Visit from Amina

At age 11, there's not sooo much you need from Oma and Opa.  Food, a bed, sleep, food, sleep, sleep.....

The week with Amina was pretty low-key, but fun nonetheless.  Every plan was adjusted to wake-up time, which varied from 10:00 to 12:00.  I kid you not.  The kid can sleep.

The first couple of days were only rain and cool, cool weather.  We cocooned and drew and painted and started on the stuffed animal project (that was for me).

 We went to the movies.  Amina gave it two thumbs up.  One was more than enough for me.

And then the sun came out! Wow!  We took a long walk along the river and just enjoyed the weather.

The city garden is such a lovely place.

I took a chance to take a rest.  Old folks need a rest.

 On the weekend, Werner found there was a fair in a town about an hour from here.  OK. In the car.

We did the mirror house, the fun house and the Ferris Wheel (in German Riesenrad or giant wheel).  We opted out of the whirly, turny, over-and-under things after seeing a couple of girls get sick when getting off!!!!  OK with me!

And it took the whole week, but the stuffed bunny was finished and the kid was happy even though the legs were a bit twisty and some parts a bit lumpy. 

Amina has a week at home before school starts again.  So she has a few more late, sleep-in  mornings.  

Easter Part II

Or pre- and post-Easter.  Take your pick for a title. I'm not fussy.

Writing has taken a back seat in the last few weeks - and more - and reasons seem to keep piling up to not write.  So I must.  But I will skirt the less fun, less happy things that are going on right now.  Here in blogworld, it's sunshine and smiles.

Pre-Easter we had a short visit from René and Rima and Amina.  A visit to a local museum to check out the exhibit, a series of amusing paintings on postcards. Werner and I had visited the museum already, but I hadn't been able to fully enjoy it, so it was good again and the cartoons were especially to René's liking. Afterwards, time for Kaffee und Kuchen!  The restaurant we visited is a grand old 19th century building in the center of our sprawling city park, . Rima insists on a visit in summer so we can sit in the garden.  OK - pick a date - we'll be there.

Easter Sunday dawned sunny and bright - and we were prepared! Individual spinach tortes.

Hand-painted eggs.

Chocolate bunnies nesting in bunny napkins.

 And a fully dressed table for our brunch with friends.

It was yummy and filling and so afterwards a walk was in order.  We were not alone - half the city was walking along the Weser and enjoying the weather and down time. Here we are, framed by blue skies and colorful pansies.

Ah.


Easter Monday, also a holiday, was equally lovely, so we headed to Worpswede for another walk, this time around the local "mountain"  - the Weyerberg - all of 60 meters high.  But when everything else is at 0 meters, that's a mountain.

But, first, where are we going?  As it turned out, we didn't need the guide, we could just follow the crowds.

At the top of the Weyerberg is a memorial called the  Niedersachsenstein (The Lower Saxony Stone), a brick memorial dedicated in 1922 to honor local men who died in World War I.  It is big;  I'd describe it as looming.

And with all monuments, there is graffiti, lots of initials and such cut into the brick.

And on the way back through the commercial area (which gets to sell on days that shops are otherwise closed since it's a designated tourist destination) we found just what I need (need!!) for the pots of hostas on the back terrace. 

2nd Advent

It's almost 3rd Advent, not the 2nd, but I'll squeeze this in real quick!

Last Saturday, R+R+A came over for the (now annual) visit to the Christmas Market in Bremen. We were a bit rushed since Amina was at a birthday party - quick quick to town!

It's already D A R K  at 4:30 (that's in the afternoon!), so when we arrived at the market it was black dark.   All the better for the lights to shine.

 
There were the usual stops for Bratwurst, potato fritters, and mulled wine.

And a booth or two to check out. I just love the brushes!  Don't ask me why, because I don't know.  Maybe the fibers and hairs - soft and hard and scratchy and not.  The sign there says you use the brush to rub in lotion on your back after a shower.  Now that is a special brush.

And all the little houses!  Reproductions of the old buildings in Bremen in the Schnoor quarter.

The highlight for Amina is of course the ride.  The singular there is intentional because there's only one that goes fast enough to please her!  There are a couple of others - a small traditonal Ferris wheel and of course the old-fashioned Merry-Go-Round.  She's waaaaay too old for those.

Of course there's more than one ride with Mama -- Papa and Opa, too.  Oma opts out. I get a bit woozy on such rides these days. Actually, I don't think I've done one of those rides since about 1976.

Later at home some white chili filled in the gaps that the Bratwurst had left and we enjoyed sitting around the tree.

Then it was Sunday.  2nd Advent.  Two candles lit.  Two more to go.

First Advent

Ah, no wreath this year.  We opted for four candles on a tray with random greenery.  I think it will change a bit in the next four weeks, and that's OK. Meanwhile the first candle is lit and a light breakfast - a fruit salad with North Sea shrimp - is enough - because later there'll be a feast.

Some years, this was a realllllly big event - three sets of grandparents, cousin, great-grandma, godmother.  And as you all know, René can put on a food show - 12, 14 people to sit down and eat? No prob.  There have been some fabulous meals.

But years pass and things change.  Monika and Lex have moved to Curaçao. Rima's parents were in Lebanon visiting relatives for two months.  Mutti /Grandmother / Great-grandmother has left us.  Cousin Ruth was not feeling well.  We shrunk the family!!  Only five of us this year, but that doesn't mean we celebrate any less.

Rima had decorated.  She always does, and she does it well.

We brought stuff, too.  Some dishes of Mutti's that go well with their set.  And Mutti's solitaire set of hand-fashioned marbles.  Every little kid in the family - including Hunter and Hannah - have played with this game!  So retro - but so attracting and attractive.  Everyone wants a turn!

Then it's time.  Dinner.  Dining.  Delicious.

Soup.

Then of course I forget to take pics because I am so busy eating!  Instead of the whole duck, this year we had breast of duck.  But with all the traditional accompaniments - red cabbage and boiled potatoes and yummy gravy. My diet was minimally set back since I was so restrained!

Picture-taking fun was on the menu, too!

Next weekend, the trio will be here for a visit to the Christmas market in Bremen.  More fun in store!

ADVENT --- Second to Third

There's so much going on, and at the same time, so many hours of waiting.  Contradictions seem to define our lives right now.

On Second Advent, our family from Ohlendorf came to visit the Christmas Market, and we got to go along!  It's not such a long tradition, really, but for Amina, it is written in stone.

The calendar this year meant that Second Advent was a bit earlier in December which meant getting the tree up earlier.  Buying the tree and getting it in the house is easy-peasy.  The gardener just outside our back door has lovely trees, and shopping in the snow makes it fun - and getting it home a breeze - one in front, one in back, walk.

But I couldn't get all the decorating done before Amina arrived, which turned out to be a good thing.  She had a great time looking at all the ornaments, asking questions and finding just the right place on the tree for each one.

Then off to the Market!  Bratwurst!  Mulled wine!  Rides!  It's the same every year, but that's what traditions are all about.  Now Amina has the third different mug from the Christmas market - a complete set.

There was still a bit of snow on the ground but frankly we all agreed it was pleasantly cold instead of nasty cold.  And of course it was fun - part of which is running to get the train!

After a hearty breakfast, we sauntered up to the little local Christmas Market here in Vegesack where they've put up an ice rink.  Cool!  Amina couldn't wait to go and Mom and Dad were game to skate along.  Me, not so much.  My last skating event was when I broke my elbow.  And that was the last.  I'm happy to cheer from the sidelines now.

We said goodbye and promised to visit their Christmas tree in Ohlendorf.  We will, and it will be a first.

Then it was Monday!  Platjenwerbers!  Christmas Fest!

Talk about traditions --- these folks take the cake.  There is the candelabra from Christiane and the luminaries from Anneliese and the Christmas Crackers and flute playing from Brigitte and Jutta (and usually Lisa, too, but unfortunately she was sick) and the Yogi tea from Helena and so on from each person.  I get to be different each year because they ask every year for something "American."  HA!  This year they got Spanikopita.  How American is that!?  But it was yummy. We sing carols and pop our crackers and read the silly riddles and jokes.

                    Why don't bananas sunbathe? 
                    Because they'd peel!!  

Often, as you can imagine, I have to explain the jokes. Sometimes it's funny and sometimes it's a groan.  Sometimes they just don't get it at all, but that's fun too.  So it goes.

And suddenly it is 3rd Advent. Too much too fast.We haven't finished our Christmas tasks!

We've been caring a lot for Werner's mother, newly in the nursing home.  We visit almost daily and try to help with the transition, but transitions for folks in their mid-90s are not so easy.  So on this 3rd Advent weekend we were glad to have no special events and just sit back, just a bit.

Except for the bathroom. But more on that later.

First Advent

There's a German Christmas song that the children love:  Alle Jahre wieder kommt das Christuskind   - Every year the Christ child comes again.  The first part - alle Jahre wieder - gets used a lot for things that just get repeated again and again:  the tree, the celebrations, the Christmas market, the wreath. Our Weihnachtskranz for this year, a bit simpler.

And so it is with First Advent lunch at René and Rima's - every year again - though this year could be the last of the "usual" since it will be the last that Monika and Lex are with us as residents of Germany:  in January, they'll be moving to Curacao.  Not exactly around the corner, as they are now.

But no one was sad.  The day started with snow here in Bremen-Vegesack but was bright and clear most of the day.

 

Amina had a bright red Heidi outfit, and the rest of us were festively dressed as well.

 

And Rima, hair professional that she is, had done Amina's hair beautifully. I have to say, though, when you have thick, shiny, wavy hair, it's hard to go wrong!

Renè used to come up with a different festive menu every year, but he seems now to have settled into a traditional goose meal.  Actually two geese - one roasted at home and one at Monika's, which begs the question what will we do next year??

Round out the goose with steamy hot potatoes, brussels sprouts in brown butter, apple stuffing and red cabbage and you have a feast.  We all did our part!

Afterward more conversation and coffee and dessert.  I have to say, it's a bit like having Thanksgiving two weekends in a row. In fact, it is exactly like having Thanksgiving two weekends in a row!  Next weekend, I think we'll fast while remembering the wonderful food and company.

Amina Week

Our annual summer visit from Amina has come and gone.  Busy, it was!  If you want details, click on the link "Amina in Bremen" above.  But be warned, it's in German!

There were highlights a plenty.

One day we took Alica into town with us and visited the Bürger Park (City Park) and played mini golf as well as boating.  Mini golf is NOT Putt Putt - rather more primitive, but it  was fun nonetheless.  Even with a rain delay.

And boating?  We were pretty good.  I couldn't take any pictures of us landing in the bushes on the shore since I was trying to push us OUT of the bushes, but the girls had a lot of laughs and no one - or the boat ! - was injured.

Going to the movies is always a hit.  This time it was "Brave" (or "Merida" in the German version) and of course in 3D.  Actually, I can do without 3D, but .....

Opa and Amina painted an old planter of ours and I - tongue-in-cheek - suggested maybe Amina would like to give it to her mama.  Oh, yes!! Oh,can we???  I was not at all sure it was something Rima wanted in her yard, but it was way too late to say no.  But of course, Rima loved it!

And don't forget the ropes course - Kraxelmaxel.  Amina was a real little monkey and with Opa got through four of the courses.  I got through two parcours and have the bruises to prove it!

As luck would have it, the Fesitival Maritim was here last weekend - perhaps my favorite of all the many fairs and fests here in Vegesack.  Friday we were there with Amina, Saturday with the whole family, and Sunday they headed out to Holland for two weeks of vacation.  Bye-bye.

Then came our dear friends Peggy and Wolfgang for one more round at the Festival Maritim topped off with a fireworks display.

What a week!  Now Werner's got a full-fledged cold (mine, I am so sorry!) and we're just hoping the little kid escaped the germs.