News fron España

Hey everyone! Sorry it´s been so long. My ability to access the internet has somewhat lessened recently! Also I havn´t found a computer with skype yet...sigh..
So, lets just say my arrival in Spain was a little less than fun. After having spent the whole night in the london Luton airport with very little sleep, food or money I flew into Malaga, Spain at noon. Up to this point my credit cards had not been working and I had about 2 Euros on me (as well as 2 pounds and 12 dollars, but those did me no good because they didn´t reach the minimum to exchange for euroes). I thought that one of my cards would start working that day but thanks to good ol´visa and mastercard I was way off. I spent 6 hours in the Spanish heat (similar to KS) trying to get ahold of anyone, you guys, my study abroad people, credit card people, whoever, because I had to get a train or bus ticket to get to Ronda, which was about 2 hours away. However, due to my lack of money and the malfunctioning payphones (or maybe my inability to use them) I couldn´t do a thing. Also, don´t forget to add in my incredibly poor spanish and the complete lack of any english speakers except for a group of latter-day saints and the wonderful lady at the help desk.
Finally, by using the bus-station´s phone, I managed to get ahold of my host mom, who doesn´t speak any english. I handed the phone over to the help-desk lady and she talked to my host mom and they finally got things worked out and within a few minutes I finally got on my bus to Ronda where everything was eventually worked out. However, between having hardly any sleep for the last two days, being starving and dehydrated and totally overwhelmed with everything, the first thing I did when I got on that bus was burst into tears! There is quite a bit more to this sad story although I have no time to type it now, so ask me about it sometime because it´s quite entertaining!
No worries though everything is perfecto now (after some very long and tiring phone calls with my credit card companies). Ronda is absolutely beautiful and I am having a blast! Love you all!
Good job on all the new buys (aka J´s laptop and Katie´s printer). I hope everything is going good everywher! LOve you all.
Willow

Ahhh Summer!

These pictures speak for themselves! We've been having a grand old time in Vermont! And WOW - look at that HUGE printer! It's the mother of all printers! Totally awesome!!!!!!!!! Thank you PAPA!!!! Anyway, hope you all are well in your little corners of the world - I love you all my dear dear family! Should write more - but it's really time for bed! So enjoy the pics - I love you!!!!!!!! - Katie
PS: Just a little note for the pics - the cool penny braclet is something I made in my art group! and the boys that are jumping into the water were just some random boys on a big bridge that I caugh in mid-flight while J, Sandy and I were on the bike trail in Burlington (on Sandy and I's 3rd wedding anniversary!) and the pic with Aunty and Will in it is us all having lunch at the Warren Store in Warren. I love living in Vermont!

Prairie Notes

Two weeks ago I was out in the big hayfield. I was amazed with the flowers that I found. So, this Sunday I went out to take photos. But, alas, they are gone! Only the Butterfly Milkweed remained, although I do love this flower. The one I am most sad that I missed was Sensitive Catsclaw Briar. I love that beautiful pink flower. Well, maybe next year. I'll have to remember that it blooms and goes before the hot weather hits. And the last three days have been 100 degrees.
Also note the Buffalo wallow. They are about 20 by 10 feet and 1 to 2 feet deep. They are easy to spot as even today, almost nothing will grow there. This is a result of strong compacting. And also standing water and alkali conditions. We have 3 or 4 of them. Cool! I get great pleasure in picturing, 200 yrs ago, immense herds of Buffalo grazing these fields and wallowing in the mud to control the flies, or perhaps just to cool down.

JJ's New Computer

Here it is! Jonathan's new 17 Mac Book Pro. And it is gorgeous! 40% brighter than mine and dramatically faster. Sigh... JJ's new 17 includes a beautiful screen, 2 GB Ram, 120 GB Hard Drive, and a Mighty Mouse. A Blenderhead dream machine.

I'm glad he is so happy. He will be using it for his business. His goal is to pay for it by the end of summer. But, evenso, he has 36 months to pay for it.

Hey all!
these are pretty much all pictures from the top of the London Eye, the great big ferris wheel in Londonl. All except for the one of the Big Ben, the clock, which I took from the ground!
We are off to Ireland!

Here are more pictures!




In the front of the river Thames which is right behind our glorious apartment!



This is the sign right next to the bridge over the Thames that we cross every day to get to Hammersmith station where we catch a train/bus/subway(tube)!! The sign says "weak bridge" if you can't read it.



The glorious black current cheesecake mom and I had at a coffee shop that was on Londons equivilant to Broadway. Right across the street was a theatre playing Ave Q. Later we saw ones playing Les Mis, Chicago, Wicked, Guys and Dolls, and lots of other broadway shows!!



Of course my new favorite car the "smart" car. It is everywhere! I would love to have one, except, I think if I did I would just be cracking up everytime I got in because it just looks so silly!



The Hammersmith bridge. this is the one with the "weak bridge" sign before it!


Have a great day. Stay tuned for more updates, because today we are off to actually go inside westminister Abbey, Buckingham palace and lots of other glorious places!
Love Willow

Sorry guys. The actual blog ended up completely different than what the preview was showing me. I guess you will just have to guess which caption goes with each picture. any suggestions of how to get this right??

Hey everybody! Here are just a few pictures of this amazing city!! Mom and I are having an absolutely wonderful time. I will be putting up many more pictures as soon as possible, but for now it is almost 3AM and I really need to go to bed.
Love you all!
Willow



these bright red phone booths are everywhere!!




There was a military musical event going on (kind of like a big changing of the guards...) and Queen Elizabeth was there. We were at a gate at the back of where the event was being held and this was her car! Later, when we were eating at a restaurant on a corner about a block away we actually saw her drive past! She was only about 5 feet away from where we were sitting. What are the odds that we would go to London and actually see the Queen!



This was a croud of hundreds of roller bladers! They were just rolling along on a very busy street with really loud rock music playing! It was awesome!




This was in Trafalgar square. The lit up building was the National Museum!




We weren't sure why there was a statue of Abe Lincoln in England!

wierd...

hmmm. the colors are all messed up. It is supposed to be blue and yello. Hmmm....
B

A post at last!

hello all,
Just wanted to show you the poster I designed for the June art show - Journeys. It is part of a 3 part series: Journys, Roots, and Home. Hope you enjoy! Love you all,
Betony