Thursday, January 28, 2016

Stuff and Things



You know the story if the tortoise and the hare, right? Well, in Germany, it's the story of the eagle and the hedgehog



I get asked a lot if we "feel safe" with having a tent full of refugees so close. The answer is yes. If I take Newton for a walk, he parts the pedestrians on the street and at the park like the Red Sea.



We started ballroom dancing lessons



I'm sorry to say that I am getting used to the smell of cigarette smoke



Our dryer is ka-put


Drivers test question: What is the consequence of playing loud music in your car?
A) Blind people can become disoriented and lose their way
B) It can distract you 
C) Blind people have an easier time knowing where the road is

Answer- A and B   


Newton has traded in his tummy skin infection for a leg skin infection... still in the cone



Nox is crazy, happy, and free

Friday, January 22, 2016



A dear friend visited this week, and along with her, her four little ones! If felt so good to have guests in the house, and to speak English with someone other than Zach. The dogs did great with the kiddos, and it was fun having the noise and life of little people running around. At bedtime when the babies were crying and my friend returned from putting them to bed, Zach looked at her and asked, in a frightened voice "is it like this every night?" Poor guy.

It was chilly, but we braved the cold for walks and a trip to Bensberg. The winter light and fog is beautiful here, but I always savor that fleeting moment when the sun peeks through the clouds...

Newton is still in the cone (going on two weeks), he has another appointment on Saturday, and I am sure hoping for some progress!

That's really all that's new, winter is slow and quite, but really, is that a bad thing?


Oh, the German woods, how I love you


Loving every second of sunshine 


Matchy-matchy


Foggy, cold Bensberg castle


I can never have too many candles


Evening walk in Hoffnungsthal 



A little person found theses in a basket... so glad that they got some lovin' this week



Took his cone off for his walk today, never seen him so happy

Black and white goodness

Orange tree and an orange blanket








Sunday, January 17, 2016

Random


This weekend was full of naps and good food. Just how we like it. We also received out first "snow", but for us Wyoming folk it feels more like a fluffy rain. Cold, wet, and gone before midday.

Newton is healing quickly, and we are ready to take on a new week!












Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Around the house

Cold, rainy winter days have settled upon us, which means me and my boys have been spending most of our time inside...cabin fever may be looming on the horizon, but at least my house is really clean!


I was so sad to take the Christmas balls off of these sticks, so a happy new year garland had to go up 


Sunday afternoons at their best


Zach's take on apple strudel


Slowly getting everything in its place...


Tiny accomplishments,,, thanks sis for the creative outlet for this guy


My sous chef

No, this is not a science experiment, this is what happens when I cook onions


Winter tastes better with this stuff


Newton and his cone



Sunday, January 10, 2016

Back to it... And Being Nice

New Year's Intentions

 Zach- To become completely fluent in German (this will be accomplished very soon)
Nox-  break his previous record of hunting and devouring mice, 
Newton-sleep more, and eat more treats. 
Anna-Improve my German (obviously) and.... to remember to be nice.

 Sometimes feel like a bitter, old women living here. Not because that is my natural disposition, but because I am trying to acclimate to my new surroundings. Germans can be... frankly.... rude.... and weird. Their obsession with rules is daunting, and this is coming from someone who has never broken a rule in her life. And yet I am still made to feel as if I am constantly being naughty.
We have a neighbor, a married couple with a young daughter. They are about the same age as Zach and I. When we first moved in I thought they may be a potential ally, but now I dive behind bushes (literally) to avoid have to make contact with them. They have given me multiple earfuls about where, how and when my dogs can go pee, since they have a young daughter they don't like the idea of her playing in grass that has been "soiled". Whatever, I get it, and I respect their concern for their daughter's well being. Since this discussion I have been super conscience about making sure the boys are far away from their sight before the relieve themselves. The part that really get under my skin is, despite the confrontation, if they are home, without fail, when I take the boys outside and down the stairs I see one of them covertly peering out of their window... watching... making sure I "follow their rules", it just drives me nuts.

When we were first getting this move going we had a sort of moving specialist to help us with our transition. She lives in London, and I can remember her telling us that the British always get annoyed with the Germans because they don't know how to "Queue". We didn't think much of it at the time, but now, we know exactly what she means. Germans don't form lines, it is survival of the fittest when it comes getting on trains or buses. When a new checkout line opens at the grocery store, it's Armageddon. The people at the end of the lines have no problem immediately, and forcefully going to the front of the new line without even a second thought of all the people waiting in front of them. I find this particularly irksome. 

 I am American, and I think, a kind American. This year I want to keep in mind that just since I am living here doesn't mean I need to completely adopt my new countries cultural norms.
  • Remember to say thank you and smile (something else that is a rare occurrence here)
  • Never feel bad for being polite or sometimes walking across a cross walk before you are signaled (Germans will wait forever, even if there is no one coming from 10 miles in either direction and it's pouring rain).  
  • If someone yells at you, it's always a valid option to smile and proudly announce that you don't speak German. Depending on their level of English, expect them to either scowl and walk away or give you a stern lecture about what you did wrong with multiple points about why it was wrong, and then ask me why I am living in Germany and don not speak German.
  • Always remember to check your front entrance to make sure you don't have to run into awkward neighbors, and always, ALWAYS remember to laugh about it all at the end of the day.


So enough of that soap box.... and onto something much nicer... like these pictures.



Winter rain brings muddy paws ( I will know I have made it when there is mudroom present in our living space)


Hi, my name is Anna, and I'm a candle-holic


oh, he crazy

Happy Buildings

The eggs here.... goodness they're good

My buddies, free to pee wherever they wish



Favorite new towels from one of my favorite people


 Pesto pesto pesto, cheese cheese cheese!


Sit, stay, treat




New Stuff up on Oopsdaisy!

Jack Russell with aqua balloon

Polka Dot Stag and Sleeping Koala