fresh & fun

When we checked the weather forcast yesterday it said it would rain all the way to Texas. We were a bit worried. We got up at 5 a.m. and were on the road at six.

We were lucky. It rained on us only a few times. Of course we had to stop at the Orange, TX rest stop. It’s Johns tradition. We have several rest stops that we always visit while driving to Texas.

While at the rest stop in Orange, we saw a raccoon. I have never seen a raccoon in the wild before. We didn’t stay long, but Lucas had to climb on the star again!

 We made really good time today and we in San Antonio at 7:00 p.m. sharp. It’s exactly 800 miles from our house to my in laws.

I have been up since 4:30 a.m. I am still not over the time change. I get up early and feel like it’s after midnight at 8 p.m.

Well….I got caught up with my personal emails and pm’s, but when I checked my help emails from SCS, I found 200 waiting there for me to work on. I am stressing out badly. I got 60 done so far.

I updated the Sale page. Go and check it out. I added Mini catalog sets that won’t be sold in the new catalog. If you have reserved a set for sale in the last few weeks, now is the time to send payment, so I can send the set out on the first. Please contact me.

I don’t think I will get any stamping done today either. I can’t create with all that work sitting there waiting for me.

So to post something fun from our vacation. I will show you some pictures of our trip to the Felsenmeer. It’s located in the Odenwald, only 40 minutes from my Mom’s house. The kids and I go there everytime we visit. We only made it up half way….I wussed out. My Mom came with us. The walk way next to the rocks was slippery and she already had 2 hip replacements. I was scared for her on the steep way down. That’s the only reason. No, it was not because I am out of shape. LOL

Basically it’s just a BIG hill filled with huge rocks. It’s a blast to climb up on those. This picture is the first view you get once you approach the hill from the parking lot. Click on more to see some more pictures.

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We came back yesterday around 10 a.m. We were supposed to arrive the evening before. But after 6 hours of layover in Atlanta, the layover turned to nine hours and then our flight was completely cancelled until the next morning.

We were beyond tired when we got home. It’s so hard to sleep in a COLD airport on uncomfortable airport seats and we only got maybe 3 hours of sleep. We got up for the flight on  Monday morning at 5:30 a.m., which is Sunday evening at 10:30 p.m. CST. We didn’t get to sleep until after midnight and only then for a short while.

But we got home, no luggage was lost and we slept wonderful in our own beds last night. I am still tired and a bit off, so I don’t think you will see new artwork on my blog today.

I did get the new idea book and catalog yesterday and drooled all over the pages. I will definitely put a big order in in July. I can’t wait!

This castle stands in the middle of a little town called Mayen. I have family living there (in the town, not the castle!). The kids and I went to a slate museum underneath and climbed all the way on top of the tower. Like most days of our visit, it rained that day. It started just as we reached the top. It was still a great castle to explore.

To see more pictures of this little town click on more.

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The kids and I have been exploring all last week. I really meant to update you daily with pictures I took. My brother ordered wireless Internet too late. So now I have to work with dial up on a German computer from 1999. Quite a challenge! I will post some pictures once I am back home. Sorry!

Wednesday we went to a place called Felsenmeer. It’s a hill in the Odenwald, covered with big rocks you can climb all the way up. We go there everytime we come back home. This time we made it halfway up. My boys could have gone further, but I was completely out of breath and I was afraid the steep way down would have been too much for my Mom. She already has both hips replaced and still has trouble with one of them (That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it.)

Thursday we rode the train into Frankfurt and then took the subway to see the “Senkenberg Museum”. It holds Mummies, fossils and dinosaur bones. It was really cool.

Friday we drove to Heidelberg. We couldn’t find a parking spot close by and had to walk 1 1/2 miles to the castle. Of course as soon as we get there it starts raining on us and we had to walk all the way back to the car in the rain.

Saturday we drove into the Eifel. My Mom’s brothers still live there. We visited and checked out the old center of Mayen. It has a castle as well. I took lots of pictures.

Yesterday Lucas woke up with a sore throat and we stayed home. Today one of my tonsils is completely swollen, so no excursions today either. Well….I will drive to Ramstein to get some American things for my family, as well as some diet coke for me. I tried some here and couldn’t bring myself to drink it. It’s soooo sweet. Yuck.

I am not sure if we get to explore much more this week. My brother is getting married on Friday. Thursday will be spend getting the house ready for guests and the big party for family and friends called Polterabend. Saturday will be clean up day and Sunday we have to pack.

It’s so good to see all my family and friends and eat all the food I grew up with. Too bad I am now growing in a different direction. LOL. I will definitely need a diet when I get back home.

After a very bumpy ride through bad weather we arrived in Germany at 11 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. CST. We all had about three hours of sleep.  But we stayed up until 9 p.m. Then we crashed hard and didn’t wake again until 11 a.m. Wednesday morning. We had a trip planned for after lunch, but my uncle phoned and will come over in a little while.

Hopefully I get some cool shots to share with zou soon.

Got to go. Uncle Rudi just got here. Hugs and smiles