To All The Great Folks Who Read This Blog

Hello again, All you blog readers!!

Someone is reading my blog!!!!
I had an email (I won't say who, to protect the innocent)
to tell me they looked on the blog and "WHAT" the blog
was not updated. Sooo. here it goes.
This is the last day of August. Where has the summer gone?
I have spent the last 2 days in Klagenfurt taking training on
Thermal Solar systems. I plan to put a complete system in
our new home to not only heat our domestic water but also
most of our HWH radiation (heat). I would guess almost
30% of the houses here in Austria have some sort of thermal
solar systems. In Germany 50% of all new homes are installing
thermal solar. IT IS NOT PV solar (Photovoltacis) electrical.
Europe is way ahead of the US in Solar not to mention diesel
fueled automobiles. that get better mpg then anything we have.
I see on the internet that diesels will be coming in the next few
years. And not to soon in my opinion. Hybrids are to complicated,
to expensive, to much to repair, and do not have the longevity or
enough power and economy compared to TURBO_DIESEL!!
Well, enough of that! cough! cough!! hmmmmm.Government Agency's
Hmmmmmm! Climbing off my soap box.
We are at max on our luggage weights.
With our stuff the plane will have all it can do to get off the ground!
Gloria has been busy cleaning and packing. With all our stuff you
would think we had moved over here.
We leave in 2 days. Drive accross upper Italy, avoiding the large
mountains in Switzerland to Annecy, France. (35 mi south of Geneva)
Will spend a day taking pictures there and head for the airport in
Geneva to fly out Wednesday morning Sept 5th. 22 hrs later
we will find ourselves back in Denver. One LONG day!!
If I don't send in any more blog updates. I want to thank everyone
who have kept up with us. It has ben fun doing the blog. telling little
stories and a few funnies. I wish they would have allowed larger images
but being I have taken about 10,000 images, it was always a question
which one I should post. The one this time shows that western Europe
(at least Austria and Germany) has gone color-crazy!
I thought when I first came over that it was wild!!
I now kind of LIKE it. Everybody is doing it. Yellow, red, blue, violet,
green and all shades in-between. I think I will miss it. The US will seem
sort of drab now. I'll have to re-train and have a culture-shift.
What? no more smoke filled restaurants, cars coming at me in my lane.
How will I cope?? Ahh, I babble on. I think I will be difficult for me to
drive in a straight line I have developed large steering wheel turning
muscles! Beware of me for a few weeks. I'll get better!
Well enough.
With my typing skills this has only taken an hour (speedy eh!)
Hope all is well with all who read this
Drop me an email if you have time.
I have lots of other stories
Lowell

The Last days of Summer in Austria

Well the blog-a-roooo is running out steam.
2 weeks from today we leave for the states.
I can feel a little "autumn" creeping into this
area of Austria. A little more wood smoke in
the air. The days are getting shorter as well.
There's just about enough rubber left on our
tires to get us to the airport in Geneva. Don't
know about the brakes! We have seen and
done a lot of things since we came on May 1.
I have tried to document a lot of it with images.
I think I will have close to 9000-10000 pictures.
I have been trying to keep up the organizing on
my laptop each day and deleting as I can.
Wont have much time for that when we get back to
Colorado as the new house project will keep me
busy.
Lowell
'Glorio here'
It's funny how getting ready to go home is as
forward looking as the trip itself. We went to a
wonderful concert in another town last week
They have "Kirchetag" celebrations in every town
which is Church day in our language.They celebrate
a "Saint's" day. The concert was terrific!
Lowell will be taking training in a nearby town
regarding Thermal Solar and domestic hot water
heating the last two days we are here. We hope
to include this technology in our new home.
In Colorado it would be the most efficient and
fuel saving way to go with all the sun we enjoy.
On Sept. 1, we will head for Annecy, France before
getting on the plane Sept. 5th. It will be good to be
home for our 1st grandson's 12th birthday! Hugs
Gloria

The Blog Goes ON------------ and ON!!

Aug 3rd 2007

August already! Wow are time is winding down here in the old country.
We will be getting ready to head home in a month. We have just about
traveled every road and eye-balled every "dorf," I mean village, in the
the south of Austria. There must be a million villages and towns that
their name ends in burg,furt, stein or dorf. Ah! the culture. I will miss the bad
drivers, the narrow roads, the smoky restaurants, the me first!--- Oh I regress.
What I will miss:
The flowers, the pride of ownership, the wonderfull mountains, the
Austrian architecture, the turbo-diesel cars. This is our 11th trip to Europe
in 20 years. We have been blessed to have seen so much of Europe. We
have visited 19 country's, all are different. Actually we enjoyed the different
currancy's before the euro. As far as we can tell, the EU country's are proud
that their money is worth more than the US dollar. But the cost of living has risen
a lot and that has not helped the low or middle income worker.Well, enough
of my political insight. Maybe I've stayed over here too long. If and when we
travel again, it will be time for something new. Maybe a penguin safari in the Antarctic?
or how about a non-vaction. We haven't tried that . hmmmmm!
Well what ever we go-- there we'll be!!
Its time to----------------BUILD THAT HOUSE!!!!!!!
Chow
Lowell
Gloria's 22 cents:
I don't know how it became 22 cents.! Anyhow, I am getting used to the view,
the apartment and even the people. I remarked "I could live over here".
Well, you can see how far that got me! The people need the Lord here just like
everywhere. Right now I have put Austria and indeed all of Europe as high a
priority on my prayer list as the USA. I only wish I knew the language better and could
communicate more. So much has happened since we left, of course
I miss our family, especially those little ones who keep growing up without my
"Nana eyes" seeing their changes. I hope the folks that were on the bridge in Mpls.
were ready to enter eternity. Hugs from me. God willing, I think I'll be building
"that house" too...
Gloria

Slovenia

July 22nd 2007
Wow, summer is slip-sliding away. In a month we
will be getting ready to head back to the good old
USA. Today we drove up and over and
into Slovenia for lunch. The Slovenian border is only
8 miles but takes about 20 minutes as it is has many
"hair-pins" Tomorrow we will drive down into Slovinia
to one of the oldest settled towns in Slovenia.
Ptuj -say 'P-tooee' quickly and you are close.
(kind of sounds like your spitting)
Ptuj begin life about 69 AD. A little older then some
of our towns in the USA. Should be quite interesting.
We may stay overnight, or we may not. Quite profound
right!! There is a small village close
to Ptuj named Jeruzalem. Its a small hilltop village so-
named after crusaders visiting there in the 13th century
became so enamoured with the wine and the people
that they decided to name the settlement after the
holy city. I guess they didnt go any further.
must have been crusading for wine??? or lost their map.
The weather here the last week has been quite warm
in the 30's (Not a typo) in the 90's F We are very glad
we have AC in our car. The apartment stays cool as
it has very thick walls.
If anyone wants to email me with any questions about
our trip or Europe just drop me a email at
lolson39@hotmail.com
God bless all of you
chow
Lowell

8 Days in Switzerland

Friday July 13th

We are back from our eight day trip to the Dolomites in Northern Italy and Switzerland. The weather could have been nicer, but we had a good time with our friends Snub & Eileen Liles from Cedaredge, Colorado. We traveled about 1200 miles. We lost count of the thousands of kamakazi motorcycle's that passed us. We were even passed by a bicycle. *#**#!! Not that we were going that slow but that the bicycle was going that fast (down hill) Alas, it was a women as well. Remember, what you read on this blog, -stays on this blog!!
The scenery was wonderful. The time with our friends- even better.They leave for home on the 17th. We will miss them!
Till another time
Lowell

Lost in Austria

June 27, 2007
Well, I haven't been keeping up with my blog. Must be a week
since we were in Graz. This is the first day we have stayed in
and tried to catch up. We have been on numerous cable-cars,
chair lifts etc. I think we have avg. about 150 mi each day. It
seems even more, as the roads are as curvy as a snake.
Here's a story:
A few days ago we were driving through this small valley. I saw
a old building with flowers that I thought might be a nice picture.
So I turned around and went back (something I'm good at)
Parked, whipped out the trusty camera and snapped off a picture.
Out of the corner of my eye appeared a man with no shirt, and
a somewhat large belly. Carrying something he was talking to me
in German. (and of course I understood) Anyway I did get the idea
he wanted me to take his picture. At first I thought "naw" but afterall
I did take a picture of his house or barn? So I zoomed in on him.
Clicked one off. Smiled, gave him a couple "See you later alligator"
and roared off. That night, putting my pictures on my laptop, I came
across the picture of "The Shirtless Man" To my amazment he was
holding up a Chicago Bulls Jersey Now there was no way he could
have known that we were American's. He was too far away to hear
us. And where did he come up with the clothes on a hanger so fast??
Anyway an Austrian mystery for me.
Tom,and Gene: Gene your part Austrian. Do you know this man,
could he be a relative??
Story's over
have to go
Lowell

Graz, Austria

June 19th
We made a day-trip to Graz, which is east of here about 100 mi. It is a busy city about 300,000
It is amazing to find your way thru these bigger cities as the streets twist and turn! and you never
are sure which way you are going. You just keep driving and hope you see signs to get you on the
right roads. BTW. getting lost and backing up are what I do best! After all you have to expect it.
One of the most enjoyable things we do, is to just take the map and explore. The Austrian countryside is very hilly and beautiful with small clustered villages and winding lanes. I feel sorry
for my tires!. The weather has been warm and humid. A lot like Minnesota. It sometimes will rain
in late afternoon but mostly at night. The thing about here is, if it is not so nice where you are,
5 miles away the sun will be shining. Gloria wants to tell you about one of her favorite things!
"A MAGNUM ICE CREAM BAR" They are double the size of a Eskimo bar, and come in a few different variaties. My favorite is the "double caramel" Chocolate on the outside than caramel than
vanilla. We have yet to try them all, so Gloria hasn't decided yet. Of course they are calorie-free.
I wish I could send some larger images. The blog pictures do not do them justice. I can attach images to an email and send, so if someone wants to see some larger pictures, Email me.
Have to go. Chow Lowell

Middle of June

Hello all. Last week we enjoyed a 4 hour boat trip on the WortherSee (Lake)
It is 10 mi long and quite warm (75-82 degrees)and greenish-blue.We left from
Velden (very nice resort town) on the west end of the lake. The trip to Klagenfurt
on the east end took about 2 hours as we had to transfer boats at the 1/2 way pt.
Did the same on the rtn. My thinking its so people have a choice to do only half
the lake?? The weather has been warm and humid. Some days T'storms in the afternoon.
As is quite normal in the Alps this time of year.Last monday we went to Ljubljana,
Slovenia. (pronounced "Lublana") It is only 50 mi. south but took us 1 1/2 hrs as
the roads over the mountains are VERY curvey and steep. It is a nice city. I believe
it is the smallest european capital. There are only 2 million people in Slovenia.
Its quite progressive and a lot of people speak English, which differs from Austria.
This afternoon there s a Folk-lore concert (whatever that means) in our small village
We are laying low and staying out of peoples way today. Catching up on our email and
such. Next week we may go yo Graz, Austria.Its about 80 miles east of here and is the
capital of Styria. Its in the Mur Valley, close to the foothills of the Alps in the
hilly S.E. of Austria. Hard to believe we have been here (Europe) already 1 1/2
months. I'm sure July and August will go by quickly and we are returning to the States
on Sept 5th. (a month earlier than we had planned) As some of you know a small project
awaits us!!! We hope all of you are doing well. We are healthy as Gloria keeps the
vitamin store open daily. In this remote part of Austria, no known virus' have found
out we are here (yet)!!
Gloria learned a new remedy for ants, as I was sprinkling black pepper in the door-
way, the owner of the hotel passed by and suggested baking powder. She said
or motioned that when they eat it they swell up and explode! We both had a good
laugh. Chow!
Lowell and Gloria

Living in Eisenkppel

We have been at our apartment for over a week now. This is a new experience
For us, as we are used to moving about every 5-6 days. The weather has been
Somewhat foggy with some rain. We find that if we travel away from where we
Are staying the weather changes. Yesterday we went near the Ossiach See (Lake).
And went on a boat ride. Also went up high on a gondola and a chair lift. The day
Was not so good on top of the mountain. Very windy. Seems like we stop at a market
every day to buy something. One day we went to four. They are small and have different
(strange to us) brands. The names of the stores are:- “Billa”, Spar, Lidel, Norma, Penny’s,
Alde. It is interesting trying different foods. We do get fooled sometimes, so it is, when you are in a different culture. Cereal is a real bug-boo. You never know what you will get unless you buy it in a see-through bag.
We have put 2500 miles on our lease car and 5000 miles on the tires! There are NO straight
Roads. You have to drive quite fast or the crazy people behind you will pass even on a curve.
There are no, “No Passing” signs. That should tell you something. Diesel fuel here is a lot
Less than gas. Diesel is $5.07 and gas $5.90. But their cars get much better fuel milage.
The turbo-diesel car we have gets us 40+ mpg. The same size gas car in the states would
Be lucky to get about 20-25 mpg. Do the math. Its all about TAXES! In Austria 80% of the
Cars are diesels. I think Europe has it right. They are not going down the “Hybrid” road.
Enough for now.
June 9th 2007
Lowell

Cesky Krumloc, Czech Republic

Today we are in a small "Jewel Box" of a village (Cesky Krumlov). It is 3 hours south
of Prague and about an hour north of the Austrian border. We are here 3 nights. Sunday
when we arrived it was very hot and humid. Maybe 80-85. Today---Cold and windy, maybe
50-55, brrrrr. But maybe it keeps all the japanese tour groups from running us over on
the small cobblestone streets. If any Japanese are reading this--Change it to Germans!!
Tomorrow we will travel south through Austria (about 6-7 hours I think) to our destination in Eisenkappel, Austria. The route will take us through some of Austria that we have not traveled before. It should be quite scenic. Gloria wants to put her
5 cents in now----
Lowell says don't get windy - I hope my 5 cents makes sense. The Castle apartments where we are staying is just about 15 feet to the next building. Between the buildings, on the cobblestones, is a Restaurant with several outside tables. Literally we walk out our door and 5' from the door people are sitting and eating and joyfully making Merry- their "merry" often goes until 12 am anyway also at our 3rd story attic apartment also all the smells from the grill permeates our warm noisy abode, but without the widows open we suffer the heat. I am so, so, so, thankful for the cooler weather. people stay inside, and the windows offer much needed airing out and comfort. Daily/nightly, also across to the next building, is a window where two cats sit (maybe it will be the next picture) We have had great entertainment watching them. Lowell has taken pictures of cats playing, Laying down, sleeping, stare-ing, and ready to pounce. Windows and doors - with curtains blowing or people pensively looking out. I wonder what they are pondering!!
Well my time is up and my paragraph is long. Till later... Gloria

Prague, Czech Republic

We only have 2 nights in Prague, but thats OK as we were here 2 years ago and its always more interesting the first time. Weather has been hot and humid. Tomorrow we head south to Cesky Krumlov about 3-4 hours. We have been there in 2005 but it is such a "Jewel Box" of a village that it will be nice to see again. Wednesday we leave for Eisenkappel Austria where we will have an apartment for 3 months. It h s strange to see that gasoline is going up in the States. We have been here a month and fuel has not changed. Hmmmmm!!! We have decided to return to the USA on Sept 5th. We need to get a start on our house project when the weather is still good. And 4 months is enough although it would have been nice in Switzerland in Sept. We have seen quite a lot of the old "DDR" Deutsch Democratic Republic/ East Germany. Its amazing how much has been accomplished since Nov. 1989. It will be nice for us to settle into one place for a time and do day trips from there. Slovenia is close as is Croatia and even Italy.
Enough for now
Chow
Lowell

Somewhere in Europe

Hello all,
We have been out of connecting to the web for the last 7-8 days. We are deep into
the old east Germany. South of Dresden close to the Elbe river. We will be leaving for the Czech Republic (Prague) on friday. We have had good weather. Been on bus, train and old steam ship on the Elbe. Please comment as its the only way we know that you folks are getting this blog
Chow
Lowell and Gloria

May 13th 2007

Well, We have made it to Goslar, Germany. Right on the line of the old east german separation. Very interesting. Only German tourist here. No one speaks any english. The apartment we have rented was built in 1567. The lady owner Frau Ebert rattles on in German as if we understood every word. And of course WE DO!!!! Hmmm. It is very clean but has squeaky floors and slants a little. I almost roll out of bed easly in the morning. We are taking a lot of pictures. The old timber framed houses are really quaint. Right now we drove around until my laptop picked up someone's Wi-Fi signal.
Parked ane are in touch with the world! The food is great. Gloria loves the salads and I LOVE the kartoffelsalat (potato salad)
On wed we leave for the Dresden area and the Elbe (river)
Chow
Lowell and Gloria

Rothenburg, Germany May 6th 2007

Greetings to all from the medieval city of Rothenburg, Ger. We found a neat little apartment right here on a back street inside the walls right near the town square. Last eve took a tour with the night watchman. This village is like being in a
time-warp, back into the 16C. We have been here before a couple of times, but have
never stayed inside the old walls and experienced it at night. We will stay 3 nights
then head north to Nurnberg and than the Harz region in the old east germany.
Chow
Lowell & Gloria

Photo Gallery

Lowell's taking photo's like crazy already 600+ . Should still be selling them.
Weather has been good. Rain tomorrow expected tho. We travel 4-5 hours into Germany. The North of Stuttgart. Then the Hartz region. Blessings G & L

May 1 2007

Our flight was good except for the adventure through the airport in Paris. It is an very old airport and they are trying to work on it. Must have gotten lessons from Mexico!. Won't bore you with details but it was a bus ride- a sprint- security again-another bus- whee we are having FUN!. We did get to Strasbourg and our luggage too! Yeah! We got our car and found our accommodations and crashed!!

Wed May 2

We tried to get enough sleep to move our biological clock up 8 hours. which turned out to be even further. Today we visited 3 Alsace French/German towns: Riquewihr, Colmar and Eguishheim. Filled up our Puegot turbo-diesel for 1.03 euro per liter (about $5 a gallon. Diesel is still $1 a gallon cheaper than petrol (gas) Since we will get at least 45-50 mpg we are happy happy !Very nice weather. about 60-65 and sunny. Tomorrow we will move to our 2nd accommodations here in the Alsace region. It is just across the
Rhine river from Germany. And is very much like Germany.

3 pm Monday the 30th, we're on our way.

Hi Everyone,
After spending some days in MN with the Laurie, Jeff, Brayden and Dylan and enjoying the two rambunctious, sweet fellas (age 4 & 5) then spending some days in Denver with Jeff and Terri's family, Jeffrery, Stephanie, Katie and Brooke.(ages 6,8,10 &11) I had to get a big 'Nana fix' before leaving for so long. The 6 Grandkids are just that "Grand". It was a wonderful time for Papa Lowell and me. We are so blessed! as all you Grandparents know.... The great news for you prayer warriors is that Terri's Mom is now cancer free from stage 4 cancer. We celebrate by Thanking God for His hand in answering in the affirmative for this beloved Mom of 66, Terri and her 3 sisters are with her now in Florida as she celebrates her birthday.
About our trip - we leave today the 30th from Denver to Detroit, to Paris and land in Strasbourg, FR. on the 1st. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf for safety and health. As you may know, Lowell has spent a lot of time planning, we have the first couple nights booked - because of the jet lag we experience but after that we will secure apartments or rooms as we go in private homes.
We have leased a car for the whole time, a Peugot, Turbo Diesel, It should get great mileage and house our 200+ pounds of luggage. laptop and camera's - We are so rich in America!!
We hope to find internet, as we can, along the way to enter travel results. Our cell is off until we return, of course. Later we will post a # you can reach us at if you so choose or have a pressing desire to hear our sweet voice. Remember we will be 7-8 hours ahead of Central time zone.
We love each of you and thank you for your many comments already on the blog. Hugs Gloria and Lowell

April 19, 2007

Welcome to our blog! We will be posting our adventures from Europe here. We have two weeks of last minute preparations before we leave.