Mon Aventure

Friday, May 6, 2011

Living the Dream

1 comments Posted by Kara at 3:29 PM

I really am living my dreams. Or more accurately, I'm living inside my paintings.

In 2002 I painted the following entitled Happiness.

It was intended to be a French flower kiosk. I may be in Geneva now, but I'm only 10 min. from the French border.

The following is a photo from the Farmer's Market that Chris and I meander through every Sunday, 3 min. from our flat.

For the Love of a Pink Tree

2 comments Posted by Kara at 3:12 PM

The most beautiful things in life are the most short lived.

I have a new route to work from my new apartment. It's only a 10 min. walk now. It was the first day in my new flat, on my way to work, that I experienced this tree. I say experienced because it was truly an experience.

I first spotted it from a distance.

I wasn't planning to stop, but I couldn't help myself. I had to make a detour. I was lured away and seduced by the charms of this tree.

It called me to come and sit under it's luscious pink branches.

So I sat. I breathed it in and was renewed, refreshed, restored in mind, body and spirit.

It was hard to pull myself away. But responsibilities beckoned. I assured myself that I would stop here again in 4 days when I returned to work again. Alas, her glory only lasted a few days. I'm so glad I stopped to enjoy her on that day.

Moving Day

0 comments Posted by Kara at 2:47 PM

Goodbye Rue des Vollandes 15, hello Rue Cingria 4.

On Thursday, March 31st, we picked up and moved across town. Our lease was up and our landlord was not re-renting our flat. We were sad to leave our gorgeous, breezy flat and proximity to the lake, but much more thrilled to exchange it for a flat with an elevator. Our new flat is smaller, but cuter and features a bigger balcony, on which we eat all our meals. The kitchen/dining area is very small. But we LOVE it here. We actually wish we had been here from the start.

Soon I'll have pictures of the new flat, decorated, organized and ready for my parents upcoming visit in 3 weeks. In the meantime, say goodbye to Rue des Vollandes...
Good memories.....

Hello Rue Cingria 4...
The following photos capture the mess I faced the first day after moving in. The movers were quick, but not necessarily efficient. Everything came out of the boxes, but here's a peek at the mess that followed. I'm NOT complaining. It's an amazing gift to have people do ALL the packing and unpacking FOR me in one day.

Most of our paraphernalia went down to the cave, (the storage room) to make room for us to breathe.

It was a blessing to have the company of my friend, Devi, on moving day. She is pregnant, in her 3'rd term, but still had the energy to keep me company and sort a few things with me on this crazy day. Chris had to work late, so at about 8:30, went the movers finally finished, she and I called it a day and went out for dinner, to try a new Ethiopian restaurant. She LOVES Ethiopian cuisine and it was a first time experience for me. I enjoyed it. A big platter of food is brought out to share and the idea is to eat everything with your hands. I wish I'd taken pictures.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Spring Is Here

3 comments Posted by Kara at 5:53 PM

Chris and I met for lunch on Friday in Old Town Square. It was too beautiful a day not to sit in the sun for a few minutes before going back to work.

I walked to work and brought Bear with me to celebrate the gorgeous weather.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Spring is Coming

1 comments Posted by Kara at 9:40 PM

Spring is indeed on my doorstep in Geneva, Switzerland. Everything smelled different today when I returned after being gone a week for Megan's wedding.

So let's revisit the highlight of my winter experience before we move on. I'm going to plant flowers in my window boxes this week, but I just can't do that until we've looked back at a few pictures...

It didn't snow much this winter. Magically, all the snow we did get came early for Kellie and Brady's Christmas visit. I took this shot while Christmas shopping the day before they were scheduled to arrive. This was the start of a big pile of snow that stranded many travelers all over Europe including Kellie and Brady who were delayed in Amsterdam for 3 days.

When they finally arrived we wasted no time and took them to explore the world famous castle, Chateau de Chillon.

Brady and I, inside the castle. The four of us covered every inch of that castle, dungeons and all.

Christmas came next, which we spent in our cozy apartment on Rue des Vollandes

The day after Christmas we headed up to a ski lodge in the Alps for 3 days. Brady never skiied before. He was going to learn in the Swiss Alps and Chris was going to teach him.

Can you see the anticipation on Brady's face? Chris is pretty happy too.

While Brady is fumbling with getting into skis for the first time, Kellie is ready to go. She's done this before and is ready to perform.

Brady

Graceful first moves

In no time at all, Brady was skiing with style and confidence under Chris' effective training.

Meanwhile, Kellie stops to take a breather

We came home, recovered for a day and re-packed heading south to Milan, Italy for New Year's weekend.

The Duomo

Walking the roof of the Duomo

You don't have to visit the Duomo to experience the same sense of wonder and secret delight present on Kellie's face in this picture. You can find it in your livingroom today.

Spring is coming.

Megan - Fairy Tale Princess

2 comments Posted by Kara at 7:34 PM

I'm curled up on my orange couch in Geneva, sitting in the dark because the sun has set and I haven't gotten up to turn the lights on yet. This morning Chris and I landed in Geneva, returning from my baby sister's wedding in Virginia. It seems I'm developing a pattern of writing to you under the influence of jet lag. For those of you who haven't experienced 6 hour jet lag, it's nothing to scoff at. It feels like being drugged for a day or two.

All the wedding pictures have not been gathered yet, but here's a sneek peek from my candid camera.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Passing of Our Leader -- See You in a Little While Papa

3 comments Posted by Kara at 10:12 PM

He was quiet, a behind the scenes kind of man, yet his leadership was strong.

Wayne Porter

During this last week, Chris and I have been discussing masculine leadership. Every man has his own style, his own beauty. Papa was a quiet man. Yet, he was effective.

This man set the stage and culivated a strong and safe environment so that I grew up in a happy family. His children followed in his footsteps, encircling me, my siblings and my cousins with nurture and love.

By the grace of God, we are carrying his legacy to the fourth generation.

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