Thursday, July 31, 2008

My garden is OUT OF CONTROL!

Except for the sunflowers, which I love and could never have too many of...


However, the pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers and peas have taken over the garden plot. I will be sure to take lots of pictures as harvest time approaches. Actually, there are already tons of cucs and we had our first taste of fresh peas tonight. Delicious!

Last stop - PARIS!

Here we are waiting for the train in the metro. I think I sent a wave of panic into everyone (except my husband, of course!) when I told them that should they get left behind in the train by not getting off quickly enough, to just stay on the train and get off at the next stop. Someone would then come and get them. I thought this was wise advice since that exact thing almost happened to us in São Paulo on our very first day in that massive city. Our mission leader was on the platform and we were in the train when the doors suddenly closed, just as we were getting on. About 3 seconds later they opened again, but I think those were the longest 3 seconds of our lives! We had no money, no map, no way to communicate and not a lot of courage at that point! But, it was a good lesson to not panic and we certainly haven't forgotten it.


After considerable maneuvering, we finally arrived at the Eiffel Tower. One of the metro lines was not running so we felt like we'd really accomplished something when we finally reached our first destination.


We wandered quite a bit... Here's a statue of Joan of Arc.
This officer was an amazing traffic cop!
Notre Dame.





Only two more - I promise!

Now that things have calmed down a bit again on the home front, it's time to finish up the France trip.

The last two cemeteries we visited in Normandy were at Beny-Sur-Mer and Omaha Beach. The first one was the Canadian, Juno Beach cemetery. It was another beautiful, immaculate cemetery.



These words are found in every Commonwealth cemetery.
There is restoration program in process as many of the headstones are deteriorating.



Someone had left these coins behind in this shape.
I sat and read the cemetery registry for quite awhile. A German visitor had written: "I am sorry. All I can offer are my tears". It was a very moving sentiment.
Before visiting the Omaha cemetery, we spent an hour or so at Omaha beach. It is a huge and beautiful beach. "This beach is now known as “Bloody Omaha” because of the 2,200 casualties suffered by the American troops who landed here on D-Day. High cliffs and strong German defenses made this a formidable objective. Despite heavy losses, by the end of 6 June the US 1st and 29th Divisions, and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, had gained a foothold at Omaha."
I should mention that remnants of the war are still being found on these beaches to this day.


The cemetery at Omaha beach.

My sister, Jean, found this marker. Our grandfather was George Gowanlock. This spelling is different but the name would likely be pronounced the same way as our grandpa's. Kinda interesting...

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

They're off

All of a sudden the visit is over. My mom and my sister, Jean and her husband, Loren, are on the train to Frankfurt right this moment. They have an early flight tomorrow.



Tomorrow morning this family, Nowel, Brodie, Heather and Derek, leave on an early flight out of Basel.


It's been a busy and often hectic time, but we will miss them all... We're glad they came!

Kandern musts

No trip to Kandern is complete without a visit to the Eiscafe for icecream.





And of course a ride on the steam train...


...and a meal at the Turkish restaurant.
A final wander through Kandern with my family.