Day 18 - 19 - 20

Good grief!  Where does the time go!

Saturday was Peggy-Felina-Julika-Wolfgang Day.  But it was Saturday, so it was market day too.  Don't want to starve.  Werner and Hunter stayed busy reassembling the bike carrier for the car while Hannah and I took care of all the marketing.  But quickly,  since these kids seem to be first cousins to Rip van Winkle and sleep until market time is practically over.

The weather continued iffy - not so warm, lots of clouds, threatening rain.  But we got on the road, bikes on top, and arrived to warm hellos.

But it's got a bit awkward - the kids are all older and a bit less inclined to just run around and jump on the trampoline and use hand signs to try and communicate.  We biked to the Melk Hus - a nice 30 minute ride from the house - and had a refreshing milk drink while Hunter and Felina's new friend kicked the soccer ball around.

Back at the house, our hosts got a lesson in how to play "31" and kept themselves occupied while the older folks got the food together.

It turned into an early evening since we were having problems with the headlights on the car (fuses? bulbs?  age?  We don't know yet!) but really after so many late nights and so much travel, it was good for us all.  The kids balked when I said "no story" but we had finished Football Hero on the way to Peggy's and starting another was no where to be found on my list.  SO FUNNY (and sweet) how they still want to be read to !!  Part of the tradition of being in Our Germany......

Sunday we had an early brunch (Noon, please!) since the RvWs still needed sleep and then we went on a bike ride since the weather has taken a turn!  Sunshine!  Warm!

A short tour in our area led us to the little Blacksmith Museum where Hannah was totally b o r e d but Hunter found interesting - maybe in part because he got a souvenir used horseshoe for free.  Good luck we can all use!  After they tried to lose me (I have to admit I am a bit slow, but they are also a bit not-too-much-looking-to-see-if-I'm-there) we found our way through the park where the kids had to go and pose on the over-sized stone chair we discovered the first year they were here!
 

The chair seems to be getting smaller ........

Then further down the road and over the rails and back into Vegesack where we indulged in ice cream.  We only do that once or twice a day. 


THEN to Gerd and Renate's for a cookout.  BUT - it was Frauenfußball - Women's Soccer!  Germany v. Canada - we started watching here and finished there and between ate some food.

We don't want to starve, you know.

Days Flying Fast!

We haven't really lost track of the days, but after five days away from home, it takes a while to catch up.

Of course it was fun in the Harz!  We left Monday and stopped along the way in Goslar where the German Kings of the Holy Roman Empire had their major castle.  There's lots of slate and stone, practical and decorative, and lucky for us some relatively good weather.

Our hotel in Quedlinburg was as usual just charming.  The house was built by a "city farmer" in the mid-1600s and now has an assortment of hotel rooms and apartments along with a restaurant and Biergarten.  We do love a Biergarten.

Tuesday it was up the Brocken, the highest mountain in North Germany but of course pretty puny by The Alps' standards.  But it's a good walk and certainly steep enough to wind me and make us all sweat even though it was never over 65°.  The woods are home to witches and devils and trains and mountain bikers.  There's a clear view from the top only 60 days a year (!!) and we were lucky to get one of them.

The next day we stopped at an Antique shop we'd seen the day before and all of us came away with treasures - Hannah with cameras, Hunter with walking sticks, me with linens (what else?) and Werner with a double chopping blade.  Along the way to the Witch's Dancing Place, we stopped at the Devil's Wall.  Lots of danger around here from evil forces, it seems.  The myth of this geological oddity is that the Devil made a pact with God that he could have all the land he could wall in before the cock crowed, but the cock crowed much earlier than normal, before the Devil was finished.  He was so mad he knocked down part of the wall he'd built - and left the rest for us to marvel at.  It was the most impressive part of the trip for me.

We took the gondola to one peak and the chair lift to the other and between the kids rode on a bob-run - individual cars where they controlled the brakes.  Fun!!

Day three was spent in Quedlinburg, visiting the castle, convent church and seeing the treasury there.  An American officer had "saved" most of these medieval treasures by secretly transporting them back home to Texas after WWII.  When he died, the heirs gave them back to their rightful owners for a 3 million handling fee.   There were jewel-encrusted bibles and psalters, relics of Heinrich I, the first German king and decorated manuscripts.

So long, Quedlinburg!  On the way back to Bremen we walked UP yet another mount to look at the castle in Wernigerode, another of the seats of the German kings.  They had 90, so we could have visited a lot more, but you take castles when you can get them.

Back home again ....

Day 10 - Day 11 Saturday/Sunday Twofer

 Saturday

We are getting lazy.  Get up late.  Eat in shifts.  Make jam, first batch.  Go to market.  Go to recycling. Go to find Lord of the Rings Part III at the library.  Finish dress.  Make second batch of jam.  Oh, maybe we are not so lazy after all!!

Finally, after dinner of pastas and homemade pesto, watch Part III of the Lord of the Rings.  We insisted on doing it together though Werner and I had only sporadically watched the first two parts.  (We've seen it all before though it's been a while, and I've read them all though it's been a really long while!) What a marathon!  We were exhausted by the end and then when we got to the almost end, Werner hit the wrong button on the zapper and we had to find where we were and finally end this Quest!!!!  Hannah declared the ending dumb and we were torn on its meaning.  I was not torn however on discussing it the following morning.  Good grief:  1AM!

Sunday

Woke up Hannah at 11 and after her shower, Hunter.  "Breakfast" at 11:45.  Well, we needed our rest.

The day was rainy and downright coooool, so the plans to take the train with bikes to visit Werner's mom were scrapped in favor of car and warm dry clothes.  We stopped at  the hotel to pick up cake and took her a jar of the new jam.

It's pleasant and reassuring to repeat certain things, and one is the repeat visits to family.  They had more questions for Mutti this year and there was more back and forth.  We all enjoyed it.

On the way back we tried to take a walk along the Ochtum, a river that feeds into the Weser where we'll row on July 4, but 5 minutes was about all we could take in the wind and the chill!

Then it was Father's Day greetings to Joey followed by a quick walk to the harbor - the water was high and threatening to roll over the dike.  It didn't , but almost.

 

Then dinner - chicken fricassee with rice and green beans.  And strawberries.  Another first with the fricassee and I guess it went OK since they ate it all and asked for seconds.

Now we're packed, the blueberry cake is made and all is ready for tomorrow's trip.  See you in four days!

Day 9 - Sewing and Strawberries

The fabric we brought from Panama City has been giving Hannah an itch so we had to scratch it.  The boys went to take plastic and paper to the Recycling Center and do some heavy shopping (water, drinks, sugar) adn Hannah and I got down to sewing.  It took several fittings and several changes of mind about where waist and hem would be, but it is almost done.  The second one will be faster, maybe.

But then it was lunch time and time to get ready for dinner.  Good grief.  Our life is eating.  Last night Hannah asked, after the story:

I have three questions, Meemaw.  One, what's for breakfast.  Two, what's for lunch. Three, what's for dinner.

So we pounded the chicken and waltzed it through its various coatings, set the table and got the beans and potatoes ready.  

And then it was time for - strawberry picking!

When Alica got home from school and had walked the dogs, Werner took the three by bike to the Strawberry Fields. Containers in hand, they searched and searched and found and found!  Strawberries got gobbled as soon as they were washed and Hunter declared that there was nothing fresher than these strawberries and they were GOOD.  In fact, they didn't even want sugar on them at dinner.  How's that for sweet?

They were delighted to meet Nickolet and the food quickly disappeared off the table - I even accused Nickolet of having a hollow leg just like H+H !   Then while Werner whipped the cream for the chocolate ice box pie, we played "I'm thinking of a word that rhymes with ..."  We do it most nights, and it was fun to have a new player, though Nickolet's British English had her at a disadvantage on some of the rhymes!

Hey, another fun day!

Day 8 - Pasta

It's an "off" day today - sleep in and have a nice lunch on the terrace.  But then the rain came!  Good thing we were "off" !

Later I had a special retirement "Kaffee und Kuchen" with my English teachers - our last meeting together.  Next year it will be another configuration. 

But there's always at least one activity with H+H and today it was dinner - Pasta from scratch.

First the dough:

then make the filling:

chop up the herbs:

then through the machine:

Here's the ravioli ready to go:

H+H had a  lot of fun with this!  We did strips for the ricotta cheese filling that Hannah made and trimmed them all by hand.  I think a little form would be in order next time.  They made noodles with the leftovers.

Sauce?  This is one night we did do up a bit more restaurant-ish - everyone got to choose their own sauce:  tomato sauce for Hannah, sage/butter sauce for Meemaw, Alfredo for Hunter and Bärlauch pesto for Werner.

Conclusion:  Lots of fun to make !  Tastes good, too !   We ate it all, but next time we'll make the pasta a bit thinner.

Day 7 - Boats and Bikes

We live on a river, and of course there are lots of boats that ply the waters - huge container ships, barges carrying coal or grain, pleasure boats and ferries that go across the river or up and down.  All in all, a busy place.

Wednesday - a week already! - we opted for a down-the-river boat ride to Brake and planned to bike back as far as we felt like biking.  Always take it by ear.  Or seat.

This was the earliest we'd got up and out since the kids got here (except for the aberrant morning Hunter woke up at 6, took a shower, and sat watching a movie till the rest of us appeared).  Good grief, on the bikes and at the dock at 9:30!

The Oceana showed up right on time and we loaded up for the hour plus ride to Brake.  The weather was perfect - dry, just warm enough, and a few white clouds.  Hunter's become attached to Werner's sweatshirt since Day 2 even though Hunter's shampoo-soaked one has been ready to use again since then.  I'll have to remember to get it back before he packs to leave!

Brake of course has lots of maritime history and the first evidence of it was the HUGE anchor at the harbor.  Attempting to move it proved futile.

I'd read about the Maritime Museum but didn't really have much hope of a visit, but they happened to have a Technical Art exhibit - mechanical devices done as art - that interested the kids.  (Once again, no pictures allowed!)  But it was great fun to look at the weird and wonderful devices he'd dreamed up, including a Bremen Town Musicians "sculpture" that moved and wiggled.  Of course, we looked at the Maritime exhibit too and in the museum shop, they found ship whistles and key rings to buy.

Finally, off on the bikes!  Thoughts of getting to Elsfleth for lunch were a dream - we only got about 7K down the road before the hunger monster grabbed the kids and we were lucky to find a little restaurant along the river - chicken nuggets, Bratwurst, fries.  Perfect.

Then on up the river along the dikes, more sheep, more charming houses, more fields of daisies and poppies and buttercups.

The path crossing another river was an extension of the railroad trestle.  NARROW.  Hunter was really disappointed that a train didn't rumble pass when we were on the bridge.  I was definitely NOT disappointed!

Last year, Kenley, H+H had a fun time at a little playground at a camping place and H+H wanted to visit it again.  No problem - it was on the way.

Then negotiations.  Take the train back or bike?  The timing was a little off.  We had just missed the train from Farge and the next would be 30 minutes later which was about the time it would take to get home by bike.  So about 30K and 7 hours later, we arrived home.  Quite a day!!

Day 6 - Universal Circus Renz

Best laid plans, and all that jazz....

We'd thought to pack a picnic, have a leisurely ride in the park and then go to the circus. Instead, it was breakfast, clean up and head out to the train with some snacks and the tickets!

The online booking meant we didn't have to stand in line for tickets and our seats were pretty good. Unfortunately, the Ringmaster (Mr. Renz, also owner/manger) said No, no, no! No pictures, no videos, nowhere, no time.

So I took notes to remember it all so we could talk about it later! And we did.  The poodles were a favorite along with the "African Boys" (men, they were and of course the title for that act would never fly in the US!) who went up and down a pole in amazing and amusing ways - unbelievably strong, they were!  Here's a video if you want to see them in another setting. 

And the magician and the lady in her ever-changing outfit was jaw-dropping as well.  Really, every time I looked at Hunter and Hannah their mouths were open!

The low point was not finding the yummy sour worms they'd eaten last year at Circus Belly.  Not bad for a low point.

Horses, elephants, tigers, camels, llamas, clowns,

Day 5 - National Windmill Day

           What are we doing tomorrow, Meemaw?
           Well, it's the bikes again.  Do you want the city or the country?
           The country!
           OK.  Country it is.

Get up late.  Eat Breakfast (pancakes, home-made cherry sauce for Werner and me, all the usual syrups for the kids).  Clean up.  Make blueberry cake with Hannah (YUM!!).  Make sandwiches  (PBJ, ham, turkey).  Pack everything.  HEAD OUT!  Good grief, it's already 1:30.

Since it was National Mill Day, we tried to find a windmill to visit.  There are of course water mills as well, but I really like the windmills.  We opted for Aschwarden, not too far from here.

From Vegesack (1), we took the train to Farge (2) , so it was only about 12 kilometers ONE  WAY to Aschwarden (3) on the bikes, add a few for little detours.....

We went by the old submarine bunker that's now a national historical site and along the dikes.  We talked to the sheep but they didn't seem too interested in talking back to us.

After lunch on the dike we went down to the windmill and were lucky enough to get there just in time for the lecture.  With a bit of translation here and there, we all learned about how the sacks of wheat and rye were hauled up to the grinder and how the wings were set.  The wind was strong enough to move the wings and we saw how the vents were set to make them turn.  Werner and Hunter even made them stop!!!  Really, the mill had slowed enough that they could stop it. But, no surprise, they couldn't start it again.  Wind power beats manpower every time.

After all that, we went up on the dike to look around and take some more pictures. 

Day 4 - Pfingsten

Hunter is still working on his German, but he hasn't got to this word yet - but it's Pentacost.  A holiday here and for good measure, Monday is a holiday as well.

We're still getting our legs I think, so nothing dramatic today.  Hannah tried out her ankle on the bike and declared it good enough for a little ride, so after breakfast (boiled eggs, sliced ham, strawberries, croissants, toast, cinnamon sugar, jam, cheese, candles - we didn't eat those) we headed out.  We hit the Schloß Schönebeck where they convinced me to wait on the 18th C Embroidery and Needlework exhibit, found the bumpy road to the river and the old playground, an ice cream stand, and thank goodness a Biergarten!  There had been music earlier, but we were happy with our Bratwurst and fried potato wedges - and Bier for the grownups.

Day 3 - Visit with Amina

We grandly thought we'd combine a trip to Amina's with a visit to the fantastic world of the miniature railroads in Hamburg, but of course that didn't happen.  Later with the railroad - today it was market and craft store and Amina.  That's good for one day.

Hannah and I were in charge of market and there was more than usual to buy since Monday is a holiday and the stores will be closed.  I have a grave and likely misplaced fear of running out of food!  We did a great job of course and piled up strawberries and zucchini enough.  Sunday will tell if the zucchini was enough :)

Hunter and Werner were off to the craft store since Werner nixed the beginning of his collage, the paints not doing as he liked.  So he bought something else that isn't doing as he likes.  Oh well.

Then to Amina's and the boring drive made much easier by sleeping along the way!

Another year makes yet more difference - they were much quicker to find ways to communicate and the trampoline helped too.

Unfortunately, Hannah twisted her ankle again!  But it will be better soon - even without crutches.

Dinner helped too - steak and ribs with a potato gratin they both wolfed down.  We brought home the leftovers.  There, less food to worry about!

Day 2 - Town Day

It took a while to get going today but then we made it into town.  The train is still a little thrill and fun to ride.

What did we do?  Bratwurst.  Oh, I said that yesterday, but I have to say it again since we ate it again.  And fries, because they are so good here.  And a look at Roland and the town square and some shops and some ice cream.  The obligatory pose with the Town Musicians.

And a ride home that lasted just long enough to get in a little nap.  This picture is not posed - I woke up in time to take it!

At home, Hunter went to kick the ball around the soccer field with Werner while Hannah helped get dinner ready and though we tried really hard to get to bed before 10, we didn't quite make it.  Tomorrow we won't either, that's for sure, since we'll be heading over to see Amina.  Oh well, it IS vacation!

We're Here!

 
Departure:  On Time.

Arrival:  On Time.

But "On Time" was still a very long time.  Hunter + Hannah finally fell asleep on the flight from Amsterdam to Bremen and then again on the drive from Bremen to Vegesack.

 After dinner and an early to-bed, I washed out Hunter's suitcase and a few of the clothes that got oooooozed by his shampoo.  I can tell you that the suitcase smells very good now.

 

Since yesterday was Wednesday, today was Thursday - a perfect beginning to our German Adventure 2011 because Thursday is Market Day.  Fresh air and fresh temperatures!   Hunter's shampoo-soaked sweatshirt wasn't dry so he borrowed one of Werner's (not as overly big as you'd think!).  We stocked up on fresh things, greeted our old market friends Herr Meyer and the Schmidt's and then headed home.

And of course they were hungry - even though Hunter had eaten a Bratwurst - the first of many I am sure - and Hannah had a fish patty.  So, I fixed Graubrot.  Really?  It's rye bread (without the caraway seeds) and it was a big hit.  With butter for Hannah, with turkey for Hunter.

 A trip to the supermarket, a game or two of Boggle,

a look at Larson

and the start of our collage.  I know, it's just a canvas now, but stay tuned.  It will blossom under the hands of our resident Artist.