Exciting Book News

I just got of the phone with my publisher, and I've paid to get the second book "Where do Elephants Live?" published. Yeah!!!
My Author's copy of the first book is on it's way to me too, which means it will soon be available to buy on Amazon and other websites - Yeah!!!

I'll keep you updated!!!

Fall Colors

Attending Church his morning with Alyson was very special for me, as it was today that Oma Kathe was buried back at home. The drive after breakfast down Owl Creek Road was just amazing. The colors are truly beautiful right now! This could possibly be my favorite season.

In Memory

Last night at Midnight I received a text from Joy, notifying me that our Oma had passed away in her sleep on Tuesday night in South Africa.
This picture was taken at Oma and Opa's 50th wedding anniversary, she was such a wonderful person, whole wholeheartedly good, kind and absolutely wonderful. My fondest memory of all is her home cooked food.

Liebe Oma, Du bist meine Heldin, mit alles was du in deinem Leben erfahren hast. Ich habe dich unendlicch lieb! Danke fuer die besten zeiten mit dir.
Viele Grusse auch an Pappa.

Deine Ilse

The First Snow :)

I just had to show this picture. The first snow is here and it's only September, 18th. It's pretty late, and I just got home after school and babysitting, so I'll write more tomorrow...

IT'S BALLOON TIME

Waking up at 06:30 am this morning, I made my way to the Hot Air Balloon festival in Snowmass to volunteer this morning with Alyson. Unfortunately the event was canceled, but I did meet the pilot who we were supposed to help out for the day - Mr. Martin Hill - he was awesome, and I promised to sign up with him next year again. After some weather debate two pilots inflated their balloons - just amazing - and Isabella & I got a little ride in one of them, just 50 feet, but still the feeling is addicting. I might just have to scrape together $250 for a real flight.

Aaaagh, what a nice Sunday morning!
A wonderful adventure in good old Aspen, CO. USA.

Miss Ilse's Playgroup

I just had a wonderful morning. I have started a little playgroup every Monday and Wednesday morning with Willow, Isabella, Tanner & Miles. They were super good and after we played in the sand box learning all the different ways you can use any object to fill something else, we made fans with colored paper and art. A busy three hours, but boy what fun these kiddies are!

My Latest Adventure

(Click on the image for full view, Back button for the blog again)

Alyson and I did it, we hiked from Crested Butte to Aspen in 06:59:30. But let me begin at the beginning. We had a private plane ride over the Rocky Mountains at 8am in the morning. Travis (the Pilot) owed Greg (My Host dad) a favor and we were the recipients of this favor - lucky us!!! Leaving at 8am we had beautiful weather and flew past the maroon bells over to Crested Butte. This was a mere 20 minute flight. From the airport we had to hitch hike, because the taxi number was disconnected...So four guys from Austin, Texas gave us a ride to town, from the we hitched a ride with Chad (a local in Crested Butte) who took us passed Gothic (Another little town) to the trail head, but unfortunately he took us little to far, and once we realized we were headed to wrong way hitched again to the trail starting point... 10:30 and we start our hike. Heading out very excitedly we passed Judd falls and then Copper Lake, before a steep uphill to reach the summit. From there is was gradually downhill all the way, with Aspen leaves changing color and nature to impress us. During the hike we got a little confused about how long the actual trail is and how far along we were on it, when I suddenly saw the sign that lead us in the wrong direction a few weeks ago when we attempted this hike. It was our salvation, and we successfully completed the entire 16+ miles (+-27km) in just under 7 hours. Getting to the road we had to catch a ride again, because the buses stopped running , and our ride was kind enough to take us all the way to our car at the airport. With Pizza, beer and a Epson Salt Jacuzzi bath, we both went to bed early to relax our tired muscles and bones... with 10 hours of sleep I feel absolutely wonderful, with no aches or pains :) It was truly a great adventure with a plane ride and then the beautiful hike with Alyson. Aaaagh!

Life is Interesting.

What a weekend I had... I shall have nothing but a fond memory of it though :)

Well, that's life!

Back to reality, I had a killer babysitting weekend. 5 hours Saturday night (for the Guggenheim Family), 12 hours on Sunday (2pm - 2am...) and after working Monday too babysitting again from 8pm - 2am. I made some good cash of course to pay off that lingering $2300 plane ticket for home, which all in all is a very good thing!!!
My homework is done, and today even Alyson will come to my math class with me - yeah! School is in full gear, with all 4 classes officially starting this week. There go my Tuesday's and Thursday's again... Oh, and check out for my book it is planned to complete the final review for the new graphic design layout this week - yeah!!! Ok, gotta go, gotta go...