The Germans are coming

Sorry, I am trying to be funny (everybody knows a similar phrase from a poem about the Revolutionary War). 

We were looking forward to it for a while and finally the day was here: my sister Ute, her daughter Maren and friend Gregor were coming. But the day before (Saturday August 30 at 10 am) James and I had to get the rental car since my Toyota was at the body shop. You might remember reading in a previous blog that it was damaged by a valley parker in Washington D.C.

We needed a big car but this one was huge. I felt like I was driving a tank and had to figure out how to climb into it.

I also experimented making individual tomato/cheese pies with my new silicon baking forms. Love those for baking. They make it so easy.

Sunday August 31 James and I went to early service and then went on our way to Washington Dulles Airport. You never know about the traffic on that highway so we allowed plenty of time but of course, if you do that you don't need it.

After having parked the car I took a photo to remember were about it is. 

Then we found were they would be coming out and also found a place to have a little lunch. I always have fun to follow planes on a flight tracker. It is great that you can see were it is and its status.

They had landed on time. Even a little earlier. But it seemed they were stuck in immigration forever. Finally there they were. 

This photo was taken by Maren. I just love it!

My sister Ute of course was going to sleep in our guest room. But the younger visitors are staying with the younger generation. It was Sunday and the boys had several ball games. So we drove first to our house and later I drove Maren and Gregor "over the river". Sarah and Maren are cousins and always had a good time with each other. This photo again is from Maren.

Monday was Labor Day. Sarah and Maren packed a picnic and they all went downtown for a great walk to Bell Island and along the James River, Hollywood Cemetery etc etc. They all had a marvelous time and Maren's beautiful photos showed that.

James, Ute and I were invited for dinner later that day. Yes, Wade grilled hamburgers. Ute and I remembered how much our mother loved those when she visited. 

We also had to play the Left, Right, Center Game. 

In the afternoon I had baked Zwetschgenkuchen for dessert. This is the last badge from fresh Italian plums. The season is over. I didn't have enough good ones and had to fill three of the portions with Granny Smith apples. We offered it as dessert. Needless to say that the boys liked to spray the whipping cream into their mouths the best.

Tuesday of course it was back to work for Wade and Sarah. It was Maren and Gregor's "job" to bring the boys to the school bus stop. They were very impressed to experience in this neighborhood. I picked them up at 9 am. 

The 5 of us had breakfast at our house with soft-boiled eggs from William and Ben's hens. And of course with other things, more like a brunch. The free-range eggs were very appreciated. Thank you so much. I was nervous cooking them but they turned out just right and we had such a good time that we have no photos. 

With our full tummies we climbed into the "tank" and drove to Jamestown. Ute remembered it well to have been there before and wanted to see it again.

James was in a lot of back and left-leg pain that day and I was worried how it would go. When we paid for our entry we were able to also get a motorized scooter which was free and it made all the difference in the world. James was comfortable and the weather could not have been any better. 

There is so much history in that area and we spend a lot of time seeing "the nutshells". It was 3 sailing ships (the Susan Constant, Goodspeed, and discovery) which arrived 1607 with approximately 104 men and boys to establish the first permanent English settlement in North America. Only 2 of the 3 replicas were there this time. The (small) size of the ships and bravery of those people is baffling every time.

And yes, the Titanic came to mind.

Lots of information, experience and shade. And James was getting around so well. We had a lot of fun.

The entry/exit building also includes a very well-done museum. Maren found a painting of Pocahontas which supposedly was the only one which showed her real likeness. We think that was questionable because she must have been much prettier. 

We all had "information overload" and returned the scooter. Maren went into the gift shop. But we were told that the cafeteria would stop selling hot food in 5 minutes. We quickly ordered something because as we had had the big breakfast we did not have lunch. Everybody was very nice to us and we brought fresh coffee for us.

We drove to our house and Maren and Gregor were very happy with the leftover lentil soup. Afterwards they wanted to see the photos from the 1975 Album. The computer was too small so we set it quickly up to see it on the TV. We watch and chatted. Maren had a lot of questions.

It was a school night and the boys were waiting to see them so I drove them "over the river". The next morning they accompanied the twins again to the school bus and at 9 am I picked them up to bring them to the Richmond Airport. They wanted to see NYC. Needless to say by now we have already seen some gorgeous photos. Oh yes, making memories.