an american in belgië : Summer Days

My blogging has been hit or miss lately. Probably because I've been spending a lot less time indoors on the computer.

This is a summer for the record books. At least in our record book. This is our fifth summer in Belgium and this one is by far the most wonderful of them all. I can hardly think of more than one day in recent memory when it rained or was overcast.

The temperatures are cooling off now, but the days are still beautiful, often sunny and raining only once or twice a week. Our yard looks fabulous and I've planted more flowers than every other year combined!

This is my bike after one of many trips to the garden center.

Most importantly this summer . . . Ross returned from South Korea. Yay! We've enjoyed him being home, cooking and eating all his favorites, hearing the piano played beautifully as it should be, and hitting all the local kringwinkels.

Ross and I also made a purchase last week that was quite an investment, but after all, we use it every day.

As a matter of fact, it's essential not to leave the house without it.

Plus, as Ross noted . . . this incredible acquisition was Made in Italy and Carved in Belgium.

What would you pay for something so precious? So stupendous?

If you guessed 22.99 Euros, you would be right.

By the way, the current exchange rate on 22.99 euros makes that $30.63.

That's right . . . we paid 22.99 Euros ($30.63) for this stunning work of art. We even got to watch the Belgian carve it - which took less than a minute! Amazing.

That's right. We paid $30.63 for . . .