The taste of homemade butter.

I remember when my mother and father would  take us to visit my grandmother. She lived in West Virginia and I was thrilled to see a churn similar to this one, sitting on her front porch. Sometimes we would pull into the driveway and there she sat in her rocking chair, churning her fresh milk then selling the butter.  She would churn all day or at least until her arms ached. All the neighbors on the old dirt road would come by and ask for a tub full of her butter. The butter was the very best and  how fresh it was!
My sister and I would wake up the next morning to find she had made biscuits and gravy for us. We topped off the warm  biscuits with freshly churned butter. After breakfast she would shoo us outside to play. Oh to be young again.    

It was a trip of a lifetime.

After touring Paris, we then moved on to  Cheb Republic. We stayed at this hotel that was so far out in the country. We were driving and I asked my daughter are we on the right road? She said yes, that it was just a little further down this very rural country side. When we approached the hotel I was in complete awe of it. So beautiful. The first picture is the entrance to the lobby. The second is the courtyard and the resteraunt. We had a buffet dinner with foods I have never eaten let alone heard of. It was all delicous.
The rooms decorated in gorgeous soft colors. Very roomy as well. After dinner we rested and I just happen to look out our window and saw this farm. I couldn`t help but wonder how many people came to stay in this beautiful hotel and if they were as happy as we could ever be.
A few days later it was time to come home. In my mind I still see every city and country that we visited . It was a trip of a lifetime!

Paris Bound

We could see the top point of the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room. I remember thinking " I have got to go see that!" Everyone was so excited, so many things to see and do in Paris. Where would we begin? We started out on foot taking in the sights and admiring all the architecture. I didn't know which way we had to go to get there, but my husband found the way. He led us right to it. I remember my daughter, son in law, my grand kids, my husband and myself standing right under it looking up. The sight was absolutely amazing. I just couldn't believe we stood there, all together as a family.

The very next thing, my daughter really wanted to see was the Arc de Triomphe.We walked there stopping to take it all in. My eyes were everywhere all at once. Paris was a beautiful city. So we walked and found the Champs-Élysées, the most famous street in Paris. All the lovely shops, bakeries, and of course my favorite, Cartier! By the time we got back to the hotel, I had sat there and thought " I have been to Paris and survived all that sight seeing" There were so many things we saw and did, but the most important one of all, was spending this time and enjoying the views with my family. 

Just a note...While in town I had the most humbling experience. We were shopping and  sightseeing one morning and I needed to use the ladies room. I thought I would ask the waiter so I stopped him hoping he could help me. I said " Where can I find the ladies restroom?" He looked at me very strange  and said " Je ne parle francais"  Translation- I only speak french! Needless to say I had to ask my daughter for help.

It was very clear how little we really know when visiting another country. At least is was for me!

Shopping!

Yesterday I was thinking about our trip to Germany 3 years ago and what a trip it was! The story begins with my daughter Brenda. She is a military wife and a mother of two handsome sons. Her husband was stationed in Germany and I knew they would be there for 4 long years. It was in the second year that Brenda became homesick and she wanted to see her mom and dad very much.  I think thats when she began talking things over with Jeremy, her husband.  She called me one day and asked if we would like to come and spend a week with the family. I thought "Oh she`s just kidding with me". She was serious! I did not know at the time she had an itinerary all set up. We were about to go to four countries in 7 days!   After landing in Germany 16 hours later, I saw my daughter, son-in-law and my two grandsons. They couldn't wait for our plane to land and neither could we. I want to see my daughter`s beautiful smile and to hug her. I couldn't believe after all that time apart there she was waiting with  open arms and a slice of German pastry. She knows me all to well . I couldn`t take my eyes off her and in the back of my mind I kept thinking "We are here, in Germany?" I had to pinch myself! We spent half the night just talking and catching up on everything. The next day it was time to sightsee. And that we did!

In the next couple of days, I would like to share a few photos of  beautiful places and what we found.

Our first stop was  at a glass factory called Nachtmanns, all the glass products were handmade. I could have spent a fortune there but common sense and will power prevailed, to my husbands sigh of relief.

Nactmann Glass Factory

This is what we saw when we enter Nachtmanns front shop.  Glass of every shape and all hand blown. I wanted to spend the entire day  filling up my shopping cart! I was fixated on buying something but the selection was overwhelming. What to do I asked?  My daughter then said "Pick something that you truly love and we will come back".  I just couldn`t it was if my shoes had been nailed to the floor!   I began thinking to myself,  hurry up and take pictures then think on it for just a day. We agreed.  I knew she would bring me  back before it was time to go home. At the end of that day we did , we picked out a gorgeous red and clear cut glass bowl. It is one of my favorite pieces!

A Rose

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

I have a huge  passion for glass. It dozen`t matter what type of glass it is; possibly stained, molded or cut glass.
Either way, I am a hopeless fanatic!

Intoducing Baby May

I am so proud of our first great grand daughter May. She was born the day before Christmas and what a gift she is ! Her given name is Malaya but I thought since I`m her great grandma why not?

May and her parents live in Tennessee, sadly to say I haven`t met her yet. We plan on visiting her this summer. I can`t wait to hold her in my arms. My grandson told me that she is a handful.She isn`t fussy but she will definately let you know who she wants to hold her. She also has a healthy set of lungs:) She isn`t camera shy is she?

I think there is no greater gift in life than a baby.They light up the world when they giggle :)

She is loved!