Author: cometsgirl

My precious Texas grandkids put together back-to-back field trips when I journeyed to Texas for a visit last week.

They planned visits to Ft. Worth Botanic Garden one day, and to Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden the next.

Did you notice anything in the names of the gardens?

Botanic. Botanical.

It seems both are acceptable, and there is no difference between them. Botanical was more common in 21st-century English, while Botanic was more common up to the 20th century, but has gradually faded out of use.

We began our 1st field trip to Ft. Worth Botanic Garden with liquid sustenance.

The gardens were beautiful. There was a playful sense because of the various figures seen around the paths.

Beauty around every turn.

We had a lovely few hours touring the grounds.Then it was time for burgers!

Perhaps we should have ordered a blooming onion.

Later we all gathered at the parent’s home for a Texas BBQ dinner. There is nothing like Texas BBQ with family!

Up early the next day, we once again began the day with liquid sustenance for the drive to Dallas.

The Dallas gardens felt more formal than those of Ft. Worth.

All the paths led to garden beauty.

Then it was time for pizza!

Georgia and Jack were wonderful companions for our nature walks. (Full disclosure – I availed myself of a wheelchair at each location for some of the walks. Jack pushed.) Time with these young people was a gift of their beauty.

A late afternoon treat to conclude the Spring grandkids tour. We will resume the tour in the Fall.

This mail was just delivered:

Thanks to Georgia for sharing her photographs.

Traveling mercies.

I’m headed to Texas this day. I’ll land at the Dallas/Ft.Worth airport; my lodging is in Keller with the parents; and I’ll see my granddaughter and grandson in Arlington where they live.

Actually, the plans they have made for my visit are fluid with respect to locale.

I’m struck with the kids having planned the visit. I’m delighted they have done so.

From…

…to

And of course…

I’ll be sharing meals with grandkids and parents for the next three days. I call that abundance.

“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.” Psalm 36:8

When navigating through security this morning, I was charmed by what I first thought was a sheep service animal In fact, it was a dog wearing Mary Jane shoes.

Off I go!

Traveling mercies.

The two largest islands in the Faroe Islands are Streymoy and Eysturoy. Each stretches way to the north, and then to the south. Each is defined by the fjords that border their east and west sides.

We spent a day driving up, across, down, back up, over and over on both islands.

We even detoured to Torshavn on Streymoy, to buy stamps at the post office since it would be closed the next day for Flag Day.

A surreal sunrise to begin the day.

Departure was before coffee shops and bakeries opened, which led to my barista talent in a small grocery store.

Then we were off on an adventure!

Every curve brought beauty.

And wonder.

And sheep of course.

Small towns find shelter in the curves

Narrow roads that seem to go on forever.

And fields turning green as Spring is upon the Faroes.

The vastness.

The vistas!!

I walked up this “trail”. A high point?

Oh, and more of these.

An invitation to continue on…

There is much lolling

Water falls are everywhere!

So are churches.

Waters of the fjords come in different shades of color.

And tunnels. Always tunnels.

From sunrise to sunset. A glory-filled day.

It was a great adventure. It was colď. It was blustery. It was the Faroe Islands!

This day, Sunday, April 27, 2025, the 2nd Sunday in Easter, we worshipped at Kaldbaks Kitrkja.

The drive to church was filled with the Faroe Islands version of waterfalls. After a good rain, water finds its way down through any crevice it can find.

We had a rainbow!

We pulled over quickly to see a glorious waterfall.

Not much further down the road. we arrived at the small, beautiful kitrkja.

Time for worship. Listening to the words both said and sung in Faroese.

Ida Lykke Kannuberg, prestur (pastor) led the service. She preached. I could make out the words – Jesus and Thomas. I knew today’s Gospel was about Thomas and Jesus.

We, well the congregation, sang the many hymns beautifully.

I knew the tune of the last hymn, 205. I could follow, but not pronounce the words, so I hummed along.

Afterwards we spoke with Prestur Ida and told her how wonderful the worship was. It was a real gift to me.

Across the road, a watchful sheep wishing us God speed.

Yesterday was Flag Day in the Faroe Islands.

Across the islands people flew the Faroese flag.

Flag Day in the Faroe Islands is an annual event on 25 April. It is a Public Holiday and it always includes parades, speeches, and brass music.

It marks the day when BBC announced that Faroese vessels should use their own flag Merkið when at sea. As BBC aired the news in several languages, the message reached all corners of the world.

The flag of the Faroe Islands is an offset cross, representing Christianity. It follows the traditions of other Nordic flags, such as the Dannebrog (Flag of Denmark).

The flag is called Merkið, meaning “the banner” or “the mark”. It was designed in 1919 by Jens Oliver Lisberg and other students in Copenhagen.

Merkið was first used for sporting events and other cultural gatherings.

The Faroese flag design includses the Nordic cross and the colours red, white, and blue. The red and blue are endemic in traditional Faroese clothing and consider the islands’ close connection to Iceland and Norway, whose flags also bear these colours. The white background symbolised waves breaking onto the Faroese shores.

We received a printout of road closures a few days prior to Flag Day. We journeyed south to the island of Sandoy for the day.

Upon arrival in Sandoy, I purchased a bag of 10 flags to install across the island.

Locals flocked to view.

I had great fun choosing places. Importantly, the flag had to be secure in the high winds.

From near and far they came to see.

Returning to Torshavn, we walked around a bit as the day with all its festivities was coming to a close.

It was a wonderful day to honor the flag and the people of the Faroe Islands.

A day that begins with local pastries and breads, and ends with dinner at a top restaurant, is a delicious day.

Breyðvirkið bakery specializes in selling handmade organic sourdough bread and pastries. It is open four days a week- at 7:30a.

On those days we arrive early and carry off delicious baked goods. Wednesday was no different.

Then it was off to do some local shopping. There was one shop in particular that I was interested in as it is filled with items made and crafted by local artisans.

It’s located on the waterfront.

I loved shopping here. As the young woman manager wrapped up my purchases, we had such a lovely chat. Then I walked out with a nice bagful of Faroese art!

We took an eye-popping, beautiful nature drive across lower Streymoy Island, to the sea.

During the 2023 visit to the Faroes, we learned about a wonderful local Italian restaurant. Reservations only. We scored a reservation and had one of the best meals ever!

Of course we returned.

Toscana is a small, cosy restaurant serving Italian cuisine.

The owner and chef recognized us as having been there before and dropped by for a short conversation. Fun!

It was a very delicious day indeed.

Having been to the Faroe Islands four times, we have navigated so many islands, we are familiar enough to decide on our first whole day in the Faroe Islands, we would make it an anything can happen day.

After a cappuccino and a croissant with cheese and jam, of course.

We chose the tunnel with the art in the middle round-about.

An exit toward Eysturoy Island would take us to Navia. It’s a beautiful yarn and woolens store on the waterfront.

Then we went wandering.

Then, as late afternoon approached, it was time to return home.

Finally back where we began. Tórshavn

It was quite a wonder-filled day. For everyone.

Twenty-three hours from my home to landing at Vagar Airport, Faroe Islands.

As we descended to Vagar airport, I looked out the window only to see the island right there!

Rumor has it while wearing my Apple Air Pods, I looked out the window, saw the sight, and called out for all to see. I was not aware of my level of exuberance.

I was so loud not only did the flight crew hear me, but a good portion of the aircraft as well

I was just so startled to see the sight of Vagar Island right outside my window.

But… before that, I flew to Chicago to meet my traveling friend. After about a 9-10 hour layover, we boarded Icelandair for Reykjavik, Iceland.

Check out what I saw out my window…

…the Northern Lights. Amazing!

I’ll leave you for now with a view of the art show in one of the tunnels. This one runs from Streymoy Island to the Island of Eysturoy.

Seems odd. Feels odd. Is odd.

I’m headed to the Faroe Islands this day. This night.

As I waited for my flight, I noticed the colors of aircraft taxiing. Easter eggs.

From a parking lot overseer, to a stranger calling out that my blue hair was “Spring”, to the baggage checker;

to wheelchair drivers, to orange juice pourer extraordinaire…

greetings and smiles met me as I navigated Hartsfield-Jackson.

Poet, Mary Oliver, has words for me – for all of us – this Easter Day.

Come along.

Traveling mercies.

The Spring grandkids tour continues. I flew from Des Moines where I had attended the Revival, to Denver. Nathan attends Colorado State University in Fort Collins, about an hour north of Denver.

Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure of spending several hours riding through the Colorado Rockies with Nathan.

Nathan picked The Yampa Sandwich Shop for lunch. Located in Old Town Fort Collins, it’s designed for diners to decide how their sandwich is to be built. Our sandwiches were delicious!

Then we were on our way.

We boarded the Swagon, his 1996 Volvo Stationwagon, for a drive up and alongside the Cache la Poudre River.

The day was perfect, a real show-off day.

Along the way we talked. And kept talking.

It’s delightful to chat with him. He has a unique perspective on many things. He’s fun to listen to. He’s smart.

From talking about his classes, to the fairness to others around public protests, I found his perspectives well thought out.

We had lots of laughs.

We talked a lot about a lot.

We began to notice the presence of snow in the area.

We had a destination in mind. We almost made it. Almost.

The road to the campground he and a friend enjoy, was closed. Covered in snow and ice.

Nathan had wanted me to see the campground. It has all the attributes he deems necessary to be a suitable spot for grilling and camping overnight.

We turned around and kept talking all along the way back.

We ended up briefly driving along a nearby reservoir. This will be for nother time while having another conversation.

It was a glorious day!