tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46091895142462860452024-03-05T06:35:56.118-05:00A journey about to startPetrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-69908635703702793402011-09-28T16:04:00.000-04:002011-09-28T16:04:59.021-04:00Its here, its here!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Today it was finally ready.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A project that I have been working on for quite a while now.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was scary, nerve wrecking and totally went against my Dutch nature that told me it would never work.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">How dare I think that people were waiting for this.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But…I was asked to do it, more then once.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And so without further ado, here it is…</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: left; width: 450px;"><object data="http://www.blurb.com/assets/embed.swf?book_id=2518761&token_id=2017123&token=97701ed94ca93b376024a284d219b2dfe11962b5&locale=en_US&token_id=2017123&token=97701ed94ca93b376024a284d219b2dfe11962b5" height="300" id="myWidget" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.blurb.com/assets/embed.swf?book_id=2518761&token_id=2017123&token=97701ed94ca93b376024a284d219b2dfe11962b5&locale=en_US&token_id=2017123&token=97701ed94ca93b376024a284d219b2dfe11962b5"></param><a target="_new" href="http://www.blurb.com/books/preview/2518761?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget"><img src="http://bookshow.blurb.com/bookshow/cache/P3481148/md/wcover_2.png"></img></a></object><div style="display: block;"><a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2017123/97701ed94ca93b376024a284d219b2dfe11962b5?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Cara by Petra Postma</a> | <a href="http://www.blurb.com/landing_pages/bookshow?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Make Your Own Book</a></div></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-15481295455638954752011-09-09T00:43:00.004-04:002011-09-09T00:50:36.360-04:00And after Irene we met Lee...While big parts of the US are still recovering from Irene, Lee came over for a visit.<br />
And boy, is he overstaying his welcome.<br />
He started Sunday night with rain and it hardly stopped raining until since.<br />
Being Dutch I thought I was used to a bit of rain, but this is a bit much, even for me.<br />
<br />
But first let me tell you, with Irene we got lucky, we had some wind, some rain, but nothing really bad, unlike a big part of the east coast. Devastating floodings in which people lost their lives, their homes, the places they earned money.<br />
<br />
And now Lee showed up, with lots, lots of rain.<br />
This time we aren't getting away that easy. Nothing really bad, but Lehto and Lee don't get along.<br />
Lehto wants to go outside and play and run, but Lee won't let him.<br />
Because, and you may not know this, 21 week old galgo's do melt in the rain.<br />
And you better believe it, because there is no way you are going to ignore his pathetic little yelps when his earsies get wet. Or the crazy run through the house after which he tries to dry his ears by first rubbing them with his feet and if that doesn't help, rub them on the carpet.<br />
I must say, he is getting better though after day 4 of constant rain. Whats not getting better is his behavior.<br />
He just wants to go out, play, run, chase rabbits. And since that won't work, he pesters his sister Paquita.<br />
Tries to eat my plants, my oven mitt, my hands and every single piece of paper he can find.<br />
<br />
Oh, and we have some leakage, yes, also from Lehto , but also in our living room.<br />
Its not as bad as it was 2 years ago, we had that repaired, but its at the same spot. There is a new ring appearing in the ceiling and the drywall feels damp.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z6C3w3SxLWY8NTiYiyjuJmmejVaCg1SZn5O3UOH73h9UPYfnTlWAdSY66r_id4lSjcrWZPNp2OA7V8H1f2PcSSoy4lvDvCFrnevKEGI6OohdyIbAWaMSGttlUPOgbE12Nguvqt2beMU/s1600/P6090099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z6C3w3SxLWY8NTiYiyjuJmmejVaCg1SZn5O3UOH73h9UPYfnTlWAdSY66r_id4lSjcrWZPNp2OA7V8H1f2PcSSoy4lvDvCFrnevKEGI6OohdyIbAWaMSGttlUPOgbE12Nguvqt2beMU/s200/P6090099.JPG" width="200" /></a>In June of this year we had golfball sized hail and I am thinking this might be the culprit. After the hailstorm we saw signs showing up in the neighborhood, all from roofing companies. So after asking a few questions we found out that some people were getting a new roof. Long story short, we are getting one also, like almost 60% of our neighbors. The adjuster from our insurance had no doubt, we needed all the shingles replaced, the gutters, and also the siding on the back of the house.<br />
Right now we are waiting for that. And I guess we will have to get some drywall and ceiling repaired also.<br />
<br />
And we are the lucky ones, not far from us 10.000 people are evacuated, many are flooded and it looks like there will be problems with drinking water. Roads are blocked and the Turnpike is closed.<br />
<br />
Am really glad we are on a mountainside and it is supposed to stop raining tomorrow…<br />
<br />
<br />
Just hope Maria and Nate don't decide to drop in also.<br />
<br />
<br />Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-29352111549722899972011-08-24T14:41:00.001-04:002011-08-24T14:50:33.480-04:00Shaken…not stirredYou probably already heard it on the news.<br />
But 24 hours ago a huge part of the US East coast trembled and shook.<br />
The biggest and most wide felt earthquake on the East coast for more then 100 years.<br />
For the people in DC and New York this was a more then rare event.<br />
<br />
And it certainly wasn't something I expected when I moved here.<br />
In the time Jack and I only talked though the internet or on the phone, he assured me that hardly anything happens over here. Worst case would be a storm or so much snow that we wouldn't have power for a while.<br />
<br />
Well…we rarely lose power.<br />
<br />
But within the almost 2 years we live here, we had 3 earth quakes, several snowstorms, a hailstorm last June, so bad, we need our roof replaced and new siding on the back of our house.<br />
We had a tornado touchdown and spent several hours in our basement with 3 dogs because of that.<br />
That whole week we had tornado warnings and are now drilled on how to react to that.<br />
Our garden flooded twice this year because of flash floods.<br />
And yippie, we are supposed to get a visit from hurricane Irene coming weekend.<br />
<br />
Nah….nothing ever happens here.<br />
<br />
Yesterdays earth quake was scary, it only lasted for 20 to 30 seconds, but it felt like there was a big truck driving through our house.<br />
It really is a scary to feel the earth under you move and the whole house shake. For a moment I was scared my computer screen would fall over and our new puppy (I'll be blogging about him soon) came running to see what was going on.<br />
<br />
And we were miles and miles away from the epicenter.<br />
But, other then in other area's around here, earthquakes are not uncommon in this area.<br />
Dillsburg is supposedly on a small fault and we get minor quakes now and then.<br />
And I don't like them.<br />
You can't prepare for them, they suddenly happen unlike tornado's or severe thunderstorms.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BWNy5aOrcn8TdCJgoCtHSg2hwowgB2pMsCixsmmD8csFnvC8_vZVCGgkqJfEH7DaBLy3d1KLp3KUtf2i0xSuv0uCt_E4Td5rZJelPgD_qnMnyWLFYjPrgE-ce2dPB3hQxG8Krx56bQk/s1600/P4270077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BWNy5aOrcn8TdCJgoCtHSg2hwowgB2pMsCixsmmD8csFnvC8_vZVCGgkqJfEH7DaBLy3d1KLp3KUtf2i0xSuv0uCt_E4Td5rZJelPgD_qnMnyWLFYjPrgE-ce2dPB3hQxG8Krx56bQk/s320/P4270077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For those we get warnings on our local tv stations. And after the tornado touch down in Dillsburg, I do pay attention to those warnings.<br />
<br />
Anyway, nothing ever happens in Dillsburg…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-6026523981069027482011-07-02T15:13:00.003-04:002011-07-03T11:18:47.232-04:00It's been too long<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For weeks now I have been dreading this. I avoided the blog, didn't want to write again about the last 2 months.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing an entry would mean I had to write about losing our boy Johnny.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I really didn't want to do it again. In these things I may be a bit different from most people in that I write about it right away, in the days after it and the more time passes, the harder it gets for me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Its been 7 weeks now and the house feels quiet, way to quiet.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM5McdK94rYc88qZvCVqt82Ifrmi-1RQZwM1h4ArIN7xC9ayav2TJbj319da_cca0bMrUaMAyTu30VWivT3Aajq5yKiza2WzDJKUaQIE2iadJqbwtrs_vPZt2tSafOFDQiAQrbOEMGNU/s1600/Johnny+greyzette+klein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM5McdK94rYc88qZvCVqt82Ifrmi-1RQZwM1h4ArIN7xC9ayav2TJbj319da_cca0bMrUaMAyTu30VWivT3Aajq5yKiza2WzDJKUaQIE2iadJqbwtrs_vPZt2tSafOFDQiAQrbOEMGNU/s400/Johnny+greyzette+klein.jpg" width="266" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johnny was our goofball, the one who would greet you like you were his long lost friend, even when you only went out to get the mail. He was the one making sure that we wouldn't forget to feed them, starting 45 to 30 minutes before it was time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jack told me why he decided to adopt him. When he went to the adoption kennels, he was the one who had spent the longest time there. He was covered in scars, his tail looking like a rats tail without any hair.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But he was happy and loved the attention. And Jack couldn't leave him behind.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johnny was quite the character. Spoiled by Jack, he owned the couch, his side of the bed and choose where he wanted to walk. When I came in the picture, he didn't like the changes and wanted to let me and Cara know. We both didn't take his (excuse the language) 'shit' and he never tried again. Cara used him as her favorite pillow and I gained a loyal friend.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be honest, even though he was huge, he wasn't the smartest, but sweet.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He had the most funny facial expressions I have seen in a greyhound and I loved taking his pictures.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And silently I always had to laugh when people commented on his pictures with words like handsome, gorgeous and so on and think to myself, so many people passed his kennel not seeing the beauty of this goofy black boy, all they saw were his bald spots, the scars and his black coat.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was their loss…</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He left us with a very quiet house and 3 dogs. And within days, even with our sadness, we found ourselves looking for 'something or someone' who could bring back the laughter in our house. We needed a goofy addition to our other sweet dogs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And don't ask me how it happened, because I never intended to do this, but in 3 days Lehto will come to live with us.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is a Spanish galgo from<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Asociación BaasGalgo</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.baasgalgo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.baasgalgo.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and is only 12 weeks old!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll tell more about him soon. But right now we are exited and to be honest, a little nervous. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How will our family adapt to a puppy?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It will be interesting, I'm sure.</span>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-47574381685935346722011-04-05T17:23:00.003-04:002011-04-05T17:25:49.227-04:00Warning, it's a dogblog!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it shouldn't be a surprise for people who know me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After all, they have seen the updates on Facebook and have been sending well wishes for the dog going to the vet at that particular moment.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For almost 2 months now we have been regulars at the vet and I am guessing it won't be long before we get the invitation to an open house for their French vacation chalet. We probably supported enough for all the plumbing to be done by now.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I 'am' joking, but only a bit, for the last 2 months we had to visit the vet at least once a week and it all started with Johnny who seemed to have a bit of an incontinence problem. Long story short, he reacted very bad to the medication and it is only thanks to a prior experience with one of my galgo's that he got away with ' just' seizures. For the people who want to know what medication it is that sighthounds can react bad to, specially if they have high blood pressure, it is Phenylpropanolamine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Also known as PPA and given often to dogs that suffer from spay incontinence.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Johnny has had two seizures now and is on medication, for both the seizures and his bloodpressure.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the meantime, both girls have been vaccinated and Sunday night Tex suddenly had an episode in which he totally freaked out, panicked and somehow got his front leg in the air vent. Several x-rays later he is now sporting a nice big bandage and his muzzle to keep him from chewing and licking. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of our kitchen cabinets now has been taken over by medication for all dogs and the stuff I am using to get my own health back to where it should be and a huge jar of peanut butter. Johnny alone gets 11 pills in 24 hours.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Add to that the peanut butter it takes for him to wswallow them down, you might be able to imagine the paint peeling farts we have to endure these days.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And lets be honest, greyhound farts aren't known to smell like roses to start with.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, that is life with senior dogs, Tex is 13 now, Johnny is 10 and Paquita turns 9 this month.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Compared to them, Cara is still a baby at around 4 years old.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speaking of which, her pictures are selling better and better and not just that, we've been donating her prints for several auctions and they are doing very nice in bringing in bids for greyhound and galgo causes.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From tomorrow on you can bid on one of them in an auction to benefit Dr. Cauto's bone cancer in greyhounds research. More information can be found here: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://darcyswebparty.proboards.com/">http://darcyswebparty.proboards.com/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you are interested in buying one of my pictures, check them out at : <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/petrapostma/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/petrapostma/</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll leave you with a Little White Monster picture and am off to put on a sweater since Spring seems to have trouble finding us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxNOUCth8oWYATGs4LphfcnQnp85-BBMQLg-5UugCKORocebCmK2XV6sx3tlVkZj-_zQPgc21rjgpFqNzt1rK30L34wjOogtzA0UJmhgtTqEdXc7vcRwpGtIOtm5JVLiQ6YCpM4klsZI/s1600/DSC_0494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxNOUCth8oWYATGs4LphfcnQnp85-BBMQLg-5UugCKORocebCmK2XV6sx3tlVkZj-_zQPgc21rjgpFqNzt1rK30L34wjOogtzA0UJmhgtTqEdXc7vcRwpGtIOtm5JVLiQ6YCpM4klsZI/s400/DSC_0494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-66357832986042843992011-03-10T22:48:00.000-05:002011-03-10T22:48:41.606-05:00Made some changesTomorrow it is 4 weeks (I think) ago that I was told to make some real changes in my lifestyle or I was heading for some serious heart and vascular trouble within 10 years. (think heart attack before I would be 56)<br />
After a bit of a struggle, we are getting there. And yes, Jack is reading the back labels of everything we buy at the Giant also, searches the web for information and eats, mostly, what I eat. And, a bit adjusted, my son does too.<br />
These days we can be found at the organic isle, the vegetarian cooling and the (yes Mom, it is true) at the fish department.<br />
And slowly I am starting to realize that this is becoming a quite interesting change in feeding ourselves.<br />
Certainly after a friend suggested a book that is called 'Cholesterol down'.<br />
<br />
This book gave us some clues on what foods are really good on bringing the bad cholesterol down within 4 weeks. Not that I am aiming on just pleasing the doctor next month, but I really want to avoid taking medication for the rest of my life.<br />
Much to Jack's pleasure one of the clues is eating a bowl of oatmeal every day. He boils water, adds the oats and puts some honey in there. To be honest, just the sight of it makes me queasy. I 'll stick to my way of eating oats. After looking around, I found a perfectly fine muesli, add some greek yoghurt and I am happy. Other things are: eating a lot of vegetables, raw if possible and beans, kidney beans, black beans, all types except for green beans, the well known apple a day (red if possible) and with skin, adding two teaspoons of flaxseed meal, a handful of almonds and for me, adding Metamucil, a fiber, to my diet 3 times a day.<br />
And even if this wouldn't bring down my cholesterol, we can at least heat our house with the bio gas we produce.<br />
For once we are worse then our 4 dogs.<br />
<br />
A good way to burn that off and recommended in the book is walking, 30 minutes a day. Now, I still have to get Jack to do that, but for myself I think I am fine in that department, going to the gym 4 to 5 times a week and every week an hour yoga should be enough exercise.<br />
Also for myself I decided to cut out alcohol totally. But, I still drink my 3 cups of coffee in the morning.<br />
<br />
All in all we find the new food we try tasty, I love Quinoa for example and we have no trouble adjusting to it.<br />
The only problem for me is, if I eat everything that is recommended, I would end up eating too much and I do want to get rid of a lot of pounds. So I have to restrict myself.<br />
And that is hard, but…I lost about 10 (US) pounds already. It is going slow, but it is happening.<br />
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I do have one complaint though.<br />
Did they really have to deliver the girl scout cookies now?Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-88022254869712165812011-02-23T09:37:00.003-05:002011-02-23T09:46:25.378-05:00Met de billen bloot, or…coming cleanThink I need to, unless you don't want me to?<br />
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Oh, you do want to hear it? Well, only if you promise not to laugh. Really, don't.<br />
I am so embarrassed by it, I should have known better.<br />
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In the 17 months we live here, I gained about a kilo a month. Around 35 pounds in total.<br />
Totally fell into the trap that is called good food, a glass of wine and worst of all, no exercise.<br />
Which is bad for someone like me, since I used to do everything on my bike, groceries, going to work, visit family. And besides that, I walked the dogs, 4 times a day for at least 30 to 45 minutes every walk and one of the walks would be more than an hour. And really, it is easier to eat healthy in the Netherlands than over here. Portions are bigger, a lot of food contains more sugar and or salt. And lets not forget the refills you get when eating out.<br />
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And yes, I was totally aware of this. Heck, I had to, at some point I didn't fit into my clothes anymore and we went shopping. Fitting clothes, while trying to avoid looking in the mirror.<br />
A few months ago I got my membership to Planet Fitness and went there several times a week.<br />
But somehow nothing happened. I still gained, a bit less fast, but still…<br />
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A few weeks ago I had my first doctors appointment. Over here you need a physical for your drivers permit. And found out I am being punished pretty hard for being overweight for about a year now.<br />
After a blood test the doctor told me my body is totally out of whack. Blood pressure, liver, cholesterol, nothing as it should be.<br />
I was more or less given the idea that there was no way this was the result of just 1.5 year of being like this.<br />
Left the office wondering if I really was an alcohol or drug abuser that only ate fast food.<br />
Soon an envelope with diet and other rules was found in our mailbox.<br />
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Basically it comes to this, avoid everything that comes from animals unless it is non-fat. Try to avoid any sugars and eat whole grains and lots of green vegetables.<br />
Decided also to not have any alcohol and most of all, not take any painkillers for my arm.<br />
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Slowly it is starting to work.<br />
The first pounds are gone. It was frustrating in the beginning, in the first week I even gained again, but now it is starting to work.<br />
What helped a lot was changing my cardio work out, instead of using the treadmill, I am on the elliptical now. Also found that I love strength training which is new to me since I used to like endurance.<br />
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In April I have to get back to the doctor to check my blood again. Hope to come back with a clean bill of health.<br />
And one thing I know now, you don't have to be very overweight to have it be a very bad influence on your health. In my case, every pound more than 140 (63 kg) is a threat to my health.<br />
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So, there it is.<br />
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You can laugh now...Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-12522866292403216472011-02-06T16:44:00.000-05:002011-02-06T16:44:04.358-05:00Go Steelers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32EdmmbMPy5g2BT_OVZlOCR3pqpP-aSVXgLOclUrTpMsX2pWEk2kVq-BAjmuK5QwuiaIcuvyzYEYfOl00UtfPiMzZyPaSb3tOFTt1toim5I0AC8GFZMbehjbsQszL-RKLzT68_ftYMrY/s1600/Super+Bowl+Sunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32EdmmbMPy5g2BT_OVZlOCR3pqpP-aSVXgLOclUrTpMsX2pWEk2kVq-BAjmuK5QwuiaIcuvyzYEYfOl00UtfPiMzZyPaSb3tOFTt1toim5I0AC8GFZMbehjbsQszL-RKLzT68_ftYMrY/s400/Super+Bowl+Sunday.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-86993997819727044362011-01-26T17:23:00.001-05:002011-01-26T17:26:17.922-05:00Another snowday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p4oyMT_LWMSfJ92HvWA5IPWaIJRM54SCdfpke58oa4yk6AFXh2rDKoCyY_H5NZuX9LfQ1NukJaFv39pRuC_9MN0dEUp8ml3wmfFzAb6jWwBIXEvh-LhperLzUtKEa1CjJqstpo0HAb0/s1600/house+in+the+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p4oyMT_LWMSfJ92HvWA5IPWaIJRM54SCdfpke58oa4yk6AFXh2rDKoCyY_H5NZuX9LfQ1NukJaFv39pRuC_9MN0dEUp8ml3wmfFzAb6jWwBIXEvh-LhperLzUtKEa1CjJqstpo0HAb0/s320/house+in+the+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They had warned us last night, from 8 am this morning we would be under a winterstorm warning.<br />
These days we are taking that type of news with a grain of salt. Every big snowstorm you probably read about in the newspaper or saw on the news, totally missed our little spot in Pennsylvania.<br />
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It was clear that even my sons school thought this way. When we woke up at 6 am it was already snowing, but no phone call yet.<br />
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Things work a bit different here than we were used to in the Netherlands. Unless the weather was really extreme, you were supposed to show up at school, one way or the other.<br />
Here we live in an area with hills (Jack calls them mountains), a lot of backroads and most kids take the school bus. Just like my son. And the school doesn't take any risks on the transport of the kids.<br />
But before we got into our clothes, tv already announced closure of all schools in the York Northern school district and 10 minutes later the school called.<br />
So that is snow day # 2. And yes, you guessed it, they will have to make up for it, probably at the beginning at their summer vacation.<br />
During the day it honestly didn't look too bad, as you can see on the picture I took this afternoon. We may get more tonight, but I hope it won't be enough for another snow day.<br />
But the trees in our backyard are already bending under their heavy load.<br />
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On another note, the picture on top may well have been one of the last pictures for a long time from my beloved D80. Since a few days it has shutter problems and I am fearing that soon it will need more than just a little shake to start working again. It is bad timing, the new camera won't be her for at least another month and I am not looking forward to that many weeks without my favorite camera.<br />
The first time it had problems Jack told me I acted like someone who had stopped smoking.<br />
It won't be that bad this time, I promise.<br />
Because this time I have a few other things I need to focus on besides photography.<br />
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I need to study!<br />
Tomorrow I have an appointment with our doctor to fill out the DL 180 form.<br />
The form that will show that I am physically in good enough shape to drive a car. Yep, you are reading it right.<br />
Moms, keep your children inside!<br />
Because one of these days I will have to take my test to get a learners permit! Meaning I will be allowed to be on the road, with someone next to me, but still…Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-21218537234976924682011-01-15T13:37:00.000-05:002011-01-15T13:37:37.047-05:00Where the wild things are Do you remember the pictures from last year? The two snowstorms, with snow so high that our dogs would disappear in it?<br />
Well, in spite of all the news you may have read on snowstorms on the east coast of the US, Airports closed and so on, we hardly got any snow.<br />
The air had been so dry, any snowflake that might have considered coming this way was killed of by the dry, cold air. And so we just were cold over here, very cold.<br />
So cold, I had to get myself a new coat, my first down coat. Ugly, but warm enough to stay comfortable when walking the dogs.<br />
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But, in the beginning of this week we finally got a decent snow cover.<br />
And with the snow came the wild things…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5332828189_910db94684_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5332828189_910db94684_z.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5333397964_7e6fd8283a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5333397964_7e6fd8283a_z.jpg" width="214" /></a>When we put out our bird feeders last year, we attracted quite a lot of little birds and so this year a few big birds decided that we had provided them with the perfect fast food place.<br />
In the beginning it did worry me, thinking they would kill off all the little birds in the area, but all they trees in our garden provide for enough shelter in times of need.<br />
Also, the little ones seem to have a pretty decent warning system and at times there isn't a small bird to be seen.<br />
Those are the times we start looking out for the big ones and we have spotted several different ones already.<br />
And when they are close enough, I sometimes get lucky.<br />
In general they are young birds.<br />
The one you see here is a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.<br />
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The young ones seem to be less fearful than the older birds that I haven't gotten a chance to photograph yet. They take off the moment they see me open the door.<br />
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But this young Cooper Hawk let me come pretty close and gave me a very dirty look.<br />
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To be honest, it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. We have seen several of these predators up close now and I know to respect those razor sharp claws and the sharp bills.<br />
But after giving me ' the look' it decided to find another tree, less close to that weird looking human with a huge eye in front of her face.<br />
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And to give you an idea why these guys are hanging around here, this is what they are looking for!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg484V2ZiSQhdc4DHqFD70Bzc6vBR5i8b2CCdH97y28vH3l-xEQo2Ka0Tzjy8PmanriU8X3UZ-dKN7jqJvLLAYBN4zgHVV8PedtGXcGbctt1bR3VtiYs1HBxDayNtNeX4sX-ilPQKLSrAQ/s1600/Bluebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg484V2ZiSQhdc4DHqFD70Bzc6vBR5i8b2CCdH97y28vH3l-xEQo2Ka0Tzjy8PmanriU8X3UZ-dKN7jqJvLLAYBN4zgHVV8PedtGXcGbctt1bR3VtiYs1HBxDayNtNeX4sX-ilPQKLSrAQ/s200/Bluebird.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little Bluebird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb8H8TmyvdllvrU35CXPUtA-VNaYuR5CtHkQ96AAIn-3SCT93XsHfgNUHKeWnrYCz7Ru9lqpkqVXW_VywtLXTlNxwp7dtthJtLVC1NqUpyK8bt9UV7XNDYouJE4rRGaFnsYeAdkREF88/s1600/5336684304_248ab67af5_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb8H8TmyvdllvrU35CXPUtA-VNaYuR5CtHkQ96AAIn-3SCT93XsHfgNUHKeWnrYCz7Ru9lqpkqVXW_VywtLXTlNxwp7dtthJtLVC1NqUpyK8bt9UV7XNDYouJE4rRGaFnsYeAdkREF88/s200/5336684304_248ab67af5_b.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our squirrels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJlwtGvuDWJUUc9oD2ivnzeQE-dx4Fg4HpP2BiczSbJccMHAcUHhWRO26nyMQU9G78StEDoOehSq8XsYnzZw_yHhGWDAhV9KztdCD7pU9cWua7rseKijmScW0PRbOq981MTCOn2h2dLE/s1600/5336314167_f31d54b70b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJlwtGvuDWJUUc9oD2ivnzeQE-dx4Fg4HpP2BiczSbJccMHAcUHhWRO26nyMQU9G78StEDoOehSq8XsYnzZw_yHhGWDAhV9KztdCD7pU9cWua7rseKijmScW0PRbOq981MTCOn2h2dLE/s320/5336314167_f31d54b70b_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cedar Waxwing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs_cMan9dphM_T5SG7dg6h9UxhgervQvppdIgHWNRewopDDoPwpxllvLnx-Of4Cwr7yTkcvrvRoxNMcKgk1DFgwyMtZSVuOC33h3jwBSLzg8-HiW1sQL8DlT3MBg8TkeM_PWonOQvHKQ/s1600/5354051937_b33f620271_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs_cMan9dphM_T5SG7dg6h9UxhgervQvppdIgHWNRewopDDoPwpxllvLnx-Of4Cwr7yTkcvrvRoxNMcKgk1DFgwyMtZSVuOC33h3jwBSLzg8-HiW1sQL8DlT3MBg8TkeM_PWonOQvHKQ/s320/5354051937_b33f620271_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or maybe even a Mocking bird that visits our deck.<br />
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</div><div>But until now we haven't seen any of the big ones being lucky. And as long as the little ones seem to get away in time, we will enjoy the beauty of the big wild things.</div><div><div><br />
</div><div>Hope you enjoyed them also.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Petra<br />
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We're home again after a week in the Netherlands.<br />
It was wonderful to see my parents and other family and to celebrate x-mas together.<br />
Unlike here, there was plenty of snow and slippery roads, so we couldn't travel around too much, but that was fine. The place my parents live is beautiful and full of history and nature, so we did a nice walk every day and just enjoyed the sights and company.<br />
And then there is the food, stoofpeertjes and rollade, stamppot boerenkool met rookworst, zuurkool met spek en Hema worst and best of all, kibbeling. Yes, I enjoyed that for sure.<br />
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In a way it was strange to go back without having my own house to go back to. 5 years ago my parents moved also, so I never lived in their house either. On the other hand, at the end of the week I was ready to go back home, to Jack, the doggies and my son.<br />
Yep, I guess I feel at home here.<br />
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Any plans I might have had on bringing stuff back were undermined by my Dad who promised my son hagelslag. Little did I know than that that would end up being 6 kilo's of the stuff.<br />
LOL, that is 10 x 600 gram boxes.<br />
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Although, at the airport I found myself a bag of these:<br />
Salmiak kogels, love those. And since neither Jack or my son likes them, I can eat myself sick if I want to without feeling guilty over not sharing.<br />
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Also, I decided against bringing the mix for oliebollen for this year, didn't really feel like getting of the plane and start baking right away, so we skipped this year. But for next year I'll be ordering on line so we'll have some. I did kind of miss having them.<br />
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Yesterday morning we did our gift exchange under the christmas tree and I think every one was really happy with their gifts.<br />
Unfortunately we could watch our christmas movie last night. The brand new DVD decided not to play.<br />
Which was a bummer, but with some neighbors over we still had a great time. At midnight we stepped out on the porch to watch the beautiful fireworks the town organized. Love how we can see it really well without having to leave the house. And it is far away enough not to upset the dogs.<br />
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All in all, we started the new year really good and today isn't any different. We're enjoying a relaxed, lazy day. Tonight I will make Sauerkraut and pork, a tradition for Jack on New Year's Day, just slightly adjusted to our taste, we'll eat it the Dutch way, as a stamppot.<br />
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Again, Happy New Year, lets make it a good one!Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-82191864383225520612010-12-21T14:18:00.001-05:002010-12-21T14:18:40.175-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ0BOeEviCEL1e3mG-YuucSD4BVGjSKnbeIoV6UVipoDaFK80nXLjedYsUn9C8IqPt20vxoRFBftsXjzJQeTNEA_9c42K4kaU_DvUdXAndi_uOkDc7c30DCK4F-QWiS6hQKgDtP3kIGc/s1600/kerstprobeersel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQ0BOeEviCEL1e3mG-YuucSD4BVGjSKnbeIoV6UVipoDaFK80nXLjedYsUn9C8IqPt20vxoRFBftsXjzJQeTNEA_9c42K4kaU_DvUdXAndi_uOkDc7c30DCK4F-QWiS6hQKgDtP3kIGc/s400/kerstprobeersel.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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Second worst : a son who doesn't have a wish list.<br />
But, I am happy to say I was done shopping last week. Last Thursday I asked Jack to drop me off at the mall near Carlisle, it has Kohls, Michaels, Target, Petsmart, Pier 1 and several other shops and I figured I could get my shopping done in 2 to 3 hours. As it turned out, I only needed an hour.<br />
But since Jack would pick me up to get my sons present and the stuff we wanted to get at Pier one and Target for our neighbors, I was forced to snoop around at Michaels, a wonderful place that has every thing that you can imagine for creative people and after that get one of the seasonal Latte's at Starbucks.<br />
It is funny, I would never ever order a normal coffee there, but I love their specials. Just shouldn't do it too often.<br />
<br />
We also decided to go to the neighborhood Christmas party this time. Jack never went in the past, but I was asked a few times if we would be there and we thought it might be fun and a good way to meet some of our neighbors. Since a few months I go to the gym with 2 neighbors and we meet several others there, so I had a head start. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Santa would be there for the kids, there was a band and a buffet. Somehow I ended up taking the pictures of all the kids on Santa's lap and after they had some margarita's', a few of the ladies on Santa's lap.<br />
The funny thing is, you will always find a Dutch connection. That night I talked to one of my neighbors who just had found out that his family moved to the US around 1600. He was very curious to hear more about the Netherlands and I didn't mind filling him in on some details.<br />
All in all it was a real fun evening and I will surely sign us up for next year.<br />
Now, close your eyes, since I will be posting a picture with Santa and my gym buddies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-awbybdO-oWLUNvy3t8rYm-ndB4kaLTWU0VQnYgoiCsM1RQf4ya5F7zKNgs0tSupFRcx7uN1YEzgAFoUmqtzjEmBEPLInpn8faq3q4sUf-EqiQCAm51UU-O-b1Y3q_JPi9cnC-dk9cBs/s1600/DSC_3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-awbybdO-oWLUNvy3t8rYm-ndB4kaLTWU0VQnYgoiCsM1RQf4ya5F7zKNgs0tSupFRcx7uN1YEzgAFoUmqtzjEmBEPLInpn8faq3q4sUf-EqiQCAm51UU-O-b1Y3q_JPi9cnC-dk9cBs/s320/DSC_3517.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
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Sunday we took it easy, had to, Jack suddenly had a bad cold and we opted to stay in for the day.<br />
My son went over to one of the neighbors to play X-box and we had a lazy day.<br />
But I was really surprised when we did our 6 PM walk with the dogs. A big group of kids was going from door to door, caroling.<br />
It was great to hear and see. I really thought it was something of the past, but clearly not.<br />
I really hope they will keep up these traditions.<br />
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<br />
Anyway, I am almost ready for Christmas, just one more package that I hope will arrive tomorrow.<br />
That will be the last of what I need for our late X-mas celebration.<br />
But besides that, I have to pack our bags for me and my son so we can travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday.<br />
Right now it looks ok, but I am watching the weather over there. It is beginning to look a lot like a white Christmas over there.Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-22469593675708107632010-12-17T11:43:00.001-05:002010-12-17T11:43:50.082-05:00I must have not gotten that noteThe one that says that there is a spending limit on pets.<br />
It's something I have heard quite a lot lately, people with a sick animal that had to go to the vet and then decide, only one more time and the animal is over the spending limit, it won't be taken to the vet anymore and will die or will be re homed.<br />
It was probably on the same note that said, once you have kids, the pets are no longer your replacement kids but 'just' pets that need less care than before.<br />
The same note that makes pets expendable after a certain age.<br />
<br />
I am still caught in the assumption that pets are a lifetime responsibility and that there is no need to choose either kids or animals, that they can actually grow up together with respect for each others being.<br />
And I must be crazy probably, but I think no living being should be denied the right care when sick or old.<br />
I don't think pets are easy exchangeable when they no longer fit your life style or gets old or even just annoying to you, I actually think, and yes I am probably insane, that every animal has it's own character, that it feels pain and experiences love when given, just like kids .<br />
And while my kid will be always # 1, I feel my pets need the same amount of care and love.<br />
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I am glad I didn't get that note.<br />
<br />
So there, I said it.<br />
You can call me crazy now, I'll be proud of it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY7ADm5MYc9126fh90hsNTqorRtmz0lkCRh97UBS97viVQFgPiHyn7S5mETwO5Ym6lVAn3vH3eUxQs_slrNZz6-VXJ6gUnx02fGdPCP_YOvVttotSB1VWVCQObSi8Wyu1HA7qRgxt9bY/s1600/Happy+Holidays+secret+Santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY7ADm5MYc9126fh90hsNTqorRtmz0lkCRh97UBS97viVQFgPiHyn7S5mETwO5Ym6lVAn3vH3eUxQs_slrNZz6-VXJ6gUnx02fGdPCP_YOvVttotSB1VWVCQObSi8Wyu1HA7qRgxt9bY/s640/Happy+Holidays+secret+Santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-46564858855720142672010-11-30T23:42:00.001-05:002010-11-30T23:52:03.170-05:00En morgen is het 1 decemberYep, voor de verandering weer eens een Hollands blogje. Om in de spirit te komen zeg maar.<br />
En ook omdat ik 2 glazen wijn op heb en het Nederlands me dan nog steeds gemakkelijker af gaat dan het Engels.<br />
<br />
Over 23 dagen zet ik voor het eerst sinds meer dan een jaar weer voet op Nederlandse bodem en natuurlijk zorgt dat voor stof tot nadenken.<br />
In hoe verre ben ik al veramerikaanst, gaat mijn familie me betrappen op een aantal Engelse woordjes en zal ik me daar door onsterfelijk belachelijk maken? Kan ik iedereen en alles zien in die korte tijd.<br />
Maar vooral, zal ik niet teleurgesteld zijn? Dat is namelijk mijn grootste angst, dat ik het niet meer leuk in Nederland zal vinden.<br />
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Waarom ik dat denk vraag je?<br />
Easy, ik heb het hier prima naar mijn zin. Zo goed dat ik me af vraag of ik het in NL niet naar mijn zin had. Eerlijk gezegd zit ik nog steeds te wachten op de nadelen van deze oversteek. Maar tot nu toe heb ik nergens spijt van. Mijn zoon doet het geweldig hier, ik heb het naar mijn zin. Moet alleen nu en dan mijn echtgenoot even laten weten dat ik toch echt wel voor mezelf kan zorgen als Nederlandse en dat ik zeer capabel ben om mensen aan te spreken, de telefoon op te pakken en voor mezelf of zo nodig voor mijn zoon op te komen.<br />
Tja, dat zijn van die dingen die even de kop op steken.<br />
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Natuurlijk zie ik er naar uit mijn familie weer te zien, zeker na de schrik die mijn Moeder ons bezorgt heeft. Wil hen beide heel graag weer even zien, voelen, horen, aanraken.<br />
LOL, ben zelfs al een lijstje aan het maken van dingen die mee terug moeten.<br />
Van die gekke dingen, zoals zoetjes, die heb ik hier nog niet gevonden en natuurlijk drop, salmiak, dat soort dingen.<br />
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Ja, ik verheug me op kerst in Nederland, met mijn ouders, mijn zusters, zwagers en kinderen.<br />
Maar mijn echtgenoot blijft hier, met onze 4 honden en de kerstboom en de open haard.<br />
Mijn zoon gaat mee, maar verblijft bij zijn vader.<br />
<br />
Zucht….<br />
ik zou zo blij moeten zijn dat ik de mogelijkheid heb om dit te doen.<br />
Maar is het zo gek dat ik veel liever mijn eigen gezinnetje bij elkaar heb, bij onze eigen boom, met onze eigen open haard en kadootjes om te openen op kerst ochtend?<br />
Samen, met elkaar, mensen en honden?<br />
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Nee toch?Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-52318982818936183972010-11-23T08:25:00.000-05:002010-11-23T08:25:19.742-05:00Our fridge is taken hostage by a giant turkeyThere is a huge bag of cornbread stuffing blocking the opening of one of my kitchen closets and I was told that we absolutely have to have pumpkin pie for dessert.<br />
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Thursday it's Thanks Giving and I am not cooking. Phew….<br />
Totally going to stay away from the kitchen, as far as possible. Jack can handle the beast and everything that comes with it.<br />
I'll just eat it. Not too much, mind you, don't need to gain more than I already did.<br />
This is a dangerous time of the year, Turkey day is the start of an eating fest that doesn't end before the next year has started.<br />
I had kind of hoped that with losing our Sinterklaas celebration, we would skip some of the eating, but we got TG instead.<br />
Just hope we can hit the gym 3 times a week as we do now, but with the kids having so much time off, I fear the worst.<br />
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The holidays also mean that one project has come to a short stop.<br />
Remember the auction I put together? It was a success, in a few hours we raised over 800 dollars that will be donated. It also lead to something else. One of the ladies that encouraged me to do this came with a new initiative. A small group of artists that will jump in when there is an animal emergency. Goal is to organize fast actions/auctions to give some financial first aid.<br />
Seems that I am supposed to be one of those 'artists' <br />
Am curious to see if and how this works out. Might be very interesting and inspiring.<br />
Btw, if you are a creative mind and want to join us, let me know. We are spread all over the US and Canada.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijm6VusLblPwnCk4DfedL32FB0vlNGMpN5CR3F88geNrWESKeFAvOXwOvVI9YuVBUflXdn0-1OziHhAhC6Swqc2paa_EGbuYn7Z9ZL7PKeU_-8Okm0prh-JZGDqgUjd5y01cGyzCU3yUc/s1600/Gettysburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijm6VusLblPwnCk4DfedL32FB0vlNGMpN5CR3F88geNrWESKeFAvOXwOvVI9YuVBUflXdn0-1OziHhAhC6Swqc2paa_EGbuYn7Z9ZL7PKeU_-8Okm0prh-JZGDqgUjd5y01cGyzCU3yUc/s320/Gettysburg.jpg" width="256" /></a>Did you know that I am still very pleasantly surprised when I find out that one of my pictures is somewhere featured? (With me ok-ing it off course)<br />
Yesterday I heard that this picture will be todays picture on <a href="http://planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com/">Planet Earth Daily Photo</a><br />
Took this picture last Saturday. We went to the outlets in Gettysburg. ( my favorite place, Eddy Bauer, had a sale and my son needed jeans, again….) And after that we thought we might try to see if we could get a parking spot in town. It was the weekend they remember reading the Gettysburg Address and have a parade. We were in luck, we found a great spot to see the parade.<br />
Thousands of people, volunteers, dressed up in the costumes of the Civil War. Groups representing certain divisions of the armies that were fighting in that time. All replica's that could have been made in that time, so well done.<br />
While I really enjoy seeing the re-enactors, I have to say that I am not always so happy with how serious people take this. <br />
Making a little boy salute all those thousands of volunteers since the little kid was dressed up as a little soldier also does make me cringe a bit.<br />
But to each his own I guess. I didn't grow up with the admiration people here have for people who fight wars. <br />
But the parade was fun to watch and we are certainly planning to visit the reenactment of the battle of Gettysburg next year.<br />
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See you next time, I'll tell you about the new hobby I started with Paquita and why I am thinking of adopting another pup.Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-45879203954335029342010-11-13T12:59:00.001-05:002010-11-13T13:00:06.480-05:00Tomorrow!!!!!!Is the auction at <a href="http://www.thelittlewhitemonster.blogspot.com">The Little White Monster and Friends</a> !!!<br />
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Please let everyone know, there are some great items to be had, also for non greyhound lovers.<br />
If you are in Europe, you can also bid. To save on shipping I can bring items over to the Netherlands in December and mail it from there!<br />
So let the distance not with hold you from bidding!<br />
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Help us help the victims of the cruelty case on the Ebro racetrack in Florida and support the group that tries to rehome all the greyhounds from this track that will no longer race.<br />
GPA EC needs our help, so all greyhounds will find a loving home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhGh4IlweHqVgJHFg2oVf7F88pmCwzRatYwnixqAZ8kvgaMqPYL8UPNES8fHTs08WE7YH4cQj9j7BsKR81ZoqDkivshRA-Sg3uh389cmF6qc6PLXl06AMo6RDJrAmKdEqZGfAZBJ7gmQ/s1600/Blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhGh4IlweHqVgJHFg2oVf7F88pmCwzRatYwnixqAZ8kvgaMqPYL8UPNES8fHTs08WE7YH4cQj9j7BsKR81ZoqDkivshRA-Sg3uh389cmF6qc6PLXl06AMo6RDJrAmKdEqZGfAZBJ7gmQ/s400/Blog3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-10191139214261447742010-11-10T09:39:00.001-05:002010-11-10T09:42:17.192-05:00A good start of the day ended up being a great week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp7Uc8a4KPKac9xPKY7UMc-eelT8ES3JjiDtrQAE-yBMVV22nAhj8kt3yVfcBIk07ZK4tu-JgdtmBf4etfeatoE4AgMfRMPYZggVN9MM6GxNlk4_nAsN6NkemW9GagG8KNUyrhdLdyHg/s1600/olympus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp7Uc8a4KPKac9xPKY7UMc-eelT8ES3JjiDtrQAE-yBMVV22nAhj8kt3yVfcBIk07ZK4tu-JgdtmBf4etfeatoE4AgMfRMPYZggVN9MM6GxNlk4_nAsN6NkemW9GagG8KNUyrhdLdyHg/s200/olympus.jpg" width="200" /></a>Remember my last post in which I told you about winning a camera?<br />
Last Sunday we picked it up, it's cute and I am having fun playing with it.<br />
It is also pretty light, which makes it easier to bring with me on hikes. And yes, you guessed it, I am keeping it.<br />
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But some more things happened last week.<br />
First of all it was the end of my sons first marking period at highschool and he got his grades.<br />
All A's!!! I am so proud of him. Hard to believe he has been here for only a year eh? But then, his PSSA results in 8th grade were all in the advanced range.<br />
Very proud Mom here as you probably will understand.<br />
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And on Friday I started my first Free Style classes with Paquita which was fun.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPnVZlnBDnZIPV5aF6tieGPezvNMjSqMTsxZt5ZUfn6xm0nbd42noZpqieprgpUv1Fv1FJHL_HDnYRImYw2xkG4Vln5YVU7WP50n0wUs0_Tw7OCoGMI1Ze7NVct-MN0pwSwsvnutgNN4/s1600/Paquita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPnVZlnBDnZIPV5aF6tieGPezvNMjSqMTsxZt5ZUfn6xm0nbd42noZpqieprgpUv1Fv1FJHL_HDnYRImYw2xkG4Vln5YVU7WP50n0wUs0_Tw7OCoGMI1Ze7NVct-MN0pwSwsvnutgNN4/s320/Paquita.jpg" width="320" /></a>It is an introduction class of 4 weeks to doggy dancing and I am amazed about how much she still picks up at age 8. But I always knew she is a smart dog. <br />
The group exists of 10 dogs, but only 8 showed up. I was surprised to find out that most dogs didn't respond friendly to other dogs. Which was something I had hoped for. Paquita loves interacting with other dogs. But no such luck. <br />
It was funny to see how diverse the group was, from a big standard poodle and a pittbull to a yorkie and a bulldog.<br />
At the end of the lesson we got our homework. We have to practice our spins, twirls and weaves.<br />
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And than the biggest surprise of the week, Jack decided that I will go home for a few days in December together with my son. It is a shame Jack can't come with us, but he has to work and will take care of all 4 dogs.<br />
When he told me I was hesitant, didn't want to be away for X-mas, but we will be back for New Year. So a tree will be set up before we go and I can have a lot of fun decorating.<br />
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As you see, a great week.<br />
Hope the rest of the year will be as positive.<br />
<br />
As for this week, I hope it ends really well but it started with a horrible cruelty case at the Ebro racetrack for greyhounds.<br />
I am working on an auction to raise money for the surviving Ebro greyhounds and I got some great donations from Greyhounds in Nood Nederland and May Schnabelreiter from www.halsbanden.com.<br />
Both donated a handmade, leather martingale collar specially made for this auction. Also, Melissa from M.Paige Portraits donates a custom drawn pet portrait and a print of one of her drawings.<br />
And there will be prints and other nice stuff.<br />
The auction is this Sunday, it's just one day from 9 AM to 11 PM eastern time.<br />
So you better be fast.<br />
All information and teasers can be fond the next couple of days on <a href="http://www.thelittlewhitemonster.blogspot.com">Auction at The Little White Monster and Friends </a><br />
Check it out.<br />
I am thrilled to do it and hope it will be a success, but I need you guys to bid!<br />
<br />
If you want to know more about the reason of this auction, check out these newspaper articles.<br />
But be aware, the story is hard and horrible.<br />
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<a href="http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/more_dead_dogs_found_in_walton_county/mbb7726494/">Cruelty case at Ebro racetrack </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.newsherald.com/news/ebro-88224-greyhounds-least.html">Trainer arrested after at least 20 greyhounds are found dead</a>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-47035570255298642902010-11-03T08:58:00.001-04:002010-11-03T09:00:42.897-04:00My day couldn't have started betterUsually when I open my mailbox and find a message that says "Congratulations", I hit the Spam button without opening it.<br />
Not this time, this message came from PennCamera and I had entered one of my pictures in a photo contest.<br />
It was a pet photo contest and since most of my pictures are pet related, I thought I would give it a try.<br />
Not with much hope, since you had to get people to vote and I don't know that many people.<br />
And besides, I never win anyway…<br />
<br />
Not this time, my picture of Cara won first prize!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyt0y0glsZ_WXO3vtlWu_1J-MSGvCn2XPjkTdh0mUu6wXcRZeqxxMBV3pSIFx8vCzrD76DwCTojXmpoJGu9x7M8K6FgffZxbLk1e_gY4mqH1jhUlzbo5kTuM1Ycmc1QhkIrJ_j74UXHU/s1600/4879715859_7ecda78d08_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyt0y0glsZ_WXO3vtlWu_1J-MSGvCn2XPjkTdh0mUu6wXcRZeqxxMBV3pSIFx8vCzrD76DwCTojXmpoJGu9x7M8K6FgffZxbLk1e_gY4mqH1jhUlzbo5kTuM1Ycmc1QhkIrJ_j74UXHU/s320/4879715859_7ecda78d08_z.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />
A brand new Olympus EP-L1 camera. Who would have thought that? Now to figure out what the closest shop is. They don't have one close to here so we'll have to figure out what the closest one is and plan a trip.Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-80676101410268752382010-11-01T10:35:00.001-04:002010-11-01T10:39:47.539-04:00And suddenly it is NovemberThe transition from summer to fall goes so fast here. One moment I am spending a few days in late September on the beach of Cape May with a friend, wearing flipflops, shorts and a cap and a week later it is suddenly fall.<br />
I am not complaining though, fall is gorgeous here, beautiful colors, blue skies and comfortable temperatures. That is, until the last few days, it is getting colder now, fast.<br />
With fall comes pumpkin pie, pumpkin carving, Halloween and the smell of cinnamon at the entrance of every shop that sells seasonal stuff.<br />
While living in the Netherlands, I loved that smell, but it is so overwhelming here, it irritates my nose and throat within a week after the stuff appeared. Yuck.<br />
One of the fun things of the last week was our pumpkin carving party. With a few neighbors we get together and start carving. It makes for a fun display at Halloween and we get a lot of comments on how great the garden looks.<br />
Yesterday we had 193 kids trick or treating, even more than last year. We barely had enough candy.<br />
I think Halloween is one of my favorite holidays here. It reminds me a bit of Sint Maarten in the Netherlands, but in this case, its ok as a grown up to dress up also. Which I am having a lot of fun with.<br />
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Have to go now, need to work all the extra food from this weekend off.<br />
I'll leave you guys with some pictures from the last 3 weeks.<br />
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</div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-41829854391478400772010-09-12T10:30:00.000-04:002010-09-12T10:30:59.855-04:00Heading for the airportin a few hours to pick up a visitor.<br />
A good friend and fellow sighthound lover is coming over for a two week visit.<br />
It will be fun showing her around, doing DC, Cape May, Gettysburg and all the other nice places we can visit here.<br />
In a way I still feel like a tourist when we get in the car and drive around, so it should be no problem to find nice spots and sights to see.<br />
<br />
Just wish it wouldn't rain today.<br />
I mean, we needed the rain, bad! But why today?<br />
Yesterday would have been perfect also?Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-22121443650022729022010-09-09T14:46:00.003-04:002010-09-09T14:47:34.718-04:00A little list of things that I never had, had heard, done or had seen in the Netherlands<ul><li>4 pair of shorts and still wondering if I should get another pair </li>
<li>(has to do with the first one) haven't worn jeans since May</li>
<li>followed by tanned legs!</li>
<li>ground hogs</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y08gxpX0h-SSDVxW0kTavPYyB2zZqmj2jhPoxeccQsThRqHw7PUjBzKmpNfmEVrRbIdRKB7j0JPdjqocZahpU7pbRGbaahOmTevE5u_aTNHNolce55cXNUcX4fTLagxnHBIyB5mxOp8/s1600/DSC_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y08gxpX0h-SSDVxW0kTavPYyB2zZqmj2jhPoxeccQsThRqHw7PUjBzKmpNfmEVrRbIdRKB7j0JPdjqocZahpU7pbRGbaahOmTevE5u_aTNHNolce55cXNUcX4fTLagxnHBIyB5mxOp8/s200/DSC_1346.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><ul><li>bald eagles</li>
<li>squirrels racing through my garden</li>
<li>flash flooding</li>
<li>tornado warnings</li>
<li>more than one snowstorm in a winter</li>
<li>bear sightings in the neighborhood</li>
<li>having a campfire on a cool fall evening</li>
<li>turkey at Thanksgiving</li>
<li>dressing up at halloween</li>
<li>two lunch dates in a week</li>
<li>going out for breakfast</li>
<li>humming birds </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCSGtUbHoZwwq61v0vDdBhtGbotZfKONmYMVMPzq0BVVQhUthFmCYzxcRC2TRA-5EzBEwND_njfOd8P2K5VvHd1q-L9oo7k9s4NZ9mVQ9VSAWoklBjC_rtpp3Wib_GZkHa4Vrv8h8grU/s1600/humming+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCSGtUbHoZwwq61v0vDdBhtGbotZfKONmYMVMPzq0BVVQhUthFmCYzxcRC2TRA-5EzBEwND_njfOd8P2K5VvHd1q-L9oo7k9s4NZ9mVQ9VSAWoklBjC_rtpp3Wib_GZkHa4Vrv8h8grU/s200/humming+bird.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div></div><ul><li>above ground wires everywhere</li>
<li>which leads to totally mutilated trees to prevent power outages</li>
<li>personalized license plates</li>
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</div></div><ul><li>a starting business</li>
<li>always having your groceries bagged at the store</li>
<li>a garden bigger than the house</li>
<li>motor bikers not wearing a helmet</li>
<li>so many people texting, calling and driving at once</li>
<li>a church on every other corner</li>
<li>with huge billboards on the roadside</li>
<li>being called 'hun' or 'sweety' by waitresses</li>
<li>restaurants that don't have a liquor license</li>
<li>separate shops for beer/soda's and wine/liquor</li>
<li>cheese on my french fries</li>
<li>free refills for soda</li>
</ul><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and many many more.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Life is different here and I do like it, can you tell?</div></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-16603193200831348162010-08-31T13:08:00.000-04:002010-08-31T13:08:36.783-04:00Today it is a year ago...<div style="text-align: left;">While it was still dark in the early morning that my parents arrived to wave us goodbye.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When the taxi arrived we loaded up everything that wasn't on it's way already, a few suitcases, a few bags and two nervous dogs. </div><div style="text-align: left;">A few last hugs and we were on our way to the airport and our new home in the US.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It is hard to believe it really has been a year already.</div><div style="text-align: left;">So many things happened and time has flown by and I think we are doing fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;">To start of with the easy ones, the dogs are doing great together and Cara is even flourishing thanks to the men in this household. She loves to boss them around.</div><div style="text-align: left;">My son did well in school last year, when asked he will tell you that he liked how friendly everyone in school is and even though he had English lessens for one year in the Netherlands, his grades get better and better. It is just too bad he isn't really into the sport culture over here sine they would have liked for him to start football. </div><div style="text-align: left;">A few days ago he started highschool and that is another adjustment for him, but I am sure he'll be fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The one thing he doesn't like here are the vaccinations that are mandatory for schoolkids here. The last year he had a total of 5 vaccinations and at least one more to go in the near future.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He is the only one who got to go back for a few weeks. He spent 7 weeks with family and his dad.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If all goes as planned, we hope to visit the Netherlands this winter, but it isn't sure yet.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have to say, besides visiting family I don't really feel the need yet to go back.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I think I kinda like it here. I certainly don't miss the days of rain, getting wet on the bike going to work or having to struggle with the wind 2 times a day while on the bike since the wind always seemed to change.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Off course there are things I miss but there is also a lot that I got back for it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">LOL, I was never before this tanned, even with staying inside at the air conditioning for whole days this summer. And I am certainly not complaining about wearing only shorts for 4 months now. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In general, I love it here.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love how friendly and encouraging people are here. Love the hills in Pennsylvania and when we get into the car I still feel like I am on vacation. Too busy to look around to keep up a conversation.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love the weather even though it can be extremely hot or cold here. </div><div style="text-align: left;">We live in a nice neighborhood with friendly people and we are working on the house to make it 'our' home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jack and I are doing great, we found that we love doing a lot of the same stuff and we are doing them.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We love going out, walk and see things, wether it is nature or going to museums, we enjoy doing them.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Slowly we are finding new things for our house and find we like what the other picks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The biggest chance for me was going back to be a stay at home mom. For now it works out because it gives me time to work on my photography and it looks like it may evolve into a real job for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And I think that if you ask Jack, the biggest chance for him as having a family again, living together in the house.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Meaning that he has a wife that nags at times and a teenager that can be a handfull. But I have the feeling that he secretly likes that.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hlBoX24Vjo_tWET1yhk6gf_QpOtyF0Icq3WZfolFRAsETy4tCRbenx7VobCG_56j7UGC1vDtq0D3WVnJvOXRTyX4EfPMWIdtBMHPMErVUEtt4ik1Rq83d9rXdgEM2MkkQmTW4fC2Qr4/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hlBoX24Vjo_tWET1yhk6gf_QpOtyF0Icq3WZfolFRAsETy4tCRbenx7VobCG_56j7UGC1vDtq0D3WVnJvOXRTyX4EfPMWIdtBMHPMErVUEtt4ik1Rq83d9rXdgEM2MkkQmTW4fC2Qr4/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He'd better since I am not going anywhere, I am staying.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">ps, I'll pick up blogging over the next days. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Had a bit of a blogblock I think, but can think of so many things I would like to write about, I think I am good for a bit.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: right;"> Jack walking our Spanish girls in Cape May this summer.</div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-32378002326817214842010-07-06T16:54:00.000-04:002010-07-06T16:54:00.358-04:00Hup Holland!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OXxIZLte3djinabfOaCxU5Rk33IuQCQQK2ZHuKNDLen2_tW8-2do3amLh6lBexhEsV7ZspZ0V93L2tkMksoDhkS9YE7EOUHK-Crd08JFW7lqBapumXdaHjSju0Xs4Xlh2vA4uZePn9o/s1600/Hup+Oranje.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OXxIZLte3djinabfOaCxU5Rk33IuQCQQK2ZHuKNDLen2_tW8-2do3amLh6lBexhEsV7ZspZ0V93L2tkMksoDhkS9YE7EOUHK-Crd08JFW7lqBapumXdaHjSju0Xs4Xlh2vA4uZePn9o/s640/Hup+Oranje.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">We'll see you Sunday!!!</span></span></span></div>Petrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03865447441156777463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4609189514246286045.post-13946495772245153692010-07-06T13:37:00.002-04:002010-07-06T13:37:55.439-04:00Yikes….<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="cond" style="display: block; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: -8px; padding-top: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Extreme Heat</span></span><span class="hi" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hi </span></span><span class="temp" style="font-size: 50px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">39</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">°</span></span></span><span class="realfeel" style="font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">RealFeel® 42°</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So glad we have air conditioning over here!!!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">My poor plants outside.</span></span></span><br />
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