPYs6wvKNBD-TRi0aQj52H6ls4ez525WQbEQDXoo1NcV_rz8eYGZorjCUK_hBocKTcjsYANAtfPa_wxG4BTHE2R3cksXWA1-BauE7wnytHzQNbTXC0OOJmbzYQwYMR9JOfSw9931sAwo055ANSS047hoTSiFWo1AfpF7ASrVDKZYYK=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The next day (Sept. 6), after that walk, we took a 2-hour train ride, each way, to Abergavenny, Wales,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">to visit the city with Lisl's childhood friend, Marie, who lives nearby. <span style="text-align: left;">Besides walking through </span><span style="text-align: left;">city</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="text-align: left;">center, we visited </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priory_Church_of_St_Mary,_Abergavenny" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">St. Mary's Priory</a><span style="text-align: left;"> church </span><span style="text-align: left;">from 1070 </span><span style="text-align: left;">as well as the nearby </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abergavenny_Castle" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">castle</a><span style="text-align: left;"> from 1175.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0DUJJJ2WdQIGiIrly5_BjPJXvjXcxjUbJcfij1--cIJHtLAf3TclR_5KWE6YFV-JCYYtQjN_UUkUFLAy0QhpfEri09JvBzlDPa4ye8_vk_4XQZhhhHQdOuhdMjRhL64Qd1VY6jdZ-kG4XAD1MjRKDcmtZib_U8XCfQzHmCosJf4ucMV1Q3AdLEb8eHD0/s725/England%202023%20Abergavenny%20IMG_1806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="725" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0DUJJJ2WdQIGiIrly5_BjPJXvjXcxjUbJcfij1--cIJHtLAf3TclR_5KWE6YFV-JCYYtQjN_UUkUFLAy0QhpfEri09JvBzlDPa4ye8_vk_4XQZhhhHQdOuhdMjRhL64Qd1VY6jdZ-kG4XAD1MjRKDcmtZib_U8XCfQzHmCosJf4ucMV1Q3AdLEb8eHD0/w400-h249/England%202023%20Abergavenny%20IMG_1806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Signs of the times inside churches these days, I'm afraid.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">(sigh)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBYiEADgofjnykNXD8Ej2Nw9JA2xoUP08WTFEIRyMGtnxFUSwu6VlO1r4FYNzVONuMyk9lsQwxuLPKi6BCMeYXgsmHanJwegrp0HnhDNEscXegJShw7xWydgilY3vs1p_ISNyVC3yeQ3Q1kC6y3upGKGB6w_d3fbyIlaXOzNW7CHUJ4-LnjldwEW79RX/s725/England%202023%20Abergavenny%20IMG_3760S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="725" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBYiEADgofjnykNXD8Ej2Nw9JA2xoUP08WTFEIRyMGtnxFUSwu6VlO1r4FYNzVONuMyk9lsQwxuLPKi6BCMeYXgsmHanJwegrp0HnhDNEscXegJShw7xWydgilY3vs1p_ISNyVC3yeQ3Q1kC6y3upGKGB6w_d3fbyIlaXOzNW7CHUJ4-LnjldwEW79RX/w400-h248/England%202023%20Abergavenny%20IMG_3760S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; text-align: left;">Obviously the pigeon doesn't know how to read!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; text-align: left;">But can you blame him/her on a hot day?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDWLMdB4AGY2bu4y_cSKTiAMY5VMRuVu7i8pOAlvfk3LuESccQ0NPW0V_kBeB7-kVgvKnBSmRFSbc7-KF1wpquFjSu6qmuhuWA4lQZUMbqR87UPZ6IqU7fJ6N4iyBwdHJ3-TXhJZkpjEdxxFd2sKG0016cGe8Js3Stg8oyYDfz6BUR8NTy0tYChycfcO9l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDWLMdB4AGY2bu4y_cSKTiAMY5VMRuVu7i8pOAlvfk3LuESccQ0NPW0V_kBeB7-kVgvKnBSmRFSbc7-KF1wpquFjSu6qmuhuWA4lQZUMbqR87UPZ6IqU7fJ6N4iyBwdHJ3-TXhJZkpjEdxxFd2sKG0016cGe8Js3Stg8oyYDfz6BUR8NTy0tYChycfcO9l=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">By now it's Sept. 7, with no moss growing under our feet, even though we were in a heatwave.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was the day friend Chris (with friend Katy) took Astrid and me to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chalfield_Manor">Great Chalfield Manor</a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; text-align: left;">The gardens were incredible!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwW7aHmTk6SXUSGREGQJXrPdxyV9UWjgHfI0BDnDuhibi8CcBak5r4uobKFyKvfWmly8782coU6wNU0TfscRBp6IUso2HUS5FbGzmHwX5mIuE5sQJWnwUwckw4mQLvcV9txa_OfXSZEhERBEEGOTiXYQanD_n5TpJlw-j6g-p7DmV37T7Ye84rJev3H5F/s725/England%202023%20Great%20Chalfield%20Manor%20IMG_3819S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="725" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwW7aHmTk6SXUSGREGQJXrPdxyV9UWjgHfI0BDnDuhibi8CcBak5r4uobKFyKvfWmly8782coU6wNU0TfscRBp6IUso2HUS5FbGzmHwX5mIuE5sQJWnwUwckw4mQLvcV9txa_OfXSZEhERBEEGOTiXYQanD_n5TpJlw-j6g-p7DmV37T7Ye84rJev3H5F/w400-h235/England%202023%20Great%20Chalfield%20Manor%20IMG_3819S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Still can't find who built that but talk about scale!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd45QuGjVWWw34RI315AViPtjoqIar_4Xwbk0s5ENbfrFcaT-_mKlsQH5AhmVZaoN1u83XXN_P1Mh_85V7zmD7gJK1QR7DWwBa4dMYMDGnqeuZE8y7VJuR43NPRXoxRs4p5EeFLlKSKsrejoomN4ho6rUQT-t2HMaByHbeJ93og5wmp8_96KF8sGj-pENt/s725/England%202023%20Great%20Chalfield%20Manor%20IMG_3872S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="725" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd45QuGjVWWw34RI315AViPtjoqIar_4Xwbk0s5ENbfrFcaT-_mKlsQH5AhmVZaoN1u83XXN_P1Mh_85V7zmD7gJK1QR7DWwBa4dMYMDGnqeuZE8y7VJuR43NPRXoxRs4p5EeFLlKSKsrejoomN4ho6rUQT-t2HMaByHbeJ93og5wmp8_96KF8sGj-pENt/w400-h265/England%202023%20Great%20Chalfield%20Manor%20IMG_3872S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Astrid and Chris enjoyed hobnobbing with the nobles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTzW97FsFwBnhiKgYM_W7YN8H7S3Ve8iS7JmrinfSPWnXGMTIUmTcpL0VtmjwyOKIYAaBbz_tdstwizCQxfJMb560fu-qOeAG2Hyd-WSY-TMUCc4Q77JqsOj-ZEnRoM_UlkPdwT2gM-KU2EsyRUb2g8CH73rgXkBeEwS-vtkqvxym608K73HSnh15Ms0ag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTzW97FsFwBnhiKgYM_W7YN8H7S3Ve8iS7JmrinfSPWnXGMTIUmTcpL0VtmjwyOKIYAaBbz_tdstwizCQxfJMb560fu-qOeAG2Hyd-WSY-TMUCc4Q77JqsOj-ZEnRoM_UlkPdwT2gM-KU2EsyRUb2g8CH73rgXkBeEwS-vtkqvxym608K73HSnh15Ms0ag=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Because of the heatwave, the next 2 days we basically stayed at home playing games!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Oh, yes, and eating good food, like from Lisl's favorite fish-n-chips place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">We called off the parish walk planned for the 9th with Chris, because of the heat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Sometimes you just have to be sensible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtgyrRQYN_aMZPvxkMD5Neu00aaApuPAmDLWxMM4_UlxiqRRshs0-43-B8Y53UKg2pQ0s6ltJp5e76_uKNxdwSjjbEuMp4_d7RlSFEBOG5tfDikBPW1wkWGxmQR82UUAxFO6p3RHbhekVaZ9fBcVkXD6Z4BpvcPPfcC6Cp73Q04Zr88FpTONzHHmjdkuen" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtgyrRQYN_aMZPvxkMD5Neu00aaApuPAmDLWxMM4_UlxiqRRshs0-43-B8Y53UKg2pQ0s6ltJp5e76_uKNxdwSjjbEuMp4_d7RlSFEBOG5tfDikBPW1wkWGxmQR82UUAxFO6p3RHbhekVaZ9fBcVkXD6Z4BpvcPPfcC6Cp73Q04Zr88FpTONzHHmjdkuen=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">But Marie from Wales drove over to enjoy the Sunday roast on the 10th at Winsley's pub,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">just like she did last year. It's now a tradition to include her!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #f1c232;">2. With Bill and Ange in Droitwich Spa, England, from September 11-14:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><b style="color: #f1c232;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBWjcbFYXQQta01iAJJmJTWOT4ybzYcu7bjdQ2k3tBtwgUGsbACnTz7Qt4OODjmIn9qBoqi3E6ODrQGROiWxeb_Ei4LeEExgPxgMJ0nnMZ7683evRfznUmey2BnXVp14OFbmxXg7Jk0aY0-Ocyx1QMXVNvZDwl08ZlxIe497pJZ8jT86_Fn3rh0h3Nl8SS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBWjcbFYXQQta01iAJJmJTWOT4ybzYcu7bjdQ2k3tBtwgUGsbACnTz7Qt4OODjmIn9qBoqi3E6ODrQGROiWxeb_Ei4LeEExgPxgMJ0nnMZ7683evRfznUmey2BnXVp14OFbmxXg7Jk0aY0-Ocyx1QMXVNvZDwl08ZlxIe497pJZ8jT86_Fn3rh0h3Nl8SS=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div></b> </span><span style="color: white;">Monday the 11th was our transition day from Lisl's to Bill and Ange's home in Droitwich Spa.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span><span>But first, we had a mini-meetup of 9 of us at Chad and Norma's (where we stayed last year), </span></span>for</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">a morning coffee/tea in their garden, followed by a meal at the nearby pub outside of Corsham.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">From l-to-r (center): Astrid, Chris, Lisl, Alan, Ange, Bill, Chad and Norma.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkkvSNzeDnRkQO3XuWyPIS6sECCBwodqY5Vo6dJyV10Hd5_BHEwv_Jq83nLPwOUaf-aYyK3wueVJUy0OTekUhIEuiV2zK3SRItBT7Kz9Sk9ifz9QwBWn9jnScpM_fXTN-0bSeCpoqMNYJFYjOmuX6YfGdSxFCFNzbm_Xn6eUd_mLwtTrJRljm60_KbqSR/s725/England%202023%20IMG_3994S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="725" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkkvSNzeDnRkQO3XuWyPIS6sECCBwodqY5Vo6dJyV10Hd5_BHEwv_Jq83nLPwOUaf-aYyK3wueVJUy0OTekUhIEuiV2zK3SRItBT7Kz9Sk9ifz9QwBWn9jnScpM_fXTN-0bSeCpoqMNYJFYjOmuX6YfGdSxFCFNzbm_Xn6eUd_mLwtTrJRljm60_KbqSR/w400-h259/England%202023%20IMG_3994S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">I'm a huge fan of Norma's art studio in their garden...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3uRFCJpBnuQOy2gFeoqkkGlkMG_cBSfPijG1XC9pHQxa6f0yYoT02JirPjBCRfnC0qDEm1eak0QcP9m7kslpPBJZSSmP6BfcM9z7TRo1EX6sJ1mWIBEQdj9fDmaoGcH5TUTpklfm9VLsMXqxmjYg0otNYN2onH563uLP5jXvzvElLan-i_-DaHFcnwgC/s725/England%202023%20IMG_4005S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="725" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3uRFCJpBnuQOy2gFeoqkkGlkMG_cBSfPijG1XC9pHQxa6f0yYoT02JirPjBCRfnC0qDEm1eak0QcP9m7kslpPBJZSSmP6BfcM9z7TRo1EX6sJ1mWIBEQdj9fDmaoGcH5TUTpklfm9VLsMXqxmjYg0otNYN2onH563uLP5jXvzvElLan-i_-DaHFcnwgC/w400-h248/England%202023%20IMG_4005S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">as well as her accessorizing finesse.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyW_whUBNGPzuxGqLXlQSQfHzKB3sN8qlrvn7XPe7G7B4aG7-nuVsRbjNJqg2KQAJ9W9VNCKzPOVnU_4UAUo_YI6BXc6k3PImPZnJeeHLUxnZljTEeFGJg-YYDT66PABRtIk4YTEyWyaP4Aq4L4A0_YPjxnFGg78S-nW-JX98dFcOKxMKmqTIKnFkbY1-H/s725/England%202023%20IMG_1840S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="725" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyW_whUBNGPzuxGqLXlQSQfHzKB3sN8qlrvn7XPe7G7B4aG7-nuVsRbjNJqg2KQAJ9W9VNCKzPOVnU_4UAUo_YI6BXc6k3PImPZnJeeHLUxnZljTEeFGJg-YYDT66PABRtIk4YTEyWyaP4Aq4L4A0_YPjxnFGg78S-nW-JX98dFcOKxMKmqTIKnFkbY1-H/w400-h250/England%202023%20IMG_1840S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">Did I mention how much we love England's hard ciders?!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEujYaV-8zhyZobUEc1y8Hxu85OkRKqOm3x2Px3hljB1C-Qj0tS17pTxt-eRzWU_Pn3REuxf1am1W3JhFnWpWJ1GzlnoS3kUKRh484UQXPlswnO6seGl1lP3WmHNtYX_8h0WFJ6TuOaSCHWtsLRgSAeSbRzJyKST188RtJXsIQS2uAXpheV7IgOeNgMXT/s725/England%202023%20IMG_4052S%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="725" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEujYaV-8zhyZobUEc1y8Hxu85OkRKqOm3x2Px3hljB1C-Qj0tS17pTxt-eRzWU_Pn3REuxf1am1W3JhFnWpWJ1GzlnoS3kUKRh484UQXPlswnO6seGl1lP3WmHNtYX_8h0WFJ6TuOaSCHWtsLRgSAeSbRzJyKST188RtJXsIQS2uAXpheV7IgOeNgMXT/w400-h259/England%202023%20IMG_4052S%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">AND their drystone walls, even when damaged!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Gn5nUTrZ55T30ix0k5G464KyYv3dXFexiuJLjHN_LM_uuh-4yVc0a_Xg7OiBXKtjHa6ekkd-imrUsQCotX3wKOPyjgK6xgTpvIW0CeUEF54s_Eqh7yzfhm9fSKorFSZGgwsfNNZfJnzK5PF5FBtSvUnt9bNjSeMLuG18mOJY_FfQTl91hz5wvFStejCb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Gn5nUTrZ55T30ix0k5G464KyYv3dXFexiuJLjHN_LM_uuh-4yVc0a_Xg7OiBXKtjHa6ekkd-imrUsQCotX3wKOPyjgK6xgTpvIW0CeUEF54s_Eqh7yzfhm9fSKorFSZGgwsfNNZfJnzK5PF5FBtSvUnt9bNjSeMLuG18mOJY_FfQTl91hz5wvFStejCb=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Because it rained the next day, the 12th, we changed original plans to visit Warwick</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">to stay put around home, visiting the Droitwich <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Sacred_Heart_and_St_Catherine_of_Alexandria"><b>Sacred Heart</b></a> church's incredible mosaics,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">a coffee stop at an incredible antique dealer's store, followed by another pub meal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Are you noticing a theme here???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD28CdO1IuoxtXKHma-VBg9VWHx-XG2xE8kDQE-np9LBN1tmJp-nXGolhcs9yY8L7aEIGkhvfJPD4eVCMzR1t5RUc5AH_EEmWtGQzaRsUngsUcobKyQi3crMKLgzgjdN9mDBCM8OwSQqi1mrP_3tpKwPK17i3QXZg-uOt2xY3_-FCIrBSk1I9XspqHFjLi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD28CdO1IuoxtXKHma-VBg9VWHx-XG2xE8kDQE-np9LBN1tmJp-nXGolhcs9yY8L7aEIGkhvfJPD4eVCMzR1t5RUc5AH_EEmWtGQzaRsUngsUcobKyQi3crMKLgzgjdN9mDBCM8OwSQqi1mrP_3tpKwPK17i3QXZg-uOt2xY3_-FCIrBSk1I9XspqHFjLi=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">On the 13th, Wednesday, our last full day in England, we had another mini-meetup,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">this time at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Country_Living_Museum"><b>Black Country Living Museum</b></a> in Dudley, with 7 of us:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Bill, Ange, Alan, Astrid and 2 new ones, Martin and Elaine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XdQH9leHqbGxvsgtHNXpqysPMVw8KgI2KXYw6DwhIgZpPCmrq8PSALfkMsEDM8BKg2Qa2Rxe2eIKm1HzbnP95uShDe1wJP4cNke6kyCwW_fx71icjcJYbMwfkOoislcD5V-ArB-DRGodQkXuAR3GYfoOW-H7xnVpzjHqiRjL7im4Zepyz1j6E-atEFRU/s725/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="725" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XdQH9leHqbGxvsgtHNXpqysPMVw8KgI2KXYw6DwhIgZpPCmrq8PSALfkMsEDM8BKg2Qa2Rxe2eIKm1HzbnP95uShDe1wJP4cNke6kyCwW_fx71icjcJYbMwfkOoislcD5V-ArB-DRGodQkXuAR3GYfoOW-H7xnVpzjHqiRjL7im4Zepyz1j6E-atEFRU/w400-h231/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkCJHDeYcaKDbNor02BvqU4zpGI4s29uzCg04_DPAn1nPsYqzt34jLZIfOQvh6QeZkbOOkSSFCPVzudj1lV3CHAxolX3CJAA7oVeyhpPiyMCXzRGFGmNxoaUuVzoGG40YsvXxNuk_V3ZVhqHgnsW-JeFm0ODnvPErILUBXsl2XnznVX1LrgBqFssyWvFV/s1000/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4073S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1000" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkCJHDeYcaKDbNor02BvqU4zpGI4s29uzCg04_DPAn1nPsYqzt34jLZIfOQvh6QeZkbOOkSSFCPVzudj1lV3CHAxolX3CJAA7oVeyhpPiyMCXzRGFGmNxoaUuVzoGG40YsvXxNuk_V3ZVhqHgnsW-JeFm0ODnvPErILUBXsl2XnznVX1LrgBqFssyWvFV/w400-h244/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4073S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmyBEX7ZBmhFAW_IJI1tW7nEI2M1sNgYaXSgsnYKXssU3EmjRC32aw6lq_iWaAoS2I1FX0oEx1PMK5V2_LBkMugU00kM3_N3ecOpjpSVPLachNkF3vsB9joUReXAvEvS4Jzvfcg49_ak6nLdlyxIBxfmU_G7ZqJbKQKQizyEkjbnXGiVPHOfLm1xYB31-/s725/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="725" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmyBEX7ZBmhFAW_IJI1tW7nEI2M1sNgYaXSgsnYKXssU3EmjRC32aw6lq_iWaAoS2I1FX0oEx1PMK5V2_LBkMugU00kM3_N3ecOpjpSVPLachNkF3vsB9joUReXAvEvS4Jzvfcg49_ak6nLdlyxIBxfmU_G7ZqJbKQKQizyEkjbnXGiVPHOfLm1xYB31-/w400-h213/England%202023%20Black%20Country%20IMG_4132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">It's not call BLACK for nothing! Fossil fuel at it's worst?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9u7G2Bwk7O-XKMBqtPn_S4lfOKczbjapFR7qCrwOdH2LEpAKnzGfziNHB1mxxHn5kpDTdYx78JgkeqNd6bb--x2-qlccrBzzAmUmOTeKfDOlBbI0JLNQMNAQae2onj34cA0y4J8EBAUIDp9eks2wGBWscT8_qir4-uNAlatuMw6AhF4bEPkl_XhiQkReU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9u7G2Bwk7O-XKMBqtPn_S4lfOKczbjapFR7qCrwOdH2LEpAKnzGfziNHB1mxxHn5kpDTdYx78JgkeqNd6bb--x2-qlccrBzzAmUmOTeKfDOlBbI0JLNQMNAQae2onj34cA0y4J8EBAUIDp9eks2wGBWscT8_qir4-uNAlatuMw6AhF4bEPkl_XhiQkReU=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">This is Astrid's photo collage of that outing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Our meetups were cozy groupings this year, without all who sometimes come.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Those bigger groups usually happen every other year, so this was an in-between time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho5nuzZbMC6we47Aqj-Ia6_HiytzFEDwYqbP28Xdq2JhScNQTlsHJqWtOl36tfa-ghWQIz8vsgvBlRUYBE_tcugOGEaGiT0C_IGJB4L9wkBQZ4og7v8A5p3e9tcphm1ICnQfa89M_DWu3InI9GWUHRhlWU0utpmTlABm7gANcKIWnBgiixTmtZ_pFOBkIY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho5nuzZbMC6we47Aqj-Ia6_HiytzFEDwYqbP28Xdq2JhScNQTlsHJqWtOl36tfa-ghWQIz8vsgvBlRUYBE_tcugOGEaGiT0C_IGJB4L9wkBQZ4og7v8A5p3e9tcphm1ICnQfa89M_DWu3InI9GWUHRhlWU0utpmTlABm7gANcKIWnBgiixTmtZ_pFOBkIY=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: white;">By the 14th, Thursday, we were ready to fly back to Amsterdam!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Thanks to Bill and Ange's generosity, we left on the happy note of a full-English breakfast,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">joined by Bill and Ange's oldest of 2 daughters, Kathryn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">And just like that, another trip to England came and went so quickly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">We call England our second home away from home, our first being Atlanta, USA, of course.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Speaking of which, that's the last big trip on the 2023 calendar, starting October 19th with my kids.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">I always tell Astrid that once we hit September, I feel like we're sliding down to the New Year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">I'm saying that, of course, just 6 days before October.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">See what I mean?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-14614278973706442022023-08-12T10:35:00.005+02:002023-08-12T13:51:43.791+02:00The Elmelunde Church on Møn Island, Denmark<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Of all the churches we saw in Denmark, this type of white church was the one that intrigued us the most. It was also the one we saw dotted all over the landscape everywhere we went.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d3V2UqpHN3etjujLow-CUwJXIfoQQE0Y8kDSpSKtTTlNT0TNIYM1QycjYBX0cuD7ddhGyf3um7zR6nDRrXkmEp8NhmrMDU4J02cyGh9XGdbpWgZlVCUYP8HRnES5Ixkuwov0ry-vosV2nmJK-wykJh42LUcBT6MowhqSYGoMQNXPmt2kBQR5lDGKZK41/s1960/White%20ChurchesS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d3V2UqpHN3etjujLow-CUwJXIfoQQE0Y8kDSpSKtTTlNT0TNIYM1QycjYBX0cuD7ddhGyf3um7zR6nDRrXkmEp8NhmrMDU4J02cyGh9XGdbpWgZlVCUYP8HRnES5Ixkuwov0ry-vosV2nmJK-wykJh42LUcBT6MowhqSYGoMQNXPmt2kBQR5lDGKZK41/w640-h640/White%20ChurchesS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't grow up with white churches in America,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nor do we see them here in the Netherlands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO9Qngea7qdhNBFRB0hliIXSOTMnwBCS3rxybORcfCQsKJwwZb9o2kG4z8nNYZbYNI6OCYjqkAylJ9KPrEAay6zAnPpfi1BQMCXQPeSYfPrg3Iab2AwzDP2yZf6fSz2Il8k2Pi84I7q215npKWYfOnaPfdNJFHj6OAHYxspiBd_aUsl9gbAx3vQp4hqFE/s1000/IMG_1570S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1000" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO9Qngea7qdhNBFRB0hliIXSOTMnwBCS3rxybORcfCQsKJwwZb9o2kG4z8nNYZbYNI6OCYjqkAylJ9KPrEAay6zAnPpfi1BQMCXQPeSYfPrg3Iab2AwzDP2yZf6fSz2Il8k2Pi84I7q215npKWYfOnaPfdNJFHj6OAHYxspiBd_aUsl9gbAx3vQp4hqFE/w400-h241/IMG_1570S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_sywB8KfGroX83RZokno5R8p065osFmZGkrHmkkaK0SlLUQgX8Ff3CDUPW60Z-t3osZQfHsw5KjoRoD1Zr2zLDfSYoU0_n77k7M8IqcK7w3QtC7YWHcMbEycmD_Otuc1aFeqJ_wTVKaSW09tCvvXg1-LwhToNPyDDNGTEuY7gjiV7lpPaGwqy6hYhx3i/s1000/IMG_3417S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="1000" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_sywB8KfGroX83RZokno5R8p065osFmZGkrHmkkaK0SlLUQgX8Ff3CDUPW60Z-t3osZQfHsw5KjoRoD1Zr2zLDfSYoU0_n77k7M8IqcK7w3QtC7YWHcMbEycmD_Otuc1aFeqJ_wTVKaSW09tCvvXg1-LwhToNPyDDNGTEuY7gjiV7lpPaGwqy6hYhx3i/w400-h260/IMG_3417S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, those that we saw were like a magical "figment" of our imagination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which brings me to the most beautiful example of the outside exterior that we saw, not far from our last hotel near Borre, on Møn island in southeastern Denmark. It so happens it was also one of the most beautiful we saw on the inside: the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmelunde_Church"><b>Elmelunde Church</b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K4reBRMQOh1CJL_R6RDM39P-UWa2B_jIp2gGdz-nmn3YA-hjHR6Sp6g2FTko4PIwrZoDPTPwN-Hrt3AstoHQ2riNgKztdpq7jyK0Qdd8pJrPHMOfh1d_M2PC4j0OwgAX5rXOi5O7giNjuaS8vGpfwS_BN9Agf808AivLQZtZxVD8G2SNH1fxspV55evf/s1970/Elmelunde%20Church%203S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1970" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K4reBRMQOh1CJL_R6RDM39P-UWa2B_jIp2gGdz-nmn3YA-hjHR6Sp6g2FTko4PIwrZoDPTPwN-Hrt3AstoHQ2riNgKztdpq7jyK0Qdd8pJrPHMOfh1d_M2PC4j0OwgAX5rXOi5O7giNjuaS8vGpfwS_BN9Agf808AivLQZtZxVD8G2SNH1fxspV55evf/w400-h258/Elmelunde%20Church%203S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's the oldest church on Denmark's island of Møn, built in 1085.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR44BglOe-uURsUDH9AAsDiWyOIC7QYkpk6mEZ3v0doJ6PADekwY0nGZgH8XdFGQtvWwUr0qjvwP1gk4RdBlbWhiHneHW5vfPm9omafGlS3oEUbYS_sVgJI3GYqasL_RU2bcTTuyl8TynpfFSr8sTfotjPuBMFau63bmr5mkRJNmEcEHDyAoqnTs_5fceX/s1970/Elmelunde%20Church%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1970" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR44BglOe-uURsUDH9AAsDiWyOIC7QYkpk6mEZ3v0doJ6PADekwY0nGZgH8XdFGQtvWwUr0qjvwP1gk4RdBlbWhiHneHW5vfPm9omafGlS3oEUbYS_sVgJI3GYqasL_RU2bcTTuyl8TynpfFSr8sTfotjPuBMFau63bmr5mkRJNmEcEHDyAoqnTs_5fceX/w400-h258/Elmelunde%20Church%202S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take your pick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From all angles it's a beauty to behold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoibyccCuI_x2Ip2qLO_AicMwz61ncyYSsDEoZObgXl5LQy1iRscJnJzQQPvBiBvJloF-x0Hy-BUTUZ0MD_eEihSNJsIGb31q4AZQQmSc2UNoVR1Eio6PVENNHvQ8QARrahgYgvg4F0o6JqGxiGZzZQfTXgUnEggZCUSzZjQqEeZBT3sCQxjoY-HYPXO4s/s1967/Elmelunde%20ChurchS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="1967" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoibyccCuI_x2Ip2qLO_AicMwz61ncyYSsDEoZObgXl5LQy1iRscJnJzQQPvBiBvJloF-x0Hy-BUTUZ0MD_eEihSNJsIGb31q4AZQQmSc2UNoVR1Eio6PVENNHvQ8QARrahgYgvg4F0o6JqGxiGZzZQfTXgUnEggZCUSzZjQqEeZBT3sCQxjoY-HYPXO4s/w640-h558/Elmelunde%20ChurchS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It helps, of course, if you see it on a gorgeous, sunny day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCCvAGhapDdzBFcnuZx3tjBIyRxQg6ICvwkCKZH_Z5VXbmUOsUvJRXFx6g7z1E6CuY4djg05J2hPNWT9UcprZUvBvVlr0_9vww87UfNSheLoczLDmC9yUl8_IXlLN0fiJTLD6ebRtF9FgEiy4L6kHh3BzCnjOLNP0D9i_BLR2plgDvkOpS5rGUvp2PJPO/s1970/Elmelunde%20NaveS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCCvAGhapDdzBFcnuZx3tjBIyRxQg6ICvwkCKZH_Z5VXbmUOsUvJRXFx6g7z1E6CuY4djg05J2hPNWT9UcprZUvBvVlr0_9vww87UfNSheLoczLDmC9yUl8_IXlLN0fiJTLD6ebRtF9FgEiy4L6kHh3BzCnjOLNP0D9i_BLR2plgDvkOpS5rGUvp2PJPO/w640-h478/Elmelunde%20NaveS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And you thought the OUTSIDE was beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the altar-pulpit end of the nave...</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw41DO9v67C3sGkUS5oCeJCMh9lCBmA6oYvu7M6KuQ60PWUcq3DF0e3frrg724h94mbYS_bjp8oERZ7n3wj8--XtOlIKPKreyLyUc78BkMEUo9bxVFR2Neb6RHIzlwVOPXmCu-LDcByl87Tc7YLC-X_KPkDwLXT-s61F5676tUESymHlWHsolRLmqXirnB/s1970/Elmelunde%20Nave%20CollageS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1970" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw41DO9v67C3sGkUS5oCeJCMh9lCBmA6oYvu7M6KuQ60PWUcq3DF0e3frrg724h94mbYS_bjp8oERZ7n3wj8--XtOlIKPKreyLyUc78BkMEUo9bxVFR2Neb6RHIzlwVOPXmCu-LDcByl87Tc7YLC-X_KPkDwLXT-s61F5676tUESymHlWHsolRLmqXirnB/w640-h526/Elmelunde%20Nave%20CollageS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...showcasing the incredible frescoes believed to have been painted by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmelunde_Master"><b>Elmelunde Master</b></a>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a nameless artist from the 16th century with paintings in 3 churches on Møn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfStUkR2xQGtzJnPvDIfEfDJJwV5xG4pl6khileCsgqrrshdoaSN9ANOLnI8BXwYVULOn_kRBSJxp45gAGtVvv5UML2iOuecTVSYd8cyfzaSabjOuuPML8gaoHxyHZFR7lc31ZV9cYumjwm6Anhea5n90u35KgkBUbcRmqTocFjI9uWmpx6-7iWGNk8Q8y/s1970/Elmelunde%20Nave%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfStUkR2xQGtzJnPvDIfEfDJJwV5xG4pl6khileCsgqrrshdoaSN9ANOLnI8BXwYVULOn_kRBSJxp45gAGtVvv5UML2iOuecTVSYd8cyfzaSabjOuuPML8gaoHxyHZFR7lc31ZV9cYumjwm6Anhea5n90u35KgkBUbcRmqTocFjI9uWmpx6-7iWGNk8Q8y/w640-h478/Elmelunde%20Nave%202S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the view of the nave towards the organ, opposite the altar at the other end.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kuzlW-JqfMiFKQcHQ2vAKff2_COyl-M8zGuUoywQf1tsNxki1wh-njTARceaZ9-rDczb4GXswZPce4ZLNAUHuNEo3-8BI4YlSF2Pgakwt4Fakn3gsZZIi-xrl6WQfUYn0Fl2fTBWNRY0FgYIEbquJHBxMjxPtd7ZQHP6zKfPCP8QbSanxmbYOR1Ay1Mv/s1970/Elmelunde%20Organ%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kuzlW-JqfMiFKQcHQ2vAKff2_COyl-M8zGuUoywQf1tsNxki1wh-njTARceaZ9-rDczb4GXswZPce4ZLNAUHuNEo3-8BI4YlSF2Pgakwt4Fakn3gsZZIi-xrl6WQfUYn0Fl2fTBWNRY0FgYIEbquJHBxMjxPtd7ZQHP6zKfPCP8QbSanxmbYOR1Ay1Mv/w640-h478/Elmelunde%20Organ%202S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The frescoes were covered with several layers of limewash for centuries,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">following the Reformation, when Denmark transitioned from Catholicism to Lutheranism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was only in 1969 that restoration was undertaken to reveal them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5aaPrdQTZD31oEqoSskLbp5niZxCRefwPs_o_s1sHGZS3rm6vfArDOvlN8agxHNW0DjMRIkuECEJUV0TPmlfHBTv5jcrsxUMzirjV_RpH0WIO5I7Ngjsd99_g2XX-nd1wxSJodcauJsTiGIiYnV5q-ipf0RUnnKVoKcOVbZfcl7CAYvP02Fx4GUtnL7Q/s1970/Elmelunde%20FrescoesS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1970" data-original-width="1970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5aaPrdQTZD31oEqoSskLbp5niZxCRefwPs_o_s1sHGZS3rm6vfArDOvlN8agxHNW0DjMRIkuECEJUV0TPmlfHBTv5jcrsxUMzirjV_RpH0WIO5I7Ngjsd99_g2XX-nd1wxSJodcauJsTiGIiYnV5q-ipf0RUnnKVoKcOVbZfcl7CAYvP02Fx4GUtnL7Q/w640-h640/Elmelunde%20FrescoesS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>While many depict Bible stories and everyday activities, like plowing and hunting,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">don't you wonder what others, like the hieroglyphs, depict?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH05_UzNwSpxZUCSpAK6u75pThrbY24Ice6OClbufYGp780eiKh4LoM6IhIA80xfOipfaHyVlYPMccWMeRGHHu9mhNUERwNX22Lh808q0mcOWSidZnGU_Xn39abKX_xAmhN5XI-0r_PvymCYDrP1zkQfFU17xchl7YIQbdQK1R_3MNxMHF1QG01aZruAN/s1980/Elmelunde%20PulpitS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1476" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH05_UzNwSpxZUCSpAK6u75pThrbY24Ice6OClbufYGp780eiKh4LoM6IhIA80xfOipfaHyVlYPMccWMeRGHHu9mhNUERwNX22Lh808q0mcOWSidZnGU_Xn39abKX_xAmhN5XI-0r_PvymCYDrP1zkQfFU17xchl7YIQbdQK1R_3MNxMHF1QG01aZruAN/w478-h640/Elmelunde%20PulpitS.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 1649 pulpit was a gift from the daughter and son-in-law of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_IV_of_Denmark"><b>King Christian IV</b></a>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leonora Christina and Corfitz Ulfeldt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2vGF4Hih0KzBWZJXtKO5vP7K28_jM0m0lSRyufjrGvUBneQx-4l_q4LFQmpn3ldLeHQGhg86GI9sL2oWcUJtRW_N_xACtk23dayd8oDNZjly48sKqWUit_jGtqfX5exaD5g6r0eBh061Op1PH4xUEBp-n2aJ0uFPifoli2i9y1cTRPaEY4i7bjrllKq8/s1970/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%202S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1970" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2vGF4Hih0KzBWZJXtKO5vP7K28_jM0m0lSRyufjrGvUBneQx-4l_q4LFQmpn3ldLeHQGhg86GI9sL2oWcUJtRW_N_xACtk23dayd8oDNZjly48sKqWUit_jGtqfX5exaD5g6r0eBh061Op1PH4xUEBp-n2aJ0uFPifoli2i9y1cTRPaEY4i7bjrllKq8/w640-h380/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%202S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The apostle Peter is the one who holds it up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMDmYENkDZ6Bapr2ESCn3RIWgi5eA2zxFjvamBOvriyhSHJleCVKf9jGtQyntgekZtPUHOJroy-rlIuLB5RmdkmSGTwnWWJ7c0ws6di5gQWBPxwphRKJcoYqbGL1EgP4BYqE0qnGSX6E-j-LSjLagAGuYk6KA5jeublnHElVYHom_bpQtiEVdhe_uWwMI/s1970/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%20CanopyS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMDmYENkDZ6Bapr2ESCn3RIWgi5eA2zxFjvamBOvriyhSHJleCVKf9jGtQyntgekZtPUHOJroy-rlIuLB5RmdkmSGTwnWWJ7c0ws6di5gQWBPxwphRKJcoYqbGL1EgP4BYqE0qnGSX6E-j-LSjLagAGuYk6KA5jeublnHElVYHom_bpQtiEVdhe_uWwMI/w640-h478/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%20CanopyS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The canopy above the pulpit is worth a closer look...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOdwqvvjJXIBONfdWPGtygv8Mo9zoB2Ww0fJfGkq6LIFmkJ2zZTEmaZahC1xE6D-9nY0McNh6wZMXD0JaAF-8acVS-OSIFZPmR6hXjLu2QEWjXgmM1zcfFLDl0dwmaGySpTMijcc6S7pJTql2r_hrVkz5harg9bROdvTrKWLmE3iGfqCoYjWPVChhSFT_/s1970/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%20Canopy%203S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOdwqvvjJXIBONfdWPGtygv8Mo9zoB2Ww0fJfGkq6LIFmkJ2zZTEmaZahC1xE6D-9nY0McNh6wZMXD0JaAF-8acVS-OSIFZPmR6hXjLu2QEWjXgmM1zcfFLDl0dwmaGySpTMijcc6S7pJTql2r_hrVkz5harg9bROdvTrKWLmE3iGfqCoYjWPVChhSFT_/w640-h478/Elmelunde%20Pulpit%20Canopy%203S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...especially against the backdrop of the wall frescoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many stories and symbolism represented!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d-wklVz_Wrb6Y4y0wG8PC3HNuOOVZ7VwFQgyYFNE7L4HOHMBZWs5PG2_mnG9J1YJZlC9mRNfTowM-Va0UE6EFU_BO5xqhVL_QJJ5buRR8GYmtFgyeaCCyjHdMwG0SfXs7VrzcfnS2_kZw_El5MsUq2tD9yamNxJQ09YanYzMSWvN7gU94-9eWhStI3oP/s1976/Elmelunde%20AltarS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="1478" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d-wklVz_Wrb6Y4y0wG8PC3HNuOOVZ7VwFQgyYFNE7L4HOHMBZWs5PG2_mnG9J1YJZlC9mRNfTowM-Va0UE6EFU_BO5xqhVL_QJJ5buRR8GYmtFgyeaCCyjHdMwG0SfXs7VrzcfnS2_kZw_El5MsUq2tD9yamNxJQ09YanYzMSWvN7gU94-9eWhStI3oP/w478-h640/Elmelunde%20AltarS.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 1646 carved altarpiece is also a gift from Leonora Christina and Corfitz Ulfeldt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXRVhURp8TN3U0xiVofFhYo0p9wJBqRxjHxjQgkJsNNruxYGX2GncG9KDIwdQc03JTDZBEHigQAXSvU5LHK-PSllISjvZAZbaGkToRwz9OBWzx_BGCSj04l592aidefS2KnDUmq1InXaNGUAxIhlamDwgOpRmA3jyfvUe8ehGbPAuEhjuaZ91U1LL0CLw/s1970/Elmelunde%20Altar%202s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="1970" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXRVhURp8TN3U0xiVofFhYo0p9wJBqRxjHxjQgkJsNNruxYGX2GncG9KDIwdQc03JTDZBEHigQAXSvU5LHK-PSllISjvZAZbaGkToRwz9OBWzx_BGCSj04l592aidefS2KnDUmq1InXaNGUAxIhlamDwgOpRmA3jyfvUe8ehGbPAuEhjuaZ91U1LL0CLw/w640-h476/Elmelunde%20Altar%202s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>The center panel depicts the Last Supper/Holy Communion,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with the evangelists, Mark and John, on the sides.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This altarpiece, like the pulpit, also has a <a href="https://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/ladder.html#:~:text=The%20Ladder%20Cross%20represents%20a,to%20reach%20places%20otherwise%20inaccessible."><b>ladder</b></a> at the top,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">juxtaposed against the Crucifixion cross of Jesus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjqHeqYlJJG7KrJQXvKJItpt9whzUZ1jM_JewsAMbW1QgKcQM_3vQbZYGMpEAQUxa2NLq7MjqF7Gwde1klIARPocPyQoY0bfw5SlbZFsOOIWBjL5xC2_etUt_TtaKeyjmWcMGrBbqhwYtQMF3ku0rzM8D8IzNLqmXVsYoXWWJ0b52YS4NORzkvYuoiE4X/s1978/Elmelunde%20OrganS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="1480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjqHeqYlJJG7KrJQXvKJItpt9whzUZ1jM_JewsAMbW1QgKcQM_3vQbZYGMpEAQUxa2NLq7MjqF7Gwde1klIARPocPyQoY0bfw5SlbZFsOOIWBjL5xC2_etUt_TtaKeyjmWcMGrBbqhwYtQMF3ku0rzM8D8IzNLqmXVsYoXWWJ0b52YS4NORzkvYuoiE4X/w478-h640/Elmelunde%20OrganS.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but not least, here's the free-standing, relatively new and under-stated organ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rather than being unimpressed, I was glad they at least had one,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unlike the <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-hjerup-old-church-on-stevns-klint.html"><b>last church</b></a> I posted about on Stevns Klint!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeQEn3aB8GQfobsfXie0hlAkwhIHRHznF1w4rI1m0ugYCCC0b3xH96qX3EmdQx6ZX0-9RiN6T_p3It-QzR-ybYS1SQ48legjMYueExD_MZ1V_JP2i6ammIK_BvVcTu0XipFkPbaLe6Azl6-YpyPqxwIlgTq6nMsJBdoln3-35Y0s3smscyZi-oZeEKxIG/s3282/IMG_3502Sa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2384" data-original-width="3282" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeQEn3aB8GQfobsfXie0hlAkwhIHRHznF1w4rI1m0ugYCCC0b3xH96qX3EmdQx6ZX0-9RiN6T_p3It-QzR-ybYS1SQ48legjMYueExD_MZ1V_JP2i6ammIK_BvVcTu0XipFkPbaLe6Azl6-YpyPqxwIlgTq6nMsJBdoln3-35Y0s3smscyZi-oZeEKxIG/w640-h464/IMG_3502Sa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One after-thought look from the car, as we were leaving:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It wasn't just the inside that had been obviously white-washed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjzTNEIxRcuvX57gsvE6-9Rph6baRmTgfkLdGJPt51CW5ZWKIKJnTnDGsHfcYBWNLNqX_hzjsJQsRxS9bCLmIjeoseWTDxxE7LLi-cJ2XYhel2F7O9Qtxx7wg5TIDg6UVJcREv5Z-uaNFdaee4J-UxQlKmYTXtp9w8Xxe0WEhvQepdhWsL5z-18vNJudT/s2000/Elmelunde%20Church%20Whitewash%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjzTNEIxRcuvX57gsvE6-9Rph6baRmTgfkLdGJPt51CW5ZWKIKJnTnDGsHfcYBWNLNqX_hzjsJQsRxS9bCLmIjeoseWTDxxE7LLi-cJ2XYhel2F7O9Qtxx7wg5TIDg6UVJcREv5Z-uaNFdaee4J-UxQlKmYTXtp9w8Xxe0WEhvQepdhWsL5z-18vNJudT/w400-h280/Elmelunde%20Church%20Whitewash%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did they want us to know???</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-8161583148008801252023-07-29T14:25:00.002+02:002023-07-29T14:25:57.234+02:00The Højerup Old Church on Stevns Klint, Denmark<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">As you know, after my last post on the <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-church-of-st-mary-in-sby-denmark.html"><b>Church of St. Mary in Sæby</b></a>, I want to keep showing posts on other Denmark churches that really grabbed our attention.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's church is the UNESCO <a href="https://www.copenhagenet.dk/cph-map/DK-Denmark-Stevns-Klint.asp"><b>Højerup Old Church</b></a> in Store Heddinge that sits on the Stevns Klint (cliff), 30+ meters above the Baltic Sea on Denmark's southern Zealand island:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh265y_CjTX6-RIduPBXf_o9VEFXXCADu1aOy1ml4HIiJlD-b6JECRtylfgm9YHAuVSJxiKmgHoFAN6Kcd5PewmINgBprufeOxVSWx0XbhAz9cK1P1wwsYUwT5ckDir6JRoiFNI7MdMud9GaXXZyb4tsQHzFlP9rLD_9YrQLp8Lmzg4HmQ52V0RkQ6YFDrM/s858/Stevns%20KlintS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="858" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh265y_CjTX6-RIduPBXf_o9VEFXXCADu1aOy1ml4HIiJlD-b6JECRtylfgm9YHAuVSJxiKmgHoFAN6Kcd5PewmINgBprufeOxVSWx0XbhAz9cK1P1wwsYUwT5ckDir6JRoiFNI7MdMud9GaXXZyb4tsQHzFlP9rLD_9YrQLp8Lmzg4HmQ52V0RkQ6YFDrM/w400-h399/Stevns%20KlintS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were there on June 18, 3 days before driving back home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr3PlFnwDMVa4EqXqvTGfBLx9d906szKQ3BDTSU9sYZbJ1JiJiMji1DcYvthXoJQjS9m2HMoC0zD7jx8m73us3KBYvgWKTAIpSS9pev5fPxbfdR-nfg04Ivvp-Q6jKZQ7u_h67NYduvqLI8JZ9kRavDZYu2YPOorIuJkPM0U206JlEjciSNO05DouqTAo/s2000/Clift%20Church%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr3PlFnwDMVa4EqXqvTGfBLx9d906szKQ3BDTSU9sYZbJ1JiJiMji1DcYvthXoJQjS9m2HMoC0zD7jx8m73us3KBYvgWKTAIpSS9pev5fPxbfdR-nfg04Ivvp-Q6jKZQ7u_h67NYduvqLI8JZ9kRavDZYu2YPOorIuJkPM0U206JlEjciSNO05DouqTAo/w640-h384/Clift%20Church%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you see, it sits at the edge of the limestone cliff, which is part of it's story and intrigue!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lpVwvZmP4xsHRyNAPH1p1GxpNf8P6cvfhXyIkwSnygKGtB1O1d8i0zIRUHajK4DNsn0Bj2UBajdIQILtmc2dUVAQik6gQBnhmHaWBrEmnf4-jnfjfOab00lW7Thw0UMbfRGhBxs1SBB2p2zHQh51QgmBk5VfSMjI-uKS_CrjPYFlH5N_94gF1SYhPSRi/s2400/Denmark%202023%20Churches%20to%20Borre%20IMG_3139Sa%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lpVwvZmP4xsHRyNAPH1p1GxpNf8P6cvfhXyIkwSnygKGtB1O1d8i0zIRUHajK4DNsn0Bj2UBajdIQILtmc2dUVAQik6gQBnhmHaWBrEmnf4-jnfjfOab00lW7Thw0UMbfRGhBxs1SBB2p2zHQh51QgmBk5VfSMjI-uKS_CrjPYFlH5N_94gF1SYhPSRi/w640-h400/Denmark%202023%20Churches%20to%20Borre%20IMG_3139Sa%20copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As churches go, it's very small and cozy. A real charm!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's architecture is Romanesque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gw4pnaAZ9M40NqFNd5gxF4l4bD_Ra1TUIcwCHqYAld6nwIQAyiHF4G8leyd8q-h-kBA9Y5n9Ve8Y39456BbgN4Z6_SFe2QUqIugQG95CoGgkaj-InYkabthxu7wBzJB_MpPhK3FAa3IacxrAQf243uY7i1nGAmvjdPDJFjEPrJP8_ErSDt95lCiiGIYK/s1968/Clift%20ChurchS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="1968" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gw4pnaAZ9M40NqFNd5gxF4l4bD_Ra1TUIcwCHqYAld6nwIQAyiHF4G8leyd8q-h-kBA9Y5n9Ve8Y39456BbgN4Z6_SFe2QUqIugQG95CoGgkaj-InYkabthxu7wBzJB_MpPhK3FAa3IacxrAQf243uY7i1nGAmvjdPDJFjEPrJP8_ErSDt95lCiiGIYK/w640-h592/Clift%20ChurchS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But as the <i><a href="https://www.southzealand-mon.com/holiday/plan-your-trip/hoejerup-old-church-gdk1058636"><b>story</b></a></i> goes, a distressed boater at sea promised that, if saved, he'd build a chapel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This</i> is that chapel, built in 1250 and consecrated in 1357, but...it was built too close to the cliff!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every year the sea kept collapsing the cliff, such that by 1910 no more services were held.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">18 years later, the choir area of the church collapsed into the sea below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMheR-5GXGsbTmRrtHs6plGNdpn669rp3RxvXxgVPYkPKk8LfE6CtnEI0pdIqWd89-B98FA30E8qzl-9qilUZ7lCH8YpllEjrjJrpP4vOKIzXCdNg1Doei7giYyNJGbr6moU9HW1ptc4EE5KhenaZ1DzHV5CI6XXNwGvOsZ-N-wl29w-7wuZl2a_nVeTR/s2000/Foyer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMheR-5GXGsbTmRrtHs6plGNdpn669rp3RxvXxgVPYkPKk8LfE6CtnEI0pdIqWd89-B98FA30E8qzl-9qilUZ7lCH8YpllEjrjJrpP4vOKIzXCdNg1Doei7giYyNJGbr6moU9HW1ptc4EE5KhenaZ1DzHV5CI6XXNwGvOsZ-N-wl29w-7wuZl2a_nVeTR/w400-h300/Foyer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Upon entering the church, the foyer tells you everything</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you want to know about the church's history...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoaLKp8zanlQr3fDCUmPwqJPjATtZ-n9ypBtRJL0fWTvbfvtH3HC0Kr2kPkkUZEgB9Ax9uxOOBxJq9hLYX16qfNV9RujeWfAQLQhy7F9uX0XFO6SEAEXFGU_4vGUJLh5hIw2sMKerjRwNUCEc7E6IcC-uNu03OA1Mu_gEiKGjDtVQYC1i04KFjafc7B5Y/s2000/Entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoaLKp8zanlQr3fDCUmPwqJPjATtZ-n9ypBtRJL0fWTvbfvtH3HC0Kr2kPkkUZEgB9Ax9uxOOBxJq9hLYX16qfNV9RujeWfAQLQhy7F9uX0XFO6SEAEXFGU_4vGUJLh5hIw2sMKerjRwNUCEc7E6IcC-uNu03OA1Mu_gEiKGjDtVQYC1i04KFjafc7B5Y/w640-h448/Entrance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...after which you enter the chapel...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOKf_kqG9ayhHS5sqrZmWeXh0r394iAhIJqToP6KPHhBePiT2_Rpb8nwUf6wvtJrrwSGmktnTabvmC-gZXtv__dxmwFdGo4EyBKuCsDIIDJSRmEYIdAnFULXdd7jPg3IUb4IT2xwjme1E6z7RzUJEf5ncNdl0-3T6iL0GFKvCxfQu7_Yy5wiS4EX7oOwl/s4032/Astrid%20IMG_9061S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2964" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOKf_kqG9ayhHS5sqrZmWeXh0r394iAhIJqToP6KPHhBePiT2_Rpb8nwUf6wvtJrrwSGmktnTabvmC-gZXtv__dxmwFdGo4EyBKuCsDIIDJSRmEYIdAnFULXdd7jPg3IUb4IT2xwjme1E6z7RzUJEf5ncNdl0-3T6iL0GFKvCxfQu7_Yy5wiS4EX7oOwl/w294-h400/Astrid%20IMG_9061S.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...through this door!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QzoDcK9uWYhhnV5ABfsc4M6fKVT2MWgfXbxUgUGwivy5YGbIpcuhSkiPO51bcUdPkcAWbiFkesZssZnnCDQTNjTEHUcFGrByKAZSH4OVSzTWu1HJE3QxbsDXc0ff4uXNYxX99NA9EJeJ1Oamz9FW-EwyLvsydALaYn7U1INn_mq11N8ndSF1ELBbtItQ/s1968/NaveS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QzoDcK9uWYhhnV5ABfsc4M6fKVT2MWgfXbxUgUGwivy5YGbIpcuhSkiPO51bcUdPkcAWbiFkesZssZnnCDQTNjTEHUcFGrByKAZSH4OVSzTWu1HJE3QxbsDXc0ff4uXNYxX99NA9EJeJ1Oamz9FW-EwyLvsydALaYn7U1INn_mq11N8ndSF1ELBbtItQ/w640-h640/NaveS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then the nave is right there in front of you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To the left is the back of the church; to the right (at the doorway) is what's left of the choir.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNE-kLpBz1N_KdkjLx46eP-glQTcotNVFzZaln-sf_srsSuV2O07fm1z7SDXNEZMkLgAtAKMDTgMRabYn_JzZ2WKV1ECwXEdi_-o5oTD_DkAAsFP_7RrmPbZtw24N2ythJsBgjJdWkJmrSgj024TKI76t_FkFFIksem2MkqNCaVWsQNH2kv0O-6ptowqW/s2000/Frescoes%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNE-kLpBz1N_KdkjLx46eP-glQTcotNVFzZaln-sf_srsSuV2O07fm1z7SDXNEZMkLgAtAKMDTgMRabYn_JzZ2WKV1ECwXEdi_-o5oTD_DkAAsFP_7RrmPbZtw24N2ythJsBgjJdWkJmrSgj024TKI76t_FkFFIksem2MkqNCaVWsQNH2kv0O-6ptowqW/w640-h480/Frescoes%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other words, the entrance door is on the left, the added door to the balcony on the right</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">was added after the collapse, and everything in between is the cozy chapel...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lYEP_Xm8nbs81evRIT_d_37hucBbtMkXr4F7VrjJBR37VanBWKUvVfWI5iK1c--jxTfz9Ate4SbDJhTLKxeb2r1GlrkXCVmkj8uUAxBYcUApytNGdvWVZ-xlSxT_jnpZ4fH9sO5hXqDVtrg8FdqC3TEte5X-lK3GWDw-7F1kr3y_igDYgfhL6W5zsxJB/s1968/FrescoesS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lYEP_Xm8nbs81evRIT_d_37hucBbtMkXr4F7VrjJBR37VanBWKUvVfWI5iK1c--jxTfz9Ate4SbDJhTLKxeb2r1GlrkXCVmkj8uUAxBYcUApytNGdvWVZ-xlSxT_jnpZ4fH9sO5hXqDVtrg8FdqC3TEte5X-lK3GWDw-7F1kr3y_igDYgfhL6W5zsxJB/w640-h640/FrescoesS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...with all the incredible frescoes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZCaYJeWauZpJSkEc4APwsCkOWfY2zZDUQ3j6zBwkjcdhLG8v-ECH3bGauryrPPAB2y96plI9yq7fjcxvU9JDbonyBJE-e_u6Ck0m7wA7JJ93EgFlntfg2TTb4M-pCCekl00hvFSJYR8H3ra9c_trhLoJuZTe4IcKA6oFG6LH_YvHc9OLjuFhmxMbqk7-/s2000/Pulpit%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZCaYJeWauZpJSkEc4APwsCkOWfY2zZDUQ3j6zBwkjcdhLG8v-ECH3bGauryrPPAB2y96plI9yq7fjcxvU9JDbonyBJE-e_u6Ck0m7wA7JJ93EgFlntfg2TTb4M-pCCekl00hvFSJYR8H3ra9c_trhLoJuZTe4IcKA6oFG6LH_YvHc9OLjuFhmxMbqk7-/w300-h400/Pulpit%201.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and the pulpit!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBhEJc8O2q9u1oHdLtZPkPg4dHD0sc1VdBBWYlZpQDnaeWSKe7XTMOACW85LILs5sFV5hiwjDSMZhHVnNdSsJDksaZL_0s45GhredNGOE-RULMu82LIOx8UO1lk6cCqMUQO4sL9Lo6gfFswXfLtUD_kbgbGe-EJFIejwZD08lX7fii-AAIhtWsHvAU6oz/s1968/PulpitS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1718" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBhEJc8O2q9u1oHdLtZPkPg4dHD0sc1VdBBWYlZpQDnaeWSKe7XTMOACW85LILs5sFV5hiwjDSMZhHVnNdSsJDksaZL_0s45GhredNGOE-RULMu82LIOx8UO1lk6cCqMUQO4sL9Lo6gfFswXfLtUD_kbgbGe-EJFIejwZD08lX7fii-AAIhtWsHvAU6oz/w558-h640/PulpitS.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is it from 1605 (bottom-left)? I assume so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly, there was no organ to be found anywhere that I could see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_7WDpbCNV1JiyWmnPWTXJrj9eXlGdLkg4Qocseq43U53-MtfgfKCsguBkaD8b6YCMWu9RU5DOmrNsEqjDwPlXhtGToWQ4lNufXfepX6WtpT_uwzsnvrLTh9aqygSQOaYLwD2QqtwDXWWKe5erlstGAbh8IUWeMKbBp3i4I-biBN-1sm_fBxXmSslVzW0/s725/Denmark%202023%20Churches%20to%20Borre%20IMG_1538Sa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="725" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_7WDpbCNV1JiyWmnPWTXJrj9eXlGdLkg4Qocseq43U53-MtfgfKCsguBkaD8b6YCMWu9RU5DOmrNsEqjDwPlXhtGToWQ4lNufXfepX6WtpT_uwzsnvrLTh9aqygSQOaYLwD2QqtwDXWWKe5erlstGAbh8IUWeMKbBp3i4I-biBN-1sm_fBxXmSslVzW0/w640-h430/Denmark%202023%20Churches%20to%20Borre%20IMG_1538Sa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But in the side sacristy, the damaged altarpiece from 1599 is preserved</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">from after the choir's collapse in 1928.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX9LmLcjFMfhh9ng3Q-C78ikm9Eh35LYDP5W-ywtFdRmoqNcCYYjc0_wC2Ylt3fzRxZT_plcGcuLmlhx5ec370IkghRSuqudfHsYgJ3Kxu1512XDOqXcO-EjvmCoC8kL2itN_jvDxvWuF3mWQtuYiGUxJW0x4i3zRy8gsllFrQzzfrxDba3NpZoFnAKxc/s3972/Astrid%20IMG_9062S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3972" data-original-width="2952" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX9LmLcjFMfhh9ng3Q-C78ikm9Eh35LYDP5W-ywtFdRmoqNcCYYjc0_wC2Ylt3fzRxZT_plcGcuLmlhx5ec370IkghRSuqudfHsYgJ3Kxu1512XDOqXcO-EjvmCoC8kL2itN_jvDxvWuF3mWQtuYiGUxJW0x4i3zRy8gsllFrQzzfrxDba3NpZoFnAKxc/w298-h400/Astrid%20IMG_9062S.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the collapse, the church was stabilized at the cliff's edge against further damage,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a balcony added for visitors to view the cliffs and Baltic Sea.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSZFTmh9de4NYCQJXBVIOOWCKrn58-xTewM0d1UjInVkaFESSz5lQ5Zh_XYutNdLpoDsOwfzNcK38EZuepvsKV7OQ3khOS1dSJwSdL1oulL7W7WW1nnonNU6_wbtEWOL4ct6z_UZEmuFi2qI39I3Pu19oLWQZ6iRy8Iu7BKbR88HXIoHqskxjysKgXRZM/s1970/BalconyS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="1970" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSZFTmh9de4NYCQJXBVIOOWCKrn58-xTewM0d1UjInVkaFESSz5lQ5Zh_XYutNdLpoDsOwfzNcK38EZuepvsKV7OQ3khOS1dSJwSdL1oulL7W7WW1nnonNU6_wbtEWOL4ct6z_UZEmuFi2qI39I3Pu19oLWQZ6iRy8Iu7BKbR88HXIoHqskxjysKgXRZM/w640-h478/BalconyS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The balcony also is the romantic place of choice for weddings, with "witnesses" standing by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The church also holds baptisms and funerals, as well as occasional music concerts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYLOFCONc-SsCjfu2yqRtERh6E0r3Awwrql9HD7JYM9RfzwOtEWjIgKO3ZcTQCakD3FYqf-LdJhW3Dovpa50cEF1VhYOwFVD8jTHwXE-69ePr2zZ3yrlxb-SgUvGuAQTJNL_Fo_ZJzkR-HKZC2RMqXRBXZfkThzn4jkZTIXcp5Fr-fx3VwdxQbWTCIfDr/s1970/CottageS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="1970" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYLOFCONc-SsCjfu2yqRtERh6E0r3Awwrql9HD7JYM9RfzwOtEWjIgKO3ZcTQCakD3FYqf-LdJhW3Dovpa50cEF1VhYOwFVD8jTHwXE-69ePr2zZ3yrlxb-SgUvGuAQTJNL_Fo_ZJzkR-HKZC2RMqXRBXZfkThzn4jkZTIXcp5Fr-fx3VwdxQbWTCIfDr/w640-h558/CottageS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would be remiss <i>not</i> to include the cottage standing nearby the church,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which is now a souvenir shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi_VBjYYJ7Kz-isY5_rXs2DnTIj9Amxe1lOt_MvkjJKM_oGJAKAv7OLfvxbVZgb9szLRmplEVqMyD_h516k4I4JA_hYneC0jk2Ac9nHp7iy00N4SdjxvjL_6uRv3r7VNnAOv8j9tfyMBpBwjE0WB3P8rPXcGCyTGjn5p4dZTqDWFRDQO9eNps5ELybzsq/s1000/IMG_3133S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1000" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi_VBjYYJ7Kz-isY5_rXs2DnTIj9Amxe1lOt_MvkjJKM_oGJAKAv7OLfvxbVZgb9szLRmplEVqMyD_h516k4I4JA_hYneC0jk2Ac9nHp7iy00N4SdjxvjL_6uRv3r7VNnAOv8j9tfyMBpBwjE0WB3P8rPXcGCyTGjn5p4dZTqDWFRDQO9eNps5ELybzsq/w400-h308/IMG_3133S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the <a href="https://www.southzealand-mon.com/holiday/plan-your-trip/hojerup-new-church-gdk1058572"><b>NEW church</b></a>, on the same property site,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which was consecrated in 1913, after the old church collapsed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both churches, I believe, are Lutheran by denomination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7KaCYjnPg_eSYMjv80jADX8iO_mhaBNq6YxCYdG6T6UrGuEMsqs8LqW5CrYUk7YABQJvCesTsoxBew2CIrIcLslLoDAu97Db1cFus4WEd1tE5kuv7TP5nxmRJwHE6lbv4ypcWbP4JvTo7uVUScXqyNCSdZpiV5UMI2jJaeSQcplm-zHlNWzdhRpwUgcY/s3936/FB%20IMG_2569.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="3936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7KaCYjnPg_eSYMjv80jADX8iO_mhaBNq6YxCYdG6T6UrGuEMsqs8LqW5CrYUk7YABQJvCesTsoxBew2CIrIcLslLoDAu97Db1cFus4WEd1tE5kuv7TP5nxmRJwHE6lbv4ypcWbP4JvTo7uVUScXqyNCSdZpiV5UMI2jJaeSQcplm-zHlNWzdhRpwUgcY/w640-h640/FB%20IMG_2569.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, in this Facebook "synopsis" collage, you can see the steps down to the waterfront, with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">better views of the cliffs (which, I might add, only Astrid took, while I pampered my "fake" knee).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZFCQiukAqRVNo4IpEtKIPG8RfS6i36wpKWTRDUNzWSWIR5SCaqFhiTR_YMgVj58FdWXRR5nG7UkTZjpRD4nGhVlDSi5A-IsjEK3zQWG9ZUn5kjnKDagHvGGD4EyCHpbc8oJsNaibxqO15cDIAxuOEKI_qTgEnuD9yykKiVmI25vuraGPf_7FpTcB66Dl/s1968/ShorelineS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZFCQiukAqRVNo4IpEtKIPG8RfS6i36wpKWTRDUNzWSWIR5SCaqFhiTR_YMgVj58FdWXRR5nG7UkTZjpRD4nGhVlDSi5A-IsjEK3zQWG9ZUn5kjnKDagHvGGD4EyCHpbc8oJsNaibxqO15cDIAxuOEKI_qTgEnuD9yykKiVmI25vuraGPf_7FpTcB66Dl/w526-h640/ShorelineS.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everything we read said the best view of these cliffs was from the Højerup Old Church,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so, lucky for us, we got two for the price of one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of all the churches we saw in Denmark, this may be my favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes "small" is better?!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-54959407171668738952023-07-22T09:35:00.000+02:002023-07-22T09:35:13.326+02:00The Church of St. Mary in Sæby, Denmark<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Following <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/06/our-denmark-trip-overview.html"><b>the overview</b></a> of our 3-week drive through Denmark, and true to my promise, here's one of the churches we visited inside.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhGlZCIMerQqwKjB-L6ARZN-YUBh3YH1b9KOk-W0xS8AOPp-SisHF52uGA94jXRhttHNJEQDG7v2FncP9PkmsnOiu-osLlXT_K8vblxb7zFl1ro3sRjWZ0Bd12S1Tst6PeW1WbSzRhUf71tE0jsxKS_eS4IniJeyZeqc8gtk4rugg_pF7YFFPP-s7Mzra/s2000/Monastery%20Church%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhGlZCIMerQqwKjB-L6ARZN-YUBh3YH1b9KOk-W0xS8AOPp-SisHF52uGA94jXRhttHNJEQDG7v2FncP9PkmsnOiu-osLlXT_K8vblxb7zFl1ro3sRjWZ0Bd12S1Tst6PeW1WbSzRhUf71tE0jsxKS_eS4IniJeyZeqc8gtk4rugg_pF7YFFPP-s7Mzra/w400-h240/Monastery%20Church%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It once formed part of the Carmelite monastery from the 15th century</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and is the reason why we chose <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A6by"><b>Sæby</b></a> as our city of choice for our farthest-north</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">destination in Denmark, 54 km south of Skagen on Jutland island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx2HdD68jwtxJ7DBv4qdB2Rv5GfiJsWjggRVfkCfvevdy_qoZizAFOMlKAy7i6XTaNERlEiezjJTTAThTd9M3n5wtDc5XSXLyQzm420KVtwCF5UrSrG1MQHJRIODs2me-ToJZx-WB1xD97RYcAgdh7X6BV_L4on3omriDmYOIY3z05ykxJUiuFhDSJEKL/s799/Saeby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="799" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx2HdD68jwtxJ7DBv4qdB2Rv5GfiJsWjggRVfkCfvevdy_qoZizAFOMlKAy7i6XTaNERlEiezjJTTAThTd9M3n5wtDc5XSXLyQzm420KVtwCF5UrSrG1MQHJRIODs2me-ToJZx-WB1xD97RYcAgdh7X6BV_L4on3omriDmYOIY3z05ykxJUiuFhDSJEKL/w640-h480/Saeby.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7c5VrG17GwbudW-J6tckzx6-5VgdHJG4XLRTwhbfFFpHBurDUrVpf9glmlcqbrxi8BlwLk7L3PHox36nJxsLxNlrxR_EN2E3_XtoVMmTymtadgn2QsAl2yY07X0uW7lQ_B75YaBB7zQ_rsyhI8VbyJg7BwIOwq-Gxe5n-8fwlNT8h676ZjhCa53a91K8/s2000/Monastery%20Church%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7c5VrG17GwbudW-J6tckzx6-5VgdHJG4XLRTwhbfFFpHBurDUrVpf9glmlcqbrxi8BlwLk7L3PHox36nJxsLxNlrxR_EN2E3_XtoVMmTymtadgn2QsAl2yY07X0uW7lQ_B75YaBB7zQ_rsyhI8VbyJg7BwIOwq-Gxe5n-8fwlNT8h676ZjhCa53a91K8/w640-h640/Monastery%20Church%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even without seeing the inside, we were sold on visiting it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was named <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/saebyleksikon/home/saeby-bygninger/saeby-church"><b>St. Mary's Church</b></a> ca. 1450 and was granted permission</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by Pope Pius II in 1462 to become a Carmelite monastery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBsGepj2N66Sj10fRkRSli1W_89J2jYo_qtAOnIUI4PZWY5MJJ7m5c9XKWCEo-Ert_Co8UbS_Dbk0zC1dlm_MP3JiXdyg-Xopgd3X1blV9CtdIChsdqfhgUPzGQ_CADw0c7OSjIncFqt_Hnc69ts8iWo5XIx3hPmWjKTCv0LAEChBZpZTZpZKmDeGkMYm/s2000/Nave.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBsGepj2N66Sj10fRkRSli1W_89J2jYo_qtAOnIUI4PZWY5MJJ7m5c9XKWCEo-Ert_Co8UbS_Dbk0zC1dlm_MP3JiXdyg-Xopgd3X1blV9CtdIChsdqfhgUPzGQ_CADw0c7OSjIncFqt_Hnc69ts8iWo5XIx3hPmWjKTCv0LAEChBZpZTZpZKmDeGkMYm/w640-h384/Nave.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After opening the door of the church lobby, this is the long view of the nave,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">straight to the altar at the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykMpwgwzG6fDIB0io2j2te6VAiSOIBlkdp9sfEFThmngv9t5Be-yZQ6EYgoWGp7jFGV_qDKuBApfzE_r9X1hoqwtcN7bCEj3L00SCyeEa0uFLq5vmBEn8qKkMz51s5N9nzraEXy-5ohSshTCQE5eiFrsHZlu9KQMoBzK4MPfK4uEjbBcLM0gww1c03ZEG/s2000/Nave%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykMpwgwzG6fDIB0io2j2te6VAiSOIBlkdp9sfEFThmngv9t5Be-yZQ6EYgoWGp7jFGV_qDKuBApfzE_r9X1hoqwtcN7bCEj3L00SCyeEa0uFLq5vmBEn8qKkMz51s5N9nzraEXy-5ohSshTCQE5eiFrsHZlu9KQMoBzK4MPfK4uEjbBcLM0gww1c03ZEG/w576-h640/Nave%202.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OMG. Where do you even start!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, since you see a room off to the bottom-right, let's start there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8mxhK2uuhvTSfiLuEcHwaY7LCvZd5MsrBZRHDwNJCk_3zxs7d6O2tjIG7sVKAUWA57wixXcEtUn0u3NVmNU8HmDcEb1VECcuGwGDT3HN-wYIz6iXII6SF7ADSERYNVj43nWrdbfqvmMkLggpYLS82BA76wckKYWbd29a_U8Ce35VW3YwIdH_TqLC245v/s2000/Chapter%20House.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8mxhK2uuhvTSfiLuEcHwaY7LCvZd5MsrBZRHDwNJCk_3zxs7d6O2tjIG7sVKAUWA57wixXcEtUn0u3NVmNU8HmDcEb1VECcuGwGDT3HN-wYIz6iXII6SF7ADSERYNVj43nWrdbfqvmMkLggpYLS82BA76wckKYWbd29a_U8Ce35VW3YwIdH_TqLC245v/w544-h640/Chapter%20House.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's the Chapter House, usually off to the side, where meetings are held.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was clearly impressive but not where we spent the bulk of our time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1cQLHcbJ85OhoRFFrXe03ecSSqQasHtEyZiBkgHfL6NxMlccYaRr5osOCXtrqVwWSwfZu2X_O0ZogfCY696vN1DrZDQ8oWLrSJ4196Mvj33EW_NZVR6RphVKvwMhW2gF95T8TtyFKTRzedyeNWeGXe09IDkQvy5JkfM9g8RRWov_qK3pL-wIVRkedcpv/s2000/Altar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1cQLHcbJ85OhoRFFrXe03ecSSqQasHtEyZiBkgHfL6NxMlccYaRr5osOCXtrqVwWSwfZu2X_O0ZogfCY696vN1DrZDQ8oWLrSJ4196Mvj33EW_NZVR6RphVKvwMhW2gF95T8TtyFKTRzedyeNWeGXe09IDkQvy5JkfM9g8RRWov_qK3pL-wIVRkedcpv/w640-h480/Altar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What I typically do in such a church is walk straight to the altar and then look back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This particular altarpiece is late-Gothic, dating around 1520.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityntiURjPQ50sKdXG7TubJ8nDrJ3QnTrvUW02taVbzGJvBOBxnCpbq55LgaOQJaMQm7a31nQi6P_1mh5ZD0GXeLz1qgnCqPItNE_n0d9Y6UEMP7zIdR2s2UHov4lc73N306QBkCwDIl_HVYt-cCx_d3qAz_rF_Zx8coKtnjZoDcf1vPNjGNAIpKDyHDgv/s1000/IMG_1191S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityntiURjPQ50sKdXG7TubJ8nDrJ3QnTrvUW02taVbzGJvBOBxnCpbq55LgaOQJaMQm7a31nQi6P_1mh5ZD0GXeLz1qgnCqPItNE_n0d9Y6UEMP7zIdR2s2UHov4lc73N306QBkCwDIl_HVYt-cCx_d3qAz_rF_Zx8coKtnjZoDcf1vPNjGNAIpKDyHDgv/w462-h640/IMG_1191S.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I turned and looked back, I saw exactly how narrow the nave is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, do you see what I see? The pulpit (left) and the organ (back), of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1DFZJNfQVCnQ0Yz_-eFBiNdqpiu4W7bUJDM4LQs7E5b2tzyEW6r7EZNxntVNPvT-exQz5zovsvgCMvdSvY17HwtQq3F92vz788WnkZSMvwr0-FyIkrMizVFrXUwmtYzXNcRGHiYt0cob8ccStLJ6CZ7ouFnxq6FjOrkTIrr7Ec_ZDIplGDyHNIBP9nN-/s2000/Pulpit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1DFZJNfQVCnQ0Yz_-eFBiNdqpiu4W7bUJDM4LQs7E5b2tzyEW6r7EZNxntVNPvT-exQz5zovsvgCMvdSvY17HwtQq3F92vz788WnkZSMvwr0-FyIkrMizVFrXUwmtYzXNcRGHiYt0cob8ccStLJ6CZ7ouFnxq6FjOrkTIrr7Ec_ZDIplGDyHNIBP9nN-/w240-h400/Pulpit.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had already passed the pulpit at the beginning of the nave</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(near the entrance to the Chapter House on the right).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It and its canopy were carved around 1577, during the early Renaissance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeLk_j5qLdjpfTQHEBRcPJBWTyxu7Wlym3KZY9499GojLfHp58HktSemHEHmyPla39RSIsZE6ElYBFRqU8VBTRDJGKYBtbMaSfkfnss7xL-8LaDQ9cNXDOQ9s58ozOYKKEMAvBUiycsgN6ijQjPxKC_bCrcLN2klXX8W1z2Nu7TCBn4TWEIncI6sWmu1Y/s2000/Pulpit%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeLk_j5qLdjpfTQHEBRcPJBWTyxu7Wlym3KZY9499GojLfHp58HktSemHEHmyPla39RSIsZE6ElYBFRqU8VBTRDJGKYBtbMaSfkfnss7xL-8LaDQ9cNXDOQ9s58ozOYKKEMAvBUiycsgN6ijQjPxKC_bCrcLN2klXX8W1z2Nu7TCBn4TWEIncI6sWmu1Y/w544-h640/Pulpit%202.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every time I see a pulpit like this, I wonder what my preacher dad would think,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and would he feel comfortable preaching from it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice how he could look to his left and see his wife at the organ,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the opposite end from the altar!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI5C7SosIt-2n9A90EoIMLhb9ULl_LhRFUTErwj-8_nhGBFR819C-0_ETCfXkCzLs9bGwRtq72lIj_LH01APyYspEnoX2pZVu01YIfuzafZcMBmRdhDifR6vyLwWtxyfl0fuVNbHV5gFoOJ7RLpZ_PlvaQyXPfzXmcy7Ty_8hiwZFCgj8_Y2HSoyp9y28/s2000/Organ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFI5C7SosIt-2n9A90EoIMLhb9ULl_LhRFUTErwj-8_nhGBFR819C-0_ETCfXkCzLs9bGwRtq72lIj_LH01APyYspEnoX2pZVu01YIfuzafZcMBmRdhDifR6vyLwWtxyfl0fuVNbHV5gFoOJ7RLpZ_PlvaQyXPfzXmcy7Ty_8hiwZFCgj8_Y2HSoyp9y28/w300-h400/Organ.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mom, the preacher's wife, played both the piano and the organ,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and also directed the choir. How would she feel about doing that here?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFSUPp8luXay71qJ7fZMMAzGeoaG3iULPewmbOyisTp7Alda7hp2dmFsEh2pI54u5jzhy6hVeLt7GKCjl7EGWHGmdyeXhTUOb7cBGzN66KdjvbXxS3L2Q7jXFn3IglgNu0-_Zv-3E57GmBpi_xxvIJet8ReyctnWh2oin2n0WoTmdtKKJtS-ZztbDUscK/s2000/Organ%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFSUPp8luXay71qJ7fZMMAzGeoaG3iULPewmbOyisTp7Alda7hp2dmFsEh2pI54u5jzhy6hVeLt7GKCjl7EGWHGmdyeXhTUOb7cBGzN66KdjvbXxS3L2Q7jXFn3IglgNu0-_Zv-3E57GmBpi_xxvIJet8ReyctnWh2oin2n0WoTmdtKKJtS-ZztbDUscK/w480-h640/Organ%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They both were also artists...and Protestants (Baptists)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To be honest, I think they'd get an awesome kick out of visiting this church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb5cfMKqjmbU4OkqJLVgY4rPh9FQ89Q4nwx2fXCUTUL8GC9u6oisbAzRNvCmAJiL37DkSjS15FXkCvIp11kwVdYnhl9J-oS9Mt--j6VHjcn3sroejVg9wuy-9Ko2EVvdytNQV2HqqVM2TF3jT51cVaLpJGKBlulFm4WbaTFcADEuSig2cnx38d_Z65NJa/s2000/Nave%20Ceiling%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb5cfMKqjmbU4OkqJLVgY4rPh9FQ89Q4nwx2fXCUTUL8GC9u6oisbAzRNvCmAJiL37DkSjS15FXkCvIp11kwVdYnhl9J-oS9Mt--j6VHjcn3sroejVg9wuy-9Ko2EVvdytNQV2HqqVM2TF3jT51cVaLpJGKBlulFm4WbaTFcADEuSig2cnx38d_Z65NJa/w400-h400/Nave%20Ceiling%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's like the sermons have floated to the ceiling, becoming eternalized frescoes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC93QXmx0IjkVblNoBdDsdiUyVq3BBVj0anjQKxARU_-i9pWfJw6n_7Ea2neU7X8ul6X6fV55p4fagbfAUZxqO5pF-hS9Jn5ERsa3jrFTTI-9ljr7ClxnaFt2VJ-vzDikHy0yGgjKwQY3nHKEw4SFoN0CfMXwJwM_RwHW8sVOqWKAeoh9TsqJd1eL6Ezk6/s2000/Nave%20Ceiling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC93QXmx0IjkVblNoBdDsdiUyVq3BBVj0anjQKxARU_-i9pWfJw6n_7Ea2neU7X8ul6X6fV55p4fagbfAUZxqO5pF-hS9Jn5ERsa3jrFTTI-9ljr7ClxnaFt2VJ-vzDikHy0yGgjKwQY3nHKEw4SFoN0CfMXwJwM_RwHW8sVOqWKAeoh9TsqJd1eL6Ezk6/w560-h640/Nave%20Ceiling.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can picture Dad picking out something funny and pointing to it in a sermon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He always liked a good joke! Mom also composed music and would surely be inspired?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzmlD6wqTjvIelzMef7e0NBTDiiKduFHyIW4jk6acuByc1xRdOAgbCYQwZmV4YivqklED_ZrE8oAxTiJlgRgoZL_Aw0mybYC4ZqyJ2ntCFd0N2pCWasnm4sk2LrcDHVzGuniYF8dkDCu5OQx8ZQmPeU2WTfk05n2-dwCfsjsLhyEsbgDbjf8v-hxLK9TN/s2000/Fresco%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzmlD6wqTjvIelzMef7e0NBTDiiKduFHyIW4jk6acuByc1xRdOAgbCYQwZmV4YivqklED_ZrE8oAxTiJlgRgoZL_Aw0mybYC4ZqyJ2ntCFd0N2pCWasnm4sk2LrcDHVzGuniYF8dkDCu5OQx8ZQmPeU2WTfk05n2-dwCfsjsLhyEsbgDbjf8v-hxLK9TN/w400-h300/Fresco%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But...back to the nave, because I digress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the only fresco I remember not on the ceiling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjkUH_N0KxQ-uzeW3OaUq8SGLTYIH8pJri8ylEy3-sCf2nUbjx6jPxShMGY78DqXcINTnxnZtfLJRs5geoKYlv28IQhzXmAqs1yZRb8SB28XVYUJEmqoMKpvGY3bdtg4D4ed3enJLHA0iwbr9oTKxO8oX21zmA6iYT_mOX7x7XD2KsUnoFGOZIn6kdwjx/s1000/IMG_8700S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjkUH_N0KxQ-uzeW3OaUq8SGLTYIH8pJri8ylEy3-sCf2nUbjx6jPxShMGY78DqXcINTnxnZtfLJRs5geoKYlv28IQhzXmAqs1yZRb8SB28XVYUJEmqoMKpvGY3bdtg4D4ed3enJLHA0iwbr9oTKxO8oX21zmA6iYT_mOX7x7XD2KsUnoFGOZIn6kdwjx/w640-h480/IMG_8700S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Actually, both Mom and Dad would love and study it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(See, I can't stop thinking about how they would view all of this.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rtBVmgAIkF-3W0PRWI4xXq8PRATbxwgXL33QHyuhx2-XBLNdyU5vLo5W32JcnFdlKgGIR4_rkK1tItxb8UmYlCIFIs0DPZ6B1xoloCglX3z-XYQqBNWEob5WGcy2Avtv4QGhkVlO1ymL5qnQwWAxJRai3UNvC3lu56GsjU1ttBrj4Sb8VvmPSb3m6QSh/s2000/Misc..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rtBVmgAIkF-3W0PRWI4xXq8PRATbxwgXL33QHyuhx2-XBLNdyU5vLo5W32JcnFdlKgGIR4_rkK1tItxb8UmYlCIFIs0DPZ6B1xoloCglX3z-XYQqBNWEob5WGcy2Avtv4QGhkVlO1ymL5qnQwWAxJRai3UNvC3lu56GsjU1ttBrj4Sb8VvmPSb3m6QSh/w480-h640/Misc..jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of church posts like this, I dump the things that don't fit elsewhere</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">into my MISC collage. But I must say that I did not grow up in any church </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with ships hanging from the ceiling. Did you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We see them in churches all over Europe, called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votive_ship#:~:text=As%20a%20rule%2C%20votive%20ships,the%20United%20Kingdom%20and%20Spain."><b>votive ships</b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If your appetite is whetted,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wait till I show you a couple of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches we visited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-63579678323362232182023-06-30T11:26:00.003+02:002023-06-30T16:18:23.294+02:00Our Denmark Trip Overview<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">First of all, it was a 19-day, 7-hotel, 3,399-km/2,112-mi trip (in our own car!) from June 4-22. So, if this seems like a long post, it IS! It was a long trip and covered a lot of territory!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And, as I always say, it's for the record!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO-prM286s5A4LuO6fuGeF7H_7DpEFVuoZDWvZRdQXPX0QnzzQjBaOwHrK_AhkxC-ee5Uxka-OLmySOpJjWxqsnLtt5sy1yuUIaOIC1FyRg3XqZf72TQ4Auyx6TqaS9Jn9b_hwK4NaayIOzBP_riSbcucXu3qW_iIjsIgG8IRsihsStRKrUqx70HRp6j-/s804/Denmark_islands%20Wikipedia.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="804" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO-prM286s5A4LuO6fuGeF7H_7DpEFVuoZDWvZRdQXPX0QnzzQjBaOwHrK_AhkxC-ee5Uxka-OLmySOpJjWxqsnLtt5sy1yuUIaOIC1FyRg3XqZf72TQ4Auyx6TqaS9Jn9b_hwK4NaayIOzBP_riSbcucXu3qW_iIjsIgG8IRsihsStRKrUqx70HRp6j-/w640-h498/Denmark_islands%20Wikipedia.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Wikipedia]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark"><b>Denmark</b></a> is composed of over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Denmark"><b>1400 islands</b></a> but these are the big ones, 6 of which we visited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaYz2UDqsqMkz0d-85D-kNuQQyhn3HW5QjRA1YNZJtIEF6iPuc2p9saDOrjHJK_szSHroVR38CiknVdS4Nl8Ws70UgGzD0gAhrP6dlCnZwqLyluh9-fjAXk_gTzZEFFp9NKybPHIPtdTKrI3EbtGXF0hH4wpr9QXeWbeypTw7oRRLrW1bhWlhKx3cwKwd/s3300/Route%20of%20Trip%20CCF_000114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="3300" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaYz2UDqsqMkz0d-85D-kNuQQyhn3HW5QjRA1YNZJtIEF6iPuc2p9saDOrjHJK_szSHroVR38CiknVdS4Nl8Ws70UgGzD0gAhrP6dlCnZwqLyluh9-fjAXk_gTzZEFFp9NKybPHIPtdTKrI3EbtGXF0hH4wpr9QXeWbeypTw7oRRLrW1bhWlhKx3cwKwd/w640-h366/Route%20of%20Trip%20CCF_000114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the route Astrid calculated from hotel to hotel (white dots) without side trips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove from Gorinchem to the Xenia hotel (in Flensburg, Germany) going,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and from the Røbyhavn ferry to Celle, Germany, back to Gorinchem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest now is from what Astrid and I both shared on Facebook throughout the trip. Best to fasten your seatbelts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 1, June 4:</span></b> From Gorinchem to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensburg"><b>Flensburg</b></a>, from the Xenia Hotel in Germany (630 km/392 mi)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqPlRGHb5Y_oDGtPTt_TpthDdskYWM-xg9fzQaNFLCEsC_DmnCNg3VZaU_vFmyjDXh8zdbyKmXpGDs6dNObAp7M9dpziQYkWjMTj8KihHE7QWdyiJBSu43gJKSyzfc6r6Lows8UwsNgfuNOyg_XJZUe8cBmaybdFDm22CHRhq-J-s0Mv2vr1HYBiYEqLJN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqPlRGHb5Y_oDGtPTt_TpthDdskYWM-xg9fzQaNFLCEsC_DmnCNg3VZaU_vFmyjDXh8zdbyKmXpGDs6dNObAp7M9dpziQYkWjMTj8KihHE7QWdyiJBSu43gJKSyzfc6r6Lows8UwsNgfuNOyg_XJZUe8cBmaybdFDm22CHRhq-J-s0Mv2vr1HYBiYEqLJN=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first hotel, just one mile from the Denmark border!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguVFLlTttbmYUmL6RgHDTkN4fgb88WmDZQDvqiNLQu4OHSiLTlfKEcGyK9v1S-ihWEPKxhBICH0g3kEtVE8yt7w1-bbDvvKRgEi8zPuQDBqgCWRZZf8pN4BJBy-LJaDBov33PuZJ8ZA24CmxFNzaivu9qnoXoVKp2aNz0ynPTP6RVZ0pfzShkLIX5vbEqj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguVFLlTttbmYUmL6RgHDTkN4fgb88WmDZQDvqiNLQu4OHSiLTlfKEcGyK9v1S-ihWEPKxhBICH0g3kEtVE8yt7w1-bbDvvKRgEi8zPuQDBqgCWRZZf8pN4BJBy-LJaDBov33PuZJ8ZA24CmxFNzaivu9qnoXoVKp2aNz0ynPTP6RVZ0pfzShkLIX5vbEqj=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 2, June 5:</b></span> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribe"><b>Ribe</b></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esbjerg"><b>Elsbjerg</b></a>, from the Refborg Hotel in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billund,_Denmark"><b>Billund</b></a> (190 km/118 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfj8DTo3U4K4FI3aUSrYfkmCTy1gQ4tK4DLd6VB7gvJRi43mRQ_HafJrg_Mbtcbg--fpk3PqKGdq2YMwlJ8kKbW5Qua1p8ulIyL15_lA5qCQgyCfOIuMi6uozufXnZqEvT6YYJOQwD4FKF7NNA9qBI-Hu-erXDcMBGiLa9atScoMoYmayj_FvVazSSHIM0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfj8DTo3U4K4FI3aUSrYfkmCTy1gQ4tK4DLd6VB7gvJRi43mRQ_HafJrg_Mbtcbg--fpk3PqKGdq2YMwlJ8kKbW5Qua1p8ulIyL15_lA5qCQgyCfOIuMi6uozufXnZqEvT6YYJOQwD4FKF7NNA9qBI-Hu-erXDcMBGiLa9atScoMoYmayj_FvVazSSHIM0=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Ribe is the oldest town in Scandinavia, let alone Denmark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, yes, we visited the cathedral but have posted no inside photos on FB yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFWnU-NfCe-YMDMvnXPs8yzeah4sN1N2JqHSVPKJ8NwkXATVJQqqN6EQBFsJYXddHhu0w0hBcK4ubtN0i5ezQigHw0zDsK23srS72MomuBRTJChZoDux6rYlANc-tn4dE_qtfsFmWlxIGCVd20_gOIS5v3dA16l28nTW1y9jyZoPykf9fOL1mzrIPfNzK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpFWnU-NfCe-YMDMvnXPs8yzeah4sN1N2JqHSVPKJ8NwkXATVJQqqN6EQBFsJYXddHhu0w0hBcK4ubtN0i5ezQigHw0zDsK23srS72MomuBRTJChZoDux6rYlANc-tn4dE_qtfsFmWlxIGCVd20_gOIS5v3dA16l28nTW1y9jyZoPykf9fOL1mzrIPfNzK=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(And, yes, she...not I...climbed to the top of the tower.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1hMr_prrNrf8TtyiQEzSHe3WhYJQxGTayOWlX6cbY4_mwMW7NOf1ei7q9TxVsSeuJftjAcMi1ak0sVO-xPKF4cFZ9JkGIhy0AtyZfnToGlTmyRI7ZocSERfcpd7XEB82icwxHdYpPRmQ4kMJ-rIAzXGWLddxOaFPfvyW-MK4Yh5u-8D_icoqR2GaWjRY8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1hMr_prrNrf8TtyiQEzSHe3WhYJQxGTayOWlX6cbY4_mwMW7NOf1ei7q9TxVsSeuJftjAcMi1ak0sVO-xPKF4cFZ9JkGIhy0AtyZfnToGlTmyRI7ZocSERfcpd7XEB82icwxHdYpPRmQ4kMJ-rIAzXGWLddxOaFPfvyW-MK4Yh5u-8D_icoqR2GaWjRY8=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>From Ribe we took a quick side trip To Elsbjerg just to see this <a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannen_aan_de_Zee"><b>Men by the Sea</b></a> sculpture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's 9 meters/30 feet tall!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 3, June 6:</b></span> <a href="https://www.legoland.dk/en/"><b>Legoland</b></a>, from the Refborg Hotel in Billund (0 km/0 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit7UmeSFM-O4Uq_sstDsMLtU1Or-3TcgufTZmaQNAhCCodESxbGMcz9fo13eRaKZu7m3JfF8PH-t3SCnGWt1u495RAUk2bzUL-mBo3HJtvvSX8IFCgR3NYQrpFcqU3VIsL8UvDKN-g4OE-RGfMYYyzJ78AsxyurzJM0DNJ3kvtEk2Mu7rpQD6H2VFI0hpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit7UmeSFM-O4Uq_sstDsMLtU1Or-3TcgufTZmaQNAhCCodESxbGMcz9fo13eRaKZu7m3JfF8PH-t3SCnGWt1u495RAUk2bzUL-mBo3HJtvvSX8IFCgR3NYQrpFcqU3VIsL8UvDKN-g4OE-RGfMYYyzJ78AsxyurzJM0DNJ3kvtEk2Mu7rpQD6H2VFI0hpg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>As you'd guess, this was one of our trip's destination goals and highlights.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And what we posted on FB was only a smattering!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXJKEDqVlsCHCnJF0PqCb0cIrL-UFjJFLK-n1xPMxRYyY9OKmuCqXP7c80GEg-OD4zM674C71fQQMZj2ZQy4JYyCVOpSeos9p_k3YzWeVr3tfWLB1SrU_i9M-ctR1f2SbNpmDWxECY4seQfkZ2HvxFh7-e0s4vZohWBnrzz0xd9lylwC-2LQ4dJ6YYUADu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXJKEDqVlsCHCnJF0PqCb0cIrL-UFjJFLK-n1xPMxRYyY9OKmuCqXP7c80GEg-OD4zM674C71fQQMZj2ZQy4JYyCVOpSeos9p_k3YzWeVr3tfWLB1SrU_i9M-ctR1f2SbNpmDWxECY4seQfkZ2HvxFh7-e0s4vZohWBnrzz0xd9lylwC-2LQ4dJ6YYUADu=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe we saw the Men by the Sea sculpture there in Miniland!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzIBAE69qGUIq7XpiUr3Bem8W-JJKqivuiLaaNAVKUpphLDorQunUiPi63vAN-FUryOStSVBlPUxUvq9J15ov_8i0I93WwBRoZWid4QAxHpkiaHMv2CMScRagDNgHv0PzwFePUqvHYXsG4DatCcRfRwYYB1JvbKj3YMIv7hELm--j0IpbJBDn8RsNS1m0k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzIBAE69qGUIq7XpiUr3Bem8W-JJKqivuiLaaNAVKUpphLDorQunUiPi63vAN-FUryOStSVBlPUxUvq9J15ov_8i0I93WwBRoZWid4QAxHpkiaHMv2CMScRagDNgHv0PzwFePUqvHYXsG4DatCcRfRwYYB1JvbKj3YMIv7hELm--j0IpbJBDn8RsNS1m0k=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you didn't look up, you'd miss them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlczDKR1LZFfIYKWfthXgHcr1Xf1ZRSCp5UWtNd8sJAnaplXrmfQfBIR9gqR485fcdvfQar8n-5eBn3esqzFEhTVek1E3JZoK1BTCKz_uercN0zkjaIzaVbT_iL266j9a5NMZXZWe6nMdmiKezV2ve-gw3I5egI7J6PFijzc8DjZWU1ur6BamduQfQLafX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlczDKR1LZFfIYKWfthXgHcr1Xf1ZRSCp5UWtNd8sJAnaplXrmfQfBIR9gqR485fcdvfQar8n-5eBn3esqzFEhTVek1E3JZoK1BTCKz_uercN0zkjaIzaVbT_iL266j9a5NMZXZWe6nMdmiKezV2ve-gw3I5egI7J6PFijzc8DjZWU1ur6BamduQfQLafX=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Mini Boats section with world-wide landmarks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF82eNQ1OPsZKMnk7SZIDPTp6JGoz3r-T-6x142O5Yi85bEL0LR8QqOkFlfEJHYQ-MqcNqhXgMBXG6IHIvnVbWrAk0QsC94xeOy8M8nkV8bHA9EgbRXMYeTvEnQ6oWxZt_4FnxA63E7Zpvua1E0BZ6B-egh9Ol84-D6B-r50_ty1Yv-1u-ugWmcRmoarpU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjF82eNQ1OPsZKMnk7SZIDPTp6JGoz3r-T-6x142O5Yi85bEL0LR8QqOkFlfEJHYQ-MqcNqhXgMBXG6IHIvnVbWrAk0QsC94xeOy8M8nkV8bHA9EgbRXMYeTvEnQ6oWxZt_4FnxA63E7Zpvua1E0BZ6B-egh9Ol84-D6B-r50_ty1Yv-1u-ugWmcRmoarpU=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Several hands-on places for creativity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6O9v5WTFWhisY54MR5VxESoU9EJ5EwfOAnZJaFpvfwI4HMRqvrq5NknCGFnQNbI6jaWZHo0ZLmtuWSu0Tb6xvJZPN8CMXw2mQI7QKpbWLKyHRLybx74quakE1Uu42nFu-UbGNMxOvgfti0Xt_z6eYALntKGcm-5nfhIZdOx_zw69xa3i4iiZh72y0VhdV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6O9v5WTFWhisY54MR5VxESoU9EJ5EwfOAnZJaFpvfwI4HMRqvrq5NknCGFnQNbI6jaWZHo0ZLmtuWSu0Tb6xvJZPN8CMXw2mQI7QKpbWLKyHRLybx74quakE1Uu42nFu-UbGNMxOvgfti0Xt_z6eYALntKGcm-5nfhIZdOx_zw69xa3i4iiZh72y0VhdV=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And btw, we walked a total of 7 km that day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 4, June 7:</b></span> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringk%C3%B8bing_Fjord">Ringkøbing Fjord</a></b>, from the Refborg Hotel in Billund (216 km/134 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLPhQtve56dHSU6kCVtVWJk_e4lGjFOjr61OY9wSg9mi9ksTcYcNA2qRp7Oj8fl-7UgyKIvODwZzJ4Sbvt6_ne4OusVz5wNN9NoJVY2h66fl9r8iYCec6mgygxHUIn5FOFkH_KkXlSYuJOYzKoQEPcpFr4-XxiQWC3y4on4skpy7Y_maUFNOhmko8lpRj6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLPhQtve56dHSU6kCVtVWJk_e4lGjFOjr61OY9wSg9mi9ksTcYcNA2qRp7Oj8fl-7UgyKIvODwZzJ4Sbvt6_ne4OusVz5wNN9NoJVY2h66fl9r8iYCec6mgygxHUIn5FOFkH_KkXlSYuJOYzKoQEPcpFr4-XxiQWC3y4on4skpy7Y_maUFNOhmko8lpRj6=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because of all the walking at Legoland, we took a leisurely day driving the back roads,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">counterclockwise, around the Ringkøbing bay/lagoon that really isn't a fjord.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We even stopped at the <a href="https://stauningwhisky.com/"><b>Stauning Whisky</b></a> distillery, but that's another story, another day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 5, June 8:</b></span> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vejle"><b>Vejle</b></a>, from the Hørhavegården B&B in Århus (110 km/68 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRiCskAcIe03J4OKmQobHIoKLupUvseMBXd5dXHT6qUUlFXBmN8pRUexQYfn26BWvTAA3GUmqhzgHOe75PuBmqmfxBvSZ0rTbEi0YxnQbiDwE_8sUSblTzpPqiC4yQOaSi0S7PnvzVHmep_jFHvT7L76cLF2TAp-7z10f7Xmcfqtk1PBfOf5kBjyTGwgIN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRiCskAcIe03J4OKmQobHIoKLupUvseMBXd5dXHT6qUUlFXBmN8pRUexQYfn26BWvTAA3GUmqhzgHOe75PuBmqmfxBvSZ0rTbEi0YxnQbiDwE_8sUSblTzpPqiC4yQOaSi0S7PnvzVHmep_jFHvT7L76cLF2TAp-7z10f7Xmcfqtk1PBfOf5kBjyTGwgIN=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you know Denmark had windmills? And what about its architecture?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was definitely the place to see both.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiefwTds4oX4e1omlz51GsSgYNsA-KKEJVmptnBhMWfXv78kzVGVl8X9CyG3alhtthgPJf2b7XpPUCS5WP0NiRl2T43F30Xw63rcarw80JOWLZQzR1_vmX2kuzhKHNCd7gNWkGYatYtkUXJfjtvQtrhR4Q8JPwRc0LeFGJ6JyJXSIt5NPV48QucivXJlUw3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiefwTds4oX4e1omlz51GsSgYNsA-KKEJVmptnBhMWfXv78kzVGVl8X9CyG3alhtthgPJf2b7XpPUCS5WP0NiRl2T43F30Xw63rcarw80JOWLZQzR1_vmX2kuzhKHNCd7gNWkGYatYtkUXJfjtvQtrhR4Q8JPwRc0LeFGJ6JyJXSIt5NPV48QucivXJlUw3=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take on the windmill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 6, June 9:</b></span> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Den_Gamle_By">Den Gamle By</a></b>, from the Hørhavegården B&B in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarhus"><b>Århus</b></a> (18 km/11 mi):</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2V53YTf2q_GT_tgLfxR7HTvRYYjvldUSUdK8rUNM_OdQPdUJO-fpE1UBujqi_4oVIXr6Kbu09ZLqWHCWGDP3kuSjrkTEyam6zv4F_oZgcImQEh73zpJbSw0f0rmiajDrzTe8vqDOJdB7kkKzvkdVXhfsk6AleDHMweOrZUBtL7iKdoEvxI5eovN02vj7J" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2V53YTf2q_GT_tgLfxR7HTvRYYjvldUSUdK8rUNM_OdQPdUJO-fpE1UBujqi_4oVIXr6Kbu09ZLqWHCWGDP3kuSjrkTEyam6zv4F_oZgcImQEh73zpJbSw0f0rmiajDrzTe8vqDOJdB7kkKzvkdVXhfsk6AleDHMweOrZUBtL7iKdoEvxI5eovN02vj7J=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>It was important for us to see this open-air museum mainly to get a feel for Denmark's culture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love museums like this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBzWApxy97GWb3fqhFb828E9rE53OpPM-F80hhwiGawjRIzu7M1HIFXFSzcOlMoA7HUcSSV9D9D-JpBqqMTZ7pI8xnrOXSEUrqcWQkCwI0VIWKmt6qMrBbCRcA-TndnIOjb2kMXEjxohWa6CBQL_eBxgQJ87HujPHNo3ukB7hxSW0uVXoF5-jovFSNUrII" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBzWApxy97GWb3fqhFb828E9rE53OpPM-F80hhwiGawjRIzu7M1HIFXFSzcOlMoA7HUcSSV9D9D-JpBqqMTZ7pI8xnrOXSEUrqcWQkCwI0VIWKmt6qMrBbCRcA-TndnIOjb2kMXEjxohWa6CBQL_eBxgQJ87HujPHNo3ukB7hxSW0uVXoF5-jovFSNUrII=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 7, June 10:</b></span> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aalborg">Ålborg</a></b> and<b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A6by">Sæby</a></b>, from the Hørhavegården B&B in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarhus"><b>Århus</b></a> (395 km/245 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgAFX-zJFom1j68-SyGWRuo0zDDDSO8YEdAfpEU9KNLBlbKQnEt0EnVR-kJr5Bp7zsDEHAy90ZWoK6eBg2ES5nQVPHHLcxQMYHYnbiqbv6o08_Dzpoeltl9aCp6jhMVipsG9Y13BwuJhTSut1z9xI_YmJFvaLhV3XLhzlOHETw7J36j5eisZrgT58OQhXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgAFX-zJFom1j68-SyGWRuo0zDDDSO8YEdAfpEU9KNLBlbKQnEt0EnVR-kJr5Bp7zsDEHAy90ZWoK6eBg2ES5nQVPHHLcxQMYHYnbiqbv6o08_Dzpoeltl9aCp6jhMVipsG9Y13BwuJhTSut1z9xI_YmJFvaLhV3XLhzlOHETw7J36j5eisZrgT58OQhXg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We first drove to Ålborg to find as many of their 65+ murals in one hour, of which these are the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ålborg happens to be the 4th largest urban settlement in Denmark, which is why we didn't </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">find that many in an hour. They were spread out all over the city!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7Pa4Qxcp77wqlGu1btBR75jMxpgia1WA1Ay74-YttsbtHFJ15dSgicZQwyHX82kQT22BCC0NyUTsVmF0lEDT9sHl33dPbfzwPKmB1VAh6W9s0uiWCwAmRP47YDuUHMwjnY0gp5QRA6qhaUqZdh6bRPH1i0_mNnlMToqO4SQoIxNBPJqYdEo2Zdqib6WBS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7Pa4Qxcp77wqlGu1btBR75jMxpgia1WA1Ay74-YttsbtHFJ15dSgicZQwyHX82kQT22BCC0NyUTsVmF0lEDT9sHl33dPbfzwPKmB1VAh6W9s0uiWCwAmRP47YDuUHMwjnY0gp5QRA6qhaUqZdh6bRPH1i0_mNnlMToqO4SQoIxNBPJqYdEo2Zdqib6WBS=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our goal for the day was to visit Sæby, the farthest north of all our Denmark stops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The monastery <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/plan-your-trip/saeby-kirke-monastery-church-gdk598674"><b>Church of Saint Mary</b></a> from 1470 was our goal for the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, yes, it was windy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRIlvrR9iq1RR3grmTMcAVzuSvM4JEFr_hxUj-RFU_usU56wiS0PT3ukP7lwpF9Q7R7ZeYxLM9OJnjo2d2izophqef4jZHmhME01CNvutnV2-dI9OLypYFV9PtE6DMmVtQ4sqP-tlsOPL03YZ7QiuBnk2mkNRJFuTpI9Uq4glKuNO29-ybQJixrhxC-WuQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRIlvrR9iq1RR3grmTMcAVzuSvM4JEFr_hxUj-RFU_usU56wiS0PT3ukP7lwpF9Q7R7ZeYxLM9OJnjo2d2izophqef4jZHmhME01CNvutnV2-dI9OLypYFV9PtE6DMmVtQ4sqP-tlsOPL03YZ7QiuBnk2mkNRJFuTpI9Uq4glKuNO29-ybQJixrhxC-WuQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_KziAMPyo5l7ijpzy8g2L4q4qZgXuVSo_7TaK9CTpTQ8-f5YfehZlazGMCrdDx4MKZ6koNBIi5pup_0ELjVmHtrs5VVnLuA4ETpUM6paV8rQAyIJKxyqYduOArDe7n9AGuS9Bw7hiGMRc8LY-mAHo81N4Xkx8-Q_awGNDU73UK5bu3XpmFTajKhQFSf3N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_KziAMPyo5l7ijpzy8g2L4q4qZgXuVSo_7TaK9CTpTQ8-f5YfehZlazGMCrdDx4MKZ6koNBIi5pup_0ELjVmHtrs5VVnLuA4ETpUM6paV8rQAyIJKxyqYduOArDe7n9AGuS9Bw7hiGMRc8LY-mAHo81N4Xkx8-Q_awGNDU73UK5bu3XpmFTajKhQFSf3N=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take of the inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[I plan to do a later post on just the inside of important churches we saw.]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Day 8, June 11:</b></span> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebeltoft">Ebeltoft</a></b>, from the Hørhavegården B&B in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarhus"><b>Århus</b></a> (122 km/76 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ZBgXsl8XgNhF29Eaw0lEDa9OmufkdfnM_vxXikxFISD79kuDJ64T0SjpdIweQh3q_rL8Z4G3GFxkxQHLw6FhyOAF977-Or-hWyQjhF3oUBq0k61tl14eEjcrnj8iKRVWzkFgOyS8Zlq0lzbyAQ9bKadgHGzxMPqwUjqlaumkAqQoCa-jKgjByM6Phpq0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ZBgXsl8XgNhF29Eaw0lEDa9OmufkdfnM_vxXikxFISD79kuDJ64T0SjpdIweQh3q_rL8Z4G3GFxkxQHLw6FhyOAF977-Or-hWyQjhF3oUBq0k61tl14eEjcrnj8iKRVWzkFgOyS8Zlq0lzbyAQ9bKadgHGzxMPqwUjqlaumkAqQoCa-jKgjByM6Phpq0=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>It was another leisurely day, to visit Denmark's smallest town hall (center),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and get our fill, again, of half-timbered houses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 9, June 12:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assens,_Denmark">Assens</a> </b>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarup"><b>Aarup</b></a> from the Knudsens Gaard hotel in Odense (192 km/119 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj52Dk_fD5IIRnI8MipplQ2Fodjr-XD4sx5JM0qivrhomT18Kpn9JsaCinuALn-JAM7UpRsBfICrCnh-odWdBG-p2_ztlxxw5aTK7RXEGafhJr7RdSrfHbC8In9DdFdINNiWVtaG2e_1p4pPFQTP2xdIShYTMKmFAO26GhcVlj6GcAOYdoD2eHqaawJkUA5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj52Dk_fD5IIRnI8MipplQ2Fodjr-XD4sx5JM0qivrhomT18Kpn9JsaCinuALn-JAM7UpRsBfICrCnh-odWdBG-p2_ztlxxw5aTK7RXEGafhJr7RdSrfHbC8In9DdFdINNiWVtaG2e_1p4pPFQTP2xdIShYTMKmFAO26GhcVlj6GcAOYdoD2eHqaawJkUA5=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the day we drove from Jutland to Funen island,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">crossing the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Belt_Bridge"><b>Little Belt bridge</b></a>, and then driving the back roads to our next hotel,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">visiting the church in Assens and the windmill in Aarup. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 10, June 13:</span></b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faaborg"><b>Fåborg</b></a> and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egeskov_Castle">Egeskov Castle</a></b>, from Knudsens Gaard hotel in Odense (93 km/58 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJrsKJf13vXnzyIue41f4I9hRN-30gfbhD4nvCb8PmR5_3bVltX6tCr5J0i7fbGPa8pVVw8DSvAkP0p8MZT0mr5nszLOHM2Iyu0SQaWzeCmdAx3_mmoJ4CNrtRKWcTKnR_mXAxZljfrNPC43Jh0dCBJ3uH2FhlmrbmzR61LQ2ff3wyQcPST5TP4L17pNv4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJrsKJf13vXnzyIue41f4I9hRN-30gfbhD4nvCb8PmR5_3bVltX6tCr5J0i7fbGPa8pVVw8DSvAkP0p8MZT0mr5nszLOHM2Iyu0SQaWzeCmdAx3_mmoJ4CNrtRKWcTKnR_mXAxZljfrNPC43Jh0dCBJ3uH2FhlmrbmzR61LQ2ff3wyQcPST5TP4L17pNv4=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harbor towns and half-timbered houses!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's why we stopped in Fåborg on our way to the castle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides, it was my 78th birthday and this was my kind of gift to start the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiX9CmWfnmiy6tLDvWWJ98cRtmFNPt3OHPqRfifaYIc1Y6L_iDuDV7TUFOirhoDEzGZAGqnZcY_31UthLyiQ5n9tMujQux8ikrclEhwlgBpF34I-63Da1D_uGUfRst4Kj1s0Hv6AL2vlUfwh_QW9NS5gGGhvLDeMd7JKxZwOQ4USsFPWOKsDDTumODIf6Kq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiX9CmWfnmiy6tLDvWWJ98cRtmFNPt3OHPqRfifaYIc1Y6L_iDuDV7TUFOirhoDEzGZAGqnZcY_31UthLyiQ5n9tMujQux8ikrclEhwlgBpF34I-63Da1D_uGUfRst4Kj1s0Hv6AL2vlUfwh_QW9NS5gGGhvLDeMd7JKxZwOQ4USsFPWOKsDDTumODIf6Kq=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>And <i>THIS</i> was the cherry on top!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88l7yrY_aK4KgVc34NCkJDZbAyHsSeD2TdPVg7ejWIVAcjLDZWz4xD0yPt_bMEEvP6pVQWd0rlQp0OJqQBF7orKEk6Fd4ZXrDS7001JZ04-dPeYoEPAd_wBd2CX-vNIos5pOwOpEy-ZTUbY9ZlDmMC3R-9ywh6CJ74f4rreqEQKETol09cBE6d1fbh9_k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88l7yrY_aK4KgVc34NCkJDZbAyHsSeD2TdPVg7ejWIVAcjLDZWz4xD0yPt_bMEEvP6pVQWd0rlQp0OJqQBF7orKEk6Fd4ZXrDS7001JZ04-dPeYoEPAd_wBd2CX-vNIos5pOwOpEy-ZTUbY9ZlDmMC3R-9ywh6CJ74f4rreqEQKETol09cBE6d1fbh9_k=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take on both.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 11, June 14:</span></b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odense"><b>Odense</b></a> and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyborg">Nyborg</a></b>, to the Comwell hotel in <span style="text-align: center;">Køge</span> (123 km/76 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKgwJKq6Cru-NVX9ZfnXGH0iEPcg4J8fSiXNG-f30Iacv7QEvqvaxfnAmuje8L2PESDUNPHJmHl_lQagxnT7xKc1GmdxA2zMVCJmq6_qAJ8Sl12m91Z8UpDFtwNrYDT68RxTnCqNal-AyoXUK_YLIVxTBW_mgrFO1UIWB3YpJRh8mCrxrHiZKX-spB9k5l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKgwJKq6Cru-NVX9ZfnXGH0iEPcg4J8fSiXNG-f30Iacv7QEvqvaxfnAmuje8L2PESDUNPHJmHl_lQagxnT7xKc1GmdxA2zMVCJmq6_qAJ8Sl12m91Z8UpDFtwNrYDT68RxTnCqNal-AyoXUK_YLIVxTBW_mgrFO1UIWB3YpJRh8mCrxrHiZKX-spB9k5l=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Odense is one of Denmark's oldest cities and the 3rd largest behind Copenhagen and Århus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's also the birthplace of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen"><b>Hans Christian Andersen</b></a>, their famous author of fairy tales.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent the morning there before moving on to our next island and hotel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge1KChxuCYMZ3GC7G97_lIBtQMKRbVmG2KOUXdv3_av0408_Pivo9CoM9-wxv0YwYJQmsXV4LQ-ukz-yCqHW0a1JaAvB_8Sj1_fs5ii9JpR_V3-f4SwmpIreC5ephUd7XrXhy-GsgOrN3DaVBZb8fYpDfBho_MA0kdg4BLDAoZLMSWSOSqRCDkhf9UBP6U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge1KChxuCYMZ3GC7G97_lIBtQMKRbVmG2KOUXdv3_av0408_Pivo9CoM9-wxv0YwYJQmsXV4LQ-ukz-yCqHW0a1JaAvB_8Sj1_fs5ii9JpR_V3-f4SwmpIreC5ephUd7XrXhy-GsgOrN3DaVBZb8fYpDfBho_MA0kdg4BLDAoZLMSWSOSqRCDkhf9UBP6U=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtJ5AROL1r-KOKQcDXaptytyvmo7wVDFp5_np9AXaTkZnruaWQSCuYtSUtYu1eFly-l1SGDAvmhduVZIS-c93NQ7vBfEi6Yxiunrk6H4zyxEr6kp2N_ihj6uYoQq6rKmZlL9fqRlw8LLFp9rLjzf3laa_FBMInRNHV6b6m4oZzuy4al--K6xdkw8LV_T3C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtJ5AROL1r-KOKQcDXaptytyvmo7wVDFp5_np9AXaTkZnruaWQSCuYtSUtYu1eFly-l1SGDAvmhduVZIS-c93NQ7vBfEi6Yxiunrk6H4zyxEr6kp2N_ihj6uYoQq6rKmZlL9fqRlw8LLFp9rLjzf3laa_FBMInRNHV6b6m4oZzuy4al--K6xdkw8LV_T3C=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Belt_Bridge"><b>Great Belt Bridge</b></a> connecting Funen to Zealand island is 18 km/11 mi long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way to Køge, we stopped in Nyborg and continued on the back roads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.nl/denemarken/reis-plannen/olsemagle-mill-koge-gdk619411"><b>windmill</b></a> is just outside of Køge and is from 1887.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 12, June 15:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roskilde">Roskilde</a></b>, from the Comwell hotel in <span style="text-align: center;">Køge</span> (63 km/39 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5VDQngIxdsVKJPeHAw2prWcMYz4eMNhv3F0SufuHze0ePKRJCNRgAQ31Q9M-WeHfA0873z8_q4TAmydKd-r56bTQWbLBr9X73o6_BD0jOGZ_tnrByJJwrnqR6K91sK_x786mJw-1zfbw5v5awxCOFsUAWY4YhCVmwe2KR2kK1yo36e1dI_vCdj450UjEJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5VDQngIxdsVKJPeHAw2prWcMYz4eMNhv3F0SufuHze0ePKRJCNRgAQ31Q9M-WeHfA0873z8_q4TAmydKd-r56bTQWbLBr9X73o6_BD0jOGZ_tnrByJJwrnqR6K91sK_x786mJw-1zfbw5v5awxCOFsUAWY4YhCVmwe2KR2kK1yo36e1dI_vCdj450UjEJ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roskilde was Denmark's first capital city from the 11th century to 1443.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's main attraction is the cathedral, dubbed "the mausoleum of the Danish Royal family," a UNESCO</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> World Heritage Site. [Only the pulpit and organ for now, for Preacher Dad and musician Mom!]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roskilde also has Denmark's oldest train station, from 1847 (top-center).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 13, June 16:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen">Copenhagen</a></b>, from the Comwell hotel in <span style="text-align: center;">Køge</span> (39 km/24 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijJ-4sLTz26Ky6V3UVRbIXxIjgaNMzuKN9WudKU6wklyIuAM6ATtxQ9D5UrjdbWGhrGj-fQI2pnOiPy6kd7e5B_WykekfSzVTNnF5mvLEXiYgEVBMO-kbgwn0dpvjiIw09r20h-q2VWhyMY5jbeg_PEx899fv2qdTXwaC25Ct-1XwUiXszlNVomqMl1E9q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijJ-4sLTz26Ky6V3UVRbIXxIjgaNMzuKN9WudKU6wklyIuAM6ATtxQ9D5UrjdbWGhrGj-fQI2pnOiPy6kd7e5B_WykekfSzVTNnF5mvLEXiYgEVBMO-kbgwn0dpvjiIw09r20h-q2VWhyMY5jbeg_PEx899fv2qdTXwaC25Ct-1XwUiXszlNVomqMl1E9q=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe that originally we were NOT going to visit Copenhagen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was there in my past life and we both don't really like big cities.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But Astrid figured out a route to pop in and out, just to see the Little Mermaid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the colorful houses of Nyhavn...and then a surprise canal tour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It ended up being a 15,000-step, 6.5-hour day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjNcqBUKwfSyRrCwkft_eDtV0wWEUmmbO3fS6GWEqZrxnm_SwAe4EPmo1qi6ELu8W41Jrf-Ew7Ei1jBP_7B2AeQdGRn86uxTYvAuTkgfYm6gCiGwcmljPeO5QdIAFz1r52R-0lR37oQcKrqUFw-tcVkOxrOACR53taZzEdzS_KbsrBf4Nga4iWGBz4B3s_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjNcqBUKwfSyRrCwkft_eDtV0wWEUmmbO3fS6GWEqZrxnm_SwAe4EPmo1qi6ELu8W41Jrf-Ew7Ei1jBP_7B2AeQdGRn86uxTYvAuTkgfYm6gCiGwcmljPeO5QdIAFz1r52R-0lR37oQcKrqUFw-tcVkOxrOACR53taZzEdzS_KbsrBf4Nga4iWGBz4B3s_=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 14, June 17:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B8ge">Køge</a></b>, from the Comwell hotel in <span style="text-align: center;">Køge</span> (6 km/4 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ce8_MfGB9-UG2lTjqb_NhTE25oDuuWExu0uyx38S6pjbzLCMvE3G_4VcyVIjMuJGWSy22quQi9jDSV1gOi1BasOa6AYdtyl4XAxoFiZ4zuTc5O4tqAgdcKnyoA30eDWoYm3rCGvJ3Mh0agyZMqw3rk40ei7lpOFc0VlxQTxffyenT5d5OLRw0dCs0D0D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ce8_MfGB9-UG2lTjqb_NhTE25oDuuWExu0uyx38S6pjbzLCMvE3G_4VcyVIjMuJGWSy22quQi9jDSV1gOi1BasOa6AYdtyl4XAxoFiZ4zuTc5O4tqAgdcKnyoA30eDWoYm3rCGvJ3Mh0agyZMqw3rk40ei7lpOFc0VlxQTxffyenT5d5OLRw0dCs0D0D=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By now, we needed a vacation!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we stayed in Køge, visiting city center (3 km away), eating on our balcony,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and playing Five Crowns on the hotel's terrace (with cows grazing nearby).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just what the doctor ordered!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 15, June 18:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevns_Klint">Stevns Klint</a> </b>and<b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanefjord_Church">Fanefjord kirke</a></b>, to the Klintholm B&B in <span style="text-align: center;">Borre</span> (148 km/92 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsdsMTucHGcLB3_i70ql1Y87AM8j7hTF0EMEVgAo70biXuzI128D-wh-4Ly4YcIMXms9JINbWptQKWy3Qvf4F0-e0D7VTVahIrUta5XIYtaulKNpCDiTrktDdD9o6x1-3gEV5S1sX5yG26rY4l7Paot2Lcjqr4LaY65QGc4kuIp0X7FZHguzxlIHH0x7EZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsdsMTucHGcLB3_i70ql1Y87AM8j7hTF0EMEVgAo70biXuzI128D-wh-4Ly4YcIMXms9JINbWptQKWy3Qvf4F0-e0D7VTVahIrUta5XIYtaulKNpCDiTrktDdD9o6x1-3gEV5S1sX5yG26rY4l7Paot2Lcjqr4LaY65QGc4kuIp0X7FZHguzxlIHH0x7EZ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the last leg of our trip, from Køge to Borre, it was a "must" to see the chalk cliffs on Møn island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started at Stevns Klint with this <a href="https://www.southzealand-mon.com/holiday/plan-your-trip/hoejerup-old-church-gdk1058636"><b>Højerup church</b></a>, another UNESCO site,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a path leading down to the shoreline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLztzxfWvaWeGVQM3Tdf0DTMy3tZlWIA5-7FEsnLtRvixQeY1pweZYLVjbpqNVoz89hPe_VJggm7H2fOXb8LMCV0Ubb9-zgRqXJPZqFQM6bcmecH9z-5DWmT8PpiltuHEV1kkWYb7GdW7mWPweUwD1Sut56hWr7_gcSx1CwmfFu_txFUKtSo9ktNqVnH9v" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLztzxfWvaWeGVQM3Tdf0DTMy3tZlWIA5-7FEsnLtRvixQeY1pweZYLVjbpqNVoz89hPe_VJggm7H2fOXb8LMCV0Ubb9-zgRqXJPZqFQM6bcmecH9z-5DWmT8PpiltuHEV1kkWYb7GdW7mWPweUwD1Sut56hWr7_gcSx1CwmfFu_txFUKtSo9ktNqVnH9v=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I stopped at the top of the bottom stairs and waved to Astrid at the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did not want to mess up my left "fake" knee ahead of the bigger cliffs the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieDRppmkhRY8ycbnaMypBXHMgsjpN4BjKYJdZu4lSOHV_8o1dnk8-VJewxws0SP4nOUlVIvKLejNwYc86qtb1ykUnQ6NAKrr5_4LlsZiRydiSRAD4_tSaTXx5wxvj9qv9agf6qvfABuUqG-GqwSP0DF9lidTvuYr0R2B7Tz6JV-hoCJCKGHTrhn6M7vYw_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieDRppmkhRY8ycbnaMypBXHMgsjpN4BjKYJdZu4lSOHV_8o1dnk8-VJewxws0SP4nOUlVIvKLejNwYc86qtb1ykUnQ6NAKrr5_4LlsZiRydiSRAD4_tSaTXx5wxvj9qv9agf6qvfABuUqG-GqwSP0DF9lidTvuYr0R2B7Tz6JV-hoCJCKGHTrhn6M7vYw_=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove 6.5 hours on the back roads to our new hotel, seeing what makes Denmark tick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The white Fanefjord church (left-center) was one of the best we saw inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 16, June 19:</span></b> <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevns_Klint">Møns Klint</a></b>, from the Klintholm B&B in <span style="text-align: center;">Borre</span> (19 km/12 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNCCP75qH2CxcPjUftmYHsKPVGHVO5tvuu5TqVmwP2RqxJNC7OMZG1D15iiee_AlHZVbU6IiwoQBWGVLWMJ81NhNXxdN_3JOZFznT74kZCPAbVxdQ7v9dclP66V7Zwi0UY_eF8VfOVVRtq6qkZX9zDemwTIJCTv6PKulO5yzCSIqCufH4B8y72boU4Ie5z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNCCP75qH2CxcPjUftmYHsKPVGHVO5tvuu5TqVmwP2RqxJNC7OMZG1D15iiee_AlHZVbU6IiwoQBWGVLWMJ81NhNXxdN_3JOZFznT74kZCPAbVxdQ7v9dclP66V7Zwi0UY_eF8VfOVVRtq6qkZX9zDemwTIJCTv6PKulO5yzCSIqCufH4B8y72boU4Ie5z=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides Legoland, the chalk cliffs on Møns island were our main "destinations" for Denmark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They became the bookends that held the rest of our trip together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this case, it was 500 steps each way and doable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It probably helped that I had had so much exercise the rest of the trip!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghEIaYwCRSz4oNfCKWeiCvknaYD4Fu2cyJ9nOa0j4qvzbL7rAxHppggZeb-ipxaIaTZWUJpiBi_LOn0WQAYZ5EpyhRpQPjv8PKYPTlPNdOLfgb-0yINnqmbCszgyRBtUIIdDO1ZCQPce57atcCkojSlUcD-eaHiZ0EInN2_VxKKTiNeXAFpXsnsNMYVlWu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghEIaYwCRSz4oNfCKWeiCvknaYD4Fu2cyJ9nOa0j4qvzbL7rAxHppggZeb-ipxaIaTZWUJpiBi_LOn0WQAYZ5EpyhRpQPjv8PKYPTlPNdOLfgb-0yINnqmbCszgyRBtUIIdDO1ZCQPce57atcCkojSlUcD-eaHiZ0EInN2_VxKKTiNeXAFpXsnsNMYVlWu=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 17, June 20:</span></b> <b><a href="https://megalithicroutes.eu/denmark/">Megalithic Tombs</a></b>, from the Klintholm B&B in <span style="text-align: center;">Borre</span> (146 km/91 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvriv3B7spXy6E0Fg2GqKQy6V-WU3K7eQljFNwHFMFIXOIMz-yfPdK0Do2nOtBMckC9z2nPWHE7Jabd5Mvb2DNGvex8_1NZNoxUfOQabCMUw8SzPLd7y5Ro5GTtro-HeBX0UQs-t_3eej8nqLgNzn4zIafSThhHLY2o6nM4yT6y-eRDE6ovfau6mhmR3d-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvriv3B7spXy6E0Fg2GqKQy6V-WU3K7eQljFNwHFMFIXOIMz-yfPdK0Do2nOtBMckC9z2nPWHE7Jabd5Mvb2DNGvex8_1NZNoxUfOQabCMUw8SzPLd7y5Ro5GTtro-HeBX0UQs-t_3eej8nqLgNzn4zIafSThhHLY2o6nM4yT6y-eRDE6ovfau6mhmR3d-=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our last full day in Denmark, and after 8 hours on the back roads, visiting 2 churches, a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lighthouse, and one harbor, THIS is what stood out: 2 of the long-barrow/tombs from the Stone Age.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Top row: the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong_Asgers_H%C3%B8j"><b>King Asgers Høj</b></a> long barrow that's 10 meters long on the inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bottom row: a tomb (without the mound) that is like a circle inside, 150 meters away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are 120 such tombs all over the Møns island, from 5-6,000 years ago!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 18, June 21:</span></b> <b><a href="https://www.celle.travel/that-is-celle/pure-half-timbered-architecture">Half-Timbered Houses</a></b>, from our hotel in Celle, Germany (365 km/227 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyvu7ChfAP3bPoEYeW3xguJkZDbYDla9Y5ciC0qaGMPLFWkVq7twOCKZQr8kg5ytpICfZAJo8p5ySSe6zTU_VjLoc27V5YpyrhWsB-_Atr67eD6oRbDU7vncnWpVs-smEwjxb_tRk98jePHn9b9Um0oOw6Y-aj_yGkvL95uZzLlnooOsLOCLwlqJTIMwXf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyvu7ChfAP3bPoEYeW3xguJkZDbYDla9Y5ciC0qaGMPLFWkVq7twOCKZQr8kg5ytpICfZAJo8p5ySSe6zTU_VjLoc27V5YpyrhWsB-_Atr67eD6oRbDU7vncnWpVs-smEwjxb_tRk98jePHn9b9Um0oOw6Y-aj_yGkvL95uZzLlnooOsLOCLwlqJTIMwXf=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaving Denmark on the Rødby ferry to Puttgarden, Germany, we continued on to Celle,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just to the east of Hannover (where I had lived off-n-on for 2 years in my past life).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I so wanted Astrid to see this incredible city, with over 500 such structures in the city center alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Celle has the most densely packed, largest assembly of half-timbered buildings in the world."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a way to end our trip, full of half-timbered gluttony!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9qJk5lZgTVhG24edzyfBnRfJGvRaGfvNFCKWFCZovNhkvu_S93cejwl93iWq-P16O-Wf-eWc6q9dsmBpYRUSuMM3kZgN4_JFfq4t6Ftnh9o2nmcFZH7BJi58ssknLX85RiZT-TuFktL_IfzZ-AUPZlyahIZAnb98udVBJdBO5-nfRa62vZEeYGhjRL8QT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9qJk5lZgTVhG24edzyfBnRfJGvRaGfvNFCKWFCZovNhkvu_S93cejwl93iWq-P16O-Wf-eWc6q9dsmBpYRUSuMM3kZgN4_JFfq4t6Ftnh9o2nmcFZH7BJi58ssknLX85RiZT-TuFktL_IfzZ-AUPZlyahIZAnb98udVBJdBO5-nfRa62vZEeYGhjRL8QT=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's take.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Day 19, June 22:</span></b> from our hotel in Celle, Germany, to Gorinchem/home (431 km/268 mi):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arrived Home-Sweet-Home at 2 p.m. that Thursday,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3,399 km/2,112 miles from when we had left on Sunday, June 4.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, yes, Astrid drove them all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">Are we glad we did it??? Are you kidding me!!!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-92156295164156686922023-06-03T12:18:00.003+02:002023-06-03T12:24:24.401+02:00Family Time on Texel Island, NL<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">When you don't know how to begin a story that's so stupendous it's hard to believe, you start with an exclamation:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;"><b>It was Fabulous! Unbelievable! A miracle!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It begins with the fact that Astrid's ex-husband (Jaap) owns a bungalow on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texel"><b>Texel Island</b></a> with his sister, having access to it every other month. I don't remember how it was decided but because the wee kids (now 4+) had school vacation in May, Jeroen and Marissa, who are now legally "married," wanted all of us as a family to celebrate a wee vacation on Texel. That included Jaap, Astrid and me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we did! It helps, of course, that Astrid, Jaap and I are the best of friends and don't give a sh*t about what other people think.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95tpbmd0Ix1kuEn0X98swttquZOAwwwL8MrTDUMqAyPwuTZLWkpB67A2TXX47Bsr9pBmjmGJEud5n2eqmU-RK2HY4e4YyXVq0r_hqL07c5cc1DtG5fJfH2noNLUofrTCKDgRuFmpRehkZxnaSCgoaU4ZxX8F5n8Z-T34AplOiXVl-r8fmE1X3R2E2gA/s1000/IMG_6031AA%20Family%20togetherS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95tpbmd0Ix1kuEn0X98swttquZOAwwwL8MrTDUMqAyPwuTZLWkpB67A2TXX47Bsr9pBmjmGJEud5n2eqmU-RK2HY4e4YyXVq0r_hqL07c5cc1DtG5fJfH2noNLUofrTCKDgRuFmpRehkZxnaSCgoaU4ZxX8F5n8Z-T34AplOiXVl-r8fmE1X3R2E2gA/w640-h426/IMG_6031AA%20Family%20togetherS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like I said, I don't know where to start but how about this, taken by a neighbor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[l to r: Jaap, Jeroen, Ginnie, Astrid, and Marissa, with Hailey and Sem in front]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iCJj6jECvOvgoxkVBSNWhrQ9KlgCpqF7STKy4-rhUR1bNAKVnMaZLyNHsvkbMSE1JDVo9iO-Fk98mlLxVRFKkKRRGaULzaQ92WVkQx3NZmcFZ0DJADuDjlNx8MkZNuppWRbFFSov9GqwSCA8JN9_ZUFEY_6xqV0zGUVxtp_vF1Fw7_-W4pUPtmR4uA/s2000/The%20Family%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iCJj6jECvOvgoxkVBSNWhrQ9KlgCpqF7STKy4-rhUR1bNAKVnMaZLyNHsvkbMSE1JDVo9iO-Fk98mlLxVRFKkKRRGaULzaQ92WVkQx3NZmcFZ0DJADuDjlNx8MkZNuppWRbFFSov9GqwSCA8JN9_ZUFEY_6xqV0zGUVxtp_vF1Fw7_-W4pUPtmR4uA/w480-h640/The%20Family%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hailey, btw, is Jeroen's daughter, one month younger than Sem, who is Marissa's son.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We've decided they're twins! And because this Texel bungalow has been Jeroen's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">second home his entire life, he obviously wants to "pass it down."</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnL5u1SlwTU5AkOYTybfSP5i3GGyj16mFuTeksen0CEJ6igX2xV9Jb9Le1ZSOckO6NR-cBmfopRhIrAjL_81Kiiy8W3rR8xtpRYe_I3Af69xrOcFurhUreZ3wwcgW7IpCSpLW3Gags0twI4rCMlRjT_WNrQbgMj55-sX50YGfY3z5maNFjZR1sMY_nA/s2000/The%20Kids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnL5u1SlwTU5AkOYTybfSP5i3GGyj16mFuTeksen0CEJ6igX2xV9Jb9Le1ZSOckO6NR-cBmfopRhIrAjL_81Kiiy8W3rR8xtpRYe_I3Af69xrOcFurhUreZ3wwcgW7IpCSpLW3Gags0twI4rCMlRjT_WNrQbgMj55-sX50YGfY3z5maNFjZR1sMY_nA/w640-h640/The%20Kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GOHZX6LomNT4HQ9Lj6-onzWQPYkTu6AfWHugRLzsBnSb-rqNnfLBLXMPXJyVDhNdjQSwDPHpI-D6fCcjy8wi0t5tIrheT-U7iK3PdO1y-hegHnHTUPITk27zqRusKi6jE3_a__zAHAO9_gYm54YmOG3xDlZ1uF_jLqpK0aBKVY37M_YFzOLML76SFg/s2000/Astrid's%20Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="2000" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GOHZX6LomNT4HQ9Lj6-onzWQPYkTu6AfWHugRLzsBnSb-rqNnfLBLXMPXJyVDhNdjQSwDPHpI-D6fCcjy8wi0t5tIrheT-U7iK3PdO1y-hegHnHTUPITk27zqRusKi6jE3_a__zAHAO9_gYm54YmOG3xDlZ1uF_jLqpK0aBKVY37M_YFzOLML76SFg/w640-h560/Astrid's%20Family.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother, father and son...and Ginnie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess who the babysitters are: Opa and the two Omas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituLaGB8VKnR0F0yxEj_cmpOylDVmmwueJkoMASYmlI18OpxMhqeeLNI28oiI4On0lxqu1v3gV4AHh91elaWz82SKb0GLHKDNM0htT_cvPYf2ZNfhb6ZrZJwwDWdy2qAegMn7Byy-KowXq-h0FappEajOtOcWQXJBF4A5KcSdnpfN0qL3jtl8rwumYeQ/s2000/IMG_8275AA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="2000" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituLaGB8VKnR0F0yxEj_cmpOylDVmmwueJkoMASYmlI18OpxMhqeeLNI28oiI4On0lxqu1v3gV4AHh91elaWz82SKb0GLHKDNM0htT_cvPYf2ZNfhb6ZrZJwwDWdy2qAegMn7Byy-KowXq-h0FappEajOtOcWQXJBF4A5KcSdnpfN0qL3jtl8rwumYeQ/s320/IMG_8275AA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...one of which still remembers her tricks, yes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ8Ew0eAScY_poUyOYz7zlufS4mAbAqy-quNU-FGfj9yE0j5euzXYBmfm8oP35uDVsE9f-G8V7EVIuV2MyXj153Vn8jjCJcNaW2oFTdR9huUNK_1BcwXnTrAojcmYUsnabCYw2lwKJXSmpkaEffr2dejOjW6yaWG-tnAhPKouxeXxAIxCDD0i2Gi4dg/s2000/Eating%20Together.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ8Ew0eAScY_poUyOYz7zlufS4mAbAqy-quNU-FGfj9yE0j5euzXYBmfm8oP35uDVsE9f-G8V7EVIuV2MyXj153Vn8jjCJcNaW2oFTdR9huUNK_1BcwXnTrAojcmYUsnabCYw2lwKJXSmpkaEffr2dejOjW6yaWG-tnAhPKouxeXxAIxCDD0i2Gi4dg/w640-h640/Eating%20Together.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a week together for Jaap, Astrid and me, Wednesday to Wednesday,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with the kids joining us from Thursday to Sunday for the school vacation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of fine dining, both at home and at the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvszZmttRvnClRhhr0s-G_D3kWPIZ2CfFf18IZjOQKooB2FcYjMHBO761-h9AAoy1TSdsFk8UUpGrxvsN3IZ-DEbjumzuIZd-aQXSSFEMmW-GlJIqlAeKrlypZaACs9p1q5E4m6DGs0JTHN42KdCMJoM5FzfhXJ2F82Wu6DDyAVIFjCF5I6fCRPCiwQ/s2000/Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvszZmttRvnClRhhr0s-G_D3kWPIZ2CfFf18IZjOQKooB2FcYjMHBO761-h9AAoy1TSdsFk8UUpGrxvsN3IZ-DEbjumzuIZd-aQXSSFEMmW-GlJIqlAeKrlypZaACs9p1q5E4m6DGs0JTHN42KdCMJoM5FzfhXJ2F82Wu6DDyAVIFjCF5I6fCRPCiwQ/w640-h640/Beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of the beach, it's only a 20+-minute walk from the bungalow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZLgDhd9yNsie08IRz3DWLLV6pcu1HT3-gTlK66wdgTKK5Z-2jT1IVOcz-Qr6Q26f4jX2b_wEFsWJ0BAi5ax2HjWBtnIO60L6edfiI-RCvoOZI9LZXfD55op2lvADs6PSSpdp4DegUf-MvS000RJYY3k-jLcAn1zn74ENXpqDgUKy65lvji9oOQcCQg/s2000/Beach%20Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZLgDhd9yNsie08IRz3DWLLV6pcu1HT3-gTlK66wdgTKK5Z-2jT1IVOcz-Qr6Q26f4jX2b_wEFsWJ0BAi5ax2HjWBtnIO60L6edfiI-RCvoOZI9LZXfD55op2lvADs6PSSpdp4DegUf-MvS000RJYY3k-jLcAn1zn74ENXpqDgUKy65lvji9oOQcCQg/w640-h480/Beach%20Family.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: a passer-by who offered]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you love it?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNvG07YkGyogphoxbILVfXx4evmf5F83RnP1uCRfrnQTHinNaljtOpfZkux4LDNC9OEr9sfDIHulondFlKq5aFLqh4QE3ynghDZWagrVLjMEX4y9IQ73FhUMb934HHeDRfW6FyIimBT7K6JbY5_ZkPfRtKaS6zD4Q61NQ9ktapMYBlTg-aJGpDMqjmA/s2000/Forest%20Walks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNvG07YkGyogphoxbILVfXx4evmf5F83RnP1uCRfrnQTHinNaljtOpfZkux4LDNC9OEr9sfDIHulondFlKq5aFLqh4QE3ynghDZWagrVLjMEX4y9IQ73FhUMb934HHeDRfW6FyIimBT7K6JbY5_ZkPfRtKaS6zD4Q61NQ9ktapMYBlTg-aJGpDMqjmA/w640-h640/Forest%20Walks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid and Ginnie]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The forest, also, is right at the fingertips of the bungalow, perfect for everyday walks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTxB7GDozg5mVRcnmUrwDP6xY_GDxG4Jz5TD2umBQsHB13oO-yo6WXJtGHf-XYDL65y27ZRkwYGhe46jsnSLvlSIRPkOKL2p_QI09Ke6YiSt0n1TMVg8Agu5qeNIwmtCgpf6dRJTSO6MKnVkMS8Vk_I29Cogc-mutdzYVDczSwTaO0XU4AEJwlEURQ/s2000/Forest%20Walk%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mTxB7GDozg5mVRcnmUrwDP6xY_GDxG4Jz5TD2umBQsHB13oO-yo6WXJtGHf-XYDL65y27ZRkwYGhe46jsnSLvlSIRPkOKL2p_QI09Ke6YiSt0n1TMVg8Agu5qeNIwmtCgpf6dRJTSO6MKnVkMS8Vk_I29Cogc-mutdzYVDczSwTaO0XU4AEJwlEURQ/w640-h640/Forest%20Walk%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jaap, Astrid and I took them even when the kids weren't with us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Talk about a therapeutic place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's more...a lot more...but for now, this is about us as a family.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrq7rSAxyJsG5EpQs-jCWa3Ytsua69bZsRf-fSxyzv3TYU0Onuh6SaF1ZmbVdr1qQNtI12VMXnl8GBFMeB3LcNJGoOaO7LbwM3Irpbg-ZQZIcjEY6G2sdgvlYIB5Y1ki7T9QyCceoiXkyCqjx5sexCaMOs_C_SO6qi6CL0Cq4Fxqs92pGpPHIqFg7WA/s2000/Jeroen's%20Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrq7rSAxyJsG5EpQs-jCWa3Ytsua69bZsRf-fSxyzv3TYU0Onuh6SaF1ZmbVdr1qQNtI12VMXnl8GBFMeB3LcNJGoOaO7LbwM3Irpbg-ZQZIcjEY6G2sdgvlYIB5Y1ki7T9QyCceoiXkyCqjx5sexCaMOs_C_SO6qi6CL0Cq4Fxqs92pGpPHIqFg7WA/w300-h400/Jeroen's%20Family.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM-9cNrd_pPAwf6CnMrVQFdyFV0oWc-u5kcy5j7m7ZW62S0kjJ80NSorOchl7xJS9qR0HGkehRoguCwnA51EaW-dg4svcdI_iv5Pwed6jJNb9LvoGWRtmZOiB8WWtDsupywch3QTyNXOdbdc1_6EcyaIX3rMQryWTR9Qx8-aE97oecW00sgjqIV-gpg/s2000/Leaving%20Beach.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2000" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM-9cNrd_pPAwf6CnMrVQFdyFV0oWc-u5kcy5j7m7ZW62S0kjJ80NSorOchl7xJS9qR0HGkehRoguCwnA51EaW-dg4svcdI_iv5Pwed6jJNb9LvoGWRtmZOiB8WWtDsupywch3QTyNXOdbdc1_6EcyaIX3rMQryWTR9Qx8-aE97oecW00sgjqIV-gpg/w640-h432/Leaving%20Beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One big, happy, blended, intertwined, connected family!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoY1rYV9Iseov9QsOiiLvh76KliNFkuR2w4bKlqgxv9868rxpBawOpBOxxxWiI_qWh16fcc63lv2ik3JyUGtpDDIhjJ12S-xr4TPfa62ClrhaqUtGqcAwgzmcXOnH8YD4dGAnVYP_XfxBou9TECfh2eKqXOU8Exfbkl5tacZvL4FiCDQjuaME-t3Mbg/s1000/IMG_0724Sa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoY1rYV9Iseov9QsOiiLvh76KliNFkuR2w4bKlqgxv9868rxpBawOpBOxxxWiI_qWh16fcc63lv2ik3JyUGtpDDIhjJ12S-xr4TPfa62ClrhaqUtGqcAwgzmcXOnH8YD4dGAnVYP_XfxBou9TECfh2eKqXOU8Exfbkl5tacZvL4FiCDQjuaME-t3Mbg/w400-h286/IMG_0724Sa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good-bye, until the next time!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm at the wire with this post, just before Astrid and I leave for an almost 3-week drive through Denmark, starting early tomorrow morning. But just for the halibut, and because I turn 78 while we're gone, I leave you this from Texel: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="401" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t_wQd5D-zso" width="483" youtube-src-id="t_wQd5D-zso"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're never too old to have fun and enjoy life, right?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">It's all Fabulous! Unbelievable! A miracle!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-12540026841186330932023-05-13T13:44:00.000+02:002023-05-13T13:44:06.295+02:00Alexander Henricus Johann Wijdekop<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMryByKWHMFwrPDP9W9n9o9_G4DOSjhdeZ5j9OH93RisydicoVqDPMFFBnfvvWguBRbkVA-66-eAhJUXlaAa2l4dt7lTEs86obIOktmy8kqlSE7UEcx0VN7pwGVHr09-mDvk_h-b9_ouzsH0EKbKdZWinJSF4ZG-rlLaZ-jOQ5ii4ArmpQQaCZQuX4Q/s2000/Sander%201pm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMryByKWHMFwrPDP9W9n9o9_G4DOSjhdeZ5j9OH93RisydicoVqDPMFFBnfvvWguBRbkVA-66-eAhJUXlaAa2l4dt7lTEs86obIOktmy8kqlSE7UEcx0VN7pwGVHr09-mDvk_h-b9_ouzsH0EKbKdZWinJSF4ZG-rlLaZ-jOQ5ii4ArmpQQaCZQuX4Q/w480-h640/Sander%201pm.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo from 1986 at age 35]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>Alexander Henricus Johann Wijdekop</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">May 13, 1951 - April 20, 2023</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Where do I start? Actually, <i>this</i> part of the story really starts on this past Valentine's day, when Astrid and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGq9ofNWvOPl8mTSP3OmUwG4CVW8_E4g_JHgZP8GgZbFWvcrQKU4ZgZx62k4XX2jAQTPjkQ3BHeEmwzFNKbuyCWDcfhFeONkKxNmnKTpLO4yGSLDlLK_fw-r1eZav-ysDnqNupYeC50350aZMiyy01-R51bxHp_FxJu3NAPhlOyOpsfa-tCxz3TMCCA/s1000/IMG_0914S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGq9ofNWvOPl8mTSP3OmUwG4CVW8_E4g_JHgZP8GgZbFWvcrQKU4ZgZx62k4XX2jAQTPjkQ3BHeEmwzFNKbuyCWDcfhFeONkKxNmnKTpLO4yGSLDlLK_fw-r1eZav-ysDnqNupYeC50350aZMiyy01-R51bxHp_FxJu3NAPhlOyOpsfa-tCxz3TMCCA/w300-h400/IMG_0914S.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At one point, and "totally out of the blue," I told Astrid I wanted her to go see her brother, Sander,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>next</i> year, not after I died (as we had always discussed), but while I was still alive to witness it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The thought excited us both and we could hardly wait to tell Sander,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">living in Winnipeg, Canada, since 1973, and now on Vancouver Island since 1994.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day, I told Astrid she shouldn't wait till <i>next</i> year but should go <i>this</i> year,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because who knows what kind of health any of us will be in a year from now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two months later, on April 15th, Astrid was on Vancouver Island for 2 weeks to be with her only sibling/brother whom she hadn't seen in real life since 2004, when their mother died here in the Netherlands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But after 5 glorious days of being together in person, brother and sister, Sander suddenly, and "totally out of the blue," died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The surgeon, who spent 1.5 hours trying to save him, said Sander had been a ticking time-bomb for many years. From that, and knowing Sander's greatest fear was dying alone, Astrid has received much peace, believing that Sander waited for her visit to leave this world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjf_E7MbVCI7kW1JaWtEB0E27htbdwgSbRbUZvmUu8MnlVs-OH_ZAo8pNeGKcvwqAmBqOeoCdVmNV9AEHN7u1IX54vMcdsaLpAx87MlHI4dFyhOM64dVTmiHti1Xs3MkHJoYNV1mdDQJo-wjMVG3qa7noTNQCXz2BzyqznYUMjP5GHtQ2YIXuAUxHDQ/s2000/Sander.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjf_E7MbVCI7kW1JaWtEB0E27htbdwgSbRbUZvmUu8MnlVs-OH_ZAo8pNeGKcvwqAmBqOeoCdVmNV9AEHN7u1IX54vMcdsaLpAx87MlHI4dFyhOM64dVTmiHti1Xs3MkHJoYNV1mdDQJo-wjMVG3qa7noTNQCXz2BzyqznYUMjP5GHtQ2YIXuAUxHDQ/w560-h640/Sander.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sander loved to cook and ate as healthily as we strive to do, but...he hated photos of himself,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so it was all Astrid could do to get these photos of him, not knowing they'd be her last.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the bottom-right bottle of Ardbeg whisky? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On their last day together, after supper, they shared a wee celebration of finally being together again,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> with the cheese, chocolate and whisky Astrid brought for him from the Netherlands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was their last "healthy" memory before he died at 5:30 the next morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because Sander did NOT have a Will & Last Testament (something they were going to work on together while she was there!), Astrid spent the last 9 days of her visit sorting through 98% of his earthly possessions. Thankfully, she had his best friend of 29 years, Murray, plus the friends across the street, Mike and Val, at her beck and call for everything she needed (crematorium, lawyer, bank, etc.). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And thankfully, through emails and several FaceTimes a day, I was there to help her ride the emotional roller-coaster of her life! Now that she's back home, since April 30th, things are settling down a bit. The ride is slowing down and we're both getting better sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past Thursday, just 2 days ago, 8 friends gathered at one of Sander's happy places, the Saanich coast near his house, to give their proper Good-Bye:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef5ebXOHSX8XxXw3ZiloaPM_99Mz1hLkPfiBNPuIxDWv-foboV9LwjWOLYJZKYCDm4DUoscnhA8UkiyauD1Eue-GKsC61r0YyW7F6PwuA9OnqFOM7svLbkmWUzSFdpIA6enlu0E8d8OvMQQ1ZCu2YwbqQkZlkPYpz7wHrS8QFMhuXgJECICbBb4XosA/s2000/Memorial%20Service.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef5ebXOHSX8XxXw3ZiloaPM_99Mz1hLkPfiBNPuIxDWv-foboV9LwjWOLYJZKYCDm4DUoscnhA8UkiyauD1Eue-GKsC61r0YyW7F6PwuA9OnqFOM7svLbkmWUzSFdpIA6enlu0E8d8OvMQQ1ZCu2YwbqQkZlkPYpz7wHrS8QFMhuXgJECICbBb4XosA/w480-h640/Memorial%20Service.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike and Val are the 2 left-end persons in the group photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Murray is the one scattering the ashes, with flowers added by the others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this is what was read during the ceremony,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as provided by Astrid:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFwUKYB-NL3B8tINm0YvNhfl1lvEwF3edcyiZXFuC3Y0LJcP3lphuMjh6xwChZK6NPPkt-sjtdnKxlLp0bMBYYaLGgtcvxo8X2o_dNFgRhz0xVc4gjPxVbhzOTSTReXf0msRfytwkX9aLXvdIsOlkyO86qOvHTMpsY_pkIERM3RDAVUIde0_WIwEGjw/s2000/Sander's%20Memorial%20Service%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFwUKYB-NL3B8tINm0YvNhfl1lvEwF3edcyiZXFuC3Y0LJcP3lphuMjh6xwChZK6NPPkt-sjtdnKxlLp0bMBYYaLGgtcvxo8X2o_dNFgRhz0xVc4gjPxVbhzOTSTReXf0msRfytwkX9aLXvdIsOlkyO86qOvHTMpsY_pkIERM3RDAVUIde0_WIwEGjw/w480-h640/Sander's%20Memorial%20Service%20PM.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It so happens that today, May 13, 2023, would have been Sander's (Alex's) 72nd birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It would have been Astrid's scheduled time to FaceTime with him again,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as they did faithfully every other Saturday, with emails in-between.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The loss will be tremendous for all who loved and cared for him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY</b>, dear Sander,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">and may you now <b>Rest in Peace</b>.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-57921929094143088302023-04-13T14:47:00.009+02:002023-04-13T15:02:07.631+02:00The Antwerp-Aspirin Saga<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the short version: I ran out of my daily dose of children's Aspirin (81mg) and had to replenish it. The Netherlands doesn't sell it over the counter so we went to Belgium, where it does, choosing Antwerp to make a day's trip out of it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The longer version is that back then, when I turned 50 in 1995, doctors were automatically putting their patients on the children's Aspirin daily dose as a blood thinner to help prevent heart attacks/strokes. So, doing the math, I've been faithfully taking it every day for almost 28 years...until <a href="https://www.guthrie.org/blog/should-you-take-baby-aspirin-prevent-heart-attack#:~:text=Taking%20a%20low%2Ddose%20or,a%20heart%20attack%20or%20stroke."><b>a study</b></a> came out last year, questioning the efficacy for those not at risk. To which I then asked my doctor here (last fall) if he thought it was okay if I stopped taking it. He had no problem with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then all hell broke lose as winter took it's toll on my body. Without the photos, which you don't need to see, I ended up getting "winter toes" on my left (knee-replacement) foot and one "winter finger" on my right hand...something I've NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE, even though I've always had cold hands and feet, due to poor blood circulation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">DUH! Have you connected the dots???????? With my poor blood circulation over all these years, the daily Aspirin was helping my blood get to my extremities at least enough to keep me from "winter" toes and fingers! Without the Aspirin thinner, my blood thickened and had no chance of doing its job.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why children's Aspirin is only prescribed by a doctor here, and not allowed over the counter, I do not know. I always got my supply while in America each year, where I could always buy a twin pack of 2 bottles at Walmart (lasting at least a year) for under $6. Because I stopped taking it, I didn't replenish my stash last November.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, in Belgium I paid €8 for a pack of 112 pills and bought 2 packs to last me till I get back to America in October!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which is to say I PLAYED DOCTOR and, with Astrid's total "no-brainer!" went back immediately on my daily Aspirin dose, with the improvement I wanted and expected.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All that to explain why we drove the 60 miles to Antwerp to make a day of it in the area of the train station!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXefgUQWPWOqaC0yRMq3CFph4btOWQYaDWmcZu-0Ma6ds8lJG5BaAtvRtQpB2hnqUiDmVqgXxmcWNFalmBqGL8upb9iJH2h48yw5RI12Xtyqte8H3Qw6KLkC8cUMnl_aUL17AhESfkyQkWInuwcOMxRkRLq1pzwZReonmXljkuslKXaSFGyE7jV_3Qng/s2000/Train%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXefgUQWPWOqaC0yRMq3CFph4btOWQYaDWmcZu-0Ma6ds8lJG5BaAtvRtQpB2hnqUiDmVqgXxmcWNFalmBqGL8upb9iJH2h48yw5RI12Xtyqte8H3Qw6KLkC8cUMnl_aUL17AhESfkyQkWInuwcOMxRkRLq1pzwZReonmXljkuslKXaSFGyE7jV_3Qng/w640-h640/Train%20Station.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Antwerp destination of choice was at their landmark train station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The camel, to the left of the station (in the top photo), advertises the Antwerp Zoo nearby.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="725" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7K6gi2kX_-M0Ox1DJFsHPSeK-xLnvCqyJNrNAzv7PzxeSkrBVG1NB9I1uk6Qi9PMBqhKQ0-zXXmOdJcQ_p-LBSGUoFjL7q-0TMG_tqh8JtqQMVBpWE-Ji9QrSYgrd4GCHt7LAQ-sHDoz8fMHSPho1tcKhHeXX8DdUJ7iAoyRbYHQwTCLZ0Jo1ehEPw/w640-h338/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0532S.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In eye-sight of the station, we stopped first for a latte macchiato...of course.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="725" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILWjFhoSEcj4YRmc2Vb-wBNJ5WVeR_B1T1iJg9QZc8oGWK9Z_CP7fUfiC_39jIgwSKsd9dhqOW8991cnh1JZGPg32BjXnEVHElrgx5j4PmXcdDCzoJNKSOsa2FZLhaGT1nTRxuxuEPnEdk7FhzPk2j9mrV4edmmAzcK_uQ3WnQDqmH7dBFgCJc-dMFw/w400-h200/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0531S.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The signs alone were worth the visit:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Tomorrow is a lovely day."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Don't steal: the government hates competition."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Let the music play."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...etc., etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnmNboo5YDVqlY24kQU6je8LMRUNxE9DvC2L0F4resFOqyBLbFQjuiC9lvFDFRW2IAJvP3v6VObXx-owlv2dDvfYWUUhxKNtj-hM6l6tnG1wht6GxxHFqJgsJg15bX3IJVPBHoFd4mYJTaHy8LYjhRU1YLFL1NpXV_20jrdsH9K3Acuvc4-5r5dxnYA/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0541S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="725" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnmNboo5YDVqlY24kQU6je8LMRUNxE9DvC2L0F4resFOqyBLbFQjuiC9lvFDFRW2IAJvP3v6VObXx-owlv2dDvfYWUUhxKNtj-hM6l6tnG1wht6GxxHFqJgsJg15bX3IJVPBHoFd4mYJTaHy8LYjhRU1YLFL1NpXV_20jrdsH9K3Acuvc4-5r5dxnYA/w640-h420/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0541S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the train station itself was the winner for the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjEwwFNtgxxaPZtmEJjpy3Q2O4Yg0CqUIdKuXt8EiojPfqS0nPpzgusDahZfQenyMKcuM_5Ckno42n8FMD8t1-kUF_tegXLX_ytYPI_safTUZO8FNC5UU1kpdYF7Q93sXM7R_Cij9J8ByTYoh5Kf74M5EjpHw7vt_CFYckhSk3rs43H2qMiyn8_DWEQ/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0545S%20copy2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="725" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjEwwFNtgxxaPZtmEJjpy3Q2O4Yg0CqUIdKuXt8EiojPfqS0nPpzgusDahZfQenyMKcuM_5Ckno42n8FMD8t1-kUF_tegXLX_ytYPI_safTUZO8FNC5UU1kpdYF7Q93sXM7R_Cij9J8ByTYoh5Kf74M5EjpHw7vt_CFYckhSk3rs43H2qMiyn8_DWEQ/w640-h322/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0545S%20copy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITadKE5EEuwq6clhkkcVwCANKQiVif4yG87mXEwtVPNT4tD5Mz77Cnjnl2zSxdFpYSWGEwJzfmNVtTvplX4VWAkcEJ5MTjJI813VNkxQTDkjR8DN__QK14m0CUWz1MYXWJ2E4Bl-EgQjfMSJFOYIjbScNGaHUeWThewNhtYJhkv3ry7VDeERFMNHNBg/s725/Antwerp-IMG_0395.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="725" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITadKE5EEuwq6clhkkcVwCANKQiVif4yG87mXEwtVPNT4tD5Mz77Cnjnl2zSxdFpYSWGEwJzfmNVtTvplX4VWAkcEJ5MTjJI813VNkxQTDkjR8DN__QK14m0CUWz1MYXWJ2E4Bl-EgQjfMSJFOYIjbScNGaHUeWThewNhtYJhkv3ry7VDeERFMNHNBg/w400-h268/Antwerp-IMG_0395.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is from when we were last there in 2012...and why we wanted to go back.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUgQ4AsK71YJxgzMHQrPm8Ewt745sT7J5K0iCJrUUSTP_RHE2yQmrlE4BMlcfyQW4RcdNUSYAyKa6dRe6NuiqoLArfxBLtgWHPIyK-lEa0rLls4bojS6ajdqalMKs6rPgPNa1XVQ_0QmTiUfz-FvsQsxlAhcGePYGGJlribDcU4A4MMhnMfn-aIA8_Q/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0573S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="725" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUgQ4AsK71YJxgzMHQrPm8Ewt745sT7J5K0iCJrUUSTP_RHE2yQmrlE4BMlcfyQW4RcdNUSYAyKa6dRe6NuiqoLArfxBLtgWHPIyK-lEa0rLls4bojS6ajdqalMKs6rPgPNa1XVQ_0QmTiUfz-FvsQsxlAhcGePYGGJlribDcU4A4MMhnMfn-aIA8_Q/w640-h402/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0573S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucky for us, we both love architecture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTSG-J0Q8IJ4KjABMqZ9e04cfaCS4ANBhJPQUzjHR_KH2aYgjOGs5dLZgoWyFlj9vHQbfatmNxGw4GE2jiYtqAGH2JE3lMMocnaz70_fGrtD9YYL079_7T3otZHpnOiW7q54l8ORgAtTt_MNbRz1ZCBCgOxI71xm_tTGda06tkFtJGNu15LxMiuBbtw/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0550S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="725" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTSG-J0Q8IJ4KjABMqZ9e04cfaCS4ANBhJPQUzjHR_KH2aYgjOGs5dLZgoWyFlj9vHQbfatmNxGw4GE2jiYtqAGH2JE3lMMocnaz70_fGrtD9YYL079_7T3otZHpnOiW7q54l8ORgAtTt_MNbRz1ZCBCgOxI71xm_tTGda06tkFtJGNu15LxMiuBbtw/w640-h386/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0550S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After passing under the clock inside, you see what it looks like from the train platform outside.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55FJ_kmZVWS4aSwk6uCkA7AEcxXEEVCVWGcg3Effn3JbrFkRk4DW_MYKijO53NeuYQIgWw8r0_jijEXBv6q6J7Lz1PyG6BFT1luiafL5Xlj1--wWH1zFHYbCr_nmh1jKXnO9mac3-T38akR-ZeMgDpsaT7WZ4qy1jMQjf8cFOqW267It3RBe9g2FiwA/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0548S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="725" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55FJ_kmZVWS4aSwk6uCkA7AEcxXEEVCVWGcg3Effn3JbrFkRk4DW_MYKijO53NeuYQIgWw8r0_jijEXBv6q6J7Lz1PyG6BFT1luiafL5Xlj1--wWH1zFHYbCr_nmh1jKXnO9mac3-T38akR-ZeMgDpsaT7WZ4qy1jMQjf8cFOqW267It3RBe9g2FiwA/w640-h392/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0548S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a cozy, protected platform...as though lending a helping hand to travelers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ4yeU9L512De5nKZFMgHeArPSQtExKVbaI23eEDB-Iis6KS3YpvCg8FEzmvlhCdDgmEIcrlWVLXigyWqPlqw6vzZLVr6Dx-mwzFesasCjOqP1xLwwJ5SDpQQZUrjhF-yPwn_Ebwa2GEnvSE6j6nSUXdDiC1cT8US02jOUPb3IogIhJLu59E4hXsGLw/s1000/IMG_0567S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="1000" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ4yeU9L512De5nKZFMgHeArPSQtExKVbaI23eEDB-Iis6KS3YpvCg8FEzmvlhCdDgmEIcrlWVLXigyWqPlqw6vzZLVr6Dx-mwzFesasCjOqP1xLwwJ5SDpQQZUrjhF-yPwn_Ebwa2GEnvSE6j6nSUXdDiC1cT8US02jOUPb3IogIhJLu59E4hXsGLw/w640-h348/IMG_0567S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And it's a looooong covered platform, looking back to the station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YtnKJ-g3SR0WKB4kyYE1xagCpJqBvzPSipvAFd9F2sXY-4dC4_Yal8Yg8cS1v9Fy6sWhV_-z1g3L5KBGCcmzPjL2lj52ohu6ckwAAJDGJZ-uzAoB4gun_-5JoFkHFMno0D_jojs1x-VCLR0_iuoEbj2RrP46dAUyufNVq6xV9JOT7foY7sgx3gCz3A/s1000/IMG_5304SC%20Railway%20station%20Antwerp_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YtnKJ-g3SR0WKB4kyYE1xagCpJqBvzPSipvAFd9F2sXY-4dC4_Yal8Yg8cS1v9Fy6sWhV_-z1g3L5KBGCcmzPjL2lj52ohu6ckwAAJDGJZ-uzAoB4gun_-5JoFkHFMno0D_jojs1x-VCLR0_iuoEbj2RrP46dAUyufNVq6xV9JOT7foY7sgx3gCz3A/w640-h426/IMG_5304SC%20Railway%20station%20Antwerp_S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Astrid's photo, showing the VPP (vanishing point perspective) which I love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hpt8WuE0lKVdqjQcaPzZJ52V56GhOv5VrTE4uFALpsz7tKOz9MA9vmFoM0YbG10KcJrXy2_nxua9nwKM6KIECmoCRwH9W65ZKgzI4yujVeZnoRai6kF2c3K8nZrIzALPKKT1Pge0XQxzKBWT9qhBeGsPtjxkXwJaWTSIg0OpRQRkOPAgMmSTAAG90g/s2000/Train%20Platform.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hpt8WuE0lKVdqjQcaPzZJ52V56GhOv5VrTE4uFALpsz7tKOz9MA9vmFoM0YbG10KcJrXy2_nxua9nwKM6KIECmoCRwH9W65ZKgzI4yujVeZnoRai6kF2c3K8nZrIzALPKKT1Pge0XQxzKBWT9qhBeGsPtjxkXwJaWTSIg0OpRQRkOPAgMmSTAAG90g/w640-h640/Train%20Platform.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Past the covered part of the platform, you get the lay of the land.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Believe it or not, a pharmacy for my Aspirin was in the train station, which we visited after our sight-seeing. Serendipity.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8acJq8f2G-htOY30OvQr3qVvruQewWH5bVlYU2TVulsZKu17UY0cxBchFEPnIKsivErEDOuWvOD38M6M_HYQIS27Huzp-rrH7nhuYgroOyTu9JKOzNCVIpaOXV3Qu563zE0E9eVAOSV-3KXL_G_Pjqqci9WI-NUzpI5mEaWwbwq2HQbqFt9FN8Hofg/s725/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0576S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="725" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8acJq8f2G-htOY30OvQr3qVvruQewWH5bVlYU2TVulsZKu17UY0cxBchFEPnIKsivErEDOuWvOD38M6M_HYQIS27Huzp-rrH7nhuYgroOyTu9JKOzNCVIpaOXV3Qu563zE0E9eVAOSV-3KXL_G_Pjqqci9WI-NUzpI5mEaWwbwq2HQbqFt9FN8Hofg/w640-h376/Antwerp%202023%20IMG_0576S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>From the station we then walked a couple blocks to Wagamama for lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, I had to take this for our Shutterchance photoblog's Bike Friday.<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ssjF7i9m9-pr5_dp2SIeMyG7ILqehbX8vnPLrNMX7PxRRsXjXTx_b7vMsAxKms3N5ztrqsElpxE3ExOBNyJSJT5turvsqKJgKPkaeCN5-rjf7lZkj_SyOOe5yjaQ6vvLFYm8upjhA-Zo5Z5eBU0n5rk26NovYJH5nczF65n8jUa5rGT5m71tSaMZkQ/s1000/IMG_5278SC%20Bike%20Friday%20Antwerpen%20S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ssjF7i9m9-pr5_dp2SIeMyG7ILqehbX8vnPLrNMX7PxRRsXjXTx_b7vMsAxKms3N5ztrqsElpxE3ExOBNyJSJT5turvsqKJgKPkaeCN5-rjf7lZkj_SyOOe5yjaQ6vvLFYm8upjhA-Zo5Z5eBU0n5rk26NovYJH5nczF65n8jUa5rGT5m71tSaMZkQ/w640-h426/IMG_5278SC%20Bike%20Friday%20Antwerpen%20S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This was Astrid's Bike Friday...with her famous signature placement (can you find it?).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1000" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5MNEKw9NeAzYRYiWNxaQm4r1jlBdjRTBy_OSzWzGSvVEOTJKnvZiPLpdl3_rzgCe2DxGHh5IXs16u3lyVADeKxDmzVVbdEZSbfApBnw8Alq8nZusfbziQl5PfchuIOd9TCvw-7mr4goH2a1XDi0JMb_CrOpRSqXzuK0SDn5NFhe3qGuLV3fuSUYCqQ/w640-h404/IMG_0580S.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lunch at Wagamama (only 2 of them in Belgium) was the perfect ending to our outing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of that just to say we did it, making lemonade out of the lemons!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-47063846157553452182023-03-28T10:30:00.004+02:002023-03-28T14:22:23.460+02:00ROKR Wooden Mechanical Zodiac Clock<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You might remember that back in 2018 and 2019 Astrid and I both had a heyday making fun ROKR projects that were totally up our alley...for BOTH of us: the <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2018/12/rokr-wooden-mechanical-pendulum-clock.html"><b>pendulum clock</b></a> for me, and the <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2019/01/rokr-wooden-mechanical-locomotive-merry.html"><b>locomotive</b></a> and <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2019/03/rokr-wooden-mechanical-tractor.html"><b>tractor</b></a> for Astrid. Those three projects display themselves beautifully in our china cabinet:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvXwrQxN380PzFz2fpUmxG6m8j8BKWvbo02tLPyfE6GepujBmmzYe_EUofbJ-WlRtIuYriNMglK_Qxo97zwYmkY1kElXr8ZBebxb019yhIgPpSKM8QiwqBcGGwsB2T_8X1Jdja9e-AsB54uxSpXprhrkgS3_c6kveAqoC9J0mi0hNqVHAbc_PGg8ZtQ/s2000/China%20Cabinet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvXwrQxN380PzFz2fpUmxG6m8j8BKWvbo02tLPyfE6GepujBmmzYe_EUofbJ-WlRtIuYriNMglK_Qxo97zwYmkY1kElXr8ZBebxb019yhIgPpSKM8QiwqBcGGwsB2T_8X1Jdja9e-AsB54uxSpXprhrkgS3_c6kveAqoC9J0mi0hNqVHAbc_PGg8ZtQ/w640-h640/China%20Cabinet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who knew they would make our hearts sing, right?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Four years later, guess who got the itch again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wasn't particularly going for anything in particular. I just wanted to MAKE something. It's a longer story than this (involving a knock-off from China that totally disgusted me and was returned for a refund), but when I saw ROKR's Zodiac Clock, I knew I had hit the jackpot. It helps, of course, that I've been making astrological natal charts for 30+ years, so <i>this</i> was up my alley!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I made it in 3 days in the first week after my <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2023/02/two-simultaneous-four-eyes-cataract.html"><b>cataract surgery</b></a>!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6x8gxrBe1o_Ah-YCUHqPF2SYQPKmO5VBXGMd-JK6wKHxO5eeEttPA5WN-3N1X3LtILZ0pF-gSSKD2QVnQq7Jn3ZyxU0tPKEZg3Ar_kr5kQavjEj1MwF_GImAXFkPecssaUfiKaTSRqNVwM37sRoYoiMM14DHdd1mzB8rI8-zav80cZnpSYt4Yij2lg/s1000/Assembling%20with%20GlovesS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6x8gxrBe1o_Ah-YCUHqPF2SYQPKmO5VBXGMd-JK6wKHxO5eeEttPA5WN-3N1X3LtILZ0pF-gSSKD2QVnQq7Jn3ZyxU0tPKEZg3Ar_kr5kQavjEj1MwF_GImAXFkPecssaUfiKaTSRqNVwM37sRoYoiMM14DHdd1mzB8rI8-zav80cZnpSYt4Yij2lg/w640-h640/Assembling%20with%20GlovesS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I almost always wear gloves at home during the cold months (bad blood circulation)...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63iGm1TQtCw5y9yucjx_5leaHq0OMMoGI9UXvdRzAUQ2TWjNzqr-G732kJqbV5QW67iLgZgMmtyBcGoEaGQPRbfXCd2rEtmH42b0kTrSQzbjSevglf3xhKyarPRK8aPch6kt3DiQvhbMzSg36DXgfx4R87k48HPe47g2Ndjh47mfr3G7beg_IAq98WA/s1000/AssemblingS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63iGm1TQtCw5y9yucjx_5leaHq0OMMoGI9UXvdRzAUQ2TWjNzqr-G732kJqbV5QW67iLgZgMmtyBcGoEaGQPRbfXCd2rEtmH42b0kTrSQzbjSevglf3xhKyarPRK8aPch6kt3DiQvhbMzSg36DXgfx4R87k48HPe47g2Ndjh47mfr3G7beg_IAq98WA/w640-h640/AssemblingS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but decided to take them off (after the fact) for you. HA!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWy9B6Zm_xcCqt4Nvk-57UsTmNatv1JUXnqrfy3sdr55O6nc4MSWhbL2yzR2eBpkhz7lKilpskhQLQ_IE82iN0d_EQ9Nwt00UQ1CiUSbyjWerEOOdBO-ZHt-h8YkcYlbA0gWjrlah3LjV0XGkEyInZPvzvcN2ZrD7Tdey0-0mOEblxMl4QR5qrRflQ/s2000/ROKR%20Instructions.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWy9B6Zm_xcCqt4Nvk-57UsTmNatv1JUXnqrfy3sdr55O6nc4MSWhbL2yzR2eBpkhz7lKilpskhQLQ_IE82iN0d_EQ9Nwt00UQ1CiUSbyjWerEOOdBO-ZHt-h8YkcYlbA0gWjrlah3LjV0XGkEyInZPvzvcN2ZrD7Tdey0-0mOEblxMl4QR5qrRflQ/w512-h640/ROKR%20Instructions.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The reason I'm showing the instruction manual (18 pages) is simple:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's a methodical, step-by-step construction that has an order to it,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with both text and diagrams to guide you...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3QCx4p0Eg07dT-AmKDNOnTn25yiH-eilLE8W2HUI8w4kITYBTw32N7MHzOlf_GPvDaoiqgfwMrXDpl2sAE1bXzUAvJZ394ic33weumFD5vNQ34-lXr1BPpFVrv48P7p-fUXeG1Ftt_JNYdoOtun9LAjjTiWsQKy-wui3kmeFK_G4Y2pMcBAiow0YrA/s810/IMG_0521S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="810" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3QCx4p0Eg07dT-AmKDNOnTn25yiH-eilLE8W2HUI8w4kITYBTw32N7MHzOlf_GPvDaoiqgfwMrXDpl2sAE1bXzUAvJZ394ic33weumFD5vNQ34-lXr1BPpFVrv48P7p-fUXeG1Ftt_JNYdoOtun9LAjjTiWsQKy-wui3kmeFK_G4Y2pMcBAiow0YrA/w640-h386/IMG_0521S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as opposed to the single sheet of one-inch photo-steps without written instructions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">from the knock-off I first purchased.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjk2QdO90O999w0YO07PyYbjRM2hEu_e7fQzC2zYQuamTkNA3o4dR06cpgYw8G-xlcEf6xui1tbgsAICKFGNK1kwGMmq_DkfIUKSQSJTwFEObvqEd6AnQZaVBvzPexKWfAe-8LiCm-tuhhw7q7vu3nIcsUBObfKz2vcC5jh5YsXCy7Y2TcNlryOlvWw/s1000/Hummingbird%20Kit%20S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="925" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjk2QdO90O999w0YO07PyYbjRM2hEu_e7fQzC2zYQuamTkNA3o4dR06cpgYw8G-xlcEf6xui1tbgsAICKFGNK1kwGMmq_DkfIUKSQSJTwFEObvqEd6AnQZaVBvzPexKWfAe-8LiCm-tuhhw7q7vu3nIcsUBObfKz2vcC5jh5YsXCy7Y2TcNlryOlvWw/w592-h640/Hummingbird%20Kit%20S.jpg" width="592" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In my defense, the knock-off was a false advertisement that I didn't catch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">till after the fact but which PayPal came to the plate to refund for me...after repeated tries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to get the purchase made right by the Chinese distributor, without success.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(A word to the wise!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And THAT'S why I went back to my tried-n-true ROKR, knowing I would not be disappointed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFh-iVNyVk13Y_5Ak_8FI0r2J32_UTKXuo8oi9ZEE_LX0sgwgfPEc6t_eO2t4Xs7Q2Hzz8m5OkZYsIn__SL4gFoo1XXKxlIT1TEpL9qf4BwxX9DXWm-ntmlcH87IIBNI_XL_cqftNOzyDntXAsBDEBBPhehXezBzxYZFuuJ-rPBvKMRYSLe7UBZcSyA/s1000/Wall%20ClockS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFh-iVNyVk13Y_5Ak_8FI0r2J32_UTKXuo8oi9ZEE_LX0sgwgfPEc6t_eO2t4Xs7Q2Hzz8m5OkZYsIn__SL4gFoo1XXKxlIT1TEpL9qf4BwxX9DXWm-ntmlcH87IIBNI_XL_cqftNOzyDntXAsBDEBBPhehXezBzxYZFuuJ-rPBvKMRYSLe7UBZcSyA/w300-h400/Wall%20ClockS.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Zodiac Clock hangs on the wall next to where I am typing,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as we speak. It's also next to where I work up natal charts for family and friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Am I a Happy Camper, or what! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wait till my new glasses come (from Sweden!) and that's another story altogether.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-6822809660099538632023-02-17T14:05:00.006+01:002023-02-17T14:10:06.944+01:00Two "Simultaneous" (four eyes) Cataract Surgeries<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">You know why I say "THIS IS FOR THE RECORD" all the time????? Because if I don't write it down, you can be darn-tootin' sure that both Astrid and I will actually forget that 1) it happened, 2) when/where it happened, or 3) the details of how it happened.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, THIS IS FOR THE RECORD. And, this is how they're doing it now in the Netherlands. Cataract surgeries, that is. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For Astrid, it's been at least a year, maybe two, that her eyesight has become close to intolerable. She was seeing almost everything in gray tones, especially outside, and had horrific vision on sunny days. Bike riding was becoming hazardous for her, so she stopped. Many more details, like hating the laptop...but she finally went to the very modern <a href="https://oogkliniekdrechtsteden.nl/"><b>eye clinic</b></a> in nearby Papendrecht to get an appraisal (YES, she had cataracts which needed to be removed) and then a date for surgery: January 25. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And, as if she needed someone to sympathize with her, at the same time I was getting my eyes checked for new glasses when, guess what, the orthoptist (my prism specialist for double vision) said I had cataracts! That's why since falling at the Georgia cabin on November 18 my vision suddenly changed for the worse: the fall had shaken loose my low-lying cataracts sitting in the wings for years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, it was MY turn to visit the same eye clinic for an appraisal and a date for surgery: February 2 (8 days after Astrid's, but with a different surgeon). And they do both eyes at the same time here! It's brilliant and we both can't imagine doing it any other way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, that's the story and here are the images, lest we forget. HA!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVbZsRnljt3QJVw1HcovCqOSgQF-XzpvHfBB5ql84xB1KnT1gHDft3gbp6lIdcnazCrkOjsOpQer0141nyw5KItH-sdlG6V7jzWsCm0oAtlQ8nigMFNciRHgD2pcdDm9-oZdPGqCUkRpyJ3LPsUZ2vsXCO1o0AXrvKSZKjWu0cDh9IN4UcE8MuPL_Lw/s2000/Goggles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVbZsRnljt3QJVw1HcovCqOSgQF-XzpvHfBB5ql84xB1KnT1gHDft3gbp6lIdcnazCrkOjsOpQer0141nyw5KItH-sdlG6V7jzWsCm0oAtlQ8nigMFNciRHgD2pcdDm9-oZdPGqCUkRpyJ3LPsUZ2vsXCO1o0AXrvKSZKjWu0cDh9IN4UcE8MuPL_Lw/w640-h400/Goggles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not what I'd call flattering, but, for the first week, we had to wear "goggles" at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell that, for each of us, this was within hours of our surgeries?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least we were both smiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="481" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IEjTHeNq7lk" width="578" youtube-src-id="IEjTHeNq7lk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And speaking of "within hours," this was me at supper, 2 hours after my surgery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was the thickest fog I've ever experienced in my life because of the salve on my eyes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(which Astrid's surgeon did not put on hers)! I really couldn't stop laughing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNLhOpdZvV-kElpqXHyuXoV_l2wYLSX41hU8qe_lbkI_CMCQTwg0SFtY5XqcXSev91Vp8AvTDkzAPYPKfDPMg8oG3lyjF4wvfHezeQTeStWhSPoxmTSR9jQ-pj0Wa-O87NmfcTbfEAiihl2cTSqXxwxAL0ML4L7mthd1Nq1l9LL8OWeXcoLRRAeSBKw/s2000/Sweater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNLhOpdZvV-kElpqXHyuXoV_l2wYLSX41hU8qe_lbkI_CMCQTwg0SFtY5XqcXSev91Vp8AvTDkzAPYPKfDPMg8oG3lyjF4wvfHezeQTeStWhSPoxmTSR9jQ-pj0Wa-O87NmfcTbfEAiihl2cTSqXxwxAL0ML4L7mthd1Nq1l9LL8OWeXcoLRRAeSBKw/w300-h400/Sweater.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's surgery was on a Wednesday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two days later, Friday, she finished knitting this fisherman sweater</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and wore it to our afternoon Happy Hour here at our senior center.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She saw brilliant RED for the first time in a long time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfIDDDvBIflLgjb1b_t8J5hMqmHh06nmSzRWjTbOatZ-4dyZ9RgGOrPFVTycp0uElm0yGv6ShCeo5tdPQKPlJTbYbkcLl11UAmZ_QtoM9kCDNucLF6kGmNFI3NceBxvVyly5vMUOJNeLl5iWAjSOk-7KmM5StVuzBZ3jbmVdSX8IHhB70Ev0CdwGgpQ/s2000/Eye%20Patch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfIDDDvBIflLgjb1b_t8J5hMqmHh06nmSzRWjTbOatZ-4dyZ9RgGOrPFVTycp0uElm0yGv6ShCeo5tdPQKPlJTbYbkcLl11UAmZ_QtoM9kCDNucLF6kGmNFI3NceBxvVyly5vMUOJNeLl5iWAjSOk-7KmM5StVuzBZ3jbmVdSX8IHhB70Ev0CdwGgpQ/w300-h400/Eye%20Patch.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For me, my far-sighted vision is now almost perfect</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">except for the fact that I still have double vision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Astrid made me an eye-patch out of one of her goggles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for watching TV, so I can see it in uni-vision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still use my old glasses for close-up work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On March 2 Astrid has her checkup and new prescription (at the same clinic as our surgeries), after which she can order her new glasses from an optician here in town. For me, it's March 9, after which on the 14th I have an appointment with my nearby orthoptist who will order the prism glasses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I mention that while all this was going on, we had our 13th wedding anniversary on February 5 and celebrated it in style this week on Valentine's Day (VD), February 14th...something we think we'll start doing from this year forward. Because VD is NOT a Dutch thing like it is in America, there's nothing hectic/rushed when a restaurant here celebrates it (we were there for 3 hours!): </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjfT6eFhmE-M-BqlPHRUYuhqNfmpax1w9ZhTrz1LMKaWatf4wadHi1GUzL_7Dye8ddzgdVyxXloJL_ycvtuan4KkBD4WMMUjhjvHCz08obBB19D3Y6-TDydiM0tnYMEvaqPtRLUWJeD9ssh2fgz3E5XUGNBfEBmkPkw94PWTX9YJ0hXgmDD3nQhOzDQ/s2000/Valentine's%20MealS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjfT6eFhmE-M-BqlPHRUYuhqNfmpax1w9ZhTrz1LMKaWatf4wadHi1GUzL_7Dye8ddzgdVyxXloJL_ycvtuan4KkBD4WMMUjhjvHCz08obBB19D3Y6-TDydiM0tnYMEvaqPtRLUWJeD9ssh2fgz3E5XUGNBfEBmkPkw94PWTX9YJ0hXgmDD3nQhOzDQ/w640-h640/Valentine's%20MealS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">1. Love is...'setting the table together'</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arancini--red beet risotto stuffed with a beet ragout and aceto balsamic syrup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">2. Love is...'sharing together'</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Platter with various appetizers:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spring roll with goat cheese and cranberry chutney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rose of marinated salmon with a fennel salad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wrap with smoked beef and egg.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mini soup with purple carrot and roasted onion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steak tartar with silver onions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">3. Love is...'a game that two play and both win'</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cupid skewer with grilled rump steak with creamy pepper sauce,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">parsnip puree and carrot batons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">4. Love is...'something beautiful'</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stewed pear pudding with a stewed pear sauce,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">strawberry sorbet ice cream, meringue and tuile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">How's that for topping off these first days and weeks of 2023!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-13733808891143495302023-01-13T13:56:00.003+01:002023-01-13T17:14:54.408+01:00Iceland's Eastfjords from Egilsstaðir to Höfn<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Though this is a year for which we're both looking ahead (as in Astrid and me both having cataract surgeries a week apart on January 25 and February 2!), I'm starting off the year here by going back to Iceland from last May, not wanting it to drop off the radar into a Black Hole.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This 7th day of our trip on May 12 (see overview <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/05/our-iceland-trip-overview.html"><b>here</b></a>) is a good smattering of Iceland, if that's all you see, showing both the highlands and the fjords, with both mountains and valleys.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh103OkJUVmWhsaSAL93ijW8VFn0kdnzPeoM3b2_YVx6LbbUGggtUR4EqeBDmB9yK-0VIX5JfR-u-ErAlW5Vzhg7Wkr6A4Kszo1eCUawYiNj45u_X8H4kG-kK0Amgaor0yo1XAa-XgY_2nzdflPbvWYI1XmsZyY1so3_YHLXbHkIYpAb_C62WAAdJpckw/s1415/Iceland-mapS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1415" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh103OkJUVmWhsaSAL93ijW8VFn0kdnzPeoM3b2_YVx6LbbUGggtUR4EqeBDmB9yK-0VIX5JfR-u-ErAlW5Vzhg7Wkr6A4Kszo1eCUawYiNj45u_X8H4kG-kK0Amgaor0yo1XAa-XgY_2nzdflPbvWYI1XmsZyY1so3_YHLXbHkIYpAb_C62WAAdJpckw/w640-h452/Iceland-mapS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[credit: Capture the Atlas]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started the day at Egilsstaðir (upper red arrow) and drove south to Höfn (lower arrow).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6z9cigXtGtF0PIdrg4o2GWp6xUxOU5UKACzIHite30fp-YSeRPweR2Hnm5iagAGOkMBViV0rmC9KjDPBEGoAMimG2VdQbZiTNSoSSJcFz8hgNyVeKuuIRD84GF_zJ2qO2Px-NdT-LNG5HAsyA_YG5EsNmebf9OtiC4Q7bFj4CO7vEsTSVcf3T_bjT1Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6z9cigXtGtF0PIdrg4o2GWp6xUxOU5UKACzIHite30fp-YSeRPweR2Hnm5iagAGOkMBViV0rmC9KjDPBEGoAMimG2VdQbZiTNSoSSJcFz8hgNyVeKuuIRD84GF_zJ2qO2Px-NdT-LNG5HAsyA_YG5EsNmebf9OtiC4Q7bFj4CO7vEsTSVcf3T_bjT1Q=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>This was the collage on Facebook that started off that day, which I will now flesh out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNHOCchO0gEA0NygYzJjiIl55cZiD73q4yPdyuOUg5zhXIKuMBT38EjJS8kkSOIBLFXTYssnZW0utRmE_FLbkYxfpZULS1uyaqmvx-fHFXA3Oe2NB9Q8rR-rzsJLb-TE3bM-3k7d4Ekpg4QvmmWZZLozUE9YqtMvnd0CBVJeIGGgCZLtIhOaS1RiFkg/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6704S%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="725" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNHOCchO0gEA0NygYzJjiIl55cZiD73q4yPdyuOUg5zhXIKuMBT38EjJS8kkSOIBLFXTYssnZW0utRmE_FLbkYxfpZULS1uyaqmvx-fHFXA3Oe2NB9Q8rR-rzsJLb-TE3bM-3k7d4Ekpg4QvmmWZZLozUE9YqtMvnd0CBVJeIGGgCZLtIhOaS1RiFkg/w640-h362/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6704S%20copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had just gone through our only day of snow the day before,<br />still lingering on the ground as we started this day, on May 12th!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJyZo0OumItxuK4K7GozJjUrbzcvfMz5PxmYYfHekIBLBtbnFlOS9vy3AVDY2fIso48xV5omsZkddVBUlFjo8oQK1-A_f0VeACLCQaZzfGrq53HNK36AadwZy1ycJgkvL4ckO9XXjhjY1qWVAlEirzzW-ReeIZqNs5XuS3BxU8UNYgh2wITTf54Slg/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6707S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="725" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJyZo0OumItxuK4K7GozJjUrbzcvfMz5PxmYYfHekIBLBtbnFlOS9vy3AVDY2fIso48xV5omsZkddVBUlFjo8oQK1-A_f0VeACLCQaZzfGrq53HNK36AadwZy1ycJgkvL4ckO9XXjhjY1qWVAlEirzzW-ReeIZqNs5XuS3BxU8UNYgh2wITTf54Slg/w640-h380/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6707S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see, we're still in the highlands.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDvqXEQ6Roa8WzPGUMh9FgKfYrm-YzLPpi-0OY3VtpYHaNGmmVWEbIlbB4XxA3xI3k92GUF7vtfwyBZ9mUZ2pX3hFnqE3dOz_AcrgM7eUojLDci0yQ8Gw3K_6AqYiFqCVDxk8eV2VpOOqTs-2m3MuwlOiVESqV-iXZt9_vFEV0VAhrWgHBDXj8bF1Cg/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6709S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="725" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDvqXEQ6Roa8WzPGUMh9FgKfYrm-YzLPpi-0OY3VtpYHaNGmmVWEbIlbB4XxA3xI3k92GUF7vtfwyBZ9mUZ2pX3hFnqE3dOz_AcrgM7eUojLDci0yQ8Gw3K_6AqYiFqCVDxk8eV2VpOOqTs-2m3MuwlOiVESqV-iXZt9_vFEV0VAhrWgHBDXj8bF1Cg/w640-h334/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6709S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It feels sacrilegious to say this became almost monotonous. Maybe hypnotic is a better word.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent hours driving through terrain like this throughout Iceland. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjoXts8DmnG82q5flxrefbDVvCxCTVkUecQ0LjtSlQMeYaUr5mUr_MRQTz1UKd3_VyAN0njP1MRKgyXymJtvqBXC6rdhi1VF9IXfYEcUaXGIR634M41My9HBfrRiB-mpB2JP4359ks5wQXitZcoB8VNenn2t5UKQc85smLhiP00FuYEMsTRCHwofa9A/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6723S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="725" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjoXts8DmnG82q5flxrefbDVvCxCTVkUecQ0LjtSlQMeYaUr5mUr_MRQTz1UKd3_VyAN0njP1MRKgyXymJtvqBXC6rdhi1VF9IXfYEcUaXGIR634M41My9HBfrRiB-mpB2JP4359ks5wQXitZcoB8VNenn2t5UKQc85smLhiP00FuYEMsTRCHwofa9A/w640-h398/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6723S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But soon we descended to the eastern fjords and found signs of life.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jh0hXhUyO-4ntdj74ffpFx2oUCoBtHizupELsZJ0b-eudVtACdoDTnTYNEQqc6zyg3nSvKOgTTY799xhToPKPvO9dSsT1XO8t9-QD0Y9enj2gLQKs_J1CtHEvS3sXZTUhEJa-5RziBMFbE-eeNI14iD0GgGfEO1iNq2DL3G83xKGt3F8DT-5lCJVsw/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6738S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="725" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jh0hXhUyO-4ntdj74ffpFx2oUCoBtHizupELsZJ0b-eudVtACdoDTnTYNEQqc6zyg3nSvKOgTTY799xhToPKPvO9dSsT1XO8t9-QD0Y9enj2gLQKs_J1CtHEvS3sXZTUhEJa-5RziBMFbE-eeNI14iD0GgGfEO1iNq2DL3G83xKGt3F8DT-5lCJVsw/w640-h268/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6738S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you imagine living in that kind of "solitude?"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL4AGR_u7B1qGROYg_VszHZ0OPJQPug4GUfcwymdpFCUvJaODKLRMsMCGQoxCi3U1wp1JUQOv1rWUlJHXAJIey35o-ek4ODWM8RS1LcgXF8X9xfMw04fzJe5JJ79g7T0GXF3ogzz_AgH2xqscQsoaNtlKDBMEO-XTm-jhdhQstrVumkh4BXijGqmIzw/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6811S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="725" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL4AGR_u7B1qGROYg_VszHZ0OPJQPug4GUfcwymdpFCUvJaODKLRMsMCGQoxCi3U1wp1JUQOv1rWUlJHXAJIey35o-ek4ODWM8RS1LcgXF8X9xfMw04fzJe5JJ79g7T0GXF3ogzz_AgH2xqscQsoaNtlKDBMEO-XTm-jhdhQstrVumkh4BXijGqmIzw/w640-h286/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6811S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had been so excited about seeing Icelandic harbors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but had no idea they would also look isolated and barren like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce8YNwqw6PO8A-EGmpt0nbtRoll_Qgck7zK62peHKbU0PdssgywcJaVeSe4X-881aDKILpI5teCtbjX51PWJ9CroOf09h7OeTJrkcYm-t8ndP47Eep8tVAy1Gd0VdCFij3woMmLGP9u2QnKtaeZseySCioH0njfqII8Cd8Tcx5fgGAWhkkLQZdw13_A/s2000/Fjords.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce8YNwqw6PO8A-EGmpt0nbtRoll_Qgck7zK62peHKbU0PdssgywcJaVeSe4X-881aDKILpI5teCtbjX51PWJ9CroOf09h7OeTJrkcYm-t8ndP47Eep8tVAy1Gd0VdCFij3woMmLGP9u2QnKtaeZseySCioH0njfqII8Cd8Tcx5fgGAWhkkLQZdw13_A/w640-h640/Fjords.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another look at the fjord area, with the valleys...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJHbbBO05sFN5YxUgLrjV1z4S3pA1o_eJaa1ghYy0_nDLSF6pY6hkrrNpwCplFUF03ugz4TF-wEK4HJy6W7z0MT-z4Kha7EUcKog65SB0oQDfCJfAcFoQmLReK0IqQ0Su7KU_-pl4Xe_xO6WWsR9atySjZHFQ_RcSbAKJzOx3g5_pq5Vuc1yB6HXs-g/s2000/Volcanic%20Mountains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJHbbBO05sFN5YxUgLrjV1z4S3pA1o_eJaa1ghYy0_nDLSF6pY6hkrrNpwCplFUF03ugz4TF-wEK4HJy6W7z0MT-z4Kha7EUcKog65SB0oQDfCJfAcFoQmLReK0IqQ0Su7KU_-pl4Xe_xO6WWsR9atySjZHFQ_RcSbAKJzOx3g5_pq5Vuc1yB6HXs-g/w640-h640/Volcanic%20Mountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...all the while, looking back up at the mountains, from the valleys below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yes, all those formations are of volcanic ash over the years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjydDc_f3zDzB0YQ-ifAK-8HYZxlBSoIw9ZmkS_QjGG2JvYG873DzWnJKOLltGj92YqPQW_6Dudb0aQ2Povu6FuRDvxfpTpepspykgqixoSSkopTIcgBm-ZioQ1glU1giRR4UhmFuoZgSjmeVS2OzTzBhceZPLYP_gW5kbz4T3_jQWJGxoTmLrb1A4y2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjydDc_f3zDzB0YQ-ifAK-8HYZxlBSoIw9ZmkS_QjGG2JvYG873DzWnJKOLltGj92YqPQW_6Dudb0aQ2Povu6FuRDvxfpTpepspykgqixoSSkopTIcgBm-ZioQ1glU1giRR4UhmFuoZgSjmeVS2OzTzBhceZPLYP_gW5kbz4T3_jQWJGxoTmLrb1A4y2A=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>This was my next Facebook collage from that day,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when we stopped at a sheep farm by the side of the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd53IIrH4rYgSAJECM7WlKDAbdfd4KtWvwKOx5pQBtTKvUwfOiAUS8M0n3a3LTBon4syLBi0_3QAa9oWJPSCngUY3XbY7ZoB2ArseNyRutEyI-cwify0PSoCpYZ0KTJH96RkJYHO0tOeaDsrF4auHUZAysiVV6zSsPKt8Bt3m0AzomLHhxp82fES48yQ/s2000/Newborn%20Lamb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd53IIrH4rYgSAJECM7WlKDAbdfd4KtWvwKOx5pQBtTKvUwfOiAUS8M0n3a3LTBon4syLBi0_3QAa9oWJPSCngUY3XbY7ZoB2ArseNyRutEyI-cwify0PSoCpYZ0KTJH96RkJYHO0tOeaDsrF4auHUZAysiVV6zSsPKt8Bt3m0AzomLHhxp82fES48yQ/w300-h400/Newborn%20Lamb.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was totally unexpected but when they saw us, the father-son duo (this being the son)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">invited us into their barn to check it all out: 500 sheep in total.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, according to the father, he (the father) knew the names of them all!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fg_apmGY3rI2KuZjfFPNCR4s80sYRE2vSqvnzAgWZUoOLahvwArnre_fnSxvdouNg6qatsh-JmxTb8jKEa7fuXyqkK7RDu8ZoFc48ToLYA7HKSRclSIoldNVdHunkfyDMARhOXBk0Sa32GWOasixQGMTt18qZh0kzLSSSEBVpNkoIPJE3bkkEV4sjQ/s2000/Newborn%20Lambs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fg_apmGY3rI2KuZjfFPNCR4s80sYRE2vSqvnzAgWZUoOLahvwArnre_fnSxvdouNg6qatsh-JmxTb8jKEa7fuXyqkK7RDu8ZoFc48ToLYA7HKSRclSIoldNVdHunkfyDMARhOXBk0Sa32GWOasixQGMTt18qZh0kzLSSSEBVpNkoIPJE3bkkEV4sjQ/w544-h640/Newborn%20Lambs.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were two lambs that had just been born that morning, already standing up and walking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wished I had asked what their names were!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuJwfHAtAjD-WGHjMKSNLciYhTLlKJX1qmqG24w0ozu_FOGVRojKm168w_YexAd8IwoNsKffpQCjUqjJaGsuxYWT5im7B7mpZSxkFwmeE-atkH9EWN3b6Fp3nnDsgAnthrMnS2_evOorzOsJb3p2NEUMC9UwDQPLQpZfSImLq4-MMmwjkU-l9whXUYg/s2000/Sheep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuJwfHAtAjD-WGHjMKSNLciYhTLlKJX1qmqG24w0ozu_FOGVRojKm168w_YexAd8IwoNsKffpQCjUqjJaGsuxYWT5im7B7mpZSxkFwmeE-atkH9EWN3b6Fp3nnDsgAnthrMnS2_evOorzOsJb3p2NEUMC9UwDQPLQpZfSImLq4-MMmwjkU-l9whXUYg/w640-h640/Sheep.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We really got our education that day, especially about why some horns have to be cut.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If they aren't cut, they can bore into the jaw, making it impossible for the sheep to eat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If they can't eat, of course, they die.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All that blood--did you know??--but apparently the pain lasts only 10 minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/732082451?h=8f6b99cbe9" width="640"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[video credit: Astrid Wijdekop]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can imagine, this was the highlight of our day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuimh2KR0GbzWNRRNYg_GbXwSnkDsij0KQZxUTV6MdBQ7Ug5-N5P5Ihz2It8K2tF1vMKA-6y9jOBSh7-NbajBAr9_70GWiYxnV4XXLJ36n2ZTKeQ0x0wrzVr7yIlX9TAs4zAvmZZytByiNfgz7Mn1kBEylWIZzmz2J4TDnHc64UZwXBL5GJpIJMyAXQ/s725/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6803S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="725" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuimh2KR0GbzWNRRNYg_GbXwSnkDsij0KQZxUTV6MdBQ7Ug5-N5P5Ihz2It8K2tF1vMKA-6y9jOBSh7-NbajBAr9_70GWiYxnV4XXLJ36n2ZTKeQ0x0wrzVr7yIlX9TAs4zAvmZZytByiNfgz7Mn1kBEylWIZzmz2J4TDnHc64UZwXBL5GJpIJMyAXQ/w640-h328/Iceland%202022%20Sheep%20Fjords%20IMG_6803S.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you notice (hear!) the road in the video?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How ingenious that the sheep can walk under it to the pasture beyond!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQVk6EXvuj3rRnQAes-dQWhnMxU2lEZCoqCwqE8dYk5egwW-h17LM4W9EbE9X2hjY_IwBsA5GwL1GVonovnR89B4-AfF3Qb6q7PzhZkODVDcuRfXuVBNINCem1i7h2bj92zqrh6SANNqmPeJtj2dLKv2--1KwCQcGiAYtUAgCTuavGd2D89SMb3Na0Q/s2000/H%C3%B6fn%20Harbor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQVk6EXvuj3rRnQAes-dQWhnMxU2lEZCoqCwqE8dYk5egwW-h17LM4W9EbE9X2hjY_IwBsA5GwL1GVonovnR89B4-AfF3Qb6q7PzhZkODVDcuRfXuVBNINCem1i7h2bj92zqrh6SANNqmPeJtj2dLKv2--1KwCQcGiAYtUAgCTuavGd2D89SMb3Na0Q/w640-h640/H%C3%B6fn%20Harbor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the sheep, we headed to our destination town for our overnight in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6fn"><b>Höfn</b></a>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the second largest fishing port of SE Iceland, population ca. 2500.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJX_emTQgc344YuM48Nc9pbi2tCBL-6mh5BNhXUxtL1qwIXNcvZQis4NQWbMQGoVRt89VIF5hmhttPyWh9-F-P3NxRI0CM1MfRH5LAX_RU0oWr9kEMh8no3saoRhOJ6wQnEOkFfRST6rFbGy7Ke9tO8-F5ieSLa3C6vSfQkA_OBLCaUZ-Fi0l8r8eoA/s2000/Catch%20of%20the%20Day.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJX_emTQgc344YuM48Nc9pbi2tCBL-6mh5BNhXUxtL1qwIXNcvZQis4NQWbMQGoVRt89VIF5hmhttPyWh9-F-P3NxRI0CM1MfRH5LAX_RU0oWr9kEMh8no3saoRhOJ6wQnEOkFfRST6rFbGy7Ke9tO8-F5ieSLa3C6vSfQkA_OBLCaUZ-Fi0l8r8eoA/w640-h640/Catch%20of%20the%20Day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By then it was late afternoon, after the catch of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Believe it or not, these were the remains still caught in that flat net all spread out.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw01ueTKvj4Ncqq724-3_8dXEBLTFC4qp56-1PcR390s9Btq4_e361BiY6AcRdAUjwrkmTVgQdZVyRkJzI82WrpuvmvBJh94v5nfV3xrH0KZNR4SYOXHzVWXd8J5BRAj1IPtmfyDypmitfQzr9w6dZ5hbqxa-LZAuykeqg0xHWhqZwKuNn_09YA9O5g/s2000/Pizza.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxw01ueTKvj4Ncqq724-3_8dXEBLTFC4qp56-1PcR390s9Btq4_e361BiY6AcRdAUjwrkmTVgQdZVyRkJzI82WrpuvmvBJh94v5nfV3xrH0KZNR4SYOXHzVWXd8J5BRAj1IPtmfyDypmitfQzr9w6dZ5hbqxa-LZAuykeqg0xHWhqZwKuNn_09YA9O5g/w640-h640/Pizza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overlooking that harbor was this <a href="https://ishusidpizzeria.is/"><b>Íshúsið Pizzeria</b></a>, with lobster pizza as their specialty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Their lobster is actually <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrops_norvegicus"><b>langoustine</b></a>, or Norway lobster, smaller than our American lobster.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hands down, it was the absolute best pizza I have ever eaten. OMG.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a way to end that incredible day!</div><p><br /></p>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-41416537937881493262022-12-08T14:29:00.004+01:002022-12-08T14:37:17.456+01:00Our Second 2022 Trip to America: Atlanta<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, so soon after we were there in September for our <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/10/our-first-2022-trip-to-america.html"><b>Maine and New York trip</b></a>, we went back again for our annual visit with the kids in Atlanta. Barring an unforeseen emergency, we don't expect that to happen again, especially at our age! But we're happy it was possible.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This trip was a 3-week stint in 3 stages: first with Amy at her home, then the cabin, followed by with Mark at his home. And if all you read is this, it was one of our best trips ever, if not THE best!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>1. At Amy's in Roswell, GA, November 11-17:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Wu-mQeIdTILMorYiNapc_U5HINIwNmkq2imy8KcUvXNTc7RvaYsqbHxAIaI1RwI5p3ZV1ysB8TYSZLIQKLRmgfoElz9gGpidKBcEVvoU0NTMrot8DkTASelDCtBgxCYa5qWooHWyC5HofP5UiyUxi_4riNcq2o0tlJ5t1HdsWsIGaO6qv1sSjOYG6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Wu-mQeIdTILMorYiNapc_U5HINIwNmkq2imy8KcUvXNTc7RvaYsqbHxAIaI1RwI5p3ZV1ysB8TYSZLIQKLRmgfoElz9gGpidKBcEVvoU0NTMrot8DkTASelDCtBgxCYa5qWooHWyC5HofP5UiyUxi_4riNcq2o0tlJ5t1HdsWsIGaO6qv1sSjOYG6w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Of course, first we waited at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam before flying on Friday, November 11.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Dutch don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so it was Christmas already.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiysmHkXwFe02lA97Voivmlzf1cp7bjJ3Jrim-oTZRaiPrgTby2ti6iF2d5LaMUCzM5t5fATuCgkFBH5Ek0Xy9jYXxHjmzK8s4mQUcQAOMqxQ5tVdctoSGQZnAWOpuEtnpHJjzmTJG3srNx0VHmaAjbMSUJfmkfS114n6YplQxpFKdlN7hYq37oSCYlyA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiysmHkXwFe02lA97Voivmlzf1cp7bjJ3Jrim-oTZRaiPrgTby2ti6iF2d5LaMUCzM5t5fATuCgkFBH5Ek0Xy9jYXxHjmzK8s4mQUcQAOMqxQ5tVdctoSGQZnAWOpuEtnpHJjzmTJG3srNx0VHmaAjbMSUJfmkfS114n6YplQxpFKdlN7hYq37oSCYlyA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Amy treated us to lunch that Saturday at her favorite Saturday hangout.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdVHtsAxO3lWLGbSJlshFOhgdALBoKWJqs217XNOERk3pnsWllQA9DRA9z_EMNJHTYlbMq_jzPhpzVnMOOoF9Hh7fVrdNXPAZMcw1W5Obi1E5z22IeTdGCYUBEIAXXmXNiQUMdlcCp1f_JoqvqQTSnGFtJ6Y5pIbiDGaZct1fnrYWRfJUPJYUvQ1F0-Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdVHtsAxO3lWLGbSJlshFOhgdALBoKWJqs217XNOERk3pnsWllQA9DRA9z_EMNJHTYlbMq_jzPhpzVnMOOoF9Hh7fVrdNXPAZMcw1W5Obi1E5z22IeTdGCYUBEIAXXmXNiQUMdlcCp1f_JoqvqQTSnGFtJ6Y5pIbiDGaZct1fnrYWRfJUPJYUvQ1F0-Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>Happy Campers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-eT8vz02XAEzxPxonTnehDaLvGTHwmpxQ5LHW3ilaT_BWq4ksnaGY2jeOTLtyCTW7Ltn-hp_arTf3alFYTiNVX0gaCF31tfuqTXVmynoF0-HIEkAHeCYFR-3atYKrr_dQi62-Pe65t624QV3GkFELDire4SZaPtEjAO_hVmg-xGy-YdqXX5Bt1jpjEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-eT8vz02XAEzxPxonTnehDaLvGTHwmpxQ5LHW3ilaT_BWq4ksnaGY2jeOTLtyCTW7Ltn-hp_arTf3alFYTiNVX0gaCF31tfuqTXVmynoF0-HIEkAHeCYFR-3atYKrr_dQi62-Pe65t624QV3GkFELDire4SZaPtEjAO_hVmg-xGy-YdqXX5Bt1jpjEA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>The next day, Sunday, Nicholas (and Mark) joined us for lunch at a Mexican restaurant.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And thus started an almost endless time of Five-Crowns playing the rest of our visit. HA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiern6TmgP1V1d_vC3tbPrVzelRFuGgi8zhzex2-mHqHrNFI2O3QaYWPKTtRj0VwWf9mjLBWlLt6Z3B2Dj8eZYl3bLwhg8WuMPCtW-E8OPt8w1tcAilD8W3W3rRu_SVc5AFm-6eZbByYBCYsB-tZvUVxaPxTRZv13geXdB1Fz7GgJxYlJ4-9xCuhKxEUw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiern6TmgP1V1d_vC3tbPrVzelRFuGgi8zhzex2-mHqHrNFI2O3QaYWPKTtRj0VwWf9mjLBWlLt6Z3B2Dj8eZYl3bLwhg8WuMPCtW-E8OPt8w1tcAilD8W3W3rRu_SVc5AFm-6eZbByYBCYsB-tZvUVxaPxTRZv13geXdB1Fz7GgJxYlJ4-9xCuhKxEUw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Astrid and I both love walking Amy's neighborhood, which we did several times.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgRaCVMgTsr8n8X7X9HmZva9PmvImN0HmaPjwUEdrOC6r17vbZGF_DLjDn6162mLMs3SEev--556188m7Abi22Ev2oKuKyw3p7xSdpbahgKJk1UyuZIMwQSn3xWY93oButdO7iAMP0ZUEgQHV8G8j5co5inztrKohAkVBjn_gm4sJOaZq03RZWg487w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgRaCVMgTsr8n8X7X9HmZva9PmvImN0HmaPjwUEdrOC6r17vbZGF_DLjDn6162mLMs3SEev--556188m7Abi22Ev2oKuKyw3p7xSdpbahgKJk1UyuZIMwQSn3xWY93oButdO7iAMP0ZUEgQHV8G8j5co5inztrKohAkVBjn_gm4sJOaZq03RZWg487w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjplMdRZXmK7CmkfFZjlB5GrwmQJef_0MtAhoQ7NSpzyr3wIliDB3QwlTL1za2TcDMqhOTnDyOWNO-wDZHkwEsBWRda6Y9__HCUVLvs44JLIMbzuFl2AhpadQ7G2Fa28nrhsIg4ePLcqX4yrOSEkcxerP7snPEtBHM-FfHNF4g-s8QE3-4uZfh0yopkoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjplMdRZXmK7CmkfFZjlB5GrwmQJef_0MtAhoQ7NSpzyr3wIliDB3QwlTL1za2TcDMqhOTnDyOWNO-wDZHkwEsBWRda6Y9__HCUVLvs44JLIMbzuFl2AhpadQ7G2Fa28nrhsIg4ePLcqX4yrOSEkcxerP7snPEtBHM-FfHNF4g-s8QE3-4uZfh0yopkoA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>The flowers always surprise me at this time of the year, which was colder than usual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwBHb0n8wp8ItQI_QwZiZrBp7_tLj1FOo3QjNwE4RcCOl1VBMn9yyOSWuW8hKro1CilTj4Iwx95A7G1GigyTJe1ZhQAsOQ9dtPcDbHJ-dpn006tzPi4-H92EY7gjN67xAI4IQVliG7h12_dMBhwl5JaFZ2J2m4VVJ0JResp-qs6Vsll7o_Xbz2ZLAGFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwBHb0n8wp8ItQI_QwZiZrBp7_tLj1FOo3QjNwE4RcCOl1VBMn9yyOSWuW8hKro1CilTj4Iwx95A7G1GigyTJe1ZhQAsOQ9dtPcDbHJ-dpn006tzPi4-H92EY7gjN67xAI4IQVliG7h12_dMBhwl5JaFZ2J2m4VVJ0JResp-qs6Vsll7o_Xbz2ZLAGFw" width="320" /></a></div>We even met up for lunch with Glenna (who goes back to 1987 for me) and her partner.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of water under the bridge since then!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZmj46uOS7j5reAp7xZQsR77RPR2DwFBJ9kMWAVxmER6TMSBymfN3D3HMtwSyJ-nCdGBYuGOgbf2l9ZjXaub33VnsrqlO79O9tIpraunRFcqnMI0aMsbwHMXN4l2UPRzWik-Vn2qUcV_sfKXD-DkVCHPqqC-yX2kdsD-Rn5GvCnIS7zP6ihFRTCyDkrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZmj46uOS7j5reAp7xZQsR77RPR2DwFBJ9kMWAVxmER6TMSBymfN3D3HMtwSyJ-nCdGBYuGOgbf2l9ZjXaub33VnsrqlO79O9tIpraunRFcqnMI0aMsbwHMXN4l2UPRzWik-Vn2qUcV_sfKXD-DkVCHPqqC-yX2kdsD-Rn5GvCnIS7zP6ihFRTCyDkrQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Astrid brought her new fisherman's sweater to work on in down-times.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>2. The Cabin in the North Georgia Mountains, November 17-22:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ8DgwkjPsvsq8BQOUZuN6NUBNZ3qg6fEF54zOY8H_NHKNdP7PX1YrQv-O4PMquEdjKU48II19bRz96bE9oUr92en0g5IknzUlvx7XJjJ_dVj9X19Uh8H7tAcSpREVL5gUxmNXUr_iWKdz4tjHBd4_hmOUW6Zv9LVcFMj_KF8_jysn_i0qy2nRJKG6g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguJ8DgwkjPsvsq8BQOUZuN6NUBNZ3qg6fEF54zOY8H_NHKNdP7PX1YrQv-O4PMquEdjKU48II19bRz96bE9oUr92en0g5IknzUlvx7XJjJ_dVj9X19Uh8H7tAcSpREVL5gUxmNXUr_iWKdz4tjHBd4_hmOUW6Zv9LVcFMj_KF8_jysn_i0qy2nRJKG6g=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Even though it's still Autumn, we were there a month later than usual, so not as much color.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxkZczI8azJEpPg7zvXNETn3UXs14UuvaU8H6C3QMeHI3eLCPhjB40DJ0FgeY6wacjF59NwgAZ-bsexAjD3hkYivSfXDxWjbGqLoOUZKjmLTfcroC54C1MFLwQVWjqEkgoGgLRuBP0tpJ4pxulRPJR_JyK5e5eL6LT6ee8mcBeD_FZjeiqw6D4Ed4e9A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxkZczI8azJEpPg7zvXNETn3UXs14UuvaU8H6C3QMeHI3eLCPhjB40DJ0FgeY6wacjF59NwgAZ-bsexAjD3hkYivSfXDxWjbGqLoOUZKjmLTfcroC54C1MFLwQVWjqEkgoGgLRuBP0tpJ4pxulRPJR_JyK5e5eL6LT6ee8mcBeD_FZjeiqw6D4Ed4e9A=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div>But it was still wonderful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVGT2vju6zNdvUss6td5OFjnCUps1zEbNY3aPZFqGfY-w1FIMuAfdPbxSnii_jEq3AqeJ_dimmMMUrfAdi9ughltSpBFSe9uZTwN4DIEJdtGt1vF4MVsEQtIPCdTPv4bskeKCXjowvQ888SzorC0cXd7xmOgaVEBoRhqtR01sMpM1AMCny9L0DyKW1xw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVGT2vju6zNdvUss6td5OFjnCUps1zEbNY3aPZFqGfY-w1FIMuAfdPbxSnii_jEq3AqeJ_dimmMMUrfAdi9ughltSpBFSe9uZTwN4DIEJdtGt1vF4MVsEQtIPCdTPv4bskeKCXjowvQ888SzorC0cXd7xmOgaVEBoRhqtR01sMpM1AMCny9L0DyKW1xw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Just the 5 of us again: Amy, Nicholas, Mark, Astrid and moi, picking up from last year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">even though at a new cabin we tried out, giving Mark his own bedroom.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSvjRB6ovzDqp05VntSONmLeHLwgxP2DTbPeVqht1xu-IlE3vAFBh08M02R_KcZPgOqehsd4yfIHsNuwEDcAt64K9tAfh5zBF5KZjHpdG7XaqIAS8QdvtpRxD7IGylwBHjTwmq15Sij9zlnXYIsAESxZ0my4PskeAVf3usUbFDfJUc4GX-HttAoUh7eA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSvjRB6ovzDqp05VntSONmLeHLwgxP2DTbPeVqht1xu-IlE3vAFBh08M02R_KcZPgOqehsd4yfIHsNuwEDcAt64K9tAfh5zBF5KZjHpdG7XaqIAS8QdvtpRxD7IGylwBHjTwmq15Sij9zlnXYIsAESxZ0my4PskeAVf3usUbFDfJUc4GX-HttAoUh7eA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Football, of course, with a MICHIGAN win for me...always a highlight!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilLk54SQKk8cDeRiU7awg156t4VOi-2wKS_P_Z05ngXXWT-LNZNZI-qhCj9OAEgI3VtqxF3fdzjzmml4ubPKrRcOLsMhrldctdDGY-eZR4nOOdPXzexPTcDb3gmGkn6_VsKydn9PCdDnzgmJcHo4rKhAxPNecn3eGjKYIxZbWQyGQ8G6MZwaukNMMyoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilLk54SQKk8cDeRiU7awg156t4VOi-2wKS_P_Z05ngXXWT-LNZNZI-qhCj9OAEgI3VtqxF3fdzjzmml4ubPKrRcOLsMhrldctdDGY-eZR4nOOdPXzexPTcDb3gmGkn6_VsKydn9PCdDnzgmJcHo4rKhAxPNecn3eGjKYIxZbWQyGQ8G6MZwaukNMMyoA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Our traditional s'mores!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnht8g_ol6T1lnU7RmBCgAqzB4YnHzPI6lqoO7qtCtboITq7ec_Rxuqp7fK7x2D-Z1N4rySpwyGiK-n7FGfUbItRmrtI06maML-YiZNPlItBOrLwNujVh6kiVVbKkgLj2AXFmmuoMEnUYSwHzu8D2IZ8r_ip3yy62ZCASfixHzawxI4SSzHdo47jprRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnht8g_ol6T1lnU7RmBCgAqzB4YnHzPI6lqoO7qtCtboITq7ec_Rxuqp7fK7x2D-Z1N4rySpwyGiK-n7FGfUbItRmrtI06maML-YiZNPlItBOrLwNujVh6kiVVbKkgLj2AXFmmuoMEnUYSwHzu8D2IZ8r_ip3yy62ZCASfixHzawxI4SSzHdo47jprRQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Plus the jigsaw puzzle Amy always brings for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioukhNj1i6IXvTbOatWy4lLnE0qK-OInsBWidMgf5E2Q_kvWglJ2aqrXkZ-jzGNo_JVXDZmkAsXVFpiUVKhSMeL7a3XAgD7prkWApS0vl4MRjw_ufR2r64lx1vOT0IhY1yyE_nvVVP0CRVJIQZWKNZrwWmxZQu4VUh_7bOsVLkt4lOaV6abJQ-lDQx3w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioukhNj1i6IXvTbOatWy4lLnE0qK-OInsBWidMgf5E2Q_kvWglJ2aqrXkZ-jzGNo_JVXDZmkAsXVFpiUVKhSMeL7a3XAgD7prkWApS0vl4MRjw_ufR2r64lx1vOT0IhY1yyE_nvVVP0CRVJIQZWKNZrwWmxZQu4VUh_7bOsVLkt4lOaV6abJQ-lDQx3w=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div>This year it was the LinkedIn photo Mercedes-Benz chose for their June's Pride Month,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which Amy made into a puzzle. Very sweet of her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJIwRUSaqYOZ88cuzxJV7DaBs7A0Xv37eu-okEZJDWkB99YLUsfSlK8WtGXgCow2VFtXBx3FSsDRrHwMNthJSoLpxjHHyhm5KYSw-BVqBQhs9RGnPNGqFI78BlxvCSNm87yv-YjcbManRWyWeuAUMPY5zb-XYNJcpF6g_vKwHxw1D8BeorkwHww3oRfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJIwRUSaqYOZ88cuzxJV7DaBs7A0Xv37eu-okEZJDWkB99YLUsfSlK8WtGXgCow2VFtXBx3FSsDRrHwMNthJSoLpxjHHyhm5KYSw-BVqBQhs9RGnPNGqFI78BlxvCSNm87yv-YjcbManRWyWeuAUMPY5zb-XYNJcpF6g_vKwHxw1D8BeorkwHww3oRfw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div>As usual, Astrid walked more than I did, so she has more photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIdbKTBB4Bwgzk_3j7_UBZw9ld6pDSOKQM0Xvvz1EiNf92XGsfUJnGy8tlpyxbQLpaRCS9T-6RQnDISDT13pc3rn5PR3Twvy1-4tfXuVr4LmE5ZTQRMTDRapDnSd000QwGbNY1ZUFM0bynFS18IUXbmCN8EAlFS48ydb1Lggw9KSl2wrfSPf9NRl5uTA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIdbKTBB4Bwgzk_3j7_UBZw9ld6pDSOKQM0Xvvz1EiNf92XGsfUJnGy8tlpyxbQLpaRCS9T-6RQnDISDT13pc3rn5PR3Twvy1-4tfXuVr4LmE5ZTQRMTDRapDnSd000QwGbNY1ZUFM0bynFS18IUXbmCN8EAlFS48ydb1Lggw9KSl2wrfSPf9NRl5uTA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNEsIuGmwCXgxq_NlBWzpdJ2g8mJNq5wL84t-4ZgANxEwdxLBfMMI-JGB5u2Pwyps-HIC5DS3gz-tqS669ECv75z2QQMm-1I9E4S9zBFI-7hPBQI7gtD2DZ8jjIj8YNNDx7Eq_uXkcayeFGLBxbktREWXd4w1GnCugDg_wt3MI8xrBt4CgjN4M78O_Rg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNEsIuGmwCXgxq_NlBWzpdJ2g8mJNq5wL84t-4ZgANxEwdxLBfMMI-JGB5u2Pwyps-HIC5DS3gz-tqS669ECv75z2QQMm-1I9E4S9zBFI-7hPBQI7gtD2DZ8jjIj8YNNDx7Eq_uXkcayeFGLBxbktREWXd4w1GnCugDg_wt3MI8xrBt4CgjN4M78O_Rg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEYob_ZDWc_TfV7V4o_XZl_DJ-XW4XJYCBzp6I1YHq6j7mXxiypb8J7Z6Ej8pRej2_0Jim0TQ4NnE1lEp3wurZ8QIhd4-gbE9-9Y9yF63Xpq5yXoysYuET2yXPKfRv-vJSXGByvLL34VSAn5imbvxyn7MhJMa3ECLRY7DULn4a2tGNw3E8NugvHnYR2Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEYob_ZDWc_TfV7V4o_XZl_DJ-XW4XJYCBzp6I1YHq6j7mXxiypb8J7Z6Ej8pRej2_0Jim0TQ4NnE1lEp3wurZ8QIhd4-gbE9-9Y9yF63Xpq5yXoysYuET2yXPKfRv-vJSXGByvLL34VSAn5imbvxyn7MhJMa3ECLRY7DULn4a2tGNw3E8NugvHnYR2Q=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's photos]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now you see why they're also called the Blue Ridge Mountains!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ-iKBbv449N5oBUe5g4cgRLG5ZBIDGzuDqGrtLJh01sTFnSK_1DiVXXo0udtxkQO6U8bXBwV5hpQMGZMZ-TCwvTlrbcV2kbM8ENr7KB0faE-k_wuCW-riCWquD8l2_g8L1mA_p6V4Mtn4u3oYOiI-H-G3DhdpZYSOpyzbAL54ItvcpoW8RvIYN2W32A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ-iKBbv449N5oBUe5g4cgRLG5ZBIDGzuDqGrtLJh01sTFnSK_1DiVXXo0udtxkQO6U8bXBwV5hpQMGZMZ-TCwvTlrbcV2kbM8ENr7KB0faE-k_wuCW-riCWquD8l2_g8L1mA_p6V4Mtn4u3oYOiI-H-G3DhdpZYSOpyzbAL54ItvcpoW8RvIYN2W32A=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div>At the end of our cabin time, we always drive down the mountain to Waffle House,</div><div style="text-align: center;">one of our favorite traditions of them all!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>3. At Mark's in Flowery Branch, November 22-December 1:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigQfTQN80csW3TtbZW_a9x5O-p8b6GA_FUX9XhqUmWVr_rjOLXd4XTfRTY8aiIWLUj_UEVWIxOs3IPrga5awGqSegs_oZZkAckxE1x3Zqdr9ijnLQLxYnCDsRp6JFboaljDFPHr9ZXztBb5MvdldOMtLxBRa_XLPRsv5CvdKdHhzF-sQmABeyGnD5r5A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigQfTQN80csW3TtbZW_a9x5O-p8b6GA_FUX9XhqUmWVr_rjOLXd4XTfRTY8aiIWLUj_UEVWIxOs3IPrga5awGqSegs_oZZkAckxE1x3Zqdr9ijnLQLxYnCDsRp6JFboaljDFPHr9ZXztBb5MvdldOMtLxBRa_XLPRsv5CvdKdHhzF-sQmABeyGnD5r5A=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>I LOVED seeing Mark reconnect with his Piper after those 5 days away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpEzJCHJY0wCyMm0cKDDamZAmBTFEiJCMFtZOIPMOcnb5SnTNYMs7MDqOOqfitebyy2NDIOqEj98MS5tuGpSv2vYnK_pg3A4paNw469LDz4wTbPxSf0b9JdrHLC3LPuB309sDEvmHgUhtITLEVLQYV_bsqPrQulONG5AUSNPu_d6NF0MKWzFkqTQVvLQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpEzJCHJY0wCyMm0cKDDamZAmBTFEiJCMFtZOIPMOcnb5SnTNYMs7MDqOOqfitebyy2NDIOqEj98MS5tuGpSv2vYnK_pg3A4paNw469LDz4wTbPxSf0b9JdrHLC3LPuB309sDEvmHgUhtITLEVLQYV_bsqPrQulONG5AUSNPu_d6NF0MKWzFkqTQVvLQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>He took the entire time off from work for 15 days (which included the cabin)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, besides everything else, we played this new game as well as lots of Five Crowns, which he loved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwjtKPFbmUWIczRibGLg6guVB-pfKW5fkEIbIT-4IBDir2ghRZ2EkvcGh0ekcHNAeQGSTW80eCePcdXwOXKRjMMkbFl4BLm-e5iYMhUC9VxZmh-St9ltWhUhKAB5NjWG9LnMeQJB3Xl8_zaADBxSXSTl3gZFqNl4IM3qOzNsFUFWZK7A7xtbWZEGQAGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwjtKPFbmUWIczRibGLg6guVB-pfKW5fkEIbIT-4IBDir2ghRZ2EkvcGh0ekcHNAeQGSTW80eCePcdXwOXKRjMMkbFl4BLm-e5iYMhUC9VxZmh-St9ltWhUhKAB5NjWG9LnMeQJB3Xl8_zaADBxSXSTl3gZFqNl4IM3qOzNsFUFWZK7A7xtbWZEGQAGQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>The day before Thanksgiving, he drove us to his alma mater, University of Georgia,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to walk the campus there in Athens, from which he graduated in 1997.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq5xXGj0zNMBecZO2-4fp2Y-2DE4vw5yCLgI4jISD0BNF8adeSV9Hy2utYt2n5FoWnJuM5jJqOfFaDBkHzLuyRhgbbhGJ1fR_JbmuZZNPhyA4NbMVtILR1IEGJzLWrArsAfJXfulYega4-ZWKoTTl-bVfPnqphRgxZ2wBHoNS4-eTSVvs-eVGMLPAIQ/s2000/UGA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq5xXGj0zNMBecZO2-4fp2Y-2DE4vw5yCLgI4jISD0BNF8adeSV9Hy2utYt2n5FoWnJuM5jJqOfFaDBkHzLuyRhgbbhGJ1fR_JbmuZZNPhyA4NbMVtILR1IEGJzLWrArsAfJXfulYega4-ZWKoTTl-bVfPnqphRgxZ2wBHoNS4-eTSVvs-eVGMLPAIQ/w640-h240/UGA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Mark's photos]</span></div>It was as though it were my first time there for me. I loved seeing it again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnS_i8S9NwukF_Cca008n8gDkEj9WLR7i-5IUL2hoiZWzGGvddGilRMy1KCHE1KaaZ44u6ea2rmyBRzwGByci6usRGlGc5Ffi_nF5RqrLcgzknbhbacfAo8I3851NarxaQSDNXhYZK4gcRyW2xE9rkHVzKAvVBy_KP61EmHoQluyJ853a9RJxQknxwg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirnS_i8S9NwukF_Cca008n8gDkEj9WLR7i-5IUL2hoiZWzGGvddGilRMy1KCHE1KaaZ44u6ea2rmyBRzwGByci6usRGlGc5Ffi_nF5RqrLcgzknbhbacfAo8I3851NarxaQSDNXhYZK4gcRyW2xE9rkHVzKAvVBy_KP61EmHoQluyJ853a9RJxQknxwg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>On Thanksgiving, November 24th, we drove back to Amy's to spend the day there.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You have no idea how awed I was to sit and watch my kids prepare that meal,</div><div style="text-align: center;">including Nicholas mashing the potatoes and helping Astrid clean up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">All I did, besides eat, was clean up the turkey carcass!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWf-ISFotdLEts6_6XJP1YPTgVTk3kxbateQlyrNzkL9ip9KNH4T2BhdnTQA1TyfCRvKsjnIeWk5C5pdjapghueAxc93TLNx83Tyvz1clvKV9jBXx_8mXSIFyTB1h5tdRG6kBjaSb5ai7FqypCFxNJmegqQzO8TLyF4vQuZIklYjwTb5-SIIVMKjcQYg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWf-ISFotdLEts6_6XJP1YPTgVTk3kxbateQlyrNzkL9ip9KNH4T2BhdnTQA1TyfCRvKsjnIeWk5C5pdjapghueAxc93TLNx83Tyvz1clvKV9jBXx_8mXSIFyTB1h5tdRG6kBjaSb5ai7FqypCFxNJmegqQzO8TLyF4vQuZIklYjwTb5-SIIVMKjcQYg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>That next Saturday we watched MICHIGAN win their game against Ohio State,</div><div style="text-align: center;">giving them 1st place in the Big Ten. YAY.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGkwSPYwR_-TI1KJ41POi3woeRJW6BSv7iGZFDM-etGaxtJ1AW2W5_LYtk998KdTlefOggKNmB8oSSyZ4fpD01gVJ9430lXBygrHLhO55cSxe8Zyqg8JQOs8-sL17hjxBEUjh-DPtj-qagCJ-pBnmeNp-0iJ496448u0fgIxtnPNMMFSzbuuVll1Hfyg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGkwSPYwR_-TI1KJ41POi3woeRJW6BSv7iGZFDM-etGaxtJ1AW2W5_LYtk998KdTlefOggKNmB8oSSyZ4fpD01gVJ9430lXBygrHLhO55cSxe8Zyqg8JQOs8-sL17hjxBEUjh-DPtj-qagCJ-pBnmeNp-0iJ496448u0fgIxtnPNMMFSzbuuVll1Hfyg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>And then on Sunday we watched one of Mark's Dungeons & Dragons campaigns,</div><div style="text-align: center;">meeting at his house, with a potluck meal beforehand.<br />Talk about educational! A first for Astrid and me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCj1SeAx90O9cDXYscxGL_389C07WRo8uOv4sqqmf1zuOYP3hDrxdOpXWIbw0y-BgJ452yJE62hXNR-kz_nGVNBC4ds2qhXIC2ujw8_zVwVIS1iTPcaywDlvOZLggFVDmRcvBpHD2b9kmUfsIL2JtvtpaqxcWkYv3VbsUWRBhsPZNLPynrI93h8hH-Yw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCj1SeAx90O9cDXYscxGL_389C07WRo8uOv4sqqmf1zuOYP3hDrxdOpXWIbw0y-BgJ452yJE62hXNR-kz_nGVNBC4ds2qhXIC2ujw8_zVwVIS1iTPcaywDlvOZLggFVDmRcvBpHD2b9kmUfsIL2JtvtpaqxcWkYv3VbsUWRBhsPZNLPynrI93h8hH-Yw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>That next week, Mark and I both voted early in the Georgia Run-off Election for our US Senate seat.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Officer Lee (top-left) was the one who called all those over 75 to join him in another line,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which reduced our wait from 3 hours to only 1.5 hours. Hard to ever forget that!</div><div style="text-align: center;">[And just this past Tuesday, our choice, Warnock, beat Walker. My vote counted!]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEmjdHYMKr6f6HKt0U_L4wvIH3e4cNVPTIBJVl2ZYv0fNvPChcmhSXLytfP7GXsoP2a4yD1v4YVynzVGcB4CIJYre1k3JaMlqWk18p6UbLqNauGTBHSj6KO5cLxpaZRh-s1KGB3J_KFdu51rbuWYLh9-zfMjfhFf6fr8md9b99btvh5wTlXnHwpL8bw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEmjdHYMKr6f6HKt0U_L4wvIH3e4cNVPTIBJVl2ZYv0fNvPChcmhSXLytfP7GXsoP2a4yD1v4YVynzVGcB4CIJYre1k3JaMlqWk18p6UbLqNauGTBHSj6KO5cLxpaZRh-s1KGB3J_KFdu51rbuWYLh9-zfMjfhFf6fr8md9b99btvh5wTlXnHwpL8bw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div>Several walks, of course, in Mark's neighborhood!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ2ccj6YIVxl2w3C_3BMub64DSX6E6Vj36V0IjM4WBCHC4Hi3sAAnRguUbYKNiqsarvUcP8XIPh9G2pR7dZXn09Lg3ZLjP21oz-MBPbth4ZmDiKqGdO8uu-OiwvQ_wxVDp3pUCRUPH80e5lQaA07gjXBCpIiX-VJlo1qGM234EBJ1frjiVWOylSDOi_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ2ccj6YIVxl2w3C_3BMub64DSX6E6Vj36V0IjM4WBCHC4Hi3sAAnRguUbYKNiqsarvUcP8XIPh9G2pR7dZXn09Lg3ZLjP21oz-MBPbth4ZmDiKqGdO8uu-OiwvQ_wxVDp3pUCRUPH80e5lQaA07gjXBCpIiX-VJlo1qGM234EBJ1frjiVWOylSDOi_g=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>One last hurrah before returning home was our drive to <a href="https://www.oldcarcityusa.com/"><b>Old Car City USA</b></a> in White, GA.</div><div style="text-align: center;">OMG! Talk about a photographer's paradise, which is a separate post altogether.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiZvmJAI2HeGrHsNmsNsGgzN9YhBCGgn6iWpZTna9D0q9DXkTV1VNFRHX0O4hoDbt6ro1f33VLJnAjHkjQ564TpX75SsVc5jh4VOAfRzuKi7VLuntziCLHVai6sLyYLjBobfK-bei0zVJVYlLmqKEz7uzeYoDJGE9AGh7sexLI4WQo3ddGNMNHedqDaw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiZvmJAI2HeGrHsNmsNsGgzN9YhBCGgn6iWpZTna9D0q9DXkTV1VNFRHX0O4hoDbt6ro1f33VLJnAjHkjQ564TpX75SsVc5jh4VOAfRzuKi7VLuntziCLHVai6sLyYLjBobfK-bei0zVJVYlLmqKEz7uzeYoDJGE9AGh7sexLI4WQo3ddGNMNHedqDaw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Astrid's collage]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_PMZpdwazZXJt2VpJyBP1NqQUwOKVjzCzWsBEa5-UkSOD-cnhOKLbgIixqFhixcuBIq7M7tXTjdHLS3wg3TpvXmrJJR6HW_tLMar8c1KfwSjmBc6hG6EsO1jSEFA3VT4JgpdKh5i6r9UJ1EtPn6X0nLyd602e5zHPoWA14HYgx9b5_YWnPvTHOj_bGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1441" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_PMZpdwazZXJt2VpJyBP1NqQUwOKVjzCzWsBEa5-UkSOD-cnhOKLbgIixqFhixcuBIq7M7tXTjdHLS3wg3TpvXmrJJR6HW_tLMar8c1KfwSjmBc6hG6EsO1jSEFA3VT4JgpdKh5i6r9UJ1EtPn6X0nLyd602e5zHPoWA14HYgx9b5_YWnPvTHOj_bGQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div>Though cooler than our normal October visits,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it couldn't have been better weather for all our adventures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiiUM5Pks1r-nceXyLujAtAHcFB69EBSvnWzyIp802o4Iixv9sy9ckZcojAWhklWGUVvQBSTBo2ISgKjIzyLrfS9skzoCtf1WmTw7Wn4dinOYclYoPkiHYKvQeBSsPBKaujpprxjpNotuPvbjDWkdnCv5iK4syoQ9l08Zukprq-7AO6r2t1rB0OEYhbg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiiUM5Pks1r-nceXyLujAtAHcFB69EBSvnWzyIp802o4Iixv9sy9ckZcojAWhklWGUVvQBSTBo2ISgKjIzyLrfS9skzoCtf1WmTw7Wn4dinOYclYoPkiHYKvQeBSsPBKaujpprxjpNotuPvbjDWkdnCv5iK4syoQ9l08Zukprq-7AO6r2t1rB0OEYhbg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Like I said, most of the leaves and color were gone, except for the stragglers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjacdZHk0Z_l_kRKZcwP0QnbwJXkcYZK4KnoYQvk9CUQH6SguTGANvUmsCezc7tFm_zzeBrYZf6IPBJN2O4UilTQfJJpP-u3e2KuxttRhC0csqcIfMwVqS5QBGqaG6bui7RR7RNjWFgpDVdwiyLLcfOlFiFgZ0Gf75HmExqduksM6sos8bVfFpoY9Aigw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjacdZHk0Z_l_kRKZcwP0QnbwJXkcYZK4KnoYQvk9CUQH6SguTGANvUmsCezc7tFm_zzeBrYZf6IPBJN2O4UilTQfJJpP-u3e2KuxttRhC0csqcIfMwVqS5QBGqaG6bui7RR7RNjWFgpDVdwiyLLcfOlFiFgZ0Gf75HmExqduksM6sos8bVfFpoY9Aigw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>But when you come down to it, it's the food we all share together that thrills us the most.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In this case, it's Amy's...who LOVES to cook.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh30L7pyJw5oVLenAV-b-vASf3da6Uk8crRZ2qcuY1IxdDlHgVBWw0UeWCfFQHEFRztzYFzDcyPLmcmaTzJvyt5dU_8bFY3ZvvVMuwN01-jLaN5FhD2ZjKpIoHXy_WLCHXj3wZWaC1VJbpJ1D3xY43fdw4ybB3fE5QzwGk14YUWf6ztjpicpNxWg5rrag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh30L7pyJw5oVLenAV-b-vASf3da6Uk8crRZ2qcuY1IxdDlHgVBWw0UeWCfFQHEFRztzYFzDcyPLmcmaTzJvyt5dU_8bFY3ZvvVMuwN01-jLaN5FhD2ZjKpIoHXy_WLCHXj3wZWaC1VJbpJ1D3xY43fdw4ybB3fE5QzwGk14YUWf6ztjpicpNxWg5rrag=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>And Mark's, which usually centers around what he cooks on his pellet grill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNjuRGxJRv_1SPqy_VIPJ_cny2EaFmF1Dps4j_tq5yKyR05iqbYxlKlOTKBhusLmeXK0mueXz8FeakcEEAVCsvo5T7q7est8S6VZFc31pHxB5vdzCJnhaMjP1994Ky-mxGRqUyXH6n7IiTlZS4Rdqrkk2nqAbuOUKMAtRfgXqfiQLY_0MmROshgzVjA/s960/316312284_5348300198615503_682154804397442738_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNjuRGxJRv_1SPqy_VIPJ_cny2EaFmF1Dps4j_tq5yKyR05iqbYxlKlOTKBhusLmeXK0mueXz8FeakcEEAVCsvo5T7q7est8S6VZFc31pHxB5vdzCJnhaMjP1994Ky-mxGRqUyXH6n7IiTlZS4Rdqrkk2nqAbuOUKMAtRfgXqfiQLY_0MmROshgzVjA/w400-h300/316312284_5348300198615503_682154804397442738_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we the Lucky Ones or what!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div>Three weeks packed full of Family Fun and Fellowship!</div><div>It'll last for a long time...at least until next year. :)</div></div><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-65612184874670095142022-11-03T14:39:00.006+01:002022-11-04T08:20:53.107+01:00Daughter Amy in the Netherlands, 2022<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Similar to <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2019/02/daughter-amy-in-netherlands-2019.html"><b>her first trip in 2019</b></a>, when she visited us in-between 2 jobs, daughter Amy this time had a business trip to Stuttgart, Germany, for her Mercedes-Benz company, after which she stopped off on her way back to Atlanta for a few days with us here in Gorinchem.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last time, it was a Friday-Wednesday visit, when we packed in all kinds of trips out-n-about, even to Antwerp, Belgium. THIS time it was a Friday-Thursday trip with only a one-trip outing, and the rest of the time just sitting around, playing games, eating and BEING. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These are the highlights:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Friday's Amsterdam Airport Pickup and Happy Hour, October 21:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVP3OKTgr_b_-NQ9dY7AN5ChMoCPaayeO4J-MuTRZJabaz6lVYh5mW6QI2dCTMOm7q-x-h9_BYfAhHEWxF8OQpzqaFH1nnmDf9kq2ukmH7TJL1R8snrvR8M0ZTUYh3rl07P0o3T2AF50jEjvEnF2Fg7093UX7fKHguuFzHg05m9SlYjUOoS9deEohPA/s2000/Airport.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVP3OKTgr_b_-NQ9dY7AN5ChMoCPaayeO4J-MuTRZJabaz6lVYh5mW6QI2dCTMOm7q-x-h9_BYfAhHEWxF8OQpzqaFH1nnmDf9kq2ukmH7TJL1R8snrvR8M0ZTUYh3rl07P0o3T2AF50jEjvEnF2Fg7093UX7fKHguuFzHg05m9SlYjUOoS9deEohPA/w640-h640/Airport.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is only a one-hour drive from Gorinchem. Easy-peasy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A business friend with her husband arrived at the same time and went on their own way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we, too, headed our own way home for lunch...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnuMbGnBEtoPVKVGZYkDN7IQVO5mrw-ZuAdMrbZIfCnnxHa08dPZAvcn0r0VQ2jThZSXVm2isCf-tU5pnwBRxICptP4eAW_Gxpt80RI1yUqScGl5lwh0rsPuZ-RbPoyyvxLK3ucW1TbtD1jXlqoE0oqZ4V1CYcLimb7_vMGfKmMoHB19d0zMFqsGr1w/s2000/Happy%20Hour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnuMbGnBEtoPVKVGZYkDN7IQVO5mrw-ZuAdMrbZIfCnnxHa08dPZAvcn0r0VQ2jThZSXVm2isCf-tU5pnwBRxICptP4eAW_Gxpt80RI1yUqScGl5lwh0rsPuZ-RbPoyyvxLK3ucW1TbtD1jXlqoE0oqZ4V1CYcLimb7_vMGfKmMoHB19d0zMFqsGr1w/w640-h640/Happy%20Hour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and made it in time for our Lindeborg Happy Hour that afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just like in 2019, we enjoyed a Dutch favorite of mine, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frikandel"><b>Frikandel Speciaal</b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy is such a good sport!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Saturday's Eat Fest with Jeannette and Femke, October 22: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLwQ_h0GLVn6WBSc14Eod07CiZijGKGpDa2uH5gLA-NTtLRSe6_xMX_5knbzOu7OvAkJhLH5gAmcuG0YigiXFoXJAqffVEhs6YhTOU9r15z35BCT9pv-ytCCaFOrYZ8sG60QF_uNWZktLw5pfU5sixTERpAyVLy5ynk_zp-uOZyWpR9Vwe6ePqsX6g/s2000/Amy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLwQ_h0GLVn6WBSc14Eod07CiZijGKGpDa2uH5gLA-NTtLRSe6_xMX_5knbzOu7OvAkJhLH5gAmcuG0YigiXFoXJAqffVEhs6YhTOU9r15z35BCT9pv-ytCCaFOrYZ8sG60QF_uNWZktLw5pfU5sixTERpAyVLy5ynk_zp-uOZyWpR9Vwe6ePqsX6g/w640-h640/Amy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what J&F love to do...fixing good food and sharing it with friends, like they did back in 2019.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even Prince Finn, the ragdoll cat, got Amy's attention, again! It just might be a tradition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Sunday's Get-Together with Extended Family Here in Gorinchem, October 23:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First of all, it's finally sinking in that my children, Amy and Mark, are step-siblings of Astrid's son Jeroen! So I made a special point of getting a photo of Amy and Jeroen together:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY7-GrbPFZRdviXeUtyO4Lte2ebVIDss9Ve33oVqL3gY-66R_i6NWsRviOSKc7jU-rIYylMh38kSp1isi0NUYZ069vy-GPuAKZU6VPIYzQ43W2kA5vrq4ge7UrnhdbrNjtGmzxqYZPjiCXHjbxznYiaTB3PysSsPAlI1tzFQ2qlSIwMyR-nOVPo3Lmg/s1000/IMG_0081S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1000" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYY7-GrbPFZRdviXeUtyO4Lte2ebVIDss9Ve33oVqL3gY-66R_i6NWsRviOSKc7jU-rIYylMh38kSp1isi0NUYZ069vy-GPuAKZU6VPIYzQ43W2kA5vrq4ge7UrnhdbrNjtGmzxqYZPjiCXHjbxznYiaTB3PysSsPAlI1tzFQ2qlSIwMyR-nOVPo3Lmg/w400-h290/IMG_0081S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who says there can't be 16 years between them, right?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And you have no idea how much they have in common, seriously. Don't you love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jAHnnzgBSH0ws0Q4T0b7vrlYo6w4I3kV9lUPwm1MrDVjm8SQoPYg6ELVtMMcW5iSeqcfQvSl2U8weDOl1tED3zyBNhMKAi6gCJ9BrOfhNzOw3NUdKrehIN__tlA8ockWLE6qks3PbIG1CswYnMaZH5f4bYL33mRQfnXs4B2Av39BjQARABPTB2Pr3A/s2000/Amy%20with%20Kids.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jAHnnzgBSH0ws0Q4T0b7vrlYo6w4I3kV9lUPwm1MrDVjm8SQoPYg6ELVtMMcW5iSeqcfQvSl2U8weDOl1tED3zyBNhMKAi6gCJ9BrOfhNzOw3NUdKrehIN__tlA8ockWLE6qks3PbIG1CswYnMaZH5f4bYL33mRQfnXs4B2Av39BjQARABPTB2Pr3A/w640-h640/Amy%20with%20Kids.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[collage credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy was a huge hit with Hailey and Sem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Sem, a month older than Hailey, is the child of Marissa, Jeroen's girlfriend.)</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4v7hjUad3Enn2Kjc7EtzwY8T_0l3TAWW5I-VXIoF4smnlkcNYHNnxNRvEA13DR9lJSrGyx3gYI6taW8LxDGkxmtp3rjTnrZpQWIwCSikhg8ztQ3ckTDeKLw0gfwcW7-sVCZ49QFw5j78JBdPWtla7Us8f5RPWSxv5I1I1CaSLllJz9a3M-U0jBL-3w/s2000/Amy%20with%20Hailey.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4v7hjUad3Enn2Kjc7EtzwY8T_0l3TAWW5I-VXIoF4smnlkcNYHNnxNRvEA13DR9lJSrGyx3gYI6taW8LxDGkxmtp3rjTnrZpQWIwCSikhg8ztQ3ckTDeKLw0gfwcW7-sVCZ49QFw5j78JBdPWtla7Us8f5RPWSxv5I1I1CaSLllJz9a3M-U0jBL-3w/w640-h640/Amy%20with%20Hailey.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">[collage credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at how much Hailey loved being with Amy, trying on her glasses even.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR694tJACIJK9Vvv4ct-btE2qGmDWurMGSG4KgRsnfoipT9HEp_wUFMTwyx7YZn4C7H2sOyotSDRSxwvx8Gwq9TUDCXgxhmHO21Gv6a-horPbPdc_u8xDkwDbgce7mwcomIHAl7jQQeVTOHdroszjR9iM_EYdEsqlpxG5RNVJwdUg_9M44wviS38QCnQ/s2000/Family%20Time.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR694tJACIJK9Vvv4ct-btE2qGmDWurMGSG4KgRsnfoipT9HEp_wUFMTwyx7YZn4C7H2sOyotSDRSxwvx8Gwq9TUDCXgxhmHO21Gv6a-horPbPdc_u8xDkwDbgce7mwcomIHAl7jQQeVTOHdroszjR9iM_EYdEsqlpxG5RNVJwdUg_9M44wviS38QCnQ/w640-h640/Family%20Time.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">[collage credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All 8 of us just BEING and eating together, including Astrid's ex-husband Jaap!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeroen loves putting this kind of happy-hour spread together.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsw4Qfy8EkoSAT7uvuiGIWl_rm1_mDuGYzjAVkbOVlPHwvdupym770orpEsHjXZBsl6L6n4YQVSqa7wYQnPMKVp0QzqngEMrzwW5xRvN04RI6EwEKtRCZIWIRyahyoaFwrLDKF0Q4Z13VsweWWXJkz4sCOxOJniZocLda-AFZADQmtnoy_K_pqEI_RA/s2000/Hailey%20with%20Map.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsw4Qfy8EkoSAT7uvuiGIWl_rm1_mDuGYzjAVkbOVlPHwvdupym770orpEsHjXZBsl6L6n4YQVSqa7wYQnPMKVp0QzqngEMrzwW5xRvN04RI6EwEKtRCZIWIRyahyoaFwrLDKF0Q4Z13VsweWWXJkz4sCOxOJniZocLda-AFZADQmtnoy_K_pqEI_RA/w640-h640/Hailey%20with%20Map.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">[collage credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And guess what Hailey now can pinpoint with her finger on the world-wide map!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yup. Atlanta GA, where Amy lives and from where Oma Ginnie comes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That weekend was enough excitement to last Amy's entire trip, but, WAIT, there's more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Monday's Outing to Amsterdam, October 24:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It had been planned and all arranged (and paid for!) that the 3 of us would have a 1.5-hour personal cruise of the Amsterdam canals, with lunch and drinks included. It would be similar to something Donica and I did for her back in 2007, many moons ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozl77BYnmZW4zNf486QYN7lg7UBoAwIOoO5juJmyJTy61I8HIlb_5Pf839MQxfJV5WbC4DNAJnFPPua16oIzySv-NqDcfT12vo4JvGv5rTkMf6i9n06NStYVSpVW3lri_BWj5ra5XOETkmN3bmKDz8RszVFyHMCXy47Cyf9m7t1j-C05V0p_Ylxw2Lw/s2000/Amsterdam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozl77BYnmZW4zNf486QYN7lg7UBoAwIOoO5juJmyJTy61I8HIlb_5Pf839MQxfJV5WbC4DNAJnFPPua16oIzySv-NqDcfT12vo4JvGv5rTkMf6i9n06NStYVSpVW3lri_BWj5ra5XOETkmN3bmKDz8RszVFyHMCXy47Cyf9m7t1j-C05V0p_Ylxw2Lw/w560-h640/Amsterdam.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a nice koffie/tea break while we waited, since we were early, we found out</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that the skipper had been double-booked and missed OUR appointment with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The good news (along with a total refund and a free voucher for the next time Amy visits), is that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we made the best of the day walking around the floating-market area and eating at Wagamama.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No complaints after all was said and done. There will be a next time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of our time, before taking Amy back to Amsterdam on Thursday morning for her 1:15 p.m. flight back to Atlanta, was "Us Time" here at the apartment, playing games/cards (Carcassonne, Qwirkle and Five Crowns)...and eating, of course. Our last night we even drove to nearby Leerdam for a nice dinner out on the Linge river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyaBMCB8Zn-p5UyuN7Y0ASIuBiQslrOA3qB2koIgilfZ_N57AsgvkyEHNMIcRD0Y0Z1ygtjeCjE2IJ-9Ee_GSG6C1UgJrFLA4IFFj0KCboEbsR_Ok9iK4GmwxSEkMdlrC4Jb5yj_SUCgKtUGqAU33LNf7iL6FkDa_B-GxTjwcszsL77Qha2rIH5V3fA/s2000/De%20Beren%20and%20Games.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyaBMCB8Zn-p5UyuN7Y0ASIuBiQslrOA3qB2koIgilfZ_N57AsgvkyEHNMIcRD0Y0Z1ygtjeCjE2IJ-9Ee_GSG6C1UgJrFLA4IFFj0KCboEbsR_Ok9iK4GmwxSEkMdlrC4Jb5yj_SUCgKtUGqAU33LNf7iL6FkDa_B-GxTjwcszsL77Qha2rIH5V3fA/w640-h640/De%20Beren%20and%20Games.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid was fighting one of her worst sinus infections ever throughout all of this,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which made staying at home a good choice. But none of us gave a hoot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a great memory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now, believe it or not, a week from tomorrow we make our annual trip back to Atlanta to spend our usual time, first at Amy's, then at the cabin in the North Georgia Mountains, followed by our time at Mark's, before returning home on December 2. This will be my first Thanksgiving in America since I moved in 2009. Astrid and I are so excited...like little kids!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, we're still basking in Amy's time with us HERE where WE live. It doesn't happen very often!</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-31869069729141856212022-10-14T17:36:00.010+02:002022-10-15T07:39:02.888+02:00Our First 2022 Trip to America: The Cooperstown, NY, Wedding<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Following the <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/09/our-first-2022-trip-to-america-maine.html"><b>Part I post in Maine</b></a> with sister, Ruth, and her Don, here's Part II covering the 3 days we were in Cooperstown, NY, for the wedding of our niece, Jennifer, on September 4th.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's actually a pretty amazing story that gets more amazing the more I think about it! And I have permission to share it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in Pasadena, CA, when husband Bill and I were living there in 1981 with Amy and Mark, ages 9 and 6, my sister, Nancy, in Michigan was getting ready to birth a baby she was giving up for adoption. The short version of the story is that in our Pasadena church we knew a couple, Georgia and Jonathan, who wanted to adopt a baby and who, when I connected them with Nancy, said YES! They even flew to Michigan on the 5th day after the birth to receive the girl they named Jennifer, straight from Nancy's arms.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That was almost 41 years ago: She was born on December 1, 1981. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When Jennifer turned 18, Nancy was able to have "legal" contact with her, which she has had ever since, of course, connecting her to her larger Hart family. In fact, in 2009, at Ruth's daughter's wedding, Jennifer, age 28, was there for this lineup of the 4 Hart sisters with their daughters:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uq96ggZd5RQDikbejVmZwUdwhFhPDn5PPk6cWnp2or7NHU76yGV7hjaJZXbbE1kSGdv1klIbEN_g2uHgcbL0ViL81Trem5O_VTCYu4cH7zGSIfJt0T734SNY2QYxUlVgtE1-BuS5jkDMoule8TZh65Ki28wcc31nHs1SG-BdzeK6d1x5Vw6tfssioQ/s1000/Sisters%20and%20Daughters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uq96ggZd5RQDikbejVmZwUdwhFhPDn5PPk6cWnp2or7NHU76yGV7hjaJZXbbE1kSGdv1klIbEN_g2uHgcbL0ViL81Trem5O_VTCYu4cH7zGSIfJt0T734SNY2QYxUlVgtE1-BuS5jkDMoule8TZh65Ki28wcc31nHs1SG-BdzeK6d1x5Vw6tfssioQ/w400-h300/Sisters%20and%20Daughters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SUSAN-Shari; GINNIE-Amy; RUTH-Lesley; NANCY-Jennifer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each of us sisters just happened to have one daughter each. What a coinkydink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, fast forward to September 2022 when said Jennifer gets married to Josh and when both biological and adoptive families get together for the celebration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7COZZPKrV_VaN9NsdlUOH7udst8sF9pcBJnS1UsggTMLVLqV5c7TlvjiPOpsQtDy3jOAGODEK_hgw9AQxiPDl9xtRNYXhlAR2Rgft_4E_iBRSE6dEKUxqau11R_1w8Ye-kCsU9O9OyJMK31SBdKnJNymuZ-21abFUuIDSETWcT_pgAfylTY9kbAR0ow/s2000/Barn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7COZZPKrV_VaN9NsdlUOH7udst8sF9pcBJnS1UsggTMLVLqV5c7TlvjiPOpsQtDy3jOAGODEK_hgw9AQxiPDl9xtRNYXhlAR2Rgft_4E_iBRSE6dEKUxqau11R_1w8Ye-kCsU9O9OyJMK31SBdKnJNymuZ-21abFUuIDSETWcT_pgAfylTY9kbAR0ow/w640-h640/Barn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How's this for the venue: The Barn on Hyder Creek!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqoCjyEcAVRgVgItrRi0iW8p5CLA-XtJCPputMYe3yyviYaiSWVRMKQTaCJFf4eQQPAAe9vKY-tE9Ny84tanbXyvXLJi9ANtqlZtEsZY0-BtLbvhCtYEtUSna7XRE6IZBDvM9z7y14CL3auLVxkx_mBermE4VejhtVMcnoI2o97MvEmbohMih-bmRug/s2000/KM%20Photos%20Outside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqoCjyEcAVRgVgItrRi0iW8p5CLA-XtJCPputMYe3yyviYaiSWVRMKQTaCJFf4eQQPAAe9vKY-tE9Ny84tanbXyvXLJi9ANtqlZtEsZY0-BtLbvhCtYEtUSna7XRE6IZBDvM9z7y14CL3auLVxkx_mBermE4VejhtVMcnoI2o97MvEmbohMih-bmRug/w400-h400/KM%20Photos%20Outside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Nancy's DIL, Kathy]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Out in the middle of nowhere. Don't you love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQE60laf3KRLioP06Dee2jA1Nne09vmRc3Cnv3ELqcde528z5tmP0tf4-uFs2pQrFcxXSbJOu0fozNYIVuYa376iSBC7INh12p5ttw8UytB5ZVaeBT5vpJ4DOZLbadHL5E4-BW72fX7mYpN7Zm8FyDpPSiJC99EBRcZT5ETe9oG5AWLaf1VM48VJz_w/s2000/KM%20Photos%20Sisters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQE60laf3KRLioP06Dee2jA1Nne09vmRc3Cnv3ELqcde528z5tmP0tf4-uFs2pQrFcxXSbJOu0fozNYIVuYa376iSBC7INh12p5ttw8UytB5ZVaeBT5vpJ4DOZLbadHL5E4-BW72fX7mYpN7Zm8FyDpPSiJC99EBRcZT5ETe9oG5AWLaf1VM48VJz_w/w640-h640/KM%20Photos%20Sisters.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Nancy's DIL, Kathy]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The wedding was on Sunday but we had access to the barn on Saturday to start the decorating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Did I mention that that (the decorating) was Nancy's wedding gift to her daughter?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But there was no way she could do it all by herself, so Ruth, Don, Astrid and I helped her all day,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Saturday and Sunday. Wait till you see what her mind envisioned and then created!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(Nancy, btw, is the one in black, one year my junior.)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQLxIE5D3eNQUAs6n-OiO8RQ5LVMxbROMFT9vKyUDR5z9vWFtfnVrfQ1AQOC2Ryf9cERcrxPDWE7JLzhGLmbLeL23lCmM9YUL16BPSNWwlmvo8DoO6mnmAhFUJ26YEc0-DsgW_AmUDNw7s2BkoPLFsXSCNaExWoPM27ztWzGfInIQhsr_C0RimBocWA/s2000/Decorating.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQLxIE5D3eNQUAs6n-OiO8RQ5LVMxbROMFT9vKyUDR5z9vWFtfnVrfQ1AQOC2Ryf9cERcrxPDWE7JLzhGLmbLeL23lCmM9YUL16BPSNWwlmvo8DoO6mnmAhFUJ26YEc0-DsgW_AmUDNw7s2BkoPLFsXSCNaExWoPM27ztWzGfInIQhsr_C0RimBocWA/w640-h640/Decorating.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By late morning others of the Michigan family started arriving and checked us out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Our drive from Searsport, ME, was 450 miles on Friday; Michiganders had more like 640 miles!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA8U5xgJk0ZZ3ZAZfF5Ew9NN1X6jhUYkkSjzQw-_w-FpJFELG5X-pY9i0IhTCTAqaQMwQWJbEZPU3QSHq_vGuAUnvLYmpT8uBI_xTHUwhwTK7aUsvCe2d8vsfBkUNVHTaVxULRfS_wv-imPTn1scIchlJMSDt3VQD6VTGl_DEjCI_cCj3mw4LpwvWNw/s2000/KM%20Photos%20Inside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA8U5xgJk0ZZ3ZAZfF5Ew9NN1X6jhUYkkSjzQw-_w-FpJFELG5X-pY9i0IhTCTAqaQMwQWJbEZPU3QSHq_vGuAUnvLYmpT8uBI_xTHUwhwTK7aUsvCe2d8vsfBkUNVHTaVxULRfS_wv-imPTn1scIchlJMSDt3VQD6VTGl_DEjCI_cCj3mw4LpwvWNw/w640-h480/KM%20Photos%20Inside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Nancy's DIL, Kathy]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My main task on Saturday and Sunday, after the centers of the 10 tables were decorated, was to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">set all the 87 plates on the tables, according to the seating charts, with their adorable favors on top,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> created by Nancy. The caterers would finish the table-setting before the 4:30 wedding on Sunday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlgBGMgu7CFi9VVLh5teDnBdcqD0a9DdfIVf5X-Lei3ThzT11fISit4K0TJeSp9KIr2ohvCa2BEC1Vmq_HF-qT0HnGGVUWMFWEDrAjKZ1_66BJB4JEi1sJjbzCSF_gKBFUtYkff3xGFyq2NgYqoyDf4C_7ooIgeLluNb5Cenubnsu_A6vISH5RZzj8A/s2000/Before%20Wedding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlgBGMgu7CFi9VVLh5teDnBdcqD0a9DdfIVf5X-Lei3ThzT11fISit4K0TJeSp9KIr2ohvCa2BEC1Vmq_HF-qT0HnGGVUWMFWEDrAjKZ1_66BJB4JEi1sJjbzCSF_gKBFUtYkff3xGFyq2NgYqoyDf4C_7ooIgeLluNb5Cenubnsu_A6vISH5RZzj8A/w448-h640/Before%20Wedding.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before the 4:30 ceremony on Sunday, we gathered outside on the back porch,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and again afterwards, we did the same, with a fabulous spread of hors-d'oeuvres and drinks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Jonathan, the father, is center-right; Georgia, the mother, is bottom row in blue.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vRJ5xB7RS6SaVj6f7wQaVjGG66vkYBonAcmAXZYfyrZhxNXHY3xmedUCg8XUArLjsunkZPJexTCR5zO48THfr1CNEHxYWLeehWDzYQmMhxqJpVSmKeHxBG0ErDTJF7OQrm09YcVGsU3okk5fCZnOeMOWOzCEA51thrc-Q23OdlRdjPftUuXfuoTJ9g/s2000/AW%20Wish%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vRJ5xB7RS6SaVj6f7wQaVjGG66vkYBonAcmAXZYfyrZhxNXHY3xmedUCg8XUArLjsunkZPJexTCR5zO48THfr1CNEHxYWLeehWDzYQmMhxqJpVSmKeHxBG0ErDTJF7OQrm09YcVGsU3okk5fCZnOeMOWOzCEA51thrc-Q23OdlRdjPftUuXfuoTJ9g/w640-h320/AW%20Wish%20Tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was also a good time to hang our wishes for the couple on the Wish Tree inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astrid's and my wish was the Dutch saying: "A day not laughed is a day not lived."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc5R3tAWe708yO4y3_SB68KctWyvoyCSrHqoGRGkFrL6aXnIFUCfMhOFLuziOJcs0nFe6czyKINJq_0tFvbPqhyqc4KVQ8-QsBSKcnry61_WAwexRGgQvAge6fAmqa7B3lA-xnBUF8zbQIIWaFcjkaUZbH8TBANVfjIjdKl9tB403j3IQFJAdAhBPXg/s2000/Wedding%20Ceremony.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc5R3tAWe708yO4y3_SB68KctWyvoyCSrHqoGRGkFrL6aXnIFUCfMhOFLuziOJcs0nFe6czyKINJq_0tFvbPqhyqc4KVQ8-QsBSKcnry61_WAwexRGgQvAge6fAmqa7B3lA-xnBUF8zbQIIWaFcjkaUZbH8TBANVfjIjdKl9tB403j3IQFJAdAhBPXg/w544-h640/Wedding%20Ceremony.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ceremony was "closed" to photography except for the official photographer,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but here's what it looked like beforehand. When Nancy was walked to her seat up front, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after which Georgia was seated next to her, I almost lost it. How often does that happen...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the biological and adoptive mothers sitting next to each other at their daughter's wedding?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My eyes brim with tears as I remember it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgUyEVt_BOBwjrjDRGiwApPH-hTiAcRB7_64-Cz9KHOxxzyGwStjBjkRQ6a8o2w7W2VqOCR-uS6YsBbWpBdHYircrF8IXvIn3Kv6jOcN5WnBOttT98lpVBapgPfM3eSdgsK0iyrHxLOICK7rFUGVjapNgLcT3E5XhZE5-CDoMybPsPqGyOCRTWkuEDw/s2000/KM%20Photos%20J&J.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgUyEVt_BOBwjrjDRGiwApPH-hTiAcRB7_64-Cz9KHOxxzyGwStjBjkRQ6a8o2w7W2VqOCR-uS6YsBbWpBdHYircrF8IXvIn3Kv6jOcN5WnBOttT98lpVBapgPfM3eSdgsK0iyrHxLOICK7rFUGVjapNgLcT3E5XhZE5-CDoMybPsPqGyOCRTWkuEDw/w480-h640/KM%20Photos%20J&J.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the ceremony and hors-d'oeuvres, we sat down at our designated tables for the meal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the same spot Jennifer and Josh had spoken their vows, they sat at their own special table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And ate. And danced. And cut their cake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezRWsxN2DfMTmurPaRkdpnX73yOjZzVANdo4IXxBMdozc6Xdb0s5TmCU674Z6me4HD4DCTXbpsnV6CT_hI5mvKyXa6qKyA26GA7zpyFvtjWLBE-grLURMkAfj9wcJFcHhQvXh0If2dP8Roc-0cmQmBWxhDugfchlSB1Yg4vGPi4Z3JvGI3IlnUK8C6A/s2000/Dinner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezRWsxN2DfMTmurPaRkdpnX73yOjZzVANdo4IXxBMdozc6Xdb0s5TmCU674Z6me4HD4DCTXbpsnV6CT_hI5mvKyXa6qKyA26GA7zpyFvtjWLBE-grLURMkAfj9wcJFcHhQvXh0If2dP8Roc-0cmQmBWxhDugfchlSB1Yg4vGPi4Z3JvGI3IlnUK8C6A/w640-h480/Dinner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Nancy's DIL, Kathy, top and bottom-center; Paul Hart, nephew, bottom-left]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we, too, ate. And Watched. And enjoyed the Hart Clan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were 18 of us from the Hart side of the family, filling 2 of the 10 tables.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Five of our 7 living sibs, with spouses, were present! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Standing top-left is brother, Nelson, and top-right is brother, Jim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoS4bt4evlz6k4S2v_P5PlNCNOsd00zX3OsKODAMLMdqCUil69YI3nUmSRWDICnGT_8sabFHJFzj0-NMYZkjfWd8XDuKKBoR1dZaxucuIB9QFjxRr94dsLORFFY10CM_qHj25t6jqgVu7l7yYZSnJqg8NJhVZZviQULR910ZpAajw13mBptO5QZGxTg/s2000/Eric%20and%20Kathy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoS4bt4evlz6k4S2v_P5PlNCNOsd00zX3OsKODAMLMdqCUil69YI3nUmSRWDICnGT_8sabFHJFzj0-NMYZkjfWd8XDuKKBoR1dZaxucuIB9QFjxRr94dsLORFFY10CM_qHj25t6jqgVu7l7yYZSnJqg8NJhVZZviQULR910ZpAajw13mBptO5QZGxTg/s320/Eric%20and%20Kathy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part of the Hart clan, btw, was Eric and Kathy,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nancy's second son and daughter-in-law.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXweLRLxxy-RrB5-dHnIeLi71WgsYKKLpd3Fya8dFquakR4japA2BxC2j9gH1YB_wFGRUg-FoW_R5Je7Sfygg16KV0dPNiWrT_kF1B4gIPKheQgAe0rXcP8rMq2n4ulS49SExrJX4UyMD93wqh7oN3ySRs9JRtoARnXP-f216rQzoqvcL0V6VTxCX2aA/s2000/AW%20Jennifer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXweLRLxxy-RrB5-dHnIeLi71WgsYKKLpd3Fya8dFquakR4japA2BxC2j9gH1YB_wFGRUg-FoW_R5Je7Sfygg16KV0dPNiWrT_kF1B4gIPKheQgAe0rXcP8rMq2n4ulS49SExrJX4UyMD93wqh7oN3ySRs9JRtoARnXP-f216rQzoqvcL0V6VTxCX2aA/w416-h640/AW%20Jennifer.jpg" width="416" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>And Jennifer is their half-sister!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlsDsDuW05d0tQTjt0jCPtrTAW1xPfZwpvAW4JwPepP9TEeJWDGwsFNS7lDTdyyuMhkofM6606vUvb6atc8CeG5hmrDS0IE4FGegmsNtvjTnJJ5Aro0F3EbXshtsRBWQw5PzdICv373B2INU9BdOazArdHsFnhFLC6HPonIt_kdH1BpOmoZ2cpE0nIg/s2000/AW%20Photos%20Gown%20and%20Cake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlsDsDuW05d0tQTjt0jCPtrTAW1xPfZwpvAW4JwPepP9TEeJWDGwsFNS7lDTdyyuMhkofM6606vUvb6atc8CeG5hmrDS0IE4FGegmsNtvjTnJJ5Aro0F3EbXshtsRBWQw5PzdICv373B2INU9BdOazArdHsFnhFLC6HPonIt_kdH1BpOmoZ2cpE0nIg/w640-h448/AW%20Photos%20Gown%20and%20Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>What a day, from beginning to end!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fginnie.hart.1%2Fvideos%2F5508711469196390%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="267"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[video credit: Ruth]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">And YES, Astrid and I also danced!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0Sy4ssu9vHoLmchFkxnUPbibGdl0eaOy09VnytCgujw6PKsDdn-HMhWEUyz_E4LdHj0d3O9bE5jms7j-ch8qr2QIovJ8QaxLsD_ZJlZg5NJ4cKaimbfHb4vInFkw2Z-kzFWTiLhKI8T0nV2oKn0SV2OoJdQNk04sr2-5I7dhsf2ihmhgoE8keIKX0A/s2000/Astrid%20and%20Ginnie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0Sy4ssu9vHoLmchFkxnUPbibGdl0eaOy09VnytCgujw6PKsDdn-HMhWEUyz_E4LdHj0d3O9bE5jms7j-ch8qr2QIovJ8QaxLsD_ZJlZg5NJ4cKaimbfHb4vInFkw2Z-kzFWTiLhKI8T0nV2oKn0SV2OoJdQNk04sr2-5I7dhsf2ihmhgoE8keIKX0A/w640-h448/Astrid%20and%20Ginnie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And like so many others did, we sat on the wedding love-seat for our own photo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7Ep1DrECm3syPyIQMIGE4JGiA_e4OwRFVckXntmJuOGkoXluqa-LRv31IZtRHX0SGA_ejWUq1va9mESdUw1VXuYFQBD8wGOcvDOURhtPvU_DVH2u2tbUFCfHck1LNB9U4wGSK_4HW6a_oLPoUPdwsdWL7IlgcNxgu5vbxYszzS4XWAmGoKPvbGGsfA/s2000/Teardown.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1850" data-original-width="2000" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7Ep1DrECm3syPyIQMIGE4JGiA_e4OwRFVckXntmJuOGkoXluqa-LRv31IZtRHX0SGA_ejWUq1va9mESdUw1VXuYFQBD8wGOcvDOURhtPvU_DVH2u2tbUFCfHck1LNB9U4wGSK_4HW6a_oLPoUPdwsdWL7IlgcNxgu5vbxYszzS4XWAmGoKPvbGGsfA/w640-h592/Teardown.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The morning after, Monday, Don, Ruth, Astrid and I helped Nancy tear down the barn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It took only 1.5 hours to do the major work, leaving the rest for Nancy and hubby Juan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZquiGQEBN3hrdPjIjBKldhTF7YUdjOB3PFJ8d4bH6cC4Fh7YgnXsiFOVOmtS9ANxsXp1_13DnaNrlkkH45szEBJizsFQPKkKSqFgYYExIIN_PXfm5uQ3b5Xhc0n2xTaGVgwvjOv-JtuZh7Zw_kUoZvD9jw_a3bfRbwNYpfryxT2ZHHLINdT7nPD9LA/s2000/AW%20Sisters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZquiGQEBN3hrdPjIjBKldhTF7YUdjOB3PFJ8d4bH6cC4Fh7YgnXsiFOVOmtS9ANxsXp1_13DnaNrlkkH45szEBJizsFQPKkKSqFgYYExIIN_PXfm5uQ3b5Xhc0n2xTaGVgwvjOv-JtuZh7Zw_kUoZvD9jw_a3bfRbwNYpfryxT2ZHHLINdT7nPD9LA/w400-h280/AW%20Sisters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you think Nancy was ready to crash?????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's done many weddings in her decorating life but this was obviously her grandest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth and I, as 2 of her sisters, were so privileged and glad we could help.</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1MY9AvWF3qZ3IOP2fdiNEz6hHRzVxplpMMj-EOziwwuKO2D2AEGA80az6XYP8L71WQo5LU154zKz2lTB4OfCMnV6Tf-6EM0qAerzpZufr-h_r9KKV7vv4i3V3vCV4EXlHAiM1NCo7j29PbLVEZQY6HAJscjUhw4JYN3BdRMikVq2RY1uaGjhWnKA1g/s2000/AW%20Sibs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1MY9AvWF3qZ3IOP2fdiNEz6hHRzVxplpMMj-EOziwwuKO2D2AEGA80az6XYP8L71WQo5LU154zKz2lTB4OfCMnV6Tf-6EM0qAerzpZufr-h_r9KKV7vv4i3V3vCV4EXlHAiM1NCo7j29PbLVEZQY6HAJscjUhw4JYN3BdRMikVq2RY1uaGjhWnKA1g/w640-h448/AW%20Sibs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[photo credit: Astrid]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By 10:30 a.m., brother, Nelson, and his Elizabeth, came to depart with us back to Maine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We rode with Don and Ruth until we stopped outside Portland to say good-bye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From then till our flight back home on Wednesday, we stayed with N & E in Portland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1FrAxJJtfpnEOvGahxaxaK2_Z3vwup4yG6NxTROYy0xalpLxyvU2CRmmuD2XtNvxPZIHzGAcJK0YnVlvOgf8I597YuPtxdxB4P4pV-bkYouGtNCU0eGAnZ27GJzgbK0DglZqVBNc2zIV_Lq0PERR4f2RiDs2ldQVN5vZDgChuFZvjHqyDQ/s2000/Nancy%20and%20Juan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1FrAxJJtfpnEOvGahxaxaK2_Z3vwup4yG6NxTROYy0xalpLxyvU2CRmmuD2XtNvxPZIHzGAcJK0YnVlvOgf8I597YuPtxdxB4P4pV-bkYouGtNCU0eGAnZ27GJzgbK0DglZqVBNc2zIV_Lq0PERR4f2RiDs2ldQVN5vZDgChuFZvjHqyDQ/w300-h400/Nancy%20and%20Juan.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it's the memory of Nancy and hubby Juan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as we left, on a rainy day, that stays with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well done, dear sister.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(And now I'm tearing up again!)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-62330689355849054642022-09-30T09:33:00.002+02:002022-09-30T09:34:02.771+02:0050 Years of Amy<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another book is now up on my sidebar, under My Photo Books! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">THIS time it's to celebrate daughter Amy's 50th birthday from when she was born on September 30, 1972, 50 years ago today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu83luHgHrlVS0M-_hkYJY55ty9DYXbvJGWrnPn9avQ4g_l_tmh1FFYvo5N99zZ2f-PLqyvrG0OhJwNcbCfcxSEKxPqbKnKvyVtJGDUhHFcUPvMxCNU7K3BwE_p-jRJJ_Z6f7mK5hcFqv_QQ5x0Z7NS9Z6qv8z5xdPhUD-TJbZQXenJo3kA72tUaxhw/s1004/Shutterfly%20Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1004" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu83luHgHrlVS0M-_hkYJY55ty9DYXbvJGWrnPn9avQ4g_l_tmh1FFYvo5N99zZ2f-PLqyvrG0OhJwNcbCfcxSEKxPqbKnKvyVtJGDUhHFcUPvMxCNU7K3BwE_p-jRJJ_Z6f7mK5hcFqv_QQ5x0Z7NS9Z6qv8z5xdPhUD-TJbZQXenJo3kA72tUaxhw/w400-h309/Shutterfly%20Book%20Cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Click <a href="https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=98bc9aa1-a097-48aa-83c7-589ec36ca557&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPREM"><b>here</b></a> to view the book, making sure you then click on "Full Screen" in the top-right corner.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The book is 11 x 14 inches, 111 pages. And, yes, it covers 50 years of her life,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as told through MY eyes...the eyes of her mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've just posted this collage on my Facebook page:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGuMAjS_gOFQbbIdYPDmSYF1XQ4UiUy1i0Ztoq1azW4cAGfVTpY9rkGWDJJEcsNeDnkg4NTzUbJqCrmC8WxBjdG9YLHsQQJX-Xo8X2YAVN8_ovoYqT5z3aCVKTYWYeAG81w8Ib3_ffmp8pzg3JaLeDl27yWokaSm6oE_vm4Ys1EWu26i9nNtEhOIbHcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGuMAjS_gOFQbbIdYPDmSYF1XQ4UiUy1i0Ztoq1azW4cAGfVTpY9rkGWDJJEcsNeDnkg4NTzUbJqCrmC8WxBjdG9YLHsQQJX-Xo8X2YAVN8_ovoYqT5z3aCVKTYWYeAG81w8Ib3_ffmp8pzg3JaLeDl27yWokaSm6oE_vm4Ys1EWu26i9nNtEhOIbHcg=w528-h640" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What else do you need to know! I love her!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;"><b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-14274395934832112812022-09-15T14:54:00.003+02:002022-09-15T15:06:25.903+02:00Our First 2022 Trip to America: Maine<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I say "First" because there's another one in November to see the kids. THIS one was to see sister, Ruth, and her hubby Don in Maine and then to attend a family wedding with them in New York, 2 weeks total.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Clamp your seatbelt because this is from both Astrid and me (from our Facebook posts), for the record:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDAVT-ViZXDfhgDf5c6EbUQFKf-3nbGclGqrI25A28-PIyOPHfI-Gu1igra1EBIeHjHyMen2xMeelSeK7s7OSwh9D_ViibljHAD61aq4UWV9oxXYNq3GVjjhgcCteywOoRAODkZELuYhEQC8ia7orwiwB9HCxydhfl_l0v8BCTTIogj3aOiuh1jZhoOQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1441" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDAVT-ViZXDfhgDf5c6EbUQFKf-3nbGclGqrI25A28-PIyOPHfI-Gu1igra1EBIeHjHyMen2xMeelSeK7s7OSwh9D_ViibljHAD61aq4UWV9oxXYNq3GVjjhgcCteywOoRAODkZELuYhEQC8ia7orwiwB9HCxydhfl_l0v8BCTTIogj3aOiuh1jZhoOQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div>Let's start with when we landed in Portland, ME, on Astrid's 68th birthday, August 24,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and met up with 8 family members for supper in an Irish pub at the harbor.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ6ZzJvlbMJlkXxLPiiPuJ1klmx_vvMZPUbBPp3QiagqnQ_rb300FzSGNkUTz9BtAhdbswSv6GYxCbErm2CAAxrEmCWw5EBp6edO5nf48YbkyXHiA3tCLFCIk3KAFOli5xbqGuTH68kbE7CfavnLY63rqpK199TdXToiiZyXfGmQdRZdKOjgMVR20sAA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ6ZzJvlbMJlkXxLPiiPuJ1klmx_vvMZPUbBPp3QiagqnQ_rb300FzSGNkUTz9BtAhdbswSv6GYxCbErm2CAAxrEmCWw5EBp6edO5nf48YbkyXHiA3tCLFCIk3KAFOli5xbqGuTH68kbE7CfavnLY63rqpK199TdXToiiZyXfGmQdRZdKOjgMVR20sAA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>It was a great beginning to our trip, after a hassle-free travel day!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We still had to drive the 2 hours to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searsport,_Maine">Searsport</a>, where Don and Ruth live, but we made it,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 25.5 hours from when we started in the Netherlands, we finally turned out the light for bed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyO9D7B7Rs7Qfa6RKIQnLJloovjZCZqwkBd5s5l4tvG0v-ggZ-VQEXh1qz5lCM22vK1-RF5Fslwx4fUXg8YKd4HxFgRmtCDwF47Agn4rLtTxOvtw5ykj75mVlqNTXlV3YyvI3MKJqACldVBkZex1UJl42t7ERnVyxv8wetOol85JWkrD48DWBbx1T12w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyO9D7B7Rs7Qfa6RKIQnLJloovjZCZqwkBd5s5l4tvG0v-ggZ-VQEXh1qz5lCM22vK1-RF5Fslwx4fUXg8YKd4HxFgRmtCDwF47Agn4rLtTxOvtw5ykj75mVlqNTXlV3YyvI3MKJqACldVBkZex1UJl42t7ERnVyxv8wetOol85JWkrD48DWBbx1T12w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>And then we just relaxed at Don and Ruth's!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp_tFZ346husgcmiJsAwnUbL6rljkvVTUiOkMKVn7enXuXgb9bAL-heFFWTN8_JI_4mr6TbLxMy66COnRIzXC-uztUw7jlKSRDZfuzG5Sfbqd9TAtm2mISYn8GQJVnfegzgB6yt6B3AcRcb4F3a1DDMNr-meyR-UD-dwS7rHnMChYe5f1d3DzIS7mUsA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp_tFZ346husgcmiJsAwnUbL6rljkvVTUiOkMKVn7enXuXgb9bAL-heFFWTN8_JI_4mr6TbLxMy66COnRIzXC-uztUw7jlKSRDZfuzG5Sfbqd9TAtm2mISYn8GQJVnfegzgB6yt6B3AcRcb4F3a1DDMNr-meyR-UD-dwS7rHnMChYe5f1d3DzIS7mUsA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Good food...and later a walk, with free peaches to passersby! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEideUYc2-DKULv0_zL3UlV9nSRYhIMtsO08JWV2EZiFroMYjJzmChTLQIpMgcysoOGs4Spa0U7uzLIBd_C67kk4wlzvM1tLEhiWwUJl8OozPaxkDv8POkS53uYKMu3fo6VcX6ur5rZoWJkKOa0M7G7k57G3Z5K87x3plp_B14ss6sjC05z5LnW-tLo7aA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEideUYc2-DKULv0_zL3UlV9nSRYhIMtsO08JWV2EZiFroMYjJzmChTLQIpMgcysoOGs4Spa0U7uzLIBd_C67kk4wlzvM1tLEhiWwUJl8OozPaxkDv8POkS53uYKMu3fo6VcX6ur5rZoWJkKOa0M7G7k57G3Z5K87x3plp_B14ss6sjC05z5LnW-tLo7aA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Look at the pics Astrid got of the resident bald eagle!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1Z_EHc8NSokXGwF5h_g65Uq7xVklZ5aMFhb_B4hcThf5WjveWVIFYZ1tH8sJ2COTRXZBDE0wWrD0Q-ASCqeYCdRfrUyc_BT3FPLptGxKZbT0Xg-DTfT-MKXAleKBJzk-qZy6A_hNBP1YDaqwQqYDC1es4QV6yNbiX_X__F7h7Sz-phmqWbsLFff6H2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1Z_EHc8NSokXGwF5h_g65Uq7xVklZ5aMFhb_B4hcThf5WjveWVIFYZ1tH8sJ2COTRXZBDE0wWrD0Q-ASCqeYCdRfrUyc_BT3FPLptGxKZbT0Xg-DTfT-MKXAleKBJzk-qZy6A_hNBP1YDaqwQqYDC1es4QV6yNbiX_X__F7h7Sz-phmqWbsLFff6H2A=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>The days were shorter, so the walk ended just before nightfall...and the hordes of mosquitoes!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUzkKxkvhyB8-3VOoXIMvGQZriC9C_A2yYAeOuBwNpg-DHCDQ47pTZA6TX1l7ngC9cDRtRO3ESqtx1eFoT5f0SXYDwHXumkQs-4V1eDjUe9_bDebOku9L-raaa-mnNiVG9c68-AsIkbzBrY5h4-lvlfiNJxCujwUOj_8t7hBC2PPX-h3zkN9LafSE9LQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUzkKxkvhyB8-3VOoXIMvGQZriC9C_A2yYAeOuBwNpg-DHCDQ47pTZA6TX1l7ngC9cDRtRO3ESqtx1eFoT5f0SXYDwHXumkQs-4V1eDjUe9_bDebOku9L-raaa-mnNiVG9c68-AsIkbzBrY5h4-lvlfiNJxCujwUOj_8t7hBC2PPX-h3zkN9LafSE9LQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Sometimes Astrid takes her own walks alone...so, these are her pics.</div><div style="text-align: center;">See why Don and Ruth...and WE...love where they live!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXV7i91_UJxr_VVzUd2bTbebCLDdxwxCV9DK8VvgYlmyqu7MjD6ZIB3a-sQ2vbu7RXpiBqtvco1FIMo8nVUz0rjbbGgfP33GqpwDSCu3Al68VwkWYsN43fDeGNtLya2lAvUgsdarO9eqH0IvO5hY8TSEo-Js2R-2OLMIPqBgHn_E7jo5NbMwQuwNc3Lg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXV7i91_UJxr_VVzUd2bTbebCLDdxwxCV9DK8VvgYlmyqu7MjD6ZIB3a-sQ2vbu7RXpiBqtvco1FIMo8nVUz0rjbbGgfP33GqpwDSCu3Al68VwkWYsN43fDeGNtLya2lAvUgsdarO9eqH0IvO5hY8TSEo-Js2R-2OLMIPqBgHn_E7jo5NbMwQuwNc3Lg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don and Ruth love trying new recipes, like this deep-dish pizza in their cast-iron skillets.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwINyR_1NIPlVlKG4FtgYmcAaDb7Skh2ugDO73Eg8Kp1xzgfrdSZNnY8jEVqHOJd3f0Dat-9d0YctJojvrDk8s-w69_aczeQboLs7cpBbO9lnbhlx4AllPif5sdqTtr7EK-BgYZq7nZbwgg9XtVmfvNgF6GOFsIKgAbNRxok_A5EjF5jQ9Ahe6V39Oqg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwINyR_1NIPlVlKG4FtgYmcAaDb7Skh2ugDO73Eg8Kp1xzgfrdSZNnY8jEVqHOJd3f0Dat-9d0YctJojvrDk8s-w69_aczeQboLs7cpBbO9lnbhlx4AllPif5sdqTtr7EK-BgYZq7nZbwgg9XtVmfvNgF6GOFsIKgAbNRxok_A5EjF5jQ9Ahe6V39Oqg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div>And as if that wasn't enough, how about this complicated lobster bisque (with Reuben sandwiches).</div><div>Did I mention...from scratch? Look at them trying to figure out the recipe on the cupboard!<br />O M G. Guess who are the lucky ones to be their guinea pigs. HA!</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGCdma0hHsMF0ludbd31v44fACJf9jy3zeZ4mvzjcH4VwsgVhA5DCE9wKuHPUpFaBF8rIQuxcSt4NrPAzAzOdNyCIYWXK6l1_ux4g6QVM7b2aK_gcrcPk7YMO4qg3fBON2cmw0n1rLvOaBiCMt3e253jl-TRWBwoqvh2PaHEsySTom7m16BtQNmL5hqQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGCdma0hHsMF0ludbd31v44fACJf9jy3zeZ4mvzjcH4VwsgVhA5DCE9wKuHPUpFaBF8rIQuxcSt4NrPAzAzOdNyCIYWXK6l1_ux4g6QVM7b2aK_gcrcPk7YMO4qg3fBON2cmw0n1rLvOaBiCMt3e253jl-TRWBwoqvh2PaHEsySTom7m16BtQNmL5hqQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>The only sight-seeing outing we took the entire 1.5 weeks was to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonington,_Maine"><b>Stonington</b></a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the lobster capital of Maine, on a gorgeous, sunny day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg85DNUe-pBPy63EduosjcWrZet3XjEjTmbZvYqbsiRl15SYx0Kl-O2TOyHekZI9j3ESLd6oprlOtxhbFNlQBKXDpy0baVFf3tIP5GksrQRwoQuIEUlskKK_oWsqVv3qyeoc8nvgQKyknQJtZ_1etqu3ZZbGae-QwV21KbD1Wc9M6CnwyS0ZBh3IRg1Hg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg85DNUe-pBPy63EduosjcWrZet3XjEjTmbZvYqbsiRl15SYx0Kl-O2TOyHekZI9j3ESLd6oprlOtxhbFNlQBKXDpy0baVFf3tIP5GksrQRwoQuIEUlskKK_oWsqVv3qyeoc8nvgQKyknQJtZ_1etqu3ZZbGae-QwV21KbD1Wc9M6CnwyS0ZBh3IRg1Hg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>You know me and architecture. Can you tell that this is New England?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxL4keCgs2cxA8pz7GqyRyB2LOZs5DIvgqbLrTrcddzlGqIWWUExrP5S-1eJA7dLRsUqaB9TafKzjYZfqXRUWTSWv0bpiPw-h989thnVSvqWBatawSlYBQJzSw8iRXpyPfDgM3FSJL5Wyr6mwabOXkLV9E7JNOMgegGdaoJw8xXQk1cdAjfn8txgmdmQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxL4keCgs2cxA8pz7GqyRyB2LOZs5DIvgqbLrTrcddzlGqIWWUExrP5S-1eJA7dLRsUqaB9TafKzjYZfqXRUWTSWv0bpiPw-h989thnVSvqWBatawSlYBQJzSw8iRXpyPfDgM3FSJL5Wyr6mwabOXkLV9E7JNOMgegGdaoJw8xXQk1cdAjfn8txgmdmQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>This is what Astrid saw....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg068aWGmHNyZaz8ag4VBzJF4bSKVSrLXmjT7-O_VCgqFiyT5iw4ohPVT-zq-Ua2YnD6023jHcA2QqqHV_b1OUaCYR3tGXEn7ZQZgQXwi7FpX8_r1o_FvpcdUzr4noP54gF6DnbWe9PE9JGUeV0r9WaekA0ERD7xGjxWvdHPtxuYYT0Zuwcs3kcbtSdDQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg068aWGmHNyZaz8ag4VBzJF4bSKVSrLXmjT7-O_VCgqFiyT5iw4ohPVT-zq-Ua2YnD6023jHcA2QqqHV_b1OUaCYR3tGXEn7ZQZgQXwi7FpX8_r1o_FvpcdUzr4noP54gF6DnbWe9PE9JGUeV0r9WaekA0ERD7xGjxWvdHPtxuYYT0Zuwcs3kcbtSdDQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>and this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We're both similar/different witnesses to the same thing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And as outings go, it was perfect to have it be the only one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSooTC6qrOrIPkQ_RCVkJ1pb_nH6Q6WkxLZSk9GP88Zrh4y6z9uWkLb88UKfvYdIGxvIye9wXKgiyTWRjSozjuomThcGUjgFGnYvL19HLdvZPHRyV2bjwIIxmAQXz1EaoTbw55cbk9Qom1aL3UKTajb4L7h99VovdRLynTRhsF-y1WNGUA79--dREcVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSooTC6qrOrIPkQ_RCVkJ1pb_nH6Q6WkxLZSk9GP88Zrh4y6z9uWkLb88UKfvYdIGxvIye9wXKgiyTWRjSozjuomThcGUjgFGnYvL19HLdvZPHRyV2bjwIIxmAQXz1EaoTbw55cbk9Qom1aL3UKTajb4L7h99VovdRLynTRhsF-y1WNGUA79--dREcVA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>In the meantime, everyone (except <i>moi</i>!) was working on projects.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Besides helping Don hang a cupboard in the garage, Astrid made a copper hanger</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the slate shingle painting she happened to find. It didn't make sense for US to keep it,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so she left it for Don and Ruth: a Maine keepsake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwOw-mOymcVW4noqjAW0nG7hKNQCe7zAXsW9S4sLl-21HziFQGY8M8J0HbrtTjdKklo1C_6rF03VK9AIzEyoSJr7Tu9IGZ-D2G-84o1Ec15MePFzuYwL0xGIEmlvUihGwCqDVqPHmqJ44SML2bSBdTAlS6zqJ3Gf2OrEEMZkRU2AwIRbMUez1fyLWo3g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwOw-mOymcVW4noqjAW0nG7hKNQCe7zAXsW9S4sLl-21HziFQGY8M8J0HbrtTjdKklo1C_6rF03VK9AIzEyoSJr7Tu9IGZ-D2G-84o1Ec15MePFzuYwL0xGIEmlvUihGwCqDVqPHmqJ44SML2bSBdTAlS6zqJ3Gf2OrEEMZkRU2AwIRbMUez1fyLWo3g=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>And besides all their meals, Don and Ruth made jam out of their yard's blackberries</div><div style="text-align: center;">(giving us a bottle to bring back home with us, thanks to their generosity!).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBegIPasMZNtX4kHGyE-dYYDSoIgxsI8HYjl1bEJs40aNdNylPfsgjwgKiSl4sD-vgk7vqYRHO13sGa5ChqJxaF23gLoQyUV_pL8P7tDGDe5PbKNtU2ubRGwqmgrZHNBAXEQh5KkrT202PXKgzx6QtGVzww71BNWP7QL77VRc8RZMF8TR9ixKgPcHeLQ/s4000/09B6F411-FB49-414D-AA29-673C1CA624CE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBegIPasMZNtX4kHGyE-dYYDSoIgxsI8HYjl1bEJs40aNdNylPfsgjwgKiSl4sD-vgk7vqYRHO13sGa5ChqJxaF23gLoQyUV_pL8P7tDGDe5PbKNtU2ubRGwqmgrZHNBAXEQh5KkrT202PXKgzx6QtGVzww71BNWP7QL77VRc8RZMF8TR9ixKgPcHeLQ/w640-h640/09B6F411-FB49-414D-AA29-673C1CA624CE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But of all the projects Don and Astrid did, THIS was THE ONE to top the charts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a cutting board (one of Don's hobbies) for Astrid's son Jeroen. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOl_aS64GJKwV0OAwZUCVALsTkKUhaNXa4kp16YZ0C8EaXVCCMtZsJdqzXW7vHWAQ5Nhl5402YzVpd3cLo5f9eUf8K28UCGg4DqKSvPHg0JOCqKzc-ik70o4dXtBVkKPrU3x1FubeCt6KRnZvT_fJRn5mN2zhrzhFQFapD0VmqeAic3Uj7jAzCEvnHw/s4000/75F4B966-D461-467D-9307-0D0589C9E875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOl_aS64GJKwV0OAwZUCVALsTkKUhaNXa4kp16YZ0C8EaXVCCMtZsJdqzXW7vHWAQ5Nhl5402YzVpd3cLo5f9eUf8K28UCGg4DqKSvPHg0JOCqKzc-ik70o4dXtBVkKPrU3x1FubeCt6KRnZvT_fJRn5mN2zhrzhFQFapD0VmqeAic3Uj7jAzCEvnHw/w640-h640/75F4B966-D461-467D-9307-0D0589C9E875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don helped her through every step of the process from choosing the wood, planing, gluing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and clamping it, sanding and planing again, oiling and waxing. Step after step for a week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPMZmcDLcGmTjeQyW--RngJDyx7w1ZzO978-IIJzz_Tt4QDlCcS94HpAZZelkG9_Im0Tm_Fu9xUGaRgWsCjnKRdYCWWJqTVgncZSadpL5vOzaTZMBMMZEyQEFD015lW3nrdqUwBpoMmC1cbAvqM8sTygpF_B-2pSAvkW-1LWCO3HenCzUPUiFKuafZA/s2000/Cutting%20Board.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="2000" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPMZmcDLcGmTjeQyW--RngJDyx7w1ZzO978-IIJzz_Tt4QDlCcS94HpAZZelkG9_Im0Tm_Fu9xUGaRgWsCjnKRdYCWWJqTVgncZSadpL5vOzaTZMBMMZEyQEFD015lW3nrdqUwBpoMmC1cbAvqM8sTygpF_B-2pSAvkW-1LWCO3HenCzUPUiFKuafZA/w640-h272/Cutting%20Board.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I couldn't show it on FB until we came home to give it to Jeroen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But talk about Happy Campers: All THREE of them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(BTW, it's made out of white oak, cherry, ash and black walnut.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI_GOS-EaKy60xvpRaVfjmovZPH-xecfguttX7cs09pvvH-HVP8Ok6lGF2VhF_yATQFkeGGmzsPaMvCpgGh_fEDWcnsuv3fszkUq9moMMYMyJ_Y1EJxGFh2In0T3qBSwSGlx1YnP2iA4_zXLUPYHTJGjJLi38behChKVYiFE_zvr9d8GnsRraxTSiCjw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI_GOS-EaKy60xvpRaVfjmovZPH-xecfguttX7cs09pvvH-HVP8Ok6lGF2VhF_yATQFkeGGmzsPaMvCpgGh_fEDWcnsuv3fszkUq9moMMYMyJ_Y1EJxGFh2In0T3qBSwSGlx1YnP2iA4_zXLUPYHTJGjJLi38behChKVYiFE_zvr9d8GnsRraxTSiCjw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">But now back to Searsport. This was the first time I walked with Astrid,</div><div style="text-align: center;">including our last trip in 2019, the 6-km round-trip into town.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUEXynYHlgZ3ANpREI4F_M0nfaX0f1wMciaWHjgIpGFWGxGUxcN8B33lDpJXhxzL9bbcM1uhj_d_1Ml6Aj8P6npls6Nwk5aalvR2ijpoZ-hIR9LxuYdcn-xq2DMVXYUndRIgf1HsDg5PcdAzaZFDXwbH6ynGHJrvNFtyO7z5F2rTYWmDRO6xvbYylChg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUEXynYHlgZ3ANpREI4F_M0nfaX0f1wMciaWHjgIpGFWGxGUxcN8B33lDpJXhxzL9bbcM1uhj_d_1Ml6Aj8P6npls6Nwk5aalvR2ijpoZ-hIR9LxuYdcn-xq2DMVXYUndRIgf1HsDg5PcdAzaZFDXwbH6ynGHJrvNFtyO7z5F2rTYWmDRO6xvbYylChg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>I really DO like architecture. I really DO like New England.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOXF6y-od1WchfNPchnh9qo1P1FBacPE1bt7nJ-erLxHBadu6wXt2_6i6NWwYoXfCPnjjVT2WNFZdHU1GyVvAAyFq5XgOkY4z8mgNvgiwMpjSUTnMGa8-m_YBWJkINPxs5GklAFxE8Xp8Fa01cTOyICUfJoVij_ET3hupYZrsl7b5pIuoYnl-dXjz8pQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOXF6y-od1WchfNPchnh9qo1P1FBacPE1bt7nJ-erLxHBadu6wXt2_6i6NWwYoXfCPnjjVT2WNFZdHU1GyVvAAyFq5XgOkY4z8mgNvgiwMpjSUTnMGa8-m_YBWJkINPxs5GklAFxE8Xp8Fa01cTOyICUfJoVij_ET3hupYZrsl7b5pIuoYnl-dXjz8pQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div>Astrid's pics.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5Vyh7ZifJWGvEXiqkhrXysoMIrbGClk6UTHVjSS0MOun1t-DHLQIPm4gnfucGQ_7gmCYFuhT9uONeVv8vnL-3Yc_Npj3zcNLdq-ioppXMjIjoOehHYKSuw4JnO5yXQqn_xaKytPgZi__ekULK_z-vj3rfJzCDILl5IskyLH60thF8cz9HXdzfYlqkA/s2000/Games.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="2000" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5Vyh7ZifJWGvEXiqkhrXysoMIrbGClk6UTHVjSS0MOun1t-DHLQIPm4gnfucGQ_7gmCYFuhT9uONeVv8vnL-3Yc_Npj3zcNLdq-ioppXMjIjoOehHYKSuw4JnO5yXQqn_xaKytPgZi__ekULK_z-vj3rfJzCDILl5IskyLH60thF8cz9HXdzfYlqkA/w640-h544/Games.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In between everything, we played games: mostly Five Crowns (which we learned in England).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AND, in the evenings, we watched the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(TV_series)"><b>Alone</b></a></i> 7th TV series of the 100-day Arctic $1m challenge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7vFNtppA0_mTE7B3MPiTag9qFQt3m08vMHVvc9c_EX5e69tEG6vewK_8w5s-suNSm75wZBV4jtWjzzo9UUfd0UkxMZQJUotTw7WHJHT4wrB0OhbQcVh7dFiTS8pQfgD-qtB_tugvypMVv4yniRm5FRjjQd1hnRfBLHe4jv1IN1DcBdZk-waqIpvolAQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="912" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7vFNtppA0_mTE7B3MPiTag9qFQt3m08vMHVvc9c_EX5e69tEG6vewK_8w5s-suNSm75wZBV4jtWjzzo9UUfd0UkxMZQJUotTw7WHJHT4wrB0OhbQcVh7dFiTS8pQfgD-qtB_tugvypMVv4yniRm5FRjjQd1hnRfBLHe4jv1IN1DcBdZk-waqIpvolAQ=w400-h272" width="400" /></a></div>After all that, on Friday, the 2nd of September, we left Searsport for Cooperstown, NY,</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the wedding of our niece, Jennifer, and her Joshua, on Sunday the 4th.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another story altogether, so, to be continued....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">As a BTW, for those of you who reply to my posts when they arrive in your InBox, instead of commenting on my posts here, now that I'm using a different feedburner, my post notices are from a no-reply address. Please make sure you change the email address, otherwise I won't receive your replies. Thank you. You know who you are.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10327858.post-40710401097100353552022-08-16T10:44:00.000+02:002022-08-16T10:44:59.262+02:00And Yet Another Test Post!<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Please bear with me as I continue to sort out my new subscriber email feed, which had to be switched after Google terminated their Feedburner option. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have chosen Follow-It as my new subscriber feed but in the last <a href="https://ginniehart.blogspot.com/2022/08/this-is-test-post.html"><b>test post</b></a>, I found out that the email sent out to followers came from Follow-It and not from me/<i>In Soul</i>. Some of you caught it but I have a feeling some of you didn't.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, I went back to the drawing board with Follow-It and discovered that with a nominal paying plan, I can have the sender be anyone I want. So it is now Ginnie Hart (not Follow-It). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thus this NEW test post...to see if, in fact, this post comes to all of us from ME, which is what I want, obviously (so you don't miss it, of course). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And because the <a href="https://follow.it/intro"><b>Follow-It</b></a> customer service is beyond compare, I highly recommend it for any others of you who are in the same boat (Ted Roth!!). Here's another tribute to them...because their base is in Malta, where we have such fond memories from 2016. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDGDYbVXH0ZMSl66Wqm5BaGvfc8_3GMA03XDaWad5mB54mkUTQJvA3AQvOI6MjXq4xcHCkMkxVMT77eQIwLCAMqzPG269tALVLMng7OJsUn6jBm_nAg6I5wh4dBsc8mmPT_RKlLGGD5OdWUYXUW3Yx5SmacJvCcwcSuQeXfTWDqtuMk_qCXTdiMebzg/s725/Malta-IMG_3303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="725" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDGDYbVXH0ZMSl66Wqm5BaGvfc8_3GMA03XDaWad5mB54mkUTQJvA3AQvOI6MjXq4xcHCkMkxVMT77eQIwLCAMqzPG269tALVLMng7OJsUn6jBm_nAg6I5wh4dBsc8mmPT_RKlLGGD5OdWUYXUW3Yx5SmacJvCcwcSuQeXfTWDqtuMk_qCXTdiMebzg/w640-h428/Malta-IMG_3303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again, if you happen to see THIS post, I'd be delighted to know. THANK YOU. Hopefully by now it's all sorted out! </div><p><br /></p>Ginnie Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014434422568561157noreply@blogger.com7