This week's theme at I Heart Faces is Bright and Vivid. There is nothing as bright in my stash of pictures as those from the Fasching Parade this year. Since I never got around to posting the rest of them I will share another here. This was my absolute favorite.
The theme at Snapshots Around the World this week is 'Underfoot', which was inspired by the cobblestones in my village. Sue has an entirely different view. Get way down low this week and come join us.
When we learned that the WWI Memorial near my husband's birthplace was having a Memorial Day ceremony we decided to pack up and make the trip this weekend.
Measuring 130 acres, the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetary is the largest of several WWI era cemetaries scattered throughout the region. The Argonne Offensive called upon more US troops than ever before in history up to that time and was instrumental to winning the first world war.
The remains of over 14,000 soldiers rest here, marked by white marbles crosses and Stars of David. The original number was twice that, but in the 1920's the others were repatriated back to the States.
The grounds are owned and meticulously maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The land was given to the US, tax-free in perpetuity, by the French government in gratitude for the aid provided by the soldiers.
The memorial cemerony included US and French Army troops and dignitaries as well as smaller groups from the Boy Scouts, French Fire Brigade, local clergy, and many veterans.
We drove through some really nice little villages on the way there. Romagne, which is the nearest village to the cemetary, was in full patriotic array with red, white and blue flowers and French and US flags tucked into the flower boxes and planters in front of EVERY home. Sadly you will have to take my word for that because we took a different route home which was less lovely. It did however take us through Verdun, which meant a lot to my husband. He was born here while his father was stationed at Metz. It was a kick for him to see his birthplace.
The cows have come home – well to my home anyway. The grass is so high out back the farmer came to mow and bale for grass hay. But there was plenty left for grazing.
I can't remember if I shared here or on Facebook but this is how they left us last fall. The farmer came along with his tractor and pen-on-wheels. You don't see large stock trailers here. Actually I have never seen one here. But we did see this. They herded the cattle into the pen and began to slowly move down the road to winter quarters.
(an aside – that sign says Road Damage which in CO means "Get out and walk because you aren't getting through here no how." Here it means, "Someplace on this stretch of road there may be a small bump. We will be along shortly with road crews to block the way and fanatically smooth and level to perfection.")
There is a lot of farmland around us but the farmers all live in the villages and the barns are usually attached to the farmhouses. The tractors and the animals move in and out from the fields but return to the village at night. This works well for creeper photographers longing for a close up.
This fabulous vintage tractor was parked at a farmhouse down the street last week. I noticed it driving home from an early morning errand and thought about Rebecca's awesome tractor pictures. I figured this was my best shot.
I toodled down the street and snapped a few quick shots. It was good thinking too. They had been working on the old empty place and moved the tractor shortly afterward.
The rest of the pictures from the wonderful day at Ombachsee. There were some wardrobe changes but they are all from the same day, which involved sand, trail, water, and lots of sunscreen. : )
The sand pit at Ombachsee has a system of narrow troughs channeling kid pumped water. I am telling you, the Germans think of everything. Except ceiling fans. And ice. But that is another post.
They were enthralled with every part of this system.
The sand pit fun, delightful as it was, was just a prelude to the lake itself.
We had all the ingredients – kids, water, stones, dirt. Not much else needed for a perfect day.
….perfect day.
I am so very excited to share a project that has been brewing the past few weeks. Friends from very different regions of the world have teamed up with me to create an international picture of the week project called Snapshots Around the World. Each Monday Sue in Japan, Rebecca in the US (midwest), and I in Germany will share an image from our own cultural perspectives interpreting a general theme. (Earthquakes, labor strikes, floods, nuclear blasts, emergency surgery, and acts of God permitting – because between us we have some of those this year ; ))
Please come join us and if you want to play along leave us a link in the comments with your take on the week's theme.
Someone had made an offhand comment several weeks ago that soon the plowed fields, which covered the hills with new green growth, would turn yellow. And in a short time the countryside was a yellow patchwork of rapeseed blossoms.
I saw this egg at a vendor's booth a few weeks ago and visited it a few times before finally just bringing it home. I have seen them in magazines over the years and hoped to find one here.
This one was made in the former East Germany. For some reason every time I write "the former East Germany" I immediately think of "The Artist Formally Known as Prince." Not sure why I tell you these things. Anyway, it was a neat find so close to Easter. I have to upload some pictures of the little Polish eggs this week if I don't forget. : )
My husband and boys returned from a bike ride the other day describing a new trail which promised surprises. I didn't feel much like walking. But he nudged me out the door and pointed in the direction of the trail head.
Go, he said. You are always glad when you do. And he was right. I rarely regret a walk. It has done more for clear thinking and morale than I can say. In fact when the dishes stack and the washer loads are are waiting on the dryer to finish and the pitch of my voice starts to creep ever so slightly higher he nudges again. Go. Walk.
I left this day with two dog walkers and a camera which was a good call. I had no idea what we were walking into. The trail begins with crop fields and meanders into orchards. Coming from the high prairie it nearly took my breath away.
These trees are all abloom for just a short window of time. That window is closing already and the meadows and walkways are snowy with fallen blossoms.
This week the temperatures are taking a nosedive back to seasonal norms. I am so glad we got outside when we did.
"After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value."
~George Macauley Trevelyan
As the sun rose over the hilltop this morning the beautiful bay horses who have moved to the upper pasture, where the sheep spent the fall, chased and teased and challenged each other.
… and then settled down once more as the sun filled the valley. I am so grateful to be able to look out my window at horses once again.
Starry Sky Journal 