This am we got up, made oatmeal (super think to stick in our bellies), and headed outside. I like that moment of the day, where we cross our houses threshold for another day. We never really know that the day (or even the next hour) will bring.
There is a never ending supply of places to meander. Today we went towards the windmills again, planning to walk the other way around the path that goes along side the old moat. On our way, we passed a play park, and Sara asked ifs she could play. Yes! She sprang around like a happy jackrabbit to get to the well designed jungle gym. It was small, but had three walls to climb (she loves those, they area inclined with small foot holders), a slide, and a little fort on the top. Her grin was a mile wide. Both her cheeks were dimpled and rosy from here smiles and her energetic play.
Across the smalljunglegym in the same park was a set of stump like things bundled together for kids to climbing.they we slippery, but Sara was in her element.
The playthings were covered with raindrops -so her clothes got soaked. I ran back to our house to get her some dry clothes. That is part of the mom job description.
When she was all played out she got back into the stroll er next to Julia. Then came the rain. Drizzle at first. Pleasant. Like it was perfume to the air. Then it was sprinkling. Okay. The grass is so green for a reason. Then it was like the rain knob was turned onto high and it was shower strength, the wind blew the rain diagonally. Even the ducks on the moat took cover. Not us. We kept walking.
The kids wre protected under the strollers rainhood. We were the only dummies getting drenched. I felt the water seep into my shoes. Water made my jeans cling to my legs. But we kept walking. How long could it last? And it was sort of fun anyway. We past a draw bridge. We kept walking. The were no bikers passing us on the path. There were no other families out. No dog walkers. Just us, plodding along the pebbly path along the old moat. We were quiet. Just stepping forward into the rain.
Finally Dan suggested we head into the streets of town. Yeah. I agreed. There was so much rain there was a puddle in the strolle by Julia's feet. But the kids were snug and dry. The rain was mealy verticle once we got onto the streets of town. A nice change from diagonal. The wind was blocked by the houses and othe small buildings. Nothing in brugge is taller than three strories. It is awesome that way. Like a time warp.
We decided one place for lunch. It was across town, but we have feet and they work, even if they were sloshy. Around bends, across squares, up and over foot bridges - we forged ahead.
Made it. Our lunch place was the only brewery in town. Beer is in Belgium what wine is to France. Even I like it. It is complex, tasty, and cheaper that water. We had stew. We had beer. We enjoyed the fireplace. Then, it was back outside. Not raining anymore.
Our walk back took us into some tiny chocolate shops, where there's room for maybe three customers, but that is fine. I usually pick out our bounty, then fork over the five euros to pay for our 200 grams. Totally worth it. Nothing i the USA compares to this stuff. Really.
Then Dan needed to start telecommuting, so we came back to our little house on our little street. Time for naps and to dry off a bit.
Next post about the remainder of the day.
-lori
When she was all played out, we contined
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