HAPPY NEW YEAR -- 2007!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!

from ..........L A N D F R A U

......and enjoy the cute link, just touch the HAPPY NEW YEAR.

DECEMBER 24 2006

It's Christmas......

so, to everyone out there:


Merry C H R I S T M A S!
Frohe Weihnachten!

Wishes...wünscht the...die LANDFRAU

Santa - reborn / X-mas tree - kicked over

December 22/06 4:22 p.m.

See for yourselves,the Santa - puzzle has been solved, but...Landfrau, just to stay in mischief, knocked over the X-mas tree. Started to trimm it last nite and my critic claimed, that it was not sitting straight in its holder. So Mrs. Perfect tried to adjust it and ,well, pushed "the wrong button", over it went, against the lamp, the window and drapes. Fortunately only two sets of strings had been put on and some bows, nothing breakable yet. One string however snapped and I fixed it with isolation tape, having made the wires blank first (suppose a hair- riser for every engineer!). - Anyway,light is on again. Tree looked a bit beat up ,however. But now, that is has been adorned up to its teeth, think that it does not show any more. Judge for yourselves and remember....only 2 days till X-mas!

Brainstorm-Housecleaning

December 18/06 9:08 p.m.

Why did I have to run across the German expression"innerer Schweinehund" in another blog, and wrecking my brain ever since for the proper translation? - Owner of blog also had been very helpful, but no satisfying solution found. - Now today, hateful
Monday - cleaning (no brains needed for that- so can be used otherwise), ran across "Nasty inner self",which of course is still a little tame for the "pigdog" but will have to do and I hope both of them, the "innere Schweinehund" and the Nasty Inner Self" will keep their mouths shut at least till after Christmas.

...and, since I'm into the breaking loosing spell, I broke my little Santa last nite. Was about to kick the about one hundred peaces into the garbage can, but the still intact head looked at me with such sad eyes,that since then I'm running around with sticky glue on my fingertips and am trying to puzzle him together every free minute, and my "nasty inner self" is giving the garbage can more and more the eye.

Before - After

December 17/06 2:00 p.m.










....and inbetween.
Or, how to "ugly" up a garden. Just contact us ,we are experts now. After the Pine had to go,(had given reasons before), folks have been pestering about the Fir tree ,like - it will go with the next storm -its without support now - man of the house had been glued to the window,as soon as a little wind was blowing, so, to make a long story short, robber gardener struck again (told him though, to be more moderate this time - Mengenrabatt (deduction for frequency),well,we shall see.

Now, good ideas about new plants to be put into the empty corner are highly appreciated. No Saguaros,though!

And remember - only 7 days till X-MAS!!!

CARAVAGGIO

December 12/06 8:20 p.m.

This really exclusive exhibition had opened in Düsseldorf- Kunstpalast Sept.09/06 and ever since we have been telling ourselves, that we have to see it ,for sure! - Dateline January 07 - so, today Landfrau said: no more excuses! And imagine: we did it, and..it really has been worth it, its breathtaking to look at those brilliant oevres, hundreds of years old, and painted by a very dubious character who on top of that died a mysterious death. -

Coming home, our new coffee/espresso machine had been delivered, and I am not so sure yet, if I am really
happy with it. Still kind of miss my good old coffee maker.

And tomorrow the fir tree will have to go, then I will put some before - after pics in my blog and you can judge for yourselves, how boring our garden looks. Really have to think of something attractive - and big enough - to plant in spring. Now we live with so much more light in our living room and you see every damn speck of dust, a housewife's nightmare!

A Christmas-Miracle!

December 11/06 12:32 p.m.

Never give up, this morning I found my so painfully missed childrens book (and the story I will supply in my next post) at a place I had been looking first and at least a dozen times! - So, this up to now not so nice day is saved and maybe my little (X-mas) guardian angel did some work for me.- Thank you! -

My Dentist and my X-mas Panic

December 06/06 6:30 p.m.

I have mentioned her before,it is a lady and lately she has been coming across with the most funny things. Will not go into the story, when I got the caps for my implants (a fortune in my mouth) and she wanted to show them to me before putting them in for good and dropping them,stating very dryly "hope they are not broken" - they were not,fortunately, anyway, think she is increasing in her actions. - Must tell you first, that Landfrau has terrible difficulties, not to gag during treatment, just to look at the cotton pads to be put into my mouth, gets me going. So,my friendly lady has a dozen tricks or so to stop me, like I should turn my feet, first the one,then the other, to one side and the other side,etc. - Now today she suddenly yelled," grab between your legs, grab between your legs", which really startled me, never had heard of that trick. As it turned out, she had dropped a "red stick" (think it has beeen a Q-tip with desinfection) between my legs and did not want to retrieve it but, I presume, was afraid,my pants might get ruined. After that I started to have such giggle fits, that I heaved from laughing, not from gagging and after I could talk again, told her why and she was very embarrased,but her nurse laughed her head off. So much for my dentistLADY,and now you know, why I put such emphasis on transferring that it is not a guy. -

Well, after that pleasant session I did some Christmas-shopping and slowly but surely am feeling better, some cookies baked and some presents bought.-

And then doggie got a raincoat, fed up with wet, smelly dog in the house, he is very proud of it!

So, hope you did not meet any Krampusse today, even if you deserved them!

Grandson,Antlers and X-mas-Cookies!

December 05 /06 9:10 p.m.

Last weekend our grandson showed up with an antler headdress, complete with jingle bells,looked like Rudolf, the rednosed reindeer, the red nose missing ,though. Told him that there still was a tag attached to the device,and got the reply, that it did not belong to him. When I asked, whom it belonged to, he said,its yours and you have to wear it next time walking the dog. I will come along with the camera and then I will take shots - no not of grandma wearing antlers,- but of the stupid faces of the people looking at me, so he said. - Great kid?
To please him , I baked some X-mas cookies,tried a first time in my life a readymade dough (had my doubts though,when I tasted a piece), well , they looked great when they came out of the oven, but the smell and the taste,completely horror-ugh. Even the dog, who is "human food- crazy",refused them. So the goodlooking patch landed in the garbage can and the belief of my grandson in my cookies is destroyed. Up to then he had claimed,that mine tasted so much better than his mom's. - But today I baked the real McKoy, after my Mom's recipe,very time consuming and difficult task, but worth it.

So, folks and fans, have a nice Nicolaus Day tomorrow, don't let the Krampusse get you!

Not X-mas,E A S T E R!!(egg hunt)

December 03/06 00:14 a.m.

Too upsept to sleep, think I'm going bonkers. The past day has been one of the missing things. First I could not find part of my X-mas decorations, o.k. no special value, replacable. Then daughter No. 1, who hade been visiting and staying overnight, asked for a special Children's book, belonged to Landfrau ,when she was still a kid, kept in high value, vanished... had been looking in the house from attic to basement, no book, other of getting all dusty and disgusted,no success. Then, beeing invited for dinner at friends place, a bracelet, I wanted to wear, a goner. Great, in for another midnight hunt.There at least, found it, had slipped behind the couch in my room. so.. I hope the spell is broken and I am not yet in for the Alzheimer league, at least, there you meet new people every day.

Bad Santa

December 01/06 7:50 p.m.

X-mas panic setting in! Only 23 days left till Christmas - help!!!!

Santa and Crowd!

November 27/06

To straigthen things out for my "across the ocean" friends, we have an abundance of Xmas ghosts (?) milling around. First there is....NIKOLAUS

Celebration in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland

In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot, called Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside the front door on the night of December 5 to December 6. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good. If they were not, they will have charcoal in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they "have been good" (sometimes ostensibly checking a book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
But for many children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, who would threaten to beat, or sometimes actually eat the children for misbehaviour. Knecht Rupert furthermore was equipped with goatlegs. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the Black Forest. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children within. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries such as Austria. In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them, even occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Mikuláš is often also accompanied by an angel who acts as a counterweight to the ominous Knecht Ruprecht (čert). In Slovenia Saint Nikolaus (Miklavž) is accompanied by an angel and a devil (parkelj) corresponding Austrian Krampuss. In Luxembourg "Kleeschen" is accompanied by the "Houseker" a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. In Croatia Nikolaus (Sveti Nikola) who visits on Saint Nicholas day (Nikolinje) brings gifts to children commending them for their good behaviour over the past year and exhorting them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. If they fail to do so they will receive a visit from Krampus who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.

Pretty frightening, that guy and entournage. Could traumatisize your kid for a lifetime (in fact,younger daughter claims, he did) and then we have a softer version...
THE Christkind ,
which presents itself mainly in catholic ,i.e. southern German areas. Cute little angel with wings, flying around, depositing the gifts on Christmas eve.

And last but not least there is the good old WEIHNACHTSMANN, that's the guy, who most resembles the American Santa, but he does not slide down the chimney and has no sled either,just little helpers,like angels and dwarfs. He also appears on Christmas eve and with some families Christmas day morning. -Often a relative or the man of the house himself acts as the Weihnachtsmann, knocking at the door and handing out the presents.
Problem with that guy is, he is crowding the city beginning early December,and every halfways smart kid from latest the age of 4 starts wondering why there are so many of them. First doubts about his excitance are planted.

Now,hopefully, Landfrau has put some light into the confusion,and remember...
only 27 DAYS TILL X-MAS!!!

Sunday-Blogger

November 26/06 1:46 p.m.

Must have been an uninteresting week, no entries, seems my life boils down to home chores,the necessity of shopping and long dog walks. Oh,yes, the pine tree is down, ugh, for me "gewöhnungsbedürftig", which means that I have get used to it. No other choice anyway. We keeled over backweards,when we got the invoice from our gardener, there is still a fir-tree left, which everyone keeps predicting,that it will be blown down by the next storm,unprotected as it is now without the pine. Well, this job will have to go to the wind, then insurance will have to pay and we do not fill the pockets of robber-gardener.
- "Had to" get up at 8:00 a.m. this morning, breakfast visitors,brother - in-law (Paris) with wife and sister-in-law, dog and me only had a short run,managed to have everything ready at 10:00 a.m.,diligent little Landfrau! , but now they have left and I am thinking about, what to do with the remaining Sunday,paint for the change again for a bit (bought some new canvas last week) hang around the compi (should not!!),read my very good book, over which I fall asleep in bed every night, or stick my i-pod into my ears and run with the dog,which I think I will end up with, weather is turning nasty again, love nasty weather.

And folks, remember X-MAS IS A'COMING!!! (28 days left!)

landleben: A Gallery - A Quiz

landleben: A Gallery - A Quiz JUST A TEST

Just a test

blogger-bugger is making it difficult lately, wants me to change to Beta-Blogger,probably, null Bock!!!

News about God!

November 19/06 3:37 p.m.
Neues von Gott --> - found at "Die Welt"de Nov.19/06
Laut „P.M“-Magazin liegt die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass es Gott gibt, bei 62 Prozent
(according to P.M. Magazine the possibility,that God excists,lies at 62%)


Kein gar nicht mal so schlechter Wert für Gott. Seine Existenz ist somit bedeutend sicherer, als dass Madonna Britney Spears heiratet, jemand das Web 2.0 kennt oder die große Koalition gut findet. Nur die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass Deutsche Winterreifen aufziehen, ist größer. Na, da arbeiten wir noch dran. Ansonsten: Chapeau, Gott.

free translation:

Not such a bad value for God. His excistence is herewith by far more real, as that Madonna marries Britney Spears, someone knows the web 2.0 or thinks approving of the Great Koalition. Only the p0ssibility,that Germans put winter tires on their cars, is bigger. Well, we shall work at that. Otherwise: Chapeau ,God!

Disco-Fever

November 18/06 2:54 p.m.

Believe it or not, these 2 oldies have been daring an outing in one of Düsseldorf's very fashionable discos, located in the Media Harbour. - How come? - well ,a promotion event presenting the new MINI (we are registered as Mini-owners, my beloved car!).Only there were so many other Mini-owners milling around, that you only spied people, no disco! Anyway, Landfrau has been able to grab a couple of drinks and some food and managed to push her way through the crowds (had my companion safely parked in a seat),even got a glimpse of the new car - keen! - But we did not outlast the gathering till 2:00 a.m., countryside, peaceful and quiet has been streching out its arms for us. So much for our "nitelife".

And above two pics of the "without people" disco.

Spring in November

November 16/06 5:02 p.m.

Everyone is talking about the weather today, so I must join in! A very comfortable 19°C has been measured around here. There have been even warmer places in Germany. Doggie and Landfrau enjoy long walks, we are really picking up! -
The garden is a mess, next week we are going to have our big pine tree taken down, the needles are getting ahead of me, can't cope anymore, there is more to live,than keeping the garden clean! But I know,I shall miss it, so will the squirrels.Well, bygones are bygones, such is life.

Buffalo Roundup - Düsseldorf Style

November 13/06

Buffalo roundup ?? - Now really, thats what kind of reminded me of, in regard to crowds,gathering to watch an event.
Airbus A 380 test landed at Düsseldorf Airport, arriving from Toulouse at 11.00 a.m. yesterday morning. 100.000 people milling around at the airport, all the roads and highways in the vicinity plugged, and thousends of smarties (like us) watching from the dike. We had privileged seats, so to say, as we live right across the airport. So we watched the landing live on the computer screen and the take off at 3:00 p.m. outside. Apparently Landfrau seems to need an addional goodie lately at events, this time the dog lost me (not me the dog!). Took him along and he did not take notice - had to sniff around - that I went right to the banks of the river,where no trees obstructed the view,anyways, he just started running like the devil, to catch up on me, no yelling or whisteling could stop him, he was gone. Did not worry too much, since he knows his way around, and I certainly did not want to miss the plane on account of dog hunting. But when I arrived at home, no dog, and no man of the house including bike. - So,just to be on the safe side, I took my bike to go (drive) looking, no dog, no man of the house. -
To make a long story short, when I arrived home after an hours search ,there they were, both of them. Turned out, the dog found his master, but was not quite able to transfer, that he had lost me. A time consuming thing, fortunately with a happy ending. - The A 380 must have been back in Toulouse at that time.

|Art by Simon Christen|

Art by Simon Christen - Cute birds!

Touch it,it's a link!

November Blues

November 11/06 2:20 p.m.

Now we have it, real nice rainy (contradiction?), hazy, grey,our November weather. Thinking about fitting things to do, to get me out of this November blues, where I only keep thinking of losses, regrets and hurt feelings. Walking the dog this morning did not help - and I forgot to take my i-pod along - stupid.
So now, I will
heat up my sauna
switch on my sunbench
and mix myself a bucket full of margarithas (eh, little joke)

and then it will be Carribian - feeling in my basement.
Oh,yeah, music of course, but have not made my choice yet, definitely not Bach!

About 6 more weeks left....

November 10/06 7:20 p.m.

Nature this year is not so eager to show signs of upcoming winter. My friends, the wild geese, are still populating their favourite river bay and the only "real" turning of leaves is the one in our backyard-garden. Doggie is still sniffing his little nose off after bitches in heat, but alas, listen all of you with a sweet tooth, X-mas -sweets are to be had in abundance,and Landfrau buys them all the time and there must be someone eating them! Probably Santa,to fatten himself up for his chores.
Slowly but surely X-mas panic is setting in , Santas helper has no idea whatsoever in regard to presents to buy , food to cook and so on. Isn't there that cute little song "I hate Christmas?"

My Indian Summer

November 09/06 10:29 a.m.

Here it is,my own personal Indian Summer! Nice? I think so.

Down with Baby-Bush!

(SPIEGEL-online)
The Republicans' defeat in the House of Representatives is a disaster for George W. Bush. His political heirs now must distance themselves from him as he spends the next two years trying to define his legacy.

I firmly believe that history will portray Bush as not only the worst and most dangerous president of the United States but one of the most dangerous opponents of peace in the world.

So, get going ..HILLARY!!!

The Goose IS cooked!

November 04/06 8:02 p.m.
.....and it will be "slaughtered" tomorrow nite! - With dumplings, chestnuts (glazed) red cabagge and homemade applesauce. -
Does Landfrau deserve a medal?

The Goose is(not yet) cooked!

November 03/06 10:08 p.m.

Friends,friends, are you ever lucky, no politics yet!
No, I'm going to talk about my upcoming slavery of frying (not a stork,but) a goose. To me it seems almost as big. Have to pick it up tomorrow morning at our farmer, have seen the herd walking about all summer long and fortunately do not know, which one was supposed to be ours. Its our traditional family dinner for Martinstag,The day is celebrated in the evening of November 11 in Flanders, parts of the Netherlands and the Catholic areas of Germany . Children go by the doors with paper lanterns and candles, and sing songs about St. Martin and about their lantern in return for a treat, very similar to the American tradition of Halloween.Only they are not dressed in costumes ,but they sing nasty songs,when they dont get anything,you see, a united world. Often, a man dressed as St. Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession.
In recent years, the lantern processions have become widespread even in Protestant areas of Germany , despite the fact that most Protestant churches do not recognize saints as a distinct class of believers from the laity.
The food traditionally eaten on the day is goose. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him. Late punishment,now they are eaten! In our little village almost all the houses are decorated with lanterns and St.Martin rides in front of all the kids and the music,singing songs about St.Martin and afterwards coming to the homes for treats.

So, our "feast" will be Sunday nite, the correct date of Martin's Day is November 11th,only it is always a problem with the marching music, it is so much in demand,since every little part of town has its own St.Martin's parade, the biggest one of course beeing in Düsseldorf, but I would not say it was the nicest one, too big.
Last year I had that big lump on my head, my horse had knocked me against the wall of his box, this year its lumpless cooking, which at least is something,no?

My first Love!

November 01/06 7:20 p.m.

Landfrau does not have so many amusing things to talk about now-a-days, so let's venture again into the past a bit. My first love ( actually not the "very first one", him I lost at the age of 5, when fate separeted us, he moved away) I really have been smitten with. He has been definitely a little womanizer,dark hair, dark eyes and olive skin ,well, kind of grown up lost "kiddie"(see above!) love, and I had been so proud, he choose me as "his girl", it lasted for about 3 dates, then he showed me the cold shoulder, up to now I do not know why, probably the next cutie to be conquered. I really sobbed my little eyes out and what made it even harder,my mother showed no sympathy whatsoever,laughing and telling everyone about my desaster. -
Now my brother has been meeting the guy occasionally and he still is inquiring about me and if I still had that beautiful "golden" hair, my brother says, I do, I think touches of grey are definetely showing. Told my brother, he should tell him - that he broke my heart! -
Still, a soft touch for "dark boys" has been left over from that time of beeing sweet fifteen! (hope, man of my life will forgive me,hihihi).

And,next post friends, it will be politics again, I warn you!!!

Na, dann...

October 31/06

Happy Halloween!!!!!!

















And actually it's Reformationstag much more serious and valid now and forever!

Here they are again!

October 28/06 3:32 p.m.





Our screaming friends! - Every morning we hear them, when they fly over our roof towards the river. So today Landfrau ventured out with her camera. We are starting to have our usual weather for this time of the year, grey in grey, last week we had lunch outside in a Rhineside restaurant, blue skies, sunshine and over 20 degrees Celsius. Unbearable! I's so nice to have it back the way we are used to, this time of the year. (little joke, friends) . And next week the cold is supposed to come up. Anyway, it is still nice and warm for the World Ski Cup at downtown Düsseldorf , and that is no joke!

Panorama-Bilder Königstein/Sächsische Schweiz - Reiseführer meinestadt.de Königstein/Sächsische Schweiz

Panorama-Bilder Königstein/Sächsische Schweiz - Reiseführer meinestadt.de Königstein/Sächsische Schweiz

Yes, here it is, the solution!!!!

Another QUIZZ...QUIZZ....QUIZZ

October 22/06 4:00 p.m.

Fullfilling wish of faithful readers, here it is ...ANOTHER QUIZZ!

Let's see, if you have done your homework. Precise description of location of building,please!
And the winner gets, as always,free choice of picture postcard, personalized!
So, good luck!

My Month of Losses

October 21/06 7:53 p.m.

Stepped onto my $ 500 Chanel-sunglasses today, but really full power. Possessions are a burden. - My other loss I will not talk about, too personal and still painful. - It helps to be pragmatic. A little, anyway.

AAADD

April 12/07 9:45 p.m.

What a day today! (must admit, not my brainstorm)


Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.




This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden.As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the patio table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mail box when I take outthe garbage anyway, I may as well pay he bills first.I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.I realize the Coke is getting warm , and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.As I head toward the kitchen with the coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glassest hat I've been searching for all morning.I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV
Remote Control . Someone left it on the kitchen table.I realize that tonight when I go to watch TV , I will be looking for the
remote control , but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decideto put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water theflowers.I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on thefloor.So, I set the
Remote Control back down on the table, get some towels and wipeup the spill.Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.At the end of the day:the driveway is flooded the car isn't washed,the bills aren't paid,there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter,there is still only one check in my check book, I can't find the
remote control ,
I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the carkeys.Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message because I can't remember to whom it was sent.

Super "Sounds of Jazz"

October 20/06 8:33 p.m.

...and very uncomfortable chairs for oldies! O.K. considering, the church, where the concert took place in a kind of side wing, 3 stories up (you would have never guessed, beeing in a church ), is an old lady of 150 years, you could not expect streamline comfort. But the concert has been worth it, first time in my life, that I heard a didgeridoo in a jazz concert. But - boy, those old guys really kept going, it has been a show. Wolf Doldinger, incidentely, is a friend of my brother in law, so of. cse. we got to talking, but that's not the issue.We met my sister in law at the concert, and afterwards had a nice glass of wine in a bistro across from the church together. Later on we found out, that our two cars were the only ones left in a garage,housing normally about several hundred cars. SPOOKY!! - So much for the "world capital" Düsseldorf.

Well, venturing out, is worth it once a while (not only to "stuff" yourselves).

Now,is'nt it great?

October 19/06 5:25 p.m.

Women know your limits

A hit among all my friends - and - this cute woman is visiting a jazz concert tonite! Hope not to mix up my brains, cheerio!

Here are the missing Goodies!

The panoramic view needs no explanation,or? - Then you have the "Blaue Wunder"(the blue miracle) and a view from the river Elbe upon one of the castles,the "Schloss Albrechtsberg".

Missing out on Putin

October 11/06 8:56 p.m.

No joke, you have been reading right, Putin had been staying at our hotel in Dresden! Only, the day he arrived, we had to leave in the morning. And I am not so sure, that I would have been so keen on seeing that man, in the opinion of many people responsible for the murder of that brave journalist Anna Politkowskaja. - But this post is not supposed to be about politics, but a great time spent in Dresden. The pictures just give you a glimpse about the beauty of this city and its adjoining countryside. Fortunately our hotel was right at the side of the castle (not quite finished yet) and all the other important sights to see. We had a concert the first night in the world famous "Frauenkirche", an organ concert - Bach - terrific sound of that organ, but, to be honest, without the wish to visit that church, which would have meant a lineup for hours, Bach would not have been my choice,neither that of about two thirds of the audience,my guess. Must admit, that I'm not such a great fan of this type of serious classical music.Or, profanely, no vibes! -
Since we had to take a very early flight the day of our arrival (which we almost missed, the taxi central office forgot us,let us stand in the dark in front of our home, imagine!) our room had not been ready, so we had breakfast in a neighbourhood bistro, very nice, sitting outside, with a view upon the Frauenkirche and the huzz and buzz of the people milling around. Next to us on the right, two American girls were sitting and on our left table,two Russian guys were having a beer. Would you have imagined something like that 20 years ago? you bet not.
The next day we had the address of a very friendly and educated taxi driver (thanks, brother M!) who took us on a tour around the city and into the countryside, Sächsische Schweiz,(freeclimbers paradise -our taxidriver did it) several castles and Festung Königsstein. We crossed the "Blaue Wunder" (blue miracle) the bridge,which had been painted green and then out of some chemical reason turned into the colour of blue. All in all we had been on the road for about 8 hours,but it really had been worth it.
Last day we ventured into taking the tram to the famous milkshop - I just love to go by tram in strange cities! - always a little adventure! The place had been packed with people, every tourist bus, serving Dresden, stops there and all the people, including us, drink buttermilk! - After that, my travel companion was deflated (like a balloon), so he spent the rest of the day spying out of the window (we were lucky, first floor windows right above the entrance), and Landfrau rushed off for some more culture,i.e. a marvellous exhibition of paintings (from Monet to Mondrian) , all pieces out of former privat collections of rich Dresden citizens - beginning 20th century. There were hardly any people visiting the museum, probably all lining up for the Frauenkirche.
At night it was our Galadinner,which I will try to copy in,to make you envious, of course!
Next day pleasant flight back home and pick-up by daughter No.2 and grandson, nice!

Blogger is a bugger, wont take any more stuff to copy in, so I will add a 2nd. one, just with the missing pics and the menue.

There They Are!

October 05/06 8:56 p.m.

Gee, there they are, our messengers of cold days to come, St. Martin's day, Nikolaus day and finally Christmas are looming in the air. The leaves will start to turn, my painter's eye just relishes those colours of autumn, a little glimpse gives the picture of the sunset,taken around the corner by the man of my life. Fall I just love, I love the smell of wooden fires in the air, the fog in the morning and the sun breaking through. And the river seems to be steaming. But - for today I love the upcoming trip to Dresden,I am all excited. And tomorrow a good friend from Berlin is coming to join us for lunch,and my bag is almost packed, a task I just hate! Well, as we Germans say: NO PRIZE WITHOUT SWEAT! - Till next week, folks....

HELPLESSNESS

October 03/06 7:15 p.m.

Spiegel- online Oct.3./06
Bush wanted Americans to focus on how dangerous Saddam Hussein was, and not on the obvious consequences of starting a war in the Middle East. Now, he wants voters to focus on how dangerous the world is, and not on his utter lack of ideas for what to do about it.

No comment needed.

A Beautiful Town or Phoenix out of Ashes

September 30 /06 4:30 p.m.

..That is Dresden, city full of childhood memories. My favoured aunt and more aunts and uncles from my mother's side lived there. Us kids used to visit during school holidays, and we always looked forward to staying with my aunt, she had no kids of her own, and she spoiled us rotten. Well, times long gone, and there are not even graves left. Since I grew up later on in the western part of the divided Germany, there had been no more chance to go and visit with my relatives in Dresden. However our aunt was allowed to come and see us "Westerners", once she had reached the age of beeing a retiree. Those people the communist system was not afraid to loose. -Even as a child, I had been fascinated by that beautiful Frauenkirche, which had been totally destroyed in that awful bomb raid of February 1945. But now it has been reconstructed as beautiful as ever, and...hold on to your seats, folks, we will be there for a concert coming Saturday! Great? You bet! -
We will take a flight very early Saturday morning and we will be coming back on Tuesday, which will give us time to look around. Unfortunately there were no more tickets to be had for the "Grüne Gewölbe", which must be a marvellous sight in the new, old setting in the castle. We had seen the exhibition in the interim settings in 1994,the first time we had been together in Dresden after the war.

So, my new camera will be in action again, hopefully to produce great pics!

Welcome and have a nice visit

Welcome and have a nice visit

Not only ham at Vianden, culture too!
Click the welcome..its a link!

A tip:
go to other Sites (in the upper line) then
to Tourist Info - on the right side it says:

Vianden
The Medieval City
see a trailer

....then you can watch a very nice trailer about the city and the castle!-

Here are the Cows!

P.S.

Now, would not deprive you of the cows! - Nor the ham-shop!!

Hunt the Ham

September 24/06 3:33 p.m.

Yes, you have been looking right, we have been ham-hunting. Longer story, but worth reading.
When we had been in Luxembourg at the same time last year to celebrate our friends double anniversary, they invited the whole party into a restaurant in a little village,right at some riverbanks, for a lunch of simply smoked and cooked ham, pickles and fresh bread, great! And in the same building there had been a butchers shop, selling all those food-goodies.- So, this year, we decided to drive there and buy that ham to take home. Smart Landfrau looked at the map and decided, the name of the village must have been Esch-sur-Sure, there is a river and a castle. Only an about 18 kms drive from our hotel,if you do not run into deviations, which we did, in such a way, that after about an hour a roadcrossing looked kind of familiar, and bingo, it turned out to be the one leading to our hotel in a few houndred meters. No sweat, being on vacation, we made a new start and with the help of a couple of construction workers ,who told us, which deviations had deviations, we finally made it to Esch-sur-Sure. Took us about 2 hours, by that time we could have hit Meerbusch. Only the place looked kind of unfamiliar and the restaurant must have gone broke, including the butcherie, so we phoned our friends, who told us that we should have gone to Vianden, a place with a river and a castle (found out, that this must be a trademark in Lux.) only Vianden was about the same distance from our hotel, only opposite direction. -
Well, like I said, beeing on vacation, we decided to continue this nice sightseeing tour,took us uphill and downhill,winding roads and high plateaus, thru little places with no people but an abundance of cows. And we found Vianden! and we got our ham!which by now is really dwindelling away and we keep accusing each other of greediness.
So,that's the ham story. Aside from that we had a good time beeing spoiled in every way, foodwise and health treatment wise. Landfrau felt 10 years jounger (a twen??) but lost 5 years yesterday again slaving away.
The copied menu should make your mouth water, and for the ones not beeing able to cope with the french language,they are just lucky, they wont get envious.

Coming home, we found our two goldfish, Max and Moritz, still alive,they probably enjoy having the pond all by themselves, bastards! and the old gelding horse has decided he is a stallion now and is busy,trying to make his harem,the two mares, happy, loosing lots of weight in the effort. Anyway, there are worse ways to slim down,am I right?

Promises...

September 23/06 9:22 p.m.

......should never be made! Here I am, with 97 pictures to
choose from, well enjoy those 4 ,folks, and a report about
the trip is to follow, too beat today, hard garden work and cleaning the car,Landfrau deserves a medal!

In case you forgot, this is all about Luxembourg.

BARFLY

September 15/06 8:30 p.m.

See that bar-supply? I drank all that! - Kleiner Scherz - and tomorrow more about Luxembourg, the trip has been worth it!