Our five spent the night at brother Bob’s house so that we could visit a bit more. Doing that three-hour drive twice in one day would have been a bit much. Daughter Lise was still on Danish time. She needs much less sleep than I do, and I found she had been awake several hours when I got up. We decided to go for a walk in the neighborhood, since we had been sitting for two days in a row. John was the only one up then, so we weren’t missing most of the people. Lise loved the way the sunlight hit the trees.
As we walked around, we found happy smiles drawn on the pavement at one house. I asked Lise to pose her feet with the painted pair to show how large they were. We were happy to begin with, but this added an element of joy.
Our overnight stay gave Lise more time to buy a new wardrobe, with niece Julie’s help. Lise’s clothes out-grew her after she lost a lot of weight. She brought a huge suitcase from Denmark filled with her old clothes. I get first choice of hand-me-downs before she donates the clothes to Goodwill.
We had another meal together at a local Italian restaurant. Eating at 2:00, we had the dining room to ourselves most of the time. That was good, because we filled the space with talk and laughter. I took the photo, so I’m the only one missing. Lise asked the waitress to take another that included me. She hasn’t shown it to me, but I’m not sure I want to see it. When we got back home and I saw myself in the mirror, I wondered what I looked like all day long. I don’t remember using a comb at all!!!
Mehrling Muse 
Must be so wonderful to buy a new wardrobe!
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I wonder how many decisions per hour she made. My head would spin.
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What a wonderful visit. I especially love the smiley faces, looks like a happy place ❤😊
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I’ve never seen a happy place in the road before, but this one was smiley.
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💗
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A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you❤
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I hope your Thanksgiving will be extra special, too.
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There is nothing like spending time with a daughter, especially when she lives far away and you don´t get to see her often. I love the smiley faces. A great picture!!
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We see daughter Lise once a year and try to be satisfied with that. I don’t want to be clingy.
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When I saw my daughter in October it had been two years. A bit too long for me but we do keep in touch through social media, Skype etc.
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Electronics keep us connected, too. Isn’t that great??
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Lise should be proud of herself and how nice to bring everything here – did she fill up that suitcase with new clothes? Since you and I enjoy street art, I can imagine you were delighted to see these smiley faces – I would too!
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Lise has a new wardrobe, and her suitcase will be full. I thought of you when I saw that street art.
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Good for Lise – the prices are maybe cheaper over here too? When we visited my grandmother and aunt in Toronto, there were certain items (clothing and food) that were so much cheaper in the U.S. We used to take back big bottles of applesauce as their bottles cost an arm and a leg. Cigarettes too – my aunt smoked like a chimney and my grandmother/aunt (they lived together) had nice neighbors like you do, and they used to do things, like bring by pasta (the woman was Italian and cooked pasta every night so sent down a big pot of hot pasta) or a man who did little handyman fix-its for free. So we bought them each a carton of cigarettes. At that time (’80s) the cigarettes were $25.00/carton where ours were about $4.00!
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Clothes are much less expensive here than in Denmark.
Your grandmother lived in a great neighborhood.
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I thought that might be the case, same as in Canada – everything is pricier there, or it used to be. I’ve not been back since 1990. Yes, she did have nice neighbors – my mom and I took cartons of cigarettes and my mom baked their favorite treats when we went to visit as she wanted to thank them for their kindness. Whenever we visited, Lorraine would bring down a huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs. My mom loved spaghetti and she was in her glory. In Canada, they have kaiser rolls – I cannot explain what they are like, except like crusty French bread, like a baguette. Not soft and squishy, no poppy seeds, just a roll that you slice open and crumbs go everywhere. More like a European roll/bread with the crustiness. The entire visit we’d be working on that pot of spaghetti and meatballs … my treat was the meatball sandwiches on a kaiser roll. My grandmother had those neighbors in every morning at her kitchen table for coffee and visiting and in the Summer, every evening on the front porch for bowls of ice cream … she could not believe that not everyone existed this way with neighbors, but she grew up on a farm, and though the neighbors were often miles apart, there were always holiday gatherings or impromptu visits and neighbors helping to bring in the crops … that was the way of life.
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What a wonderful time and what beautiful smiles around that table! Love those sidewalk smiley faces also.
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Wow! What a change from your country living. Lovely still.
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