ANTICIPATION, IS MAKING ME W...A...I...T...!

Image by Darwin Bell via Flickr

Spring is sure to come soon, at least I'm crossing my fingers!

I love Bavaria in the snow, but now the beauty of it has given way to its'  impracticality.  The snow has melted and  the diving temperatures have left sheets of ice on the roads and sidewalks making navigating in the city very dangerous.  The slushy re-frozen residue is ugly and the wind is bitter. 

 I'm afraid the fairy tale Bavarian Winter has run it course....at least for me.

My mind is months ahead.  Since we have lots on the agenda, I find that it is difficult to be in the "here and now."  I am dreaming of the months ahead and the events that will take us to the warm sunshine. 

Image by quinet via Flickr

I just want to escape the cold! 

I am looking at returning to the U.S. in late March to take the family to Disney World.  The warm temperatures of Florida are tempting me so much that it is all I can do not to book an earlier flight.

So many times I wish I could be in two places at one time.  I know I will return to Munich by May-- in time for my mother-in-law to arrive from Australia.   But,  in July, we have dear friends whose daughter is getting married back in the states.   The wedding, in the plans now, will be in Harbor Springs, Michigan where the bride has always dreamed it would be.

Image by sparktography via Flickr

In September, hubby has been invited to be a guest speaker at a conference in, YA HOO--  Brazil!  This will be our first first trip to South America where the temperatures are beckoning me now, as I blog.  Beaches, sun, warmth-- instead of -2 degrees and freezing. 

Bring it on!

Finally, in  October, we are planning to take a Mediterranean Cruise with our Shanghai Expat Friends Couples group.  Each year we plan a reunion and this year it will be on a cruise ship while exploring the Greek islands.

Meanwhile, I have to find a way to enjoy the present.

Image via Wikipedia

But as the map below shows, I'm hardly alone here in the Northern Hemisphere.

So, I will stop dreaming of the future and like millions of others braving the cold temperatures, I'll zip up my parka and don my ski cap and pray that Jack Frost is kind and spring isn't far behind.. 

OZ EXPERIENCES

This is a "Cutout Frangipani" blossom that dropped onto my deck chair at the Gold Coast in Australia.

  I thought it's clear white petals with the swirl of the opening of the frangipani on the cool blue weave of the deck chair an interesting contrast of colors.

Throughout Australia, and in the Gold Coast, are these glorious trees called the

Image by Black Diamond Images via Flickr

Brachychiton acerifolius - Illawarra Flame Tree.  It is a pleasing sight to see these trees so plentiful throughout Queensland and elsewhere.  They are very common and are seen in residential areas as a part of the typical landscape.

Here is another typical Australian flower, the Pom Pom Bottlebrush.  I am fond of it's airy shape and similar appearance to an exploding fireworks display. 

Image by Georgie Sharp via Flickr

Image by Stephen Edmonds via Flickr

 

Image by Georgie Sharp via Flickr

Image by Georgie Sharp via Flickr

Another Queensland flower is the Myrtle.  It too makes for a striking display of colors along walkways and garden beds.

Here is the Myrtle flower in white and just as beautiful!

Image by Georgie Sharp via Flickr

Hats off to Christmas, by Georgie Sharp, is a sign that Christmas is near.

This is called, "Christmas Dance," by Georgie Sharp, and the hats are off!

Image by Tatters:) via Flickr

Above are the Flame flowers on the concrete after they have fallen off the trees.  They look like tiny litte red hats!

Image by frangipani photograph via Flickr

 

Image by shuttergirl3 via Flickr

Image by esp22 via Flickr

The one above is the "Red Poppy."

Image by ArunaR via Flickr

Image by Michael in San Diego, California via Flickr

This is also a "Bottlebrush" flower.  I had this kind in my bridal flower arrangement when Steve and I were married in Tweed Heads, Australia.  They are amazing flowers that actually grow on trees and are seen just about everywhere in Aus. and in gorgeous reds as well.

Image via Wikipedia

I would have to say of all of Australias' many beautiful plants, trees, and shrubs, the one that, in my mind, is singularly spectacular is the large jacaranda in full bloom.  Each time we go to Australia to visit the family, I never fail to let out a huge gasp wheneve we approach one of these amazing trees.  Next to a wisteria, it has to be one of my most favorite trees.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

These are known as banksia and grow on the coastal areas of Australia because they can take the salt air.  They resemble the bottlebrush, in a way.

Image via Wikipedia

Personally, I am partial to the pink orchid that is abundant in Australia.  They come in all varieties, but I especially prefer the first one shown here, also known as the "Cooktown" vairet, probably after Captain Cook who discovered the Australian continent.  The second photo is of a two toned variety, also very pretty.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The photo above, by my favorite Australian wildflower photographer, Georgie Sharp, is called "Kangaroo Paws."  How appropriate is that?  Leave it to the Aussies to come up with an original name for this flower!

The flowering eucalyptus flower, by Barbara J H is also another fanciful flower I love.

I know I didn't even get the tip of the iceburg when it comes to Australian wildflowers, but I think you can agree that they are blessed with beauty. 

This is the "Red Pom Pom Bottlebrush"plant.

TO OUR GRANDSON, WITH LOVE!

Over the past 17 years  we have made numerous guesses as to what our grandchildren might like for a Christmas gift or a birthday gift.  But it wasn't until THIS year that one of them said, "THANK YOU" in his "OWN" handwriting! 

Some of our grand kids are just now learning how to print. Traditionally, their parents were always prompt with a generous amount of appreciation.  They have never neglected to instruct their children to say, "Thank You!" Three siblings, on their most recent birthday, (all in September!!) gave us a very special SKYPE "Thank You."  We were able to see the children, with their gifts!   One of their gifts was a Tomy Megasketcher.  In the few short months since their birthdays,  the children have learned to write their names on their Megasketchers!  Written "Thank Yous" are now just a few steps away.  Soon, like their older cousin, Nico, 7, they will be able to send their very own handwritten "Thank Yous." 

Our two Aussie grandchildren are also still too young to write, yet are encouraged to phone their Mimi and Papa with their words of thanks.  Oftentimes, their mum will share their happiness with a certain gift with us by email.  They too are being taught how to express their thanks. 

It surely wasn't the gift we sent our 7 year-old grandson, Nico, that resulted in his display of gratitude because we have sent all of the grandchildren gifts of equal or greater value throughout the years.  Since he is of a tender age, we can't help but credit his mommy and daddy for instilling this wonderful quality of of thankfulness in him.  By their diligence in making sure that no gift goes by without a courteous "Thank You," we have great hopes that he will grow up continuing to be appreciative of the kindness of others.

In the past, when he was too young to write, his mom would send us emails with photos of him opening his gift with a huge smile!  She would always write a kind note of thanks, and have Nico phone us to personally thank us.

 Now, following her lead, here is what we received yesterday in overseas post for his most recent birthday gift:

                     What a wonderful gift to give to your children, thankfulness. 

In this season of Thanksgiving, while we are all inspired to think about what we are thankful for, my husband and I have to say that these grandchildren don't let an opportunity go by without thanking those who have been kind to them. They are shining examples of what the holiday is all about.    

I think you can tell how very proud we are of them!   Thank you, my darlings!  (And of course, thank you to their mommies and daddies as well, you are doing a wonderful job!)

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"WALTZING MATILDA"

Ever have one of those moments when reality is, well, just plain surreal?

I mean, like when you are just going about your everyday business and then, WHAM! What you thought was happening, isn't really happening anymore? You know, it becomes a blip in the program-- a quark in the universe--a WOOOOW moment that steals your breath away and you are, in an instant, transported into some kind of a parallel universe?

It happened to me just this week while acting as an unofficial tour guide through Germany into Austria with my Austrailian mother-in-law. Truly, it was an experience I will never forget for as long as I live and one that will surely linger in my memory forever.

It all began after a whirlwind tour of Vienna, Austria. We had spent two amazing evenings enjoying dinner out and a Mozart concert one evening, and a Beethoven concert the next. Another day was spent at the Albertina studying the brushstrokes of the Masters. Rembrandt, Matisse, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Klimt, Munch, Picasso, and on and on, ad infinitum. One could have spent weeks exploring this mammoth museum, we spent one day packing it ALL in.

However, I found that not one of these, "once in a lifetime, " experiences could match what was about to come.

Remember when I said that, "I was stolen away to another dimension," or something like that? Surely enough, it began as Jaci (my mother-in-law) and I were descending the down escalator to the U-2 (subway) in central Vienna after nine hours of sight-seeing (on foot, mind you).

Jaci entered the escalator first, and I followed a few stairs behind her. About three-quarters of the way down the escalator, we began to hear the faint sounds of the "Weiner Walzer," or better known in English as the Viennese Waltz. The music was being piped in to the underground subway from speakers overhead.

Once off the escalator and back on terra firma, my 78 year old mother-in-law starts to regress into a child-like waif and the next thing I know she is flitting from side to side with an imaginary partner waltzing her way through the hustle and bustle of people that make up the underground in a large city like Vienna.

I am just a few steps behind her, still waiting for MY descent from the escalator when a man rushes hurriedly along beside me and jumps off the escalator only a step or two in front of me. I blinked my eyes to discover that his reason for rushing past me was to mimic my (did I say 78 years old? Strike that, young) mother-in-law.

Now, he is precisely behind her and at this very moment she is unaware that he is shadowing her every dance move. Now, I wish you were with me at the moment she turned around. You would have loved to have seen the look on her face when she twirled about, while still gliding to and fro to the music in time to discover a dashing (handsome?) man imitating her dance steps!

I can tell you, it was priceless--that look, it was. But that wasn't what transported me--not yet, anyways.

In one fell swoop, he took her in his arms and swept her off her feet (literally) to the strains of Johann Strauss. Reminiscent of an episode of "Dancing With the Stars," I envisioned Bruno Tonioli's face in distinct shock as I witnessed the couple rotating first clockwise, and then counter-clockwise, to the tempo of the great Viennese Waltz.

Glimpsing out of the corner of my eye, around the underground, I saw a crowd swiftly gathering in a large circle. Every face was now grinning from ear to ear. It was all I could do to grab my camera and click away before the moment was gone.

I tell you, it was so surreal, so impromptu, so passionate, these two star-crossed dancers, that you just had to see it to believe it!

And now, you can....

The "Waltzing" stranger in the middle of Vienna's underground swooping my mother-in-law off her feet!

Another shot of the dashing fellow, smiling for the camera, as he whisks her away.

I tell you, she could of laid that old white hat on the floor and she and I could have spent another whole week in Vienna with the crowd that gathered as they danced blissfully unaware of everyones' amazement and delight.

And then, like Antonio Banderas in "Zorro," he bowed at the waist and dissapeared.....

Mr. Fixit was Here Today

Here's Mike hanging a light fixture in

Steve's study. He arrived at 8:30 am this morning and worked constantly installing heaps of lighting fixtures. This one (once the cardboard was removed) will allow us to have light in many areas of the room.

I called Mike from Huntcrest Co. who could not only install 6 ceiling light fixtures and hang 8 over sized paintings today, but said he would come back to hang four more light fixtures and rewire six lamps for me next week. This is wonderful and his rates are very reasonable. I highly recommend them as their work is impeccable and they are very professional. (Plus, he said he could tell our paintings weren't from Ikea!) He took extra special care of all of our belongings.

Below is a photo of our new light fixture in the dining room. It matches a couple of lamps we have for the living room end tables. I'm addicted to the crystals though--I have to stop, or soon I will have Steve's bedroom slippers trimmed in crystal. Actually, he might like that--just kidding.

We chose this light fixture in the photo below for the stairwell to the second floor. It is going to look great at night. No more sneaking around at night with a torch for a drink of water. We're back in the 21st Century!

The place is now looking more like a home. Our paintings from Bali have been hung, our Australian Aboriginal paintings, Steve's painting of the Silk Road, and our Chinese panels have all found a home here. It has occurred to me that these objects have all magically found a home in three countries in the last five years. I find it amazing that they all fit and we were able to use each one.

The next photo was a surprise. I opened a box and this gem was inside. I must have bought it in Shanghai right before our exit move. I have never had it out and I was so excited to find a place to display it. I bought it in Shanghai at Xintandi at an art dealer's shop. The artist had painted various different scenes on rocks. I love the one shown below. It is simple, yet elegant.

.

Even Steve's favorite stuffed animal, "Buddy" made the trip. He has found his home on the window sill right in front of Steve's work desk. I asked Steve why he wanted to take Buddy along with us to Germany and his answer was, "Because he makes me happy!"

That's my hubby, a man of very few needs and who is sincerely happy with the "little things" in life. Just one more reason why I love him. Plus, Buddy doesn't eat anything and he never complains about his perch over Steve's desk; what's not to like?

Totally unrelated to our "Mr. Fixit" day is the following. I found a suspicious video on You Tube today. It appears that the Swine Flu Pandemic, that has had us all shivering in our boots, was here before........ in 1976!

Take a look for yourself and let me know if you think we haven't all over-reacted and are all a bunch of scardey cats. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk