Old Friends -New Friends - Good Friends

axel stephen katie1
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

As we are rapidly approaching the first anniversary of the start of this journey, I am truly loving our friends.

Our old friends, who we miss so intensely... We have been so immersed in our life here. We have been really bad at keeping regular updates going or making contact. Its hard. But never mistake our lack of communication to mean that you are not in our hearts and minds. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every day there is a moment that I think of a dear friend 'back home' and wish that I could share that moment with them.

Our new friends. Among the many people from all over the world who we have met this past year, there have been a small few who have become to also have in our hearts. People I have no doubt it was a matter of providence that we have become a part of each other's lives. Exactly how has yet to fully be seen, but if the past year has been any indicator - its gonna be a good ride.

A few weeks ago we said a temporary good-bye to our new dear friend Stephen. We had a wonderful weekend of celebration, revelry, hugs, and tears. It was also Stephen's birthday. Thirtysomething for the last time. A perfect send off. We miss you so much and are counting the days until we come visit you in Italy this summer. If we time it right, we can celebrate my turning thirtysomething for the last time together! Woot!

This past weekend Simone graduated from her program. Yesterday she left for a three week job, after which she could choose one of three paths. One would have her staying here in Forest Row, which I am hoping for. There arereasons too that have a gut feeling about, but I know that there is also a bit of selfishness in my wishes. She is my new sister and I don't want to say good bye just yet. There's more to come, I know it.

So... take a look around the flickr pictures. There are new ones of our friends and bits of our lives over the past few weeks. A glimpse into just a few of the times that we want to share with our good friends.

Anja and The Buhrgers of Calais

Calais 23 Apr 06 5
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

It took awhile, but we finally bought a car!

Our maiden road trip was to Dover, where we hopped the ferry to Calais, France for a little day trip. Its a bit strange to wrap my brain around being closer to France than I used to live to Seattle.
It was Sunday and the shops were closed, but thankfully the wine stores (and the bargain basement prices on great french wines) are open 7 days a week. Priorties being what they are.

After we bought a nice little wine selection we did a little sight seeing. It was a cloudy, hazy day so the photo ops were not so great. I got to see Rodin's Buhrgers of Calais, which is just plain cool. From Calais we went down to Boulogne sur Mer. We had a late lunch and then it started raining so we drove over to St. Omer and then back up to Calais. We didn't do much walking around because of the crappy weather, but it was fun and we saw plenty of things to return to when it is a bit nicer out.

Hopefully this is the first of many road trips!

Still here

eggs on patio
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

Yes - we are still here. Sorry for not updating more often. We definately need to work on that.

Easter was low key around here. We don't celebrate it religiously. Heck, we barely do a secular thing. But everyone loves a good egg hunt, and I will take any excuse that comes along to play with dye. Axel bought brown eggs so we were a bit concerned about how they would turn out, but we were pleasantly surprised. These were made with regular old food coloring. Anja and I had a blast making them. Her favorite is the puke colored ones. Thats our girl!

Warming The House

HWP4
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

It is cold outside, but our house is warm.

Our Housewarming party was a great success. Friends who have come together from all over the world and who's paths are crossing in Forest Row.

Germany,Holland,Namibia,Italy,Brazil,South Africa, America, Venezuela, France,Sweden, a few other places I am sure. Oh, and yes - a few from England. Though they were definately in the minority.

Axel will have to help me with putting names to faces in the pictures, however since our schedules are both so tight and busy I am not sure when that will be. So enjoy the pictures and welcome to our new home!

Purple Tree Day

Purple Trees
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

Anja and I took a trip to the market one Saturday via a visit to Axel in the barn packing apples. Its a nice little walk to the farm. Behind our house is a forest path that leads to stairs and a fence crossing point. Over the fence is the cow pasture of Tablehurst farm, which is next to Emerson College. There are a couple small bridges to cross where a stream meanders through the pasture. Each bridge has a cow barrier so cows stay put and off the bridge. One last bridge leads to a horse pasture where a gate opens to the farm store parking lot. We stopped to say hi to our friends on the farm and off to visit daddy in the barn. We cooked him one of the house sausages that he was given the other day for doing extra work on the farm one day. The perks of being in Biodynamic food biz are yummy!

We didn't notice the trees were purple when we were in the pasture. All the color in the picture is exactly how we remember seeing it, except for the trees. It is my thinking that we snapped a photo of the tree's aura. I think this is one of my favorite pictures in a long time.

It was a great day. Chilly and gray like most of the days here. And a bit muddy as well. And all of it lovely.

Princess Suite

Anja Room1
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

I finished Anja's room today. The final touch was hanging the painting of Anja that Dylan made last year. Perfect!

Anja is definately the spoiled one in the family right now. I think it is Dylan and Kiah's turn next. That should be fun! They have such different tastes and share a small room. The end results promise to be very unique I am sure - just like they are. Gotta love them.

For Anja's room I made a pillow case to match a blanket I made for her when she was a small baby. I barely remember that time. I saved some of the material for making a pillow some day. She has never really used her own bed until now so it is a perfect time for it.

The table under the loft is for her kitchen set too. The farm folds up and there is a space on the floor for it when she wants to bring out her stove, dishes, etc. and cook up a feast.

I am now working on getting Axel and my room nice. Nothing too elaborate for us right now, but nice.

Then onto Dylan and Kiah's domain!

Our New Home

Front House
Originally uploaded by BeneathOurFeet.

Some quick pictures of our new home. Anja put herself in most of the pictures so it is a double treat getting to see her smiling face.

No clever commentary today. I am too tired to think, but wanted to get these up to share with you.

Saturday is our housewarming party which should be loads of fun and provide us with some great photos of the crazy people we call our friends.

Red Currants & Phone Bills

We awoke to a lightly snow dusted field looking out our bedroom window this morning. Axel and I had stayed up late watching videos and I was relieved that the weather confirmed I didn't have to go to work until 2:00 this afternoon. Axel left to work building a fence around the new orchard. He called a short bit later and said the ground was not frozen and we could plant red currants all day. Dylan was joining me in currant planting to earn money to pay her huge phone bill. Turns out that if you call a cell...er, I mean mobile phone from a land line you get charged for it. Dylan made roughly 84 calls. No kidding. Total cost: £35. A couple more days like today and she will have worked that off nicely.

Anja came along with Dylan and I to the orchard. She was hoping to play with her friend , the son of the orchard owner. Kiah got a free day at home with no one here to bug her.

Planting red currants is way easier than planting apple trees. Thankfully. Dylan did a great job planting 3 long rows with about 250 trees each. I did a bit more than that, and Axel was still planting when me and the girls left for home. Our bike trailor doubles as a stroller so Anja got to ride in style, snacking away on a delicious apple. Dylan and I had a nice chat about school and the various dramas in her life on the walk home.

It was a great day. One of many great days recently. Our new home is wonderful. At long last we feel like we can settle into life here. Some days I think I should pinch myself to be sure this is all real.

Moving Day!

So long London Road! We are outta here!

:::entire family does happy dance:::

5 days and counting

5 days until we move out of this matchbox. But who's counting?!