Reflections on 2021

 

So much has already been said and written about 2021 that I want to keep this short. In general it certainly was a rollercoaster ride with vaccines being available and the hope that the pandemic would be way more manageable (it will never be completey gone, I think we all know this by now), with a lighter way of life during the early summer, then Delta struck, boosters were made available and then we got Omicron. Up and down. It seems we better get used to it.

For me personally it wasn't such a bad year. Yes, I did have some anxieties, but I have learned (still do) to deal with them by meditating and trying to look at the brighter side, at all the good things in my life. There is a lot to be grateful for and I practice that every day.

It is still hard for me that my daughter lives so far away and I have no idea when I will see her again. I miss her very much, but I work hard on living my own life and enjoying the moments of connection. Some days are better, some aren't. That's life I guess.

My best decision this past year was to quit my high school library job. I have been feeling so much better since then - I have never regretted taking this step. As a result I started creating again, playing with mixed media, making tags and cards and working in my long negelcted art journal again. I had time to read and, of course, work in the garden which gives me so much joy. I haven't blogged as much as I wanted to, but maybe this will happen next year.

I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with many of you again through participating in the T Tuesday posts. I loved discovering new blogs and revisiting "old" ones. It was wonderful to read so many lovely comments from you - thank you for all your kind words that were often encouraging for me. You are the best.

I wish all of you a happy, joyful and healthy new year. 

"See" you in 2022!

 

The Silence of Christmas

Today, one day before Christmas Eve, I want to share a post again that I wrote several years ago. Recently, when I talked with my class about German Christmas traditions, I noticed how much I miss my native country around this time. So I thought I share our German Christmas Eve with you again.

In Germany, our “big day” is not Christmas Day (and we even have two of them!) but Christmas Eve – Heilig Abend (Holy Eve) as it is called. It usually starts out hectic, often with the last big shopping because all of the stores and supermarkets will be closed for the following two days. But around 2:00 pm the shops (including the grocery stores) close and by 3:00 pm at the latest a magical silence covers the entire country like a beautiful veil. The ideal December 24^th brings snow in the afternoon and turns the world into a winter wonderland by the time the first church bells start to ring.

Oh, the sound of church bells – how much do I miss this! They ring every day (at 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning, at noon and again at 6:00 pm), but on Christmas Eve all the bells are ringing, from the smallest, highest pitch to the biggest one with the deepest, loudest sound. It’s a concert of bells that resounds through the silence, calling for mass. Christmas services start in the later afternoon, the first ones mainly for smaller children, showing nativity plays and involving the kids. Later in the evening follow the more “grown-up” services with meaningful sermons and the old German Christmas carols sung by the congregation. Everybody knows these songs and since the churches are always packed on Christmas Eve it is a strong and joyful singing.

After church it’s back home – and waiting for Christkind (Christ Child). Yes – it often is not Santa coming through the chimney (there are not that many houses with a fireplace anyway) but Christkind. When I was a child I always envisioned Christkind with golden curly hair and a flowing white dress, an angelic smile on its face. It would place the presents in “die gute Stube” (“the good room” = living room) and magically disappear, unseen by anyone. The children are called in and they stand in awe looking at the Christmas tree – that was brought in and decorated only the day before (or even in the morning) and very often carries real candles on its branches. I have always loved the real candles, it smells differently and the whole atmosphere is – yes, magical. After singing a few Christmas carols everybody opens their presents accompanied by Christmas music on the radio.

And if you’re still awake or missed the afternoon/evening service you can go to midnight mass – always my favorite Christmas service. A huge tree is lit (some with real candles – we live dangerously in Germany!), the atmosphere is festive and peaceful – it is our “Silent Night, Holy Night”.

May the magic of Christmas touch your heart, wherever you are.

 

T is for Tender-Crisp Gnocchi

 

The cooler season is the perfect time for enjoying brussels sprouts. I remember that as a child I didn't like this vegetable very much, mainly because my mom used to cook them in boiling water. They were mushy and that was the way my dad liked them and remembered them from his childhood. I am still surprised that my mom, who was a very good cook, made them this way and never tried a different approach. Because of this I always stayed away from brussels sprouts - until I came upon a recipe that I thought sounded too good to pass by. It has become a favorite in our household.

The recipe for the crisp gnocchi with brussels sprouts and brown butter comes from the cooking section of the New York Times, but of course I put my own twist to it.

These are the ingredients that you will need for my version:

1 pound brussels sprouts (give or take a few)
1 organic lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (divided in 3 TBSP and 1 TBSP)
kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 tsp red-pepper flakes (more if you like more heat)
18 oz shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchi
6 TBSP unsaltetd butter, cut into 6-8 pieces
freshly grated Parmesan (for serving)

Trim and halve the brussels sprouts. Peel thick strips of lemon zest and coarsely chop them.
In a large skillet (I use my cast iron pan), heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the brussels sprouts, season with 1/2 tsp salt and a few grinds of pepper, then arrange them in an even layer, cut-side down.  Sprinkle the lemon zest over the top and cook without disturbing them until the brussels sprouts are well browned underneath, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the red-pepper flakes, stir and cook until the brussels sprouts are crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

In the same pan, heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high. Break up any gnocchi that are stuck together, add them to the pan and cook, covered and undisturbed, until golden brown on one side, 2 to 4 minutes. Check after 2 minutes to avoid that the gnocchi burn which can easily happen if you're not careful.

Add the butter, season with salt and a generous amount of black pepper. 

Cook, stirring, until the butter is golden and foaming, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir in the brussels sprouts until warmed through.

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan - the cheese will quickly melt into the dish.

Enjoy this delicious dish with a glass of good pinot noir - my chosen drink for this week's T-post, hosted by the lovely Elizabeth of the Altered Book Lover. 

To all of you T gang people who celebrate it, I wish you a peaceful and blessed Christmas.

T is for 'Tis the Season

 

So this is Christmas - and what have you done?

I didn't even thought to start this post with these words, but the moments my fingers hit the keyboard, that old John Lennon song came to mind and the words were staring back from the screen to me. And of course, now the song is stuck in my head!

Here we are in December, it's a mere 12 days til Christmas. We call this season "Adventszeit" in Germany and it certainly is the time when I miss my native country the most. No one can do Christmas like Germany. I spent the Christmas season in several countries, but the magic happens in Germany.

Christmas has largely lost its magic for us, but one thing we do every year the day after Thanksgiving is hanging lights on our home and garden fence. The Geek and Kaefer used to do it together, but since the girl moved to Germany, the Geek has been doing it on his own (no, I am not climbing on the roof). He always gets a ton of compliments; some evening dog walkers told us that they explicitly walk this route in order to admire our lights. It does bring cheer and brightness into this corner of our street.

Kaefer, who is sad that the Christmas market is closed in Munich for the second year due to COVID, sent us a "care package" with all the wonderful German sweets that we like so much. Isn't she a darling girl?

She has had some snow in Munich and sent us pictures of the tiny snowman she had made.

In my German class we had talked about the Christmas markets, the cookies and, of course, Glühwein (mulled wine). So this past Saturday - our last class before the winter break - I invited all of them home for some Glühwein. We sat outside, it was sunny but chilly - at least the temperatures resembled a little bit the Christmas market atmosphere. 

There were Christmas cookies, gebrannte Mandeln (roasted almonds) and Lebkuchen.

On the stove the Glühwein was heating up (red wine, oranges, cloves and cinnamon; everybody sweetens their Glühwein to taste).

I had pulled out the few mugs that I had bought at the Tübingen Christmas market years ago. Each year I would buy a mug and then stroll along the streets with all the booths and get regular refills of Glühwein.

Guess what? This is my ticket for Elizabeth and the T gang!

We had a great time.

I enjoy showing my students our German traditions and introduce them to some of them. Plus, it's a great excuse for getting together outside of school.

Grateful in Difficult Times

 

To everybody who celebrates it, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.

There is much that we can be grateful for. If we're sitting down today with family and/or friends to enjyoy a meal together, we already have everything - food, shelter, good company.

Not only today, but everyday I am grateful for my family - my husband who has been always at my side and who is my rock; my sweet daughter, while living far away has always a place in my heart and stays close to me. I am grateful for our home and the garden, that has kept me sane and grounded and is consistently feeding my soul. My friends are very important to me - I only have a handful of close friends, but those are dear to me and I wouldn't want to miss them. I am thankful that we have enough food, can pay the bills and even enjoy some extras. I love my work and am happy that I finally took the step to get rid of the job that didn't give me joy anymore. My life is full.

I mentioned "difficult times" in my title because I think we are living in difficult times. COVID certainly hasn't made life easier and brought a lot of sorrow and grief to many people. At the same time there is so much resistance to effectively fighting this pandemic and that makes me not only sad but also angry. When I see what is currently happening in our country, all the craziness, hate, greed and selfishness, it is easy to lose hope. I am deeply concerned about the future of our country.

But then I see so many signs of hope. People who volunteer in soup kitchens and food banks, who go to the homeless to give them blankets, food and an open heart. Young people who care for the environment. People all over the country who raise funds so that a little girl can get treatment for her excrutiating pain that her health insurance has denied. People who give their time to listen to those who don't have anybody, who deliver meals to seniors. Decent people who stand up against injustice, who don't look away. Daily courage.

I am so incredibly thankful for these people.

T is for Tasting Wine

 

Last week I had to skip Elizabeth's T-party because it was so busy. This was not what I thought my life would look like after quitting my high school library job in the summer. I had dreamed of quiet afternoons spent in the garden tending to my plants or reading piles of books. There was this fantasy that I could take long hikes in the breath taking nature around us. And, of course, that I could write many many blogposts.

The reality looks quite different - I've been very busy with the German School since I had added another class that I was teaching in the evenings. That came to a close last week, but the regular class work still needs to be done (and I simply love teaching) and I also find myself planning which additional classes I could offer in the spring semester. The shop has been very busy, and since my bestseller (warm socks) is made to order I'm knitting every day. However, it does feel good that my items are wanted by people and I'm proud to offer good customer service.

But last weekend, the Geek and I finally went for some wine tasting again. We live in the midst of wine country and could choose to go to a different winery every weekend. However, we opted to go to one of our favorite ones where we are also members in the wine club. This winery doesn't have its own vineyards, but purchases the grapes instead and then make their own wine. Most of their wine is delicious. Lisa, one of the owners, is also a great and experimental cook and she always has food to pair the wine with (or vice versa) on the weekends. This time we got a six-course food pairing.

This was only for starters - afterwards I forgot to take pictures of the other food. Most of her food she cooks with one of their wines and she already inspired me a lot in the kitchen. She is one of those people that you like right from the start - I remember meeting her for the first time several years ago and she was so warm and welcoming. She is someone who laughs a lot and is full of energy. This welcoming feeling and warmth is something that defines this winery - they treat you like family.

It was such a lovely late autumn day, sunny and warm. We were sitting on the patio, having such a good time. It was relaxing and peaceful - and their selection of champagne sure helped as well!

You might notice that they use fabric napkins as well as real silverware and china serving plates. The plates and bowls were all made from compostable material - nothing went to waste here. Another reason why I like this winery and happily support them.

The last course was dessert - and they served Lisa's signature bownies - crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside and a saltted caramel sauce on top.

I'm so glad that I am able to participate in Elizabeth's T Tuesday this week. Thank you for hosting it, Elizabeth! To those of you who are in the US I wish you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving. There is so much we can be grateful for.

T is for AbsTracT Landscape

 

After I had tried to create abstracts, I found a video about abstract landscapes on Laly Mille's blog. It was fascinating and I decided that I would try to create an abstract landscape myself. Laly Mille likes to work in series, but I thought for my first landscape working on just one would be more than enough.

I started small, with a 5 x 5 canvas. After having painted it in light blue and gray I covered the lower part with torn collage papers.

Then I put a layer of gesso on it, outlined my landscape with a black Stabilo and smudged the lines with regular gel matte.

I decided the sky needed some light pink, stencilled some white dots on random parts and splattered some watered down paynes grey all over the landscape. You will notice that in between I changed the horizon line a little bit and added more hills.

Finally, I painted a couple clouds in the sky and added some lace, ribbon and two buttons.

Here are a few close-ups:

I thoroughly enjoyed creating this landscape and I will definitely make some more, maybe even try a bigger size. 

Of course I didn't "dry work" here - I had my drink during all this painting and gluing and splattering and... It's coffee in one of my favorite mugs that my daughter once gave me as a gift. Isn't it fun?

This is my ticket to the T Tuesday party which Elizabeth so kindly hosts every Tuesday.

Happy T Day!

The Autumn Garden

 

"Autumn is a time of sweet disorder and permissible procrastination" - Allen Lacy

Often, autumn is seen as a time in the garden full of chores - raking the leaves, tidying up the perennial beds, cutting back annuals, planting bulbs for spring, taking care of the tools and putting everything away. In short, bringing the gardening year to an end.

Luckily, in this part of the country fall still fills the garden with a lot of life. After a couple light rain falls the garden seems to wake up after the summer heat, taking a deep breath and pushing all its glory that autumn is famous for.

"Roger's Red", a California native grape pictured above, displays brilliant shades of red, winding through our old windmill and being reflected in the water left from the rain in our fire pit. It is a stunning show that takes my breath away every time I look at it.

The last tomatoes need to be harvested. It wasn't a good tomato year for me and most of my tomatoes I ate right from the bush. The few sunflowers I had are gone, but I had cut off the seed heads and attached them to the now orphaned tomato cages for the birds to enjoy. 

Fall is our major planting season, when perennials, shrubs and trees are put in the ground so that they can get etsablished over the winter. Bulbs for spring flowering plants will go in the ground in December. I don't have many this year - just a few tulips and a big bag of daffodils. I hope that some of this year's tulips will come back next spring, but it is not a given because we don't have very cold winters and tulips need quite a chill. If we do get a lot of frosty nights chances are much better.

Most of my perennials were planted in the fall and many of them come back reliably year after year. Like these sages in the front - pineapple sage and Mexican bush sage - that make up one of my favorite color combinations, red and purple. They are joined by salvia "Indigo Spires" and in the background you can see the loaded Pendolino olive tree. All of these sages are cut back to the ground in the winter.

The yellow of the swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is glowing for about two weeks in the autumn garden until it fades again. It's like a light that has been switched on. After our very dry spring and summer I was surprised how well it performed in October. The chrysanthemum is still flowering in all its beauty and such a delightful spot.

Almost two weeks ago we had torrential rain - much needed, but so much water came down that some areas were flooded (thankfully not in our corner). Within 24 hours we received almost 8 inches of rain. Since then it has rained on and off with sunny balmy days in between. While the rain did help the garden a lot, it unfortunately hasn't put a dent in the drought - for the drought to end we need a lot more rain and the prognosis for that is not very good. It's a La Niña year which means more rain for the Northern part and less rain for the Southern part. While officially being Northern, we're kind of in the middle when it comes to these weather patterns, and I hope we will get more of the rain that is supposed to fall in the North. Fingers crossed - we need it.

The most stunning plant in my garden at the moment - beside the "Roger's Red" vine - is the Chinese pistache that I planted seven or eight years ago. Every year its show is more brilliant than the year before - or perhaps this is only my imagination. I love love love this tree.

The leaves of the elderberry - Sambucus mexicana, a California native - are already gone, but the birds love the berries. They will be a good food source for them during the winter.

I shouldn't forget who actually rules the garden - it's these two. Somehow they have decided that this garden is the place where they like to be. They follow me around when I make my rounds through the garden and love to soak up the sun on the warm soil.