Giving Thanks

Thankful for:

Our families

Our friends

Our marriage

Our home...

An excuse to make pie

being able to stuff our faces

wishing our neighbors happy turkey day, and seeing their reactions

Our first adventure outside of Deutschland was a sparkling success.I am not even going to try to describe the awesomeness of our little trip. We feel so lucky to be able to experience Europe the way we are.

Enjoying a very Dutch breakfast at our b&b

The canal-lined streets

surpassed our expectations

So did the goodies...

Nom nom nom nom

Did I mention we spent most of this trip eating?

I could have moved into every cafe and shop...

 The black and white buildings were my fav (surprise surprise)

We spent a lot of time in the "9 Streets" district

It's all about the crooked buildings, and the details

These views never get old

 I literally could have bought everything in this shop, can you tell by my smile that I am in heaven?

Spent the afternoon with these dudes

Amsterdam at night was pretty much perfect

I think he likes it here

Ended the weekend at the North Sea

It didn't disappoint

 Cannot wait to pick up and go again...

Stuff and Things

Recently I have been exchanging English lessons for German lessons with my lovely neighbor. Last date, she informed me (complete with flailing hand gestures) that her husband was impotent! Took me a while to figure out she meant important. Glad that I didn't have to explain the difference, and by explain, I mean act out.

Another neighbor referred to the place where we live as the Nazi Castle. We thought he was being silly, but it turns out we were being silly, because of course, Germans don't joke. Chateau Venauen was taken over by the Nazi party and used as a school to indoctrinate young soldiers. Good Lord.

Dogs are soooo well behaved here, and it's making us feel guilty. Our neighbors recently asked us where our dogs went to school, and we had to awkwardly explain that they were the weird home-schooled kids in the building.

Managed our first dinner, told our guests that it was going to be super casual (we still have boxes stacked) and they show up in cashmere and a sports coat and a pocket square. German casual is much different than American casual.

Bought the boys glow-in-the-dark collars for night time walks, since it gets dark here at four thirty. Every time I put them on I feel like they are getting ready to attend a rave.


Still as beautiful as ever

Sunday walk

Newton ready to rave

trying something new

He has a much better vista on his pouf

feeling like home

vines, vines, everywhere

My crazy massive stick action makes me happy

It's amazing how food reminds you of home

Church bells in Rosrath

Going over the ground rules

You win some, You lose some

I love my dogs, I swear, but sometimes.........

LOSE: When you buy a raincoat for your dog to keep him dry and the burs out of his belly fur, you think he looks pretty spiffy and sporty and then you walk outside and your neighbor informs you that he looks pretty in his dress.

LOSE: When you decide it is time to try this whole dog in restaurant thing, so you proceed to do a trial run at McDonalds. You order a coffee and are focused on getting the right Euro's. When you look back up, your 85 lb dog is on his hind legs, feet on the counter mumbling in a low growl. Germans start yelling "nein" he gets down, and then you try to explain the he just placed an order for a number five with extra fries. No one smiles.

LOSE: When you are trying to acclimate your dogs to their new food and you wake up in the middle of the night to the unmistakable smell of dog poo in all its eye-watering, gag-inducing glory. Your husband proceeds to jump out of bed only to have his feet land in said poo. Does the only natural thing and flings his foot across the room, giving our bedroom wall a very Jackson Pollock look.

LOSE: When you take your very energetic dog to a very dry open field, and think " okay,I shall now let him off the leash...." 2 minutes later he finds the mother of all mud holes and proceeds to jump in, head first. You spend the rest of the afternoon, and all of the towels you own de-mudding him, in your bathtub. 

WIN: When you cannot find your other slipper, only to see that Nox has taken it out to the balcony, and is using it as his pillow.

WIN: When you avoid orthopedic dog surgery that costs as much as a college education.

WIN: Having a dog that stays by your side, and even lies down on the bath or shower mat, just so he can be as close to you as possible at all times

WIN: When we pass a toddler that thinks Newton is  a terrible beast, Newton walks up to him, sits, and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Boy laughs, and wants to take Newton home with him.

Thankful for these two characters, life is just better, when you have dogs...

What's new:

Birthdays: 1
Pictures hung: 0
Successful dinner parties:1
Completed DIY house projects:0
Rain: Lots
New word: Schatz (my darling)

 My new obsession: Mercury glass candles

Are you tired of woodsy pictures yet? 

Happy Birthday

drool central

 I'm weird, I know, but it was a butter snowflake!

joy

Ah, beauty.