It's a Sunday in Germany...

when Chad and I sleep in past ten

church bells echo in the distance

the whole neighborhood is outside enjoying the sunshine

Steck bakery closes at 2 in the afternoon

people spend half the day sitting outside a 'biergarten'

what a life.

(I also took a bike ride and snapped a few photos of our neighborhood)

Lullaby

Good night my angel time to close you eyes

And save these questions for another day

I think I know what you've been asking me

I think you know what I've been trying to say

I promised I would never leave you

And you should always know

Where ever you may go

No matter where you are

I never will be far away

Good night my angel now it's time to sleep

And still so many things I want to say

Remember all the songs you sang for me

When we went sailing on an emerald bay

And like a boat out on the ocean

I'm rocking you to sleep

The water's dark and deep

Inside this ancient heart

You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child will cry

and if you sing this lullaby

Then in your heart there will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabies go on and on

They never die

that's how you and I will be

-Billy Joel's 'Lullaby'

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!

I LOVE YOU!

MY DEAREST CHAD-

Thank you for spraying OFF! bug repellant in our living room this morning. It really gave our floor and coffee table a nice shine. It also made our house smell something like camping.

Also, thanks for bringing that tick to bed with you last night and allowing me to find it and then remove it with my good tweezers. It has really motivated me to wash all towels, bed linens, and blankets, as well as vacuum every livable surface of our home.

Oh and Chad, I'm sorry for calling you at work and asking you if your head was only for decoration. That wasn't very nice of me. It was just a reaction.... you see... I'm not a fan of slick floors or camping for that matter. And I absolutely hate ticks.

Will you forgive me?

With Love,

Amy

One Sweet Weekend

Finally, we had weather like this...

(I seriously started doubting whether I had moved from Louisiana... we've had "summer showers" almost every day this month. ps: this is our view from the 3rd floor)

Also, I found these beauties on my tomato plant.

We got lots of kisses from this little girl...

We were invited over to take part in the consumption of this...

(Not to mention, Cherries always remind me of home.)

And I somehow managed to drag Chad to a German flea market where I made out like a bandit. Picked up this little jewel of a tray and have many plans for its future.

Awww, Summer.

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. ~Gertrude Jekyll

Life As A Military Wife

this blog has nothing to do with travel... nor Germany. It's about life essentially. Chad is gone doing land and night navigation. For me that means a day and night alone without Chad. The house is quiet, there was no dinner, the dogs are no longer waiting at the window for his return home.

We are all just sitting. Or in Meatloaf's case: sleeping. We're a pretty pathetic bunch.

Nights like this take me back to my 31 Acevedo days. The many nights I spent in our quaint townhouse alone while my roommates were out in the city with their significant others.

It was lonely. I'm not going to lie. At that time all I had of Chad were letters, random phone calls, and memories. I was lonely, alone in San Francisco but Chad was lonely, and alone in Iraq.

I think we would all choose San Francisco if given the choice.

I believe I was stronger in those days. But only because I had to be. Knowing that there was no chance that I could ever see Chad in a day [or if I would ever see him again] is enough to make anyone feel empty. Somehow, amidst the feelings of loneliness, I felt strong and secure.

This evening, unfortunately, doesn't feel the same. I'm not as strong as I use to be.... but maybe it's because I don't have to be.

These days I rest assured that my husband will be home between 7 and 8 every evening. He'll throw his ACU's [for civilian folk, those are their sexy green numbers that they wear on a daily basis] in a pile by the black bookcase. He'll leave his sweaty PT clothes in his gym back to marinate over night. He'll ask about dinner and kiss me 'hello'. Then he'll go take a bath upstairs and talk to the dogs.

I must admit, when I use to get lonely I would think about what it would be like when we could be together... and let's just say... I didn't have THAT in mind.

But we'll say grace and have dinner at our table, take the dogs out and get ready for bed.

Come 930, we're tucked in... sharing thoughts, discussing our days, and holding hands.

Now that's more like it.

Then the weirdest thing happens...... as I fall asleep [usually after Chad], while still holding hands... I'm strong again.

Because he's home... safe... and we're together [in Europe none the less].

*While typing this blog, Chad called. He's on his way home. He hurt himself in a fall during day navigation and night navi was cancelled. Upon entering the house he tracked in mud on my newly mopped floors, stunk up the entire second floor, and asked me to shake his clothes out for ticks. It took ALL I had to continue this blog in a positive, loving way. How'd I do?*

Zurich, Switzerland

Our Trip to Switzerland

2009

Zurich, Switzerland

Downtown

These decorative pots are all over the city, each one unique and by a different artist. This one was my favorite by far... the title 'Living.'

Zurich Zoo

"Swiss Kitchen"

Zoo (again)

The goats loved me.

The elephant wouldn't cooperate.

A beak only a mother could love.

Rhein Falls

Germany/Switzerland border

Great trip... missed my puppies...happy to be home.

::The End::

Life affords us many little luxuries...

and for us they include the following:

The fact that Chad and I will set foot in three different countries in less than two weeks.

Germany, France, Switzerland

Come August, I will have figs 'a' plenty from our very own tree.

I have somehow managed to grow hundreds of pink, red, yellow, & white roses in my front yard.

I realize I didn't do much, but I consider not killing them quite a feat.
I am the proud owner of this hot-pink beauty.

I even got a basket for the front so I feel truly Germanesque.

In addition to roses, except with more effort, I planted and grew a thriving herb garden on my balcony.

Cilantro, Sage, Basil, Parsley, & Dill

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all." Laura Ingalls Wilder (honestly, who else?)

puppy breath

"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet."

Edith Wharton

"We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment."

George Eliot

It only took 6 months.

After waiting for quite a while now for Chad to get his international driver's license, we FINALLY made it to Strasbourg, France. I've been itching to go there since we got here and I wasn't disappointed.

As a result of my gittiness, I somehow managed to forget to research this trip to Strasbourg and didn't realize I knew nothing of this place until we pulled into the city center. Chad's always talking about spontaneity (which I reminded him of) and instead we looked at it all as a big adventure.

Starting our adventure off with a bang, we pulled into the nearest parking garage (one we will never use again), barely making it under the height requirement. Parking Chad's truck was only worsened by the fact that both of us have bladders the size of walnuts and REALLY needed to find a toiletten.

Again, the lack of research put us in a compromising situation, but I improvised by removing the GPS from the vehicle and plugging in 'restroom' and WALKING in the directions noted by the GPS. TomTom didn't let us down and led us right to the center (where the Cathedral is) and to a lovely public restroom. We then saw a small tram tour which we took advantage of and then returned for a nice lunch at an Italian Bistro (I know, random right? Strasbourg is however a tourist trap and they had Italian, Irish, & German cuisine with very little French).

My French isn't what it use to be but I managed to order lunch for Chad and I and it was DELICIOUS. Quatre Fromage avec Spaghetti pour moi et Calzone pour lui, si vous plais?

We of course saved room for gelato, only to find HEAVEN in the form of a sweet shop just two stores down. Seriously, Chad had to drag me out of there by my purse. I returned, however, and purchased a variety tub of delectable goodies.

For future France travelers, anything with 'sucre' in the title or on the windows translates to "go inside" because it will be SWEET, DELICOUS, UNIQUE, & FRESH goodies.

I will return to Strasbourg if only to visit this shop.

However, Strasbourg also offers every means of shopping imaginable. Forunately for Chad, I was perfectly content with my tub of goodies from La Cure Gourmande that I could have cared less about the hundreds of designer stores surrounding us.

We ended this trip with a walk through the cathedral, lit a candle, said a prayer, and hit the pavement for home.

Oh yeah, and I almost threw up in the parking garage from the high levels of stress trying to get the truck OUT of the garage. Much worse than going in. MUCH WORSE.

Check out my slideshow from France Below......

Make a Smilebox scrapbook