singin the Praises of MissD

SistahJo sent this picture of my PR family sitting down for a meal to celebrate SistahDianne's retirement.


As I know she is a faithful blog reader (happy Sunday morning Miss D), I will also join my People in saying HAPPY RETIREMENT! miss D has put in many years of extraordinary service with Lutheran Social Services as a refugee arrival coordinator. Through her gracious and wise leadership, many refugees in our town have found a welcome sign.
Also, her thirty years on the PR school board provided much wise leadership especially through the turbulent times of massive arrivals of refugees in our district.

Here's to you, my hero and my friend. Coffee on me next June. Remember Retirement means that you take it easier...hint! Hint!


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Too darn cute for words

My sister used to live in this wonderful three person town called Buttsville in North Dakota. She had a beautiful home filled with wonderful antiques and we would go for the weekend. Anna liked staying there and we called it Aunti Marcy's Memories Bed and Breakfast. My great niece E just sent the picture below of her and A dressing up. It reminded me how important it is to have those places in your life where memories are made.

As My parents were gone by the time Anna was old enough to make memories, I am very thankful for all the time she spent with the cousins in ND.

E and her spouse now live in England, she's an official British resident and they are off making their own memories with Will and Kate ( whomwould be so lucky to have them as friends!)

thanks for the memories...







Sistah Marcy and her grandson miller




Chicks way ahead of their time in the fashion world: A and E

Location:Buttsville, North Dakota

Ma familia

Missing my fam throughout the world. All are pictured below except R in north Dakota and his children. I love them all even though our paths don't always cross. Hugs to you from your favorite aunti and sister.




Niece D and her niece S who is my #3great niece


My sisters and brother, sister in law and a couples nieces .



Great nieceB and fam





Two of my great great nieces, yes they are twins





NieceBenna and her family





Great niece and her twins ( they are cousins to the other twins)





North Dakota has Niece Di and her niece and nephew ( they are my great neice and nephew) oh they are twins too. If you are counting there are three sets of twins in my family





Great niece M





My sister and her family In minneSota





My great nephew J and his fam in Alaska





Nephew M somewhere between Alaska and Angola





Great nephew B in Minnesota. He belongs to nephew J





Nieces and sis in la






Various cousins, nephews, nieces, brother and my family





The Browns





Sis M and Bro D in Alaska

Location:Various locations around the world

Eid Mubarek

Greetings to all on this special day in the Islamic calendar. This mornings sighting of the moon indicates that the month of Ramadan is over and our Muslim students, parents and our teaching friends can now rejoice. They have fasting and partaking in other spiritual rituals for the past 30 days

Unfortunately my camera is taking a hiatus so I am relying on google images to provide the images.






This morning at 430, perusal, the call to prayer was given. However, this one continues for about one and a half hours as the faithful gather in mosques for prayer.





As we live very close to a larger mosque, There are about 400 people in my backyard right now, sitting on rugs in the sand listening to the Eid message. Women are segregated as the prayer posture involves much bending and lowering ones self fully to the ground.





How will we be celebrating? David is already receiving his present as he is golfing with 10 colleagues ( yes at 6 am!) We are also hoping to go to a nice resort courtesy of a friend with "wast a". We will also rejoice as the restaurants will re open during the day. And our life will return to a level of nOrMaL that we've become familiar with. Life in the desert certainly isn't for everyone , but for right now, it works for us.

Eid Mubarek and may Allah bless you.

Which one would you rather have teach your child?

Summer Davey. Or.....


Clean shaven fall Davey??

Votes are now being cast

A little fairy tale by the brothers Grimm

BREMENTOWN MUSICIANS

In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster, all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, were soon to be discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.



On the way to Bremen, they see a lighted cottage; they look inside and see four robbers enjoying their ill-gotten gains. Standing on each other's backs, they decide to perform for the men in hope of gaining food. Their 'music' has an unanticipated effect; the men run for their lives, not knowing what the strange sound is. The animals take possession of the house, eat a good meal, and settle in for the evening.



Later that night, the robbers return and send one of their members in to investigate. He sees the Cat's eyes shining in the darkness and thinks he is seeing the coals of the fire. He reaches over to light his candle. Things happen in quick succession; the Cat scratches his face with her claws, the Dog bites him on the leg, the Donkey kicks him and the Rooster crows and chases him out the door, screaming.




He tells his companions that he was beset by a horrible witch who scratched him with her long fingers (the Cat), an ogre with a knife (the Dog), a giant who had hit him with his club (the Donkey), and worst of all, the judge who screamed in his voice from the rooftop (the Rooster). The robbers abandon the cottage to the strange creatures who have taken it, where the animals live happily for the rest of their days.



A beautiful city. We will visit again.

Location:Bremen, Germany

Getting Ready for Brunch

Having a group of newbies, vets and elders over for breakfast this morning as we aren't able to go out due to Ramadan. Germo is helping with the final touches. Yes, I changed the cover before the people came but it was such a cute shot,i had to take it.











It's sorta the thing to do here to collect mugs from Starbucks in cities where one has visited or"want" to visit. David thinks we shouldnt have the mug unless one of us has been there BUT i say that if we WANT to go there it counts.
Not pictured, but in my office, are Dubai,Canada, Tuscon,Frankfurt,Hong Kong, Boston (gifts from students).
Back at the cabin in safe storage are Korea , Vienna, and Alaska .
we have travelled to all these places except Lebanon, Hong Kong and Korea. They are on the list...

Location:Street 2,,Kuwait

Playing with my Rebel (camera)

I had way too much fun on this last trip taking pictures. Here are a few of my favorite shots.












Okay, this one has a story...we often see these statues in out travels and they are usually in these interesting, almost grotesque poses. So here is the final in a series of pictures for our living room wall. It will join the shots of Anna posing with a young "boy" from Jordan,David posing with a beer vendor in Spain and now me with the chef in Hamburg. Hey...and you thought the Brown family was normal?

Location:Hamburg, Germany

My Hamburg, What Big Ships You Have!

While in Germany, our friend took us to Hamburg, here we learned about the importance of this city in the shipping world. The harbor tour was fascinating. I have a new appreciation for shipping containers because when we return to North America after our adventures in the desert, our household items will probably be shipped. Maybe they will pass through this very port!














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Funky street people

When traveling through Europe, it is not uncommon to see street performers. Over the past couple of years, we have noticed this trend of mimes dressed all in one color, in statue-like positions. They are very good and from my theatre training I know it is very demanding to isolate your body movements. We always throw a few coins in their hats because we believe they are working.












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Location:Bremen and Hamburg, Germany

It's official

It's weird not having Anna at home.



- Picture taken inthe ot town square in Bremen . If you look closely you can see the reflection of the cathedral in her sunglasses.

If you could read our minds..

Smiling happy tourists thoughts:
David : if we take a long time posing for this shot, Nadine won't have to hit another souvenir stand
Nadine: omg, this is the last photo of our lil traveling family before Anna leaves us. Quick take the picture before I cry
Anna: hec there are A couple of really cute boys over there and yet, here I am posing for this dorky picture with my parents. Man I can't wait until I don't have to do this anymore!

Location:Hamburg Germany

On tour with Dietmar

While in Germany , we stayed with PR's favorite rotary exchange student,Dietmar Bethge. Not only did he and his lovely wife provide perfect accommodations and hosting, but he was an excellent tour guide to Hamburg, a fascinating German port town.