Postings from Germany

First Advent







Here's the Advent Wreath with the first candle lit. As usual, it's a simple one - one sort of greenery, the wooden candle holders from our first year here, stubby red candles, red ribbon, gold ribbon, a little gold sparkle, a few small bulbs and the miniature poinsettia (in German, a Weihnachtsstern, a Christmas star) in the middle. Well,maybe not SO simple, but they can get quite elaborate here. An additional candle will be lit each Sunday before Christmas.

I have to be careful to position the poinsettia so the leaves don't get burned by the candles - that is, when the poinsettia makes it at all past the second week! I either over water or under water or it doesn't get enough light or too much light or a it gets a little chill or, or, or... Pretty, but just a tad touchy, if you ask me.

I remember a poinsettia growing outdoors in Jacksonville, 1950 or '51 I guess, at our house or a neighbor's. A BUSHY BUSH with a beautiful icing of red.

After breakfast, we were off to René and Rima's for their traditional First Advent family dinner. I think I can cook, and then we go there! First course: slow-roasted veal with tuna sauce, mild anchovy, capers. Second course: tagliatelle with porcini in cream sauce. Third course: slow-roasted filet of beef, fried rosemary potatoes, savoy cabbage gratin. Breaks between the courses were more than welcome! Later, friends always drop by, eat some leftovers or the desserts that are there. I took pumpkin pie (not sure the pie was a great hit but everyone had fun saying "pumpkin" that came out "pompkin" or "poomkun" or "pumpkun"). But there was also a classic Lebanese almond treat from Rima's mother and a chocolate Bundt cake from Monika. Here we are - Rima cutting Monika's cake: (the hanging in the background is Amina's Advent Calendar that I made last year)










Here's the cook and first assistant (René and Rima).









And here's a picture of the oldest and the youngest of the bunch. Ur-Oma (Great-grandmother) looks pretty good. Amina is always cute.