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

Counting the Days.....

In Germany all children will get their special "before-Xams" calenders tomorrow. The advent calendars usually have 24 little doors to open - when I was small there was a little surprise picture behind it. When I was 5 I got my first 3-D calendar - I'll show it in a few days, as soon as I find the time to dig it our of my treasure box. At the same day my cousins got the first chocolate calendars with a piece of chocolate behind each little door. 

When our children were small I used to get little things like Lego blocks or pieces of a puzzle to put into little boxes. One year I folded up 96 half boxes to make 2 x 24 boxes myself to hang onto a star for both girls. Some of the little boxes got used for other things over the years, but one set is still complete and will travel to our oldest daughter tomorrow. I don't know, if she can hang something, so she'll get just the boxes to put on her window sill.

 Charlotte's advent calendar.

 Johanna's advent calendar

My husband's advent calendar.

Days are too short.....

....to get everything done.
After 3 different recipes of bisuits and the usual chores there was no more time for decorations before leaving for work yesterday. 

At work I unpacked 3 euro-pallets of wine and gift boxes and then had to carry 30 boxes of wine into the basement store room. By closing time I was totally exhausted and really didn't feel like lifting another finger at home.

Too busy to write

This week I'm extremely busy decorating our house and doing more baking for the season. Yesterday I put a huge bundle of fir branches in vases, my advent wreath and plate with lights before going to work. Today I hope to get all the lights to our windows - after baking and before work? I better hurry.