Graduation of the Class of 2011 at Boston College

The question every body asked quietly or loud: Where will the graduation be? Inside or Outside? Overcast yesterday and rain this morning, we were guessing 'inside'. To our surprise it was outside. Good, because there was no limit on guests to come and partake in the ceremony.
Inside would only aloud two guests of the graduate to come (we were nine family members) and the others would have seen it only on a screen.
Now we were all placed in the Football stadium's benches hoping for no rain and keeping warm with blankets and jokes. The festivities with speakers and music and the receiving of the diplomas took 5 hours. More then 2 000 graduates and each of them very of happy.

Perhaps you can see the video of the 135th graduation in the history of Boston College under:
http://www.bc.edu/offices/commencement/

Graduation weekend starting

The sun is shining and the cousins arrived from Seattle, the Graduation festivities can start!


We took a walk around the Newton Center area where old Victorian houses are and this is one of the finest examples (with cousins in front).

For more info on the Newton History Society

The 6th day of rain and greay sky

Remember the dry summer in 2010? We should be glad that we get rain in advance for this summer. But it would be nice to have some blue sky for the Graduation weekend. Many Universities are putting up tents to be safe but the pictures taken of the graduates with their families and friends will look more festive with sunshine. We will hope.

This morning I took a long walk in the neighborhood and the flowers continue to open up.
The Rhododendrons and Azaleas are getting ready as well as peonies - one of my favorites.

How are these houses built?

When European visitors come to New England they often wonder and ask how these wooden houses are built.
In the neighborhood they just are putting the finishing touches on one and plant an instant garden. (How I wish we could do that in ours...)



6 months ago it looked like this:



At that time I peeked inside and there you recognize the wonderful work of the carpenters.



With insulation and tight windows these houses are comfortable and cozy.

Look up Newton City

Perfect Museum day

The entrance to the McMullen Museum in Devlin Hall


Already in the night was such a heavy rainfall that I woke up. More or less all Sunday grey and wet and cold. Perfect day to visit the McMullen Museum of Boston College. An interesting exhibition with artifacts excavated in the ancient town of Dura-Europos. This exhibition will be up until June 5. Do not miss it!

A multicultural city for 600 years and then forgotten and covered with sand for 1600 years........
puts our multicultural life in perspective?

More info: Boston College

Why Martina Johanna?

This is the official engagement photo of my parents: Martina Creszentia and Johann William.

Three years later they had a son Bernhard (named after his grandfather) and five years later a daughter Martina Johanna.

Being seen on 'Martina Johanna blogspot' would have been unimaginable Science Fiction for them! You never know!

Peabody Essex Museum in Salem

From Boston it is about a one hour drive to Salem where the Peabody Essex Museum is located.
Everybody is talking about the special exhibition with Dutch Paintings and furniture from
Holland's Golden Age in the 17th Century. Of course we had to visit and combine it with a luncheon in their restaurant. Then a visit in the well filled book/gift store and back to Boston at 4 PM before the Friday traffic became too dense.



For more information on the Peabody Museum: http://www.pem.org/

The little dog painting was a favorite!

Charles River instead of la Seine

The Isle de France walkers know our randonee along the Seine - here somewhat different we walk on the paths along the Charles River starting in Boston and ending in Watertown.


Different and pleasant now in Spring to watch the many birds at the water and in the bushes.

You can read more on http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/charlesRiver/

Museum day in the MFA

Always busy in the new West Wing of the Museum of Fine Art and Bertold Brecht was right:

"Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Kultur!" (with an empty stomach it is hard to think about the cultural sides of life)

The Museum is now so large and one can walk for miles - no wonder the cafes (there are three) are always well visited.

www.mfa.org

A children's paradise

Drumlin Farm

What a wonderful place for children to come close to nature - plants and animals. Especially the newborn piglets got their fan club. Some drizzle today but only good for the growing of the lawn.

Study days at Boston College

Every year the same: the best weather outside and the libraries are filled with students eagerly preparing for their exams and ready to get the semester over with.



More info about the University: Boston College

Mother's Day in Boston

As soon as the snow has melted the Swanboats are starting to float on the little lake in Boston Commons and today many Mothers with their families admired the beauty of the park and the Swanboats gliding around. No I did not take a tour but just watched them.

For the months of May I am in Newton to catch up with my American life.

Here it is easier to take contact with the Apple store and take the lessons I signed up for (One-to-One). After two years still necessary to learn the in and outs of this Macbook.

I tried with a 'blog' for friends in January and February, but the privacy hurdle was to hard to come through for some of you. Now I have a different server and hope it is easier. Wish to put some photos in, but did not succeed and hope to get that figured out tomorrow with my instructor at the Apple store.

The weather here is what they call 'Kaiserwetter' in German and just spectacular with the trees coming in bloom one after the other. The dogwoods - typical for here - are the beautiful 'brides' while the serious evergreens are giving them the right contrast.

Please be patient with me and it can only get better with this 'blog connection'
I thought I will use this to keep in touch with you who are interested in 'what's up' with Martina.

And why Martina Johanna? Well that is my complete name. Martina after my mother and Johanna after my father Johann.