Wellness at Wellneuss

September 25/07 6:05 p.m.

Who does not dare, does not win - an old German proverb. Weatherforcast for today had been rather measely, but daughter no.2. and Landfrau took a chance to try out the wellness in- and outdoor area in the vicinity. We still had tickets ,which had been a birthday present for Landfrau and companion, who kept finding excuses not to go. So daughter and myself took a chance, and boy, had it been worth it! We arrived pretty early and there were very few people around. Sun had been shining from a blue sky and we just could not make up our minds which of the many facilities to use. Decided to treat ourselves to a coffee-ceremony, where you do not drink the coffee, but get a little dish with a mixture of ground coffee and what have you,to smear yourself with. Having done that, we had a real laugh, reminded us of the joke of the poor black guy,who lost his finger in a working accident. Now his boss rushed him to hospital but the only finger to be put on had been white. It all healed well and after a while the black guy was riding in a bus, holding on to a strap with his hand and there was this little old lady asking him : Well, chimney sweeper, having a lunch break? -

After the stuff had been rinsed off, we both were left with a skin like silk, smelling of..three guesses -coffee!
And then we had a very delicious lunch in a restaurant with an open fire place, very nice. You can walk about every place in your bathrobe and all the wellness facilities you run around naked. Very convinient, you do not have to wiggle in and out of a wet bathing suit all the time.
And when we left, it started to rain - sometimes one has to be lucky.

Busy Weekend

September 23/07 8:50 p.m.

...and a nice one too. And we had the summer we have not been having up to now. Daughter No.1 came friday late afternoon from Frankfurt, we picked her up at the station and took her right away to a nice floating restaurant at the riverside, the CANOO, the place is fixed up as an outside lounge and you have a great view of the Düsseldorf skyline, the Television tower and the river, certainly. We decided to have some appetizers along with our drinks, which resulted in no one wanting my prepared food at home. Fridge is still well stocked. Well, never mind. -
Next day we enjoyed our sundeck, a friend dropped in who had not seen our daughter for about 20 years, he was quite surprised.
Then at nite we were joined by daughter No.2 who lives pretty close and mom and dad took the "kids" for dinner to the Molzmühle, an old mill hotel- restaurant (had been writing about in a former post - http://www.molzmuehle.de) . Was funny, just the 4 of us, like in old times. We had good food and laughed a lot and in the end daddy walked out with his napkin tucked into the belt of his trousers, this way proudly producing an apron. He has a habit of doing that, this time we noticed in time, before adding the napkin to our collection.We had a nightcap
at second daughter's house ,where our son-in-law had been babysitter.
Today at noontime we took Fankfurt daughter to the station and she is home now safe and sound. Had been a nice time with great weather!

Fran Lebowitz Quotes

Landfrau and very "first love"!

Fran Lebowitz Quotes:

"Romantic love is mental illness. But it's a pleasurable one. It's a drug. It distorts reality, and that's the point of it. It would be impossible to fall in love with someone that you really saw.

Fran Lebowitz "

September 20/07 5:24 p.m.

He is so right, this Fran Lebowitz.

In my early teens I fell madly in love with Winnetou ,would not have worked out if we had really met, besides that he did not excist. What has been left over, however, is this faible for "dark boys", they still make old Landfrau swoon. And might have something to do with my long lost" very first love".

Puttin on - no, not the Ritz - the Sacher

September 17/07 7:30 p.m.

Yes, my friends, that's what Landfrau has been doing, but I did not dance! When we were in Vienna during our last voyage, we sat in a cafe on the outside terrasse, feasting on...three guesses...Sachertorte of course. So we watched the crowd pass by and next to us at a table a lady had been writing postcards. Watching her Landfrau had a hot flash, had promised older daughter a card explicit from Vienna. Now, Sunday and sitting in a corner of Vienna where no open kiosks could be spotted and upnosed waiter was not very helpful, I decided to try out the Hotel Sacher around the corner, usually hotels have postcards at their reception desk. So I marched in passing the high hatted guard, pretending I was a guest. Must look eligible, it worked, but got a shock inside, very plush place with not such profanity like a postcard rack and no people around, just service personal. So I decided to grab a hotel prospect, very fancy ,and strolled out again by the high hat. Think this time he kind of eyed me a bit suspiciously. Found an open kiosk later on and returning to our river cruise, discovered that they had a wide selection of cards at their desk.

But I had been into the Ritz, NO ..Sacher!

Magic in the Park

The castle, painted 10 years ago

http://www.wdr.de/themen/kultur/1/magic_illumina_2004/_img/vertonte_fotogalerie/20041001/galerie_flash.html

September 14/07 6:04 p.m.

Now that you have had a look at the above link, (unfortunately only German version) you can imagine how enchanting the real presentation has been. What is a bit of a drawback is the immense crowd, always having the same idea to spend the same kind of evening as oneself. But we joined that same crowd later on, after our walk, to have a glass of wine and a snack at the terrasse overlooking the park and pretending it was not chilly whatsoever.

Incidently, at the castle we had the wedding reception of our younger daugther 10 years ago.

Some more Pics!

Hundertwasser Haus
Danube
Belvedere, Vienna
Markethall, Budapest
Bratislava (in rain)

The (not blue) Danube or "have you ever seen such rain, man"!

not allowed yet!
Passau
Sun still shining!
Happy in Vienna
Spectacular view!

September 9/07 2:48 p.m.

Honestly, folks, it had been raining so badly that we were kicked off the boat on our way back at Vienna and had to take a 3 1/2 hrs. bus- drive to Passau, our embarking and disembarking harbour in the end. Locks had been closed on account of high water level. And it all started out quite promising. We had fair weather, not cold and no rain the day of our arrival at Passau(Bavaria) and a nice leasurely boarding the next (Saturday) morning. We arrived in Vienna on Sunday and had a city sightseeing tour in the afternoon, the usual tourist attractions, of which Vienna offers plenty. Late afternoon I gave the nordic walking instructions a try, to see if I would join a work out. - Next morning we ventured out on our own by taxi, had a very nice and funny driver, who gave us some inside infos on top of the little tour while driving and then were just as lucky with our fiaker driver (horse drawn coach) . Of course, if the weather plays along, things are so much more pleasant. - Now, don't ask me to give you a tour too, I am not so gifted at reciting history, I let my snapshots talk for themselves! And then we went inside the St.Stephen’s Cathedral , spectacular! and up with a crummy little elevator which took you outside into a kind of caged in walk (gave me the creeps and a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach -ugh, damn high!), but the view over Vienna and sourrounding aereas had been marvellous! Also you could have a peek at the big bell, the Pummerin.

And at late afternoon I battled hip gold, tried nordic walking and decided it would in the long run be not my thing, I think walking without sticks suits me better (never know when I would need them anyway, in the years to come) .

And from then on the weather pixie got its mean streak and we had pouring rain in Budapest, Bratislava, ashore, on deck , on the river, till the not blue Danube decided to overflow and that put an end to our river cruise.

But we had fun inside, like during the long wellness nite,which only us two and another couple had booked, so we had the complete wellness area to ourselves, including the massage people, where man of my life managed to collapse with his relax bed and rip on top of that the socket of a lamp out of the wall. Too much good food, I think. But he survived his downfall, only to wipe a glass of the neighbouring table and a bottle of wine (which I fortunately managed to catch) with his - pardon me - ass the next nite.

The left- over mischiefs I will not mention. So, we have not been bored.

I frequented the trimm bike, which had been set in front of a window looking out on an aisle and felt like a monkey in a cage, people stopping to look at me through the glass.

Well, as I said, the rest had been rain.

Train ride back home had been very nice, the train quite empty and daughter No. 2 picked us up at the station, along with Herr Hund, who screamed like a pig beeing slaughtered,when he spied us. Now life is back to normal, only our bags are still missing, hope the service works as well as on the way to the cruise, then we should have them by Tuesday.

See you later,Alligator!

........ open as of today September 9/07!

Zwinger Dresden

August 27/07 7:05 p.m.

The Zwinger in Dresden is shown in this little video, I'm very proud of, taken in October last year, during our Dresden visit. Now, some spots, like smells, trigger memories with

Landfrau and Dresden is a place where I spent memorable time during my childhood. My mother had been the joungest of 8 children (spoiled by them all) and most of them, and most of all our favorite aunt, lived in Dresden. So in summertime we kids got often shipped off for a stay with the relatives. The spoiling was transferred to us, my brother and myself and I have great memories of family get-togethers. They all had been quite plain people, but full of fun and laughter and, some of my uncles beeing hardcore communists -old school - hated Hitler no end. Of course they always made sure that we kids were out of earshot, when they had their discussions, but we had our ears on the table, so to say. What it transferred, they had been talking about, dawned on me only much later. - Of course excursions to the old part of Dresden and, most of all the Zwinger, were a must. I went back the first time after the terrible bombings when I was a teenager and we were living in the golden west already, which for us had not been so golden whatsoever,especially in the beginning in 1946. I simply hated it here, would rather have stayed in Eastern Germany with all my friends, becoming a little pioneer!

Now the grown pioneer has to circle her luggage again, one scarf and a pair of flip flops have been the result of the day, rather meager. So....3 more days till River cruise,
weather still playing along, in a way!

Because it's Sunday!

August 26/07 2:48 p.m.

Crowd out there, I am spoiling you! Just discovered, a new song of one of my favoureds, those WONDERFUL Calexico-guys. (sorry,cancelled)
Zut alors, Landfrau is just too sluggish to start collecting stuff to pack for the trip. And by the way, weather in Vienna and Budapest slowly but surely changing for the worse, autum a'coming!

MyVideo - jennifer Rush- The Power of Love von Eisengel

MyVideo - jennifer Rush- The Power of Love von Eisengel

August 26/07 9:15 a.m.

About time for a lady again, here it is your weekend love song!-
So, good listening! - Folks -

and...HOPEFULLY!! only 4 days till river cruise,do you think we are going to make it this time? Start to "circle" my valise today.

Almost a Year!

August 25/07 2:41 p.m.

...it has been,that I had to send my oldie-horse into horse heaven. Still miss him and therfore it's nice to have the world wide web participate in his memory! So, friends, go ahead enjoy the little video of my faithful friend of 20 years!

A new Device!

August 24/07 11:50 p.m.

Hey, just discovered a new device, can upload videos now. Of course Landfrau has to try it out right away, so here we go!

Must say, takes quite a while, but a new gadget is fun, let's see if it is worth it. - Everything new is fun, don't you agree, folks?

And, by the way, while waiting, had such a nice evening tonite out on our little deck, fire burning in the little kiva stove, a glass of red wine,music from my favoured radio station, a great book and the ol' moon as lantern at the sky. At times like this I really could envy myself, ha!

The Migrants are back

August 22/07 7:15 p.m.

Did see the first wild geese today, a flock of about 20. They have been circling the area around the riverside, maybe not so sure,if they should turn south or north. - For me their appearance is always the first sign of winter to come, not so nice, if you look back at our rather moderate summer. It has been raining cats and dogs for the last two days, and considering.. we have not even had our summer vaccation yet!-
8 more days till river cruise!

So nice around here! LINK!! open in extra window

August 19/07 2:49 p.m.

Now, had such a nice post, and..down the drain,gone before I could publish it. So, have to activate my brainstorming once more.

Went for a jazz brunch (had been more liquid than brunch on account of good breakfast). Was a great atmosphere and the band gave their best. What amazes me is, that we never meet anyone we know at such occasions. Now we are going to enjoy our own garden ,some cake and latte macchiato,not too bad either!

Can't get enough!

August 18/07 8:02 p.m.

Have been busy doing"serious" things at the compi, just have to relax, these Simpson pages are really a scream, so I created another ME!

- And herewith you also meet "Herr Hund"!

Weekend Love Song

August 18/07 11:51 a.m.

Here a nice lovesong from a talented singer/songwriter - Steve Key- enjoy!

And Landfrau and Herr Hund will now roam the riverbanks!

12 days till river cruise!

Ain't it nice to be average!

August 16/07 10:20 a.m.

...and always thought I was a South West gal! Stupid pizza!

What your pizza reveals:

There are no limits to your eating. You often devour the scraps your friends can't finish. You are a very picky pizza eater. Not any pizza will do. You fit in best in the Northeast part of the US. You like food that's traditional and well crafted. You aren't impressed with "gourmet" foods. You are dependable, loyal, and conservative with your choices. You are deep and thoughtful. You should consider traveling to Paris. The stereotype that best fits you is guy or girl next door. Hey, there's nothing wrong with being average.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourpizzasayaboutyouquiz/">What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

14 days to go! (river cruise)

Water from Switzerland

August 15/07 4:47 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

Surprise, surprise, had not been at the riverside,where I usually take my walks with Herr Hund, for quite a while, had been into our bike tours cross country, so did not trust my eyes this morning: high water level!. Too bad, did not have my digi cam along. It is receeding though but I had to cross the little brook, where my poor horse fell in with my daughter several years ago (which started the dilema with all his aches and pains ) on rocks, put there by other people. Funny sort of weather we are having, two days summer, then winter again and vica- versa. Did not think the heavy rains in Switzerland would have affected us around here,but...

So, it's about time bad weather moves to Austria and Hungary, our new attempt at the river cruise is approaching, only 16 days left!

Time flies!

August 11/07 9:10 a.m.

There went another year and our birthday child is now already a "high school" kid!

Happy Birthday to you!

stay happy and healthy, kleiner Enkelsohn! wünscht Dir die Omala

I AM A GENIUS!!

August 9/07 9:46 p.m.

..a damaged genius, but nevertheless. After today almost kicking out the expert who was supposed to repair damaged foto software and managed to "undo" more than repairing, I found the mistake, it has been two klicks and we have paid hunderts of Euros up to now. Spare me explaining what I did, the result is there, it works! - And damaged - we have this hell of rain right now,which makes the railway sleepers in our back garden, used for boarding, cottonpicking slippery. I should know better,but if you are in a hurry...anyway, wham I slipped, flat on my back into our lower sitting place,right onto the concrete holder of the sun umbrella. -
Will count my blessings (bruises) tomorrow,then the colours will show too.

Miss Behavin’ » Band

Miss Behavin’ » Band link!



August 8/07 6:27 p.m.



There we have her again, that funny and cheerful Miss Behavin’, have a look at her website, its worth it and don't forget to play her newest song, the OUTTA TOWN BOOGIE!

YouTube - Johnny Cash: I've been everywhere man

YouTube - Johnny Cash: I've been everywhere man

August 8/07 8:10 a.m.

Good morning, wake up ,everyone, everywhere!

DAREDEVILS

August 7/07 10:24 p.m .The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

That's what we are. Patient came home yesterday and had already booked the "blue Danube" trip again for the end of the month from the hospital bed. His Divertikulitis is beeing treated with antibiotics and he seems fit as a fiddle. Well, as we know by now, he is a good one to breed out some new surprise very suddenly. Bets are taken,if we make the trip this time. Weather around Vienna and Budapest marvellous,there sits that sneaky weather pixie around waiting for us to show up to switch the thing around, you bet. Lot of betting,eh?
Yesterday it had been the first day of high school for our joungest grandson, up to now, enthusiasm is prevailing. To Landfrau's dissapointment he did not join the theater group, a shame, he is such an actor. And I had a great nite at the compi again, fixing a photo album und batteling with the damn software. Now I got the stuff on a CD which I am sending in and I have my doubts, that the outcome will be a hit.

But my bed will be right now, so,good nite, friends and fans!

To end the Weekend!

August 5/07 9:53 p.m.

...and it has been marvellous weatherwise , Landfrau had the free run of the roads, all the folks must have been relaxing somewhere. So it was a fast trip to ugly Krefeld. Good news, patient might be home by tomorrow.

Groundhog Day / Year

August 02/07 3:05 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

.....or the same procedure as last year! Only this years it is the intestines and there goes our trip aboard the river cruise ship on the blue Danube. Won't be able to tell you now, if she is blue,green or black and will again be missing out on seeing Vienna. -
Not so much in the mood for more posting today,stumbling over packed bags, have only unpacked hand luggage so far. And have to unpack the patient's bag on top.
In the future only spontaneous last minute trips. Accumulated cancellation fees could finance a very nice journey by now and Landfrau knows, where she would go to.

P.S. weather in Austria and Hungary still great!

Just have a Look!

Schiffdetails (LINK!)


July 28/07


Thats where we will be next week around this time!

Sluggish Sunday

July 29/07 8:10 p.m.

A rainy day and cold. Ventured out with Herr Hund this morning in pouring rain met only a neighbour,also walking her dog. If the weather is nice, the area is swarming with bikers,walkers,runners and what have you. So, considering this, it's not so bad,the rain (once a while).
Circling my half full or, half empy( matter of perspective) valise sitting in my room, will be picked up Thursday next week and Friday we shall leave on our one week riverboat cruise on the "blue"Danube and I will tell you if its really blue when I'm back. We will take the train and therefore can only carry hand luggage. It is supposed to be very hot in Vienna and Budapest, but I am sure, once we are on the go, the weather will change around. Man of my life attracts minor catastrophies like that. -
Looking forward to Vienna, never have been there,have been to Budapest twice.
But till then,lots to do!

Death is a Cat

July 27/07 9:55 a.m.


Oscar the cat predicts patients' deaths
By RAY HENRY, Associated Press Writer Wed Jul 25, 7:25 PM ET
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.......read on here...

Spooky? I do not know if I would like that, on the other hand, once you are in a state like the patients in the story you might give a damn.

Love thy Neighbour!

July 25/07 7:10 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

Our neighbour is a very nice, helpful guy and also an expert in computering. So Landfrau yelled for help once again, my program for editing and ordering photo books is haywire, refuses to put the finished album into the shopping basket.Quite a drag, have been trying back and forth and finally mamaged to ged rid of my photo album I had been sweating over for several nights. So neighbour came, tried around for an hour and, after having the program messed up completely, told me that now he was hungry and left for home,telling me I should try hotlines (which he had declared unfit before).Well,managed at least to establish the same crummy state of program and have been the hotline darling since. Pestering them up to now man of my life held the pole position and at least I have not been told yet to get someone for help who knows what a computer is.
I do not think I love my neighbour right now!

I am like a Kid

July 22/07 7:47 p.m.

..about my birthday and I had a great one yesterday! Family spoiled me rotten , so did the weathergod . Lots of phonecalls and E-mails and niiice presents! What else should one want. Only that daughter No.1 made me one year older added a bitter drop to my drink of joy.- Just a joke, just a joke! -
We all had dinner outside at my favourite Italian restaurant, very nice atmosphere, that little old market place at night with all the lights and people milling around.
And Herr Hund presented me with one of his favoured toys in the morning, put it on my bed but took it off right away again, was afraid, I really might want to keep it.

So now I am a year older and still feeling the same!

Crazy Bird...continued

July 19 /07 7:51 a.m.

Sad truth, crazy bird is a goner,(almost) St. Francis flattened his charge with the car in our driveway yesterday morning. Landfrau scraped it off.

THE END

It's about Time

July 18/07 8:04 a.m.

Good morning to all of you who have been curious what LANDFRAU really looks like, well, now you know, that's me (Simpson style)!..And if you want to create your own (ugly) Simpson avatar, do it here! - Have fun! -

Crazy Bird

July 17/07 The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein



Had been an eventful day for man of the house! A small bird had been hiding in our garage, could not be found,only heared. So m.o.t.h. tried to locate it, no luck. We decided that it must be sitting in the rainpipe leading through the garage, because it kept chirping also outside. Decided to get a ladder for Landfrau (of course) to climb on the roof to have a look, then suddenly bird showed up in the garage. Well, I had to leave the house,and when I came back I found a completely messy kitchen, stove pulled forward,dishwasher the same,woolmice and grease smirking at me. Fortunately both devices are not attached to the wall (stove and fridge,not grease and woolmice,mind you).

Turned out the bird had decided to come into the house and had gone plum hiding behind the kitchen gadgets. In the meantime it was running around in the garden, calling for its mum, but it seemed, that with all the handling it had kind of adapted man of the house as a mum and would not leave him alone. By that time I could have wrung its neck, cute little,poor bird or not.

Thank heavens bird family seems to be united by now, have not heard any chirping sounds no more.

And man of the house has missed his chance beeing St.Francis ........

My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you…you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore… always seek to praise God.

Hot,hot Summer

July 16/07 7:40 p.m.

..and a sad,sad day for the family, some things can't be helped.

Back from the Seaside

the rat pack
nice view!

Juli 11/07 8:42 p.m.

Yep,guys an' dolls, here I am again,your old Landfrau! - and,yes, thanks for dancing, it really helped, weather has been very agreeable,only swimming in the Nordsee I did not, grandson called me chicken,never mind,grandson's dad has been chicken too. - Aside from not swimming in the sea (and the unheated pool outside), we did a lot of bicycling, walking with the dogs,playing games of mini golf (me the winner!) games of tennis, me acting as fotograf and (mini)movie maker. Also Monopoly has been a hit,guess who won - Landfrau, of course. And we had good food and nice drinks and aside from that we kept loosing grandpa, who managed to show up at the wrong meeting point and claiming that he had been right and everyone else wrong. -

So, time went in a jiffy and now its unpacking bags and doing loads of laundry.Can someone tell me where all those dirty piles come from?

Expensive kms

July 2/07 6:40 p.m.

Had to dish out € 25,00 plus admin. for this ugly snapshot. (if you want to look at a bit "prettier" Landfrau, look here ), and I did not get fined for sleeping at the wheel, NO..for speeding!! 11 ks too fast, ridiculous! Well,shit happens,as the saying goes.

And you, my friends and fans,have to live without new posts for a week and I have to live without internet,hope I survive. So long, and yes,keep on dancing!, we will need it at the rainy seashore.

THAT AWFUL SMELL

Juli 1/07 10:07 p.m.

Have been sniffing around like a hunting dog the last couple of weeks, terrible fertilizer smell wavering around in our kitchen garden. Having bad thoughts about sueing neighbours on account of smell-abuse. (Specially our pet peeve neighbour who keeps pestering us on account of our (rotten) fence), found out today that Landfrau is the guilty party, had made my own fertilizer,made out of nettle pellets and water (great stuff,the plants love it) 10 litres of water and a certain amount of pellets make a sud,which miracolously mutates and changes smelling from very bad to still bad. -
Happy, I kept my mouth shut, Landfrau- country woman is not living up to her name,
bad, bad.

There is no water in Holland (Netherlands)

June 30/07 1:50 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

Another year, same place, same crew, except this time daughter No.2 and son in law will join us for the weekend. We will leave 4th of July (without fireworks) and are starting to plan the "treck". Man of my life came today with 3 cases of water (12 bottles each) to take along. Well, he has to drink 2 bottles a day, but mind you,there is a store which sells water in the vicinity of the hotel. Besides, all we only have to pack additionally is:

3 bikes
luggage for 3 persons
1 sunumbrella
1folding bench
1 folding chair
a stack of beach towels
1 cooler
1 picknic bag
1 bag of dogfood (no, there is not the special dogfood in Holland)
1 bag for dog
1 dog

and all that,what comes up in the run.
But,obviously, there is no water beeing sold in Holland.

What Landfrau wants to pack is sunshine, so....keep on dancing!!!

DANCE II

June 29/07 10:35 a.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

YEP..folks, keep on dancing, it starts workin'!!!

DANCE

June 26/07 10:10 a.m.

Dear friends worldwide, please join me in the anti-rain dance for our region,
here we go:

One, two, three :
boom, boom, boom,
NO rain - NO rain
boom, boom ,boom,
NO rain - NO rain
boom............

Thanks a lot!

Where is the Salt?

June 24/07 7:30 p.m.

HOUSEWIVES! Here is one for you.

Dinner finished, dishwasher stacked, kitchen tidied up, want to watch a special TV show, everything finished just in time,uff, all Landfrau has to do is switch on the machine, and there blinks the sign: REFILL SALT! Now ,first of all,the sign never blinks if one has ample time,no,by no means! and then the hunt starts. Kitchen is small, so salt has to be stacked somewhere else. Only remember,where I have not stored it, in the washroom with the detergents. Got wet. Wrecking brain, big cabinet in hallway?no, under the staircaise to the basement? no, in the (somewhat messy) basement room? BINGO! - But then, hunt continues,refiller gadget?? Wow, under the sink,where it should have been,only has been hiding in a corner,the little devil.
By then, show I wanted to watch,is half over and now it dimms on me, why housewifes are sometimes a little bit behind in knowledge,they miss the starts fooling around looking for things, and then they give up on doing what they really wanted to do.

Otherwise sunday has been uneventful.

Chaotic Start into Weekend

June 23/07 6:49 p.m.
The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

And I thought it might be relaxing, but no, not even peace and quiet in the shower. Husband came running to show me his eye,which looked, as if someone had punched it in a boxing fight. And you could see the black stripe running under the skin,very scary. Turned out, a tinny vein had broken,but nothing serious. Next got phonecall from (pregnant)daughter - yes, our family is in a fertility phase - that she is suffering from a very bad cold and is not feeling well at all. So good mummy offered to do the weekend foodshopping, and since I was coming anyway, grandson said, might as well put a song for him onto a CD, which he had been yearning after since the previous day, but all we managed on our computer was, to cancel all the songs on his iPod, which turned him into Rumpelstilzchen

"in his rage drove his right foot so far into the ground that it sank in up to his waist; then in a passion he seized the left foot with both hands and tore himself in two."

Fortunately the songs could be reloaded back home. So, thought I owe him, even it it had not been my fault. Well, made someone happy today.

Previous weekend for sure had been more fun with our houseguest from Texas.

And the weather...my,my, I call it a no-weather. Hopefully we will now have all the rain you can get,so there might be none left starting from July 4th,when we leave for a week for Holland with our grandson, because beeing at the seaside with a kid in lousy rainy weather is a punishment for someone who has killed his mother and father. -
So, for now there is still hope for an"uneventful" sunday.

Oh,yes, and the dog had a cyst removed and mustbe treated with a liquid,which I had managed to spill, almost all of it, and it should have lasted for a week. Great?

SCENARIO

June 20/07 3:50 p.m.

Happened Yesterday.... (Landfrau,daughter No.2,grandson (main cast) )

Daughter No. 2 (on phone): Could you please pick up grandson and take him to church for the final school service at 3:30 p.m., have meeting, can not make it. And then he has to go to the barber.
Landfrau: sure, no problem.
Landfrau looks at clock,gee,3:20 p.m. already, heats across Interstate to not have poor waiting grandson in need. Arrives in time, grandson plays tennis on the street with friend and is very astonished at grandmas appearance.
Grandson: what do you want, omala (thats what he calls me)
Landfrau:your mom said should take you to church service.
Grandson: No, my friend is here,we go by bike.
Landfrau: No, your mom said....
Grandson: but I cant let my friend go by himself.
Landfrau: then I take you both in the car.
Friend: no, need my bike later on.
Landfrau: I give up,then we meet at the church,where is it?
Lenghty explanations of grandson,how to get to the church,very confusing.
Friend: but the service is at the catholic church, not the protestant one.
Grandson:but I am protestant,what should I go to the wrong church for?
Landfrau(exasperated): if the service is there...and now ,are you both sure??
Grandson:we meet there,and if the service is not in that church, then I will drive in front of you with my bike to the other church.
Well,fortunately first church had been the right one.
So,arriving there,grandson and other kids rushed in and Landfrau was left cold by herself. Sat through a boring service with cranky (sibling) kids and parents,done by a timid parson woman and another fat woman in a white long kind of nightgown,could not figure out her role,but had been badly played,anyway. Sneaked out before the end and waited for grandson in front of the church. When he came out, asked him about the haircutting business and how we should go about it.
Grandson: you do NOT know,where the barber is?
Landfrau: No,how should I and besides,what is the whole thing now about,why should I come along anyway,you go by bike and you know the way.
Grandson (turns around) and calls his mother on his cell phone.
Landfrau: let me talk to her.
Grandson:there was the answering machine.
Landfrau: but you have been talking.
Grandson:wanted to know name of my haircut.(liar - had been complaining about mean grandma)
Landfrau ,voice rising: The barber knows,my goodness!
Grandson: I really do not know what you are cranky about.
Landfrau: Here,my friend, is your money and your housekey,

and I left.
Came home and got the evil eye from "grandpa" having left the poor boy alone. Told him the poor boy could very well fend for himself.
Got a phonecall later that nite from "poor boy",who claimed that certainly some things had gone wrong that afternoon. His way of apologies!

We parted friends!

A Present

September 1966

June 15/07

....for a very good friend far away at the westcoast of Canada. Happy Birthday! And have a drink on us!

International Week

June 14/07 7:54 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

We are definitely going international this week. Daughter No.2 has two French boys as exchange students (grandson had been in France last month) for a week. They are very well behaved 10 years olds,except they do not eat and do not talk. We took them to an icecream parlor yesterday afternoon and really wrecked our old brains for our somewhat rusty knowledge of French language. But it worked out. -

Tomorrow we will have our Texas friend as a houseguest till Sunday, well actually he is a Montana boy,who now lives in Houston. With him we wont have difficulties regarding eating and talking! And we do not have to wreck our old brains! - Unfortunately the weather pixie does not behave too well at the moment,so..no enjoying of outdoor meals. Shame on the pixie!

Please,please....

June 12/07 8:49 a.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

Landfrau wants a polar bear! And €5 million!

(read complete article)

Meanwhile, Wirtschaftswoche magazine reported that Knut is likely to boost the zoo's revenues by €5 million by the end of the year.

Paris Hilton and the G8

Foto: ddp/Republikanischer Anwaltsverein

June 9/07 9:49 a.m.

Wish I could take bets about the percentage of people interested in G8 versus Paris Hilton (in jail or not) in the U.S. 80% for Paris, my bet. - And talking about jail, an outrage, peaceful ,mind you - peaceful (not the black rioters) prostesters locked up in cages. - But our Mrs. Merkel has been beaming in competition with the sun: Agreements are wonderful and there will be a start looking into the damages of CO² abuse in 2050. And Africa will get all the help it does not want. Will our(my) grandkids be wiser, once they take over?

NorahJones.com

NorahJones.com

This great gal', let her brighten up your day (nice new website)!

Oldies for my Oldie

Bretignolles sur mer

June 5/07

...and a nice birthday trip to LA FRANCE. Have fun!

Sun shining on us and riots in Rostock

my corner provencale

June 2/07 6:24 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

It is always the same,the autonome scene is making it hard for peaceloving demonstrants to voice their demands. Considering all the aspects, the G 8 summit is as un- necessary as a hole in the head, of those there will be enough in the near future anyway till the whole thing is over and done with, without satisfying results, mark my words.-

More pleasant topics - our weather, see my pixie, has decided to be more friendly,which in turn triggers a fierce outside activity with Landfrau. And Landfrau also is proudly presenting a sporadic rush,comes like a jiffy but till now vanishes overnite. Strawberries are the culprits, I have found out. Gobble them up anyway, to hell with looking kind of "measely". Will be bad, if the rush wont vanish any more, will have to think of something then, like an astronauts' outfit. or so -

Those were the Times

May 31/07 7:40 p.m.

Had to dig out old photos to prepare a page for a friend's 70th birthday. Ran across pictures of that gorgeous looking woman all the time,looked twice, looked again..it had been me! - Gee whizz, one should skip looking at old snaps of oneself, unless you have been a hangdog all your life, then it's alright.

Coast Guard

Just a "fast one" - above link got lost on the former post. So..upon request! my friends..

HERE IT IS AGAIN!

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Black Forrest Snow

dpa

May 28/07 4:04 p.m. Weather pixie Düsseldorf

Where is the global warning regarding global warming? Or, is it the other way around, that with global warming we are into a new ice age? - Somehow I have something like that in the back of my mind. - Anyway, our bar-b-que last nite had been outside,but we ate our food inside, cozy behind picture window. We had fun together with our "little mother to be" granddaughter, who later on left to roam around Düsseldorf with some friends. Now she left for home via Frankfurt, where she drops off a friend who had joined her carpooling.

And granny and grandpa are having dinner tonite at our favoured Italian, also behind picture windows.

Have to take it as it comes, my mother used to say and right she is!

Dear Mr. Putin

May 25/07 7:32 p.m.



...pay attention.The ever so perfect Germans are really on the verge of outdoing you in screening global opponents. But then on the other hand you might listen to Mrs. Merkel, she promises a peaceful,friendly event, probably something like a great vernissage. -Let's wait and see what is going to happen inside and outside the barbed wire fence.

Like onVacation

May 23/07 11:03 .m.

We are really lucky to live at a location other people would travel to for vacation. Had a beer tonite at our favoured little restaurant (Langster Fährhaus) at the riverside. Watched the Rhine traffic and the ferry going back and forth. We can go there by bike,so it's an excercise to boot. All under the condition,that the weather plays along, which at the moment it does and we hope for a nice weekend. Little mother to be - our granddaughter - is coming for an overnite visit, so we hope to enjoy "outdoor" living. -
Landfrau had been an eager beaver today, painting new wooden garden pannels, I am developing into a jack of all trades! (and that at my ripe age). Better late than never.

Garden - growing...

May 22/07 6:54 p.m. Weather pixie Düsseldorf

Gee, Landfrau is going haywire, bought two rose bushes today and another plant, will turn into the little gardener - woman of the year, wait and see!

Mixing with People...

May 20/07 3:12 p.m.

..is something Landfrau must have detested already as a kid. I remember that birthday party of a classmate, must have been about 8 years old, hosted by the daugther of the owner of the local pharmacy (really something,if you live in a small village) I just decided for myself I just did not want to go. Few days later my very upset mother had found out and I had been in for some nice talking to. I' m old enough now to cope and by the time I have joined the vanitiy fair I am fairly o.k. and it sometimes happens, like today, that I discover a companion in spirit. My tolerance level rises with my wine consumption, but before I start to love everyone, man of my live drags me usually home (fortunately!).

Our friend's place (it had been a housewarming), really is a showpiece, very nice, attractive roofgarden, if there were would not be the passengers leaning out of the airplanes to peek, passing over every 10 minuntes or so - or so.

Here comes the Sun!

May 18/07 10:18 p.m. Weather pixie Düsseldorf

And here are some garden pictures. I am especially proud of my lawn, now will it survive next winter? Bets are taken!

YouTube - A Trip to the Observatory - and more rain around here

YouTube - A Trip to the Observatory

May 16/07 10:28 a.m.

Farmers can stop complaining,slowly but surely nature develops into green hell around here. So I let you have a peek into a world where the sky is clear and the sun mostly (I suppose) shines. (former) Penfriend of mine works there, lucky guy!

(ALL) Wet ,wet in Hamburg

May 14/07 7:51 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

Had a hunch,that the weather would not be so great for our trip, never mind, at least it has not been too cold on top,always have to count your blessings!

Now, from the beginning: Our train ride from Düsseldorf to Hannover, simply great, relaxing, comfortable,only...about 5 minutes late and gone was our train to Hamburg and with it of cse. our seat reservations. We were lucky however to have a follow up train pretty fast and it was not packed, so we had seats again and our arrival time in Hamburg had been almost correct. The Hotel, very nice (have a look) and after unpacking took the opportunity to visit the spa area ,had a nice swim and visited the whirlpool.

At night we had dinner at that excellent Fischereihafen Restaurant,guess what we had? fish,fish fish! We were lucky,that our taxi could still take us right up to the frontdoor, on account of the port day roads in the vast vicinity had been closed off and we had our doubts what we would be in for the following night,when we had to board our sailing bark for the river cruise. And right we were, we had to push through milling crowds of people for about half a mile,to find our ship - which does not sound much,only my companion with his walking difficulties had been in for hard times. When we finally discovered our ship (had past by it first,because it had been dwarfed by one of those enormous Russian sailing ships) we were not allowed to board it before all 70 passengers were soaking wet by an enormous downpour, accordingly the crowd evaporated enough steam to get the boat going without sails. Well, people took it with humour and a welcome drink and later on a very nice buffet dinner helped. So we cruised around on the river and later on returned to the mooring place for the fireworks. A nice and noisy event!

Then came the hard part,trying to get to the tram station (no fat chance for a taxi) and we had to push our way through thousands of people, stepping on the one or other pizza and "bratwurst". We finally made it and even managed to get up to one of the ticket machines.By the time we reached our hotel,we were kind of beat.

Next morning,after a leasurely breakfast,we left for the railway station,there companion discovered he had left his treasured cap on the shelf in our room. So back with a taxi he went,to pick it up. Cost him € 7, the little cap excursion. Fortunately there was enough time.

Then we boarded our train,which,approaching Hannover developed into a real slow poke,so we had about one minute left to run from platform 12 to platform 4 , stairs down,stairs up, and that with all our luggage. Before the doors closed we were pushed by the conductor into the train,never mind the right waggon,and it turned out that the train was to be seperated at the next station, so we had to make another run for it to pass the two engines and to get into our train,where we had to walk through the whole length to get to our reserved seats. - The Deutsche Bundesbahn likes to run trains,but obiously does not care so much for passengers. - Never again a train ride,where I have to change trains.

We were picked up by our daughter at the station and later on went to her place to pick up Herr Hund, who turned summersaults seeing us, we got some good wine and a nice dinner.

Great ending of a,after all, interesting trip.

Rainy Weekend Trip

May 10/07 4:36 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein

I`m afraid, thats is what it will be for the Harbour Birthday in Hamburg. No turning back, hotel is booked, train tickets are reserved (Yes, we go by train, less strain) and the evening aboard the sailing bark SWAENSBORGH has been a Christmas present from our daughters. Bad thing about train travel is,that you can not drag along so much luggage, having the vice of always packing too much, I`m in for hard times. Well,shops are open in Hamburg Saturday,so...
This time Herr Hund has to stay home, he will stay with our daughter's family and can fight with his buddy "mad Max".
Now,friends, I will have to see what not to pack...see you next week (If I do not fall off the ship, have done that before, but that's another story).

It`s raining Birthdays

May 08/07

Another one in the family!

Happy Birthday!! little mother to be,and take good care of yourself and the "kid in the tummy" We love you both!

Home, sweet Home...

a mouthwatering sample
view of the castle from hotel
view of hotel from castle
the crazy moon (my dream giver)
Part of Bourscheid castle


May 05/07 8:48 p.m. The Weather Pixie: Niederrhein





.....ain't so sweet, when you start turning like a cotton pickin` hamster in a wheel as soon as you have closed the door behind you. Unpack bags first, or water the lawn? Water the flower pots, run with the dog, check the answering machine, and yes, check E-mail (ugh,spams,spams). - Well, folks, kind'o settled now,so are you ready for a bit of Luxembourg tales?


Had been staying at our Sporthotel Leweck again,lovely place!


Weather has been great and Landfrau really pulled through the whole program, swimming, massage, sauna, turkish bath,relaxing, reading, taking endless walks with Herr Hund,us two had a ball in the "wilderness" of the Ardennen forests, and getting out of breath climbing steep hills, well,me, not the dog, he is a bundle of power. Sometimes thought, we had gotten lost, but fortunately our hotel perched on one of the higher hills and could be spotted from far away,well - almost.


And at night we had those delicious 5 course dinners and a bottle of good wine. Not to forget the nightcap in the bar. Sounds good? Naturally!


Man of my life had to pull a special stunt again (always good for a holiday surprise,that sweetheart) - he slipped at the poolside and fortunately there had been a soccerteam around, needed three of them to pull him up. He hurt his already damaged shoulder again and had to be halfways dressed by Landfrau-nurse for the rest of the stay. He did not have to be fed,though.


And then one day we had lunch visitors from Luxembourg town,our very good friends,who live there and British friends,who just have moved back from France to L. We had not seen each other for about 12 years and decided,that we all had not changed a bit, if we left the spare parts under the table. We had a great time,talking about old times. Next day, our friend phoned to surprise us with the news,that he had developed shingles, it should not be contagious if you have had chicken pocks as a kid, I know I have had them, been scratching myself since nevertheless. Man of my life is sratching too, only he does not know,if he has had chicken pocks!


Life is never boring,you see. Next weekend we will be in Hamburg for harbour day, looking forward to brandnew surprises. Will keep the world posted!