Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

Ready for the woods! My neighbor asked me if I had someone to clean my windows.  I wondered if that was a hint.  I cleaned them in 2 rooms and then went for a bike ride.  It was a good morning. A German friend, Evie, who married an American and then lived in the US for seven years was telling another German friend, Steph, if she’d heard of “German Chocolate Cake.”  “What?!”  Steph looked bewildered.  Evie explained: “It is a chocolate sponge cake.  You know how American cakes always have an icing on them?  Well this icing is a mixture of pecans and coconut.”  Stephanie looked disgusted.  I guess it would be like telling a Frenchman about “French Toast.” Zooming! He was so excited about it that he rode it in the rain. Henry got a new bike.  We were fortunate to buy it second hand from a Kindergarten friend who noticed that his was rather small.  So now 3 of the four of us are zooming around on German bikes.  His is co...

On Thursday we returned from a ten-day trip traveling to Michigan and back f or John’s brother Andy’s wedding. I calculate that we spent about sixteen hours in airports, not including flying time. Although it was worth being able to celebrate with Andy and Sarah and to be with John’s family, next time we travel we will have to add into our trip planning the cost of airport food during layovers. (celebrating fall birthdays plus Henry) As I talked to family and friends in Michigan and they asked about our adjustment I was quick to say that we are feeling quite settled in Germany. I added that I was glad the wedding was in November and not September, because if it was September it would have been very hard to come back. Nevertheless, as our final layover in Newark came to an end, I found myself getting tearful at the idea of leaving home again. As the plane took off (after an hour and a half delay in which Elisabeth read a book about a Swedish girl immigrating to America and I watc...