Embracing Idle Hours

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour." – John Boswell

After a full and bustling December we are settling into a somewhat quieter January. Breath in, breathe out. It is a little window before things pick up again and I have learned to gather moments where they can be found. This week we have brought home into clear focus again, taking into account the things scheduled in coming weeks and months and balancing those with a steady rhythm in this house and a generous dose of idle hours. We need those too.

Walking the Fen

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

I remember many years ago when we lived in Ohio my friend called me at 8am when, I admit, I was just becoming functional for the day. "Hi!" she said.

"Uh, Hi," said I.

"The sun is out!!!" She gleefully pointed out it had been something like 21 straight days of clouds and drizzle that winter. She was from San Diego and wilted in the drippy midwestern winters. I didn't get it. I had grown up in the upper midwest and moved to Germany and then Ohio. Clouds were not all that noteworthy to me, at least not at 8am. Having since lived in the American west and southwest I do get it now.

When we woke to sun streaming in the windows after a similar stretch of drizzle I began pummeling my husband with pillows insisting we GO somewhere. Anywhere. Outside. And we did. We decided to hike the Lakenheath Fen. Despite the bright sun overhead it was still in the 40's and the wind was powerfully strong. The boys and I were covered in mud by the time we got back to the car due to the muddy lanes and off roading we tend to do.

Walk with me, if you have a minute. I want to show you. It was awesome. I really needed some open air.

There is a board where local bird watchers make notes of recent sightings. We didn't see anything too exotic but lots of ducks and swans. And birdwatchers. Hard core bird watchers. I admit to some camera envy. Holy cow. The equipment there rivaled the sidelines of an NBA game.

If you look closely you see the blonde backs of some lowland cattle grazing in the tall grass prairie.

My guys. This is where having some of each kind of kid is really nice. My daughters generally love to walk with me, but not in the mud. The boys are game for any kind of slop we may trudge through.

Throwing myself in this one. A personal project this year is to get on the other side of the camera. My family has made comments that I am virtually absent from many of our pictures and that has to change.

Dec 2012 fen 2 web-10

more tea please

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

I took some on the run to Heathrow this morning returning one son and his girlfriend to the States. Drank it while Agnes (the tempermental GPS) misbehaved on the two hour trip there, occasionally refusing to "calculate this route" altogether and worrying me about making them late for their flight. After much sweet talking, cajoling, beseeching – and unplugging – she ascquiesced. She did not return me in time to meet Alannah's afternoon appointment with the Human Resource office on base however.

After some quick rescheduling work, I stopped home instead for the feis dress. And more tea. Chai latte this time. And just missed the tailor who went home for the day before the alterations shop closed.

So Moira and I hit the library, dropped a boy off at Dad's office, and finally reached the grocery store around five. ish.

True story – the day out ended with this conversation…

Grocery clerk (male – late 20s): "What animal would you be?"

Me, looking up from the nether regions of my cart: "Pardon?"

clerk: "Animal. You know, like if you could be one. What would it be?"

Umm, yeah. No.

Not today thanks.

More tea please.

veggie tales

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Our landlord has been puzzled by our family. Having mostly dealt with single airmen and working, childless adults he had come to some conclusions about Americans. One of those was that we don't like veggies. At least, not much beyond french fries, spaghetti sauce and salsa. He was surprised when we processed all those apples. Amused when we gleaned the onions. So he began to drop by with other things, like the carrots and leeks.

During our last visit we were discussing some local markets and farm stands and he was asking if we ate celery, 'beetroot', and so on. Then he thought for a moment and asked if we liked sprouts. I said, "Oh yes, we LOVE them!" Then he puzzled me by saying, "Do you now? I have a stalk right over here." I was trying to imagine who travels with alfalfa sprouts when he returned with these, commonly known as just "sprouts."

Fair enough. We actually DO like those too. In fact they were incredible steamed and buttered. (even though I let them sit a bit too long in the conservatory and had to peel away a few bad leaves seen here) They were so sweet and tender and not the least bit bitter, as frozen sprouts tend to be. I am going to have to track down this farmer.

Motoring through Britain

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

We couldn't let her leave without seeing the ponies after all.

“He stood staring into the wood for a minute, then said: "What is it about the English countryside — why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?"

-Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

evening at the marina

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

We took Zach and Megan to one of my favorite places this week. The water was nearly still and the weather quite warm for January. I wish we had more time. But, don't we always wish that?

a little off the sides

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Such a week. We have been walking, walking, walking. Walking the fens, walking the streets of cities large and small. Staying up way too late watching movies and playing board games. Reading the last of the Christmas library books and eating up the cookies. And taking pictures. And having heated fantasy football draft sessions.

That's my life this week. I hope your's is equally full of goofiness and exhaustion. Will be back to post more pics tomorrow. Probably. : ) Meantime a street shot from this afternoon.

a look back – 2012

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

What a year it was. We rang it in with fireworks in a tiny farming village on the highest peak in our part of the Rhineland Pfalz. We closed it out watching magnificent fireworks explode over the London Eye. (and can't wait to share!)

In between there was dancing

in Stuttgart, Ramstein, Munich…

and in Ireland. Beautiful Ireland.

There were parades big and small.

There was a lot of football. From little boys playing alongside the flight line to American pro football in Wembley Stadium

to English football in Manchester.

There were great celebrations. Holy Communion…

Confirmations.

As well as solemn memorials to a good man gone too soon for us.

We cheered at a high school graduation and a college graduation.

And then there were the road trips. Lots of them.

Luxembourg

Köln

Trier – a couple times.

Some of them hiked the French rock formations along the old Roman road.

another put her toes in the sand on the Italian coast

Others splashed along the Suffolk coast.

We watched another cross the finish line in Prague

Prague, the city which stole Abbie's heart.

And we boarded ship for the white cliffs of Dover, not a road trip but to make a home.

Where we pal around in Cambridge and London

From flowering rapeseed in Germany to the bowing fen grasses of East Anglia.

We have been blessed to share this year's adventures with over a half dozen American students as well. The one face you don't see in these pictures is our son Asher. He spent 2012 in Korea. Major goal of 2013 is a picture of him next to his mama.

It's been quite a ride y'all. I count it as a singular blessing to have been able to share it with the people I dearly love near and far, face to face and via this screen. 2012 saw a lot of boxes and suitcases and smiles – as well as tears. Life is full.

It is never easy.

It is always good.

Life is good. Hold on to that.

Starry Sky Journal

Reflections from Starry Sky Ranch

Monthly Archives: January 2013