Monday's Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna

Hi Everyone!

This week I’m in sunny Spain spending a little R&R time with my writing pal, Nina Croft. I decided that I needed a break from the big city life and wanted to spend time in the country. Nina’s place is certainly that, so check out her website on the scoop about her place.

The DH & Pup Harry Night Walking at Karlsplatz

Basically, I’m writing this on Friday but things won’t change that much over the weekend. Right now, it’s been fairly sunny, mostly warm and life is just rolling along here. We’ve watched the Christkindlemarkt at Karlsplatz being built and it will basically start the day I come back to my flat in Vienna, which is next Friday.

Pup Harry Ready to Travel

Pup Harry has seen the suitcase and is trying his best to find his spot in it. I have never seen a dog who loves to travel as much as he does. The moment he’s sees the travel bags, he’s trying to get into his own carry bag because he wants to go. I truly can’t wait to get back to the States as he’ll be going to a lot of places with me. Of course, he has to be allowed over there. Here in Austria though, you can take your dog everywhere except in grocery stories.

And that brings me to a set of news that many of you knew was coming for a long time. It’s official now and I can share it. My dear husband put in his resignation this week. Better yet, it was signed off from all the parties meaning we can now seriously pursue returning home.

Flowers at the Naschmarkt

So this has been a boring yet happy week. Watch my Facebook Page for updates on my trip and to see writers in action. Yeah, this is a wonderful writing week coming up.

The pictures of are Pup Harry and a few around the city. Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna #PCers

Hi Everyone!

Today was full of reading and writing as I try to move ahead with my writing career. Sometimes, it’s harder for me to do a column than it is to write a story. Other days, this is much, much easier. Last week was one of the most beautiful weeks we’ve had so far this summer. The temperatures were cool, the evenings lovely and there was even a night or two where I had to wear a sweater as it had quite a chill in the air.

Not so much this week so far. I woke up this morning to one very wet dog trying to kiss me away. Apparently, it rained unexpectedly while Pup Harry and my dear husband were out on their morning walk. It was a surprise to both of them since there wasn’t any rain predicted at all. Matter of fact, we were lamenting the news that it was supposed to get heat-wave hot again with temps soaring to the high nineties to low hundreds with plenty of humidity. So not good.

But there was one good even that we celebrated this weekend. Now most people wouldn’t celebrate this but it’s incredibly important since the celebration was in regards to my close companion since I’ve been in this country. Pup Harry turned four years old on Saturday. In many ways, he’s still that little, tiny puppy that we brought home from Salzburg one October day. He’s been with me through thick and thin. He’s been my companion when the DH has been on travel.

I actually think of him as a savior because with him I had to exercise and get out of the house. Since I brought him home, I’ve lost fifty pounds – that’s right – 50 pounds and that’s nothing to sneeze at. I had lost a little more but with two hospital visits, one for my kidneys and a minor surgery, I’m allowed to gain a little back but the fact I’ve kept it off is testament to his influence on me. I’m hoping that with him, I’ll lose another fifty because a dog can’t live in a flat without going out. A lot.

Our celebration consisted of doing a long, and I mean long, walk through the Graben and back around the Opera House. It took a couple of hours and it was a very nice way to spend the afternoon. We also gave Pup Harry some steak since it’s his favorite food. He’s the first dog I’ve ever had with a sensitive stomach so we have to be careful and not feed him too much people food.

Here’s some pictures to show Pup Harry as he’s grown up. The captions say it all. He’s a Parsons Russell Terrier and is a little big for his breed. He’s about a half inch taller but with that half inch comes another almost 4 pound but he’s still only 20-22 pounds, which is the smallest dog we’ve ever had. He has a fantastic lineage and it’s our hope that we can breed him once when we get back to the States. I haven’t got a picture of his stance but it’s awesome because you can tell he has champion lines.

Pup Harry's 1st night

Pup Harry in my office

Waking up from a nap

Am I in trouble?

Pup Harry in Rome

Pup Harry in Venice

Pup Harry in winter

Pup Harry in summer

Pup Harry sleeping in his travel bag as he waits for his next great adventure

He’s a great little dog and is the thing I’m most grateful that Austria has given me. Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop ~ @oddlynn3 #LynnCrain #AWriterInVienna #PCers #BYNR

Hi Everyone!

Yeah…I’m late…but when the weather has been enjoyable and there’s not much going on, what can I say? LOL!

Really, it has been nice with no rain even though the days are humid and humidity does not get along with me. I tend to have headache, sweat constantly and generally want to hole up in my office watching something on my computer, writing or even reading. Imagine that.

And there were quite a few days where the sun was bright but I stayed inside with the air on. Then I discovered Penny Dreadful on Netflix. That and the fact that it’s not available in the States. I even had a chat with them because I thought something was horribly wrong.

See, many times I log in remotely to a computer at home so that I can see a handful of TV shows I like. I will also watch Netflix then as well. I can’t do it very often as it really bogs down my internet, so I try to pick one day a week for using the State side computing power. I have to get in everything possible in a few hours then I’m back to being here in Austria.

Where we watch hardly any TV. MOF, I’ve been wondering just why we even have cable. When I’m at home, I load up on purchases at Amazon of movies, shows and more then I watch them at my leisure in my flat. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered Netflix is here in Austria and in English.

What is absolutely amazing is that the shows are so different. I mean, I have a lot of the BBC shows that aren’t available at home except on cable or by purchase. That means, I get to watch Penny Dreadful for free over here on Netflix. That and a whole lot more. I’ll let you know the amazing things I find when I catch up with this wonderful Victorian paranormal. It’s just right up my alley.

This week I have three lovely pictures for you. The first, at the top, is of Pup Harry in my living room on an oriental rug I purchased at the local flea market. It was deeply discounted and had all the tags on it so we can track the provenance. It will need some cleaning when we get home but it was an excellent purchase.

The next is one of Pup Harry in his travel bag. We couldn’t find him one day last month and when we did, we were amazed. He’d crawled in the bag and it’s a wonder he didn’t pull it off the chair. We’re figuring that he’s telling us we need to go on a trip sometime soon. I know that I’ll be going on one next month without the boys. Yeah, me.

The last one is of a statue in front of Karlskirche or Karl’s Church. Sometime this last winter, we rounded the corner and noticed that the front of the church got tagged with yellow graffiti. It took them a while to get all back in order.

Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn 

Monday’s Austria Scoop

Hi Everyone!

Another late week and I swear allergy season will be over soon. I will get it together…promise…thanks for understanding.  This week is all about Pup Harry and how he’s missing jogging.

I’m sure you’re asking what but the fact is that with Mr. C gone on travel, Pup Harry’s jogging days are done as I don’t jog. But we do walk. A lot. And it’s one these walks that I see some of the neatest things in Vienna.

So this week, I’m just sharing pictures of Pup Harry on some of our various walks throughout the year with a little narrative. Let’s start with the morning routine. If I don’t answer his call when he wants, he’s all for kissing me awake.

Next comes one of his favorite parts of his walks. Being in the grass. He loves that most of all.

Here’s one of him in a backpack in Rome.

And another in Praterstern park.

The last one is a from winter...Pup Harry loves snow!

Yes, Pup Harry is a well-traveled dog and one of the reasons my allergies are going strong because someone has to walk him. LOL!

            Before I end this week’s column, I wanted to remind everyone of my monthly giveaway. I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate of your choice. The rules are all listed in the right column of the blog and here’s the recap: You must comment to enter. There’s a few other technical things but really, all you need to do is read the post and make a comment on what you’ve read. It’s that easy. I even occasionally throw in an item or two from Vienna.

Hope you enjoyed this little look into Austria and beyond. See you all next week!

Lynn