Find the Hidden Cat

Do you see Archie snoozing in his own little hideaway? ...somewhere between a rock and a soft place!

Major Disruption--Inside and Out...

...but well worth it in the end! The painters arrived early in the morning, draped the kitchen in plastic and canvas, then proceeded to stain the woodwork, pile all the furniture in the dining room and start painting the ceiling and walls. At the end of the week, they moved the heavy furniture pieces back in, leaving the rest in the dining room for me to sort through and reorganize. (I'm still working on it!)

After several days of sorting, purging and rearranging contents of cabinets, the kitchen has a fresh new look. The wallpaper is gone, the sliding door woodwork has been stained to match the cabinets, the ceiling is a clean flat white, the walls match the tile and the counter tops are shiny and clutter-free. The family room also has been painted and cleaned out. I took the opportunity to shampoo the carpet while the furniture was still out. What a difference!







Meanwhile, Rick and Ray (dynamic duo!) worked on completion of the fencing around the entire perimeter of our yard, with gates to be installed at the end of the driveway. This should keep those hosta-loving, daylily-munching, tick-infested deer out!

41 Years!

Today we celebrate our 41st anniversary. Rick will be taking me out to dinner tonight, which was our favorite activity when we were dating way back then.

PHOTO SHARING LUNCHEON

After recovering from jet lag (see the Stamping Tower blog for details) I had a few friends over to see the pictures I took in Prague. It was a rainy day, just right for a bowl of homemade potato-chive soup and sandwiches. This time I remembered to take a picture with people in it!

The menu was: cream of potato soup with fresh chives from our garden; ham, salami, fresh pineapple sliced thin, lettuce and homemade honey-mustard dressing on croissants; cucumber chips; iced tea with lemon; and parfaits of blueberry cake with additional blueberries and ice cream.

Afterward, we cleared the table and played Mexican Train (dominoes) until 4:30. Then I put the fresh flowers back on the table to enjoy my new ceramic vase from Prague.

It's good to be home!

Reflections on the Museum of Communism

While in Prague, I spent one afternoon by myself at the Museum of Communism; and it was well worth the time. It is a chronological narrative told in pictures and artifacts from the pre-Communist era to the Velvet Revolution in Prague in 1989. Far from being simply a "dry" lesson in history, I found it a very moving account of how the philosophy and rise to power of a mere handful of men could have such far-reaching effects on so many nations in such a short period of time.

The museum was co-founded by an American and a Czech who have done an outstanding job of bringing increased understanding of the people and events of the past who shaped the present Czech Republic. As a 5-time visitor to Prague, I'm continually amazed at how much progress they have made in such a short time. My impression of the people I've met (including non-tourist areas) is that they are eager to move into a brighter future and willing to work hard to get there. I came away hoping they would never forget the lessons of history, and that others would also learn from it as well, especially Americans.

Anyone planning a trip to Prague should put this museum on their "must see" list! It is located above the McDonald's on Na Prikope near the Mustek metro stop. (For further information, you can visit their website through Google.)

Mothers Day in Prague

Chris took Laura, Owen and me to a Mothers Day Brunch this morning high atop a hotel on the Vltava River. What a spectacular view! The food was great too--fresh fruits, crepes made to order, hot dishes, cold salads, cakes, pastries and other desserts including a chocolate fountain to dip fruit in.




We started with champagne, (and a special juice drink for O.) tried a lot of different dishes, and ended with fresh Capuccino and a sampling of desserts. Owen especially enjoyed the chocolate fountain!

Their church meets in the afternoon, and it was a very nice service beginning with flowers for all the moms (and grandmothers), a good sermon and ending with communion. I met a lot of Chris and Laura's friends, including one couple my own age--it's a very young congregation, all very friendly.

I'm finally home reconnecting with family and friends. Thankfully, I actually remembered to take pictures this time!

PERFECT DAY AT THE PRAGUE ZOO!

Owen had a great time at the zoo with his Aunt Carol, Grandma and Miss Sheila --along with Mom, of course. The weather couldn't have been better. Not only did we see lots of animals, but we also rode the (scary) chair lift to get back up to the exit! We had hot dogs (Czech style--yum) for lunch under a tree. Owen also went on a train ride and was quite impressed with a new exhibit of crocodiles.

It was a very successful day!

MADE IT TO PRAGUE!

After giving Carol and Sheila a quick tour of the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, we had lunch at an outdoor cafe and then boarded a boat for a cruise down the Vltava River. I enjoyed viewing the castle from a different perspective. It was also interesting to see the giant modernistic metronome from the river below. The weather was ideal: sunny, warm and a gentle breeze.

Here I am in the top of the clock tower! We landed at 6:20 am (Prague time) and I'm still fighting to keep my eyes open until dark.

(Notice my new haircut!)

OFF TO PRAGUE AGAIN!

This time I'll be traveling with my sister and our friend, Sheila. It's their first trip there, and I'm looking forward to showing them around. Prague is such a beautiful city, but the best part will be seeing my daughter, son-in-law and Li'l O!

While Carol and Sheila will be staying at the Czech Inn, I'll be staying at Laura's flat. Since I'll have access to the computer there, I'll try to remember to post some photos! So keep checking back here...

Meanwhile, Rick will be holding the fort and getting the deer fencing done!