Grandma Posted Apr 8, 2013, 4:23 am |
I am at home with Grandma, looking forward to my first travel adventure. I live near a lake, and close to the ocean. I play with my siblings and Bootsie, the cat. |
Grandma Posted Apr 8, 2013, 4:32 am |
Bootsie kisses me. |
Grandma Posted Apr 15, 2013, 12:06 am |
Today is Sunday. I went with my family to the Holtsville Ecology site. We visited the small zoo and the greenhouse. It is a sunny day, so there were many animals and people enjoying the outdoors. |
Grandma Posted Apr 15, 2013, 12:10 am |
I went to see the flowers in the greenhouse. They are getting ready for Mother's day. |
Grandma Posted Apr 15, 2013, 12:30 am |
Eduardo Bear and I looked for the black bears in their habitat. We read all about them, but at first we couldn't find them. Then finally we saw them both, and one came close to the edge of the fence. He was big! We learned that there are black bears living in the wild in New York State, but not on Long Island. |
Grandma Posted May 29, 2013, 9:46 pm |
Today is the first day of my long trip to Germany! As you can see from the picture, Teddy helped me to get into my envelope. I tried two ways, first with my legs bent up to my head, but it was uncomfortable. I ended up jumping head first into the envelope, with my knees bent a little. It is a little stuffy in the envelope, but I can breath. Grandma took me to the post office, and now I'm on my way across the ocean. I guess I will be on an airplane. I hope I don't get airsick. I wonder what it will be like? I've never traveled far. I'm excited. |
olgamaus Posted Jun 15, 2013, 6:51 pm |
Hi Grandma,
I arrived at my first host's home today. I will spend some time in Remscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia. My host's name is Katja. Katja and the ToyVoyagers Sean, Anna Pineapple, Sidney L. and nosyblue, another sheep, gave me a warm welcome. I already met two of Katja's pets. I noticed that something furry was crawling into my envelope! Even two of them. Oh, what is this? A cat? A raccoon? At least it is something cute Neither cat nor raccoon, but ferrets. Very obviously they had a lot of fun playing with my envelope Katja told me that there were two more ferrets, but they were asleep. She invited me to take a walk with her and a friend. My new friends did not come with us. Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jun 16, 2013, 3:10 pm |
Hi Grandma,
I took a walk with Katja in the late afternoon. We went to a nearby forest, but first we picked up a friend. The first photo was taken close to my current home. I like those old houses. In the background of the next photo you can see the tower of the city hall. Here we went into the forest. Hidden in the valley I saw this house. It is a timer-framed house, typical for this region. I found pretty flowers, in Germrany they are called "wild rose". We crossed a railway track. Repair works were going on there. In this district you can find lovely houses. Far in the distance you can see the city centre of Remscheid. Katja took me through a rural area than, although this place is not so far away from the main street. I said hello to those goats, but they did not come closer. More lovely flowers, foxglove this time and a blooming bush. From here we had to walk uphill for nearly half an hour to get back home Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jun 16, 2013, 4:04 pm |
Hi Grandma,
today we visited Germany's highest railway bridge, Muengsten Bridge. Katja told me that Germany's highes railway bridge is connecting Remscheid with the neighbour city Solingen. We went to the valley of the river Wupper to take a walk here. First we went into the forest. We found a lookout point with a fantastic view to the bridge. In the meantime we went downhill and followed the river. Katja told us there would be artwork along the path, mostly engraved rocks like this. We went down to the river bank and enjoyed the sun. What a lovely shady place under the trees! We crossed the river here. You can find maps and information boads along the path, telling you interesting facts about history and geography of this region. It was time for another rest We had to walk uphill than, can you see the river deep down in the valley? Finally we reached the leisure park underneath the bridge. Muengsten Bridge was built of steel, completed in 1907. It is about 480 m long and 107 m tall. There are extensive repair works going on in the last few years and they are taking place at the moment. The bridge will be closed until November. Some years ago a leisure park was built under the bridge. You can find lawns for relaxing here, a crazy golf course, playgrounds for the kids and restaurants. Can you see the outlook pavillion in the background? From here we had a first look at the bridge. Bye for now Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jun 18, 2013, 3:49 pm |
Hi Grandma,
we are still having fantastic weather here in Germany! So Katja took me out to the city centre in her lunch break. She is working in a law firm nearby the city hall. The city hall was the first building she showed me. The tower of the city hall is 48 m high! The city hall was partly destroyed in World War II - like many districts in Remscheid - and was rebuilt in a more modern style afterwards. The lion on its pillar is the heraldic animal of Remscheid. You can find this water tower at the back side of the city hall. This and the city hall tower create a characteristic silhouette which you can see from many places around the city, even over a large dsitance as the city centre is situated on top of a hill. This building was the company building of the local newspaper until last year, now you can find a day hospital there. Not only the surroundings of the city are "green", you can also find many trees in the city centre. This is the central bus station. Close to the station you can find these larger dwellings, a large hotel and a bank. Here you can see the company building of the ADAC, the German pendant to the AAA (American Automobile Association). This is the station, it was rebuilt some years ago. A modern bridge is leading to the city centre. Around the station you can find a lot of factory buildings, mostly steelworks. Remscheid is an industrial city, famous for its metalworking industry, especially its tool producing industry. Back in the city centre ... We walked along the shopping street which begins here. This is the main entrance of the shopping mall. People like to sit around the large fountain. We went inside to buy a few things for lunch and hurried back to work. Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jun 27, 2013, 2:01 pm |
Hi Grandma,
after a week with sometimes horrible weather we all needed a bit walking in the fresh air, so we went to one of the historic districts of Remscheid, to Hasten. They have a little town center here. This district is close to large woodland areas, that's where we wanted to go. I found those lovely fragrant roses in a garden. We reached a valley and had to wait for a while until the rain stopped. A creek, Morsbach, is running through this valley. This historic tiny house war restored not long ago. There are some more houses hidden in this valley. This information board is explaining how people made this valley inhabitably. This is also where the first ironworks were founded. it also tells that wetlands and meadows were used for keeping farm animals, including sheep This flock looked for cover under the trees when it started to rain a short while ago. This blooming tree is elderberry. Katja told me that she has planned to prepare an elderberry wine cooler next week. It is made with elderflowers, lemon - both pressed juice and lemon slices, sugar, fresh mint and water. And of course white wine and sparkling wine. We went back home than. Here you can see my current home. Love Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jul 7, 2013, 9:01 pm |
Hi Mummy,
we took a walk today in the outskirts of Remscheid, in the district Lennep. When we parked the car I had a look at those skyscrapers, Katja told me that there were not many of them. From here we went through a rural area with different fields. Here is growing barley. It is used for brewing beer, Katja told me. We went into a forest than. The ground was very wet and muddy, soon our feet and shoes became really dirty. The branches of those larches were soft like fur. In a secluded hamlet we found this little church, it is called "Forest Church" (Waldkirche). Out path led us along Wupper dam, a large barrier lake. River Wupper is dammed to a large lake. On our way back to the car we walked along some more scenic hamlets. In another barley field red poppies were growing. Soon we reached the car and went back home. Bye for today Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jul 9, 2013, 9:19 pm |
Hi Grandma,
today Katja promised us to show us an historic location while taking a walk. So we left the house and walked towards a valley, picking up a friend who wanted to come with us. We walked through a rather old district where we saw many of those traditional houses, they are covered with slate. Deep in the valley we came along this steelworks where stainless steel is produced. We left the roads and followed a hiking path through the valley. We found a fantastic place in the forest - an historic hammer mill. Iron and steel was produced here since 15th century. The hammer mill was run by a water wheel, all those hammer mills and forges were built at a creek or river. A large millwheel was lying on the ground. When we walked back home we had to walk uphill all the time Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jul 23, 2013, 8:35 pm |
Hi Grandma,
we visited a friend in the nearby district Luettringhausen, one of the historic districts of Remscheid. We took a walk with dog Pepe in a lovely valley. The first photo was taken in the city of Luettringhausen. We followed a walking path along the valley. We found this lovely old timber-framed house in the valley. There were meadows along the street in the valley. I asked Katja what this sign is meaning. She explained that it says that this area is a nature protection area. Do you know this plant? It is yarrow, it's German name is "Schafgarbe" and "Schaf" means sheep In a woodland area I found this large pile of trunks. Too soon we returned to Luettringhausen. Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jul 23, 2013, 8:43 pm |
Hi Grandma,
today we took a walk in the area of Wupper dam, where I already have been. This time we started at a different place. The houses in the background belong to a larger housing area, they will be the last houses for some time. Linden trees are blooming here, it smells wonderful. Once again we walked along Wupper dam. We went though an historic housing area. Along river Wupper there was a lot of industry in the last 100 years, mostly cloth mills and dyeing factories. The factory owners built houses with flats for their workers because there were no housing districts nearby the factories. After walking through a rural area we returned to the car. Bye Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Jul 29, 2013, 9:52 pm |
Hi Grandma,
today we visited a medieval castle in the neighbour city Solingen, Schloss Burg, It is situated high upon a hill above the River Wupper. Around the castle you can find many lovely old houses. Indeed, this house is the oldest here, built in 1673, which means that it is 340 years old! This is the castle. There are some shops in the courtyard, they were still closed. We came here early because later it will be terribly hot. We knew than that the shops do not open before 10:30 a.m. The shop owners are mostly doing an "old" handcraft, for example handmade brushes, brooms, soap, lovely yarns and wooden knitting needles, toys like swords and helmets and of course souvenirs. Schloss Burg was built in 1133 by Count Adolf I von Berg on a hill above the river Wupper.That's why this region is called "Bergisches Land". About a hundred years later it was enlarged by Count Engelberg II von Berg. This is the man on the horse in the courtyard. In Thirty Years War (17th century) large parts of the castle were destroyed. It was rebuilt then, but it was used for industrial purposes for many years. In the end of the 19th century they began to rebuild it as it appears today. The round tower was the powder tower, it was restored about some years ago. There would be going on something later, there were beer stalls everywhere. You have a fantastic overview from here across the valley of river Wupper. There is a shop in the forecourt where they sell fruit wine and other kinds of wine. They had beautifully carved chairs to sit and enjoy the wine - but not in the early morning We left the castle ground to take a walk in the beautiful surroundings. From here we walked into the forest. There are route markings for hiking trails. We left the forest and came to the next rural hamlet. Bye for now Lamikins |
olgamaus Posted Oct 7, 2013, 4:16 pm |
Hi Grandma,
today I took part in a very special event: A ToyVoyagers meeting! Hostmum Katja met Strunki and mcdaniels at Strunki's home. There were 16 ToyVoyagers! There was a welcome sign for each "TV-Family". I came here with Kirin, nosyblue,Tsukumo,RockyRaccoon, OleOrangescarf and KoalaMimi . We met Sargent Froggo,*Nick*,UrselHH,Laika,Gozer,Hase,Charlotte,HelmutBluepant,TheWotWots and Elmar. Strunki prepared a present for every guest Have a look - a neck kerchief, a scented candle, yummy chocolate and a lollipop. The ladies were starving, so we helped Strunki so finish the prepared lunch - spaghetti with vegetables. We explored the garden than. There is even a pond. Here is the whole flock of ToyVoyagers Finally there was a fantastic party with candy, chocolate and other delicacies,also a yummy liquor, Killepitsch. Later, when it was time to say goodbye, Strunki told me that she had a friend, also ToyVoyager member, who probably would like to host me for a while. So I decided to stay here, let's see if we could become frineds. Love Lamikins |
Strunki strunki1259@web.de Posted Oct 8, 2013, 5:51 pm |
Hi Grandma,
here You see me with my new two friends at their home, Charlotte and HelmutBluepant They invited my to stay here and having fun with all the other TVīs Itīs sooo wonderful for me sitting between all the nice and funny plushies Here I have a very interesting conversation with my newest friend Lotte We decided to eat a yummy marshmellow on our new friendship Do You see them on our heads? Funny to do so Here I told Lotte that Helmut drank the Killepitsch perhaps a little bit too fast The nice bear next to me is *Nick*, Helmuts newest buddy. Heīs a nice and funny guy Later it was time to say good bye to strunkis youngest TV, OleOrangescarf. His travelling talent was discovered by olgamaus two weeks ago He will travel with mcdaniels to Paderborn in exchange with *Nick* Oh Grandmum, I think Iīll have a funny time here Love and hug You Yours Lamikins |
Strunki strunki1259@web.de Posted Oct 8, 2013, 6:13 pm |
Hi Grandma, wooow, what a party we had
and here You see one more funny picture, hihi, but I tell You, it was a little bit hard for all of us in the morning... ...And i swear that I have nothing to do with the balloons at Helmuts ears... But all is ok with me, I only need a little bit more sleep Love and hug You Grandma Yours Lamikins |
Strunki strunki1259@web.de Posted Oct 8, 2013, 10:17 pm |
Today we had to say good bye to Laika and Gozer
Laika, our time was too short, I regret Gozer, have a nice trip to Finland and enjoy Your stay |
Sheepguarded Posted Oct 13, 2013, 9:13 pm |
Hi granny
I moved again to a place called Sheepguarded's. It is quite simple life here, but you know me, I get along :-) Here I met a guy called Boris, he is rather quiet but kind, and he is so warm.... and he loves my impression of "video games" Call me "Lana del Lamkin" Hope u r well Lamikin |
Sheepguarded Posted May 28, 2014, 9:24 pm |
What a sheep is thinking
my dear world wide web. Do you know the feeling to be that sick of another person that you can't stand watching him doing what he always does? And to know that you are tied to him (or her or it) every damned day? So much that you get howling mad when you just think of himherit. But on the other hand you ve got the distinct feeling that you are big part of the problem and wish u could just lean back and relax and let it all start new. Would be good if one could pull out a sort of time-out-card. |