back in the USA!!!

 Coming home from Europe is tiring.  We got up at 4:45, made it on to the bus before six a.m., headed two hours north to Oslo to the airport.  Our flight left at ten something, then we landed at one something.  An eight and a half hour flight, but the time change, so the day went on and on...the shuttle from the airport to where we parked, then on the road a bit after three.  Home by nine at night.  What a day.

The airport:  on the way there, oh the line to get through security!  I can't believe I walked!  :). The way home, security was quick, but of course I beeped.  I told them I had a new knee, and yes it set off the alarm, so I had to go through the other machine.  We went in the duty free shop and got chocolate, then through passport control...the line was long, and it was very warm in the airport.  ugh.  I walked though!

Our vacation was wonderful.  God is good.  The bottom bunk wasn't wonderful, but I managed to sleep okay, in fits and starts.  I think the key was to have such amazing fun filled days, I would get so tired.  One thing that was special:  Paul and I stayed in the same place as Kathryn and Darius and the kids, and I would be so happy to see them every morning.  One fine morning, I was fast asleep (it's the only thing I do fast, ha), when I heard Jamie say, "I slept like a good boy!"  oh, the cuteness!  

The fjord...yes, beach days in Norway!  The sun doesn't set there until almost eleven at night!

Kaia is a beach baby...a Norwegian beach baby (her daddy is Norwegian).  She got to see her other grandma, and I did too!  

Me...the beach was a long haul from where we were staying, but I did it, I walked there!  (Thank you to everyone who was so patient with me!)

Tennyson, Wulf in the background

Blythe

My friend Janette with Kaia

Rhys and Charlotte Claire on the bus

Getting the luggage...Kathryn, Ben getting his, some grandsons...Ashley and Anya, Darius

Emily and Blythe on the plane

Anya, Achilles, Elise

Declan, Elise, Rhys

Rhys with Char and Camille

Paul and I

Emily and Blythe on the fjord, we rented a boat

Jamie and his grandpa Paul

Jamie and Blythe with Aunt Emily

Paul and I

Darius, Adrian the boat pilot, Em....we took turns going out on the boat.

Ashley and I on the beach

Emily and I

The view from outside the meeting hall

Declan and Anya

That's Paul down there digging with the grandkids

Sonja and Kaia with Rhys, Jamie, Achilles, and Ellis in our suite.

Jonny and baby Emilia visited too

Bill (my dear sister Cheryl's husband) and Paul 

Achilles, Tennyson, Rhys

Emily, Rhys, Char

Blythe, Jamie, Wulf with Darius, and Margaret

I got to go to the candy store with two of my sister's girls, Janet and Susan...these two girls are Janet's...love them so much.  

Margaret, Wulf, Blythe, Tenny, Adrian....they are going to have a new one in the new year!!!!!  

From the fjord...I stole this pic from Marge

Tenny, me, Blythe

Waiting for the shuttle...

Wulf, Emily, Ten...stole this pic too...

And this, Ellis, Jamie, Wulf

The fjord at night, stole this pic from Camille...

And one from Emily...

That was rather disjointed, but then I am feeling rather disjointed!  I enjoyed my sleep so much last night in my big comfy bed!  If you ever want to totally fall in love with your bed, spend ten days or so in a bunk with a thin-ish mattress!  One thing that was a lifesaver though was a travel fan, I put it right next to my head, and it gave the illusion of cool-ness.  You would THINK it would be cool in Norway, but it was quite warm most of the days, and they do not have air conditioning in the suites/apartments.  

Home....ahh, home.  I was so happy to walk in the door here.  Miss Kitty Kettler has barely left my side.  She even follows me into the bathroom, my little shadow.  She was taken care of when we were gone, a few different people came over and fed her and made sure she had water, but oh dear, she missed me.  Shh, I missed her too, a lot, in fact.  If that makes me crazy, then oh well, I am crazy.

(this was taken before we left)

This fine day, I washed three loads of laundry, vacuumed, puttered around, went for a swim with Sonja, Oscar, and baby Kaia...then Paul grilled burgers and made us arugula salads with cucumbers.  Not to knock Norway, but meat is pricey there, and ahh, burgers!  

It's quiet here, as Miss Char and Miss Cam are still in Norway until next week.  I'll be going with Mariel to Newark, New Jersey, to pick them up at the airport.  

Oh, there are funny stories and I had such an encouraging time, I met up with Joy from Salem (and didn't get a picture, but it DID happen!), but alas, I am so tired...so goodnight, and it's good to be back!!!

the calm before the storm...

 ...I did pack my suitcase.  It will weigh over 45 pounds, because one more bag of ground coffee has to go into it.  The limit is 50, and Char has some things she wants to stuff into it.  To be fair, I am bringing chocolate chip cookie mix and brownie mix, and three bags of coffee, plus a huge-0 jar of Nescafe Gold espresso powder.  I also have a little fan in there, as there is no A.C. in the apartments there, and shh, some of us princesses like to have a fan blowing on us while we sleep.  

Remember, I am the princess and the pea about my bed.  It has double foam mattress padding on it, because Paul likes the bed to be more firm, so we folded the whole thing to my half.  It's kind of hilarious, but oh so comfy.  For this vacation, I'll be sleeping on a bottom bunk, and I'm pretty sure there will be suffering involved, as I'm not about to check another bag and stuff a foam mattress in it, although if money were no object....hmmmm.

When you get older, there is always suffering involved.  When you're young, you just sit in a chair.  When you're me, you size up that chair, make sure you won't break it, then if you decide it's sturdy, you wonder the whole time if you'll be able to get up out of it.  

Anyway.  I am packed.  My backpack is full of snacks:  pistachios, nuts, protein bars, a few hydration packets, candy, peanut butter Monster Mix from Target.  I hope this doesn't happen again, although it was quite funny:  When we went to Norway last year, the young TSA agent kid said only take out food items from your carry-ons/backpacks.  So, I started pulling out food items.  Easter candy (several bags) (was bringing for my niece), popcorn, protein bars...there was a big pile, and I was telling the agent that this was my worst nightmare, so embarrassing, and he said okay, you can stop now.  Wait, I said, don't you want to see the giant bag of beef jerky?  How giant?  he asked...it was too funny.  

Anyway.  There are 27 from our family going, 8 of my kids, five spouses, and 12 of the grandkids, and Paul and I.  So it won't hurt to have some good snacks in the backpack.  

I didn't sleep so well last night, the travel anxiety is beginning.  I am not really worried, but my body is.  I need to write another list of last minute things, like the phone cord.  I have smartened up through the years, a second toothbrush and hairbrush are worth their weight in gold, you don't have to remember to pack last minute.  I am wearing the thinnest gauze fabric sleeveless dress, and bringing my sweatshirt for the flight.  I walk better in sneakers, but packing them and wearing the Birkenstocks seems like what's going to happen.  

I just cleaned out the refrigerator.  No matter how hard I try, it's easy to waste food, mostly fresh produce.  A bunch of celery, some cucumbers, the last of some salad mix.  Right now of course, here in the USA, you want to avoid eating those things, even if you wash them thoroughly, there is a parasite going around which causes explosive diarrhea.  Of all the diarrhea types, this sounds the most menacing.  Add this to the list of things I can worry about happening on the plane:)

It is very hot out today, going up to 97, and very humid.  I have not ventured outside.  I love sitting in the sun, but the deck will be roasting.  

Little Miss Sunshine got a new pink collar...she's excited that Sam and Grace are going to move in here and watch her.  She gets so excited when the kids come over, she has to get one lick in for each child.  I think that's how she keeps track of them.

Miss Charlotte Claire, can you tell we've been watching House of the Dragon?  

I forgot to post this the other day, our pedicure...Miss Char and I.  

So the day goes on, and I've puttered and kept busy, and here I am again...dinner tonight was just for me.  The girls brought home food when they got out of work early and had errands to do.  Paul had a big lunch, so I decided on eggs...blah, sometimes eggs are blah.  Chaffles!  They were SO good!

Okay, I can't claim these are totally Keto, but...they are mostly low carb.  As you can see, I added some raspberry puree, from the Mennonite store, freshly picked blueberries, and some whipped cream.

The recipe I used:  1/4 cup almond flour with 1/2 tsp. baking powder, a teaspoon of coconut sugar, and a sprinkle of nutmeg,  whisked in a bowl.  In a 4 cup measure, I beat 3 eggs, added a splash of vanilla.  Into the egg, one cup of finely shredded mozzarella cheese (trust me, you don't taste this!).  Add it all together, it makes three nice sized waffles that are really filling.  You don't have to add the coconut sugar, or the jam or whipped cream, they can be made savory with salt and pepper, to eat with burgers, ect.  But.  They totally hit the spot this afternoon, so yummy.  I used the bowl waffle maker, which was a thrift store find.

All right, you all have a nice few weeks, I'm sure I'll have some adventures!  

oh. my. goodness. the lake!

 

Little Miss Ophelia (Molly and Josh's) went on an adventure with Aunt Emily and Grandma Della today.

Em put sunscreen on her!

I love the sun!

Seneca Lake...the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes, 618 feet, 38 miles long.  Underground springs constantly churning 328,000 gallons of water per minute into this glacier formed lake.

This is a state park, and the water was wonderful for swimming!  Emily picked me up at 10:30, we picked up Ophelia, and off we went.  In and out of the water, having some snacks on the beach, then heading home with an ice cream stop on the way.  ahhh.  It was so much fun and so peaceful.  

And, now it's Monday, beautiful Monday.  I just got back from swim class, and a quick stop into the Dollar General for coffee filters.  Can I just take a minute to say, and I'm not getting a penny to say it, the business model of the DG is brilliant?  Small stores in small towns everywhere, with all the things you simply need, but don't want to go to Walmart to get!  Birthday party?  No problem, they have the candles and the plates, snacks, gifts, especially for little kids.  A graduation card?  Bag of ice?  Toothpaste?  It's all there, and it's all reasonable.  They even have nice home dec things, I like their summery dish towels, although shh, I do think I might have a "nice" dish cloth addiction.  (once they get shabby, they're drawer towels, and they don't get to hang on my stove any more!)

Anyway.  I'm home now, have a load of laundry in, have to pack soon.  I have lists and piles, but my suitcase is still empty.  I'm not exactly scared of my limitations, but I'm a bit apprehensive, but also curious, as to how I'll end up managing, walking through the airport, ect.  I can't seem to stand for very long without my "old" knee getting all stiff and sore and locking up.  I can't seem to walk too very far without having issues, even the "new" knee seems wonky-ish.  Everyone has their trials though, and although I wish for a body that just works seamlessly, and I work hard to get that, well, it is what it is.  

You all have a good day, I'll probably check in tomorrow, but this laptop is staying home this trip, so you all will get a good break from my nonsense.  Have a good day!