rekindled spirit

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my very most favorite spot in the old city of stockholm

what i did not do in stockholm is sleep.

i was passed along from one culprit to the  other all week long. they were so kind, i could have been killed by their kindness.  they made sure i had a good time.

we spent all day in the city enjoying its beauty, allure, charm, and glamour.  in the evenings we sat around and talked to the wee hours of the morning (sometimes we went out dancing). in  between, i was treated to special, and rare cooking class sessions with my sweet aunt saba who is rumored to be the best cook in the family. it made for an amazing, unforgettable  experience.

pleasure presents itself in a million ways

comes when you least expect it

and makes you feel like you are on the top of the world

photos taken in gaschurn, austria 2007: hiking up kristberg and coming upon fresh alpen blueberry bushes on the way down

wishes. dreams. i examined carefully and added

some more courage, patience, wisdom, and room for more growth

just a little bit more joy, laughter,

and graditute for all the love that nourishes me and for the fortune to live this wonderful life. my cup is filled to the rim overflowing.

i want to thank corey and eb for inspiring me to look deeply in to my cup.

i had a very, very,  happy birthday yesterday.  i am now 35 years old and it feels just right!

such a beautiful soul

every bit as sweet as she looks

looks at us and her world with fresh eyes

an uncynical attitude

and an open heart

i have watched her eyes

and listened to her heart

very carefully

for 3 years

she awakens my own sense of self

when i see her hurting or struggling

and she makes my heart grow

just a little bit more

every time she feels proud

and her eyes light up from accomplishment

a new word

going “pee-pee machen” alone

feeling helpful in the kitchen

riding a bike

creating a masterpiece

eating everything on her plate

or blowing all her candles out on her birthday cake

i love

her spontaneous reactions

her voice

her smile

i love everything about her

we surprised her with cake and milk for breakfast this morning

blow!

one more time!

again!

wooohooo! you did it! happy birthday!

big party tomorrow!

__________________________

the one bad weather day in austria project: we made birthday party invitations

they are out! hand delivered by her and her papa last week. we are having a big party tomorrow!

stangers in the alps

there are so many

even if they seem a bit uncanny

friendly and so kind

they are strangers in the alps

hope you read the captions of the photos to the tune of “strangers in the night”! we or i should say i asked a stranger everday(except 2 because i forgot) to take a photo of us during our wonderful first family vacation in montafon.

montafon is a beautiful valley and also the name of a group of mountains in the ever so grand austrian alps (they range from france, switzerland, austria, to italy). we  stayed in a village called garschurn in a vacation apartment owned by the wonderful bereiter family in the valley.

we were fortunate to have beautiful weather everyday except one. everday we hiked up different mountains and joked that we may have invented a new extreme sport: pushing your kinderwagen (stroller) up the mountain (we have a special one designed for rough terain). it was amazing and my expectations were exceeded, it was so much fun to say we had a fantastic time is an understatement. it was a wonderful first family vaction (i will have more to share soon).

coming home was wonderful yesterday.  i was welcomed by a butterfly with a message from stephanie of rodrigvitzstyle

mail art from rodrigvitzstyle

she and her consolodation of colors are truly inspiring. somepinkflowers said it best: ” for one week stephanie’s punch of power colors made me rethink my own  personal color pallet. Being a pigment collector myself, I was inspired by her clever mix-and-match oil-cloth aprons  and her little spirit houses” i personally love her market bags and will be the proud owner of one very soon.

it was not easy to come home, thank you stephanie for making homecoming extra welcoming and satisfying.

i will be gone again for a while. i am off to sweden tomorrow. i will have too much more to share when i return. i cannot wait!