November 2012 in pictures

November was another busy month for us. We traveled outside of he Netherlands, again. We really did make the most of autumn 2012, having not been able to travel much in the summer due to a kitty that couldn't stay healthy. I was a bit nervous to leave Islay during her recovery from surgery, but she seemed fine when we left and only starved for company when we got back. We went to Stockholm to visit a friend of mine, it was dreary, cold, and dark quickly, but the company was superb. I miss my friends "from Boston," but even if I moved back, it would never be the same. Being a scientist, most of my "Boston friends" weren't even from the USA let alone Boston, and many of them are not there anymore. The food was great, the coffee was great, and the yarn stores were cute, cozy, and reasonably priced. Stockholm is not as expensive as people would have you believe, but then Utrecht is  also extremely expensive IMO.

 We arrived in Stockholm just after Halloween and the Mexican embassy was hosting a party. So we went. Another Swede scientist friend from Boston also joined us so it was quite the little reunion. We ended up leaving around 1, being old fuddy-duddies, before the Mexican band even started playing.

Andreas and his partner live in the district Sodertorn, which is technically a suburb (but is literally right across the water from Sodermalm), and so the fastest way to get anywhere is via one of the many free ferries. This is looking out of the back of one.

We took a walk up a huge hill to a scenic look-out across Stockholm and from there could see the amusement park, closed for winter. I don't know why but i love pictures of empty amusement parks.

No trip to Stockholm is complete without a trip to the Vasa Museum. Incredible really. I highly encourage everyone to visit Stockholm just to see this.

After we returned home from Stockholm, Islay's life changed forever. We let her outside! She was a bit hesitant at first, but then was in total bliss smelling All the things.

She also decided she was a shoe. And therefore belonged in the shoe cubby that hangs from the ceiling.

October 2012 in pictures

Only 3 more months to go in my 2012 picture round-up. Actually, kinda glad. I'd like to touch on other things also, but feel I should finish one thing before starting the next. October as I remember it was a mixed bag of things. Autumn in general is like that. Islay continued to grow and amuse us, and was generally healthy this month (after several scares last month we were quite happy with that).

 Here is Islay annoyed at the flash but happy to explore my bag after we got back from the wedding in England.

 Book kitty was quite proud of herself for finally reaching the bookshelf from the radiator.

Fall colors begin to arrive along the canals of Utrecht.

 Islay finally started using the box we set up for her to sleep in. Now it's her favorite place.

 Poor kitty. She was spayed and wouldn't leave the stitches alone so we had to put a cone on her for her own good. She became quite depressed that week. Sadly she is also now terrified of the vets.

 I finished knitting a hat for the new baby girl of my cousin. I also finished a shrug but didnt get any good pictures of it. Too much grey blah.

September 2012 in Pcitures

September was a pretty busy month for us. We don't usually travel much, or even leave Utrecht that much. But this month we left the country twice and traveled to Scheveningen for a groupon dinner with friends. (Dutch test: can you correctly say Scheveningen?)

Caipirinhas! Yum

 Here we are at Rodezio Brazillian Restaurant in Scheveningen enjoying lovely cachaca cocktails. We went with our Brazilian friends. The food was very tasty, not as good as when you are in Brazil, but close enough for Europe.

After many months of trying, Islay finally made it to the top of our screens. And once she got there, she didnt know how to get back down again....

We went to Cologne, Germany for Jamie's birthday. I don't know why we hadn't gone earlier. We both love Cologne. I found a really awesome hotel to stay in called Antik Bristol Hotel. Every room has antique furniture from a different period. I told them it was Jamie's birthday and they gave us the honeymoon suite! It was amazing.

 This is a church with a room full of bone decorations in Cologne.
 Creep-tastic.

Islay tried to climb inside our packing cubes while we were packing to go to England. I think she wanted to join on the adventure.







We went to England at the end of the month for Jamie's older brother's wedding. They had a small ceremony at the registrar's office and then a reception. It was a chilly and windy day but also super sunny and bright - a bit strange for England in autumn.

So bright! Too much sun!