Picture Update

Nuetella, brats, hot chocolate, gluwein, roasted chestnuts, oh my! Sometimes I think this blog should be a running commentary about how we are eating our way across Germany. The food here (as my grandmother would have said )"is to DIE for".

The Christmas markets ain't that bad either. The holidays are in full swing here, and we are enjoying the ride. Very different from things at home, and do I dare say it.... better? It is less commercial and more tradition mixed with beautiful greenery and candles, yup, that sums it up.

Z ended up taking Monday off, just to pretend that we had a Thanksgiving weekend. We spent the day driving down the Rhein. Good times.

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