Starting our last full week - July 29 through ...
Monday
The new week started with a bang. Late in the evening Daddy was heading down the stairs to the kitchen. I heard a THUMP BANG and I headed down to see what had happened. Daddy was standing there looking a bit shaken up. He told me he had missed the last step on the stairs, and he assured me he was fine. He looked fine, too.
In the morning he showed me the spot 2 inches above his eye where he said he had bumped his forehead on the wall. It was just a bump at the time, but during the course of the day it began to get beautifully colored. He tells me he can't even feel it. Maybe not, but I can sure see it. I imagine it will get even prettier before it's done.
You'll have to scroll to the bottom of the page if you really want to see how he looks.
It's too hot to do much here today. I sure hope the weather cools down soon.
We walked to the mall again today, and looked around, and bought a new travel ticket card, since we used up the first one yesterday.
This morning early, before it got too hot I went out to wander around by the river. There were 4 beautiful white birds in the river, and I asked them to stay where they were for a minute while I went back to the house and up 3 flights of stairs to get my camera. They promised not to go anywhere, so I hustled back, singing (to the tune of "the twelve days of Christmas") Four Swans a Swimming ...
And when I got back they had gone a little way along the river, but they were waiting for me, with their heads all underwater, then coming up and munching on whatever they had grabbed. Looked like moss to me, but I wasn't close enough to tell for sure.
Since I had the camera out I figured I'd let you have a better look at the house (front and back)
And the studio (also front and back)
And here's the picture of Daddy that you just had to see.
Tuesday
After a day with virtually NO email, we decided to look at some windmills. The best place around here, we were told, is Kinderdyke, so we set out on our journey.
We're getting rather good at using the public transportation here, and if you are patient enough you can get anywhere. Our patience was tested today, but we managed quite well. I've been amazed so far by my ability to find my way around, and almost as amazed by Daddy's willingness to take my word when I tell him we don't need to ask for instructions, I know where I am. I suppose after the first time I make him walk miles in the wrong direction he'll stop trusting me. I guess I have to be careful not to let that happen.
We set out fairly early, and we knew what time our first boat would leave, so we just had a 10 minute wait for it. After a very short ride on the waterbus we were at the place we needed to catch the "fast ferry" - But it goes about every hour, and it seems to have left just a little while before we got there. So we waited. And it was still morning, but it was already hot.
So eventually the fast ferry arrived, and we got on. It was fast some of the time, but at other times it slowed to a crawl. It had to slow down for every place where our river was joined by other rivers, and when we had to pick up other passengers.
After a 20 or 30 minute ride we were let off just across the river from where we wanted to be. We had seen a litle boat picture on the travel maps, so we assumed there would soon be a little boat to take us across.
While we waited we chatted with a retired couple on their bikes who were also waiting. For the past 3 years they have been on vacation in Europe, mostly Spain, but also Germany and the Netherlands, going from one house-sitting position to another. They don't charge for their services, wanting to keep it a "between friends"thing rather than employer-employee. They seem to be enjoying themselves, and they were able to communicate with the boys on the dock who were fishing. The boys assured them that the boat would come really soon - every half hour. When we had been there for well over an hour we heard that the boat takes a long lunch break, and we had been out in the hot sun all that time while they ere having lunch.
In case you were wondering, Daddy's eye is getting more colorful all the time.
So when the boat finally arrived it was just a 5 minute ride to Kinderdyke, but we didn't see any windmills. We walked along the road for close to a mile, seeing windmills off in the distance (between houses) every now and then. Finally we arrived at a gift shop that was all about windmills, and then we turned down the path to the actual windmills. Another quarter mile and we were able to go into one that was not running, but it was open to the public. I went up all the narrow steep stairs, and saw how it actually worked. Not as elaborate as I had expected. No, I didn't get any pictures inside.
After spending 15 minutes or so in the windmill we headed home. Retracing our path back to the little boat and a 15 minute wait for it. When we approached the fast ferry stop we could see the fast ferry leaving without us. So we had another 40 minute wait in the hot sun. Then back to where we caught the waterbus (another 15 minute wait, but we had some shade) and the waterbus dropped us off at our front door.
While we were on the fast ferry going out, we saw a boat towing a huge floating crane. I thought about getting a picture, but for some reason it just seemed like too much trouble. While we were waiting for the fast ferry to take us home we saw that same crane being towed past in the other direction, only this time there was something dangling from it. So I took a few pictures.
No email again, when we got home. You guys back home aren't keeping up your part of the bargain (bargain? what bargain?)
Click for today's pictures.
By the time we got home I was totally exhausted, but a quick nap did wonders.
And then the wind started. Leaves were blowing off the trees outside the window, and going sideways. We decided just in case we should close all the windows. Good thing we did. Before long we had thunder, lightning, and lots of rain. But it's still hot. Only now it's hot and wet. Not much of an improvement. Tomorrow will be better.
Wednesday
Some days nothing happens. Daddy walked to the grocery store, came home and took a nap. I've got a load of laundry on the line.
I got a few emails this morning. Thanks.
Ho hum
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