Happy Halloween!

  • October 31, 2008 6:21 PM

Happy Halloween from me and my uh…”grandmother”.  This photo was taken on Halloween in 1984, when I was 5, and he she was 9.

Halloween 1984

Halloween, 1984

This year, my Halloween started at the local police department where I was fingerprinted. No, I didn’t egg the sherriff’s house or anything fun like that. One of the documents I need for Belgium is an FBI Identification Record, or in other words, my criminal record history stating that I’m not fleeing the law. To do this, I had to get my fingerprints taken. Fun, fun. Actually, it wasn’t that bad. They said they do it all the time for people who are moving overseas.

Rubblework Scarf

  • October 29, 2008 12:54 PM
Dallas models the Rubblework Scarf

Dallas Models the Scarf

I had to get something crafty up here on my new blog, so…
Here is the first thing I made a couple weeks ago to try out my new-to-me sewing machine…a scarf that has since been sent to NC. The recipient seemed to like it.  :)  The scarf is the Rubblework pattern by Pink Chalk Studios. It was very easy to follow, and took maybe an hour to make. The back is soft flannel, so it is very warm. I think I will be making some more of these sometime in the future.

Rubblework Scarf

Scarf on the Back Deck

Just the Facts, Ma’am

  • October 28, 2008 10:14 PM

Thank you so much for the well wishes, everyone.  I’m very excited about the move, but also stressed and a little nervous.  I appreciate you letting me know that you made it over to my new blog.  I was a little afraid that I would lose you all in the site change.  Don’t forget to update your feedreaders and links.

Now that it’s out in the open that we’re moving, I’ve been getting a few questions about it.  Hopefully this will help.

Belgium Books

Belgium Books

All about Belgium

  • The entire country is about the size of Maryland.
  • The northern part speaks Dutch and the southern part speaks French.
  • Brussels is the capital and both languages are officially spoken there.
  • Belgium is bordered by The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea.
  • On a train from Brussels, Paris is 1:45 hours away, London is 2:30 hours away, and Amsterdam is 2:45 hours away.
All about Our Move
  • When do you leave?
    We’re planning on spending Christmas week with my family in Texas, and will head out from there around the 29th.
  • How long will you be in Belgium?
    We’ll be there for at least 2 years, but it is basically open-ended.
  • Where will you live?
    We haven’t quite figured this out yet.  Thomas’ job will be in Mons, but it’s a small, quiet town, so we’re thinking about living in Brussels.  The downside is that Thomas’ commute would be about an hour, which is what he currently does here in Atlanta.
  • Do you speak French or Dutch?
    Nope, not really.  I studied French from elementary school through college, so I’m hoping it will come back to me.  Thomas can recognize some Dutch words from his Swedish background, but he’s currently taking an Intro to French class.
  • Will you be able to work there?
    Because Thomas is an EU citizen (Swedish), I will be able to work there.  If he was American, I would not.  It will take a couple of months for the paperwork to go through for me, and I’ll need some time to learn the language.  In the meantime, I get to work on my hobbies – travel, photography, and sewing.
  • Are you selling your house?
    Because of the current market, I don’t think we’ll be able to sell our house right now.  Instead, we’re going to try to rent it out, and hopefully the market will improve in time.
  • What about Clover?
    She’s been living with my parents in NC since July, when we went on our first Belgium trip.  After we confirmed that we were going to do this, we decided to have her stay there.  We could take her with us, but with the travel we’re hoping to do, it will be easier without her.  It’s hard to not have her snuggles everyday, but she loves being with her sister (my parents have her littermate) and my parents are taking good care of her — though we love to see more photos of her. :)
  • What do your parents think of all this?
    Maybe my mom will leave a comment on this one, but I think they’re excited for me.  They’ve already mentioned coming over to visit and have been very supportive and encouraging.  I think they see it like I do – a great opportunity at a great time in our lives – though like parents do, they worry about us too.
  • What are you doing with all of your stuff?
    We’ll take a lot with us, but since we’re going from a 4-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apartment, we’ve been trying to downsize and declutter.  Some of our furniture has gone on Craigslist, we’ve sold a ton of books, and we’ll put some in storage.  We’re really looking at this as an opportunity to live simply.
  • What about your bus?
    We’re not able to take any vehicles, so the bus will be going into storage.  My brother is going to take my Honda, and Thomas will be selling his motorcycle.
  • Can I come visit?
    Yes, please!  Just let us know when you want to come.  We have loved having visitors in Atlanta, and I’m hoping for just as many in Belgium.  At the least, we can provide couch-space and tour around with you.
So, did I forget anything?  Got any other questions for me?

Welcome, Bienvenu, Welkom

  • October 25, 2008 11:29 AM

I’m so glad you made it over to my new blog.  Please be sure to update your feed readers and links when you get a chance.

The big news is…

We’re moving to Belgium!

Thomas’ company is opening a new office in Belgium and offered him a position to help get it started.  We decided that it would be a great adventure for us.  We’ll be moving over just after the Christmas holiday.

Dallas and Thomas at Grand Place

Dallas and Thomas in Grand Place - Brussels Belgium

Big News

  • October 25, 2008 11:28 AM

Sunflower

Thomas and I have some big news.  This is something that we have been working towards for a while now – pretty much since we got married, and finally, we’re just a couple of months away, so I’m ready to share…

But first… I’ve finally created a new blog. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and I figured this new chapter in our life would be a perfect opportunity. Check it out and leave me a comment to let me know you made it on over.

http://FortheJourney.net

Sunflower

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