The Taylors in Europe

I just haven't had many blog-worthy events happening lately. I suppose I could whine incessantly about the move, but how boring would that be? Sure, I could vent about the customs inspectors who blew off our appointment yesterday. Or I could confess that my method is moving from methodical sorting and purging to more of a maniacal "pack it all, we'll figure it out in Kentucky" approach. Ho hum. So instead, I shall offer you an assortment of photos that make me happy. Here they are, alphabetical by file name:

• I finished planting the flowers in my front yard last week. This has been an ongoing project since the beginning of May, when I put the geraniums in the window boxes.





• I finally bought some Birkenstock sandals! Two years in Germany, and I'm just now getting around to this? How sad. I love them though!





• One thing that was tops on my list for my pottery-shopping pilgimage to Poland in April was a butter keeper. It's the most amazing thing! You stuff the top with butter, put cool water in the bottom, and ta da! Sweet, room-temperature, spreadable butter any time you want. Just remember to change the water every couple of days to keep it from getting funky. I find I'm eating more grits just so I have an excuse to eat butter.





• Here I have proof that Fred really is coming back soon! Look at all the stuff he has already sent home:





• Here's a shot that shows the methodical approach to packing I mentioned earlier. All my kitchen cabinets are neatly labeled either Einpacken or Bitte Nicht Einpacken.





• I've been meaning to mention my change holder ever since I got it just over a year ago. It's too easy to keep the American habit of just tossing change in a jar. With euros though, where the largest coin is worth about $2.50, that can add up to some serious money! This little baby keeps my coins handy so that I actually USE them when I go shopping, even those pesky little 1- and 2-cent coins. You would think that all Germans would have one, given the reputation for German efficiancy. They don't though. In fact, I've had more than one clerk absolutely astounded by this one, which I bought last spring in Venice:





• Somehow I recently wound up with the bottom tray in my dishwasher filled with my Polish pottery cereal bowls. (What can I say? We eat a lot of Cap'n Crunch.) I just thought they looked pretty, so I took their picture: