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...