Author Archives: Holly

About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!

Zumba?

I don’t think so. What it was – a joyous bunch of people jumping and dancing around. To include little kids, dozens of us old farts and a goodly number of the Straw Hat Band. The Cal Women won – … Continue reading

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Entry way

While I was in Sweden, George sent me this picture: So, as you imagine, I came home expecting to see it … and it wasn’t there. Now to figure out how much longer it is going to be….

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Just counting

As I was sitting here this afternoon – I starting thinking about my old tag line from Cruise Critic – 400 + nights at sea – too bad they aren’t all on the same cruise line which is obviously and … Continue reading

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Pizza Moda

Construction is proceeding on the house. This week’s inspection which included the plumbing in the shower and the chicken wire base on the outside house passed without issue. Chicken wire you ask? Yes, one of the layers in the house … Continue reading

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snooze day

That was yesterday. I got up early to follow the lunar eclipse, then I went to bed. [and when I really woke up, it was 1 Feb].

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Lunar Eclipse

starting at 0348 and running through close to 0708. Now, the moon had set by then and the sun was up but still…..

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Flying forever

or so it seems. First one has to get from the hotel to the airport. In Stockholm it is not difficult. The cabs are a fixed price to the airport. All the taxis take credit cards. One can walk 2 … Continue reading

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There are times

I am sure for all of us when you can only shake your head and wonder.. “ What was I thinking?” I wish I could say that it is a seldomly occuring experience but that would not be true. Most … Continue reading

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Snow to not Snow

There is a bus that runs daily (perhaps more than once?) from Abisko to the airport in Kiruna. The trip takes about two hours with pick up stops if the weather is clear. There is the possibility of taking a … Continue reading

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And a bit overcast

For my last night here I was treated to milder weather and a fine layer of clouds. Which meant I checked regularly but didn’t bother to haul out the camera and tripod. So instead I cleaned up, packed and spent … Continue reading

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Cloudy

As it turns out, I am both glad for the extra couple of nights here in Absiko and a bit irritated. But really, it is not like the weather is specifically targeting me now is it? According to all the … Continue reading

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Driving to Narvik

It is only about 40km from Abisko to the Norwegian border and some kilometers from there to Narvik which is the closest reasonable size Norwegian city. Primarily an industrial town where iron ore is moved from rail cars to ships, … Continue reading

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Gates of Lappland

just a bit of snow was to be found from the road going waist deep and going toward the only bit of “open” water that we saw = in Absiko National Park where we stopped early afternoon – before moving … Continue reading

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Abisko National Park

We left the hotel about 2100 and returned almost three hours later. My fingers were cold… The photos are in chronological order – and no editing has been done to this point other than shrinking so that it was possible … Continue reading

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Sami

These photos are in sections – the first being relating to stopping in one of the Sami villages partway to Abisko. If I understood Maria correctly there are about ten families involved and around 5000 reindeer which they move seasonally … Continue reading

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Over the river and through

the woods to find Reindeer, Moose and anything worth a photo stop. early morning – as defined as sunrise +/1 an hour the trees just coated with snow – the river that I mentioned and ending with domesticated “wild life” … Continue reading

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Oh roar a roar for Nora –

Nora Alice in the Night. For she has seen the Aurora Borealis Burning Bright – Pogo….

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Icehotel

Now, this obviously appeals to a large number of people. Bus loads of tourists, a significant number of weddings and plenty who stay overnight. There are two sections to the Icehotel – the temporary one which lasts only until everything … Continue reading

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Dog Sledding

Before I forget – yes, Kiruna is north of the Arctic Circle. Sunrise this morning was 0955 and sunset 1344 giving us a grand total of 3 hours and 49 minutes of true daylight. That would make it also obviously … Continue reading

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Kiruna

Leaving the hotel early wasn’t a problem. The snow wasn’t a problem either and it just wasn’t all that cold to a “born in Minnesota gal.” My first challenge was finding the T stop tucked back in a construction zone … Continue reading

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