Birthday Girl at Sunset

Lava Footage on Iceland

As parents, we do our best to feed the curiosities, interests, and passions of our children.  When Patrick was interested in snakes, we filled his room with snake skins, model snakes, and all kinds of books and videos about them.  When he became interested in beavers, we found a section a tree felled by beavers, got him a replica beaver skull, and helped him produce a presentation which he gave to a group of about one hundred peers, teachers, and school staff when he was in third grade.  When he developed an interest in the sea, we set him up with an aquarium and later took family vacations during which he achieved his open water (and later advanced open water) scuba certifications.

Katherine has been slow to develop hobbies, interests, or anything like that which we can encourage in her.  She loves to read, so we have filled her world with books and good magazines, but it's difficult to plan an entire child-friendly vacation around books.

Several months ago, Katherine announced that she wanted to be a volcanologist.  She has developed quite an interest in earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, and volcanoes.

Hmmm.  How do you feed a curiosity like that?!  We're not ready to become storm-chasers, although Katherine thinks that sounds pretty cool.  And none of us are particularly interested in living where tremors and quakes are commonplace.  And even if we were willing to plan a vacation around such a location, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are not exactly...Old Faithful.  Getting them to coordinate with our vacation plans could pose a bit of a challenge.  So, we started with the obvious...books about volcanoes.  Then we added some videos.

At the same time, we've been discussing where our next vacations are going be, and one place rose to the top of our list, quite by accident really.  After a spectacular motorcycle adventure in Germany followed by a fun two-wheeled run through Montana, we were looking for new place to adventure by motorcycle.  Joerg heard that Iceland was just such a place.

So, now we research and plan, and dream.

This could be us one of these days!

In the meantime, Iceland is making the news.  Volcanic eruptions have been keeping scientists busy all summer.  Here is a video of lava footage. Here is a video of lava footage that scientists have captured this summer.

A Pause to Play

This morning, we loaded up the motorcycles and took our first longer ride of the season. It is the first time that schedule, weather, and energy all lined up to get us on the road together.

We stopped for lunch at The Bridge Restaurant, and then Jörg and Patrick had to race back to Chittenden County for a birthday party that Patrick was headed to. Katherine and I lingered behind to have a little ice cream and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery before continuing our journey home.

My Piano Recital

I was really nervous to perform, but my mom made me go. 
This is my third piano recital.

My Green Stripe Testing

This is me doing my test last night.  I was totally surprised when my brother was called up to test my on kick/counter kicks.  He can be scary!

Green Stripe!

I'm so awesome! I got my Green Stripe in Taekwondo tonight!