---
url: 'https://dri.es/photos'
title: 'Newest photos'
author:
name: 'Dries Buytaert'
url: 'https://dri.es/about'
date: '2026-06-13T03:59:32+00:00'
license: 'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'
type: photo-stream
count: 999
---
# Newest photos
*Cooling off at Rose River Falls during a hike near Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park. Photo by Vanessa using my camera.*
*Crossing a creek on the trail to Rainbow Falls in Gorges State Park.*
*Smashburgers at a campsite near Ashville, North Carolina. Food simply tastes better after a long day outdoors.*
*We walked through Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, beneath old live oaks covered in Spanish moss. It was peaceful and uniquely beautiful.*
*Vanessa climbed onto the roof of our van to inspect the A/C. Condensation had leaked inside and fried the circuit board.*
*My 98-year-old Oma has been in the hospital for over a week, and she's been on my mind a lot. At a Japanese restaurant in Charleston, I asked ChatGPT to translate this sign. The characters spell 'Mono no aware', a Japanese phrase for the gentle sadness of impermanence. It felt unexpectedly fitting.*
*We camped on Cedar Island, North Carolina, at a quiet and remote campsite near the water.*
*We camped in the dunes at Assateague State Park, famous for its wild horses. The ocean wind was so strong that we had to grill behind the van just to get the grill hot enough.*
*Took the van to Long Island on the Cross Sound Ferry.*
*During Easter break, the boys were off from school, so we organized a "chess camp" at our house. I invited my chess coach to join us for three days, and we played a lot of chess. Some days more than eight hours. We all loved it, and I'm hoping it becomes a father-son activity for years to come.*
*Stonehenge has stood here for over 4,000 years, built by Neolithic communities. At midsummer, the sun rises in line with the stones and the Heel Stone. Standing here, you think about the generations of people who stood here before.*
*One of the strangest road signs I've ever seen.*
*I stopped at a butcher's window for a quick photo. She came back to see what was taking so long. Every photographer knows this moment.*
*Bath Abbey has stood here for over 1,300 years and food has been served in its shadow for centuries.*
*A coffee machine, covered in stories.*
*A quiet corner of Bath, UK, shaped by time.*
*Downtown Chicago traffic in the last light of the day.*
*Street performers in downtown Chicago.*
*Ben grabbed my camera and used my goggles as a mirror to capture the mountains behind us.*
*Ben's smile says it all.*
*Skiers about to enter the clouds.*
*It was the men's turn to cook, so we took over the grill behind the chalet and put together a proper winter BBQ: five kinds of meat and plenty of vegetables. For dessert, we whisked sabayon by hand, spooned it over ice cream, and finished it with raspberries on top.*
*Bochard summit, with the whole valley of Chamonix below.*
*The first day of skiing is in the books. Our legs are tired and our cheeks still glow from the cold. It's raclette night. The cheese melts slowly, the wine disappears a little faster, and with every refill the stories around the table seem to improve.*
*Stefaan, Ben, Klaas and I have known each other for 30 years, and this is our first time skiing together. Worth a selfie.*
*Some afternoons don't need an agenda.*
*Dining out can feel like the whole world is happening above your head.*
*Somewhere inside, a bottle of red wine is open, ski gloves are drying by the wood fire, and the day is slowly winding down.*
*A year of waiting, now right in front of him.*
*The Alpine village of Saint-Gervais sleeps under snow, while a small stream keeps its course.*
*The job starts in the storm, not after.*
*We walked through downtown Boston in a big snowstorm. It felt like we had the city to ourselves.*
*Looking out at the fresh snow before starting the day.*
*Axl trying on the sweater he just got for Christmas. Just a small moment, but I somehow like this photo a lot.*
*I didn't expect my joke to make her laugh this much.*
*This is what happens when decorating the Christmas tree becomes an excuse to goof around.*
*The great torii gate on Miyajima Island marks the entrance to the shrine's sacred area. It's one of Japan's most recognizable landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I would love to come back one day to photograph it at sunrise or sunset.*
*A busy night in Dotonbori, the famous entertainment and street food district in Osaka.*
*Inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, visitors look at a photograph of a child hurt in the atomic bombing. The yellow hats belong to schoolchildren on a field trip. I wondered what goes through their minds in such a heavy place.*
*We visited the A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, one of the few buildings that survived the 1945 atomic blast. Everything around it for more than a mile was destroyed, but the Dome remained standing because the bomb exploded almost directly above it. They left it unrepaired so the damage would speak for itself.*
*A small crowd in front of a popular mochi shop in Nara, Japan, where fresh rice cakes are made on the spot.*
*We learned to make matcha as part of a traditional tea ceremony in Tokyo. Every gesture has meaning, even the way you hold the bowl.*
*Dressed in a kimono for a tea ceremony in Tokyo, Japan.*
*Tasting A5 Kobe beef in Kobe, Japan, seared in front of us teppanyaki-style. The photo was taken at Misono, the restaurant that invented teppanyaki in 1945.*
*I've been to Japan four times to visit our Acquia office, meet with customers and partners, and speak at Drupal events. Over the years, I've come to appreciate the country's "quiet energy". There is something about it, and this photo from Kobe captures that feeling for me.*
*Himeji Castle is one of the few major Japanese castles that survived fires, earthquakes, and World War II bombings.*
*Dressed in a kimono for a tea ceremony in Tokyo, Japan.*
*November in the Belgian Ardennes: slow meals, muddy boots, and a sky that can't make up its mind.*
*My brother helping our parents cross a stream.*
*For a moment, the house glowed with the last light of fall.*
*Playing against Garry Kasparov. Photo © Jelle Jansegers.*
*With Garry Kasparov in Antwerp, October 2025*
*Enjoying a break from DrupalCon Vienna in the vineyards above the city, taking in the autumn view.*
*My 97-year-old Oma rocks heart-shaped sunglasses better than I ever could.*
*Living the dream: vibe coding from the van over breakfast.*
*Axl standing on a dock at Lake Annecy.*
*Axl rinsing the mud off his rain pants at a fountain in Montmin.*
*The rustic kitchen at Refuge de Praz D'zeures. I loved the moka pots and pans in the background.*
*The ridge from La Tournette toward Refuge de Praz D'zeures. If you look closely, the trail winds all the way into the woods.*
*When we opened the tent in the morning, a bouquetin \(ibex\) was standing right outside, watching us.*
*Our tent pitched in the high meadows near the old Refuge de la Tournette.*
*The view on our way up to La Tournette, just past Chalet de l'Aulp.*
*We paused to add a stone to a cairn along the trail.*
*Paragliders circling above Lake Annecy.*
*In the cockpit of Ben's Cessna en route to Annecy.*
*Loading our packs into the plane before departure.*
*Scooping fresh grounds into the moka pot while on the road with the van.*
*I'm still playing chess, though my rating has hovered between Elo 1700 and 1800 for the past year. It's a reminder of how progress can stall, even when you put in the effort. This photo is from a game against Axl.*
*Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob.*
*Lunch in the parking lot, rain pouring down, but still smiles and a sense of adventure under the awning.*
*Soaking up the golden hour at Cape Cod.*
*Sweet moments together at the beach.*
*A Cape Cod afternoon, exactly as it should be.*
*A summer afternoon filled with cartwheels, sandcastles, and jumping off the dock.*
*We started at Sunrise Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, hiked down Queen's Garden, through the hoodoos, and climbed back up on the Navajo Loop. Beautiful views and pure magic all the way.*
*Vanessa making her way down through the hoodoos on the Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon.*
*Up before sunrise to watch the hoodoos glow at Bryce Canyon in Utah. Cold and early, but unforgettable.*
*Ending the day right with s'mores by the fire.*
*Glamping in the high desert outside Bryce, Utah. Even in summer, the high elevation brings cool evenings, and the fire felt perfect after a day on the trail.*
*Stan carrying a giant Connect Four set along the desert trail to our tent. I still can't believe how skilled he is at the game. He won almost every match, and I'm still smiling thinking about it.*
*Making our way through the narrow slots in Zion.*
*Dropping down carefully, using the boulder for support.*
*Time has a way of flipping the roles.*
*Dropping into the next section, never quite sure what is waiting below.*
*Taking a moment to look up and appreciate the scale of Zion's canyons.*
*Getting ready to rappel in Zion, and enjoying every moment of it.*
*We hiked 7.5 miles through the Narrows in Zion National Park. Most of the hike is actually in the river itself, with towering canyon walls rising all around you. One of my favorite hikes ever.*
*Taking a moment to look up and take it all in.*
*Wading forward together through the Narrows in Zion.*
*We visited Horseshoe Bend, a dramatic curve in the Colorado River near the Grand Canyon. A quiet reminder of what time and a patient river can carve out together.*
*The Grand Canyon as seen from Navajo Point.*
*When the Hoover Dam was built, they used an enormous amount of concrete. If they had poured it all at once, it would have taken over a century to cool and harden. Instead, they poured it in blocks and used cooling pipes to manage the heat. Even today, the concrete is still hardening through a process called hydration, so the dam keeps getting stronger over time.*
*Stan celebrates his 16th birthday with a warm skillet cookie topped with ice cream.*
*Stan turned 16! I'm filled with pride seeing the young man he is becoming. We celebrated this milestone with a beer, a moment we both looked forward to. \(In Belgium, the legal drinking age is 16.\)*
*Vanessa's dad doing the dishes by hand, the way he always has.*
*Vanessa cooking dinner in her parents' kitchen, the home she grew up in. Her mom is going through cancer treatment, and we are here to spend time together. The house holds years of memories, and tonight that care goes the other way.*
*I've been wanting to try Alinea ever since watching their Chef's Table episode. We finally made it happen! Dessert was wild: two chefs turned our table into their canvas, powdered sugar and meringue flying everywhere. The edible balloons that came next felt like the perfect finale.*
*Chicago by night from our hotel window.*
*Parked at Camp Sherman Campground, next to the Metolius River in Oregon, USA.*
*Dead end, but the moss is thriving.*
*I can't help but wonder what stories this truck could tell.*
*Our van's neighbor for the night was a beautifully rusted Ford. Retired but still stealing the spotlight.*
*We hiked the Misery Ridge and River Trail in Smith Rock State Park. The steep switchbacks and rocky terrain made it a tough climb, but the panoramic views were worth it.*
*Arrived at Skull Hollow Campground. No power or water, but it's quiet and the sky is full of stars. It feels like we're exactly where we need to be.*
*We visited several vineyards while driving through Oregon, each with its own character. The Four Graces was our favorite, but Dominio IV came second. They celebrate new wine releases in a beautiful old barn.*
*Laundry day in a small town in Oregon. We're camping in a van and stopped to wash some of our clothes. Life on the road!*
*Camping in Pacific City, a small surfer town on the Oregon coast. The main landmark is Haystack Rock, also known as Chief Kiawanda. It looks like a gorilla's head with a rat tail. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.*
*A great evening in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, celebrating Acquia's top performers. It was a real pleasure getting to know more of our incredible sales team.*
*Morning water aerobics in Punta Cana.*
*Vanessa relaxing by the pool.*
*At Easter brunch we played an egg tapping game, where everyone takes turns tapping eggs until only one stays uncracked. My dad won, calmly eliminating ten others with his steady hand and quiet smile.*
*I spent a couple of days in Leuven, Belgium for Drupal Dev Days. One of the stops on the official pub crawl was Café Commerce. It was a great place to talk Drupal over a good Belgian beer and meet others in the community.*
*Debbie, Eline, and Vanessa soaking up the sun and each other's good energy on the Belgian coast.*
*First real taste of spring: sunshine, laughs, and cold drinks with Jonas and Nico at Beach Bar Le Zoute in Knokke, Belgium.*
*Arrived in Atlanta for DrupalCon! As tradition goes, we kick things off with a two-day Drupal Association board meeting over the weekend. At the end of day one, we walked through the Krog Street Tunnel and checked out nearby murals.*
*It's 7:32 AM. The kettle whistled and I poured hot water into our cups. Coffee first, then pancakes. A quiet morning before a day on the slopes.*
*Our second visit to Amsterdam this year, and it's only February. A final stroll along the canals before our flight back to Boston.*
*The game was tied and every play mattered. As one player rose for the shot, the defense jumped with him. The crowd was on the edge of their seats. For a moment, everything hung in the air.*
*A cozy evening by our fireplace.*
*I finally ate at Franklin Barbecue in Austin – the undisputed king of Texas brisket and one of the most famous BBQ places in the United States. Pitmaster Aaron Franklin has a James Beard Award, a Netflix feature, a 10-episode PBS series, and a daily line around the block. Some people even bring camp chairs for the wait. We got there at 10:20am to beat the rush but still had to wait in line for two hours. Was it worth it? Absolutely.*
*A hatmaker in Austin, Texas, shaping a custom hat using steam.*
*My first ski trip to Saddleback Mountain, Maine. I enjoyed skiing, hiking, good food, board games, and quality time with friends. It quickly became one of my favorite mountains on the East Coast!*
*Our flight to Boston was canceled, so we spent the day exploring Amsterdam. This photo shows Vanessa on a street corner, seen through a shop window.*
*Winter lobster grill.*
*We kicked off the new year by hosting our family and grilling lobsters on an Ofyr fire pit.*
*Ringing in the New Year surrounded by warmth, laughter, friendship, and family. Here is to more moments like these in 2025!*
*Singapore's skyline from the Gardens by the Bay sky bridge.*
*We ordered Hainanese chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre - one of Singapore's most famous local dishes. The hawker stalls here have spent decades mastering their recipes.*
*Disc golf in a nutshell: throw, swear, search, repeat.*
*Friends, nature, disc golf – and a touch of dramatic flair!*
*We hiked the Quiraing through mud and wind, with Highland cows watching us trudge by. My favorite part was wandering across the open highlands, letting the strong wind push me forward.*
*We spent a week sleeping in a van, wild camping along empty roads in Scotland. Except for the third day, when we splurged on a hotel room for a much-needed shower. We even snuck our camping dishes into our room to wash them in the bathroom sink.*
*Morning rituals remain unchanged, even while wild camping in Scotland.*
*Each year, Klaas and I pick a new destination for our outdoor adventure. In 2024, we set off for the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This stop was near Glencoe, about halfway between Glasgow and Skye.*
*New York City's skyline, framed by my hotel room window.*
*A quiet fall morning in Boston's South End.*
*13 miles \(21 km\), 3,800 feet of elevation gain \(1,200 meters\), two 4,000-foot peaks, and 10 hours on the trail – Mount Whiteface and Passaconaway Loop in New Hampshire was a serious challenge. Our favorite part was the final stretch up Mount Whiteface, with a steep, rocky climb that starts at the exposed ledge in this photo. It's part of the notorious Terrifying 25 \(T25\), a collection of New Hampshire's most challenging and intimidating hiking trails. Two days later, I'm still sore, but I loved it!*
*La Sagrada Familia and Torre Agbar, seen from a rooftop bar.*
*Drupal Association Board members walking through El Born district in Barcelona.*
*Saw this while wandering through Barcelona. Not your typical Barcelona scene, but it brought a smile to my face.*
*With summer coming to a close, we've had a mix of warm and cool days. Today was warmer, so we biked to a nearby farm and enjoyed their homemade ice cream.*
*I had a lot of fun trying disc golf for the first time with my friend Ben. Walking through the woods from basket to basket while catching up on life made it more than just a game – it was a really nice outdoor experience!*
*We hiked 16 kilometers \(10 miles\), doing our best to avoid the main road. We were hoping to find a trail along the beach and the cliffs that Normandy is known for. Vanessa was determined to avoid the road, even if it meant trekking through fields and crawling under electric barbed wire fences meant for cows. While we reached the cliffs, we never found the cliffside trail and still spent half the hike on the road.*
*Our camping trip in Normandy unexpectedly led us to Petites-Dalles Beach. To our surprise, we discovered that this was the exact location where Claude Monet painted his masterpiece, Cliffs of Les Petites-Dalles. Standing in the exact spot where Monet once set up his easel, on this quiet, untouristy beach, was an unexpected thrill. It made me appreciate how this landscape has inspired people for centuries. The moment became even more special when we learned that Monet's work is now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston – only a few miles from our home, yet worlds apart from where it was created.*
*The evening was still warm, yet a subtle chill hinted at the approach of fall. Our campsite dinner was delayed as we struggled to get the charcoal grill started. Eventually, with our hair and clothes smoky, we sat down as fresh fish cooked on the grill. While we waited, we played music and sipped cheap wine from plastic wine glasses. In the end, this is what camping is all about.*
*On our camping trip in New Hampshire, we set up our tent by a creek. My favorite moment was at night when Jenny spotted the space station and shouted, "Look!". As we all looked up, a shooting star streaked across the sky. I think it was my first time seeing one.*
*We spent a few days exploring New York, and since Stan is a sneakerhead, we checked out some sneaker stores. Every time I walked in, the employees would immediately size up my shoes. I've never felt so quickly judged and dismissed. I learned that some pairs can fetch over $50,000. The experience was eye-opening, revealing a world I knew nothing about.*
*Our favorite part of our family vacation was the sunny afternoons on Lake Bomoseen in Vermont. For Axl and Stan, those afternoons were all about wakeboarding.*
*Captain Vanessa at the helm.*
*Solitude for breakfast at a 1950s diner in Vermont.*
*One of the standout features of Lake Bomoseen in Vermont is its restaurant right on the lake, where you can dock your boat and step right into a relaxed dining experience, complete with a stunning sunset over the lake.*
*Fireworks illuminate the sky and ocean at Cape Cod on the 4th of July. What I love about this photo is not just the fireworks, but also the person on the jetty lighting them.*
*I enjoyed a beautiful evening at a waterfront restaurant in Burgas, Bulgaria.*
*I spent a few days in Bulgaria for an offsite with the Drupal Core Committers. It was my first time visiting Bulgaria, and I came away really liking the country. The Cyrillic alphabet made the experience even more interesting.*
*It's been two years since our last van camping adventure, and here is the morning scene: sore legs from a long bike ride the day before, a half-finished bottle of wine, toothbrushes drying, a Bluetooth speaker playing good tunes, eggs ready to boil, and fresh coffee brewing in the background. The photo may not win any awards, but to me, it's pretty perfect.*
*We spent a few days camping on Texel, a Dutch island. We hiked over 12 km \(7.5 miles\) across beaches and dunes, cycled more than 40 km \(25 miles\) on scenic roads, explored local villages, and enjoyed BBQs on our portable charcoal grill – all while trying to embrace the unusually chilly, overcast June weather.*
*Just before she left, we gave the birthday girl a bunch of balloons. Her smile said it all!*
*Just like my sons, I spent hours at my desk during exams. Mostly studying, but also dreaming about all the things I'd rather do once summer vacation started.*
*Watching my kids study for their high school exams made me reflect on how much of our lives we spend studying. It's a significant part of life, yet often overlooked. Even though I spent 24 years in school, I realized I don't have any photos of myself studying. So, I grabbed my camera and took some photos of my kids hard at work. One day, they might appreciate looking back at these moments and seeing how hard they worked and how much they grew.*
*Baddý kicking off the 20th edition of DrupalJam in The Netherlands and about to welcome me to the stage. DrupalJam was a fantastic event with great energy, engaging conversations, excellent presentations, and reconnecting with old friends.*
*Stan smiling as we sing "Happy Birthday" to him.*
*After nearly a decade of dreaming about it, we finally bought a Big Green Egg. We are breaking in this culinary legend with its first roast – a pork shoulder that will be smoked over 8 hours today. Wish us luck!*
*My solar panel and Raspberry Pi Zero 2 are set up on our rooftop deck for testing.*
*Hiked 5 miles \(8 kilometers\) along the Oregon coast in Ecola State Park, famous for its "sea stacks", or rock formations in the ocean.*
*Over the years, I traveled to Iceland, Sweden and Norway to see the aurora borealis but never succeeded. Then, last night, I saw it for the first time in Oregon, of all places.*
*Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach in Oregon.*
*Playing board games at the Skamania Lodge in Washington.*
*Playing board games at the Skamania Lodge in Washington.*
*A solar panel being tested on the floor in our laundry room. Upon connecting it, it started charging a battery right away. It feels truly magical. Of course, it won't stay in the laundry room forever so stay tuned for more ...*
*Ben and Ione celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary at the "Spiegeltent" in Rijkevorsel, Belgium, where their married life began ten years ago.*
*Axl preparing dinner in the evening light.*
*Surf rescue board on standby at Avalon Beach near Sydney, Australia.*
*I visited Sydney to participate in Drupal South, the main Drupal event in Australia and New Zealand. During the trip, I also had the opportunity to meet with the Sydney Opera House, which uses Drupal and Acquia Cloud for their website.*
*A traffic guard directs vehicles and pedestrians at a busy intersection in Kyoto, Japan.*
*The Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan.*
*Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, one of the world's busiest intersections and epitome of urban hustle.*
*The geese are back in Boston. Warm and sunny days are coming!*
*Stan has been excited all week for our raclette night in the French Alps. And true to tradition, he ate more raclette than anyone else. Stan, the raclette-champion, strikes again!*
*View from our rental apartment in Les Arcs, France. We got up early to prepare breakfast for our family and saw the sky turn purple as the sun came up.*
*We hosted Owen Lansbury, the current Chair of the Drupal Association, at our house while he was in Belgium for a conference. We talked about Drupal for hours and shared a wonderful dinner together.*
*Getting mic'd up for a discussion on the future of digital healthcare with Jeff Walpole \(CEO of Phase2\) and Deanna Ballew \(SVP of DXP & AI at Acquia\) at our Boston headquarters.*
*Enjoyed my first Burns Night with friends dressed in kilts, haggis, authentic bagpipe music, toasts, and thoughtful poetry.*
*Feeling fortunate to have shared yet another Christmas with my 95-year-old Oma!*
*This Christmas is really special for us because it's the first time we're celebrating in our new home in Belgium. The table is ready and waiting to welcome our family.*
*Hanging lights on the Christmas tree.*
*Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, mostly because it's focused on spending time together and enjoying food, rather than being centered around gifts or materialism. The tradition of preparing a turkey together captures the true spirit of Thanksgiving.*
*I finally visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum after living in Boston for more than 12 years. The museum is famous for its art, but also for the 1990 theft of 13 artworks. The empty frame in my photo once displayed a Rembrandt valued at tens of millions of dollars.*
*Enjoyed a weekend in the Belgian Ardennes with my family. Since I'll be in Boston on my birthday, we had a very early celebration. For my birthday meal, I asked for a family pizza-making contest. The photo shows my parents making their pizzas with Stan observing. The highlight? My pizza won! A nice birthday present.*
*25 meters underground in a champagne tunnel, which often stretches for miles/kilometers.*
*Bottles of Reinart champagne stored upside-down. This collects the sediment at the bottle's neck. After the sediment is consolidated in the neck of the bottle, that part of the bottle is frozen. The crown cap is removed, and the built-up pressure pushes out the frozen plug of sediment. This process is called "disgorgement".*
*We were fortunate to visit Collard-Picard, a renwowned champagne producer, in the heart of France's champagne region. The owner, Olivier Collard, took the time to give us a private tour. The picture captures Olivier drinking his own champagne.*
*The Champagne region in France.*
*The weekend before each DrupalCon, the Drupal Association's Board of Directors typically convenes for a two-day meeting. Occasionally, shoes come off ...*
*Klaas hikes from Mount Lafayette to Mount Lincoln along Franconia Ridge, with one of our next peaks looming behind Mount Lincoln.*
*At the summit of Mount Lafayette after 6.6 miles of hiking. Just 3.8 miles to Liberty Spring Tentsite.*
*On the edge of giving up, just half a mile shy of Mount Lafayette's peak \(shown in background\).*
*Refilling our water supplies at a stream on Garfield Ridge Trail. On many stretches, you won't find fresh water for miles, so you have to plan ahead and carry 2 or 3 liters of water \(4-6 pounds\).*
*Making our way up to Garfield Ridge Trail toward Garfield Mountain. Because the trail can be steep and requires careful footing, it slowed down our pace.*
*At the top of Mount Bondcliff, known for its dramatic cliffs.*
*We hiked up and down Killington Peak in Vermont. In winter, Killington is a bustling ski resort. Parts of our hike were on the slopes. Another 4,000-footer in the books!*
*We spent a few nights in an Airstream, an iconic American trailer recognized for its rounded aluminum exterior.*
*We brought our trusty percolator for our "glamping" experience in an Airstream on Cape Cod, USA.*
*We've finally moved into our new home after 2 years of renovations. Vanessa is taking a break after a day of unpacking, organizing and setting up.*
*Summer vibes! Swimming in Turkey's Ulugüney River with the locals to beat the heat.*
*Axl turned 16! I'm filled with pride seeing the young man he is becoming. We celebrated this milestone with a beer, a moment we both looked forward to. \(In Belgium, the legal drinking age is 16.\)*
*When we were kids, we would sometimes eat fries on the couch as we watched TV. We ate them on blue platters. Recently, my mom shared these memories with my sister and expressed her sadness that we can't return to those days. In response, my sister planned a surprise "Blue platter fries night". Those blue platters hadn't been used for 20 years and were hidden away on a forgotten shelf. But last night, the five of us – my parents, my brother, my sister, and I – enjoyed fries on our blue platters again, just like we used to. Organizing it was a bit of a challenge since I live in the US now, but I'm so glad we did!*
*Due to the heavy rain, lightning, and thunderstorms, various campers jumped in their cars and left. We caught glimpses of their car lights through the trees. There is something special about listening to the rain pattering on your tent, so we chose to stay and enjoy the experience.*
*We went camping in Maine for the weekend. On the first night, it started raining heavily with lightning and thunderstorms. Luckily, we had made a fairly last-minute decision to buy a tarp, which helped us stay dry and comfortable throughout the evening and night.*
*We had a great time hiking 6 miles near Crane Beach in Massachusetts. The trail took us through beautiful dunes and out to the beach. The loose sand made it feel more like a 9-mile hike though. Halfway through, we had a delicious lunch made by Vanessa - orzo with vegetables, served right on the beach. Great day!*
*Evening BBQ with friends visiting Boston. We chatted about life and family while enjoying G&Ts, wine, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, and steak tips.*
*First, enjoy two bottles of wine with friends. Second, utilize the corks for party tricks.*
*A lighthouse nestled in the dunes of Julianadorp, The Netherlands.*
*Certain sections of the Schoorl Dunes are home to free roaming cattle. These areas are fenced off, requiring us to climb over an electric fence to continue our journey through the dunes.*
*We packed sandwiches and water, and set off on a 12 km \(7.5 mi\) hike through the Schoorl Dunes in the Netherlands. The trail had lots of ups and downs on the sandy dunes, making it twice as challenging. It was a nice workout and a beautiful hike. Photo taken by Vanessa.*
*We decided to escape to the Wadden Islands for a few days. We're enjoying beautiful sunsets, bike rides through amazing dunes, and scenic hiking trails.*
*Ash, who helps me design my presentations, staring out the windows at the Pittsburgh Convention Center.*
*Baddy and Vanessa at the A/V check before my DrupalCon Pittsburgh keynote. The room was really cold, but that didn't ruin their fun. I captured this photo from the main stage.*
*The weekend before a DrupalCon we always have a 2-day meeting with the Drupal Association Board of Directors. Saturday evening we hold a casual dinner. During dinner, Ryan Szrama used my camera to capture this photo without adjusting any settings. My camera is completely manual and lacks auto-focus, so it was either sheer luck or Ryan is secretly a camera genius!*
*A New Yorker engrossed in his morning paper. I bet he could smell the pages of the Wall Street Journal.*
*Split face*
*The Oculus transportation hub at the World Trade Center in NYC.*
*I had a personal photography workshop with Phil Penman. He taught me how to use natural light to my advantage and even volunteered to be a model for me.*
*Update from the upper deck crew: the roof deck is clean and ready for the Boston summer.*
*As Drupal Core Committers, we had an important discussion about our shared fear of breaking Drupal Core and its impact on end users and contributors. Despite it being a serious discussion, it also brought some lightheartedness with funny sticky notes, adding humor to the situation.*
*Gábor holding a laptop on his head, making sure remote attendees could see and participate in the activities.*
*We recently organized a three-day Drupal Core Committer Offsite in Kingston, UK. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to attend in person. To ensure remote participants could follow along, Gábor took the initiative to make sure remote attendees could participate.*
*As a European living in the US, I really miss the outdoor terraces and pubs that are so common in many European cities. Although Boston has some options, it doesn't compare to the experience in most European cities.*
*Breaking news: a British man was seen sharing his churros with pigeons. Belgian man found this both intriguing and gross.*
*Caught in the act.*
*The famous red phone booths near Westminster Abbey attract long lines of people waiting to take their photo with the booths and the Abbey in the background. It made me realize that "Top London telephone booth locations" is a thing.*
*About to kick off Acquia Engage London, the fourth customer conference of the Acquia Freedom Tour. So far, we've had events in Miami, Chicago, and New York. Thrilled to be in the beautiful Langham Hotel in London with 200+ Acquia customers and partners. After London, we'll be heading to our final stop in Paris.*
*"No Relation" is one of my favorite restaurants in the South End of Boston. Their sushi is absolutely amazing, and I love watching the chefs prepare the food. Everything about "No Relation" - the food, the decor, and the service - reminds me of my trips to Japan. It's the closest dining experience to what I've had in Japan.*
*We enjoyed a three-day trip to Mexico as part of Acquia's President's Club, a program that recognizes top-performing salespeople and employees.*
*If you're in Mexico and feeling adventurous, be sure to order a Mexican coffee. A mixologist will mix coffee, tequila, and Kahlua, light it up, and create an epic waterfall of flames.*
*A charming cottage in Lewes, UK.*
*The West Pier in Brighton, UK. The pier was built in 1866 and was a popular attraction. Over the years, it suffered damage from various storms, and in 2003 a fire destroyed much of the structure.*
*We found a cute coffee shop called Brødwolf in Brighton, UK. We enjoyed a delicious Easter Monday breakfast there.*
*Ready for four days of family fun at the Belgian coast.*
*Tuning in to the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the prestigious one-day cycling race that takes place in Flanders, Belgium.*
*Strategic moves by candlelight.*
*In Vermont, it's the season for making delicious maple syrup. We visited a 'sugar house' where they boil down the sap from maple trees to make it. The smoke rising from the large chimney added to the charm of the scene. I wish you could smell this photo!*
*Vanessa is reading 'Edible Vermont', a magazine focused on food and culinary topics exclusive to Vermont.*
*A model plane hanging from the ceiling. As a kid, I loved making model planes. The biggest one I ever made was also yellow. It brought back happy memories.*
*The sun is shining through the Baby Barn. Even though there is still snow on the ground, it's a sign that spring has arrived. There is something special about the first warm rays filtering through a window after winter.*
*The great room of the Baby Barn in Londonderry, Vermont. It features high ceilings, tall windows, a grand fireplace, and an abundance of charming and eclectic decorations.*
*Pasta night! Vanessa's homemade bolognese sauce, paired with authentic pasta imported from Italy, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a bottle of red wine from a vineyard in Italy that we visited last summer.*
*Deep-sea fishing between the stunning fjords of Lofoten.*
*We went deep-sea fishing on a traditional fishing boat similar to the one shown. Lofoten, Norway is known for its charming red buildings. The unique red color of the buildings is the result of using cod liver oil as paint, which provides protection against the harsh arctic climate.*
*Lofoten has a rich and storied fishing heritage. The fishing industry has its sustained local communities for generations.*
*The picturesque harbor of Svolvær in Lofoten, Norway. Lofoten is situated above the Arctic Circle and known for its picturesque fjords and rugged landscapes.*
*I love that my sons have become passionate about basketball. Having passions is important for our well-being and drives our personal growth. It helps us develop a sense of identity and belonging, and it often drives us to work harder and push ourselves to improve. Passions also encourage us to dream big. They open up new opportunities and connect us with like-minded people. Having passions and being passionate is so important in life, be it in sports or any other area.*
*We are celebrating a few birthdays with our family in Belgium. Lots of laughter and happy smiles.*
*Vanessa eating a frangipane while standing in the fireplace. We are in the process of downsizing the original, massive fireplace into a smaller one. We are also converting the open-faced fireplace to a closed one. The new fireplace will be both safer and more efficient.*
*This summer, we're moving out of the apartment that I've owned for almost twenty years. Leaving will be tough as we have made countless memories here. Before we move, I want to capture some photos of the things I love about our apartment, such as the warm afternoon light in the kitchen shown in this picture.*
*A glassblower at Simon Pearce in Vermont. I bought some handblown Negroni glasses.*
*We're spending the weekend at a remote cabin in Vermont. You can't tell from the photo, but the temperature dropped to -17°F \(-27°C\).*
*The winds are howling, the snow is swirling, and frost is creeping upon the cabin's windows. But a love for cooking means she is always exploring cookbooks.*
*The John Hancock Tower shines in the last sunlight of the day. At 60 stories and 790 feet \(240 meters\), it is the tallest building in Boston.*
*We recently visited Vanessa's parents. Their house holds great sentimental value as it not only served as Vanessa's childhood home, but also her father's. The property has been in the family for over 50 years. As we looked through old photographs, it became evident that countless birthdays and holidays were celebrated in their kitchen, adding to the warmth and nostalgia of the space.*
*In the queue to get de-iced.*
*Durbuy is one of the smallest towns in Belgium, but has one of the best Christmas markets.*
*"L'épicerie de Durbuy" is a small specialty shop located in Durbuy. They offer artisanal products made locally in the Ardennes region. On our visit, we purchased some of their homemade pastis.*
*The picturesque cobblestone streets of Durbuy.*
*Walking through the historic streets of Durbuy is a journey through time. The cobblestone roads and quaint architecture invite the imagination to wander, wondering about the stories and lives of those who lived here hundreds of years ago.*
*With only a few minutes to go before the start of the new year, Ben wanted to get the fire pit going so we'd stay warm while watching the fire works. Turns out you can make a roaring fire in one minute with the help of a leaf blower. Don't try this at home kids.*
*My Oma who is almost 95 years old. Lise is helpig her great-grandmother unwrap a Christmas gift.*
*Vanessa making orange cookies \(thanks to the power of artificial intelligence\)!*
*Decorating the Christmas tree.*
*Back in Belgium for the last two weeks of the year. It was cold but beautiful when I walked to the bakery in the morning.*
*Boston still has around 2,500 gas lights throughout the city. The first gas lights were introduced in 1828. Prior to 1828, Boston used oil lamps to light the streets. While gas lights provide a lot of character to the neighborhood, they are not great for carbon emission. Recently, the city decided to replace them with LED lights that mimic real flames.*
*Jay spatchcocking the Thanksgiving turkey.*
*The end of a great Thanksgiving meal with great friends.*
*Kicking off the FIFA World Cup 2022 at an Acquia partner event in London.*
*London by night.*
*A bar at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.*
*The old brickwork is both repointed and white-washed.*
*Ziplining until dark.*
*Cow 8161 saying hello!*
*Cousins on a family walk in the Belgian Ardennes.*
*Playing 'jeu de boules' in the Belgian Ardennes.*
*An old tractor abandoned in a field.*
*Reviewing a "mood board" of different tiles, woods, stones, and fabrics.*
*Planning out the chairs and sofas.*
*October is the best month to drive around New England.*
*The next months, we are organizing Acquia events around the world. We are calling it the 'Acquia Freedom Tour'. We just kicked off our tour with our first event at the Fontainebleau hotel on Miami Beach. Up next: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Tokyo, London and more.*
*The vartender in a Cuban bar in Miami. Typo intended.*
*Any excuse for a campfire is a good one. Colder temperatures is certainly one of them. The outside temperature was 43 degrees Fahrenheit \(or 6 degrees Celsius\).*
*Crossing a small stream.*
*Obligatory photo of the sign at the top of Mount Moosilauke. The hike was 10 miles \(16 kilometers\) long and took us to a height of 4,802 feet \(1,470 meters\). Lots of climbing but the views from the top were worth it.*
*Making lattes in the morning light. Even though we are 'glamping' in a remote cabin, Vanessa brought our espresso machine \(and her barista\). Yes, we are one of those families now.*
*Hello from the top of Mount Moosilauke! Selfie by Beth.*
*We rented a cabin in Woodstock, New Hampshire for the weekend. Very rustic cabin made entirely out of wood. We are planning to do a big hike as the fall foliage is in full swing.*
*The steep streets of Beacon Hill.*
*It's mid-October already! It might be getting colder and darker, but it's not too late to have dinner outside. Petit Robert, South End, Boston.*
*The train yard outside of Boston's South Station.*
*Wendy's is my guilty pleasure.*
*The first windows were installed.*
*The basement under what will become a stand-alone garage.*
*Oma's hand.*
*Visiting the workshop of Collett & Victor, a maker of 100% Belgian bespoke sofas and seats. Love the craftsmanship.*
*The brick is being repointed. The old mortar is already grooved out, and will soon be replaced with new mortar.*
*The sub-floor that sits on top of the floor heating is in. In Belgium, this is called the "chape".*
*What will be the outdoor patio and kitchen area. It gets some nice afternoon sun.*
*Some Drupal Core Committers having a beer together! I stepped away for a few minutes, and Alex Pott captured this photo using my camera.*
*Meeting with Taavi Kotka, Estonia's first CIO.*
*Delivering my keynote at DrupalCon Prague. Photo by Paul Johnson.*
*To celebrate Drupal's 21st birthday, Acquia hired Alexandra Cárdenas for the DrupalCon Prague welcome reception. Alexandra is at the forefront of the Algorave scene. She makes music by live coding. You could see her music algorithms on the big monitor. Pretty amazing to watch!*
*Acquia handed out Drupal-branded Converse shoes. They were in high-demand!*
*A view of Prague and the Vltava River. Photo taken from Stalin Plaza.*
*The escalators in Prague's metro stations are fast-moving.*
*An arrowslit in the castle wall of Bouillon Castle in Belgium. The castle is more than a 1,000 years old. Archers launched arrows through it to defend their territory.*
*Bouillon Castle is believed to date back from before 980. The views from the top are amazing! In my imagination, farmers lived and worked in the fields along the river banks.*
*This photo sums up our camping weekend pretty well: hanging out under the van's awning to avoid getting rained on.*
*Axl helping to make a fire. Unfortunately, we could not make s'mores as it started raining again shortly after. No one wants soggy s'mores ...*
*I love the afternoon sun in September.*
*We put two vans next to each other, and tried to connect their awnings. It rained 70% of the time so it allowed us to hang out and stay dry.*
*The famous sign of Camping Maka in Bertrix. The sun after the rain makes everything a bit more dreamy.*
*We had to wait for rain to pass, so we enjoyed a few beers at Camping Maka's bar. La Chouffe for me, Karmeliet for Vanessa.*
*Camping Maka has a small bar with La Chouffe on tap, and apparently, a white fox on the ceiling ...*
*Eight people playing a board game in a tent. Small but cozy.*
*The Semois river in the Belgian Ardennes.*
*Cables everywhere! For the electrical, audio, video, alarm system, and more.*
*The floor heating is being installed in the bathroom. The plumbing for the bathtub is in place.*
*The windows are covered with plastic as we wait for the actual windows to be installed.*
*The original skylights \(modern Velux windows\) were replaced with traditional wrought iron windows.*
*The floor heating is being installed in the living/dining room. They enlarged the windows, added dormers, prepared the electrical, and made recessions in the walls for invisible speakers.*
*The trough that was used to feed the cows or pigs in the barn. We want to incorporate it somewhere in the design of the house or garden.*
*New dormers, new roof, and new gutters.*
*Old mortar being grooved out. Because we added new windows and enlarged existing windows, the new mortar would not match the old mortar in color. Bottom right: construction on the garage has started.*
*Preparing eggs and coffee in our van at a campsite in Heidenburg, Germany.*
*Other than grapes for wine, there were a lot of apple and pear trees in the Mosel area.*
*We hiked 19 km \(almost 12 miles\) and had some great views of the Moselle.*
*We had an incredible apple tree next to our van.*
*I climbed in and out an empty wine vat. If your glass of Riesling tastes off, it might be my fault. No further comment.*
*The vineyards in Trittenheim, Germany where the Riesling grapes are grown.*
*Exploring the campground by OneWheel.*
*Exploring the campground by OneWheel.*
*Our kitchen island when on the road.*
*First order of business when we arrive at our destination: making the upstairs bed in our van so we are ready for the night.*
*Dinner at Kava in the South End, Boston.*
*South End, Boston*
*I knew we were in bear country, but what I didn't know was that New Hampshire had crocodiles too.*
*The hiking trail at the Lost River Gorge in Woodstock, New Hampshire.*
*Gourmet camping means pancakes for breakfast!*
*Percolating coffee in the morning sun at the Twin Mountain campground in New Hampshire, USA.*
*This is how Vanessa wakes up in a tent. Temperatures dropped to 10 °C \(50 °F\) during the night. Pyjamas, warm sweaters, and blankets were required to stay warm.*
*We laid down next to a river and saw thousands of stars. This photo is my first attempt at astrophotography. I think you can see the Milky Way ...*
*Cooking by the fire at Twin Mountain Campground in New Hampshire.*
*A campground 20 minutes from ours was shut down because of "black bear activity". We picked up some bear spray and kept it around our campsite.*
*A selfie from the passenger seat of a Jeep.*
*I'm not a great cook, so my job is usually to do the dishes. This was my dish washing station.*
*We own an electric car, but decided to rent a Jeep for this camping trip.*
*When we discovered that Jenny was wearing her bathing suit inside out ...*
*Vanessa in the White Mountain National Forest.*
*Sunday night basketball game at Titus Sparrow Park in Boston. The hip hop music and chanting could be heard from a block away. Good vibe!*
*Burgers are one of my favorite food groups. The "Hot Mess & Cheese" at Crazy Good Kitchen on Newbury Street was excellent.*
*A kid playing in the fountains at the Christian Science Plaza in Boston.*
*Reading on the rooftop deck. Lazy Saturdays are the best.*
*Vanessa doing vacation work \(math excercises\) with Stan.*
*Stan swimming in the lake.*
*Step aside baywatch, this is lakewatch!*
*Our Sunday afternoon involved hanging out on the sandbar in Lake Winnisquam.*
*Swimming in lakes is synonymous with New Hampshire summer vacations.*
*Jumping in the water from a jetty.*
*Boston summer tradition: lobster rolls at Cape Cod.*
*We caught a lot of fish. At one point, Axl and Stan caught a fish at the same time.*
*A fish being taken out of the net.*
*Whoa baby! Stan caught a striped bass that measured 37 inches or 95 centimeters.*
*Our first catch of the day was a large skate. He had a big smile on his face.*
*Axl reeling a fish out of the water.*
*It's early in the morning and Stan was a bit slow to get started. We got up at 5am and left Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, MA at 7am.*
*Axl grilling swordfish, asparagus and sweet potatoes. Cape Cod summer nights at their best!*
*Stan pondering about life.*
*A typical Cape Cod trail that takes you to the beach.*
*Hiking the Great Island Trail in Wellfleet, MA.*
*What is better than one hat? Two hats.*
*Enjoying some 'mud pie' ice cream from Bedford Farms in Concord, MA.*
*Axl has dyslexia, but reads for hours a day. Just like me.*
*New dormer and enlarged window in the background.*
*We had to put metal support poles behind the wooden beams. We also elevated them so we can have higher ceilings and floor heating. The wooden beams are purely decorative at this point.*
*Living room windows being enlarged. The small windows higher up are new. We also discovered a problem with the roof liner, so we had to take off the roof tiles to replace the liner. New dormers are being built.*
*For hundreds of years, the house was a barn for pigs and cows. In its original state, it had very few windows. Even though the previous owner converted the barn to a house, it had a limited amount of windows. The house was quite dark. We decided to put in both more windows and enlarge existing windows.*
*The new side is coming along! I love the light in the leaves of the weeping willow. Sadly, this view will get blocked by a stand-alone garage. We really need a garage for a car and bikes though.*
*"Oops! I dropped the lemon tart." by Massimo Bottura. It recognizes that mistakes are not only human, but also beautiful.*
*Massimo Bottura's "The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna" debuted at Osteria Francescana in 1995. This iconic dish is no longer available at Osteria Francesca, but lives on at Francescana at Casa Maria Luigia.*
*Massimo Bottura's "Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" being plated during our dinner at Francescana at Maria Luigia, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Modena. "Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano" helped Osteria Francescana become the number one restaurant in the world in 2016 and is one of the most influential culinary dishes of the last decade.*
*Vanessa at Casa Maria Luigia in Modena.*
*Wooden barrels of balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Leonardi. Barrels are oranganized in "batteries". Some of their batteries have been in use for over 400 years. Love the traditions and long-term planning.*
*A barrel with 100-year old balsamic vinegar at Acetaia Leonardi. Its thick syrupy texture and deep sweetness was incredible.*
*Wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.*
*Walls of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.*
*Foodie selfie!*
*Manarola, one of the villages in Cinque Terre. We went for a swim. Highly recommended for those who love adventurous swimming.*
*Fishing boats in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.*
*Cliff jumping in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre.*
*Fishing boats in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre. And a woman swimming with her hat on.*
*Levanto, a seaside town with great beaches.*
*Breakfast in the van. To eat: fruit, yogurt and granola parfait. To drink: coconut water and coffee made in the percolator.*
*Honeymoon appropriate underwear.*
*We hiked part of the SVA, a scenic coastal path connecting the 5 villages of the Cinque Terre. I'd like to come back to hike it in its entirety.*
*People watching in Levanto.*
*An old bike in Pienza.*
*A shop in Pienza.*
*The pool at our friends' house in Tuscany. Incredible views!*
*Summer nights by candle light.*
*At the end of about any meal in Tuscany, you're offered Vin Santo and Cantucci. Cantucci are crunchy almond biscuits. You dip them into Vin Santo, a sweet Italian dessert wine.*
*Aperitivo! One of my favorite Italian traditions.*
*Vanessa enjoying the aperitivo at Dievole.*
*A boy filling up his water bottle at a historic water fountain in San Gimignano.*
*One of the gardens at Dievole. Perfect spot for an 'aperitivo'.*
*When in Italy, it's almost a must to air-dry your clothes on a line. Fortunately, we found this handy drying system that attaches to Miles, our Volkswagen California.*
*Summer nights under Italian grape vines.*
*Reading next to the pool at Ca Murreta Relais.*
*"Today slow service" is exactly what we wanted at Villa Calicantus. We loved the 2-hour wine tasting and lunch.*
*Wine tasting at Villa Calicantus, a small organic winery in the heart of Bardolino Classico. We enjoyed meeting both owners, Chiara and Daniele Delaini, and learning more about their vineyard. We ended up shipping 12 bottles of their wine to our home.*
*We experienced a sudden and violent daytime storm at Lake Garda.*
*The Santa Magdalena Church with the Dolomites in the background. The church belongs to a tiny village of the same name tucked in the southern end of Val di Funes. The exact date the church was built is not known, but it was first mentioned in historical documents in 1394.*
*For the best views of the Santa Magdalena Church, hike up the Panoramaweg.*
*The path to the Santa Magdalena Church. It's about a 30-minute hike.*
*The Church of St. John with the Dolomites in the background. Consecrated in 1180.*
*The indoor-outdoor pool at Hotel Alpen Tesitin has a tranquil vibe.*
*Vanessa in one of the outdoor infinity pools at Hotel Alpen Tesitin.*
*The path around Tre Cime is very rocky and not always easy to follow. There were still patches of snow to navigate around \(not shown in photo\). All in all, a very doable 10 kilometer hike.*
*Wild flowers are randomly seen throughout the Tre Cime terrain. I like how this flower claimed its place in the world.*
*The views in the Tre Cime area are mesmerizing. The famous Tre Cime peaks are partially shown in the background.*
*Rifugio Lavaredo, an Italian Alpine hut in the Three Peaks region at an altitude of 2,344 meters. The scenery is breathtaking.*
*We started with trail 101 from Rifugio Auronzo. From trail 101 we merged onto trail 105, looping the Tre Cime.*
*Rifugio Auronzo, an Italian Alpine hut in the Tre Cime Natural Park. We parked our camper van on their parking lot and started hiking from this hut.*
*Enjoying the views at Hotel Alpen Tesitin in the Dolomites.*
*Horses next to our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.*
*Horses next to our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.*
*The view from our campsite near Innsbruck, Austria.*
*The old town of Innsbruck in Austria.*
*Our van in camping mode; ready for the night. In the background, the towers of Ottobeuren Abbey in Germany.*
*Construction supplies are craned in through the roof. Eventually, a dormer will go here.*
*Foreground: old wooden beam to preserve the character of the house. Background: new windows to bring in extra light.*
*Tools of the craft.*
*The wall is so new that the mortar is still wet!*
*Building the new interior walls on the second floor.*
*The ladder to the second floor.*
*Now the concrete floor is in, we can start building interior walls on the second floor.*
*The concrete floor is in, meaning we can finally go upstairs! For the time being, there are no stairs yet. The original wooden beams will be elevated later, so they align with the new ceiling height.*
*On the left: a window replaces the wood storage. On the right: a window and door replace the garage door.*
*A new window being created. Because the house used to be a barn, it was lacking some windows.*
*Demolition has begun. We removed everything: doors, windows, built-in cabinets, floors, interior walls, ... literally, everything.*
*Me using a Leica M10-R.*
*Vanessa crossing one of many streams on the Griffith Lake Loop trail in Vermont.*
*The great room of the Baby Barn in Londonderry, Vermont.*
*The original side of the house before removing the wood storage and garage.*
*The original shed. While it looks charming, we are removing it to make room for a stand-alone garage.*
*The two floors were originally seperated by a wood-framed floor \(ceiling in photo\). We removed the wood floor, and will replace it with a concrete floor. The concrete floor will be poured on top of a temporary support system.*
*The existing fireplace is massive. We plan to make it smaller and more energy efficient.*
*Creating some curved doors as an homage to the old barn.*
*Preparing for the concrete floor to be poured.*
*The interior walls keep getting higher and higher.*
*We removed all interior walls, changed the floor plan, and built new interior walls.*
*We started by removing all the interior walls, floors, plumbing, and electrical. We only kept the exterior walls, roof, and the original wood beams. When designing the floor plan, we worked around the original wooden beams. The beams are hundreds of years old and we wanted to preserve them. The space in the photo will be our living room and kitchen.*
*Cars are getting buried by heavy snowfall during a major Boston snowstorm.*
*A "phalanx of snow plows": five snow plows clearing Tremont Street during a major Boston snowstorm.*
*The South End Buttery is a neighborhood favorite in Boston's South End.*
*Overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Coffee and laptop for morning blogging.*
*S'mores on the beach.*
*Dinner at Cape Cod.*
*A red moon over the water in Cape Cod.*
*Axl staring at the Boston skyline, waiting for the Fourth of July fireworks to start. It had been years since he saw the fireworks so it was extra special, despite the fog and rain.*
*Emergency room selfie.*
*Emergency room selfie.*
*Brussels sprouts in Brussels*
*Hot coffee served in tin camping mugs with paper towels to protect from the heat.*
*A moka pot \(or percolator\) brewing coffee during a camping trip in Maine, USA.*
*Tryfan's North Ridge silhouette next to lake Lyn Ogwen.*
*Selfie taken with Klaas' iPhone 8. Me pointing to the Tryfan's North Ridge where our hike began just three days earlier.*
*Our campsite on a ridge on the back of Tryfan. The views were spectacular.*
*The temperatures swung from 20ºC \(68ºF\) during the day time to 2ºC \(35ºF\) during night time. In the evenings, we were forced to put on warm clothes and layer up.*
*Brewing coffee and cooking breakfast in a Volkswagen California camper van during a trip to Wales, UK.*
*We shifted Drupal 8's minor release windows so we can adopt Symfony's releases faster.*
*Me reviewing the Drupal Governance proposal on a recent trip.*
*Before \(left\) and after \(right\).*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*© Paul Johnson*
*Vanessa making pizza on the grill, which has become a summer vacation tradition.*
*Giving the famous Bubble Rock at Acadia National Park a little push.*
*The original image that we need to generate a placeholder for.*
*Lobsters cooking in large pots filled with seawater.*
*Lobsters cooking in large pots filled with seawater.*
*Lobsters cooking in large pots filled with seawater.*
*Lobsters cooking in large pots filled with seawater.*
*Egg Rock Lighthouse in the distance.*
*An aerial photo of our rental house near Bar Harbor, Maine.*
*An aerial photo of the house we rented near Bar Harbor, Maine.*
*A family photo at the top of Cadillac Mountain.*
*The view from the top of Cadillac Mountain minutes after sunrise.*
*The view from the top of Cadillac Mountain minutes just after sunrise.*
*The view from the top of Cadillac Mountain minutes before sunrise.*
*The stunning view from Acadia Mountain Trail.*
*Descending Acadia Mountain Trail was harder than expected.*
*Playing a game of Pente.*
*Descending the steep stairs to the rocks near Bass Harbor Lighthouse.*
*Stan standing on one of the many rock formations at Acadia National Park.*
*A long-exposure photograph captures a snowy nighttime scene where people use light painting to write "I love you" with flashlights.*
*© Ultra-trail Snowdonia and No Limits Photography*
*© Ultra-trail Snowdonia and No Limits Photography*
*© Yes Moon*
*astronaut standing a among flock of bird, single glowing unique bird flying around, digital art style, illustration painting \(astronaut standing a among flock of bird, single glowing unique bird flying around, digital art style, illustration painting*
