Category Archives: Germany

Trippstadt Gorge

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*warning:  numerous photos of exceptionally cute children in breathtaking natural surroundings follow….

We are a hiking bunch. So we jumped on the directions a friend sent which promised to land us on a long trail following a stream at the bottom of a tree lined ravine. Gosh y'all, nothing is better  to clear your head and restore perspective than a walk like this.  We used to positively thrive on these though they became fewer and farther between as the ranch took up more time and energy in recent years.  This has been a welcome addition to our lives once again. 

The camera had been fiddled with on the way so we fought with it the whole way but we saved several shots thank goodness. 

 

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…and today the sun is shining brightly once again, after being AWOL for several days, and we are headed outside for the rest of the afternoon.  Have a wonderful day! 

Dutch Treat(s)

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When I was in high school I spent a summer as an exchange student to the Netherlands. It took every penny I earned for months and months working at the local drugstore to get there.  I brought back only memories and literally a handful of souvenirs – an old delft plate, a print we have framed, and a pair of unpainted wooden shoes that actually fit me.  

We had talked about this at the big bazaar last month but we didn't buy anything. It just so happens that my husband's last trip back to the States involved a quick layover in Amsterdam. Just enough time to gather these goodies for me…

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to go with the Gouda so abundantly available locally:

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and of course more shoes.  I hope to collect a pair for each of our children before we leave. I am using them as the color scheme for our school room and have visions of them all lined up for St Nicholas. : ) 

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which all live happily together with another old delft plate of ours…

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Couldn't pass it up at the flea market.  It is a rendering of Millet's, Angelus in delft, had for next to nothing.  Some things should not be left to wallow in bargain basement bins. 

the train

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The train took us to Neustadt this weekend for the annual winefest and crowning of the National Wine Queen.  Or princess or some such royalty, which judging by the campaigning was a really big deal.  The wine princesses from the various city fest's go through a number of competitions to reach this one, which involves lots of suits and heels and noisemakers 

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and music

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and of course, wine.  When in Rome….

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or well, Neustadt at harvest time, you sample some Neuer Wein, literally New Wine, which is like lemonade with a kick.  Or so I am told.  My taste runs more along the Jones Soda lines truth be told. 

There was a fantastic vintage carnival.

Swings vintage aqua

and stroll through the city.

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After which we hopped the train back home. A very good night. 

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A Tale of Fowl Play

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Aw c'mon, you'd have said it too. ; ) 

Rumor has had it that a wild turkey or two had been spotted out back.  Until now I had been unable to verify the reports because by the time I got the camera loaded and ready  to the window they had ambled off across the road.  

 

Not this time.  This pair hung out under the fruittrees for several minutes until…

 

..one of the local killer birds caught a glimpse.  And he was on it pronto.  I have long heard that a hawk could take out a chicken, but all those years we free ranged our hens none ever attempted, though many circled.  The only thing I have seen a hawk actually fly off with was a snake, for which I was exceedingly grateful. It surprised me that it would hone in on the other birds with such vigor and speed since they were all the same size. But that it did, swooping low under the branches prepped for attack. 

 

The pair of what we now think are some sort of pheasant rather than turkeys (being without wattles and sporting a ring neck instead) scurried deep into the underbrush and haven't been seen since. 

The bird of prey left empty handed. For which I am once again exceedingly grateful.  I get the whole circle of life deal.  I just don't want to have to see it in action. 



    

Liebfrauenkirche Trier

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Trier boasts a stunning 13th century gothic cathedral called the Church of Our Dear Lady or Liebfrauenkirche. The church was constructed next to and over an older Romanesque structure so it is an odd juxtaposition.  Probably my favorite stop in Trier, although the hordes of people scurrying in and out of every nook and cranny detracted some from the sanctity of the place. 

 

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There are several ornate crypts within and outside of the cathedral. 


 

 


 

 
  

  

Happy Weekend!

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Saw this awesome quote yesterday:

‘Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you ought to set up a life you don’t need to escape from.’ – Seth Godin

Very good policy. In the end, we are not simply making a living, we are making a life. Make it a good one friends. We don't get another shot at this.  

A quick glimpse at a bit of our real-life-as-vacation kind of weekend:





   Sorry – only had the iphone again, but the bright delft and Italian pottery was so cheerful I had to show you. 

spotted

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Aha!  I finally spotted (pun intended) the infamous lucky mushroom so prevalent in German crafts. We hadn't walked this trail in a couple weeks since the creeping crud hit the house, so we were surprised to see this trio had popped up in our absence.  


 

Perhaps it was bronchitis induced low oxygen levels, but I was giddy to see them in person after seeing them as ornaments and nutcrackers and so on. And no, I hadn't eaten one either lol. I am just easily amused.  : ) I wish I had my camera with me but the iphone is good in a pinch. 


   
 

Tradition of the Mushroom. 

Mushrooms are considered to be a good luck symbol. Associated with nature and the beauty of the forest, finding a mushroom is considered to be very lucky and to mean good fortune is at hand. Mushroom ornaments are displayed on Christmas trees in Germany in honor of the people's reverence for nature and in hope of good luck in the New Year. 

– story courtesy of Historic Trinity