Birthday Eve

Tomorrow Annabelle turns seven. Unbelievable.

I baked her a cake for her birthday party. Also unbelievable.

Seven roses. Three butterflies. Lots of pink sprinkles.

The kitchen table is ready for the morning with candles, flowers, and gifts.  Thanks for trying not to notice that the "cake" actually appears to be a mound of white frosting. True. Now I know why there are classes offered to teach people how to frost a cake. But I guarantee it will taste delicious!

Edited to add:: Notice the boxes in the background? We are beginning to pack for our move! The other day Annabelle took me by the hand and said, "Thanks for getting me a house for my birthday." She can hardly wait to move, informing me that it would only take her two days to make new friends.

Chances

After I arrived home, I was showing Annabelle pictures of my trip. When I came upon a bright and beautiful picture of the Goetheanum, she gasped.

Annabelle :: Oh, Rudolf Steiner!

(pause)

Annabelle :: I miss him.

Me ::  (Eyeing her steadily.) Me too, me too.

Steiner

Shorthand notes of one of Steiner's six thousand recorded lectures.

Drawers full of notebooks.

The case on the bottom holds Marie Steiner's typewriter!

Easter Monday

The Representative of Man.

Some of the many models made by Steiner.

A model of the first Goetheanum, a work in progress.

In my workshop. A wonderful group of people from all over the world.

German Castle

Germany to your far left, Switzerland straight ahead, France to your right.

Huge next of blackbirds!

Climbing a tower.

Ermitage

This was definitely my favorite experience of the trip, spending time at the Ermitage Castle. Actually, the castle was closed to visitors that day and so my friend and I walked up the hill and then around the lake. She filled my ears (and heart!) with stories of Parsival. It was magic.

It is amazing when stories live so strongly within someone else that, when shared, you are filled with the same feelings of love and awe.

Long lines of families wait on Easter morning to collect water from this natural fountain.

See the castle peeking through the trees?

I could have come to this spot every day...

Easter Monday

Switzerland - getting to Dornach

Inside the Goetheanum.

The house where I had the most warm and welcome stay of my life...

There in the right window is the house I lived in during my visit.

The hill I climbed with two suitcases in tow! (And this is less than halfway!)

News update::
The tooth fairy came last night!

Hello Switzerland!!

Journal entry #2

Goodbye!!

Trip journal entry #1

Over the grapevine to Southern California.