The Heymann Family Journal

I just got a phone call from Nicole. She went to pick up her art work at the University. She will not get her grades for a few weeks. But the secretary actually offered to buy her "China Cabinet" painting. The secretary has worked at the school for 20 years and said she has never offered to buy another painting. So I think it's clear her work was liked. I told her to thank the secretary for her complement, and say no. At least not yet. Maybe she will sell it later but she needs to build up a body of work to show. And maybe she could paint something special just for the secretary as a gift? It was so encouraging.

Nicole has her first art show July 11-15th. We just had fun ordering a business card she can give away at the show. One more step towards being a professional artist.

I just got my Pu Erh tea in the mail. I bought it on Amazon. I hope it helps me get healthy.

We see the photos from the USA. It looks pretty dry over there. It's in the 70's and low 80's F here. And it's been raining the last 2 days. That's good for us. I needed the ground to be wet so I could finish planting the front garden. I'll try to take a few photos today. My camera batteries are dead. Yesterday I took the kids to see Ice Age 4. It wasn't as good as the past 3 films. I would wait and see it on DVD if I was you. But it was nice to get out with the kids. And I was good. No popcorn. Instead I drank water and ate 25 gummy bears. So far I'm doing good on Weight watchers but it's just day 5. I figure I need a whole year to lose this weight. So 5 days down and 360 days to go.

Nicole gets her art work graded by the professors tomorrow. So today Juergen helped her carry everything over to a room where they will be judged. Jessica and I went along for the ride. I only got a few photo's before my camera battery went dead. I'm much more excited about the whole thing then she is. I really hope they love it and give her high marks. But you just never know with art. We think it's pretty cool. Her work will be in an art show July 11-15th at the art academy if anyone wants to see it in person. Then the general public can give her the thumbs up or down. I personally think she will wow the show, but I'm not unbiased.

Today I hosted a baby shower for a really wonderful couple in my small group. They are expecting their first child next week. They will make wonderful parents. They are loving thoughtful people. I'm very happy for them. I didn't have a great amount of time to devote on the shower. But Nicole helped me so much. Everything managed to go well. It was a good time. I walked a half hour with the group, then afterwards I walked again with Juergen. I'm being good on weight watchers...even today at the party. And I'm moving. So I am feeling proud in a good way.

We put our old sofa on our terrace. The wasps decided to build a nest there. Oh fun! Luckily no one got hurt. Juergen just went to the store for poison. They picked a warm dry place with lots of soft stuffing to build a nest. At least Juergen found the nest today, and not tomorrow at the baby shower! Oh that would have been awful!

I host a small baby shower tomorrow. I think I'll cook some lemon chicken, green salad, fruit salad, and ice cream. We need rain, but I hope we have sunshine tomorrow.

Today I set out with a shopping list. I need to buy food for a baby shower, and cake mix for a bake sale. I also need some quick cement for a craft project Nicole is working on. Juergen was suppose to do some work in Leimen but the heater guy didn't leave him the key. And we gave the renter the other key. He could not get in to do the work. That's frustrating. I'm not sure when he will have time to finish the job now? That really sinks! Anyway, I stopped by the secondhand store in Heidelberg. I bought about 12 videos for Jessica. She was over joyed! After that she wouldn't let me do my shopping. Frustrating. So I'm home folding laundry. I'll leave Jessica with Juergen while I get my shopping done. At least one of us will accomplish something today. I hope the renter is understanding. We wanted to have everything in order for them. Tomorrow is July 1st. Oh man!!! That is just how it goes. I spoke too soon. The heater guy just called. He wil...

We would like to start having calmer more restful weekends. But this will not be one of them. We have a house guest this weekend. We need to finish the work in Leimen this weekend because the renter officially begins renting on Sunday. Nicole has to hand in her art for grades on Monday. She is very busy. And I will host a small baby shower for a friend on Sunday afternoon. So it's all very good, but even the good can make you tired. Hopefully we can start to slow down soon.

Germany is not playing well. It looks like they may lose to Italy in the European football championship. We are all sad. But here are a few photos from today.

I have tried allot of things to lose weight before. Weight watchers is the only thing that has worked for me. I just have a hard time staying with it for more then 2 months. But I signed up for 3 months of weight watchers online. I will try again. I hope I can stay with it. I couldn't sign up for the program in English, so I have to do it in German. I guess that will give me German practice too. I'm encouraged that the Dr said I'm very healthy. She was so surprised. But I want to keep it that way. I'm 50 years old. I don't want high blood pressure, diabetes or heart problems. And I would not want to be seen in a swim suit right now. So here we go again.

I just got my tests back from the DR. I'm very healthy. Thank God. Everything is perfect. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar etc...all perfect. I just need to lose weight. Having Jessica at home for an entire year has taken a toll on my health. Stress fat. But we have finally hired a personal aid for Jessica. Someone who has experience with autism. She starts Aug. 1st. She will work 20 hours per week, and I will have some time to look after myself.

I picked the last few colored carrots from our garden. The garden soil is pretty hard. It needs a few more years of love and attention. The carrots could not grow straight down into this hard clay soil. I’ll use these fun carrots to make a vegetable pickle. I’ll probable just get one jar out of them. But it will be a special something for my Christmas salad. The water Iris is picking a very good time to bloom. Nicole has to show this water feature at school next week. I’m not sure how we will move it to the University, but we will. The 3 fish in the pond are doing very well. They will also be part of the art show! I also got a new load of mulch delivered today. Philip and Thomas helped me out by carrying mulch in wheelbarrows to the front yard. I paid them 5 euro each. They did a great job. I need more weed blocker cloth to cover a piece of the ground here and there. Once this is done, we will finish spreading mulch and planting the flower bed. It's going to ...

This guy shares more about how he builds his 2nd greenhouse. He is preparing to provide. I feel the same. I'm not just trying to grow food for our family, I want to grow enough for 8 families. Right now it may not mater, but one day it may be important.

And this is how he organizes his greenhouse. Very nice!

And look at the results. Wow! Nice!

I really like the wooden side pieces this guy built on his greenhouse. He attaches the plastic to these side panels. It works very well. I'm not sure I would want the poles he has in the center of his greenhouse. I don't think I'll need that kind of support. We don't get hurricanes here. But I think if we have the wooden door frame I saw in the last video, and this guys side panels made from wood...that would be the way to go. He also uses 2 layers of plastic. They say that helps the greenhouse last 3 times as long. So instead of replacing plastic every 2-3 years, you could have a life of 6-10 years with a double layer of plastic. It also increases the insulation so the greenhouse stays warmer in the winter. I also want to grow a grape vine in the inside of my greenhouse. The vine will shade my plants in the summer, and will drop its leaves in time to allow more light in the winter. Notice how he has the plastic attached to the top part of the wooden side...