Bike ride

Here are some pictures from our beautiful bike ride to Bremen on Monday. I love that we are so close to water and nature. Now that we have the trailer for the kids we have to do this more often.

Reading Review

Labyrinth - Kate Mosse

Having recently picked up the third in this trilogy, I wanted to go back and start again. This book tells the stories of Alice, working on a dig in the South of France and Alaïs, a soldier's wife in medieval Carcasonne. Their lives are intricately linked.

I really enjoyed rereading this one. I love historical fiction and the story and characters are really gripping.

Peter Pan - J.M.Barrie

Another of my children's classics, this one really opened my eyes to what Disney can do to a story. I hadn't realised how different the original story was and in places ir's quite dark and, especially for a child, difficult to read.

The Steps up the Chimney - William Corlett

I honestly don't remember where this book came from and have no recollection of reading it as a child, though I must have.

It is about three siblings who spend Christmas with their uncle on the English-Welsh border and discover some magical secrets of the old house he is renovating.

I enjoyed the story but it is the first in a series of four and really leaves the reader hanging. I felt like I was just getting into the story when it ended.

Make it Monday - Soap

Nico's paternity leave meant that I finally got around to making my first batch of soap. The biggest hurdle was getting my head around the science part.

I hunted around online and between this blog, this calculator, and my scientist husband, my plan came together.

The process itself was quite fun and I'm looking forwatd to experimenting with recipes, scents and dyes. I'm keeping a soap journal to have a record of what went well.

I cut the soap into rough bars. I quite like the rustic look but may experiment with molds at some point.

Now they have to dry for four to five weeks before I can use them and see how they turned out. Loving this new hobby!

Weekly Wisdom

Stop fighting yourself and start fighting for yourself.

The Saturday Update

It's been a great week with Nico home. We got various things done around the house and garden and I finally found the bottom of my to do list.

My sport course restarted after a two week break, I caught up with some friends at a birthday party on Wednesday, I made soap on Thursday, and three of us went to baby swim on Friday.

I got ahead on paperwork for our upcoming travels and put some thought into plans for my future.

Joshua is moving more, teething and (finally) taking a bottle.

Isabella is excited about all our upcoming plans, especially her birthday.

We've got lots on next week including catching up with friends, more crafting, future planning and traveling to England.

Links!

Summer goals.

Powerful images.

I'm picky with sandals but on the lookout for some of these closer to home.

Love this tradition.

What a fantastic home project.

This brought a tear to my eye, and some perspective.

Another new seasonal recipe to try?

Why I don't cycle in the UK. At least the rules are clearer here in Germany.

June Goals

This is going to be a really busy month for us with our trip to England and Isabella's birthday so I'm keeping it fairly simple:

• 2 letters
• 3 recipes
• Plant flowers in the garden
• Make soap
• Register for the C1 exam
• Cycle tour