Sunday, January 9, 2011

Home!

We made it, after 15 hours of flying and airports, we made it home last night. Everything except one suitcase, which was had to pay extra for anyway, making it ironic that it didn't make it. Hopefully it arrives today because it has precious Christmas gifts in it.

As our plane finally landed in Duesseldorf, the flight attendant thought it would be funny to say "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Hamburg" and for a moment I believed her - haha, it was only funny to the passengers who had not been on planes for 15 hours!

As I unpack, I think you'd laugh if you saw our snack cabinet. First you'd say, "Oh, you plan on getting back into your healthy German lifestyle....how????" *lol* Well, it's not that I'm craving the following at the moment, but they are there for future comfort and sharing:

Dingdongs, Zingers, Poptarts, Dark MnMs, Reeses Pieces, Reeses cups, candy canes, Mothers Taffy cookies, beef jerky, and Hersheys bars (for family members, not us!) Above that I have a big bag of pinto beans, two cans of pumpkin, two cans of green chilis, Chicken and Star soup, Japanese curry sauce mix (hot), an assortment of tea and flavored coffees.

Right now I'm enjoying a can of Chicken and Stars, breakfast of jet lagged champions. Yah, I've been up since 3:30 AM. Thankfully my man could sleep in til 6 this morning before rushing off to his first day back at school. Poor thing, he didn't get a single day to transition.

At SeaTac airport's shuttle I overheard a lady on her cell phone and had to ask, "Did the Seahawks win?" and THEY DID!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful day for Seattle. They even have a Seahawks flag flying on the Space Needle.

Before the game we spent one last afternoon with my parents, grilling Costco hot dogs over a fire in the backyard.

It was warm enough that I did not wear a coat over my short-sleeved shirt. Here my mom is giving bits of hot dog to Popoki.



I also kept warm by washing and detailing the Subaru that we drove all over Shinola the last 3 weeks.



Popoki was keeping us company and running around with my step dad, playing "sneak attack" where the cat runs sideways, hopping toward him, tail curled over his back.

Where was my man? After roasting his hot dog he went back in to play more Wii. My parents play Wii every day, and it really is fun!

After enjoying my Emerald City's green - moss and fern - and the dampness that makes Seattle stay green, I am resigned over to white again.

Although it's melting, more is to come, and it's possible to have snow here through March. *sigh* It's amazing these rain gutters are still attached to the house - well, let's not speak too soon....

Mercer was so happy to see us, making up for Baasha's "Oh, it's you. Where's dinner?" Mercer is cuter than I remember, and she acted like, "Geez guys I never thought I'd see you again, what a surprise!" I gave her our little electronic hamster and she sure loves that thing!

Sleeping in our own bed after so long was odd, and our room was so dark after the constant glow of city/suburb lights. It was so quiet here that it was scary. You lie in bed and the only thing you hear are your own vital signs. Outside though you can hear the bank-overflowing creek.

The sun hasn't come up yet but I can see a little weather destruction already - a tree is lying on our front fence, and two of my planters exploded in the cold. *sigh*

Sonja did a great job for us. We had fresh sheets on our bed, the plants all look healthy, the greenhouse did not cave in from snow weight, and Baasha's mane was not tangled up, despite the Showsheen being frozen solid. She even left us a good deal of food so that we wouldn't starve on our return, stores being closed on Sundays.

I haven't forgotten to tell the story of my ride on Dandy - I just have to transfer the photos from one laptop to another.

Uh oh, the sun just came up, time to go out and survey for damage. If I don't make it back send a search party.

10:02 AM update:
I pulled one tree off my pasture fence and otherwise it was fine. Baasha was very happy for a change of scenery to be out in the big field again, and he's eating a flake of hay out there in the golden sunrise. I just cleaned and washed his feet and they look good--thank you Sonja. I hope he walks around on the snow enough to really clean them out. Mercer was running around out there with me and she kept darting back to the house saying, "Enough of this ice and snow, let me back in!" The pond intake pipe was clogged of course so I stuck my hand into the icy water and freed the mesh of leaves and mud. Three deer watched me. It's really not bad out there - I could actually walk without too much trouble. British Airways called just now and said they'd be here with our luggage between 2 and 4. Woo!

15 comments:

Rising Rainbow said...

All I can say about that cupboard is if you run out, I'm sure someone here will send care packages. LOL

Chicken and stars are not my idea of comfort food, btw. Now M&Ms are a whole different story. LOL

I'm glad that Sonja survived. It sounded like she really got a trial by fire. Poor girl! Horsekeeping is hard work in winter weather without that much snow and ice.

So glad you are safely home. Rest up! Oh and I hope that bag shows up. LIttle faith in airlines here.

Oh ya, I almost forgot.........GO HAWKS!!!!!!

Sonya said...

Welcome Back! loving what you have in your cupboard..lol believe it or not Im finally over peanut butter cups and no longer like the taste..Im a total convert to dutch chocolate and cant stand anything else now.

Sounds like you had fun and Im so lgad you were able to go back for a visit : )

Anonymous said...

Glad you made it back OK!

Leah Fry said...

Welcome home! I see you're planning some sort of treat involving pumpkin, too! I bet poor Sonja is glad you're back.

Autumn Mist said...

Welcome back. I'm glad everything was fine for you to come back to (apart from the tree on the fence). It's not fair when we miss our animals so much to be treated with nonchalance when we see them again, is it?

Dom said...

Chicken with stars is the best soup ever made.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

It must feel like you are torn between two worlds -- one green, one white. I'm sorry you weren't able to make it to Reno like you wanted. In my opinion, this has been the worst winter as far as ice goes in the 21 years I've lived in the area. It doesn't look any worse than Germany, though. Maybe some summer...

AareneX said...

Glad you made it home safely--and I'm sending some (non-food) 'Murken treats to Germany with Madeline.

lytha said...

Mikael, have you tried dark mnms? I hear that dark chocolate is good for you. In that case with the amount my man eats, he'll probably live forever.

Sonya, I couldn't find root beer syrup *sigh*. But I'm set on Reeses Pieces for a while, and I got a big old JIF, mmmmmm.

Kate, why thank you! I sure hope I can recollect the tales properly.

Leah, poor Sonja is right. She was so happy to see her apartment last night!

Autumn, exactly. But he was a little friendlier today, and definitely spunky on the lead line, doing his little jump and strike thing, so cute. And possibly dangerous. Gotta watch that.

Dom, well in a can I think you're right. Aarene and I used to have Soup Night where we made soup from whatever she had in the fridge. It was amazing! But Buffy the Vampire Slayer loves Chicken and Stars best too.

NM, worst winter!? Good that we didn't come down there!!!! You're right I'm a little torn - there are benefits of living here and I certainly love our place. But my heart is yearning painfully for home and seeing it again doesn't help with the pain, it just reminds me of what I'm missing. And I ate enough to make up for a few years - I gained more than 10 pounds those three weeks indulging in every little thing I craved. Today my stomach is saying "Um, where's the overstuffing me routine? Come on?!"

Aarene, I really enjoyed our time at Haiku Farm, it was so relaxing and good to just sit there and talk - and touch the goat's nose. I emailed Maddy today - both my man and I want to know what a Eurorail pass is, hehehee.

Unknown said...

I didn't know your parents are in Seattle! You were so close! I so don't have the cash to have driven over to say "hi" but maybe next time? Who knows!

Your mom's cat is named Popoki - so is MINE (my mom's cat)! No kidding. Hawaiian for cat right? I think that's it.

Glad you are home safe - gotta say your updated pantry cracked me up! Hope you enjoy every last bit.

lytha said...

stephanie, yup - hawaiian for cat. german for "butt" - well, when they call him "popo" or "po" which they often do! i'm sure enjoying my pantry. right now i'm munching on triscuits with spreadable processed cheesefood. mmmmmmmm.

Funder said...

I'm so glad you're home! Isn't it lovely (and just a little bit spooky) being back in the quiet dark country?

I watched the game and cheered for Seattle. I <3 an underdog :)

Funder said...

Oh, that's right! You're my B:tVS blogging buddy! I couldn't remember who it was. I am rewatching the whole series for the first time in yeeeears. Buffy still rules :)

Mellimaus said...

Welcome back!
I think it's so funny that you went to America and brought back chicken and stars...whenever we go to Germany, we bring back bags of theirs! haha ;)

Fantastyk Voyager said...

It's always good to be back home no matter how great the trip is. I'll bet Baasha was glad to see you. Wow, the store clerks must have thought you were on a food binge!