Hi @Creativejan
Nice to have you back and glad you can include creative time in your life once again.
Terri
3 Likes
Hi Sonia.
What a beautiful day for that drive.
Terri
1 Like
@Meme5 so beautiful 
thanks for sharing!.How may miles did you drive from east to west?
That’s all amazing. Congrats on being discharged!!!
Brenda
1 Like
2 Likes
This has been my “favorite branch” for quite some time. It is just a few feet from my bird feeders, so birds sit here often providing great photo opportunities. Unfortunately, the birds have removed so much of the bark that the branch is dying and has reached the “breaking point”. It used to be completely horizontal, but now the end is resting on the ground. Thankfully my thoughtful husband said he will do his best to mow around it and leave it until it falls to the ground.
3 Likes
@Meme5 wow, what a long journey through only one part of one country! It is so different when you go through Europe. It like starting in cologne ( wester Germany and drive through Germany, Luxemburg, france and end in Barcelona 
. I was once (25 years ago) in Florida and since then I know why American cars function like they do… also different to the european once. I love to drive both. I hope your ride is full of wonderful moments!
2 Likes
Dear Terry, what a both lovingly and sad story about the branch. You would most likely seeing me drawing it 1.000 times to catch it’s aging.
Where I grew up, we had quite some very old trees. A beloved pine tree in my village was several hundred years old and had been painted by many artists, before it died a few years ago.
2 Likes
Yep, @Elina - I totally can confirm this.
When my former boy friend worked in Brussels, we had a fabulous flat near Grand Place. It’s been only a 2,5 hours drive from where we lived in Germany, but we traveled several countries (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium).
That’s what I love about Europe: countries, culture, history and languages are very closed.
Haha, but some folks at my town would still consider Cologne as a non go area. 
1 Like
@Buddy oh, interesting point of view! Why could cologne seem to be a no-go-area? I am really interested in this, because I can not imagine which kind of story is behind this idea🤔…
Yes, it is a bit funny, when you know the city☺️
Hi Elena, you don’t know this story??? Lol.
Just that you and everybody know - I wasn’t born in Düsseldort and didn’t know about this story before I settled in (and still don’t care now), but for anyone born here, it’s THE important issue they would always tell you.
Okay, here you are:
It’s a legend, so who knows, if any and which parts are half true.
Düsseldorf and Cologne are about 25 miles apart, so it’s a short trip either by car or train. It’s a wonder that there are any official traffic connections. Worringen, you need to know, is a small town halfway between Düsseldorf and Cologne.
THE BATTLE OF WORRINGEN, 5th of June 1288
Back then, there has been a war of succesion between the archbishop Siegfried von Westerburg and the duke Johann von Brabant of cologne. At that time, cologne has already been a town of about 20.000 people, while little Düsseldorf has been a village of about 200-400 people.
Those who don’t know: Düsseldorf is now the capital of Nordrhein-Westfalen, a Bundesland in Germany.
Well, history says, the inhabitants from both cities fought side by side in this battle to help Siegfried, but nobody knows for sure. If you aks lokals today, they insist they fought against each other. Cologne and Siegfried on one side, Düsseldorf and Johann on the other side.
Well, Düsseldort won this battle and the archbishop was thrown out of Cologne with all his entourage. The folks in Düsseldorf were so happy about the victory that they danced back all their way home from Cologne to Düsseldorf on there hands.
In German, this is called “Radschläger”, but there doesn’t seem to exist any word in English.
From this time on, you will find Radschläger anywhere and anytime possible in Düsseldorf, telling their story about how the little Düsseldorf outplayed huge Cologne. You will find figures, wells, flea markets or even souvenirs with Radschläger. When there is a concert, a football game etc, both towns make sure, everyone else know about the story.
Here you are with a picture of Radschläger in Düsseldorf, down town
Have fun,
Buddy
@Buddy ahhhh, now I got it! I didn’t recognise you are talking about Düsseldorf.I am born on the other side of the river Rhein, in Neuss… and yes, there are some funny stories like this😅even with Neuss and Düsseldorf… all looooooonnnggg time ago stories.
Of cause I know the Radschläger figures all around Düsseldorf 
Thank you for your storytelling, I injoyed it much!
Hi @Elena - haha, I don’t know any looooong ago story about Neuss and Düsseldorf. Would you like to tell me?
Haha, the world is small. I was born and grew up in a tiny village at Niederrhein. Neuss is just across the river Rhein.
@Buddy oh my gosh, I am on purpose more than 3000 km away from the city I was born😃…maybe you like to find it out by yourself! For example: why the figure on the biggest church in town looks direction Düsseldorf.
Happy 4th of July to all who celebrate!
Wishing you a day filled with joy, color, and creativity, whether you’re watching fireworks light up the sky or letting your imagination light up your sketchbook.
Art and freedom go hand in hand, both give us space to express ourselves, tell our stories, and share what matters most.
Have a safe and inspiring holiday, and may your creativity shine as brightly as today’s celebrations! 
Jessica
3 Likes
How inspirational. Thanks Jessica !!!
I’m leaving shortly to go to the local parade, camera in hand.
Terri
2 Likes
Here are some photos from the 4th of July Parade in Spicer, Minnesota. It’s a little town by where I live with a population of just over 1,000. I bring my camera, walk up to complete strangers and ask if I can take some photos. They are all great and don’t even ask who I am. My goal today was to get one photo I really like for the “Photography - Holiday” category at the upcoming county fair.
Terri Robichon
3 Likes
Terri @robichon
I love them all, but my absolute favorite 
is the last one! Those two boys show how busy at play they’ve been already, taking a break, and planning their next move! 
I recognize that look having worked with Pre-k to 5th graders as a bilingual teaching assistant for 20 years. 
Sonia Alonzo
2 Likes