I’ve just posted some more photos of our visit to Pete & Christiane in Connecticut. On our first morning there, a family of deer wandered into the garden to feed. The two kids (the deer ;-)) started playing and running around, which was fun to watch. I managed to get a few photos.
We’re back!
Our friends Hans and Hanni collected us from the airport this morning, which was a real blessing.
On the way back, more of the same
We’re on the way back to Switzerland, having stayed overnight in Boston. The day started off gray, but brightened up and looked like it would turn into a nice day. Half an hour before we left for the airport, it started to rain. What’s going on here?
On Donna’s back porch
After almost three weeks in the USA, we’re getting ready to return home. Our last stop was at Donna’s place at Chickasaw Point in South Carolina. Sitting on her back porch is an impressive experience for us Europeans: it overlooks a wooded hollow which is a home for all sorts of wildlife; during the day, it can sound like a jungle with all the birds calling, and at night, the Cicadas chirp and sing beautifully. It’s wonderful to sit there in the dark, listening to them, and very easy to hear their song as worship to God.
We met Sam and Dad there, which was great, and I played with Cam (who changes the rules all the time so that he wins). Having spent some time on the driving range with Mike in Colorado Springs, I was looking forward to a round of golf. I was not disappointed, but very frustrated!
It rained on the way to the airport. I sense a pattern…
Sunny Colorado
Following warmer than expected weather in Connecticut, Colorado surprised us even more with temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s (Celcius!), and blue skies every day. It was great to visit Mike and Chris Steele again, where I stayed for several weeks in 2005. We had (more) good talks, great meals, and fun together. Mike took me out on the driving range to teach me the basics of golf, which I found surprisingly enjoyable. My shoulders ached the next day, though!
The drought ended on our way to the airport, again. No accident this time, thankfully.
Just missed the Fall Colours
Arriving in Connecticut to visit the Burkhards was quite a surprise; I was expecting cooler weather. It was warm during the day, but quite cool at night. We met Daniel for the first time, who was born in 2005, soon after our previous visit. He’s an active 2-year-old, and has quite remarkable climbing talents!
We had good talks, met a surprising number of new people at a house church in their area, caught up with the Gordons again, and I went whale watching on a beautiful day. We saw five whales, but all relatively docile humpbacks. I’ll have to go again next time, in the hope of seeing some other types too, and perhaps see them breach as well as just float around and dive.
We were again just a little early to see the height of the Fall Colours, but caught the start, which was pretty enough.
The drought ended on our way to the airport – unfortunately, because the wet, slippery road contributed to a minor car accident which was (mostly) my fault. Still, we got to meet a nice lady that way, even if the circumstances were not so great.
Do you go to church, or are you part of a Kingdom community?
Dick Scoggins has written an article about ‘church’ and all that it means, particularly the difference between the cultural connotations of the word and the real meaning of the original term. He gives some interesting background information which could be food for thought.
2,000 views
My Flickr photo stream reached 2,000 views after I posted this photo. The second thousand views were almost exactly twice as fast as the first thousand. My most-viewed photo is still Rose #1, accounting for over a quarter of the views!
Clematis #1
Today, Mary-Anne and I attended the first day of a mentoring seminar given by Wilf Gasser. It’s an interesting seminar, challenging us to think about how we learn, and how we can help others to learn. So far, I can heartily recommend it. Wilf presents the material very well.
During the lunch break, I discovered a bush with beautiful flowers, and took some of the best photos I’ve taken so far. Can anyone tell me what sort of flower this is?(It’s a Clematis)
100ste Geburtstag, mehr Fotos
Am Samstag feierten die Benzes ihren 100. Geburtstag – zusammengezählt sind sie jetzt 100 Jahre alt. Natürlich gab es ein feines Fest, mit vielen Bekannten und schönem Essen. Und weil ich auch dabei war, gab es natürlich Fotos.
Die Benzes kennen mehr Leute als sie Platz hatten, also gab es zwei Schichten beim Fest. Wir waren in der ersten Schicht, und gingen am Schluss wieder, um beim Aufräumen zu helfen (OK, ich stand mehrheitlich ‘rum und ass noch ein Stuck Dessert. Mary-Anne hat geputzt.) Dazwischen fotografierte ich weiter.
