Early Christmas present

... and for my last birthday, and Werner's next birthday and next year's Christmas, too.

Those of you who have visited us here or in the USofA know we like "oriental/Persian" rugs - hand-woven or hand-knotted carpets whose designs reflect the regions where they are made.  Hannah counted all of the carpets here on one visit.  "Do you know how many rugs you have!!??  21!!! "

I'm not sure that's accurate (who knows - there are a couple in the attic) but there are more than a few and we can say something about each of them.  None of them would be categorized as fine but they lend a certain feel to the house that helps make it warm and homey.

This Kelim graces the floor in the study - which needs some gracing since the room is not so warm!

And this one is in the living room (though it is not alone).  Werner bought these before we were married, but I approve.  He has good taste.

 This is a relatively new one for us, in the narrow entrance hallway.

This is from Afganistan, a Bokhara or Turkman. It's a favorite pattern of mine and goes equally well with traditional or modern furniture.

Then on our trip to Turkey, we went to a rug manufacturer and saw so many lovely rugs.  One, however caught our joint eye and it was not to be denied.

Several weeks later, here it was.

And here it is.  We both thought the blue would be too vibrant, but it is so lovely and we love it here in our little house.  Who doesn't need a bit more of that?

Hostess Gifts

I came late to learning about giving "Hostess Gifts" - you know, a little something for the folks who invited you to dinner.  Certainly, I didn't learn it at home and later, lessons were spotty to say the least.

But here in our Germany, you take a gift.  Always. We've had a few guests in our little house recently, so we've been given a few gifts.

Earlier in the week, we welcomed new friends from our trip to Turkey for a nice afternoon with coffee and cake.  Later in the week, we had a dinner for some of Werner's extended family.

They brought gifts. 

Flowers.  Always welcome, and here in Bremen a pretty bouquet costs only a scousch  more than a box of chocolates (and if you don't know a scousch, it's a bit like a smidgen, and if you don't know that word, then the pedestrian "not much" will do).

Another favorite gift is of course wine.  There are so many specialty vintners here in Germany, everyone has their favorites, and frankly, I can't remember a wine I've tasted here that I wouldn't gladly try again.

This is a Prosecco, but from the Mosel region of Germany, so they market it as a "Mosecco."  FUN. Looking forward to tasting this.

And as much as I love flowers, and wine, homemade gifts are the best.  And did we get them in spades this week!  Homemade jams and jellies and marmalades.  I may have to (reluctantly!) share them since we don't eat these wonderful, tasty and delicious treats every day - as many here do!   Everything from their home gardens, prepared at home from fresh and yummy ingredients.

My favorite gift.

Thanksgiving Ramp Up

Written and mailed invitations are totally unnecessary for our annual fest but we do it because it adds to the festivity.  Each year the invitations are different though somehow I have neglected to chronicle them all.  Go figure.

I figure I am so wrapped up in the food part I forget to chronicle the earlier part. But not this year!

There have been commercial cards, silly cards, sewn cards.  This year, we found some leaves and painted them and pressed them on card stock that we had printed with our personal invite.  I do the computer stuff, Werner does the paint stuff.  It is how we do things.

Might be my favorite to date.

Print the invite. Paint the leaf. Press onto the paper. Let dry.  Who needs dried paint flakes in the printer?  

Left over leaves will help decorate the table along with a few little pumpkins and gourds and such.  I think this is my favorite holiday.

Food

We eat.  Every day.  Really well.

I haven't said anything in a while about our food, so here you go.

After our breakfast of oatmeal pancakes, which will never find a place on our breakfast table again,  we drove to Syke, visited a craft fair and took a walk in the woods. It was a wonderful fall day, unusually warm, sunny, and oh so nice.

We are known for cabbage here in Germany, you know, sauerkraut, coleslaw (Krautsalat), and so on. Cabbages grow bigger than basketballs and one of these babies would feed the two of us the whole winter.

But there are smaller ones and cabbages of other varieties.  Sweetheart cabbage (Spitzkohl) is a favorite because it's so tender and tasty and is not as big as a basketball.  So we bought one.

Shred it.  Sauté it with goose fat (really, it makes all the difference) and a bit of onion.

Then you need Frikadelle.  You know this - baby meatloaf.  We made these with ground turkey - add onion, spices and whatever.  It's all good.

 

Then put it on a plate with a few boiled fresh yummy local potatoes and you have not a meal but a feast.

Well, yes, I made a gravy because Werner cannot  eat this without gravy.

And frankly, you shouldn't either.