Looking Back....

I do believe that Kate  and Derek brought summer weather with them....and I am not ready for it!  It was actually over 70 degrees here today....72 to be precise.  It is also humid, but not bad.  I know what you are thinking,,,"Is she complaining about 72 degrees?"
Yes....yes I am.

It couldn't have been prettier.  The sky went from completely clear to very cloudy to completely clear again.  There was a light warm breeze and the perfect day to be outside sightseeing.  Hey!  I am just not used to this heat....and I am horrified at the thought of jumping into 110 degree weather in August.

We were all out in shirt sleeves, and I carried a light jacket - just in case.....and even used it a few times.

We went back to a delightful "step-back-in-time" park/museum.  We went there last week with Derek T and Melissa.  They adored it, and I was as enchanted as the first time.  You can walk for hours and not see it all.  It is laid out on a very large piece of land, so the quaint old structures are a distance from each other, and the walk on dusty country lanes seemed very authentic.  I love that place!

SK, Derek and Kate about the explore this fine old farm house.

Isn't this a grand old windmill?  

"What kind of pose is that?" I asked SK.  "I was trying to look exhausted," he answered.

SK, Derek and Kate had all been at the temple this morning to do baptisms and so stood out as rather well-dressed for exploring old buildings.

I don't know if it was the heat, or just the fact that I am so very tired, but after a couple of hours I told SK that I was done and would go sit on a bench til they were ready to go.  Kate seemed happy to go with me to the entrance, get a drink and sit down to wait.  We had a lovely visit.  She is a sweetheart who loves her siblings very much, and is happy to be who she is and where she is right now.

SK and Derek strolled around until the park closed.....getting their money's worth....well far beyond actually since it didn't cost anything.  It is a beautiful beautiful place, visited mostly by Danes.  It is one of the few places we have visited where we only hear Danish spoken....and people are there with their families.

We went back to Stroeget to get a hot dog at one of the hot dog stands there.  Boy....there is something about the hot dogs here....or maybe it is just the atmosphere of being out there with everyone on this beautiful day.

With a little rest, I was ready to go again, so we drove to the Little Mermaid statue where Kate could get a picture up close and personal.  It is a sweet little statue.  There were several cruise ships moored nearby and a ton of people (no doubt from those ships) milling around.

While standing there amidst a small multitude of people, a young man in a pink tutu, fishnet bodysuit, crazy socks and tennis shoes called for our attention.  He announced that he was getting married in a couple of weeks and had to sing a song for us.  He proceeded to sing the theme song from "Titanic" and then asked the crowd to join in...which they happily (and with gusto) joined in.

Derek and Kate - in the few days they have been here, have seen some interesting and unusual happenings.  It is fun to be with them, because they are usually things we haven't seen in all our time here.  Like the huge flea market we happened upon yesterday.

From there, we walked to the Kristina statue by Dennis Smith....a beautiful portrayal of a young woman facing the open sea...her pony tail blowing behind her in the wind.  It is a symbol for all of the Danes who left this beautiful land 160 years ago to join the saints in Utah.

Kate....doing her best imitation of Kristine.

While sitting there enjoying the beautiful scene of the Baltic Sea in front of us, a handsome middle-aged man came walking by and noticed SK's badge.

"I recognize that badge," he said.

He told us he is LDS and here after a trip with his wife to Israel.  She returned to their home in Denver and he stopped in Dublin for business and decided to wrap up his trip in the land of his ancestors.  Someone at the temple had directed him to the little Kristina statue.

He wanted to see some of the areas where his ancestors lived.  His great great grandfather was a brother to CCA Christiansen  (the artist)and left Denmark at the age of 11.  He went on his own to the States and made his way to Utah.  Does that just amaze you?  I can't even imagine letting my child go so far away.  What faith his parents must have had in the Lord to protect him.  The rest of the family followed later.

It was nice to visit with him.

A trip to the grocery store made our day complete....6 miles total walked for the day.

I am going to have to do better than that....the pastries are getting the better of me!