My Beloved Vacuum

OK - so I am finally going to post about my vacuum cleaner. I know - right?How pathetic, but - Yes, I LOVE this vacuum cleaner. It actually gets under the 2 inch clearance pictured above with no problem - all the way to the wall! I've really learned to be a clean person, but I really am a reformed-messy girl - just ask my sister...

Since having Luna, and since being a responsible home-owning adult, I have really become a clean person. Not as clean as many people, but I do finally pride myself on having a clean home, and it really does bother me when things get away from me. So I try very hard to keep up... this week being sick really dug at me, so since I was feeling well enough today, we got the downstairs cleaned - and I decided to finally post about my vacuum.

I really don't like the idea POSTING ABOUT MATERIAL THINGS - but this vacuum has to get some credit...

In the US we bought a Dyson, which I loved. The ergonomics, really rivaled no comparison - but event hough the ads say it would never lose suction - I really feel like it did. We had the "Animal" since we had 2 cats, and it did do a great job of getting rid of cat hair...

But then we moved here, and we got a Miele. AND oh-boy, do I appreciate German engeneering in a vacuum. It may sound like I'm describing a car in this post - but that's how much I love it...

so here it is... it's a canister vac - which I never thought I would like, but I do.

And here is one of my favorite features... when you're ready to pull in the cord, you just unplug it, and then push this button...

and it winds up inside, into this spot, all by itself!

Here are all the different power settings, and believe me - hardwood floors have never been cleaner with the max setting - AND there is absolutley NO "kickback" of dirt when it vacuums. Switch it to carpet, and you've never had cleaner rugs!

You can flip open the attachment lid to grab nozzles for dusting or upholstery cleaning, let alone cobwebs or whatever else you might find.

And here's the regular vacuum head, which is so low profile that it fits underneath almost the lowest piece of furniture you could think of! And it corners like you wouldn't believe! And it is a dream to push, light as a feather!

The picture at the top of the post is an example of a very low piece of furniture that the vacuum head can fit under. So with one quick, 20 minute cleaning, I can get every little dust bunny there is out there! In seconds! I love this vac...

unfortunately, it's 220, so we can't bring it home, and to get one in the US costs like $900! (It cost us 200E here!) Can you believe that? I can't believe there's not enough of a market out there to bring the price down!

But I will love it as long as I get to have it!

Roses are here in full force!

Our roses in the back garden are in full bloom, and I think they're absolutely gorgeous! I went out a couple days ago and bought some lavendar to put around them. I can hardly wait till next year, when hopefully the lavendar will come in even thicker - it just makes a great bed for the rose bushes, I think!

I also ripped out a big dead bush, just to the left of the roses. I'm thinking of putting that daisy tree in there - not sure if it would survive the winter, but planting it in the ground is just about its only chance anyway - I'm not bringing it in the house!

Father's Day...

Burg Eltz

On Saturday we visited Burg Eltz, which is a castle that was spared from destruction, because it was considered strategically unimportant. It sits in a deep ravine, and was quite a pleasure to see. It was begun around 1100 as a watch tower over the main road, but eventually became a family seat. Actually, 3 noble families shared the castle and it wasn't until the mid-1800's that it was made into a single family dwelling.

A view from the courtyard...

This is a view of another fortress that was built when one of the 3 families who occupated the castle got into a fight with the Eltz family. They built this place and lived there for 5 years, before they made peace with the Eltzes, and moved back to Burg Eltz. Somewhere around 1500, I think...

Another view from the courtyard...

And look at this overhanging snake! I think it's a drain pipe!

A weekend at the Hangar...

On Saturday night, Bas and I made dinner for the whole crew. It was salmon pressed with a pine nut, basil mixture and topped with a champagne cream sauce, served with lemon, honey brussels sprouts and a tomatoe, artichoke medley.


On Sunday morning, Stephanie served as head chef and Lori as sous chef, to prepare a wonderful combination of strawberry crepes, artichoke and tomatoe scrambled eggs and bacon! I don't think anybody could get enough! They picked the strawberries from Sheila's garden that morning!

Calvin just woke up!

Luna wants a kiss - look out! We had a discussion, and as third cousins (?) they might just have a future!

No way! I'm having my bottle!

Roger got a very cool Father's Day card, that had recorded messages from his grand kids...

Sunday breakfast.

Luna watering...

Thanks Gramma, for my cool shorts outfit! I wore it to help Mom in the garden!

Other fun pictures from the Netherlands trip...

We stayed in the center this time, and were quite pleased with our room. We were on the top floor of a building in the walking area, just off the Grote Markt. It made loading and unloading baggage a bit tricky, but it was worth it. This is a snapshot from Sunday morning...


Looks like someone was either playing a practical joke, or was very angry at another cyclist! This was on the fence around the Dom on the Grote Markt.



Bas and Luna on the Grote Markt.

An entrance to the Dom.

And a couple more of the draw bridge on the main canal.