it's really winter

We do have snow here but nothing like what northern Germany has been having. For this we are very thankful.

And the sheep are thankful too!



The golf course is not quite as green as it was a few weeks ago.

packed up and gone

Bethany got herself packed up yesterday and this morning we delivered her to the plane in Zürich. She should be landing in Toronto in about an hour - a full hour ahead of schedule according to what we've be following on the internet.

We all had a great time with this lovely young woman who belongs to us. The house is definitely a lot noisier when she's around, and she is not the only one making the noise! We will miss her.... Actually, we already do....

the best christmas tree ever

The decorations came off our tree yesterday. This was a lovely tree. It hardly dropped a needle, even after all the stuff was pulled off. There was virtually no mess taking it out the door either. Amazing. I tied a baggie to the trunk with a 2 Euro coin in it. Then Howard set it next to the street and before I could take a picture of it this morning, it was gone. Yes, it was our best Christmas tree ever - the perfect tree for our last German Christmas...

missy

Beth and Missy have been friends since grade 3. At BFA, that is a lifetime friendship. Melissa has always been very crafty and has made some amazing creations over the years. When she came to our house the other day with this beautiful little hoodie which she had knit by hand, I had to post about it. I only wish I had taken a close-up of the knitting - it is perfect. It looks like it was machine knit. We all loved it! Missy made this for the baby boy of one of their junior high teachers whose wife happened to be their high school small group leader. What a precious gift for a special family! (Actually, if you click on the pic it will enlarge enough for you to appreciate the perfect job of knitting that Missy did!)

dreikönigstag

Today is Epiphany or Three King's Day. Howard went out early and came home with a special package from the bakery.

Today marks the end of the Christmas holiday in many parts of the world. Twelfth Night or The Epiphany is also often referred to as Three Kings Day in some parts of the world. At feasts marking the occasion, there is often a special bread or cake with a bean, coin, or figurine baked in it. The person getting the piece with the good luck token becomes the Twelfth Night King or Queen, leading revelers in merrymaking.
In many cultures the day is commemorated with a Three Kings Cake. In Germany it is known as Dreikönigskuchen and is made with pecans and fruit.
Katy carefully cut the bread, hoping to be the one to find the king...
...but it was Howard who found the tiny figurine.
He deserved it having gone to the bakery early and also shoveling the walks before any of us were up!
A poor picture of the happy king for the day!

the deal

We found a great deal at IKEA yesterday - a solid pine wardrobe for less than a 1/4 of its original price. There was a handwritten warning on the sign on the door explaining that this particular wardrobe could be rather difficult to put together.

It was there for good reason....
But my dear and patient husband tarried on and did manage to put that little beast together...
...which made our youngest daughter extremely happy. So it was a deal and a good one at that.