Last Week

I thought I should write about what we did last week... For the most part, Dad and I sat around the house and let time catch up with us. We did take one day and go to the open market in the city center. We have pictures that I'll have to put on the Kodak Gallery (formerly Ofoto) later.

Since we were downtown we were going to go to the office to have lunch with Timothy, but our morning outing didn't take as long as I thought it would so we had time on our hands and I was wondering what to do. I remembered the little workshop, Demsar, where the man makes stringed instruments by hand. I warned Dad that I hadn't brought my map so we may not find it, but I knew enough not to get us lost completely.

I led us right to the front door! I was slightly proud of myself. Mr. Demsar wasn't in, but a man let us look at some items, including a child's violin (so tiny!). He gave me a pamphlet and I told him my mother-in-law would probably want to come by when she's there in July. As we were walking out the door he asked where we were from and I told him that I grew up in Michigan, where my father still lived, but before moving to Ljubljana my husband and I lived in Nashville. "Wait here!" He went to the back and came out a minute later telling us we needed to go back there. The guitar maker was there and a man had just come to pick up a guitar.

In a back room some guy was slapping a beautiful handmade guitar to death! It was pretty incredible what sounds he was getting out of that thing. Dad asked him if he'd ever been to Nashville and he said, "Not yet." (Watch out for the Slovene named Sasha! He's comin' to town!) They told us when we come back to call. I guess I'm somebody b/c I lived in Nashville.

Other than that, we ate out one night at the Mexican restaurant and had ice cream and listened to Macedonian folk music in Preseren Square. Dad joined me in my walk to Mercator a couple times and I was glad to have him since it's harder and harder to push the stroller up hill. He's even started saying "Dan," (short for good day) to the locals we meet!

I'm praying Timothy gets caught up at work and can take more than one day off next week so we can see the lakes and drive to the Croatian coast next week when Dad comes back from Germany.

Kranjska Gora

We had a great trip to Kranjska Gora and are already planing to go back. It's only an hour's drive up there and we drove right to our B&B where we had reservations for the night. We enjoyed a nice dinner (more flare than food though maybe) and then settled in for the night. We were all very tired.

The next morning we had the typical European breakfast with other English speakers from this side of the pond. There were two English couples there who were very friendly and nice to chat with.

After breakfast we checked out and headed for the hills...I mean, mountains. We drove up the mountain and back down the other side until we reached Izvir Socha (source of the Socha River). All of this is of course documented on video. We were told that this was not a difficult path to this spring; it should only take us about 10 minutes walking to get there. We got about half way down the path and there was two signs. Dad decided to see where the other would take him, but Timothy and I stayed true to our goal.

Unfortunately, we missed the markings for the path and started up a steep slope with lots of loose gravel. As much as I wanted to see this lake I really didn't want to slip and fall on my belly, so I headed back down, falling once on my bottom.

When I got back to where the gravel, and sunshine, had started I noticed the red markers pointing in another direction. Aha! It continued in the easy manner the first half of our trek was then I noticed a thick wire to my right, fastened into the rocks. As my lonely walk went on and started turning into a side-ways walk on the side of the rock I realized what that wire was for; it was for hanging onto. It really wasn't that hard of a climb as long as I took my time and paid attention to loose or wet rocks.

The noise was getting louder and the rocks were looking wetter so I figured I must be getting close. I came out or around...or something... and Dad was sitting down there by the lake. He looked a little surprised to see me and told me later it made him nervous to watch ol' pregnant woman stepping down those rocks.

The source of the river is evidently a spring that comes up in a lake that's pretty much hidden by rock. There was an opening in the mountain and we could partially see what it looked like. I wanted to see how close I could get into the "cave" and was about to step onto a pile of rocks when I noticed a slight waver over them. The water was so clear I almost stepped in it. I took one shoe and sock off and put my bare foot in. It was pretty cold, but then, I was feeling pretty warm, so it was a good combination.

Dad and I sat down there for several more minutes then decided we'd better head out. Dad filled up the water bottle we'd brought along and we climbed back up with the help of the trusty wire.

When we got back to the starting point there was Timothy and Clay. I was glad he hadn't noticed the markers and tried to get down there with Clay in the backpack. He and Dad went back while Clay and I shared an ice cream. I'm supposed to be fasting from ice cream this year (not for spiritual reasons), but I thought after that accomplishment I deserved it.

Back to Kranjska Gora and meet up with Kristin. She took us to her house and we had some great conversation and delicious cake. After an hour or so more of their friends showed up and her husband and two sons took us all to their farm. They have Arabian horses, llamas, a Scottish highland bull (like an overgrown puppydog), reindeer and dogs. We couldn't find the cats and there was another animal, but I can't remember what it's called. It looked like a smaller llama but with more hair around his neck.

We were so tired when we got back here Saturday night, but obviously we slept great! It's early Monday evening now; Dad left for Germany this morning, Timothy should be here any minute and we need to eat and run. Ivana went to Tolmin to get her car and she should also be walking in the door any second.

Catching Up

Sure, I give this blog site out to new people and then don't write on it for weeks on end. I would like to send out a long update about our trip to the U.S.; what we did, who we saw, etc. But, there are other things that need to be taken care of first. What also makes it a bit difficult is Dad being here. Not that he's high maintenance, I just feel like I should be giving him the attention I would normally give to the computer or telephone.

Dad, Clay and I have been enjoying these beautiful days and have taken several walks around the neighborhood and/or to the grocery store. Clay is finally warming up to him, especially when Grandpa has ice cream or another something yummy to share. They've been playing ball, climbing on the fence and other little activities.

Timothy was working till 10:00 p.m. a few nights last week while Clay and I were still in the States, so I think he's about caught up. He's had to work this week so it's been quiet around the house. Next week Dad will be in Germany so I can do some more catching up. The following week Dad will be back here and Timothy will take some time off so I'm sure we'll be a bit more active again.

This evening we're going to drive to Kranjska Gora, one of the most beautiful parts of Slovenia. I have an American girlfriend who lives up there and hopefully we'll get together tomorrow afternoon. Her husband collects animals and she was telling me about all the new babies they have on the farm, including a white baby reindeer (very rare) and black baby llama.

I had another baby check up yesterday. I've gained 4 kilos in the past month (almost 9 pounds) and the doctor told me I need to be eating better. My clothes still fit the same so I wonder if it was just water weight? I did drink a lot of water yesterday morning, and we've been traveling. It's almost impossible to eat well when you travel. Oh well, I'm not worried about it.