Eagle Falls

Even though it is a little sunny down at the lake when we drive up Donner Pass Road the car is already shaking in the strong wind.
At the ski slopes the snow is falling heavier, the wind is howling and blows the sharp icy snowflakes into our faces.

Just look at the grey picture of the snow storm taken at Rainbow Bridge and you may understand that we are not going to ski today either.



I saw such a pretty picture of the Eagle Falls and I'm eager to experience it myself.
I'm a little disappointed. There is really a lot of snow on the trail and therefore not much to see of the falls.
Maarten is tired and a bit cranky, not willing to walk in the snow at all.

There are some fun spots though, like climbing this steep hill next to the falls. But sliding down on our way back is even more fun.




I attempt to reach Eagle Lake but plunging through locally waist deep snow without snowshoes is really exhausting.
It looks like someone before us has tried to reach the lake as well.


We follow those footsteps and reach a mysterious hole dug in a huge snow drift.
This place is little bit spooky and I don't feel comfortable at all.

PS: more pictures from our snow trips

Around Lake Tahoe

It's snowing this morning. Wet and heavy snow flakes are pouring down.
After one day of skiing my bruised tailbone hurts even more than before. Have I already mentioned that I badly bruised my tailbone a couple of weeks ago?

The boys are also tired so we use the bad weather as an excuse and drive down to Lake Tahoe's southern shore.

We have been living in California for more than three years but we haven't visited Tahoe yet!
Well, last winter we saw its never ending blue surface from atop the Heavenly runs.
And two years ago we were planning on going camping at Emerald Bay, but then they had to close the park to the public for safety reasons due to wildfires in the area.


I guess, every Tahoe visitor heads to see Emerald Bay.
What a place! We stroll down to Vikingsholm.
The weather is pleasant and it's even nice and warm down here, compared to the strong wind and snow at the vista point above the bay.


Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian style mansion from the 1920's was originally used as a summer home.
This place is amazing!
The setting is remarkably peaceful during our visit, but considering Emerald Bay's popularity, it will probably be very different during the summer months.


After lunch we get in the car and take an easygoing drive around the lake. It's only 72 miles.
The Bear Crossing Warning signs along Nevada's Highway 50 immediately get Maarten's attention.
Don't worry, the bears are sleeping for the winter. Just like little Alfie Bear...

After the Rain Comes the Sunshine

Our little cabin is even more cozier with all those colorful balloons and streamers. Maarten screams in excitement. Finally his 'little party' is here!



Everybody is happy since this morning we wake up with the sun.
And I mean not only that early...yeah yeah...after the rain comes the sunshine!

There is another surprise at the ski rentals.
In the French Alps we are used to renting only the skis.
Not here! They don't want to be responsible for someone using his or her own ski boots in combination with the rental bindings of course!
Rob is pretty disappointed. This was the last straw...
He is definitely going to buy new skis.

About Maarten's skiing:
For the first time I can tell he is really able to manage his skis.
He understands how to manoeuvre them by using the 'snow plow' or the 'wedge' technique, if you prefer. He can control his skis and stop where he wants to.
I should have highlighted the pronoun 'he' though...

The biggest fun is determining his own route downhill to escape his mom and dad as fast as possible.



He seems to enjoy skiing. You can tell just by looking at him. Continuous laughing and singing.
Aloud!

"Krokus Kindje"

Today it's Maarten's birthday.
I expected him to have a party this year and I was ready for that.
I had some ideas and I even tried to convince him. It would be nice to invite his friends...
But our birthday boy didn't even want to hear about it.

Right, this is his big day, so let it be his way. Maybe next year...

Usually we decorate the house with streamers and balloons to surprise him in the morning, but today we pretend this is just a ordinary Monday. (Even though this is pretty hard to pretend. At least for me.)
An ordinary Monday...except for the muffin celebration at school and going skiing afterwards.

What a shame we couldn't get the cabin one day earlier.
This is why we need to postpone the celebration for one day.

I'm happy to see the heavy rain while driving through the Sacramento Valley. Just imagine how much snow it's gonna be up the mountain!
We are driving past Emigrant Gap and Yuba Pass, but even at Soda Springs it's still raining. Pouring actually. I know I always wish for rain...but not while heading out skiing.


The romantic idea of a snow covered cabin, snow heavy trees... all this my imagination disappears of a sudden.
The only thing I don't have to worry about is how to put on tire chains.

The boys just manage to build a snowman from the snow rests on the deck.
They stubbornly try to keep their tradition.
They always build a snowman on the deck!
Will he still be there in the morning?

King's Crown

It has been raining for the past couple of days (or weeks?) already so I'm not surprised Maarten's hair is wet when I pick him up from school.
He is quiet and kind of down which is not typical behaviour for him.
A quick glance in the mirror and I see there is more then just wet hair. Maarten is busy getting the glue from his hair.

What happened to your hair?
I truly wish he doesn't say some child did this to him.

I made another king's crown!
I'm relieved.


I recall the funny view from a week ago. All the children carried their self-made paper crowns in hand, but Maarten proudly wore his atop his head exclaiming that he is the king!

I would probably be able to wash the glue out of his hair, but Maarten laid down with a fever tonight.

Rob is in Las Vegas for business and my little king is ill!
As if my day couldn't end up any better...

Vintage Skier

I was so proud to make my own money, never mind burning my hands in a bakery and bending down to pick potatoes turned up by the tractor. Many students did the same at that time.

For the very first paycheck I bought ski boots, the latest model.
My best friend bought a similar pair. You may guess, there was not much choice in my home country in those days.
Our boots were highly criticised by fellow skiers. The new cord technology won't last long.

However even now, more than twenty years later, I'm still very happy with my choice.

Also Rob finally decided to buy ski boots instead of renting. There were many reasons. An example is waiting forever in line at the ski rentals...

I was really surprised that Rob found a suitable pair he could wear (do you know his feet?).
Then he acquired a taste and started to look at the skis as well.
I gave up trying on the earflap hats (which I love) and went to listen to the expert's advice.
That was first time in years I had a close look at the modern skis and I was surprised about their width.
I tried the carving skis some years ago in France, but I was not really impressed.

Sometimes I wonder what I would I buy if my skis get dammaged at last.
You better not ask the age of my Blizzards!

I told the friendly shop assistant about my ski style and asked him what he would recommend for me.

No, he shook his head, I have nothing for you.

Wish Me Luck......

Last Friday at 4:35 I received this short message from Rob:
Kan meteen een beenmerg biopsie doen. Zal pijn doen. Wish me luck......

Suddenly, even though I tried very hard I couldn't pay attention to Maartens babbling...
===

I always wanted to be a mother, but for a long time it seemed this wish would stay unfulfilled.
The longing for a baby was so bad that I even exclaimed once I'd give ten years of my life for a baby!
Does this sound too foolish?

I became a mother after all. My beautiful son is most precious to me.
And naturally I forgot about my 'blasphemous' remark from before until...

Last summer we were required to take a preventive medical examination.
Only an annoying routine, I thought then.

As expected Maarten was all right. Great!

Rob and I had to have additional tests, just to be sure.
And then another one...

After a couple of exams we were pretty relieved that Rob's kidneys aren't in as bad condition as the result suggested. If you knew my father-in-law you would probably understand why.
There was only something wrong with Rob's blood. Nothing to worry about.

My liver seemed to be in bad condition. More exams followed and finally the liver ultrasound was done to confirm or exclude cancer.
Suddenly I recalled my 'blasphemy' and was extremely relieved to hear my liver is healthy.
The result brought me even some comfort. At last I know why I get so easily tired.

But for Rob it was not over yet.
He went from one exam to another. They kept excluding all kinds of disorders untill finally there was one scary possibility left.



Only a reminder: It was me who wanted to pay for the baby!!!