It’s Only Been…

...12 years

Well the boxes from China were awaiting us since last summer. They got delivered on the same day we received our shipment in Stavanger and since I don’t have the ‘don d'ubiquité’ (I do not have the gift of ubiquity?), I couldn't opened them before. As I was rediscovering the furniture we purchased in Beijing and unpacking our souvenirs from our life in China, I thought I may as well start unpacking some of the boxes that have been piled up high in the corner of our kitchen (waiting for the remodeling of said kitchen, which hasn’t happened yet!) and tackled the task.

Boxes from Buenos Aires, packed 10 years ago; Aberdeen, packed 5 years ago; Pau, packed 4 years ago and from Beijing, packed 1 year ago

treasure in waiting

And now I can open a restaurant with all this glassware!

I might be set for a while!

And I made a very happy Jeremy with endless hours of fun (trust me he was happy!)

Double room, double entry... a luxury townhouse for Jeremy

Good Food...

...Good Company

What I like most about spending time in France is that I get to eat all my favorite food, and my mom makes sure I get a lot of supplies.

'Faiselle' or 'Tome Fraiche'  from the local farm

I'm Home...

...Time to Relax

Remembering Beijing at my little piece of paradise…

Relaxing before the madness starts:

Love 'my' new kindle -read Chloe's Kindle :-)

Happy Bastille Day...

...14th of July in France

We’ve got to celebrate French ‘Independence’ day, or as we say in France ‘La Fete Nationale’ , ‘Le Quatorze Juillet’… well not really independence, we are only celebrating the fact that we got rid of the monarchy more than 220 years ago!!

Didn’t get a chance to take pictures of the beautiful fireworks from my little hometown (forgot the camera at home, so unlike me!) and I was too busy anyway mingling with all my childhood friends (same people, same place, different year!) and drink “Marquisette”. This was also my sister’s last day in town before going back to her dreamy island.

Hello France…

...Or Maybe Not

Apparently the new thing in France is to have the big American pick up truck. Yes I know gas price is way higher in France than it is in the USA but I have seen tons of those pickups around town.

My brother in Law is no better than the others!

Good Bye America…

...Hello France

After doing my part to save the US economy with some serious shopping, we are now on our way to save France’s economy, while Jeffrey is back to Stavanger for a few weeks to fill up the accounts…I make a lot of sacrifices, I’m totally aware of it!!

I’m also officially on a month long detox from blogging, emailing, facebooking, etc… at our house in La Rivière.: Pop. 450 ; +3 or 4 from July 10 ‘til August 12 and no internet connection. I’ll have to rely on old fashion mode of communication such as land line phone (we upgraded to cordless phone a couple of years ago!), and snail mail (we stop using smoke signal a few years ago!).

What am I going to do without my Google mail, calendar, reader, translate, etc, etc...

Jeremy’s Prepping For…

...A Rock Star Life

Mastering the guitar on daddy’s Rickenbacker.

Sweet Melody

Trying to raise some funds:.

Full house

A Few Toys…

...For The Long Days Back Home

Shopping is almost over but I've got myself a few last pieces of equipment…

I’m the proud mommy of a new 28mm f/1.8 and a 85mm f/1.8 which joined the 50mm f/1.8 in the camera bag.... yep I like to zoom with my feet!!  And hopefully the 17-270mm is still being repaired

My new found love...

85mm

the 'old' nifty fifty

One Year Ago…

...One Way Ticket

A year ago today we were taking the Beijing-Paris flight for the last time and closing the China Chapter full of memories of good times and great friends.

Facebook Profile Picture update:

Bye Bye Beijing... we had a great time together

A few weeks ago while looking for Time-lapse photography I found this little video of Beijing... Brings back great memories

My little Beijing from mycosign on Vimeo.

Grandpa Don…

...Comes For A Visit

Jeffrey and Todd’s dad came from Colorado for a chance to see his grand-kids (well and his boys too). We took the opportunity to go to the Strategic Air and Space Museum.  Don used to be a photographer at the Air Force Base in Omaha...

...and, one of my favorite, going for lunch and a stroll at the Old Market in Downtown Omaha

Love the architecture in downtown Omaha

The Cousins

Three is company

and finally a snapshot of Don & Jeffrey

Click on the pictures to enlarge

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Vacation Is...

...Hard Work

Making a Special 4th of July gingerbread house:

Boat rides:

Golfing:

Jet Skiing:

While Maman relaxes by the pool:

Peace and Quiet @ Dee

But the real vacation starts today because cousin Wyatt (with dad Todd and mom Wyoming of course!) arrived from San Diego:

Let's the fun begin

Better Enjoy It Here…

…Than Back Home

Somehow I don’t think this would do well in Norway!

Color only visible in the sun...  Wouldn't happen often in Stavanger!!

What Do You Mean…

...It Also Rains In Omaha?

Ok I left Stavanger thinking that my rainy days were well behind me for at least the next 60 days but yesterday night around 11pm we were evacuated from my in-laws’ home. Since they live on a lake and on top of it being right next to the Missouri river it was indeed not the best place to be with this heavy rain. Danger were deemed not as serious around 3am and we got to go back home. Jeremy slept through the whole deal and was surprised when he woke up the next morning to find he was already all dressed… he had no idea what happened!!

I shouldn't complained about rain in Norway because it's nothing compare to Nebraska!!

Let’s party like it’s 1999 11.35!

Not the way I envisioned meeting the neighbors!

Here are a few pictures around the lake:

Roll your mouse over for explanation

Roll your mouse over for explanation

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Ladurée in…

...Nebraska?

My favorite Ladurée Macarons made a surprise visit to Lake WaConDa via a special home delivery in the name of dear Husband!

Had to share them this time!

And since the son has now arrived, an official update had to be made:

I'm finally acknowledged!

Saving One Store…

...At A Time

Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Mangelson’s, JoAnn Fabrics, etc... just got a boost on their weekly profits…. I do what I can to help the economy.  Next week I will help the clothing industry then the electronics industry.

This is just me, I’m a giver. Next month I will spread my goodness in France!

So many things to buy, so little time (funds?!)

This Is What You Get…

...When Your Grandpa Is A Lawyer!

Grandpa likes to cover his back

THE rules:


THE license:

The “Norwegians” Have Landed…

...In Nebraska

We’ve made it all the way from Stavanger to Lake Waconda in Union, Nebraska (that’s Omaha for you folks who might not be familiar with this particular area of the US of A!).

Connections in Amsterdam and Minneapolis went more or less smoothly; well except for the fact that we had to run from one end to the other at St Paul International Airport to found out that our plane was 1.5 hour delayed… didn’t go well with Jeremy at all, especially since technically speaking it was like 1am for him!

We are now relaxing and everybody at the lake is well aware that the grandkids have arrived since their respective flags are up.

The Grand kids have taken over

Enjoy...

...Your Flight

I can’t wait for tomorrow 3 flights or 15-hour* commute by myself with 2 kids!!! And that’s probably what’s awaiting me:

*1h35mn flight (Stavanger-Amsterdam), 1h15mn layover (Amsterdam), 8h55mn flight (Amsterdam-Minneapolis), 1h45mn layover (Minneapolis), 1h15mn (Minneapolis-Omaha)... yep that's a whooping 11 hours and 45 minutes seating in an airplane and the flights are not even AF, it'd better have Video on Demand!!

Work Outing...

...@ Lysefjord

That would be Jeffrey's work but they were nice enough to invite the significant other of the employees!!

Meeting was at 5pm (not an easy time for the mothers but thankfully school finished at 12pm today so the babysitter was available) at Stavanger Harbor for an 1+ hour cruise to Lysefjord followed by diner at "Helleren" and back to Stavanger by 11.30pm.

The boat ride:

Lysefjord means light fjord, and is said to be derived from the lightly coloured granite rocks along its sides.
The fjord was carved by the action of glaciers in the ice ages and was flooded by the sea when the later glaciers retreated. End to end, it measures 42 km (23 miles) with rocky walls falling nearly vertically over 1000 m (3,000 ft) into the water. Because of the inhospitable terrain, the fjord is only lightly populated and only has two villages on its length - Forsand and Lysebotn, located at opposite ends of the fjord. The few people who live or lived along the fjord are only able to leave their homes by boat, as the hills are too steep for roads. (Wikipedia)

Preikestolen from 600m below:

Preikestolen or Prekestolen, also known by the English translations of Preacher's Pulpit or Pulpit Rock, and by the old local name Hyvlatonnå, is a massive cliff 604 metres (1982 feet) above Lysefjorden. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres (82 by 82 feet) square and almost flat, and is a famous tourist attraction in Norway.
The 3.8 km (2.4 mi.) hike to Preikestolen, is one of the most visited natural tourist attractions in Norway. (Wikipedia)

The Helleren for dinner:

Back in Stavanger...11.30pm and it’s still quite bright:

Another photo taken at 3am from my house. Yep I was still awake and I could hear the birds singing that what prompted me to look out the window!:

It looks a lot like this one taken at 5PM on December 15 Quite a difference in 6 months

Stavanger:…

...On the A B D list

Yesterday night Whitney Houston was in town for her only Norwegian concert, between Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Sweden. They probably thought that with all the oil industry expats they’d have enough spectators!
Snoop Dogg will also grace Stavanger with his presence (and a concert) June 24.

I decided to forfeit going to both concerts. I know I know I always complain about the lack of ‘cultural’ outings here but I don’t think I’m willing to go that low (The Fresh Herb Farm was my lowest…I keep bringing it back; don’t I?!!!)

the "Creme de la Creme"!