I still can't figure out how those bum discourages work.

That is what I get for bragging. Lost 3 games.

Congrats to Alyssa

Spending my mornings wandering the alleys of Utrecht.

Utrecht

I made myself a glass ornament today at the Glass Museum. They make it real easy for you, you just have to blow when and as hard as they tell you to. I think next time I'll try making a flower, you actually get to use one of the tools to shape it for that one. It was fun, and yes there were little kids doing it and doing a great job too, but there were other adults as well. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. It was interesting hearing the color combinations people picked out. I'd love to see them all when they come out of the oven since the colors change as they cool.
ao: I should be home Tuesday evening so any other evening that week should be okay.

Oh, you ladies are so busy...waterfalls, bike rides, plant shows. Sounds great to me!

And, congrats to Alyssa & Nick!
I got the news on FB as well...drinkup Erico.

I think I'll be in St. Louis on that Sat. But let me know when you get back and maybe we can do dinner one night.

I'll be home for a few days next week, then up to Wisconsin for first communion (2nd) and grandparents day (7th). In between I'll visit some of my aunts.
AO: I'd be up for a bike ride Saturday early morning if you have time for it.

Congrats, Alyssa!

V, we stopped competing with you for mom's time a long time ago... but if you do keep her, I'm gonna have to put her house on the market.

Just some breaking news, pleva and mack are both claiming they are now aunts.

she is in NY with me and you can't have her :) We are going to go look for waterfalls this weekend.

Where is mom at exactly? My google latitude isn't working on her. The circus is in town this weekend, and I wanted to invite her.

taod: Your parking spots looked as good as the displays at the Chicago Flower Show and it actually looked like you had more plants for sale than they had there. They had a lot of contractors and sales people, but not much for the garden itself.

Yes, and Matto still has that Steelers shirt.

Yes, and I'm not sure why. It does, however, look like Tracy managed to beat Adrienne in that one.

Rita sat that one out.

Haha... Talk about our Christmas 5ks. Here's our 1982 Christmas Race.

Congratulations and congratulations

Horticulture Open House done! 500 elementary students circulated through without too much trouble....gotta love my organizational skills. In case you were wondering what I have been up to.

Good week so far...Saturday I got Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Girl Scout Council. And yesterday the Horticulture Club named me Professor of the Year. This year is looking up!

Yes. And still has.

Please give the skirt and blanket to Sandy mom. I had stomach flu Sun night and Monday. Is that what Thomas has?

New water softner and tankless water heater installed. We can have lots of people visit at once now and everyone can stay clean.

squirrel

NYC was a lot of fun. I loved both shows, plus lots of sightseeing. Yesterday was great too, touring the Glass Museum in Corning. We watched people blow glass, work it in a flame, break it and talk about fiber optics. I'd make that stop a must see for anyone who comes to visit VO. I'm thinking I'll head back there later in the week to try one of their classes and actually make some glass.

Thomas is sick today.

Nice 'castle' pics MvdH, AO let me know who won. Marcus had a dub on the squirrel.

WI/TX Ohlers left. Thomas said "this sucks that they had to leave." Found one blankie and a jean skirt. Should I have Grandma Sandy bring it back on her way or FedEx?

I wish I could swap our day trip for that! Nathaniel and I went to "castle" de Haar today. The only fun part of the trip were the bike rides there and back. The castle that was built around the eleven-hundreds had been destroyed during skirmishes with the city Utrecht. In 1890 baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt made his own private mansion out of it. We only got to see and hear about what had been built 120 years ago... how he moved 7000 full grown trees to his park since he didn't want to wait till for new trees to grow. And how state of the art everything was for its time.
I always get annoyed when one is not allowed to take pictures at a place one payed to go and see, so here you can see a little of what we got to see.

kasteel de haar

Today is the Corning Museum of glass.

So NYC trip re-cap. Mom's favorite part was the shows and mine was seeing the people sitting in their cars from 9-10:30am because there is no parking in front of their houses at that time and they wanted to save their parking spots.

just because I am awake, and I went running and saw a squirrel vs goose fight

just because I am awake

The shoe sale at Macy's was fabulous but I didn't buy anything since 8 1/2 is the first size to go and I just learned that at work I can't wear taller than a 2 inch heal. Went to Hello Deli and got lunch from Rupert and we are back at my place relaxing now.

Nice VO, tell Rupert sup?

This morning I saw the guy in the Hello Deli but since we had already eaten we didn't go in. Maybe tomorrow morning. Tonight is Jersey Boys and tomorrow we get the heck out of this city.

Mom and I went to the MoMA this afternoon and saw a Tim Burton exhibit and some artist doing an Artist is Present exhibit where she sits at a table still all day and stares at whoever wants to sit quietly accross from her. I just barely caught 2 guys trying to interrupt it and getting stopped by security. Art and security in action.