Dreams, Moments, Travels
Took Jutta out to Tonopah Rob’s Vegetable Farm so we could pick up some veggies, talk with some folks, tour the farm, and spend a lazy morning amongst the birds and lizards. We have been taking home a lot of collard greens lately and would like to call them our current favorite veg from Tonopah Rob’s, but the carrots, broccoli, and radishes have been awesome, too. My mother-in-law is no help figuring out if there is a favorite amongst all the veggies we drag back to Phoenix, she loves them all.
After only a brief 11 months away, my mother-in-law, Jutta Engelhardt is back for another vacation. Arriving in January allows her to avoid some of the worst winter weather back home in Frankfurt, Germany. This trip will be her longest in America at a grand total of 85 days, just 5 days short of what is allowed on a tourist visa. Jutta’s first visit to the United States was back in 1996 for a brief couple of weeks and then in 1997 for 21 days. The next visit was in the year 2000 for 30 days, followed by 2003 – 21 days, 2005 – 57 days, and then 2006 – 65 days. To date and including the days she will spend on this vacation, Jutta’s time in America adds up to 293 days. Maybe we’ll consider 2 more vacations for her here, each being 36 days to bring her to 365 days of vacationing in America.
My aunt and uncle’s backyard has been thoroughly renovated and is once again a charming place to sit back in the sun and watch the birds at the new bird feeder and their birdbath. Behind my uncle are two orange trees and a lemon tree. This being winter on the coast, the skies are bright blue, the air crisp, even clean from recent high winds. Originally, the plans were to stay a few days in Santa Barbara and then meander up the coast, but we decided to return to Arizona early and spend a week at home, take in some movies, and catch up on some quality time together.
Caroline’s sister Stephanie is the mom to this cute 7-year-old niece of ours, her name is Katharina. We send Katharina, Stephanie, Klaus, and Oma Jutta wishes for a happy holiday and a wonderful Silvester – German for New Years’.
From last winter, dad and daughter on the sled in the snow. Caroline and I once tried sledding here in the sand but it didn’t work out very well. There are a couple of reasons I really liked this photo, first, Katharina’s cheeks are so rosy red making her oh so cute. The other reason, look behind them on the left, what is that kid doing laying face down with his sled over him?
Did you save us a piece? Here’s our far-away niece showing us the braided bread she made all by herself just for Caroline and me. Ok, she probably did not make it for us, maybe she didn’t make it all, and she certainly did not save us a taste. Love the socks, I wonder if mom made them.