Tomorrow I go back to work officially.  Days of staying up late and lounging on the balcony, on the Grand Place, on the couch, on the wherever/whenever I want are over (well, except for weekends!).

I’m glad we returned to Belgium two weeks before going back to work because we’ve had a lot of fun touring here — despite the heatwave — and showing off our hood to new friends (and old).

Bought chocolate in Brugge, beer at Orval Abbey, beer at Villers Abbey, sipped wine at The Abbey where friends live, and ate food all over the place.  It’s been good.

Some Orval shots for you…

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FYI Dog lovers: dogs cannot enter this abby, but they can hang with you in the nearby restaurant.

My favorite Orval pic:  Lord knows I’m going to need someone to hold me up the next few weeks!

I really enjoyed Viller’s Abbey, which is less than an hour’s drive from Mons (less than that from Brussels).  Josh and Roger, friends of ours, suggested it since we could bring Badger on the grounds, and we’re so glad they did.

The whole area is worth it.  Tourists reading this, I highly recommend you give it a whirl.  It’s a maze of ruins and gardens, which you can get at just about all of the Abbys, but it’s a short drive and not as well known, so way less people.  It also has stage set ups and events planned throughout the year.  Mid-September there will be some sort of ghost walk and the end of September includes a fire symphony, which we’re totally going to.

Outside the Abby grounds are more walking trails, cafes and goodies to explore — including a “Dog Bar” for Badger.

Some Villers Abby shots for you.  LOL, yes there’s a disco ball in them ruins.

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Click here for Badger’s “Shits & Barkles” take on the day.

We also enjoyed cooking out where Mini and Leah, more friends, live. Their apartments are on old abby grounds.  I’ve been there quite a few times, and this is the first time I walked the grounds.  It’s beautiful, and Lo and behold we discovered there’s actually a No Frog zone.

Frogs say pooh on that because we saw all kinds of baby ones hopping about.

Life never gets boring here, which is a good thing because my next vacation isn’t until November when I’ll finally get to meet my first grandchild (he or she is due August 28, come on lil one!  The world awaits your chaos).

And, I haven’t totally let go of Brazil yet.  LOL a piece of it is on my dining room table.

Beach wraps make great table cloths!

Well, it’s noon and I’m starving, so time to get out on the Grand Place and nibble on something like this…

I’m never getting thin again…