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.

December Highlights

On the eve of the 6th December all German children put their shoes in front of the door and hope for St. Niklas to bring sweets and little presents. When our daughters were small, we even prepared a thermos flask with tea and a plate with biscuits and nuts to offer St. Niklas a rest. For many years our elderly neighbour watched out for me to fill the shoes and knocked at the door to bring more sweets for our girls. She was the one to taste the food and tea. 

Although our girls are almost grown up now, the shoes are still put out in the evening and they go to them first thing the next morning.

 As you can see, my husband and I also put out our shoes. :-)

Today was the second advent sunday and we lit 2 candles at our advent decorations. Just like 17 years ago when our daughter was born. Her big sister spent the day with her grannys at a christmas party and stayed over night. When she saw her little sister the next day her first words were: "She can move!" I guess, she had expected something like a - unmoving - doll?

This afternoon we celebrated her birthday with family and her godfather.

 There were few and small presents this year - but they were expensive wishes coming true.

Homemade cakes for the birthday party.

Stormy Day

Today feels strange. Since yesterday the news were packed with warnings about the approaching storm. Our daughter had planned to travel home by train tonight, but I asked her to get the first train possible. As the university closed completely because of the storm, she could luckily start her journey at noon. Due to a tree on the railway tracks somewhere along the way, it took her an hour longer, but she arrived savely at 6 pm.  Now we are all cosily sitting at home, with everything outside secure and listen to the wind howling around the house.

In the afternoon all trains stopped in northern Germany and the floods along the shores are very dangerous. In Kiel, where we enjoyed the christmas market last Sunday, all lights were taken down and the Christmas market is closed. Here in town the Christmas market closed early in the afternoon. Many schools will stay closed tomorrow in the north - so far the schools here will be open. No sleeping in for me. 

What a strange December!

Gingerbread Competition

During our visit in Kiel we came across a very sweet exhibition of gingerbread houses. Obviously hundreds of children had been very creative and busy building and decorating sweet houses and even a castle. I couldn't take photos of each of them (too many people standing in front of the windows), but I brought home a small collection. What do you think?

Travelling Day

Yesterday was the first of 4 advent Sundays, but this year we didn't spent it cosily at home lighting a candle at the advent wreath, but travelling. To visit our oldest daughter in Kiel, where she is studying, we spent 4 hours in 4 trains plus more than 1 hour changing time on 3stations. Once in the morning taking with us a bicycle, a chair and a suitcase with necessary things for her. And back again in the evening in rather full trains. At least the trains all run on time. 

Now we know her flat, her flat-mate, a little bit of the town and the Christmas market in Kiel.

 Main Station Hannover

 Our luggage

 Station in Uelzen, decorated by the artist Hundertwasser

 Harbour Kiel

City Kiel