By Guus , 16 April 2014

Went for a run this morning and just after the bridge over Lee Highway there was a tree down on the trail. It was cold out, we put the plants inside overnight to protect them from the frost.

By admin , 13 April 2014

It's very definitely spring now and we hang Nora's martenitsa in a tree this morning. For the first time on a tree in our own yard.

Then we went for a long walk with Nora. As I am writing this, Nora is having lunch in her high chair and talking to herself. All of a sudden I hear: "Geschrokken. Hond!" -- she is remembering that she got scared by a dog halfway the walk.

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By Guus , 13 April 2014

We worked in the backyard yesterday. The weather was excellent and we bought several flowers and planters for our deck. It was a lot of fun and it looks nice. Now we'll have to keep everything alive.

There is an empty patch of land in the middle of our yard. Last year the previous owners put a few small pansies, but the space is too big and deserve a nice bush. So we're looking into what to put there. Maybe roses, or hydrangeas.

This was also the first weekend we use our umbrella -- it's getting very sunny already.

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By admin , 9 April 2014

Yesterday afternoon after I came home Nora and I went for a walk. We looked at the new sidewalk they're making on Kirkwood. It's really nice that our immediate area is improving. This sidewalk has been in the works for years. I remember when they built the first half, maybe two years ago. Little did I know then that we would live so nearby.

From Kirkwood we walked through Lyon Village to the Clarendon dogpark where we met Sasha who came from work. After we walked home together I realized that Nora had walked for almost an hour. Pretty cool -- it's only 10 months ago that she took her first independent steps.

This picture is from March 23rd. The sidewalk is being created where my red marking is.

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By Guus , 9 April 2014

I got up at 7.00 am and started my run at 7.15 am. My legs are pretty stiff in the mornings so I was careful.

Had a nice run.

At Washington Lee, Mary was entering the school and said hello.

By admin , 7 April 2014

This weekend we were in Durham, North Carolina to attend the Full Frame Documentary Festival. We lived in Durham for five years and it was wonderful to back.

Full Frame is always great and it was excellent to be in the Carolina Theater again after a two-year hiatus.

We traveled on Friday morning and saw our first movie at 1.00 pm. At night we had dinner at Metro 8, a steakhouse that our Argentine friends once recommended, many years ago. When our order was served, the waiter automatically brought the side of mayonnaise -- a Dutch tradition that they had not forgotten.

Saturday morning we went for a walk around the Duke Golf Course -- another recommendation by Belen and Esteban -- and then watches documentaries all day. Sunday morning we did the same walk again and then drove back home, about 5 hours. We had a great weekend together.

We saw several excellent films -- I'll work on the reviews and recommendations in a separate article.

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By admin , 6 April 2014

We drove home today from a great weekend in Durham. We we're home around 5.00 pm and at 5.45 pm or so Sasha and Nora went to the playground while I did my weekend run. 7.3 miles. I pushed hard, 5 minutes faster than my time last week.

By admin , 3 April 2014

Today I ran my regular 4.5 miles with Nora -- Tuesday I did a shorter course. Weather is great but Nora wanted to keep her capuchon on.

By admin , 1 April 2014

Here is a short sound recording of Nora singing "het regent, het regent". She is also showing off her counting skills.

Click here to hear it.

Nora, singing:

het zegent
de pannetjes worden nat
kwamen twee boerinnetjes aan
vielen op hun gat

Guus: Heel mooi, kun je dat nog een keer doen?

Nora: een, twee, drie, vier, vijf etc.

Guus: Kun jij een liedje zingen? Over mama?
Nora: mama, mama, mama... een, twee, drie... etc

At the end:

Nora: Deze lezen?
Guus: Gaan we die lezen?
Nora: Ja.

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