Helmut's 70th. Birthday Party

Helmut turned 70 on Feb. 24. 2008. I invited his sisters and brother-in-laws for a surprise party; our own family came as expected on the 23rd. for supper. Mark was unable to attend because he was suffering from an ear infection and ruptured ear drum. In the mid afternoon Waltraud called that they weren't going to make it but in the end they were able to join us.

T. was over here with us overnight on Friday. You can see him still in his pj's playing with a big box in the first two pictures. He wouldn't settle for a nap at the right time and ended up sleeping through supper so didn't get in the pictures at the table.

Asaph & Waltraud left soon after supper as she wasn't feeling all so well and Cammie & T. left then because T. woke up in a bad mood. Ruth & Andrew both went out with their respective friends.

The rest of us a had a good visit and spent time reviewing our pictures of Germany.

Beginners Sewing

I love to sew as most of you know. At New years eve T. was staying with us over night and since I was doing a little sewing I had him "help" me. We made him a pair of sweat pants. He is a little short legged to reach the foot control and be able to help feed the cloth through the machine at the same time. The best we could do together was for him to sit on my lap and help feed the cloth. He got to raise and lower the foot when necessary.

PS -T. is not as "destitute" as he looks without a shirt. He just gets hot when racing around with Opa which was what he was up to before the sewing lesson.

The Pussy's Cat -astrophic Experience

There once was a Pussy Cat of fine character who lived in an old house in a cold climate. The Pussy was a black and white fellow with a slightly suspicious attitude towards strangers. Upon finding an unknown workman in the old house the Pussy stood around and hissed at him.

One day the workman needed to do some work near the heat vent of the room and had to remove the grill from the vent, inadvertently he forgot to replace the grill on the vent before leaving for home. Later the Pussy's master discovered that the Pussy had taken upon itself to become the vent duct "sweep"; practicing in its own way the old trade of "chimney sweep". The master wasn't so thrilled with the results and certainly let the workman know. I never heard if the Pussy had to have an unwelcome bath or vacuum cleaning treatment or not.

The incident was not quite cat-astrophic enough to get the workman fired from his job and he has returned today to continue with the work and to see what type of encounter he may have with the Pussy. (The author doesn't know the cat's proper name so thus the use of "Pussy".)


I submit this post because of the recent comments between myself and some of my friends about cats.

Silly Poem

It is beautiful out
A bit cold for traipsing about
Better cover the snout
Here I sit in a pout
Foot is sore with gout
Even a stick so stout
Doesn't help me get about.


Written on a very cold sunny Feb. 20, 2008, by me, myself & I. So after I had a report from the person that I sent it to that she had a laugh I thought I'd share my silliness around.

The foot is starting to be less painful so that when I am not on it it doesn't hurt.

The weather has changed quite a bit and was really a pleasant winter temperature today but very cloudy all day and a few flakes of snow in the late afternoon.

The things I miss most about the summer are the beautiful flowers so that is why I have posted one picture from Insel Mainau last May. It is a rhododendron.

Auto ID

The race car is a Mercedes Benz the other two I don't know but many people there in Germany drove similar ones.

Automobiles

Don't ask me to identify the various makes and years of the automobiles. I know how to drive some of them and I really appreciate the ones that run. These pictures are only a few of the many cars that we took in Germany.



























Some were used ones forsale and the race car was on display in the museum.

Today we are a bit frustrated because two of the four vehicles in the at home family are out of commission. So One person has been acting a chaufer back and forth hither and yon for the last couple of days. Our mini van is working fine and today we renewed the insurance on the big van. A's VW has some major problem so he is not driving it at all. R.'s CRV has a dead heater so when it is very cold the windshield won't clear so she can't always drive it. The CRV is slated for a repair appointment tomorrow. A. ordered a kit of parts for the VW so we will see how soon it arrives and how long it will take to get the work done.

Travel Wishes

I was tagged by Valerie VE for five places that I have never seen.

1. Switzerland
2. Kalene Mission - Zambia
3. Canadian east coast - Nova Scotia for sure. PEI
4. NW USA
5. Grand Canyon

This list could go on and on. Some things are not feesable because of the cost.

I dreamed of seeing places in the far north but at my age I'm not sure I'm up to that anymore.

Places I could go to again:

Germany (but not this year)
Western NY state
Ottawa, ON
Vancouver & Victoria, BC


I tag Cortney P., Courtney Nelson & Andrea Scarff , Pat VE & anyone else who will take the challenge.

NO NO NO!

No new pictures this week. Just haven't taken time to take any.
No funny incidents to tell anyone about.
No motivation to write on the blog.

Just thought that I'd let you all know why there is nothing new here.