Some of my favorite things

As a new month approaches I realize how the year is slipping away.  I am going to try to notice things I'll miss so I will truly appreciate them.  I am hoping this is the first in a series.

I will miss cake yeast, or maybe I'll miss the idea of cake yeast.  It has a much shorter shelf life than dry yeast, but it is sold from big trays.  I like to think this means a lot of people buy it, which must mean a lot of people are baking.  I will miss the image of people at home making bøller (rolls) to serve with butter and jam.

I will miss oatmeal.  There aren't boxes with little envelopes, but shelf after shelf of bags of oatmeal, both large and small flakes, organic and traditional.  Buying it in bulk in Ithaca is best, but I'll miss having oatmeal as the dominant cereal in the aisle.

More favorites soon.

Spring

A couple weeks ago we had a warm spell (several days during which it stayed above freezing) and bits of green started popping up.  It is back to sub-freezing temperatures, but the snow drops and eranthis are waiting patiently.

R.'s Danish tutor brought a few flowers from her yard, which seemed to enjoy the warmth of the indoors because they grew quickly.  When it warms up again I'll replant them.

Dutch Doings

I had my fears about traveling to The Netherlands with the children while leaving David behind to solve solar cell efficiency problems, but we had a fantastic trip!

on the canal tour

We arrived to sunshine and warmer weather than at home (2ºC vs. -2ºC) so we relaxed only briefly before taking a canal boat tour.  We liked the skinny houses, seeing the enormous bicycle parking lot by the train station, and being able to see inside some of the houseboats that line the canal.

having a snack outside the Van Gogh Museum

I was not sure what the kids would think of the Van Gogh Museum, but we all loved it.  I had no idea he had done so many different kinds of art in such a short period.  We also learned that his name is pronounced vun Khokh, like the Scottish loch or Hebrew ch.

waiting for a tram outside the Tropenmuseum

The highlight of the Tropenmuseum was seeing and hearing the instruments from around the world.  The museum was great because it was like nothing we had ever seen before.

at The Pancake Bakery - what a treat!

We ate absolutely delicious poffertjes, little pancakes traditionally served with butter and sugar.  The kids chose the special, which included cinnamon ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate.

Just up the street was Anne Frank's house, which was not easy to visit, but it was important to do.  R. liked seeing a letter there from Bill Gates, who had visited 35 years ago and written to Mr. Frank afterward.

The highlight of our trip to The Hague was the M. C. Escher museum, which is housed in the former winter palace of the royal family.  On top of the fantastic art (also a greater variety than we expected), there were stories about the palace, and an unusual chandelier in each room.

a chandelier designed by Dutch artist Hans van Bentem

A. was inspired to create his own tessellation

A few other notes -

The hostel was right next to Vondelpark and we took a little time to explore.

hidden away along a path under a bridge 

The buffet breakfast had Dutch cheese, Dutch krentenbollen (raisin buns), and of course sprinkles.

I wonder if the kids think all European cities have as many cyclists as Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

not a great picture, but in the background is the mulit-level bicycle parking lot

What I don't have a picture of is the way the kids were patient when I checked the map ten times before figuring out which way to go, how the kids never complained about the snow or fog, and the way they chose to do activities together instead of individually.  It makes me feel brave enough to think about a trip to Paris.

Savoring this time

I am trying to memorize this morning's run.  The full moon looked pink as it set across the fjord, dropping quickly into the wooded hills.  I want to remember the variety of ice formations along the edge of the fjord. It was the perfect day to run through the woods because it light enough to avoid tripping and cold enough to freeze the mud.  I hope I don't forget the feeling of running on frozen sand.  At the harbor a lot of boats are out of the water (they look so big close up), but a few boats have stayed in all winter.  On the way home I could see the sun rise through the trees and the cathedral dominating the skyline in the distance.  Amazingly I saw only one other person until I got back to my street.  Now I sit in the living room with the radiant floor heating and the sun streaming through the picture windows.  Hard to top that.

Flu season

Even being sick here is different.  We have already listened to all the books on cd from the library that are of interest, the dvds don't play in our computers, and my mother- and father-in-law aren't here to give me a break while I run errands.  Here's a look at what we are doing when we aren't reading or napping.

wax and fire - very entertaining

result of playing with wax and water

collage from junk and scraps

a work of art

fusible beads

funniest pets and people to the rescue

I still have a stash of Sunday funnies from the U.S. (thanks, Mom) in case we are home again tomorrow. Let's hope everyone else stays healthy.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day here is a lot like Halloween.  It is not a traditional Danish holiday but it grows a bit each year.  The schools don't have parties, the advertising fliers dedicate only a page or two to flowers and gifts, and the stores have a small selection of cards and novelties tucked away.

hearts made by our family

These are traditional Danish Christmas hearts, but we had fun making them into Valentine's Day cards.  It is a little addictive, so I checked out the book, "How My Mother Taught Me To Weave Christmas Hearts," by Knud Vægter.

Winter Water Scenes

A friend said this is about the time when I would start feeling like the year was slipping away, and she was right.  I find myself thinking about what I'll miss and trying to memorize the little things that make up my life here.  As with Ithaca, what I will miss the most is water.  Here are a few photos, which can be enlarged with a click.

looking toward the campground and woods where I run

just east of the campground - notice how the wind was so strong it blew the ice into shards