Driving to Texel, Nederlands, August 23, 2008

And we enter Holland.

cute car...

first old windmill sighting...

cool bridge...

flat farm land, note the new windmills on the horizon...

dike with the first of many sheep sightings...

local industry...

we had a surprise as we entered Den Helder...

waiting for the Ferry at Den Helder

a tall ship coming into the harbor

lots going on this weekend....

our Ferry arrives....

a look back at Den Helder, check out the naval ships....

getting closer, island in view, as well as gulls....

excited, almost there.....

WHAT! only a thirty minute ride!

We made it, and they left the light on for us!

Waterloo-being there

Wils get to handle an infantry sword. It is pretty heavy according to him. The French re-enactor chuckles as we all look on.

Paul says this guy is "Hardcore" meaning for us laymen to reenacting: His outfit is well researched and put together....nothing "farbie" about it.

We like reenactors. V and Paul posing with the infantry. This guy to the right looks the part: right age, right size, (also a good looking Frenchman...yeah Pauls holding on to Vaden pretty tight in this picture)

Here is a statue of the little man himself. This is an excellent museum to visit. We thought the info was given in creative and varying ways. There is even a tour of the battle field by four wheel open bus. We chose not to go as we had a ferry to catch....we also felt like that was for the real enthusiast of the battle ie. lots of Brits the day we visited, they like it here, they won!

Waterloo-getting there

We set off on August 23rd to find Waterloo, Belgium curious about Napoleon and the famous battle.

We found Waterloo and after we saw a multimedia staging of the battle and then an excellent short movie that set the mood and stage, both made to music, the international language. Here we are at foot of the Lion Monument.

Going up to the top of the Monument. Lots of steps and narrow.

Stryker-Ann strikes a pose with Mr. Lion, dedicated to the 47,000 soldiers on all sides, killed or wounded at the Battle of Waterloo.

Vaden reading the map of the battlefield and troop positions. This was an amazing view of the countryside and made you pause to think of the waste and destruction of war.

Making apple chutney...with a camera, by Vaden

Sooo... what do you do at 11:00 at night??
Well, I take pictures..


And mom makes apple chutney...(apples from our trees)


And Peter helps...


He also says 'hi'...


Wils asks if we're crazy...


Stryker-Ann reads...



And we all await the result...tomorrow!

Dat Wrasseklie Wabbit

Adding a little to your knowledge base of nature and Kulture.... and it is German in origin...who would have thought:

Spring has sprung, which means it's time once again for that usually shy and secretive mammal the rabbit to endure a brief, yet intense period in the spotlight. Rabbits have since ancient times been considered symbols of hope, life, and renewal, particularly during springtime when fertility levels are highest. Then along came Easter and with it a whole new level of responsibility for the rabbit.

It was actually a European hare, or brown hare, that held the impressive credentials of being the original Easter Bunny, according to a Germanic legend dating back to the 1500s. The ritual of children preparing nests and eagerly anticipating the arrival of Oster Haas (Easter hare), who delivers brightly colored eggs on Easter morning, has taken place in German-speaking countries for centuries. In the United States the cottontail rabbit has been designated as the official deliverer of Easter treats. This is easily evidenced by the lyrics in popular holiday tunes such as "Peter Cottontail," and the presence of that signature fluffy white behind in every commercial rendition of the Easter Rabbit imaginable.

For the whole article and pictures click on:
enature.com/articles/detail.asp?storyID=563

Paul and I saw a Hare in the woods several weeks ago...so that makes 10 sitings of "wild things". And it is HUGE...I believe that it really could hold a basket . When it sat up straight, its ears were well to mid thigh. Then it hopped off...or rather a loping hop.

The kids get out of school today for TWO whole weeks...and we are dyeing and painting eggs today!

Sound of Music and Berchtesgaden

We (recently? it's been over a week, now!) returned from a trip to Austria and Southeast Germany where Paul had a week of meetings to attend. The business side was well-attended and wonderfully staffed, so THAT was good - on the family side, we had a great time in and around Salzburg and the mountains of Berchtesgadenerland (say that 10 times fast).
Can you guess where we are in the film "Sound of Music"?
Remember to click for a larger view - because this post has so many pics, we're viewing them at smaller sizes.