Saturday, December 31, 2005

TIMES SQUARE LIVE VIDEO FEED

Here's a link to MSN's live video feed from Time's Square. If you are like me (no US TV), you will appreciate it.

HAMIN' IT UP


Guess which movie we are watching tonight...

ICH BIN EIN BERLINER


Berliner-Pfannkuchen (Wikipedia)

SHOOT 'EM UP! BANG! BANG!


turbophoto.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

We finished breakfast, and David and Annette ran to catch the bus into Buchholz to pick up some fresh Berliners for tonight's celebration (tradition here). In Germany, New Year's is called "Silvester," named for Pope Sylvester I. Ellen and I are just hanging out around the house until they return.

You should see Dave with his fireworks. He's lined them out on the living room floor and inventoried them more times than I can count. He's planning quite the pyrotechnic display for tonight. Looking at them all spread out at my feet, I feel like I'm typing in a military arsenol.

I'll end this post by wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! God bless you in 2006! I pray we all know Him better in 12 months than we do now. I can't think of a better New Year's resolution.

Friday, December 30, 2005

MAKING A SNOW ANGEL

SNOWBALL SNEAK ATTACK


David finds himself in Narnia...

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pulling the sled toward the trail...

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David at the slope's top

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Thursday, December 29, 2005


snow storm

SNOW STORM

We are in the middle of a huge snowstorm - making us have to walk everywhere due to a chronic lack of snow tires. Brrr! But the deep snow makes it such great weather for snowballs and sledding. This morning we walked to Obi (think German version of Home Depot) - David was dying to get some fireworks packs that they were advertising on the radio and in the paper. He and I were joking that they should change the name to Obi-Wan Kenobi. We got there just in time. He got the last 2 packs! When they opened this morn they had 4,000 in stock. While we were eating breakfast, he was driving us mad urging us to hurry up and get a move on. And we kept telling him that they wouldn't sell out before we got there. Boy, we were almost wrong, but Jesus took care of little Davie. The last 2 packs of 4 thousand...can you believe it?

Dan came in shortly after we got back from Obi and insisted that we go immediately to “snow hill” and sled before it got too dark. I went so fast down that hill - screaming the whole way down! We did that like a million times. So we came back from sledding, and I got cleaned up while Dan and Annette went quickly to the grocery. We just finished dinner, and while they are debating which game to play, I finally can get back to the computer… Are you stockpiling an arsenol of fireworks, too?

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

VINTER VONDERLAND


Almost enough snow for sledding. Maybe tomorrow. Hope the neighbor girls don't catch me on their sled...

Ellen wrote this message for her mama...

Ellen and Dan took me to a special place near the house today while we were on our snow walk. It's a huge crater in the middle of the woods, but it's broken at one part, about as wide as a tank. We suspect it's something left over from the war. It's got a couple of smaller craters next to it. I slid down the side - twice. Totally worth the dirty pants! Wow! Way too steep to do that with the sled, though.

Saw this old downed tree on our walk today...

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

MAASCHEN, JESTEBURG, & HARBURG

Monday was Dan's day off, so we drove out to Lake Maaschen for a nice walk in the snow. About half way round the lake, we stopped for a picnic snack of cookies and a thermos of hot fruit punch. Warmed up and refreshed, we finished the hike and climbed into the car for the drive home. On the way, we stopped to snap photos of an old windmill, some thatched-roof cottages, and the village of Jesteburg, a town where Dan frequently delivers the mail. Tuesday, we spent the morning cleaning house and then met up with Dan after work to drive into Harburg for some shopping. Harburg was dreary, but it had some great bargains at the after-Christmas sales. Tomorrow, Ellen and I plan to take the bus into Buchholz to visit some of her favorite hometown stores. Are you after-Christmas shopping with your family, too?

Gingerbread house - After...

Gingerbread house - Before...

When we got home from Jesteburg, D. settled down in the living room to play with his toys while E. and I completed the gingerbread house in the kitchen. This train was one of D.'s Christmas gifts. It was made in old East Germany. The onlooker is E.'s Steiff Teddy.

Another view from Jesteburg...

A view from Jesteburg. This is the village where Dan frequently works...

We stopped by the village of Jesteburg on the way home from Lake Maaschen. This is the museum/library...

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We stopped by this ancient windmill. It's been converted into a restaurant...

The house next door had a thatched roof with an eyebrow window...

Driving back from Lake Maaschen, I asked Dan to pull over so I could snap a pic. of this thatched-roof house...

We went out on a pier at Lake Maaschen. I like how the snow looked brushed against the old wood...

E. snapped this shot of her poppy...

E. by Lake Maaschen...

About half way round Lake Maaschen, we stopped for a picnic of cookies and hot punch...

This tree was growing down into the water at Lake Maaschen...

The path on Lake Maaschen...

Lake Maaschen...

Monday, December 26, 2005

THE SNOWY SNOWINESS OF SNOW


Illustration by Laura Wade
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We fell asleep on the couch last night to "Frosty the Snowman" on the TV and awoke this morning to find snow on the ground outside! I love Christmastime!

THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW!

Sunday, December 25, 2005

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


David finally got around to taking out the last piece of chocolate from his Advent Calendar. Yummy!

I stayed up so late wrapping gifts, so I was a little bleary-eyed this a.m. Luckily, I had a nice peppermint tea and a big bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar to wake me up.

If you haven't opened your gifts, ya' betta' get crackin'! (Forgive me; I couldn't resist the pun...ha ha.)

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Check out who was peeking out from my stocking when I awoke this morning!

the aftermath...

Ellen took this picture of me. She stuck the hat on me and snapped it before I knew what was happening. I think it looks totally funny!

Ellen and I decorated the supper table by raiding the tree.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

CHRISTMAS EVE IN BUCHHOLZ


Dan's neighbors dressed their window for Christmas. Thought it would make a nice finish to these Christmas Eve pics.

One of the lit trees in town...

We took a LOOOONNNNNGGGG walk in the heide (fields of purple flowers - not blooming now). Lots of people from town drive out there for walks during the holidays, so we weren't alone. Then we drove home, ate a light supper and got ready for the night service at the village church. We entered to the sound of church bells. We sang German Carols, finishing the service with "Silent Night."

When got back home, Dan and Annette took a walk, leaving the kids and me to kick back on the couch. Ellen read (as you can see) while Dave and I drew pictures.

Dan and I stopped by this bakery for a cheese bread.

A view of the church we will attend at 11 p.m. - St Paulus - It's a state church (supported by tax money).