Ragamuffin, Elst, The Netherlands

Sollie


Posted Jan 10, 2010, 3:47 pm
Hi!

My name is Ragamuffin, im a little bear who is very scared of animals, so please keep me far away from them!
I do love to eat sweets, candy, cakes and muffins, that really makes me happy!
Hoping to start traveling soon, so i can discover all the sweets and good stuff in other countries! :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010599.jpg
Just a little picture of me ;)

Ragamuffin
Sollie


Posted Jan 15, 2010, 3:32 pm
Dear everyone who cares to read this :D

Tomorrow is Freek's 30st birthday!
Freek and Ragnhild has the day off, so they went to their pub to have some fun with good friends, and they brought me with them :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010628.jpg
Mommy tried to take pictures of me in the snow infront of the door of our house, but i much rather lie down and just be ONE with the snoe you know, just feel it!
(Actually, i fell over, but don't tell...please?)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010629.jpg
Me, with a little snow in my hair ;)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010630.jpg
Driving to Dreumel, its about 1/2 an hour drive there from where we live :)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010633.jpg
At the pub, they allowed me to try beer, but YUCK, thats really gross! EEWW!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010643.jpg
Cuddeling with mommy :D

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I could see a lot from up here!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010645.jpg
I was enjoying Pringles and Ice Tea, it was super good, much better than the beer...

We stayed in the pub untill 1 in the night, i was so tired after the whole evening there, that i fell right asleep when i came home :)

Ragamuffin
Sollie


Posted Jan 15, 2010, 3:42 pm
Todays is Freek's 30st BIRTHDAY! :D :D :D
Hurray!
Gefeliciteerd!

Freek likes to play at the casino, he doesent do it often, but sometimes, like for his birthday, its fun!
So we went on a day trip to Utrecht, a city about 1/2 hour away from here.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010686.jpg
We went by train, its easier, and faster, as you have to pay alot to park in Utrecht centrum with the car.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010691.jpg
It was pretty to look outside, because its still lying snow on the ground here.
The train was driving really fast tho!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010692.jpg
Its not allowed to take pictures in the Casino itself, so we took one on the toilet, really sneaky, and i felt like i was really bad :D haha

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010693.jpg
Some of the "art" hanging on the walls in Jaarbeurs Utrecht, its a BIIIIIG event hall there.
Its sais: "Heart of an elephant weighs 25 kilo"
Wow...never knew that, thats really heavy!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010695.jpg
Some info inside the Jaarbeurs.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010696.jpg
And a very pretty water fountain!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010698.jpg
When we got back again, we went to a Wok Restaurant in Veenendaal, it was very empty, cause its not many people eating there on Mondays, but thats ok, we had no lines at all :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010699.jpg
I ate lots of dessert, and this was my favourite, ICECREAM! :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/sollie_/ToyVoyagers/P1010700.jpg
Chocolate and Strawberry icecream is YUM YUM YUM :D

Love,

Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Jan 21, 2010, 4:05 pm
Hi Mummy,
I arrived in Remscheid today!

I was welcomed by my first host Katja and some ToyVoyagers, Henry the Adventure hound, Cilly and Walter.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4290402801_72291ac03a_o.jpg

I arrived just in time because Katja had planned to bake a nut cake. That sounds great!

Cilly and I helped her to bake the cake. We needed 4 eggs, melted butter, wheat flour with baking powder, sugar, ground nuts, dark chocolate and a cup of cold coffee.

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This is the prepared chocolate.

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We had to mix the dry ingredients and the "wet" ingredients ...

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... than we had to mix both together ...

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... and to fill it into the baking pan.

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It had to stay in the oven for about an hour.

Hmmmm, it smelled delicious :)

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Ready!

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Yummy!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4290405831_e7b9bca897_o.jpg

Seems to be a nice place here :)

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Jan 25, 2010, 8:10 pm
Hi Mummy,
we visited the neighbour city Wuppertal today. Katja met a friend to take a walk. She said that the forrests are still covered with ice on the ground, so you cannot walk comfortly there. So she decided to visit Wuppertal.

We went there by bus and got off the bus in the city centre with its shopping streets.

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The name of the city Wuppetal is made up of two words: "Wupper" is the river which is runing through the city and "Tal" means valley. This city was built in the valley of the river Wupper. On the next photo you can see how steep it is going uphill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4300434375_13b6872dd9_o.jpg

Before climbing out of the valley we needed refreshments.

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The french fries were not enough for me, I had a doughnut afterwards  :D  Than we went uphill ....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4300434469_170e43e366_o.jpg

Most parts of the city were built in 19th century. For pedestrians more than 500 stairs were built in the steep slopes to connect the streets. We walked up and down some of them today.

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We walked to the "Nordstadt", one of many districts, where we saw lots of pretty art-nouveau-houses.

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Err ... this is certainly not art-nouveau ...

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We walked back downhill  through a small park.

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We walked to another quarter than, "Briller Viertel" where the rich factory owners built their mansions, mostly in 19th and early 20th century.

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We took those stairs to walk back to the valley. These stairs are under monument protection, like many of them.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4301181514_d404c39827_o.jpg

When we walked back to the bus statioin we walked through a street called "Bärenstraße" (Bear Street). Walter even found a "Löwenstraße" (Lion Street).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4300434051_d3d3068104_o.jpg

I would like another doughnut now  :D

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Jan 26, 2010, 5:00 pm
Hi Mummy,

we have wonderful weather today. It snowed again and everything is looking beautiful.

When Katja finished work we took a walk to the municipal park. First I saw the city hall.

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The city hall was built in 1906 A.D., in World War II it was almost destroyed and later rebuilt in a more modern style. Its tower is 48 m high.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4306033919_0a111e6c0a_o.jpg

On the place in front of the building you can find a pillar with a lion, the heraldic animal of Remscheid.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4306033869_f75726f697_o.jpg

This is one of the entrances of the shopping mall.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4306774350_5cde8a3201_o.jpg

Here you can see the water tower at the rear side of the city hall. You can see those two towers from far away because the city centre of Remscheid is situated on a hill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4306038815_8a1c8cc0c9_o.jpg

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We walked to the park than. We had to walk for about 15 minutes to get there.

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We took a zoomed photo here, so you can see how steep it is going downhill here. In the background you can see suburbs of Wuppertal, where I have been on Sunday.

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Here you can see allotment gardens close to the municipal park.

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We reached the park than.

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The observatory is situated in the entrance area of the park.

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This monument is dedicated to the dead of several wars before World War I.

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A nursery is situated here in the park.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4306031351_b3f5d36dd3_o.jpg

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Katja told me that here is a pond with ducks and turtles. Can you see any pond? I don't ...

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This seems to be the frozen pond. The warning sign is telling you that it is forbidden to enter the frozen surface. Mortal danger!

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We went home than ...

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I can see this church from our living room window.

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What a nice view from our apartment! I'm glad to be back home - it is really cold outside, about -6°C.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4306033767_6eb90d6e9b_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 11:31 am
Hi Mummy,
we took a walk in the forrest today. We went with Katja's brother-in-law and dog Berti.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4317040922_f721c7c6a3_o.jpg

We had to walk for a while to reach the forest.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4316307059_c318758a1b_o.jpg

Everything is white.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4317040410_4600c115fc_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4317040080_835302b261_o.jpg

Even the sun came out, but only for a short moment.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4316307591_ebbe93c165_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin

olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 11:51 am
Hi Mummy,
there is a really strange closet in the corridor.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4317977005_dcc721d6bd_o.jpg

Have you ever seen such a closet? Oh, I can see a litter pan with poop inside ... and a bowl with raw flesh in it ... HELP! Some wild animals seem to live here!!! And yes, here they are ...

What the hell is this? They are moving really fast , they are furry and they have carnassials.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4318710870_a4155e6cc4_o.jpg

But somehow it looks like playing with each other. Oh, one of it is coming closer with its nose ...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4317977039_5395e89d46_o.jpg

Katja told me that these animals are ferrets, something like marten and polecat. They are predators, but they prefer chicken and beef, not bears. I hope that's right.

Bye
Ragamuffin


olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 5:39 pm
Hi Mummy,
we took almost the same walk like yesterday, but today we walked a bit longer. We came along a cemetary and a grove of honour. This is a memorial for soldiers of Remscheid which died in World War I.

You have to walk some stairs to get there.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4318707299_034eb99546_o.jpg

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You can see walls in a round with engraved stones in the middle. You can read the name of each soldier, the date of death and the place where he was killed in action.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4319443680_0d5e19de9d_o.jpg

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4318709843_72f875e265_o.jpg

We all had a dismal feeling that so many - mostly young - men of this town died in this war.

To forget those sorrows we played in the wonderful snow.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4319441380_6cb1d6e3d3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4318709381_08e82be48e_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 8, 2010, 9:43 am
Hi Mummy,
we went to Essen today to visit an exhibition and an art museum. Essen is a a city in the central part of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia. For the year 2010, Essen is the European Capital of Culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr Area.

We went there with Katja's friend Erika. We went to Essen by train.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4338494852_57378d2afc_o.jpg

We have a new guest  here - BineHH, the red shore crab, arrived this week.

First we went to a church in the district Frohnhausen. A friend of Erika has an exhibition here together with another artist. We had to take another train to get there. The train station is looking funny - like someone toppled the staircase.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4338482672_f483e4f2d8_o.jpg

Here we are.

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We went to the city centre afterwards to have lunch, so we took a walk though the shopping streets. Here you can see the cathedral in the middle of the city centre.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4337741667_205b6d4d77_o.jpg

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On a central space they have a skating rink and this downhill ramp. Here you can dash downhill with a large rubber tire. Seems to be great fun :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4337741927_803a7298ee_o.jpg

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Than we took a bus to the Museum Folkwang, a major collection of 19th and 20th century art. Its new building was opened a few days ago.

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As almost always it was not allowed to take photos inside the museum. We have seen paintings and photographs, space installation and placards in a special exhibition. It was very interesting, but also somehow straining.

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 16, 2010, 9:51 pm
Hi Mummy,
we visited a friend today in another district of Remscheid. This district is called Luettringhausen, a district with a historical urban centre.

We decided to take a walk with the dog. We had to walk through the city centre first to get to a nice valley. On the first photo you can see the dog of Katja's friend. His name is Pepe. Pepe is so big that I'd better stay away from him.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4356249725_233b5aac5b_o.jpg

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Soon we reached the valley, with meadows and forrests.

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We even saw some houses in the middle of nowhere.

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I met some sheep here. They seem to be friendly animals, so I was not afraid of them, besides there was a fence between me and the sheep.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4356250541_68420b0206_o.jpg

It is still snowing.

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 16, 2010, 9:58 pm
Hi Mummy,
today we took another walk in one of the valley which are surrounding the municipal area. We walked along the creed "Morsbach", which is marking the border between Remscheid and the neighbour city Wuppertal.

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Here is a frozen pond.

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We came through a small hamlet.

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This is the creek "Morsbach".

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I can see myself in the road traffic safety mirror.

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Later the sun came out.

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To get home we had to walk uphill for ages.

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Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 27, 2010, 10:20 am
Hi Mummy,
I watched the ferrets playing today. I was a little bit afraid because the have teeth like a tiger. BineHH was with me, she wasn't afraid of all because of her loricate.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4385852902_d17dd8ef14_o.jpg

The ferrets were playing with a little mouse attached to an angle. They were not very interested in me or BineHH.

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Later I even tried how the ferrets feel. Brighty has a very soft fur. She feels good :D

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4385091057_9543f0171d_o.jpg

The ferrets did not try to bite me or BineHH, they only played a bit with BineHH, but they did her no harm. So there is no need to to be afraid of those cute pets.

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 27, 2010, 10:41 am
Hi Mummy,
after playing with the ferets I helped to make a fruit salad. BineHH also helped, she wanted to crack walnuts.

First we prepared blood oranges.

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Than we added banana, kiwi and apples ...

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... than BineHH cracked some walnuts.

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She did a great job, have a look!

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We mixed everything in a glass bowl, it looked fantastic.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4385853056_fe27d195c9_o.jpg

Yummy!

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 27, 2010, 10:48 am
Hi Mummy,
the snow has melted away, there are only a few dirty remains of it. We took a short walk through the city.

Here you can see the city hall.

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In this house a nice store for house decorating items is situated.

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Here you can see the company building of the local newspaper, Remscheider GeneralAnzeiger.

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This is the central bus station.

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Here the shopping street with the pedestrian area is ending.

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Bye for today
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Feb 27, 2010, 8:22 pm
Hi Mummy,
we baked a delicious cake today, a cake with curd-filling and tangerines. Baking a cake is always a good idea  :D  Soon we gathered all the ingredients which we needed for the cake, a cake with curd-filling and tangerines. That sound really good.

For the dough we need margarine, sugar, eggs and wheat flour with some baking powder. The filling is made of curd, eggs, sugar, a little bit oil and milk and vanilla sugar, and of course canned tangerines.

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The tangerines were put into a strainer.

Than we made the dough and put it into the baking pan.

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For the filling we had to mix curd, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla sugar, oil, milk and finally beaten egg whites.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4389732923_4d110f4b02_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4390500876_6262607081_o.jpg

The tangerines were put on top of the filling.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4389741473_03384a0169_o.jpg

The cake had to bake than for about 50 minutes. It was almost ready than.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4390500678_4a9b8b3dcc_o.jpg

Finally the cake was covered with "Tortenguss" .

Than we enjoyed the cake. It is really delicious and refreshing.

Bye
Ragamuffin

olgamaus


Posted Feb 28, 2010, 2:08 pm
Hi Mummy,
the weather was much better today so we took a walk in the forest. Katja was picked up by her friend Kerstin, who brought her dog Pepe with her. We parked the car on a parking site for hikers at one of the outer limits of Remscheid's municipal area.

From here we crossed the district "Unterburg" which belongs to the neighbour city Solingen. It is a very old district, situated at the river Wupper.

We walked down a really steep and narrow road to reach the valley.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4392689710_2415ee5683_o.jpg

A large tree was cut down recently.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4392695906_915e2ced5d_o.jpg

Soon we reached the river Wupper. Due to snow melting it has high-water.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4391919159_4291fb96b2_o.jpg

We followed a path along the river, uphill and downhill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4391919251_15b0e2b08f_o.jpg

We crossed the river at t his bridge.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4392686664_b72b8ce0b9_o.jpg

Close to a café we found snowdrops.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4392689998_3922cac52f_o.jpg

Now we followed a path on this side of the river. Again it went uphill and downhill. Here we saw high rocks.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4392690100_0123f66625_o.jpg

Snow water is running down the hills everywhere.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4392684508_c7acea8038_o.jpg

A large bridge came in sight: Muengsten Bridge, Germany's highest railway bridge.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4391916593_24486e04a2_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4392690186_8ec51a11f6_o.jpg

Finally we reached the bottom of the valley with the bridge.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4391919655_7ae2903265_o.jpg

Muengsten Bridge is made of steel. It is 107 m high and spans the valley of river Wupper, which is marking the border between Remscheid and the neighbour town Solingen.

The bridge is 465 m long and was completed in 1897 A.D.

A leisure park was built underneath the bridge a few years ago. You can relax on the lawns, play in the water and they have playgrounds for the kids.

Wolle found some snow remains in front of a building. She wanted to play with us in the snow, but we all are completely fed up with snow.

We walked until we reached another bridge, we crossed the river here once more. In the background you can see a cute little outlook pavilion. Katja told us that we would walk along this pavilion later.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4392690392_e7b1eb5feb_o.jpg

Here we are!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4392690524_fe6e03c8d8_o.jpg

We rested in front of this waterfall (also snow water) for a while.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4391925093_0ab82121ac_o.jpg

Once more we walked underneath Muengsten Bridge, this time on the slope of the valley.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4392690630_fed13d2c2b_o.jpg

When we were on our way back to the car, the sun came out. Once more Muengsten Bridge was visible in the distance.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4391918857_b96f9ffe94_o.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4392689614_6e0c0e3aa2_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Mar 12, 2010, 3:58 pm
Hi Mummy,
we still have fantastic weather, so we took a walk today with Katja's brother-in-law. We parked the car in a housing area with lots of new houses.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4413386163_9f643cef7d_o.jpg

A TV-tower is situated here on top of a hill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4413386677_03540fc4d0_o.jpg

We walked across open fields, in the background you can see the outskirts of the neighbour city Wuppertal.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4414154966_ffd9ae4b2c_o.jpg

We rested in the sun for a while.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4413387151_19b914c3bb_o.jpg

On the next photo you can see the motorway A1 in the background. Katja told us that there used to be a large forest here, which was nearly destroyed by a terrible storm about three years ago.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4413387433_4bd6edb1f1_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4413387789_2f8d14fc15_o.jpg

When we went back to the car we walked along some farms.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/4414156282_c62bb56737_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin
olgamaus


Posted Mar 12, 2010, 4:16 pm
Hi Mummy,
I really enjoyed my stay here  but now it was time to say goodbye to Germany. I'm off to Russia now!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4427427814_3b9db08114_o.jpg

Bye
Ragamuffin
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 17, 2010, 10:11 am
Hi mommy!
Finally I`m in Russia! I came in proper time, here are not many TVs now, but there are guys to have fun with.
Maria took us (me, Chengzi and Red Navel) from the post today, she woke up early at the morning, took her bicycle and went to the post-office without breakfast, that`s why she was really happy to get Snickers with me - thanks to olgamaus!
Today we are going to Zoo (in spite of the fact it is going to rain), hope we`ll have many nice updates!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 19, 2010, 2:25 pm
Hello mummy!
Today I with my new friends Chengzi and kikuchan were in the Zoo, which is really large and great!
We saw many wild animals which I have never had a chance to see.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 25, 2010, 2:13 pm
Hello mummy!
On Sunday we were in the forest, the weather was perfect and sunny! By the way we traveled by bicycles!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 4, 2010, 7:54 am
Hello mummy!
I spent my week-end in the country-side where Maria`s family has their small house.
In frames of my "project" - "Be less scared of animals" I tried to communicate with cat. She didn`t eat me, so I think it is a good step :)
Weather was wonderful and I really enjoyed my stay! I love the country life, but hope next week-end I`ll spend in the city and finally see the centre of Moscow.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 14, 2010, 8:20 am
Privet Mom!
On Sunday I took part in one of the main Russian holidays - the day of Victory in the World War II!

Quote:
World War II, or the Second World War (often abbreviated WWII or WW2), was a global military conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945 which involved most of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised. In a state of "total war," the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by significant action against civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it was the deadliest conflict in human history,with over seventy million casualties.


Soviet Union was fighting with fascistic during the whole war and played  not the last first fiddle in the victory. That`s why you can see so many Soviet Union flags in spite of the fact there is no Soviet Union any more.
We were at the Poklonnaya Gora.
Quote:

Museum of the Great Patriotic War is in Moscow at Poklonnaya Gora, which can be translated most literally as "Bow-down Hill," or more metaphorically as "Worshipful Submission Hill" . Featured is the Victory Park with an open display of military vehicles, aircraft, cannons, etc, and the Central Museum building of the Great Patriotic War.

There were many people making fun and happy.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 25, 2010, 10:19 am
Privet mommy!
On Sunday I was in Tsaritsino park ("Tsar" and "Tsaritsa" are "King" and "Queen" in Russian). This park is so beautiful that Catherina II bought it for 25 000 rubles in spite of the fact its owner asked only 20 000.
Here is a piece of history :)

Quote:
Tsaritsino museum and reserve in Moscow was founded in 1984 in the park of the same name. The estate is known from the late 16th century, when it belonged to Tsarica Irina, sister of Tsar Boris Godunov. At that time it was called Bogorodskoye. In the 17th century it belonged to the Streshnevs and then to the Galitzines. In 1775, when the estate was bought by empress Catherine the Great, it received its present name, which means “Tsarina’s”. In 1776-85 architect Vasili Bazhenov built a new palace for the Empress here, but in 1786 Catherine ordered it to be partly pulled down. Until 1797 architect Matvey Kazakov was working on the construction, but the palace remained unfinished. Currently, in Tsaritsino there are a history and architecture museum, a landscape park with an adjacent forest, an art museum, the Biryulyovo dendropark, and a cascade of the Tsaritsino ponds.

Bazhenov's "Opera House", 1776-1778.The 18th-century architecture ensemble was built (though not finished) following the order of Catherine II in pseudo-Gothic style, after projects of the Bazhenov and Kazakov, and it is the only 18th-century architectural ensemble of such dimensions in Russia. Around the palace, in the park there are a number of pavilions, pergolas, arbours, artificial grottos, decorative bridges (early 19th century, architect I. Yegotov), and a Russian Orthodox temple “Source of Life”, as well as a modern recreation center with an upscale restaurant. For a long time most buildings were ruined (and alpinists used them for training). Recently most buildings have been "completed": rooftops, interiors and decorations have been added and their historical appearance has been altered. A number of buildings house the Russian museum of folk and applied art. The atrium of the “Bread House” is used for concerts of Moscow musicians.


I liked the castles and the area and would love to live there myself :)
Hope you have a nice time mommy and don`t miss me.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 3, 2010, 12:19 pm
Hello mummy!
On Sunday I had a bicycle trip through Moscow - just to move faster.
First we saw the exhibition of Russian architect Zurab Tsereteli:

Quote:
Zurab Konstantines dze Tsereteli (born January 4, 1934 in Tbilisi) is a controversial Georgian-Russian painter, sculptor and architect who holds the office of President of the Russian Academy of Arts.


He has museum of his arts, but we were only in the yard where there are enough sculptures. Some of them are really funny 

And at the end of great day we had a short look to the Kremlin and I made a picture with Hotel Moskva:

Quote:
The Hotel Moskva name has been used for two identical buildings on the same spot in Moscow, Russia located near Red Square in close proximity to the old City Hall. The first Hotel Moskva was originally constructed from 1932 until 1938, it opened as a hotel in December, 1935. Designed by Alekseĭ Viktorovich Shchusev, it was built to be one of Moscow's finest hotels and was lavishly detailed with works of art and mosaics by some of the finest artists of the Soviet Union. The old hotel was demolished in 2004 for a modern reproduction with underground parking and other features not necessary in the 1930s. It is scheduled to open in 2009.

As you can see it is already opened :)

Hugs,
Ragamuffin.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 3, 2010, 12:54 pm
Hey mummy!
Congratulation to us:
My travelog has 500 views :) In this case I`ll eat one more cake today!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 11, 2010, 5:04 pm
Dorogaya Mamochka (dear mummy)!
Today we are going to Kiev - the capital of Ukraine for the whole week-end!
Quote:
Ukraine is the second largest country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by the Russian Federation to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. Ukraine is a member of the CIS. From 1923 to 1991 most of the country was a constituent republic within the USSR. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of Ukraine.


We are sitting in travel bag and waiting.
I`ll come back to you soon with photos!

Ragamuffin  :p
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 25, 2010, 7:27 pm
Hello dear mummy!
I as in Kiev - the capital of Ukraine! We took th train and in 13 hours we were in another country.
The most I liked Andriyivskyy Descent! I wanted to buy something, but you didn`t say me what you want.

Quote:
Andriyivskyy Descent  is a historic descent connecting Kiev's Upper Town neighborhood and the historically commercial Podil neighborhood. The street, often advertised by tour guides and operators as the "Montmartre of Kiev", is a major tourist attraction of the city


I liked Kiev very much!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 28, 2010, 8:04 pm
Hello mummy!
I again was in the countryside.
The one new thing I saw there was iron cock! But I`m not scared :)

Mummy, are you ok? I miss you!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Sep 9, 2010, 6:40 pm
Hi! It's me, Raggamuffin!
After a lengthy travel in my package, I arrived safely in San Diego, California.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/raggpackage.jpg

After my host cut the strings from my package, several other toyvoyagers began to unwrap the paper surrounding me.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/ragg1.jpg

What a cute little bag I came in!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/raggbag.jpg

I met the toyvoyagers currently visiting my host:
Bart Punk and NiliHH they were all very friendly and happy to meet another voyager! They also all wanted to try my chocolate I brought along, but my host said that we would have to eat it at another time as it was too close to dinner :(

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/arrive.jpg

My host loved the picture card that was sent along and says thanks!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/ragg.jpg

I can't wait to see what adventures await me in this new town!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Sep 11, 2010, 7:25 pm
Hi! It’s me, Ragamuffin!
Today my host took me and the other toyvoyagers to the La Jolla Cove. It was a very overcast day out so we didn’t go in the water; instead we roamed around the shore line.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2425.jpg

For about a mile along the beach there are various rock formations.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2479.jpg

These formations are very smooth to the touch and in some parts appear to have rings due to all of the years of the water pounding away at the rocks.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2430.jpg

Some rock formations higher up on the beach are still very much rough however.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2449.jpg

Look at all of this seaweed!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2442.jpg

The other toyvoyagers and I found a rather odd object lying around.  It turns out that it is an oyster!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2437.jpg

These oysters are all over the beach and hang out in clusters on the rocks.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2463.jpg]

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2471.jpg

As we went further down the beach, we saw the coves that the area is famous for.  Some coves however may have been dangerous, so they have been closed off by stone.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2487.jpg

Other coves are still open and tourists are able to wander inside.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2499.jpg

Here is one giant cove in particular. My host could not figure out how to get to it except for swimming.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2517.jpg

Some seagulls taking a nap!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2514.jpg

A mini stone pier along the beach

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2503.jpg

A kayak rental place in the distance. I wonder how all those kayaks stay put?

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2525.jpg

By the time the sun started peeking from behind the clouds it was time to go.  My host said she would take me back to a beach on a sunny day sometime.
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Sep 21, 2010, 7:59 am
It’s me, Ragamuffin!

Today my host took the other toyvoyagers and I to a neighborhood park!

We got to play on the playground!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/000_0070.jpg

Wee! Boy that slide was hot!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/000_0062.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/000_0064.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/000_0061.jpg

Time to blow a few bubbles!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/000_0068.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Sep 21, 2010, 8:07 am
Today I got to visit part of the Los Pensquitos Canyon!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2588.jpg

In total, we hiked six miles, thankfully I and the other toyvoyagers got a free ride in my host’s backpack

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/RikeH/penasquitoscanyon.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2596.jpg

Nothing but dirt, shrubs and trails for miles! You cannot see it very well, but there are actually houses in the distance.  I’m beginning to learn that Californians aren’t afraid to build their houses on the top of mountains!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2592.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2625.jpg

Time for a break! Hrm..this spot isn’t the most comfortable to rest. The monkey seems to enjoy it though, he likes to scratch his back on this strange plant.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/100_2622.jpg

We hiked up to a waterfall…but we could not find it! It must have been further down the stream.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2619.jpg]

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2603.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2613.jpg

The picture my host took of me by the sign did not come out well, but she wanted you to see it anyway.  It’s a sign warning hikers of rattlesnakes in the area! Scary!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/100_2627.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Oct 13, 2010, 7:16 pm
Hi Mom!
Today my host took me out to a new hiking spot in the Torrey Pines State Preserve!

Heading up the trail to the pines!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2649.jpg

Quick view of the beach.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2650.jpg

The torrey pine is very rare and is only in two places in the world, this happens to be one place!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2742.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2665.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2666.jpg

Overlook of the marsh across the way. There are not that many marshes left in California

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2661.jpg

That's me! I'm valuable!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2676.jpg

Along the way one can see many different desert plants.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2717.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2712.jpg

Let's go on this trail!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2707.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2687.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2730.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2720.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2652.jpg

Time for another trail before it gets too dark!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2680.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2697.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2688.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2703.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/100_2699.jpg

My host said it was a tiring day... but I'm ready to go on another trail!! I guess riding in a backpack has it's advantages!

Halloween is coming up soon... I can't wait to go trick or treating!!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Nov 8, 2010, 8:07 pm
Hi mom, it's me Ragamuffin!

Today my host received a mysterious package in the mail.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Bart%20Bear/goodiepackage.jpg

The package turns out to be from Punk the monkey's mom!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Bart%20Bear/insidegoodie.jpg

The package contained all sorts of goodies from Australia!


Our host later took Punk to the store to pick out goodies to send back to his mom  ;)
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Nov 8, 2010, 8:11 pm
Hi mom, it's me again!
My host appologises for the lack of updates.  It has been unseaonably rainy on the days that we plan our outings  :(

On Saturday however we received another mysterious package in the mail!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Bart%20Bear/bombuspackage.jpg

This time it wasn't a package of goodies, but rather a package with a toyvoyager inside!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Bart%20Bear/bombusopen.jpg

This toyvoyager's name is Bombus and he is a bee.  He seems friendly enough so far!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Bart%20Bear/bombus.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Nov 23, 2010, 8:54 am
Hi Mom, it's me, Ragamuffin!
Today my host took me to Balboa Park!  Balboa Park is huge and contains around 14 different museums!  So there is plenty to see and do!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2769.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2781.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2784.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2799.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2806.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2818.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2850.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2833.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Punk/100_2838.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/100_2829.jpg


Time to go home!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Dec 9, 2010, 8:49 pm
Hi Mom!
Today we went to Lake Miramar!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/Lake_Miramar.jpg

The lake looks like it is possibly man made and is huge!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/ragga3.jpg

The lake has lots of different creatures living here, like ducks, geese and quail.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/ragga2.jpg

There are also other inhabitants... but they are not so wanted...

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/ragga1.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 7, 2011, 10:02 am
Today my host took me to a Christmas tree lot!  There were many trees to choose from :)

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo3.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo16.jpg

My host thinks the trees with the fake snow are the prettiest!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo13.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo4.jpg


$100 for a tree?  Wow, very expensive!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo7.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 11, 2011, 11:16 am
Hi Mom, it's me again!
My host had just moved and was feeling a bit under the weather so we did not get to do much Christmas decorating  :(

We did get to package some gifts to send off to my host's friend.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo35.jpg


Better make sure we don't accidentally get packed inside!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo36.jpg

My host then suggested we make some holiday fudge -Peanut butter, chocolate and then some maple walnut.  Well, it did not turn out well at all. My host was so embarrassed she wouldn't take any pictures!  :p  So she decided to make something more simple! A strawberry cake just for me!!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo27.jpg


Time to mix up all the ingredients!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo30.jpg


After baking and letting the cakes cool, my host removed them from the pans.  Uh oh! Another baking disaster! One of the cakes got stuck in the pan!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo31.jpg


Thankfully one of the cakes came out just fine, so we frosted it!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Bombus/photo32.jpg


Then one of the toyvoyagers, Bart the Bear, wrote my name on the cake!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo33.jpg

Yay! A cake just for me!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo34.jpg


The strawberry cake was delicious!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/photo1.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 11, 2011, 11:22 am
Hi Mom! Well my host took me on a quick stroll around town before heading off to the post office to mail me back home.  See you soon!


A nearby college undergoing construction.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo26.jpg


Starbucks coffee

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo25.jpg


California palm trees! :)

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/toyvoyager/Raggamuffin/photo24.jpg

See you soon Mom!!
Sollie


Posted Jan 19, 2011, 7:04 pm
Im BAAAAAACK!  :cyclops:

Arrived yesterday with souveniers and candy and all, and it was good to be back again, even tho i have had such a great time!

Now i will have a rest and just stay home for a little while before i start to travel again.
My mom has very much to do lately, and she needs my support, so i will stay here and make sure she is doing fine  :)

Ragamuffin

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