Barcelona

Mandy and I had a wonderful short trip to Barcelona. The weather was lovely and there was so much to see and do there.

On the first day we visited Casa Batllo, which was designed by Gaudi. It was amazing to see the style of architecture and intricate design.

The second day we went to he Temple de la Sagrada Familia, which was also partially designed by Gaudi. This church has been under construction for over 100 years! It is still under construction to this day. 

Here we are enjoying the weather in Park Guell, also designed by Gaudi.

Here is another shot inside the park. It is on a hill, and from the top you have a fantastic view of the whole city.

We had a good time, and got to see so much of the city. 

London highlights

A view of the city from St. Paul's Cathedral

Inside the V&A cast room. These are plaster casts of various things, including a huge cast of Trajen's column. 

Andy & Mandy took me out for burgers and malts at the Lucky Seven

It has a very retro-type American design, and very good food.

 I've been traveling around the city and seen so much that I missed on the last trip. This evening, Mandy and I went to Chinatown and had these delicious dumplings. I've also been to the Tate Britain, the Tate Modern, St. Paul's Cathedral,  the British Museum, the V&A, and strolled around Camden, which is near Mandy and Andy's flat. We also had a Thanksgiving feast with some of Andy's classmates with turkey, stuffing and even pumpkin pie - (a feat since canned pumpkin is nearly impossible to find!) I miss Oscar, but hear he is doing fine up in the northwoods, getting spoiled I'm sure.

Visitors

Henry and Oscar looking out the window.


Jared taking Ailee for a ride.

Oscar and Henry on the bed.

Jared and Ailee in her new sandbox. They were so dirty after playing in the wet sand.

Oscar and I stayed with Henry while his family was in London. We had fun, and on the weekend Grandma and Grandpa visited with Jared and Ailee. Those two played all day long!

Oscar wash

It has been a busy month here, but not too busy for a bath! Oscar got so dirty in the mud that he needed to be washed up. He is just so good about sitting in the sink, even though he doesn't like the whole washing business.

His favorite part about a bath is rolling around on the rug after I towel him off. What a silly boy.

Safe and Sound

Oscar and I are safe in Minneapolis. Thanks to everyone who called and emailed to check up on us.

Here are some pictures from our recent weekend up north. I had fun with the nephews and visiting with Bosco and his girls.

Lucas the boy scout:



Me with Emily and Dylan, trying to get him to close his eyes for a nap... it didn't work.

Jared and Oscar. Oscar really likes to herd Jared around, and Jared really likes to get Oscar to chase him around. They have fun together.

If I can figure out how to post a video, I will put on the short clip I took of Dylan swimming. He is amazing!

New Orleans

I went to a conference in New Orleans recently and thought I would post a few pictures from the trip. I was very busy and didn't get many opportunities to take photos. It was also very hot and humid, and rained every day.


This first one is from a bus tour we took. It rained all afternoon that day, so pictures from the bus were not working very well.

In this one you can almost see the levees.





We were able to take a short walk in one of the many cemeteries. The tour guide told us all about how burials work in New Orleans. What a process! The vaults are either owned by families or associations. They have pretty specific rules about how many can be buried within a certain vault within a certain amount of time. It was fascinating.

The vaults were really varying. They had beautiful decorations and statues. Some are taken care of better than others.

It may sound a little weird, but walking around the cemetery made me think of my Grandma Sylvia and all the visits she took to the cemetery in town. It is a different generation that takes such care of grave sites, and I wonder if people in my generation will keep up that practice.

This last picture is what is left of a lighthouse. It was sad to see how much destruction is still left in the city, but most of the French Quarter and riverfront areas were untouched.


I had a great time, and would love to go back and explore more of the city.

I'm going to London!

I just bought my tickets for Thanksgiving in London with my sister and brother-in-law! It is a few months away, but I am already excited to go and visit them again.

Here are some pictures from the last time I was up north visiting the family:

The little girl in green pants is Lily, my cousin's little girl. She has grown so much since last time I saw her.


Cute Ailee!

Dylan posing for the camera

Here is an Oscar picture for Mandy - Oscar and yellow:

NYT Librarian article

I don't usually write about work stuff, but there was this great article about librarians in the New York Times.

And of course, the required Oscar picture. He loves to chew....

Tired out!

sneaking around the couch

tired after running around the park

Oscar and I went to the dog park again and he was getting chased around by a tiny Jack Russel terrier. It wanted to run around with him, and he was not interested at all, he wanted to play with the big dogs.

This weekend, he had a bit of excitement. We were on our morning walk, and as he squatted down, a squirrel came up and sat about 5 feet away from him. Well, when Oscar saw the squirrel, he hurried up (as best he can) and took off after it. He was tripping over himself trying to get this thing. He came close, but the squirrel got away. But, Oscar the clown got a huge laugh out of the older gentleman sitting on the park bench watching the whole time. He was so proud of himself for chasing that pesky squirrel away.

Bathtime and flowers

Such a sad face on Oscar. We went to the dog park with Henry and his family and Oscar decided to stick his face in the lake. So, when we returned home it was time for a bath. He fits perfectly in the kitchen sink! He is really a skinny dog under all that fur.

The flowers are peonies, my favorite.

Oscar and Mandy

It has been a busy week for Oscar. Mandy and Andy were home for a visit. Lucky dog, he got plenty of snuggles and kisses from his second favorite girl. We visited them at Andy's parents home and we all went to Eveleth for a long weekend.

The second picture is an exhausted Oscar after a party we held for Mandy and Andy on Sunday night. We had at least 20 people in our tiny condo, and Oscar was very, very good. He wandered around with a dazed look most of the night, but he didn't bark very much.

Visitors!

Mandy and Andy will be home next week! Oscar doesn't really know it yet, but he will be very excited to see them. We have been busy with life, and now that it is nice outside, Oscar loves running around in the park nearby.

New Toys

Oscar and I both got new toys recently. I got my grandma's old record player, and a stack of old records from my parents house. I can't use it yet, it needs a new needle, but I am very excited to try it out.

Oscar got a little suffed animal to play with. It looks like a small Oscar! So cute.

We've been going for longer walks now that the snow is melted, but it has been raining, so he gets soaked. He doesn't seem to mind getting rained on, although he does not like me drying him off once we get inside.

Not much excitement here lately, we are excited that Mandy & Andy will be visiting next month, I'm sure Oscar and Mandy will have a lovefest with lots of licking and snuggling.

Tagged!

My sister Mandy tagged me, so here are my answers...

A- Available or married? Available

B- Best Friend? my twin Mandy

C- Cake or Pie? Pie - but no strawberries or whipped cream

D- Drink of Choice? I'm trying to cut down on caffiene so lately its been tea

E- Essential Item? my bus pass - I love my new commute!

F- Favorite Color? Pink

G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Bears

H- Hometown? Eveleth

I- Indulgence? An occasional vanilla latte

J- January or February? January, my birthday is that month

K- Kids & names? none yet

L- Life is incomplete without? family, friends, and my dog Oscar

M- Marriage Date? -----

N- Number of Siblings? 3, a twin and 2 older sisters

O- Oranges or apples? crunchy apples

P- Phobias/Fears? My fear once was being alone, but I am enjoying being single

Q- Favorite Quote? "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi

R- Reason to Smile? Morning snuggles and kisses from Oscar when my alarm goes off

S- Season? Spring

T- Tag three people! Andy, Anissa and Shawna

U- Unknown fact about me: I often have dreams that come true

W- Worst habit? TV watching

Y- Your favorite food? nectarines, Mandy's peanut soup, and ice cream

Z- Zodiac? Capricorn

Up North and Snow!!!

Last weekend Oscar and I went to visit my family in Northern Minnesota. We had fun with the boys - they have lots of energy, and Oscar gets so excited around them. We played Twister - I haven't played that in such a long time - and those boys beat me every time. As you can see in the picture, Dylan even shared his beloved blanket, yellow, with Oscar to snuggle with, what a generous boy.

I went through mom & dad's old records last weekend too. I am anxiously awaiting the record player they will bring me when it is finally fixed. I got some good music that I'm excited to hear - Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, I passed on the Captain and Tennile and the old Finnish sing-alongs from Sylvia, but it will be fun to have Grandma's old player here soon.

This weekend, we are in the midst of a major snowstorm, and as the pictures show that the snow is pretty deep for Oscar. He has to jump to get around in the snow. He loves it though, and he is now snoozing next to me, tired out from our walks today.

Lazy Days

I had the start of a cold this weekend, so Oscar and I just hung around at home. This is what he does all day, looking out the window, watching the squirrels next door and laying in the sunshine. He goes from laying on the couch next to me to laying by the window. Back and forth, all day long. It finally warmed up this weekend, and we were able to go for a longer walk today, which was very nice. Oscar ran around in the snow. He likes to hop around in the snow at the nearby park.

More destruction

Oscar found a receipt today while I was at work. This is the look I get when he knows he did something bad - he's so sad. Thankfully, it was not a big mess. That only happens when he gets a stray tissue.

In other news, Oscar has been a reluctant walker in this cold weather. He only wants to go for a short walk, maybe half a block or so. Even with his booties, he just gets cold. It is nice, however, that we can now walk in the light of day when I get home at night. I don't have to bring my flashlight along to find his poo.

Destruction & new booties

Oscar was a naughty dog today. He's been good for so long, but he just couldn't resist. He chewed my shoelaces again. It's been months since he's done any destructive chewing, but I awoke this morning to a wet chewed off lace. I think I just need to make sure there is always a bone around for chewing, so he leaves my shoes alone.

Photo 2 shows Oscar sporting his new booties from my mom. There were 4 in the package, but they would not stay on his front paws, and the snow doesn't bother them as much, so I just left on the back booties. With a 4 on he looks a like a little clown. Even with just 2 he looks silly, but they kept the snow out of his pads and we were able to go for a longer walk today.

The third photo I took one morning this week. This is what Oscar does in the morning while I am getting ready for work. Sometimes he doesn't even get off the couch when I leave, which is probably good because it means he doesn't bark in the morning. What a tired dog!

Day off!

I have today off because of Martin Luther King, Jr Day and it feels like I'm skipping out on work. It is so quiet from the snow last night - it's wonderful. Oscar and I went out for a walk this morning and he was hopping around in the snow, he loves it, but his feet got cold quickly and we didn't take a long walk.

I do need to venture out though and pick up a new web cam, mine is still not working right. It works for a few minutes and then cuts out. Frustrating, but my computer is a few years old and this is the first major problem I've had with it.

Martha & Ailee came over last night to help me recover my kitchen chairs. They look great! Oscar was actually pretty well behaved, and at least he left Ailee alone while she watched a movie.

This weekend I finally made it to Penzey's with Brenda & Mike. I love that store :) I restocked my kitchen.

I spent Saturday with the girls at Karin's. I was working on my recipe book of Sylvia's old recipes. I am now at the point where I am finishing up the formatting and I'll have to decide if I want to make it on full-size paper or half-size.

Home Sweet Home

We arrived back in town today and I am glad to be home. London was great fun, and it was so nice to see Andy and Mandy again, but it is always nice to come home. Oscar was very glad to see me this afternoon and he is happily sleeping next to me as I type.

I feel that I saw just a glimpse of London, and I am excited to start planning my next trip there. I feel that since I have free accomodations for now I need to make the most of the opportunity and will visit as much as possible.