Holiday Wrap-Up

 We were busy! And now, after New Year, there's a few minutes to relax before it all starts again,

Before Julia's visit, I did some minimal decorating:  the sewing cabinet with Santas and such, an Advent wreath, and Michelle's gift this year - a little tree.

Julia took back the cards going to folks in the US, but there were still cards to do for our German friends and family.

Eileen set a festive table for our Book Club December gathering - no book, but lots of goodies and lots of talk!

Christmas eve meant going to the ferry and listening to the brass band play carols and other holiday songs. Everyone was enchanted! After, we had guests for cheese fondue and games. 

 Christmas Day, more food! Off to Ursel's to share duck and all the fixings with her and Tille and next day off to Ohlendorf to René and Rima's for goose and all the fixings.

Then, just one day later, here come René and Rima to cash in the gift certificate for a variety show at a local theater. 

And  later dinner near the river, where it was soooo foggy! 

We'd not been to this restaurant before (we hardly ever go out to eat!), but we'll have to go back again before too long. Small, friendly folks, yummy, yummy food.

Then it was appointments and suddently, New Year's Eve. We met up with friends for more theater, this time a production of Cabaret that was (according to my googling) the right length, but almost 3 hours was about an hour more than my body wanted to sit!! Dear Klaus was unable to join us since his chemo treatment the day before left him feeling less than 100%.

Before midnight, we made it home and had a fantastic view of all the fireworks! 

Really, it was just short of professional, so many rockets and so much noise and so long! Truly, a show! I wonder if we'll have it next year, though. There's quite a lot of talk about banning private fireworks altogether, partly because of noise and trash (it takes thousands and thousands of euros to clean up the next day!) and partly because of the injuries. It's makes me shiver to see the reports in the paper the next day - who wants to lose a limb or a life just to throw some gunpowder up the the sky? 

Then we had snow. Thank you! If it has to be so cold, lets have some pretty stuff. 

 On the way to the market,

And Werner in front of our community tree. 

And the obligatory Snow Person on our little terrace! With hat!

Happy New Year to us all. Here's my hope for a better year than last, but the cynic in me is not so sure that will happen. But, surprise me, 2026. I dare you.