Posts Tagged ‘ken kalla’

H H H Harrogate

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

In Hertford, Hereford,and Hampshire, Hurricanes hardly happen (ok, name that musical)!

After driving over Hill and Dale (and some of this area is called “the Dales” known for country wandering) we came upon the city of Harrigate.  It is a good size, victorian, home to an Air Force Base as well as a large radar installation (Huge Golf Balls detecting anything and everything in the entire W. Hemisphere).

We were hoping to meet up with a JAG officer just assigned to the area and pass on a hug from his RB mother, but we didn’t connect.  Beautiful flower beds, shops and a deeeelightful lunch at ” The Slug and Lettuce” restaurant (I didn’t have a salad, I had cottage pie and a strawberry cider).

Barnoldswick, UK

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

andy is jealous because of this pictureThe most pleasant of English country towns you will ever find! The Kallas’ and the Morales’ dropped in on friends, Gail and Karl, and cousins Carol and Chris…friends and family!

Picture rolling lush green hills, dotted with fluffy sheep and frolicking lambs, stack stone fences and corner pubs, steak and kidney pie, and puddings, pints and pubs. “oh to be in England, now that spring is here (name that author).”

Daffodils line every lane and drizzle freshens each morning.  Tho’ we still bundle up as it’s in the 40’s and 50’s, inside it is cozy and the aromas of Karls cooking warms the soul.

Hoping to help Gail during her (English) Mothers’ Day rush,we found we were of most help staying out of her way in the teeny flower shop. Steve was a “runner” for some deliveries  but we depended on Karl to show us more of his neck of the woods.

Four In A Shoebox

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

The Kallas’ and Morales’ ventured north by overnight train to St. Petersburg — a 400 miles, 8  hour excursion on a train with sleeping cars. You’re  placed 4 to a berth (so we were glad to be with folk we knew) and the minimal bathroom was at the end of the coach. I would generously estimate the space as 5′ x 7′ and you folded the 4 beds down from the wall. We hysterically undressed in the dark on our bunks as we chugged along,with our 5 suitcases tucked under our lower beds and also on the floor. Steve got a lower bunk for his mid-night runs to the bathroom!

San Fran And Points North

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

We finished the Pfizer year with a convention by the bay. We had a great view high atop the Westin in the center of everything.  The weather was blustery but it did not keep us from seeing the town and having a Montalcino reunion with the Rutters:  Tom, Donna, and Justine!

Once again it was the HopOn Hopoff bus for me as I was on my own this trip. I rode the whole circuit before hoping off on the second go-around. Ghiradelli, Union Square,AG Ferrari’s,Williams Sonoma all enticed me.

But it was great to pick up Ken and Donna Kalla at the airport and journey up to Napa Valley. We had a super time and the wine wasn’t bad either! Since we had driven  instead of flown, we had a car to go and see so much. Great food, good company, tasty wines and beautiful changing colors.

Steve and I had a magnificent year of travel, and the locations were made that much more special by the people we saw and spent time with. To God be the glory for being a great travel agent and guide.

 

Wall Wisdom

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Ultimately we are tying everything we do, together with Scripture verses. These verses were selected by a committee before we got here and then sent to us, translated in the native tongue of Chichawa. Then Awesome Ken and Donna Kalla printed it out in long strips in a healthy-sized font for us to trace onto the walls.

They are accompanied by paintings we did of some of the incredible birds of Malawi.  I guess if I were a bird-watcher, I would know that this country has over 400 species of amazing birds.  I’m not gonna translate  the verses for you, look them up!