My bedtime reading...

 

I'll going to show you step by step all the wonderful treasures I have found here in the parcel, which arrived yesterday from Australia. 

from Helga, Germany

from Anni Ploug, Denmark

from Anni Ploug, Denmark with a very special story on the back.Germans came to Denmark in the late 1700s and was called:"potatoe Germans" - this is funny!!

I'm totally overwhelmed, it is so infinitely beautiful to look at all these things and to read your reports.

I feel now in a very special way connected with you all.

 

Thank you and a big hug to all of you very special persons.You have made ​​me immense pleasure to be a part of this project.

I'm speechless...

For me, things have changed a lot while she was on her world tour. How you felt during this time, since you are still there, where you was before ? 

Cute Potatoe is now with her friends again and she had a lot to tell, I think..

Cute potato is back - Yeepie

Yes she is.

Today the postman brought me a big, heavy package from Australia
I made a little movie showing to you how I unpack the package in order to get a first overview. I load the film on You Tube just because it does not seem to work differently other ways. If he's there I'll probably set him here - I'm really excited and am going to watch tonight's treasures, which includes the package.

On her way home.....

Cute Potatoe is travelling again, this time on her way home to Beate.

I wish her a very safe journey.

Having a wonderful time....wish you were here.

I have been with Sue for a little while now, but thought I should let you know all is OK, and I am having a long rest after traveling so far. Here are a few shots for you to enjoy.

It is Springtime here, and the weather has been very variable, but today it is sunny and warm so I have been out in this huge garden. There are some animals that I don't think I have seen before and a couple of very friendly dogs. One small dog looks a bit like me, but did not want to have her photograph taken - maybe next time. The last picture is one of me relaxing on a pile of natural dyed fabrics.....they smelt of Eucalyptus leaves, quite delicious!

I hope to have some more outings before heading North again.

She has arrived!

Just a very quick post to let everyone know Cute Potatoe has arrived safely in Central Victoria for the next stage of her round the world trip. We shall post more later, when there are adventures to tell of.

Melbourne visit...

Jen took me to melbourne for a mini break with her lovely friends. We took the train to melbourne and i loved the train station with its big wave roof....i went to Paperific where i was scrapwared by a make and take stall...we had great Thai food and wandered the streets takng snaps of graffiti , looking at street art and being kissed by strange girls on gorgeous mosaic seats....

 

i think jen was happy to get me home as she was a bit stressed that i might get lost....

ive had a good relax and am ready to hit the road again in the next week.....:)

look who's arrived in Australia...

Look who's arrived in Australia. Cute Potato arrived after a very long flight in one of the busiest times of the year for me....

After a long rest she has been enjoying the winter sunshine and frosts in the morning....

She came to craft with me and had cuddles with the girls,



it was such a lovely sunny winters day she stopped and sat in the sun with Merry's pottery chook...



then enough resting, she wanted a play on the old tractor ....

finally she crashed this afternoon and had a snooze on the dog couch with Luey...

It's unreal to think to think she has traveled to so many countries and seen so many things......it wont be long before i send her on her way however we still have a few things to do yet...:)

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Time to Head Home

While I've been here, I've learned a new game called chess. I don't think I'm very good at it, but Karen had mercy on me and didn't make me feel bad when I lost every game.

These are my traveling companions --- Zeke and Mya. They have been good to me, and I like them very much!

Before we headed for home, I have to model a country straw hat. Don't I look marvelous in this?

Spring is Here

Spring has definitely arrived here at Westview. The forsynthia bushes are all blooming yellow. Not a great color for me, but I had to show you their beauty.

More yellow on the ground, as the daffodils are also blooming. All this yellow reminds me of sunshine, and makes me feel cheery!

Ouch! This is a wicked little bit of barbed wire at the end of the lane. I'm glad I didn't have to pose too long for this photo! This property is surrounded by cows, so I guess this is some of the leftover fencing.

Morning Stroll

Day 2 --- we took a morning stroll around the grounds, and I enjoyed sitting in this little bistro chair for a few minutes. The property is beautiful --- very peaceful and relaxing --- just the kind of respite I needed from all my recent travels.

I had to pose with this statue. Doesn't she look so playful and happy and childlike?

"Queen of the Rock" ...... LOL. I loved perching on the top of this rock, as if I were the queen surveying my lands.

And another rock pose, on a different rock. This place is amazing!

Day 1 --- we arrived at Westview Bed & Breakfast. It is a lovely old building in the country with lots of charm and hospitality.

The pillows on my bed were very inviting, and the bed was so soft and comfy. I loved sleeping here and listening to the birds outside my bedroom window!

These are some of the nests and pine cones that were gathered and displayed around the living room. There was a lot of country charm, and I felt like I fit right in!

This is one of my favorite perches --- a rocker in the sitting room with an antique pillow and quilts to keep me warm. This was a great room for my morning coffee and evening glass of wine, and there was a huge picture window that looked out on the fields.

Safely in Nebraska!

After what seemed like an eternity, I have finally arrived in Nebraska. Karen has been so busy in her studio that we have not had time to do any sightseeing yet --- but we will! She has promised me a trip to a B&B later this week, so stay tuned for photos of our journey......

Cute Potatoe

Sorry, group.

I didn't get Cute Potatoe until late January then I started an intense project for work which kept me busy for several weeks until late February. Cutie was patient with me while I recovered with a bad flu bug and then planning the Italy trip took up time. Here we are in March already. My apologies for keeping her so long. She is on her way now to the next stop. Kisses. ~ Madeline

Cute Potatoe's Travels

Leaving America with Madeline.  Flying is oh-so fun!

Arriving in New York City.

Campanile di San Marco, Venezia  323 feet high, climb, climb, climb

A ride on an Italian merry-go-round in yet another lovely Italian square.

Tuscany chef who made, moi!, Cute Potatoe, an amazing plate of pasta and blew me a kiss.

Tiny Tuscany restaurant

Happy and smiling after my Gondola ride.

Graffiti everywhere.

Me dreaming on the Grand Canal, Venice.

Street View

 

A pigeon plopped down in front of the gondolas on the Grand Canal, just catching some zzz's, I guess.

Rialto Bridge, once lined with shops and filled with rag sellers, taverns and brothels on the periphery.

Many famous 11th-17th century masked balls have taken place in this square during Carnival.  Today an early morning chorus of small birds singing at Saint Mark's Square in Venice, Italy fills the air.  Later on, the air will be filled with the endless chatter of locals and tourists.  The square has been called "the finest drawing room in Europe" and it's easy to see why.  Casanova was imprisoned nearby in the doge's palace, in a very dark, dreary cell.  From the grating of his cell, he could see rats of a "fearful" size.  For a man who once wrote, "The chief business of my life has always been to indulge my senses" this rat infested jail probably did little to contribute to that sentiment.

A mask store in one of the hidden alleys of Venice.

On the Express Train.

Just chillin' as we wait for the Vaporetto to arrive in Venice.  (pinch me, Mutter, I really am in Venezia).

A sunny day, good enough for a picnic near Ponte Vecchio, constructed in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi (just behind me).

Good bye to Venice and the Grand Canal.  On the train to Tuscany.

Outside of Palazzo Poggi, across from Piazzale Michaelangelo.  Right behind this perfectly proportioned palazzo (now a fabulous restaurant) is the delicately adorned with inlaid white Carrara and Verdi di Prato marble church of San Miniato al Monte (from the 13th c.).   It's the spot where, legend has it,  San Miniato picked up his decapitated head (scary) and carried it from the Arno River to a spot on the hillside.  The tiny church is filled with fading frescoes that seem to sparkle when the monks sing their daily Gregorian chants (4:30 pm).  Nearby is a gorgeous villa built for Marchesa Pucci in 1780 and bought later by, some would argue the greatest tenor of all time, Enrico Caruso.

Two Polizia Municipale chatting outside of the Uffizi Gallery.  No pictures allowed inside the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Uffizi.

City views of Florence, Italy from Piazzale Michaelangelo, one of the most famous vantage points, it was sort of like an upgraded  balcony seat.  

Here I am in Florence, Italy buying a postcard for my Liebe Mutter, Beate.  Küsse, Küsse.

Our waiter in Firenze, Italy.  His name is Mario and he wants to be an actor.  We hammed it up together and he promised to keep in touch.

A festival and historical procession for Pisa's New Year's Day, 25 March 2011, a 10th century AD ancient maritime ruling that the year would start nine months before the birth of Jesus.

The spanking clean Leaning Tower and Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo,  Pisa, Italy.  It took 177 years, in three stages, to complete the tower and there are 296 steps to get to the top.  All of those steps help a girl to work off all of those licks of deliziosa gelato.  My favourite flavor was the Amarena (cherries).    

                                                                                                                                         

Trafalgar Square, London, right before a bunch of protesters got real rowdy.

Lunch at London's National Gallery Cafe.   A few secret nips on Madeline's Organic Cider made me feel pretty Yellow Submarine mellow.   mmm.

WoW.  That organic cider carries quite a kick, let me tell you.  Westminster Abbey has such bright colours.

 Westminster Abbey's Clock.  The inscription says, "Let the People Praise Thee, O God."

Entering historic Westminster Abbey, the setting for every coronation since 1066, as it was getting ready for a Japan Earthquake Ceremony.  I couldn't get a closer shot of the flying buttresses (don't you just LOVE that word?---my buttress grew just a bit on this trip:) ) because of the security in place for the ceremony.

London's Underground is called the Tube and it's so easy to follow.  Princess Madeline (in the window) and Moi on the Tube.

"C'est Moi" next to a Statue of revered Queen Victoria right in front of Buckingham Palace.  The Changing of the Guards was fantastic to see but I'm quite sure I could never be hired as one of the Queen's guards.  1) Guns scare me.   2) How could I go pee without knocking off my tall, furry hat?  3) Standing still for long periods of time.  4) Not talking.  That one would get me to the guillotine quicker than new paint drying on old stone.      .                                                                                                                                                                                                                Off to the right of the statue, they are building scaffolding in preparation for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and lovely Catherine Middleton.

A taste of Steak and Kidney Pie and Ginger Beer.

A view from the capsule of the London Eye.

A view from the balcony of our London hotel.  That's Big Ben, pretty cool, huh?

My, what big feet you have.  Statue, right front, Buckingham Palace.  Some people were climbing on some of the statues which I personally didn't think Queen Elizabeth, were she peeking from an upper window, would much appreciate.  Later, a group of rather unruly children, with their parents,  sat down in the middle of a bed of (now desperately trampled) daffodils to take their picture.

Almost home. Good bye to London.  Hello to Chicago, U.S.A airport store.  That's me after looking for a sweatshirt but they didn't have one in MY size. I tried a Chicago hot dog with all of the works instead.  It came with (gasp) French Fries which gave me quite a jolt of adrenaline, let me tell you.