Conveying Affection

The attractive way you set the table set the tone for a meal and can convey affection, warmth, and caring.  The simple way the napkin is fluffed up in the glass, folded to make a flower, or creatively arranged in a napkin ring can speak of your love and concern. A garnish of parsley on a platter of roast chicken or  a wedge of lemon in a glass of water say, "I care enough to do the little bit it takes to be above average." 

– Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home, Emilie Barnes

Thinking of Emilie's words as I make preparations today. Dinner guests expected at six tonight.  Roast chicken, rice pilaf, whole green beans, salad, and apple crisp ala mode is on the menu.  Simple dishes are what we do best. I think the table will be set in blue and white. 

 

Thrift Thursday

Oh. my. word.  

This may be one of the very best thrift shop finds I have ever had.  Ranks right up there with the typewriter. We wandered into the junk shop during dance class, turned a corner, and literally stumbled into this authentic Victorian doll pram.  It has porcelain handles and a wicker body with metal rimmed wheels.  She threw in the lace coverlet because I may possibly be their best customer of all time lol.  Oh my oh my.  I do love it.  Expect to see more of this carriage in the future.  

Doll-carriage

Snapshots of Landstuhl

This weekend has been a blur to say the least.  The girls had their friends come visit for the weekend.  Their family divides their time between France and Germany so they had all sorts of fascinating things to share – like great places to get groceries and clothing. You can fumble around for months, or you can ask someone who lives here.  Or be me and try both approaches. : )  

Anyway, it was a frigid walk in downtown Landstuhl and those four girls picked up some speed.  I didn't think I had really gotten any pictures since I was trying to keep up, but turns out I was wrong. 

You see I did not get pictures of any girls shopping however.  Major fail. 

Landstuhl-retro-2-web

 

Landstuhl-retro-web

Landstuhl-windows-web

Landstuhl-smoke-web
Landstuhl-bistro
Landstuhl-chapel

Landstuhl-walk-alley

patience and faith

K-puzzle-web

"It takes patience to build a puzzle, along with the faith that the right pieces are in the box."

–John Clark

This line has been floating around my head all week, and daily I have had a new and different thought about its application to life.  This is my theme this week.  The right pieces are in the box. Be patient piecing them together.  Eventually they fit.

His entire article musing on lessons learned at 40 is well worth reading.

Corners of my (vacation) home

I always enjoy seeing other people's homes and thought it would be especially fun to share some peeks inside the German home we rented over the holidays.  Step inside why don't we? Follow me…

Garmisch-door
Like so many older German homes this one opened into a long hallway with stairs and doors leading into various rooms.  I do so love the pressed, bubbled, and often amber colored glass of the interior doors here. 

Garmisch-kitchen

The kitchen was tiny but cozy. I found myself reading and sipping tea at that table in front of the radiator under the blue curtains whenever we were in the house. 

That is the refrigerator where the double cabinetry is.  Like many European homes, the appliance is faced with the same cabinet front as the rest of the kitchen.  I love that too. Appliances are rarely beautiful even when exorbitantly expensive.  Extending the cabinetry visually unifies the small space. 

Garmisch-armoire-web

I am still thinking about this armoire.  But I have sworn off white slipcovers.  Not gonna happen with this crowd. They make a very nice picture however. 

Garmisch-bench

You know I've never met a piece of redwork I didn't like and this was no exception.  Coincidentally – we had a very similar piece – same quote – hanging in our home growing up.  Our area was settled by many German and Scandanavian immigrants and I suppose that is how it got there.  I think ours was blue however.

Garmisch-steps-web

The stairs – looking down – with the wonderful vintage ski posters.  They wanted to go home with me but I explained it would be very wrong of me them so here they stay.  Next to the very nice half little cabinet under the eaves.  Sigh. 

Garmisch-stairs

And the stairs, twisting and turning, going up. 

Garmsich-rental
Here is an exterior shot of the house visible from the window because if you look out there you can see it was FAR too chilly to stand outside lol.  

There you have it.  The simplicity and sturdiness.  The iconic Bavarian touches.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. 

 

“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.”

–Thomas Jefferson