Because we're not here, we're back (on the blog)...

Dear friends and family,

It's been a lovely summer, already sliding into Fall though we resist, as summer always seems to do. We slipped out of Houston for the "intolerable days", traveling, visiting, and scheming for a few months on the east coast and then in Spain.

We have to prepare for... Burning Man (of all places) To build a giant banana peel (of all things)... updates on that, and some good jokes I'm sure, coming soon.

In the meantime, here are a few random photos from the wanderings.

We miss you all!

This is Altea, our favorite Mediterranean village

Amanda came with us this year, she likes it too!

Here we are up in the old part of Altea; a fine view of the mediterranean sea from that terrace:

The mediterranean keeps changing colors and wave-lengths, depending on what part of the coast you are on...

Above, John swims in El Albir. Bellow, Nine and John in Villajoiosa.

When we are not in the sea, we are painting…. furiously

We had a great time working with Papa Luis in the painting studio, odd and lovely to have everyone painting at once, in their own fashion.

VERY furiously!

Master Luis (Nine's grandfather) critiques Nine's work and gives a hand....

John repaints the same picture for the Nth time...

Esther is already filling the studio up...

We took a snorkeling expedition around the in-accessible "cliff-side" of Albir. There are many small islands (or "big rocks" in the water) that the birds nest in. They are surrounded by all kind of fish. Nine met a friendly octopus and petted a seahorse.