Back from Scotland!

We had two weeks of constant, very tiring sunshine, too much good Scotish food, and insane photography ops. Video and Kai pictures will be posted soon!

Happy Easter!

This year the Easter Bunny will find us in the heathery shrubs of Scotland. Wellies and rain macs are all packed and ready to go.

And here's Ila and her favorite new charity shop "toy". It's an antique cradle for dolls (although still big and sturdy enough to accommodate an almost 2 year old). Ila took great liking to it and has been sitting in the cradle pretty much all day today.

Cavewoman Ila at work

We have this little nook in the reception area, where we keep our hoover handy. Ila has taken a liking to playing inside the little nook. So I paid no attention to her, the other day, as she happily spent ten minutes quietly playing inside the nook. That is until I heard a rapid scratching sound. I've sent Rio to investigate and sure enough, Ila was sitting quietly as a mouse in front of her cavewoman masterpiece - it's a triptych by the way.

She was then given a rubber to clean up.

Spring is in the air

Finally, at last, the clocks turned forward an hour, giving us more daylight. And the sun has been making a frequent appearance. If only it were warmer. Chilly temps don't deter Rio from taking off her shoes at the playground yesterday and running around the freshly greened grass.

Another reason to come to Europe this year - you'll be able to dine out for less!

I hope this will apply to the 7 euro cafe au laits in Paris as well (personally though I'm more of a noisette person). Just in case you missed - another reason to come visit us in Europe - it'll be cheaper to eat out! and fix your shoes!

The VAT tax might be reduced to as low as 5.5 percent from 19.6 percent. Hopefully they'll get around to it before our intended spring trip to Paris.

Click below for more info:

Tax Change in Europe

Things we like to eat in London: Old Cotswold Legbar eggs

We're making an easter tree. It should be ready after few more pancake breakfasts. This year we're decorating it with our favorite new egg, the naturally pastel colored Cotswold Legbar eggs. They come in different colors, but mostly this beautiful transluscent bluish green. We've had a few that were pinkish and light green. They are truly a wonder of nature and making Easter eggs out of them is just the proper thing to do, as I always feel awful throwing away those beautiful shells.

London supermarkets are also filled with special chicken breed eggs, which is something that I haven't noticed in either New York or Paris. Anyway, my new business idea is to buy a brood of Old Cotswold Legbar chicks and start a chicken farm in Vermont. I think these would take off pretty well in the States.

Sleepover

Rio's first sleepover! Here we were expecting giggling and running till midnight (ok, I was asking for it coming up with the chocolate bug cupcake decorating contest), but the girls surprised us by going to bed willingly at ten. Then again, they were up at 6 in the morning asking for pancakes and vigorously (aka loudly) resuming their coloring/ playing activities. So perhaps it would've been better for them to stay up till midnight - at least for me.