Thanksgiving in Munich

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I love the excitement, the smells, the work. I love the food. I set this day aside to think if family and friends and count my blessings. I have lots to count!

This year we had a friend over, a friend who never experienced a "Traditional American Thanksgiving". He came not knowing much about it at all except that he had heard that turkey was a dried up big bird. It was a great joy telling him about all the traditions and things that happen in households throughout my country. Some things I just had to explain...like football and sweet potatoes and real corn on the cob, right from the farmer. Others he got to experience first hand....

Like a beautifully set table, homemade stuffing, a juicy and tasty turkey, pumpkin pie. He wasn't sure about what he was going to eat. And he isn't a dessert person....not at all.


But I did my thing and it was awesome! I did our Thanksgiving dinner proud and represented my country well! The stuffing was either going to be really good or very strange. It turned out very good. The mashed potatoes were heavenly....and yes, mashed potatoes can be heavenly! The turkey itself was incredible. I thought since I've learned so much about cooking this past year that I should use some of this new founded knowledge on my turkey. Please note...there aren't any pictures of the finished product....the turkey didn't have one of those strings on it and it actually fell right off the bones when I took it out of the pan!! It was that juicy! I did have corn on the cob but it's just no way near what fresh-from-the-farm is. I had a vegetable dish and the closest thing to dinner rolls I could find. No one ate the rolls....there just wasn't room!
I did sort of cheat on the cranberries....I had preiselbeere instead. This is sort of like cranberries but the berries are smaller. It translates to "lingonberry" or "foxberry" but I've never heard of those. Whatever it is, it is better than cranberries in my opinion. Our friend ate and ate....and ate. He couldn't get enough! But then, we all know what happens, after you stuff yourself with turkey.....you're stuffed! ha ha


I worked on the dishes while the guys walked around and around the couch, trying to work off some of that good food. I love my little kitchen but it really is not set up for doing a whole Thanksgiving dinner! Well, better said, it's not set up for doing the dishes after a whole Thanksgiving dinner! But I plugged away at it and did it sort of in shifts. As the last dish was rinsed, I ran completely out of hot water. I consider that successful...last year I had to heat water in the water cooker to finish!

Our friend made it very clear that he wasn't a dessert person and that he would only try a very small piece of whatever a pumpkin pie was, just to try it (and be polite) So after an appropriate wait, it was pumpkin pie time. I cut a small sliver for him. He ate it and then helped himself to more! This was really the "icing on the cake" .... Americans aren't all about microwaves and fast food! I won a heart that day.....all because of my pumpkin pie! Thanks Mom for bringing me the Libby's pumpkin....there's no way to make a pumpkin pie without it and we can't get it over here!

I hope you all made memories in your own traditional way. Whatever that is. I know that not everyone's holidays are the same. I've spent many Thanksgivings and even Christmas's in a Laundromat....and those were special too. Yes, it was pretty empty but it wasn't completely empty. There was always a few people milling around, doing laundry, trying not to feel lonely and far away from everyone you love. And we all ended up celebrating together, with conversation, laughter, cookies from the vending machine and smiles. The laundry sometimes forgotten and complete strangers becoming part of our personal history. However you spent your Thanksgiving, I hope that the memories are good and, even through some tears, they will bring a smile to your face in the years to come.

Blackwork and Stones in Progress

My Blackwork and Stones piece is coming along really nicely. In fact, this is exactly my "thing"... I love working on it! It's exciting and provides lots of variety and, yes, even wakes up a little creativity that is mostly buried deep inside!


Some of the 2 inch squares are dainty and very orderly. I think if you click to enlarge on the photos, you can see the detail a little better. You will be able to see that I am using all sorts of things.



Others are full and bold. I think I'm doing pretty good with the color matching so far. It's not as easy as it seems it would be. I've always said that I have no talent in imagining things. For example, don't ask me how my furniture would look in a completely empty room. I have no idea. I can't imagine it. The furniture has to be IN the room. Once it is in place, I never re-arrange because I have no idea how it would look positioned differently! So designing is a real challenge for me. But I like it! And the creative juices seem to flow. Of course, it helps that I love everything I am doing and everything I am using. I love the feel of the rocks. I love the tiny petite beads and I love threads. Yeah...this is definitely a good thing for me!

Blackwork and Stones

My sister Susan has told me for years that I need to try designing. I am hesitant because I don't think I'm good enough and that I don't have an imagination. But she's my mentor and my "handwork goddess" so if she says something, I'm going to at least attempt to do what she says!

So I've been planning and drawing and sorting through things. I've been color matching and rummaging through years of collected threads, beads and rocks. I've been counting...and counting and counting. I now have a base plan.


The piece will have everything I love...rocks, beads, silk and metallic threads, couching, maybe a little canvas stitching. It will have stitches over 1 and stitches over 2. It will be orderly but with a touch of chaos since rocks aren't perfectly shaped. It will be full. I enlarged the above picture so you could see the details. Sorry it is one-sided but I don't know how to correct that! And thanks to Plays with Needles for how to do the enlarging!! In my opinion, Susan has one of the best blogs on the internet!


And I'll attempt to photograph it as I go, to show you how it is evolving. I've already noted, when looking at these first pictures of the first 2 inch square that the light blue thread doesn't show up too well. But there will be lots of pale colors as well as bold. I'm trying to keep a list of exactly what threads and beads I am using but some I just don't know. And I don't know that it really matters.

The weather in Munich has been unseasonably nice. Yesterday was over 60 degrees! Today looks like it is going to be a beautiful day as well. The motorcycle isn't put up for winter yet. There's still the possibility of a few hundred kilometers more. The ski pass is purchased but the skis aren't up from the basement yet. On today's schedule is planning out my Thanksgiving menu and making a list of all the things I need to get at the grocery store for Thanksgiving and for cookie-baking time! It's all coming up very quickly. I like having a schedule. I like having a plan. And I like where I am right now...at a very good and safe and calm place. Filled with love and satisfaction. I hope you are too.

Something New

I've had this idea for a long time now. And the blank white wall really needed something but I didn't want anything right over the TV. When my sister Sonya was here this summer, she gave me a beautiful orchid. I've never had an orchid before but it seems to like it here. I had it sitting on the TV stand and it did really well. So I incorporated this orchid with my wall project...and this is what I came up with.....


I got a second orchid (the top one) this past weekend. And we got the kind of baskets that hang flat on the wall.


So, yes, even though I said I wasn't ever going to get another plant...well, I just had to to make it work!

Spirit of Vierlande Progress and Dinner

Hi Everyone! Yes...believe it or not, two posts in one week! I'm trying to be more attentive to my poor blog! I thought I'd show some "progress" pictures of my Long Dog Sampler, Spirit of Vierlande. I don't iron it before I take pictures...I think it would look better but I don't want to iron it too much. I don't know why. It just seems like it could be bad or something.


Next time I'll put an object beside it so you can see just how big this thing is. I didn't really want it this big, but I didn't have much choice in material so I took what I could get.


This one is side ways as to keep the original size but it looks alittle less wrinkled. Unfortunately, there isn't a place in my house that is large enough in the sun to get the whole thing in the sun. I do have a nice blank white wall but, when hanging there, it looks a little striped with the sun pattern so....I just do what I can!


Speaking of "doing what I can".... this past year I have really improved my cooking skills! This meal today was exceptional. It's a Tafelspitz with lots of veggies. The sauce was amazing. Let's face it..the whole thing was amazing, if I do say so myself!! It was definitely "Sunday Dinner" material!

Have a nice weekend!

Munich Rock Show

This weekend was the annual Munich Rock Show. It's held every year here in Munich and it is the biggest show in Europe. It was fantastic! There were new things to see and new booths and vendors sprinkled throughout the 4 gigantic halls in which it is held. One of the most amazing things this year was a smaller area of "nature meets nature" displays. Photographing was a little difficult because of the glass casings and spotlights everywhere but I think these pictures will give you an idea.



Someone combined collections I think. Or two people with different collections came together and created this awesome idea. Butterflies and moths from around the world displayed with rocks from around the world.



The color and pattern combinations were RIGHT ON! None of the butterflies were from the same place as the rocks but if they were, the creatures surely would have had the perfect camouflage.



I was fascinated with these combinations. In real life, they were even more perfectly matched than in the photos.

Another thing that is so fascinating about the rock show is the surreal look of nature.


These "puff balls" look soft and furry. But in reality, they are really rocks. To the touch, they are hard and prickly. It takes great skill to actually clean these things up as they are all covered in dirt and small stones when they are found.


Here you can actually see the crystal shapes. This is a larger "ball" but some of them were so small that you couldn't make out exactly what it was. And the crystals were so thin they were thread width.



This larger specimen is a great example that shows different crystal widths and lengths all on the same piece. Doesn't it look soft? Well, it isn't! It's rather sharp!


The surrealism continued throughout the show. I like the close ups because you can see the actual rock on which the crystals sit. And you can see that often there are many types of minerals all on the same piece.

This specimen was truly amazing. The longer piece of crystal is almost as long as my arm! Oh yes, this show isn't just for tiny little stones, there are huge pieces all over the place.

This is most definitely the largest Amethyst piece I have ever seen. It is as big as a single bed! And it is a beautiful piece as well.

Next time I'll have pictures of my stitching...I have been working on my Long Dog sampler but haven't taken progress photos yet.

If you would like to see more rock pictures, please check out The Camera Lenz where I've posted a slide show.

Home Safe And Sound

Hi Everyone! I'm back from the States. I haven't had the chance yet to catch up on what everyone's doing but give me a couple of days. I did want to let you all know that I have safely returned home.

I got everything done in the States that I wanted to. My storage room is now cleaned out and I sorted through my junk...I mean treasures. I got rid of alot of stuff and the rest of it is being kept at Mom and Dad's. I only have 5 boxes there now.


My storage area wasn't all that bad, once it was sorted out. The stuff on the left was trash. It sort of hurts to think that I paid all that money for all those years for this!! But it's over now. I also got Mom and Dad's house ready for winter. You know...bringing in the plants, putting the summer furniture away, etc.

There were a few very nice days there in Western Pennsylvania. Fall was in its glory.


The lake is down about a foot and a half, according to Dad. He tracks that kind of thing so he knows.



If you look to the right in the lake, you'll see the island. It shouldn't be showing at all. Maybe there will be enough snow this winter to make up for the lack of rain this summer and the island will be covered once again.


New England is the place famous for its fall colors but I think Western PA is just as nice!


Lots of critters came to say hello...it's that time of the year. Dad put up the bird feeders (which sometimes end up being squirrel and chipmunk feeders) while I was there. Turkeys will eat there too in the winter. In fact, I think Mom and Dad somehow have an animal neon sign that says..."Welcome! We're Open! Good Food!"


I was home for Dad's 75th birthday. It's been probably 15 years since I got to spend his special day with him. We played alot of chess (the chess board was his 70th birthday present....I stitched it and my sister Susan made the board. Click to enlarge it. It's blackwork.) while I was home. And you aren't going to believe this but it's true...I won one!!!! It's the first game I ever won and we've been playing for over 40 years!!!! Of course, I immediately called the whole family to tell them! I was in seventh heaven!!! Good game, Dad!!!!

TAST...The Ones That Were Not

Hi everyone! I bet you thought I was gone. Well...no, not yet. I leave tomorrow for a two week trip to the States. I've had a storage unit there for over 20 years...it's time to clean it out. I have no idea what is even in it anymore. I'm sure it's all junk. So, it's work time in Slippery Rock. Oh, I'm sure it won't all be work....plenty of play as well!!! I've been enjoying the last few days of summer and the beginning of fall. I can never tell which is which so I just enjoy them all! I achieved my bicycle goal....I've ridden over 2000 kilometers this season. I am hoping for a few more good days of riding when I get back but will have to see how the weather is. I've also been very busy with TAST. Actually, the challenge is done. I think I heard that I get extra credit for finishing so early! ha ha I have to say though, I changed things around a bit. It took me awhile to catch on (like almost a year) but I finally realized that TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday...a new stitch a week for a year for those of you who are not familiar with the program) is MY challenge. So I replaced some of the original challenge stitches with stitches that fit my style of embroidery. And I don't feel guilty!!! So....here's some examples of the TAST stitches that were NOT on the original list...


I enjoy couching alot. There are so many different couching stitches. This one can be done with so many different type threads! It's a neat look.


I couldn't get enough of this one!


Another really neat stitch and very easy to do. I worked it with several different threads including nylon ribbon.



OK...I think this is actually on the original TAST list but it is a great stitch! I love it! I learned through TAST that I really like the knotted stitches. And pretty much don't like the chain stitches.


This is just one example of canvas stitching. I like working on canvas and need to explore the possibilities further.

Probably my favorite from all the stitches I did. I've always wanted to do cutwork but never thought I was good enough. So where better to practice than by TAST?! This sample is wonderful....it shows what NOT to do as well as what to do. The count is very important. The correct fabric is very important too (I learned the hard way on this example!). I have wonderful books that are very good with cutwork explanations and I think that I really can do it!!

Another fun stitch. I think this one works best with yarns. This is a great one for flowers!

Well, there's a walk through of a few of my stitches that were not. I hope you enjoy them. My hubby came up with a great idea for a book for my TAST samples. I have one now but I don't like anything about it except that they are all together. So that's another project for fall and winter.

Day Trip

It's Oktoberfest time here in Munich. There's plenty of opportunity to see parades and have fun...and sit in traffic and be in crowds. What some people don't realize though is that there is a completely different way to do all those things these days and it is so much more fun!! It's Almabtrieb time!!! What is that, you ask? An Almabtrieb is when the cows come down from the high mountain alms for the winter. It's a festive, colorful, fun time.


With lots of traffic. Why is there traffic? Well let me explain....


The cows have been having a great summer, wandering around the mountains, eating grass and enjoying being outside. When it's time to go back to the barn, they are all gathered together....


And, if there hasn't been any accidents all summer long, they get to put on their "Sunday best" parade clothes......


...and if they are really lucky they get to make lots of noise with a big bell......


...and then they march in a big long parade......


....all the way home!!!! And that means going through any towns that may be in the way.


There's fest tents and music and beer. There's colors and smiling faces everywhere. Forget what I said earlier...this is even BETTER than Oktoberfest!


The scenery is pretty nice too...don't you agree?

There's a clip from the start of the almabtrieb. It does have sound but it starts after a couple of seconds of play time:



And just a note to those of you wondering.....I did NOT cry when the cows were paraded past, farmers all happy (I don't know how much of that "happiness" was due to the schnaps flasks sticking out of their back pockets) and the cows so proud. Well, not too much. And I was NOT afraid when one of the cows came in my direction and I was standing in a corner. Well, again, not too much. It was a GREAT day! Forget the Oktoberfest...there's so much to do other than that!

Dad's Visit and Finished Quilt

I've missed you all! I promise to get caught up with what you are doing soon. In the mean time, let me tell you about my week with Dad....

It was a whirlwind trip for him, just six nights. We packed a heck of a lot into the trip though and we had a wonderful time. After spending a day relaxing here in Munich, we headed north and east. We had some problems getting out of Munich...that dreaded word "STAU". That means traffic jam. And it took us almost two hours to get to the Munich Airport! It got better after that but we spent the whole day on congested autobahns and running into interesting situations...like trying to be back on the autobahn after tanking up and finding the on-ramp was just closed. No warning, no nothing. So we had to go 12 kilometers in the wrong direction just to get back on!

Our first stop was Cousin Elizabeth. She is 87 years old and lives in a senior home just south of Dresden. She is completely clear and shows no signs of slowing down!


Her apartment is tiny and there wasn't really a way to get a picture without shooting it directly into brightness of the window. Her sons and one of her daughter in-laws were there as well. We had a great visit and then headed on to Seifhennersdorf where the get together was.


Saturday morning we decided to go "country hopping". At this place in Germany, we could easily drive in the Czech Republic and in Poland. We had a blast...and we were only gone 3 hours! The above pictures is the Czech Republic. It pretty much all looked like this...as did Poland.

The get-together was incredible. The Hungarians made the gulasch and brought the wine. I guess that should go without saying! The gulasch was made in a huge kettle outside and took hours. The meat was deer, wild boar and who knows what else. I didn't ask.

This type of Hungarian gulasch is like a soup. Oh...did I mention that they use alot of spices? Like hot pepper paprika. In my youth, I was know to eat really hot things....mostly because I'd take a "dare" and eat the stuff to get out of doing the dishes or something. But at this point in my life, hot and spicy aren't really on my menu too much.

But THIS.....well, this is definitely to my liking! Family members...please click to enlarge....check out the sausage on the left-hand plate in the back!!!! Yes....we ALL know what that is!!!!! Oh, and note the little round red pepper sort of in the middle of the left-hand plate. There was an old Hungarian lady that popped those things in her mouth like they were popcorn!! And no....it isn't a little tomato....it's a red-hot pepper!!

I have lots of pictures of the get together that I won't show here. For those who want copies of them, Mom and Dad have a set or you can get a set from me. We had a great time. See how happy Dad is? He's sitting beside his cousin Heinrich. His cousin Mathias was also there. Yeah, I know...it's like they didn't have many names back then! ha ha This was a get-together of Hungarians in Udvari today and the Germans that were deported in 1946-1948. Yes, we have lots of stories but one I would like to share......

A 2nd cousin of Dad's came up to us and started talking about how Dad and he were deported in the same cattle train wagon. And it was an adventure and Dad was his hero for what he did. I was looking at the guy with sort of a blank expression, having no idea what Dad did. And this guy (yes, I think his name was Mathias) asked in astonishment if my Dad had never told him the story. The story was that this guy was about 3 years old and Dad, being 12 years old, lifted him up so he could get some fresh air from the little slit of a window in the cattle car! Dad doesn't remember it at all. The guy was 3....his memories are his own. Dad was 12 and has a completely different set of memories.

OK...on to the next exciting part....my QUILT. It is done! I got it back!! It is completely totally awesome and I can't believe it's mine!!

Peggy Sheehan, the lady who quilted it for me did an awesome job. The quilting is low key because the top has enough going on all by itself. The "Mrs. Foote Dirndl Material" for the back is absolutely perfect. The edges are awesome. (Sister Susan...you get what was left of it. In thanks for providing most of the top material!)

Isn't it great?!

And the size is perfect!! Yes, it's pretty heavy but I am not using it for a blanket but a bedspread. Even hubby was totally blown away with it.

And Abby? Well, it was always HER quilt and she is very happy to have it back. In fact...can you guess where her favorite place to sleep the day away is?? I've posted a slideshow on my photoblog The Camera Lenz showing more pictures of the finished product.

Thanks for bearing with me through this long post. It's an important post though for my family!