Another Monday evening, another beginning of the week. I really don't know when the week starts and when it ends. It seems to me that time goes by faster and faster, and I can't hold it anymore. I can see it on my children's faces, I can see it on my eyes new wrinkles, I can see it watching out the window. We just try to make the most of it, when and while we can.

Short Weekend Escapade

Early in April, since we both (me and Bogdan) had some difficult couple of months, we suddenly decided to take a break for the weekend. Our batteries were very low in energy, our jobs sucked out our minds and hearts, the kids were expecting us to be in great shape for the Easter holidays we planned since last December.  So, on Friday evening we were in the car, in our way to Arbanassi, Bulgaria, a small and picturesque village near Veliko Tarnovo, UNESCO heritage. The weather prognosis was bad, so we had in mind only "sleep, a lot of sleep and quiet".

But... surprise! when we woke up, the sun shone over the mountain, and our feet couldn't stand still for a minute more. Bogdan did a bit of internet research, and suddenly we had a plan: the waterfall from Hotnitsa, the monasteries from Dryanovo and Elena. Bonus: the Bacho Kiro Cave. 

Beautiful spring landscapes and lots of pictures on the way...

Hotnitsa waterfall is a piece of heaven on earth, and trust me, is not a big word.

As Wikipedia says: The Dryanovo Monastery (Bulgarian: Дряновски манастир, Dryanovski manastir) is a functioning Bulgarian Orthodox monastery situated in the Andaka River Valley, in Bulgarka Nature Park in the central part of Bulgaria five kilometers away from the town of Dryanovo. It was founded in the 12th century, during the Second Bulgarian Empire, and is dedicated to Archangel Michael. Twice burnt down and pillaged during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, the monastery was restored at it present place in 1845. It was the site of several battles during the April Uprising of 1876.

Warning

Picture source: http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/

Picture source: http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com

 Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

More of Mara

Mara was Saturday in a posing mode, so Bogdan took her for a short photo shooting in Carol Park, while Runa was doing her skating business and I was playing with Radu at the children's playground.

With no connection to the pictures, I need to tell everybody that today, early in the morning, she read for me half page from a stories book, loud and clear. I am so happy she likes to read, she even threatened Radu that she will stop reading for him if he's not listening carefully enough!

The flower in her hair is handmade by the Accessories Fairy, she is so full of creativity and imagination!

Bright Sunny Day

It was such a beautiful day yesterday, sunny and bright! 

We promised the kids that, if the weather will be beautiful, we'll spend the morning in the park, trying to teach Radu and Mara to skate on wheels (I really don't know if this is the word). 

So it was, and they both started to slide on wheels, more or less successful!

Runa being already an expert, she helped with some precious input and advice. 

I don't know if I'll ever try, but I'm sure that Bogdan will do it very soon!