Save journey from 2013 to 2014!

While we prepare traditional food for the last day of the year, it's time to reflect on 2013 and to let go of bad memories. That way we can start with an optimistic view into the new year 2014!

Our lunch will be potato salad with hot sausages and for tea and at night we love "Berliner", fried cakes filled with jam and sometimes, at a party, one or two with mustard. 

Have a great start into the New Year 2014!

Sad Loss

Last night our daughter found her hamster seriously ill in it's cage. He seemed partly paralized and could hardly keep it's eyes open. He felt more comfortable in our daughter's hand, but at night the poor thing had a bad time. 

This morning I asked a friend who works in a vet's place and she adviced us to stop our hamster's suffering, so we took him to the vet who was very nice to us and our animal until he slept for ever.

Luckily we took some photos of him only 2 weeks ago....

Christmas Eve

In Germany Christmas Eve is a half holiday. Shops open, but usually only until 1 pm. I had done my last shopping of fresh food early in the morning. After a day with the most customers in 2013 on the 23rd, the 24th of December was much quieter at work and everyone seemed to be relaxed.

At home I had some food, played the Xmas songs once more on the harp, got dressed and was ready by the time my Dad arrived with his car. He took me and the Harp to the rooms of the free church, that way my family had enough space in our small car. 

There were already more musicians having a sound check and everyone admired my harp. There were less visitors than expected and different to my last "performance" everyone listened intesely to my play. At the beginning I felt a bit nervous and needed 3 starts to play the first song without mistakes, but still got applause. In rotations with the other musicians I played 3 more songs - all sounding well. After the service everyone shook my hand and thanked me for bringing my harp. It made me feel very special and loved.

 

At home the girls prepared the food in the kitchen while I placed the presents under the Christmas tree. We had Raclette - a new way to eat for my Dad, but he enjoyed it. Then we moved to the floor, (except my Dad) to unpack the presents. Everyone was happy and it was almost midnight by the time we had finished. 

It was a lovely Christmas Eve.

 Christmas tree with real candles.

 The chaos after unpacking - see the bucket with water - just in case....

When the candles had burned down, we switched on the 250 electric lights.

A plate full of special Christmas sweets is our family tradition. My Dad remembered and loved it!

Merry Christmas!

Most work is done and while my family is celebrating my brother-in-law's birthday I have a little time to wish everyone reading my blog a wonderful time at Christmas with lots of love under the christmas tree.

If you still don't feel like everyone is expected to feel at this time of the year, take some time and listen to my harp.
Unfortunately my husband used the zoom of the new camera and it's much too noisy - at least I know this problem now and can send it back.

Enjoy!

Harp videos of my favorite Christmas songs

Last preparations....

On Christmas Eve I'm going to play my harp at the service of a free Church in town and since I didn't have enough time to practise during the last 3 weeks, I try to make up for it now. Today I played in the room where the service will take place and the head of the church chose 4 of the 7 Christmas songs I can play.

So at home I started practise straight away. 

As you can see, our Christmas tree ist already waiting for the holiday, but the real candles won't be lit until the 24th of December!

Busy preparing Christmas

There won't be many posts until Christmas, as I have to work plenty of overtime beside the preparations for the holidays.

Yesterday we made some final Xmas biscuits. We stamped them with "Frohes Fest" = Happy holiday, but we should use a different recipe next time.

Today I helped Santa to wrap all the presents into Xmas paper. We prefer ribbons to sticky tape, so we can use the same paper for many years. Since last year I don't use any name tags anylonger. The girls unpack presents in turn and have to guess who owns it. :)

Partytime!

Yesterday our youngest celebrated her 17th birthday together with her friend, who is already 18. Next year, when our daughter will become 18, most of her friends won't be living near anylonger as they all leave school in summer. That's why we agreed to let them have a party together.

The friend's parents booked the party room at the youth center and organized the music. We brought the decorations - my collection of christmas lights came in handy! Both families brought finger food and drinks and had an eye on the almost adults celebrating.

Just as at the 18th birthday party of our older daughter, the guests loved their drinks, but didn't drink enough to misbehave and  all we had to do at 2 am, when the party ended, was to tidy up and brush the floor.

Today we had left over food for dinner. The uneaten sweets, crisps and beverages will last until next year!

 The party room....

...waiting to get decorated

 Just in case someone forgot the reason for the party.

 The paper streamer have been in our attics for ever. Finally they were used!

 Healthy food beside the sweets on the other table.

 Getting ready

 Welcoming drinks

 Christmas lights made the room look cosy.

 Lights readily packed for next week and the Christmas tree.

Knocking-off time - 3 am.

One more Christmas Market

Last year we made a Sunday Trip to Goslar and it's famous Christmas Market.We went by train to taste some of the warming drinks.Luckily we there was snow at the beginning of December. It gives such trips a special atmosphere.

 Here the hot punch was mixed with apricot brandy. Nice.

  The town Goslar lets a forest grow in the city where all the trees are lit with millions of tiny lights. Underneath are tables around the trees and a few benches and it's just magical.

  Beside the nicely decorated stalls with a large choice of wonderful things on the market square, there are more stalls along the streets.

 In this yard they sold hot cherry bear, delicious and warming.

 View from the church tower.

So far, this is the most beautiful christmas market I've visited to far.

Christmas Market Kiel

When we visited our daughter in Kiel, we took the chance to visit a different christmas market than the one in our town. The city of Kiel is much larger and we were surprised that there seemed to be only a kind of island with food and drink stalls and a few more along the shopping streets. Near the station we finally found the "Christmas Market Place", where the stalls were packed with plenty of goodies - and more food and drinks. 

The main drink at this time of the year is a hot punsch, called "Glowing Wine", as the alcohol and spices in it makes you glow. There are also a few others, like Lumumba: cocoa with rum, or hot egg-liquor with whipped cream on top. As all these drinks are made in huge amounts, it usually cheap stuff and I don't drink it. The only warm drink I love is hot honey wine you always find on medieval markets. It goes straight to your feet and makes them warm.

The selection of food is wider, but there are always many stalls offering fried sausages (Bratwurst) and chips.

Well, I didn't take any pictures of those things, but of the lovely other things I didn't buy. ;-)

 Near the sea you find even light houses on a christmas market.

 Cinema for cats.

 Typical ginger bread hearts

 Many kinds of delicious stollen.

 Decorations made of drift wood.

I love all the lights.