A Springtime Miscellany

Enjoying great coffee, olive oils, and vinegars in our little downtown. Watching both kids play soccer in a European tournament (Daughter in the familiar posture of giving a teammate a pre-match hug). Day-tripping to Düsseldorf (Japantown!), Köln, and Nancy, mother-in-law in tow. Frolicking in the back yard with friends, on a rare (this year) sunny day. Having drinks outside a small castle nearby. Attending Daughter's Baccalaureate Ceremony last week. Hugging, laughing, and crying at graduation on Saturday. It's been a full, eventful Spring. We're heading to the States next week, for a full two months this year. I wish you a most happy summer, and I'll try not to be a stranger until we return!

Why I Still Miss Japan

Germany's nice, and all, and there are some things I love about living here. But oh, Japan! Watch this lovely little video and be enchanted.

Fasching Shenanigans

Yes, it's that time again (or it was a couple of weeks ago--as usual, I'm a bit late in posting). Have a look at a bit of the craziness of a small-town Fasching parade:

The uncharacteristic moments of sunlight gave me a bit of trouble with the photography. Mind you, it was absolutely freezing as well. But we got a fair amount of candy, thanks in large part to The Girl, who is fearless at leaping for anything thrown in our direction, and even walking right up to someone on a float handing out free (full-sized!) tubes of foot lotion. I got hit on top of the head HARD by a flying Snickers bar, but no one cared, and I ate it later. Adult-sized garden gnomes, walking Euros, questionable logos, a soccer team dressed as Native Americans, and a haul of hard candy we'll never eat--fun times!

Another Day in Nancy, France

I know what you're thinking. "Hey, Hausfrau, it's the first of February, but these photos look as if they were taken in December. In fact, those last two seem to have been taken at a Christmas market."

Sadly, you would be correct. These were taken on a pre-Christmas day-trip with good friends. They'd never visited this lovely city a couple of hours away, full as it is of Art Nouveau architectural details and loads of delicious Quiche Lorraine. We had fun meandering, eating and drinking, and letting The Husband ask for directions (go figure--I can speak French while he cannot).

Despite the cute shops and gorgeous Place Stanislas (considered one of the most beautiful city squares in Europe), never go to Nancy for its Christmas market. Go somewhere else--anywhere. 

Over and out.

Snow Day

Wednesday, late-afternoon, behind our house

Around here, we don't generally get many full snow days, as the roads are usually pretty clear by mid-day. A two-hour school delay is more common but still doesn't happen all that often. So, the kids were pretty happy to get to sleep in quite late yesterday and then come downstairs to waffle batter and a roaring fire in the wood stove. It was nice. The Husband exercised, the Boy hit the video games, the Girl managed to clean her room, and I did lots and lots of pinning. Oh, and we all took a couple of turns on the Boy's new pull-up bar (a couple of us were given slight boosts).

You know, I've learned to embrace winter here--I don't even mind shoveling snow as much as I did a few years ago!

Wherever you are, I hope you're staying warm.

*I'll be back soon with some day-trip photos from before Christmas--I keep forgetting to load them on my laptop!

Photographer's Wife, Yosemite

Charis, Lake Ediza, California, 1937 by Edward Weston

Lips unmoving,
there's too little to say.

With feet propped on stone,
a new kind of cold.

Ice sheets below,
where silence pervades

And against this wall
a soul waits, unfazed.

Girded for war,
but heaving to be free

Why bother to blink,
with one's heart frozen shut?

Now once more, please,
and relax this time.

Then ready a fire
for the photographer's wife.

~a bit of poetry I wrote for Mag 142

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Lovely medieval Rothenburg, eighteen years after our last visit. This time, with The Girl, The Boy, and The Dog in tow. More touristy now, but still entirely charming. Christmas shops, the obligatory schneeballen (only fan: The Boy), an afternoon walk along the Wall, the Night Watchman's tour after sundown, and an enjoyable (but unphotographed) rustic country meal in Hotel Markusturm (dinner and hotel both recommended). A delightful autumn weekend away.