Christmas with the English Group

These folks are so special.  Have I already said that? Of course I have. After more than 15 years together, we're like family.

In addition to our English lesson every week of the school year, we have a couple of celebrations, and Christmas is of course the highlight of the winter.  Everyone brings something to eat and we all dress for the occasion.

 Decorations abound.

 

And the major decorator-in-charge always makes something for each of us to take home.  This year, a little paper tree and (electronic) candle as well as a star to hang in the window.  Thanks Brigitte!

  

Along with the food and drink, there is always music.What is Christmas without music?  At my first Christmas celebration with the group, I hung back a bit and didn't participate in the singing as much, but of course I just love singing along and we've added a few more carols over the years that I have introduced to the group.  Favorites are Rudolph and Jingle Bells, but we do some very traditional English carols as well.

There's always a mini-concert from the flautists who enjoy playing as much as we enjoy listening!

 

 The season would not be complete without this get together with these special folks.

And then suddenly it is third Advent. Third candle lit and only one to go.

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.

Holidays and Food

--- and a lot of food.  Plenty of company, too, but nice quiet meals alone as well.

We had a lovely holiday - and hope you did too.  There were fewer hours to teach, so more hours to work on the bathroom, some time for stitching, lots of time at the nursing home with Mutti, telephone calls and Skypes with far-away loved ones and walks and lazy mornings.  The weather was wet and too warm for the season, and we'll take that over freezing rain, but a bit more snow would have been welcome!

Our Christmas Eve dinner you've already read about - a roast filet of beef as a centerpiece.  It showed up again later in another form.

Christmas Day, we were on our own and opted for duck breast, red cabbage and home-made potato dumplings.  That was a first for me, potato dumplings, and not quite as daunting a task as I'd imagined. Of course, it was all yummy.  And, of course, a smidge too much for one meal.

Here in Germany, the Christmas holiday is extended and there's not only the Eve and the Day of Christmas but a 2nd Christmas Day - also a federal holiday, so you plan ahead for food and company.

We went to Ursel's where we got together with her neighbors, also old acquaintences, and had a chance to welcome Ursel's son Tille back to Germany after three years in Utah doing post-doc research.  She wanted to make things easy, so we had smoked eel - no cooking!  I know, not everyone's thing, including Hilmar who had Würstchen (hot dogs!) instead.  Who cares? That's OK since company and conversation were the main courses anyway.

Then there were a couple of days in between for leftovers.  Pan fried left-over potato dumplings with left-over Christmas Eve beef in mushroom sauce, all enhanced a bit.  Another day, cold sliced duck from Christmas Day with a salad of fresh mixed greens. I have to say, left overs are at least as good as the first servings!

We had to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" on one night since Werner had never seen the whole movie and since it was a movie I had to have popcorn. Home made.  No microwave.  Wonderful.

And suddenly it's New Year's Eve!  We get together with the usual suspects for a cultural event and then welcome the New Year. This year we had tickets to an Operetta (Orhloff's Les Brigands - The Bandits) - that all my companions denounced as too sexist and too sexy.  Not being as well-versed in the genre, I thought it was amusing and fun and frankly just the right note for a not-at-all-serious "Holiday" - really.  New Year's is so NOT a serious holiday!
 
But after-operetta and before-midnight, you have to eat something. Too late to make fondue, so little bites.  Little yummy bites. I don't think we left Ilsemarie with too many overs.  And don't forget the Berliner - jelly-filled doughnuts that you eat for good luck.  OK!

And finally the NEW YEAR.  2013.  Wow.  Who thought this year would ever come?  Here it is.

Since we'd had to forgo the Cheese Fondue on the Eve of 2013, I had to have it on the Day of New Year and Werner was happy to comply.  It was so yummy.

 And so comes the end of 2012.  We finished it all. Finally.  No more leftovers.

All the best for a wonderful and healthy and happy 2013. And enjoy the leftovers.

Late December

Remember this?  Hunter and Hannah on their bikes.  This was summer 2010, though they used them again in 2011.

Then in 2012, they sat in the garage, not gathering dust since they were covered with plastic, but nevertheless, just sitting.  Sad. No one to use them.

And when our H+H come back to visit us again, these bikes would not cut it.  Not at all.

We tried to sell them, but there were no takers.  So this week, we walked them to the Grohne Dune, the place where we rented bikes for them the very first time, and donated them for kids who'd otherwise not have a bike.

Nice cycle.  Hope Santa finds a good home for them.

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.

Weihnachtszeit - Christmas Time

It's not just a one day holiday here - there's Christmas Eve, First Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day.  No need to rush the season.

After our Christmas Eve with Mutti and Christoph, we had a late and leisurely Christmas morning breakfast, German style. Or German style à la Wichmanns:  sparkling wine, soft-boiled eggs, cured ham, home made jams. 

I have to have my egg warmer, and please notice the four candles lit for Advent.  Gemütlich we say in German: How cozy !

No newspaper to read.  It is Christmas after all and everyone deserves a holiday, even the journalists.  So no paper on the 25th or 26th.  Imagine that.

Then later, our girls came over from the university - Nickolet and Fiona from Zimbabwe, and Ranisha from Nepal.  It's too far and too expensive to go home for Christmas (we understand that!) so we made a little Christmas of our own.

It wasn't very traditional.  They all love fish,so fish it was - fried - with veggies and potatoes and salad.  And please don't forget the cake!  Nickolet loves cake!  This time it was apple cake with ice cream, another favorite.

We tried to get a scrabble game going, but with phone calls to home and skypeing to the US, it got too late for games.  But the girls had fun taking pictures of each other around the Christmas tree!

The next day, the Second Christmas Day (after all these years, I still can't get used to that) we finally had a chance to take a walk.  A little exercise was way way way past needed!! 

We were invited to share dinner with Ursel and friends :  roast goose. That is perhaps THE tradional Christmas dinner here.   The skin was crispy and tasty, the meat moist and flavorful.  Add red cabbage and potato dumplings.  Y U M.  Besides, there was a cat to pet!!!

   
We only had to contribute dessert:  Key lime pie.  I can certainly manage that. It's funny still that a thing we take for granted is such a wonderful treat here!  We offered to leave the half we didn't eat and there wasn't even the smallest of "oh, I couldn't possibly ...." before the "well, ok....."

The only thing missing was the snow.  It is sooooo warm!!  Last year there were inches of snow on the ground; this year, the geraniums are still blooming in the window boxes.  S T R A N G E.

But there is nothing strange or weird or off with our wishes to all of you for a wonderful and healthy and successful and happy, happy new year.  We hope to see all of you soon.

Christmas Eve

Our tree is decorated, the gifts are wrapped and it is time to celebrate.  Off to see the family.

Mutti said tonight, "They don't have Christmas Eve in America, do they?"  WHAT?!

Of course they do, but not like here.  Today is THE celebration.  The church bells ring.  Folks go to church services.  There's a family meal.  And most important for the children - the presents. Sometimes, a house visit from Santa.  But more on that later.

Since Mutti has been a bit on the weak side lately, we planned our celebration for their house. We prepared all that we could at home and took it all there to put together.  But not just dinner - first Claudia and Christoph served coffee and cake to Mutti, Claudia's mother and her husband and us.  Lord knows, we haven't had enough cake and cookies lately.

 
Afterwards Claudia modeled the neck warmer she'd just finished knitting.  It looks GREAT, but we wonder how warm it will be since it was knit on such large needles.  She'll have to find out later because it isn't really cold right now.  Really.

There was a welcome break between coffee and dinner since Christoph had to go play Santa.  Lots of parents here (of very small kids) often hire a "Santa" to come deliver the presents IN PERSON.  Wow.  Christoph did it for years for his godson, and now occasionally for friends.  He's got a great costume but honestly, Christoph is so tall and big, I'd be a bit intimidated by him if I were a 4 year old!

And you don't just ring the door bell and your hand bell (forget dropping down a chimney if you're a real Santa!) and leave the gifts.  You have to have a conversation with the kid and talk about the naughty and nice!  So Santa gets a letter beforehand with notes.
  

Oh Paula, you have been very nice to your friends, but sometimes you don't really share your toys like you should.  And you did really well in reading at school this year, but you still get up too early on Saturday and don't let Mama and Papa sleep in!  Besides, you keep sneaking into their bed at night and don't stay in your own bed.  Didn't we talk about this last year??

I think I'd be glad not to be getting switches and coal!

Dinner was tasty - pumpkin soup, lambs' leaf salad, Argentine filet, mushroom sauce, baked potatoes with Werner's famous green dressing, and to end, lemon curd pie with whipped cream.  It was all delicious.
 
On a final note, though, never forget this is Germany. So there's beer. Christmas beer.  Who'da thunk it?  Seems we used to leave beer now and again for Santa when Michelle and Lee were little.  Who needs milk at every stop along the present-dellivery way?

Have a Merry, Merry.

Pre-Christmas Doings

Between busy-ness and my unforgivable lazy-ness, entries on the blog have suffered.  Here, an offering that might suffice.

Rima, René and Amina were here overnight for the ritual Weihnachtsmarkt visit.  Since Amina's first ride on the "Snow Train" several years ago, she thinks the Christmas season is incomplete without it.  OK, we can do that!  (Actually, Werner and René can do that;  Rima and I enjoy watching.)

The little family arrived late afternoon and after a quick tea and cookie we were on the train to the city!  This year was quite different from the last - NO snow!  Thankfully, also no rain.  The days before had been just awful - cold and lots of rain with some snow mixed in;  the right clothes for that kind of weather do not exist in my universe.

The Bremen Weihnachtsmarkt is a real draw for not only the towns all around but the countries all around.  Busloads come from The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, as well as lots of towns in Germany.  Since Bremen is so poor, we don't complain, except of course when it's so full you can hardly walk around, much less get a mug of mulled wine.

But once again we were lucky and hit it at just the right time - enough folks to make it lively but not so many that we felt squeezed.

The Nativity scene was set up.

There were Bratwurst to eat, of course. Ketchup for the little kid.

Lots to look at.

And - finally - the Snow Train.

We went back home to feast on coq au vin and then drag ourselves to bed.  All in all, a quite satisfying day!!