Postings from Germany

Assorted KetchUp

I feel busy and not-busy, distracted and concentrated, lazy and - back to the beginning - busy. All at the same time and not. Do you understand that? Neither do I.

Of course, I think I am like everyone else and that everyone else is just like me so of course you understand. On the other hand, I often find that I am out standing in my field, and that I am all alone.

If you can't figure that out, it's OK. Werner and I can't either - and I'm writing it! . Here's the KetchUp.

Art KetchUp

Last weekend we made a side trip to Delmenhorst. We have biked there before - it's only 20K or so from here, but because it is cold and seemingly always threatening rain these days, we took the car. There's an exhibit of works from German Art Nouveau in the small city museum - always a pleasant diversion.

Here's Werner checking out one of the paintings.

And here is evidence that needlepoint has been around as a decorative element for some time (of course, much loner than this). I don't see needlepoint in museums often, and though I'm not tempted to recreate this pattern, it was nevertheless confirming to see that artists who create paintings also have inclinations to make our daily lives more ... artful. And that was the whole point of the exhibition.

Spring KetchUp

After the cultural refreshment, we took in some natural refreshment - and though it is still cold and wet (I did say that already, didn't I?) there's evidence that spring is coming. Color is so welcome and in the local park there were these snowdrops.

Then of course it was time for - what else - Kaffee und Kuchen. We found a local café and after a bit of refreshment we headed home to ---

Food KetchUp

We haven't stopped eating. We're in pause mode regarding dinners out at friends' but have had some pretty interesting dinners at home: Sauerkraut with Pinkel and boiled potatoes (don't knock it till you've tried it), tomato and fennel sauce with pasta (one of my absolute favorites) and the other day it was Tuscan white bean soup with kale.

I had to start this dish immediately after breakfast so the beans could be cooked soft before we went off to classes and such. When we got back we added the rest of the ingredients and had this wonderful - really tasty - dish for dinner. For a cool spring evening, I can't imagine much of anything that could taste better. A salad, some crusty bread, oh my oh my. Believe me, the time is worth it. And of course you make A LOT so there are left overs so you don't have to cook the next day! How great is that? The recipe is here, and you should really do it. Really.

Word of warning: I didn't EXACTLY follow the recipe. What else is new? I had some great local smoked bacon, so didn't need the pancetta. I used only kale and no escarole. I used fresh tomatoes because I had them and I didn't have celery but I put in more parsley. Doesn't matter, it was still wonderful.

Project KetchUp

We need more projects? No, but there was an auction the other week and I found these orphans. They needed a home. And I thought they'd like it here with us.

Like all the other things I've adopted over the years, they need some attention and work and a little love. They'll get a good work over from Werner and I already have new covers for them in my mind. They might have to wait a while though. But I think they've already waited a good many years and maybe they are patient enough to wait for me.