For those of you who have been wondering why there aren't any photos from Germany posted to the blog, I tell ya I HAVE TRIED! Numerous times! I have tried on three separate days and on two separate computers. I have tried adding them to the Germany posting. I have tried putting them in a new post. NO DICE! I have no idea what is going on.
But there are photos, and I wish I could share them.
Oy.

Greetings from Do-hot! Yes, my friends, we are back in Qatar, where the current temperature (according to weather.com) is 37 degrees Celsius...with a "feels like 52 degrees Celsius" in smaller print. For you Fahrenheit folks, that's HOT. That's 99 degrees, feels like 125. Ouch. Even stepping out of the airport last night at 11pm was an experience. Have you ever been in a sauna? I used to think I knew about outdoor saunas after having lived in the South, but I tell ya, New Orleans and Mississippi are not like this. How bizarre to walk out into thick hot air at 11pm! But enough about that. That will just be a fact of life here until we leave, and that's that! At least we have air conditioning (praise the Lord!!!!).

We arrived last night without incident after spending five nights in Germany visiting Markus's mother and sister. Ellie finally got to meet her Oma and Tante Ulla! Hooray! Much of the days were lost to jet lag (from which Jennifer and Ellie are still suffering), but it was wonderful to see them and we had a very nice visit, despite the fact that it was also record heat in Germany (35.6 degrees...preparing us for our return?). One big advantage over Germany that we have here in Doha is AIR CONDITIONING (praise ye who invented that lovely contraption)! Europe doesn't traditionally have the kind of heat they are experiencing now, so very few places (or homes) have A/C. That made some logistics of our visit (and sleeping at night) a bit challenging. We wanted to get out and about more, but the heat posed a few restrictions we hadn't anticipated.
The first day was our best, with a visit to a 11th century monastery and its surrounding gardens and lake. The gardens were very impressive...hundreds of varieties of plants, beautifully cultivated and also available in a public greenhouse for purchase. However, my favorite part was the traditional kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake) on the terrace of the restaurant. Keep your German efficiency, forget BMWs...the best German invention I know is kaffee und kuchen. Any excuse to eat yummy cake on a daily basis sounds good to me! (and again somehow Jennifer's blogging devolves into drooling over food...)
Later in the week, Ulla came with us on a visit to Bonn's German History Museum (fairly interesting and well laid-out, but I HIGHLY recommend you be fluent in German if you want to grasp more than a fraction of it). We dined one night in a fun, Gaudi-inspired restaurant high in the vineyards near Ahrweiler. The vineyards there are all on the steep hillsides lining the Rhein valley, so it was a beautiful view and particularly nice given that I've been at sea-level or below for quite a while now. All in all, it was one of the nicest visits I've experienced there, despite the temperature. Those were the first real days of downtime we've had as a family in ages, and I really enjoyed them. Thank you, Rita and Ulla, for making everything so easy and relaxing for us!

Now it's time to get going again. I think the blogging-devolving-into-foodie-drooling means it must be lunchtime.

Will wonders never cease?
The contractor met with us this morning!
Our last day in Ocean Springs.
After weeks of trying to track him down.
And voila...there he was, with an estimate and a start date in two weeks' time!
Amazing.

It's got to be some sort of twisted tribute to how much STUFF my Dad had that the estate sales man was at the house all day yesterday until midnight, and one can hardly see the dent he made in clearing it out. He had been there before to make a size and time estimate. He's a licensed and bonded professional with years of experience in estate sales, so I thought he would know what he's doing...but I'm amazed he showed up yesterday with only his son and his daughter-in-law thinking they'd be done in one day. Are you KIDDING ME?

Well, folks, we're back! Markus, Ellie and I flew to New Orleans last night (after significant delays...thank you, United!), and then we just pressed on to Ocean Springs. Today, the estate sales man is supposed to come (keep your fingers crossed!) and we will attempt once more to process Dad's taxes. After that remains the meeting with our ever-elusive contractor. We'll keep you posted on how it all goes!

Just a brief update before I dash off to bed.
Thursday was a very hard day, but Arlington provided a beautiful ceremony. I can't imagine going through such a ceremony as a spouse. As a child, it was hard enough. The service was very patriotic and incredibly moving. The 21 gun salute. Taps. The respect and dignity. Beautiful.



Friday, we tried to recoup a bit. We went to visit Great Grandpa Joe and then took a walk around Burke Lake. At dinnertime, Ellie tried some corn on the cob...yummy summer treat!



Friday night sent us back to the emergency room at 2am because Ellie woke up screaming and rubbing her ear vigorously...only to have her finally pass some very stubborn gas upon arrival. Sigh. At least we learned her ears are getting better.

Today, we managed to have a wonderful day! Markus, Ellie and I took the opportunity of some unseasonably gorgeous weather to go to Mount Vernon for playtime. We strolled the grounds and visited the cows. Ellie, of course, had to sample the grass, as well as various pebbles in the gardens.

Later, we met the Mimi in Old Town Alexandria for dinner and walkies. Such amazing weather! Clear skies, warm but not hot...are we really supposed to go back to Doha?

Sorry to have been so out of touch, but we are on vacation! At least, theoretically. Ellie and I arrived in Northern Virginia last Wednesday afternoon. We've been visiting with the Mimi and having a grand ol' time...during the day. Ellie has almost completely abandoned all attempts to nap or sleep at night. This has led to a great deal of exhaustion on everyone's part and thus no time or energy for blogging.

Our wonderful friend Lee came for a visit this weekend, and we were so happy to see her! We went shopping and talking and eating and generally had a delightful, girly visit! She and Ellie met and fed some Canadian geese at Burke Lake (see photo op). Thank you for coming to see us, Lee!



On top of the lack of sleep, we could tell by Sunday that Miss Ellie wasn't quite herself. Then, the tell-tale ear rubbing started again in earnest. A Sunday afternoon trip to the emergency room confirmed that her ear infection was back with a vengeance in both ears AND she has a minor throat infection too. FUN! Back on antibiotics and baby Tylenol. Sigh. She's happy again, though, so we will take it!

Yesterday was the most wonderful day! PAPA ARRIVED! After weeks apart, our little family is reunited! Markus arrived without any troubles yesterday evening. Jennifer couldn't be happier, and Ellie is certainly thrilled...and distrustful of him going out of sight for long. She wants him to hold her all the time and she's been showing off all of her new skills. Today at the National Air and Space Museum, she showed him how fun it was to help her push the stroller in circles around and around and around and around... So happy!

Tonight, we are off to meet a dear friend, Meghan, for dinner. Hooray!

Tomorrow is Dad's inurnment at Arlington. We are expecting to see lots of family at the service, which will be very special. Dad's service will include full military honors, and we are sure it will be a very beautiful ceremony.

Had to share this find, because it is PURE JOY!!

Salam - greetings from Doha! It is Friday, which is actually the equivalent of Sunday in Qatar. In any case it is weekend time! Not a lot to do other than watch the mercury boil. The Shamal wind (i.e. north wind) has arrived to distribute the heat evenly ;).

Today I ventured to the northern tip of the peninsula to see what's on offer there. Not a whole lot. One fort, lots more sand and desert, warm water, the odd villiage and camels on the run.

Next week will be a joyous and sad time; I will be with my angels again but we will also have Barry's internment service at Arlington. The time for closure has come.

Ellie had a check-up with her pediatrician in New Orleans yesterday (all's well!), so we just spent the night at a friend's house and flew out to Virginia this morning. All in all, in New Orleans less than 24 hours, but had a happy New Orleans moment just the same. This morning, we woke up early, so Ellie and I headed to the Bluebird Cafe for breakfast. Two gentlemen in their 60s(?) were arriving at the same time we were. One of them, wearing large square sunglasses and a straw cowboy hat stood pondering the new parking meter until I showed him how it worked. Once inside the cafe, they took seats at the counter and Ellie and I claimed a table. Halfway trough breakfast, my waitress came over to my table, clearly trying to suppress a giggle, and said, "One of the gentlemen at the counter would like to buy your milk."
Tee-hee!
I love New Orleans.

The time we've been waiting for is just around the corner! This week, Ellie and Jennifer will head to Virginia for some family and friends time before Dad's interment on the 6th...and Markus will join us there on the 4th of July! Woo-hoo! Reuniting our little family! Hooray! It has been a long, hard journey here, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel, the rainbow after the storm...yippee! Of course, not everything is done (or even close) on the estate end, which is why we'll be back for another week mid-July. Hopefully, by then most things will be ready to manage by mail or by phone. We hope.

Hm...looks like a clothes pin.


Tastes like a clothes pin.


I LOVE clothes pins!

Are you familiar with the song, "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?" We used to be, but after having been there three times in the past seven days, we practically feel like residents again. Today, we made an unexpected trek back to the "city beneath the sea" because Miss Ellie needed to see her pediatrician. She has had three upper teeth stalled out mid-teething for weeks now, so when she started getting symptoms like needy-grumpiness (she's normally happy always), stuffy nose and a cough (based on post-nasal drip), I thought those teeth might finally be coming through! On Saturday, she started refusing food. Although she is still happily nursing (and more often than before to make up for lack of baby food), it was noticeable that she still wasn't interested in eating several days later. I called the pediatrician's office this morning, and they found an appointment for us this afternoon. Of course, when we arrived, Ellie was in great spirits. She made friends with everyone in the waiting room and had completely charmed all of the office staff before we saw Dr. Oates. The happy little clam almost had us fooled that she was completely well until Dr. Oates checked her ears. Whew...what an ear infection! It's a good thing we made the trek today, because we'll be flying to Virginia in a week to see the Mimi and our friends there, and this gives us a full week of antibiotic first. Dr. Oates did notice that Ellie's gums are "very full" (her words), so we suspect those tricky teeth had something to do with this. Ellie doesn't seem to mind at all. If anything, she seems relieved that her mama finally figured this out. She was happy all day and even ate a jar of baby food this afternoon.
Look at this face! How could I not be completely crazy about this little girl?



In other news, this morning I finally was able to mail the insurance checks to the mortgage company. It is now out of my hands, at least for the moment. I don't usually write about handling my dad's estate in this blog, but this is seriously newsworthy! For the few of you who know the extent of this estate management debacle, this is INCREDIBLE, FABULOUS news. For those of you who don't, just trust me on this and realize that today was a VERY good day for me! I even managed to have a chat with my very-busy-and-thus-elusive contractor. Let's just hope another road block doesn't come up. This has been an incredibly arduous process, and many road blocks have popped up where I've least expected them. Keep your fingers crossed that we are past that now. I would love to see this beast work out!

Until today, Ellie was only ticklish when she got belly kisses just under her ribcage...but this afternoon, tickling fingers brought some priceless laughter! After the first 30 seconds, Mama goes for some belly kisses anyway (thought the video was stopped!) and then Ellie grabbed a handful of hair, so please excuse...it looks rather silly! We're after the laughter here, people!

Happy Father's Day!

Markus with Ellie



me with my dad

This week, we finally gave ourselves some time off of the estate management nightmare and spent time in New Orleans. Good food, great friends...what a gift! It was wonderful to see our friends Tasha and Elio. Ellie and I had a deliciously good time. Mary even snuck in a pedicure at Belladonna's! Ooooo...the decadence!
We had to share pictures from our fun day.

I'm at it again. gail, I don't know that I should have been introduced to chockylit's blog. I made her chocolate cupcakes from the Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache recipe, only I skipped the filling and used vanilla buttercream frosting instead. Oh. My.
These things are DANGEROUS! Look at this recipe, people!

Chocolate Cupcakes
24 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

5.4 ounces dark chocolate or 3/4 of a 200 gram bar of Valrhona 61% cocao
22 tablespoons butter
1-3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
6 eggs
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
4-1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt

1. Melt chocolate and butter over a water bath.
2. Add sugar and stir, let mixture cool for 10 minutes.
3. Beat in an electric mixer for 3 minutes.
4. Add one egg at a time, mixing for 30 seconds between each
5. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and a pinch of salt into the mixture and mix until blended.
6. Scoop into cupcake cups and bake at 350 F for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


The first two ingredients should be enough of a warning. Count 'em... TWENTY-TWO TABLESPOONS OF BUTTER! These things are SINFUL!! A single bite will send any good Catholic to confession, mark my words! Especially if you use good chocolate (I used Lindt's 85% cacao). I highly recommend using the mini muffin pan for these. Somehow it makes you feel less guilty when you find yourself on the second (or third) cupcake of the afternoon...

By the way, in case you must, the vanilla buttercream recipe (also lifted from chockylit's recipes) is:

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

1 stick butter
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. beat butter until creamy, scrape bowl
2. add 2.5 cups of sifted powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, beat until combined
3. add more powdered sugar until you get to the consistency you want (not too stiff so that its hard to pipe)

NOSE BITE!

Last night, we went for dinner at The Shed. For the uninitiated, The Shed is literally that. It's a great BBQ place that's pretty much made from scrap materials located in a campground on the bayou, right off of the interstate. The devotees call themselves "Shedheds" (spelled incorrectly since we are, after all, in Mississippi). The bathrooms don't have stalls; instead, there are shower curtains strung up to divide the toilets. All the picnic tables outside show various stages of weather wear. None of the tables inside match. People write on the walls and tack up dollar bills and their old license plates. The place is crazy. And I LOVE IT THERE!
Saturday nights mean live music at The Shed. When we pulled up, the place was packed and there was a bluegrass band on the stage out back. Everyone was eating barbeque, drinking beer or iced tea, and having a grand ol' time. I waved hello to Brad (one of the owners), sipped my tea, chatted with my dinner companions and cheered on the band (playing "Dueling Banjos" or singing "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow") while Ellie squashed a piece of Texas toast into oblivion.
This is how I survive Mississippi. It's wonderful snapshot moments like that. I just can't have them anyplace else.

We realize that Easter has come and gone, but we missed it in Doha and couldn't resist...