snapshots of my life: week 43

it's hard to tell from the picture, but this maple leaf is gigantic

alan's birthday. we've adopted the danish tradition of putting the national flag out for celebrations. when in rome...

gifts from gaga and buppa!!  they couldn't wait to stuff their mouths with chocolate.

our second annual biking trip on the island of læsø (of salt fame). this is a forest "hut."

no roof mowing necessary

splitting wood the old fashioned way. it's a heck of a lot easier than using an ax. 

the sign warns of flying bees, but there were none.  too late in the season, i suppose.

cheesy grins

there are many small roadside stands all over the island selling everything from wood to homemade jam and yard sale items.  we bought a sack of wood for 20 kroner ($4), chanterelle mushrooms (delicious!), a pair of new, hand-knitted wool socks, fresh parsley, and a book for anatole about underwater sea life

in front of a home decor shop

my little pumpkin

colorful fishing nets

the part of the island where we stayed

this is a child who bikes and talks, bikes and talks, always has something to say, is never at a loss for words

our best attempt at a family photo - in front of the house we rented and happy that the sun was shining (however briefly)

the beach

seafood crates

an art center

roadside scenery

a thinned out forest

the colors were much more impressive in person

he is good at finding projects

a rock and a thumbs up

captivating seaweed

i like the contrast of colors here

tiny little flowers hidden amid lots of tall grass

the name translates to "stone pile."

the island is covered with mushrooms of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  this gem looks straight out of a fairy tale.

of course my boy had to stomp on or drive down every one he came into contact with.

see.  he's going for it.

we had a fun ride on this stretch of beach where the sand was hard enough to easily pedal on

this is for all you nebraska cornhuskers (i know nothing about ne except the name of its college athletic teams)

MY CHAIN IS OFF!!!

the ever-present danish flag

the rental where we stayed. my view from the couch.

alan brought home a lobster and so continues "the second annual tradition of the live lobster." he got it direct from a fishing boat that had just returned with its catch of the day. this was the only lobster, so we were lucky to get it.

anatole just happened to have his plastic toy lobster with him. "lobster, meet lobster."

it's two hours until dinner.  what should we do with him until then?!

anatole was timid to pick the guy up, but once he did he was proud as can be.

read the second set of text.  notice anything?  so continues my series of "english gone wrong."