Lady Of The Land

The lily has a smooth stalk,

Will never hurt your hand;

But the rose upon her brier

Is lady of the land.

 

 

There's sweetness in an apple tree,

And profit in the corn;

But lady of all beauty

Is a rose upon a thorn.

 

 

When with moss and honey

She tips her bending brier,

And half unfolds her glowing heart,

She sets the world on fire.

 

 

Poem by Christina Rosetti

 

love you.

 

~Sheri

Nice Bound

For Nel's birthday, we flew from Barcelona to Nice, France. 

Sometimes, flights from country to country in Europe can be just as affordable as taking a train.

When taking a train, the gradual change of scenery and time help you come to the realization that you are entering a new country, but when flying, this realization hits you strangely and suddenly. We had a challenging time switching from our (broken) Spanish to French when trying to communicate with the locals. 

                             Hola          Bonjour 

                            Gracias     Merci

 

Many aspects of travel are frustrating, overwhelming, and sometimes a little scary, but Nel and I have always appreciated the opportunity to learn from these experiences and grow as individuals. 

This was my second time visiting France, and I realized that this country truly holds a special place in my heart. 

Welcome to Nice, France!

Hot, humid, lively, and beautifully designed, this city is a popular French Riviera destination in the summer. 

My favorite part of Nice was its Old Town. 

Its narrow alleys were made up of old buildings, colorful shutters, local merchandise, and enticing cafés.

The Mediterranean was bluer than blue, 

and now I know why Nice's soft light appealed to many great artists in the past. 

Castle Hill  had ruins, a grand waterfall, and great views of the city. 

It was here where I found the French Red Rose Alley, and I smiled at the thought of my mom and our fellow bloggers.

Stay tuned...for a stroll through beautiful Paris. :-)

~Jess  

Three Faces, Three Personalities

You know, in the years that I've been blogging, I realized I never talked to you about our personalities.  The three of us are very much alike, but very different at the same time.

Sarah Stilwell Weber 

 

Well, let's see, Nel has always been outgoing and talkative, and when she sees something she wants, she goes after it.....and usually gets it because of her perseverance.  She can talk amongst a crowd of people, which is what makes her a great teacher and leader.  She is determined and organized, and always seems to be ahead of things in her daily life.  She often gets too busy with her hectic schedules and planning, and is working on having more relaxed days for herself.

Now, Jess is very sweet, and has a bit of a shyness about her.  She is more indecisive, and she'll laugh when she reads this because she knows this is true.  She can't seem to make up her mind sometimes, but I think that's what makes her a creative individual because she has so many ideas, and often sees the different sides to everything.  She is very much into detail, and everything she creates is impeccable.  She is a good friend with a good heart.

Let's see, where do I start with me hehe.  I have always been outgoing, and some may say direct, but it's because I just like to get to the bottom of things, and not waste unnecessary time.  I always stand up for what I believe, and if it's that important to me, I'll shout it to the rooftops!  I am a free spirit that loves to be around my family, but I also have a strong need for alone time, which gives me the peace that I so appreciate.  I am sweet, but sometimes feisty when I have to be.  ;~)

I guess that sums up our personalities.  We have our good ways and our funky ways, but when it comes right down to it, we are always there when someone is in need with an open heart and a listening ear.

Please tell me,

what is your personality

like?

 

~Sheri, Jess, Nel

A Message From A Stranger

When I was driving through a nearby town, I saw a young man on the corner of the street holding a sign.  I looked closely, and in bold letters it said JESUS LOVES YOU.  I smiled and waved at him.  He had the kindest smile and eyes.  When I was driving back, I noticed him again, but this time he was holding his sign and dancing.

Sometimes people just
make our day,
ya know?

 

 

~Sheri

Barcelona Bound

I dream of travel, and Europe holds a special place in my imagination. 

To celebrate the achievement of my Ph.D., this year I decided to plan a very special trip with my two best friends and travel buddies, my sister Jess and my husband Renecke. 

We'd like to invite you to come along with us on a tour of Barcelona. 

The Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, designed this awe-inspiring Roman Catholic Church, La Sagrada Família. 

When we visited, the day was hot but the sky was filled with white billowing clouds. The sunbeams pierced the cloud cover to backlight the massive stone spires topped with bushels of berries.

Construction began in 1882 and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. This construction worker is one of the many who have helped Gaudí to realize his wildly creative vision over the last century and a half.   

Barcelona has a striking combination of architectural styles. Art Nouveau buildings stand next to Gothic churches and the walls of old Roman forts.  

In the Barrio Gotic we stumbled upon a labyrinth of alleyways that might have looked the way they did in the Middle Ages. 

We ate and drank our way through the city, stopping at inviting restaurants every few blocks for flavorful tapas and cold sangria.

Las Ramblas was bustling with shops selling brightly colored flowers, tourist trinkets, jewelry, gelato, open-faced sandwiches, and fresh squeezed juice.  

The Columbus Monument was a welcome sign that we were close to the beach. 

The three days we spent in Barcelona were the perfect kick-off to our summer travel adventure. 

We look forward to sharing our time with you in Nice, France next week!

~ Nel ~

Downtown Fun

We have a downtown

festival every week
in our town during the
summer months.

 

There are goodies to buy,

and the shop windows

are all decked out

to look at when the

people are passing by.
 

Kids play tirelessly

in the fountains.
 

 

Polished vintage cars

are on display.
 

 

 

 

And there's a bench

to sit at when you can't

walk any more.
 

 

It's a fun thing to do

in our town during these

hot summer months.
 

~Sheri

A Taste Of Europe

Here's a little preview of the girls' trip when they traveled to Europe.  They went to three different places, which we'll show more of later.

In Barcelona there is a special fountain on the main street called Las Ramblas.  They say that if you drink from the fountain, you'll return to Barcelona one day, so of course, Nel had to do it.

Nice is very nice. The harbor, swanky shops, and all the people walking through the streets makes the city alive and bursting, especially at night.

The little town they went to in Switzerland was so unbelievably charming with its swiss-style chalets and cozy cabins and all its natural beauty.  The people are incredibly nice and down to earth too.

I do worry about them when they are a thousand miles away to a distant far away land, but I am delighted they get to explore many different places.  But I always ask myself, "where will they go next?"

 

 

     ~Sheri