at least once a year, we try to escape to the desert. There is something about the smell of sage and open skies that scrubs the brain – or maybe the sand does that.

Mindestens einmal im Jahr fahren wir in die Wüste. Es gibt irgendwas um den Geruch des Wüstenbeifußes und den unendlichen Horizont das den Kopf schrubbt – oder vielleicht tut das der Sand.

Viele Raupen haben uns begrüßt

we were greeted by many caterpillars

Wirklich…

really…

… Wirklich…

…really…

… viele

…a lot

aber es hat uns nichts ausgemacht

but we didn’t mind

Kannste die zwei Kerlen sehen?

Can you the two trouble makers?

Wenn man genau hinguckt, merkt man wie die Augen zu sind

when you look really close, you can see that they are both nodding off

und jetzt spielen

and now some play

weniger Blumen als wir erwartet haben

not as many flowers as we thought there might be

der Fluß tut den Füßen gut

the stream feels good on the feet

und der erste Tag endet mit einem hundemüden Lächeln

day one ends with a dog-tired smile…

2 summers ago, i planted daphne in our yard. Right by the door, ready for the afternoon sun to release the fragrant oils.

tonight, i absorb the fragrance, which reminds me of jasmine in tunisia, as it soars through the front door. i love the small, star-like flowers, sparkling with aroma.

Vor 2 Sommern, pflanzte ich Seidelblast, direkt vor der Tür, bereit um die Sonne die Ölen der Blumen zu befreien.

Heute Abend, trinke ich das Parfum ein, erinnernd an Jasmin in Tunisien. Ich mag die kleine, sternliche Blumen, mit Aroma strahlend.

and the scent of hyacinths is amazing.

In a lawn chair with a book, my foot propped on the porch, and the d-o-g serving as watchman. A gorgeous day.

Ah, 2010. I had such high hopes for you. How are you looking so far? I have been sick twice. 2X! More than i am normally sick in 2 years. Is this in celebration of double digits? Not nice.

Then, on SOP’s birthday, on a simple ski in the trees, but on a fairly flat spot with layers of differently texture snow, i heard/felt a ‘pop’ mid-turn. Crap. We got patrol, and it was a fantastic ride out to say the least! Since we were back a ways, they got a snow machine for part of the trek – until the snow machine got stuck and the patroller and i buried. They all did a great job, but the clinic confirmed what I was pretty sure of already – my fibula was broken. Drats.

Last friday i had a follow-up appointment with the orthopaedist. The fracture has shifted and that means surgery. Double Drats.

The good news, however, is that I am now on my way to robot status! I’m getting metal in my leg!

SCHNEE!!!!

SNOW!!!