Hungry Mother 2009

Here we are again, for our annual trip to Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia -- one of my favorite spots in this corner of the world. This year, we couldn't afford a cabin, but didn't want to miss this wonderful get-together! (It's our fourth time going) So, we decided to camp out at the park this year. We had a nice spot right by the creek, here you can see how beautiful and peaceful it was:


Sweetie enjoying camp




The quiet creek

And then: TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR!!!
I had barely five minutes to grab a chair and the dogs, and get inside the tent. Note to self: if the dog wants to go into the car instead of the tent, follow the dog.



This is rainwater pooling outside the tent door


The grey stuff is not fog, it's sheets of rain


Fiona is not liking this


...and the creek, three feet higher in less than half an hour.

The rain hammered so hard onto the tent, tat the rainfly was pushed down onto the tent roof, and so it dripped through. We had puddles inside the tent. Tink rolled on the sleeping bags to dry herself off, so we had damp sleeping bags. I was soaked.

Guess what we are doing Memorial Day weekend?
:::smile::: camping.

Across the big pond

Papa asked me to spend Christmas with him. Well, when your Papa asks -- what else can you say but yes?
I left on December 18th from Knoxville at 11:00 in the morning and arrived the next day at 11:00am in Germany. I kept telling friends that I had to take a plane, a train, a bus and a donkey to get to my home town. Most people here said wide eyed: "Really?" and believed the part about the donkey, much to my amusement. Little did I know that I was not that far from the truth. Papa met me in Frankfurt at the airport, with tickets for the bullet train in hand. We had a little time before the train left, so we had a bite to eat. Ahhhh -- German Wienerle! Beats hot dogs hands down any time. Anyhow, we got on the train, I've forgotten how pleasant riding the rail system can be, made it to Freiburg in a couple of hours, where we had to wait for the regional train. Of course we had a beer while we waited. I had been traveling for a long while by then and was pretty tired and punchy. We got on the regional train, when Papa remarked "I left my bicycle at the train station!" Oh-oh.
I knew what that meant! There would be no bus ride home. We would have to walk with my hefty suit case, back pack and bicycle from the train station to home. It's a good mile and a half. So we arrived in my home town, Papa hefts my 50 Kilo suit case onto his bicycle and proceeds to push the bike (aka the steel donkey!) along. The weight gave him momentum and he clips along at a pretty good pace, me in tow with my back pack on wheels, and an ever widening gap between him and me. And it was bitter cold, and I was not exactly dressed for a trek like that. We arrived about a half hour later at Papa's place, me huffing and puffing, and shaking my head. That's my Papa! Heavens forbid he would ask someone for a ride!
But when we got there, there was a nice hot cup of tea for me and a "chraettimann" waiting. Papa had not forgotten how much I liked this local Christmas treat, a slightly sweet bread that you can only get at Christmastime. Made me smile all over. My Papa!

Some of my art work from this weekend

A little greeting in deco form for a sick friend




Handmade art papers for a swap


"Night tree at Hungry Mother" - a journal page contribution for beehive22

Thank you all that came to visit here and were wondering where I am. I tend to hide and get quiet when things change in my life.
More on that later, perhaps. Some things are just too private to put out onto the web.
At least that's what I feel right now.
But, on the bright side of life: I got to spend a wonderful three days at Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia with some very nice folks. It's so blissful there! You can rent cabins , and there is a lake to fish in, or swim if the weather allows. Good company, good meals and conversation together, a fire in the fire place, and I did as much art as I wanted too. These are a few of my artistic musings that I made while enjoying the peaceful, sweet energy at this place.

And for a bit of very good news: I found work! Starting tomorrow at a local daycare as teacher.