We shall see what today has in store

I am repeating myself it would seem but both of us are still exhausted. Scott is as busy as ever with work. I have been sidelined for the past day and a half by a stomach virus. I am finally able to eat something today, albeit dry Cheerios, it is something. Still not sleeping during the night hours of this timezone, which is taking its toll. Will try to unpack finally.

low winter sun –
the melting snowman
still smiling

~Elena Naskova

Nice to be home

Still exhausted and so many things to attend to. Scott is off to work today, hopefully not for the entire the day, he needs rest. I will miss walking to work with Scott in the mornings. Will post something more detailed soon. Should make a start on those items that need tending to. Mom mentioned that she enjoyed the "apple a day series" so I thought I would include one in this post.






Enjoy the journey!

Back in Austin!

Scott and I arrived safely in Austin this afternoon. It is fantastic to be home. Both of us are exhausted and I can only imagine it will take a little while for us to acclimate and adjust to being back in North America.
Hope the weekend is treating everyone very well.

Sending all our love,
Scott & Mel

Travel Update

Scott and I are still in Chicago, due to bad weather here yesterday our flight to Austin was cancelled. We are now waiting to board a flight that is suppose to leave at 945am. Hopefully we will be heading for Austin soon.

Austin bound today!!!

If all goes well we should be landing in Austin, Texas just after 11pm local time.

Another beautiful day

Found at www.tinywords.com

first snowflakes -
a Mozart concerto
on the car radio
~Damien Gabriels

Translated from the French. Here is the original:

premiers flocons
-un concerto de Mozart
à l'autoradio

Christine had a baby boy!!!!

Please welcome Matthew Harrison de Auer to the world!!!!!

Matthew Harrison was born 16 February 2007, weighing 7 pounds, 11 ozs and is beautiful and healthy!!! Christine and the wee one made it home Monday afternoon, both are doing very well indeed!!!

Contrasts

These photographs were taken here in Bratislava last week. The building below is part of the gorgeous church above, and it is slowly being restored. I thought it was a very clever use of art as windows.

Enjoy the journey!!

Two hawks circle

rising up with the air currents

above placid waters

~Lauren Chiasson

Moments

This was one of those spontaneous moments. I am so glad I went against my norm and snapped this shot. I don't like to take photos of strangers, I am not comfortable with it, don't want to infringe on their privacy, however I just couldn't help myself this particular day. What caught my attention was hearing the little girl say (in English) "Look, Frosty the Snowman!". It is a display in the front window of a chocolate shop, where Scott and I have enjoyed a fantastic cup of melted chocolate. I particularly love the way the little girl is standing, I didn't notice this until I looked through the photos on the computer.

Hope the weekend was divine.
Enjoy the journey!!

P.S. Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Pig !

Anticipation

What an exciting day, Christine is scheduled to have her c-section today at 1pm est, please keep her in your thoughts. I will share the good news about the newest arrival when I get word.
Enjoy the weekend!!!

first tree buds
the list of baby names
not chosen
—w. f. owen

daily haiku from tinywords.com

winter lake -
only my eyes
disturb the view
--Chaffinch

Time

It is grey and rainy outside today, so I am inside looking through photographs taken over the past few months. In essence reliving our visits to each city, remembering the conversations, the understanding when no words were necessary, the feelings of wonder, delight and awe, a funny and or cherished moment shared, they are all imprinted in my heart and mind. There are so many emotions and words that just do not seem to come close to ever describing that ephemeral notion or feeling. I suppose today has caused some contemplation on my part. Have Scott and I really been over here for almost three months now (in three more days it will be three months exactly)?! Our perception of time and how it passes is as individual as each of our personalities. Circumstances, perspective and experience all seem to contribute to how we perceive time. There are moments when time is fleeting, others when it seems to pass at a snail's pace, and then there are those moments that just seem to standstill. This life we have to lead is some kind of wonderful, wouldn't you agree?!!!
I wanted to share a favourite photograph of mine. I discovered this sculpture in the far corner of the churchyard down the street from where we are staying. I am in awe of the emotions the sculptor was able to portray in this piece. It brought tears to my eyes on the first visit; I seek it out any time I return. It is a sweet sadness somehow. There is the awareness of raw emotion, a heart wrenching loss. At the same time I can not help but recognize that there is a sense of gratitude for without that gift of life and love there would never be this loss.

There are new photos uploaded to flickr for your viewing pleasure, all taken in Vienna last month.

Enjoy the journey!

Easson & Gerber Daisies

Kim's Valentine's Day greeting, adorable don't you think?!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

A random image found here in Bratislava.

Something of interest:

A bit of history concerning Valentine's Day.

An article about Wilson A. Bentley , the first person to photograph snowflakes proving that each is unique.

Remember that every day is an opportunity to let our loved ones know how dear they are to us.

Enjoy the journey!!

The play of light in the afternoon

There is something so beautiful about the light in the early morning and the waning hours at day's end. Scott and I had another terrific weekend in Vienna, we ventured inside St. Stephen's Cathedral Saturday afternoon. What a sight to behold, both inside and out it is a phenomenally gorgeous piece of architecture.

Enjoy the journey.

Sunday morning
the gospel
according to birds
--Johnette Downing

Alexa & Easson

Our beautiful nieces, Alexa and Easson!!!
Easson now weighs in at 9 pounds.
As the photographs demonstrate, the bond between these two sisters can only deepen.

Fabulous Friday

Had a superb afternoon yesterday, I went out camera in hand with the intention of snapping shots of various pieces of graffiti that I have noticed during my wanderings about the city. Not only did I find each of the pieces I was looking for but I took several other spontaneous shots that I feel turned out rather well. I noticed a few curious glances from people on the street while I was taking a few random shots, but that just seemed to heighten the level of my enjoyment. Scott and I agree that the following shot is one of the best of yesterday’s shooting frenzy.


Here is to weekends that seem to never end, are full of adventure, provide time to relax and above all give us the opportunity to enjoy the company of those we hold dear.

Enjoy the journey.

winter moonset;
on the edge of the forest
a ghost-owl glides
—Grace Galton

An apple a day (IV)

a sense of place

I wanted to share something I read yesterday that truly resonated with me. I discovered this blog entitled true nature by chance and here is the post entitled, a sense of place that I wanted to share. After reading this I immediately typed up a response and emailed it directly to the writer.

Enjoy the journey!!!

fading light
the old man and
his cracked tea cup
~Aurora Antonovic

An apple a day (III)

An apple a day (II)

I have been meaning to mention that we have several new photographs uploaded to our flickr account; they were taken in Vienna last month. So to continue with the finding beauty in the ordinary theme, I introduce an apple a day. There are more photographs to share in this set. Enjoy the journey!

old priest’s rectory:
the pine tree green
even in snow
--Charles Trumbull

An apple a day (I)

Food Funk

As I have previously mentioned the switch to our present hotel has been a wonderful change for us and has helped to make our stay far more comfortable and enjoyable. Having a kitchenette is terrific, we are able to keep a bit of food on hand and I can make meals for us in the evening when Scott returns from the office. Of course there have been challenges. Only having two elements to work with and no oven has proven interesting, since I love roasting and baking dishes, especially in the cooler weather. Another aspect that is particularly difficult and is not exclusive to our being here in Europe is that I go through phases where I fall into what I have come to refer to as food funks. I find that I lose interest in food every so often and eat only because I need to and don’t take a great deal of pleasure in the experience. This unfortunately is most frustrating when I have to try and make meals not only for myself but for Scott as well. I fall into ruts too easily during these funks and meals become a bit routine and perhaps repetitive in their nature. This of course only feeds into the frustration, perhaps perpetuating these funks. Let’s just say we had a number of soup & grilled cheese sandwich meals, as well as repeat pasta dishes last week. So I have been extremely grateful that I have happened upon several inspiring food blogs. The enthusiastic way in which the various authors discuss their food topics and the recipes they so generously share have been just the jolt I needed to revive my waning interest in all things culinary. I thought I would share a few of the links with you: Orangette, Whipped, Pinch My Salt and A Cream Puff in Venice .

Enjoy the journey!

A bit of history

Found a bit of interesting information about The Blue Church in a tourist magazine provided by the hotel, called Enjoy Bratislava. Here is an excerpt:
Blue Church
Bezručova street is graced with the magnificent building of St. Elizabeth’s Church, which all Bratislavans call the Blue Church. The church is dedicated to the Hungarian St. Elizabeth, the wife of Franz Joseph I, born in Bratislava castle. Its construction began in 1909, and one year later, the church cross was solemnly raised. Countess Szapáry, who launched its construction, had St. Elizabeth’s relics brought from Vienna and placed at the main alter. The Blue Church is a gem of Art Nouveau architecture. It gained its nickname thanks to its bright blue ceramics and blue roof tiles. Above the entrance there is an Italian mosaic representing the legend of St. Elizabeth and the roses. The rose motif is also the main ornamental element of the church’s interior. (The church and a nearby school building were designed by Ödön Lechner.)

Happy Birthday William!!!

Wishing this little guy a day full of laughter, excitement and love!!!
Hugs,
Mel & Scott
oxoxox

William is the two year old son of my dear friend Christine. She and I attended the University of Guelph together and we have remained close ever since, of which I am eternally grateful!!!

Crisp, cold and blue skies

Sending out wishes for a wonderful weekend to each and every one of you!! Hope everyone is enjoying the photographs over at flickr. Scott and I are doing well. Scott has been working long hours, keeping very busy and the project seems to be coming along. This opportunity has and continues to be incredible. The new experiences, seeing new places, it all has been brilliant. It is funny what you miss though. I am so looking forward to curling up in my own bed to sleep the first night we return to Austin. Remember to look at the familiar with fresh eyes; one never knows what new discovery may be lurking just around the corner or at our very feet.

Enjoy the journey!

waist-high snowdrifts...

in my alphabet soup

s p r i n g

—Laryalee Fraser

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Today it has been announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling will be published Saturday 21 July 2007, see details here , here & here!!!

Hello There February!!!

Head on over to flickr for a look-see at our Budapest photographs!!!! By the way, did anyone of you attempt to call us last night? Scott and I were asleep and the phone starting ringing, it took us a bit too long to figure out that it was the room phone ringing, not the cell phone and by that time whoever had called had hung up. No message was left so we have no idea if it was family or friends calling, or if it was a wrong number, just curious. Hope today gets February off to a wonderful start for each and everyone of you!

Enjoy the journey!

winter morning -
our words turn into
white clouds
—Helga Härle