Autumn - or is it the "old womens summer"? (german: Altweibersommmer)

team up thursday - theme of the week is "clouds"

This weeks theme is chosen by me and its clouds:

Honestly when I've chosen the theme I thought it would be an easy one - looking at the sky - finding a few clouds (not a problem right now - we have them lots and lots here) and then "klick" - "take" them and fine...

BUUUUUUUT - since I have decided to take a photo for this theme I didn't "find" anything nice at the sky - the dramatic clouds weren't nice - the nice weather clouds were not what I wanted but finally on sunday it cleared up and in the afternoon I had such a nice sky.

 I think this was a perfect moment - the weather was fine, the sky was just blue and no small clouds around and I think it also depends of smog or no smog - air pollution and whatever we find in the air. So sunday was the perfect day as maybe there are not as many cars on the road as during the week - not the usual daily dust and dirt in the sky... maybe its that why my photo turned out so clear.

I love clouds - when I was a child I often laid down in the grass and watched the "sky animals go by" - there were clouds which looked like a dog or a horse - sometimes a face or just something what came up to my mind.

Marcelles photo is amazing as the sky is "covered" with white dots and clouds - I love that kind of sky - it looks like the sky is coverd by cotton balls. Their "didn't make the cut" photos are amazing as some of the clouds make me feel just to "jump in them" and be covered with them - so cozy!!!! Well done partner!!!!

The blue in this photo is brilliant - looks like the sea and the clouds are small ships who pass along....

Nice to let your fantasy go - WELL DONE MARCELLE - I love photos which make me start thinking ....

12 of the 12th - by Ben and Max

Okay here we go - our "mum" is downstairs and cleans the kitchen while we are here having fun in front of the computer. Mum told Dad that she has to do that "12 of the 12th"- thing and she hardly has time for that so we decided to show you "our" day yesterday.....

Heeeehe - the right one is my brother Max - he always lies down like that when he feels very comfortable and that happens mostly after brekkie - a few mins we are jumping around and making "mum" crazy but then we calm down and take a little nap (for max. 20 mins)

When mum is ready for a walk with us we aren't - lol - always run and jump back in our bed - its funny!!!!!

Mum found a new way for us to walk - its a nice little park very close to us and we love it there - lots of grass and not as many trees as in the wood - sometimes we are a little afraid in the wood because of all the noises and things..... There are a lot of cycler and here in the park we are just dogs and their mums and dads... very very nice to play...

Mum told Dad that it is going to be autumn very soon - she can see that because of the colours of the leaves - We are born in spring and the leaves weren't already there or just small and green - but of cours - as mum mentioned we see the leaves are changing their colors - beautiful....

Wau Wau Wau - we had a laugh when mum got down on her knees to take a photo of grass - how funny is that? its just something to lie down or to eat - not to take a photo of - what do you think?

This is what is called a "men conversation" - both of us with Dad who told us some things we should do and shouldn't do - cannot remember what we shouldn't do :)

After walking in the park mum had this crazy idea just to have a small walk in the forest - so here we are again in the "darkness" of the forest - honestly here we have some sun

Oh man- what boring - mum always takes photos of boring things - what is sooo interesting in this photo????

And this - a flower - just a flower - there are millions of those here - why taking a photo of that? Mum told us she loves the light in this photo....

Maybe this tree in the background is dead because all of the doggies pees???? Mum doesn't only take photos of boring things - no she is doing photos of dead things too...... unbelievable.

In the evening mum had to play the piano again - she told us she hasn't played for weeks and tomorrow the teacher will be back again after a 6 weeks break. She told she has to play well - so she "tried" several times - maybe the song sounds like she'd played it - heheheeeee wau wau wau - we did sing along - wau wau wauuuuuuuu....

Mum is proud of this photo - no clue why - she said it has something special - maybe the light or the blurry or the "sharpness" in the middle of the photo - we don't  understand but we are just dogs....

This was our 12 of the 12th - wau wau wauuuuuuuu WAU WAU!!!!

September 11th 2001.....remember that horrible day

  
I bet you all remember what you were doing and where you have been on this horrible day when the twin towers in New York werer hit by two planes....

I can remember exacly where I have been - in the middle of New York - it was my honeymoon. Can you imagine that? Normally you won't forget your honeymoon but this honeymoon was such a "special" one.... But let me tell from the beginning (if you are interested):

Hub and I got married in a civil ceremony on August 9th 2001 in Schluechtern (the town where I was born and grown up as my grandparents and some close family members  were not able to come over to Munich where we had our church marriage on Sept 7th 2001). It was a nice day with sunshine and the ceremony was a nice one as it was held in an old little "castle". We had a nice day and after the ceremony we had lunch with the family and close friends and in the evening we had a party which is called "Polterabend"" (eve of wedding day) with lots of friends around.

So 4 weeks later we had our church wedding in a small valley close to Munich and again it was a great day with sunshine and full of joy and fun and all my beloved people around. It lasted til four in the morning and we all went to bed with a big grin on our faces as it was a thoroughly successful party. On saturday we had breakfast together with all guest who stayed in the hotel we did our party and later on we and my family drove back to Munich. 

On Sunday 9th my parents brought us to Munich Airport as we started our honeymoon which should bring us to New York for 3 days - San Francisco for 2 days and to Hawaii for 12 days. When we walked through the check in I had the feeling that the controls were a little stronger than normally (but after all that happened maybe its just a thought) and we took a seat on our plane and arrived safe and sound on sunday evening in New York. We had a very small hotel which is called "The Inn at Irving Place " . So we left our suitcases there and even I was tired like hell Achim took me to the Empire State Building and we had an awesome view over the city of New York - meantime it was around 09 o clock in the evening and after that fantastic view we went back to our hotel and to bed.

Next morning (Monday Sept 10th) we had full programm - went to the Wall Street, Central Station - lots of places to see and to be and in the afternoon we went to the World Trade Center - bought a ticket which allowed us to go up during the day and for a entry the other night. When we arrived at the platform I really was breathless - never did imagine what a fantastic view I would have from above - never thought this city is sooooo soooo big and sooo sooo beautiful. We spent nearly 2 hours on the platform and took photos and just enjoyed this beautiful view and this feeling you are "on the top of the world". Went downstaris around 5 in the afternoon and had a nice dinner close to our hotel.

Tuesday September 11th in the morning I just sat on my bed after coming out of the bathroom and I said to Achim: Do you hear that - it sounds like a plane crossed the hotel"- Achim said that a plane can never be soo close to Manhattan and I thought maybe its the sound of a big big dustcard (as everything in the US is much bigger than in Germany :) ) So we went downstairs at about 09:00 and right as we passed by the reception we were asked from the guy if we did hear what happened - we had no clue - and he told us about a plane that hit one of the towers. We thought its a special kind of humor and when we said no he pulled us through a door where we could watch tv. We couldn't trust our eyes what we had to watch there - first thought of mine was this is a movie - then I recognized that all the stuff of the hotel watched this and had tears in their eyes.
I looked at Achim -shook my head and asked: What happened? Whats that? OMG what happened? They told us what they knew at that time - that a plane hit one of the towers and that might be a terrible accident....
A few second later we could see the other plane crashed into the second tower and we knew immedately - that is NOOOO accident - that is an attack.... I felt my knees began to shake like hell and I had to sit down.
We all were bewildered and unable to speak - to do anything.....We just watched - talked - opened the front door of the hotel to see if this is not a terrible dream or movie - couldnt see anything that time  and came back to see what went on.....
I jumped up and thought I have to make a few telephoe calls to let my family know we are okay  - tried to get my parents on the phone but alway a busy line - couldn't leave a message and began to cry hysterical..... I tried it more than 20 mins  - Achim tried to get his parents on the phone - no chance. We decided to ask the receptionist if we can send a fax home - right when I began to write down a few lines we heard the stuff screaming in the room the tv stood - we jumped in and saw the first tower collapsed! UNBELIEVABLE.
We opened the front door of the hotel again and immediately you could see a huge cloud covered the sky...
I have to mention the hotel we stayed is located very close to the twin towers - maybe 4 km away.... So we took our bag and told the stuff that we wanted to go out - to see and maybe to help. They told us to be very very careful but could understand our thoughts but nevertheless told us if we see people running away we should follow them maybe something has happened again.... So we took our bags and went down the streets - we saw people coverd with dust - people crying - people had their radio and listened to it - we found a blind woman whose dog was so confused that he didn't find his way home - because of all the fire dept. pump cars, ambulances and police cars with their sirens.... All streets were blocked in minutes and you could "dance" on the 5th avenue in New york - no cars except fire brigade, ambulances and police cars.We helped the blind woman while telling her which street and which crossing we were and then she knew her way home...

We walked and walked and walked and were speechless - sometimes we talked - sometimes we hugged each other and cried - tried to get our parents on the phone - nothing..... line dead!

I have to mention that our first choice was the Marriot Hotel - directly located by the twin towers - a colleague of Achim told him that he knows a nice and very romantic little hotel which is way better for honeymooners than the Marriot Hotel - imagine we had chosen the Marriot Hotel - you would not be able to read my blog - I would not be able to write my blog because it collapsed as well.....

We walked up and down and came to a barriere - there were lots of policeman and ambulances and we were able to speak with them - asked how to help (they said blood would be needed badly so we decided to donate blood) and then he got a call - talked to his colleagues and then said in a hurry: " You better move quickly - this building will come down soon" (we could only see the back side of the building which was the WTC 7 - you couldn't see any damage but the front side must have been damaged terribly....) So we moved and made our way to one of the blood donation stations - later we walked around (we couldn't go home to our hotel and sit there - we were sooooo unsettled and nervous). When we came home late in the afternoon we were told that the WTC 7 - we stood in front of its back side hours before - did come down also!

The whole day we couldn't reach our parents - that made me crazy because I wanted to tell them we are okay - later we were told that my dad was the one who recognized that it was nine o clock in the morning when the attack happened (in germany it was 3 o clock in the afternoon) and he tried to reasurre the whole family by sayng that honeymooners won't be on their feet at 9 o clock in the morning  - besides he knows his son in law and knows that he isn't that early bird..... So he told everyone he is sure we are okay.....
We spent the evening at the hotel - normally they don't serve a dinner but for their guests  the stuff were able to organize something - but no need to mention we all were unable to eat anything. At about 10 o clock we went to our room and watched tv til late in the night - couldn't sleep.....
I had my parents on the phone in the night (about midnight in NY - 6 o clock in the morning in Germany) and the line was very bad but we told them we are okay.... then the line collapsed. I was soo happy I could talk to them - even it was just for a minute.... Our plan was to leave NY on  Thursday morning .... but that is another story .... more tomorrow.....

BAH - while writing down this story everything comes back soooo close and I sit in front of my screen and have goosebump all over......We've been at hell with one feet!!!! And I never was a very religious person but I was sure "HE" thought: this newly married couple has to be protected.....

more to come tomorrow::::::

team up thursday

This weeks theme was chosen by Marcelle and its....?????? (guess what)

So this week I have to apologize because not one single photo I took turned out like I wanted so I think this week I am not the best TUT partner - sorry Marcelle.

I am not a .....-drinker and for that reasons I don't have.....-mugs - this are my normal - every day - mugs.

Marcelle's photo is just perfect  - I really feel like I am asked what kind of tea I would like to have - this photo makes me feeling to take a  seat and ask for a cup of the tea of the green tea (left) - so beautiful arranged - such a nice mug and such lovely teas  love the black background and the bright colours.
Marcelle this week you "shoot me up" again - BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT PHOTO.

Something on my own account - if you are interested please come over to my blog entry on Saturday September 11th - I have a story to tell about this day - I bet you all know what you've done and where you've been when the two planes hit the twin towers in 2001 - I want to tell you where I've been on that day and what happened to me....

Team up thursday - week 17

Already thursday again - time for TEAM UP THURSDAY and the theme I've chosen for this week is:

                                                                   LEAVES

Unfortunately we now can wait til the first trees will lose their "clothes" and the streets and everything will be covered with leaves soon. I cannot believe that it is September already and our summer is gone :(

We had some cold days - today its sunny but chilly outside and the first snow is on the way to come down in the German uplands - can you imagine???

But honestly I have to say I love the autumn because of the colours - I LOVE all those colourfull trees and the light is fantastic sometimes (when the sun is out)

So here we have some leaves that were found in my garden - I think its a kind of canadian maple - correct me if I am wrong. I love the colours of the leaves - they are in this colours during the year so its not a sign of autumn with that red-orange.

This is Marcelles' photo - I love the light and  the colours and I am surprised that there are soo many leaves off of the trees - I think here in Munich and the area we don't have as much leaves on the ground as the Hessians have. For me its a perfect "autumn-photo" - which was my original plan when I choose the theme.

Perfect captured Marcelle!!!!

This was my first choice but then I thought I take the other one because of the lovely colour:

Girlfriends shot...

team up thursday - week 16

Again its thursday and I have no clue where the time has gone - sooo busy with the puppies and we've started some work on our other half of the house which be bought a month ago. So I will have some workers here the next weeks who will keep my busy too with looking what they are doing and bringing some food and drinks and and and...

Our theme this week is chosen by Marcelle and its FENCES


I love this theme as it is a simple one and on the other side its a difficult one - I cannot go outside and take a photo of the neighbours fences - they will think I am working for "Google street view" or something like that...
And I thought it should be a special fence I want to show and this is what I've found yesterday while walking with the dogs. I think I've passed that fence 100 times but never recognized it or have seein it with the eyes like I did yesterday....

Marcelles photos  is a brilliant shot again - I love this blue sky with the clouds so soft - I love this fence - I love the silence you can see on/in that photo - I love the nature - I LOVE THAT SHOT. WELL DONE MY TUT PARTNER.

Our diptych:

I cannot wait to see all your brilliant photos again this week - curious about your themes and you ideas. I love that team up thursday and I want to say a huge thank you to all of you who always inspire me and make me not give up hoping to do "the perfect shot" one day. Thank you girls - you're all fantastic. What a pity we cannot meet up in person - maybe one day????!!!!
Cheers

Todays shots...

The serious side of life begins....

...with the first day at school....

a few more will follow on friday as you all know tomorrow we have thursday and that means "tut"
See you
your busy Kerstin

team up thursday - week 15 - self portrait

Hello - here we go again with a new theme on our team up thursday - self portrait. This time I chose the theme.
I have to say I normally don't like seeing me on/in photos - I don't know why but I always have something to moan. So this was not easy for me but the challenge for me was to chose one of only 3 photos I did of myself.
I didn't want to take 100 photos in line and then choosing the nicest one - no I thought " I am how I am" yesterday after a 3,5 hours drive on the Autobahn and I've unpacked my suitcase and put away all the things I normally have with me when at home by my parents I took my cam and went in front of the mirror in our bathroom and here we are:

"This is Marcelle"  - and I love this photo - the lightning is just perfect - the background with lots of photos of her and her family makes this photo special regarding the theme - self portrait - in a way she shows herself with not just a photo of her - with showing how important her family is to her and you not just get a "face to a name" - no you see a lot more. WELL DONE PARTNER - THINK YOU DID A PERFECT JOB AGAIN THIS WEEK

I had to grin again when I got Marcelles photo - look both of us with the camera on the photo - both of us the cam on the right hand side (seeing the photo) and see our upper hand - LOL

One week with the puppies and my world is upside down....

...but I wouldn't give them away anymore - not for all the money in the world:)