Happy Turkey Day!

First off a huge thank you to all who called and sent their love and wishes to Fletch, Kay and I. Fletch is settling into his temporary “home” in the sand, and we are hoping for a speedy return. He is – a tad bored. I’m sure saying that about where he is sounds crazy, but its true. It comes in fits and starts where your busy as all get out, to hurry up and wait. The military way.

Leah, Jen, and the pooches

Our Turkey day actually began on Wednesday for us. I had my friends Leah and Kim in from Ansbach. We had ham, stuffing, potatoes and deserts for our Wednesday night.  Leah tried out this new recipe for sweet potatoes.  Wow, very tasty, and her vanilla extract she used? WOW again.  Kim made a pecan pie, I’d never had one before!  Very tasty, a mixture of sweet balancing out with the pecan.   The smells from the kitchen reminded me I had not eaten all day.  I couldn’t help but taste test my way as I boiled, chopped, sauteed and gabbed with Leah as we cooked dinner.  There was much to be had at the dinner table.  LOTS of wine, a good pajama party [the movie the "Horseman"?  SUCKED, don't bother with that one] and late night crash was had by all.

Today we woke slowly.  Kim left early as she teaches Spin class at the gym in Ansbach.  I got a lovely hour of Yahoo! Messenger chat with my husband, as I sipped a cup of coffee coming back to life.  About the time our hour was up [kind of what I would imagine a prison visitation is, you get to see each other or talk but no touching! and yes, you only get an hour] Leah wandered down from her bed with her pups.  We had a small breakfast and then took ALL the dogs for a walk.  Kayla is dog-sitting for a cute little chihuahua “Spike”.  The walk is through a bit of a wooded area, the weather was perfect for it, and sun was out!  After our walk, we headed for post – the DFAC (Dining Facility) was serving a Turkey feast. Quite tasty!

Afterward we went to Regensberg for some SHOPPING (not quite a Black Friday) and the first Weinachts Market, and the first Gluhwein of the season. Yummm.  [Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm.]

“It is beginning to feel a lot like CHRISTMAS!”

Leah of course enjoyed her favorite candied almonds (still warm). The day went by in a flash.

After Leah and her pooches left for home, Kay and I headed over to another open home. Cindy and her husband invited us over for a “bonfire” – the only thing missing was the marshmallows.  We get to do this all again tomorrow!  Kayla is having friends over ~  her German gf has never had a traditional American Thanksgiving, so the pressure is on, deliver something that makes her say… “mmmmm….”  – No problem!

Did I mention I am really loving living in Hohenfels? All I need is my husband home and I’m thinking we have found a great place to – while not live “quite” a normal life, welllll… it IS something resembling one. We will definitely be able to give thanks that we are together for a time.

Hug your family, send a hello to a long not spoken to friend and always – be thankful that you are blessed to be among people who care and love you. Happy “Thanks”giving.  I am off to bed after a long and busy day.

PS: Kayla IS alive and well, here pictured with today’s newspaper:  [Fletch wanted PROOF of life]

Kayla's POL photo, Thanksgiving day, Hohenfels!

Going going… gone?

They tell you the day is approaching. You can feel it around the house, as things you plan become the last thing, or those household “honey-do” lists become the least of your concerns.  As many times as my husband and I have said our “Good Bye’s, See you later’s”  it just never ceases to amaze me how painful it is.  You hug, kiss… and walk away from the hangar the butterfly’s tickling your stomach, heart tightening,  eyes burning as you choke back the sob in your throat.  Eyes connecting with another wife, the tears in her eyes brimming forcing yours to the surface as you realize its okay, your not alone in your pain and you’ll be able to reach out and hug a friend who will support you through it.

The morning started out with our drive to Ansbach, I must say it was like a band-aid.  We were busy and arrived with just enough time to get him settled and his bags dropped.  A few photos, words with friends, and RIPPPP… off he goes.  We had a great weekend coming up to it, dinner at a local Greek restaurant, lazing on the couch watching movies, working on a few things around the house.  Normal.

I’m thankful that I had my daughters arms to hold me as we walked out from the hangar, and a busy afternoon to keep my mind tracking.  Leah and I had plans to meet with another friend for dinner.  We were supposed to have Sushi, to Leah’s sadness it was a night they were closed, so we ended up going to Korfu’s.  YEA Greek!  An evening of laughter and stories between friends, a quick whisper to the waiter that it was Leah’s birthday produced a really interesting drink.  Bright green with fun star shaped fruits, mango slices decorating the edges.  After dinner we wandered the Altsdadt in the rain peering in the windows and more laughter ~ made for the end of a fabulous evening.    It was like – taking a crappy morning and ensuring no surrounding oneself with the pity party blanket could happen.

Kay and I came home this morning, in my daughter I have found another friend.  She has seen me at my best, my worst, and holds my hand through it all.  We’re home today.  Just settling in to our old routines, it makes me laugh because my hubby’s last words as he hugged me and squeezed me one more time …

Don’t kill Kayla…

My child and I do love to bicker.  But I think she is safe.   Life continues on ~

Click-Click WHIR!

So Sunday when I picked up my Hoopdy-deluxe Mazda 626, she was a bit grumpy. Decided she wasn’t in the “mood” to drive off to Lupburg and was disgruntled I’d left her alone for two days sitting in a parking lot.

The “Click-Click WHIR!” of the starter told me there was no more juice left in the battery. Luckily Fletch still had the trusty Jeep to pull along side my park spot and we quickly got the old girl fired up. After running over to the PX and parking, we angled ourselves to do a quick jump just in case, but she started right up again… No more thought to my possible problem.

I haven’t driven the hoopdy since bringing her here… no wait I lie. I did move her on Monday when Fletch needed to get his Jeep out of the driveway. But this morning? At 1000 when I needed to get Kayla to sign in for school? You got it… Click-Click WHIR!! (Did I mention its FRIGGIN getting COLD here?? 34°F! Take a look at the Lupburg Webcam)

After a quick phone call to my DH to ensure that I wouldn’t blow up my V-star if I attempted to jump a car with a motorcycle (NO there wasn’t a neighbor home to help me jump of their car, and YES I left the bike powered off) – I found that whoever had put the battery cover on the V-star must have either

A: Been Hercules or
B: Used some torch wrench from hell, because that bolt was NOT coming off.

But I had my secret arsenal ready to fight back these MAN powers that be – my trusty drill with Hex bit. ZIP! Off it came.

Easy as pie hooking up my positive to + negative to -. The hoopdy was sputtered back to life and while she wasn’t HAPPY about it, she didn’t die on me.

Unfortunately a test of the battery at the auto store told me that a new battery was required. But at least I was able to GET to the auto store.

Ladies – if you don’t know how to jump start your own car? LEARN, I’m teaching Kayla ASAP. You also have to learn how to get a tire off from that aforementioned Hercules twist of the lug nuts. (the star wrench is great to HOP on while holding on to the side of your car)… I do believe I need a few more auto classes though, and with winter approaching? Winter driving safety classes!

Happy driving!

Settling In

Well the boxes are emptying. I’m finding things that I’ve been looking for, still a few things missing. But the fun part is shifting it all out and going from apartment size to spreading out and having room.  Last weekend we explored the trails around our house, took a 2 hour hike.  Beautiful butterflies, fuzzy caterpillars, and grasshoppers about.  We found an old water plant, crossed a little creek, ran out of trail and found a great trail through a little forest patch!

We have been gone a week while we finished up in Ansbach.  Coming “home” Thursday night, Fletcher caught his playoffs while I finished up my workweek.  My last day with ACS ended at noon, and I drove to Bismark to pick up my baby.  She had been sitting in the weather for the last week and it was time to dress warm and drive the 105KM to Lupburg. The weather was with me, thank goodness.  A few layers and some thermals under my jeans, and it really wasn’t until the last 30 minutes that I actually felt cold.  Plus with such amazing scenery??  The miles just rolled by.

I got home to find my husband ready to open the garage for me, we were ready for our weekend.  Starting out with me de-layering, and de-thawing.  A glass of wine and some snacks later, I rummaged through the fridge for food.  Nothing.  Soup from a can it was.

Saturday we decided to go see Velburg.  One thing we thought?  Was that it was a holiday – the towns are so quiet here on the weekends.  The stores close by noon.  As it turns out, its no holiday.  Its just the way things are here… but we did find a Post Gasthaus.  The food? Very yummy.  I was extremely happy with our find.  Guess its also a hotel a lot of the people who are TDY Temporary Duty assignment, or  (humorous backronymic expansion “Temporary Duty Yonder”) stay at.  Menu was in Deutsche AND English.  Afterward a run to the commissary to stock up on food and we were set.  Vegetating on the couch would be very successful. Fletch’s request?  Quesadilla’s.  Actually pretty tasty, I made them with ground beef sauteed with onion and spicy seasonings.  Mix in some salsa, put in the tortilla with cheese? VOILA!

Sunday we picked up Kayla from Alex’s and picked up my car.  After we got her home, she began unpacking.  And calling for help!  Fletcher was busy helping her get some things arranged as I was also arranging downstairs.  The “Man Jobs” began.  After hitting the wall on organizing what I could, I finally excepted… no more could be done.  And even though the weather was threatening rain, we decided to check out the trails once more, and find a good running loop.  Once, twice around.  Holey crap, the hills and the cold air?! :O A great run for me, Fletch will need to find longer trails.

Today has been a bit more domestic.  Waking up to the movers delivering our “TEMPORARY” ugh, military furniture (PLEASE oh please, the Virgina storage stuff gets here within 90 days).  We now have a coffee table, end tables, dining room set and dressers.   After which, we packed ourselves into the Jeep and went to IKEA in Regensberg.  I was frustrated to find the shelves I wanted out of stock, the mirror too.  We found one shelf to mount in the kitchen for Fletch’s Bier Steins.  A run over to XXXL (another furniture shop) found some pricey goods, and a really cute garden gnome that is now sitting in my front garden €2,50 – not bad.  Lunch at a yummy Italian cafe, topped off our shopping trip (Fletch drew the line at one more furniture store).  All in all? We’re getting there.  Almost settled in. I think some of it is just going to take time.  I don’t want to buy cheap furniture because I have to, I want furniture I’ll enjoy and like.  Speaking of which… Wednesday the NEW dining room set will be here and I’ll take the military one down to the basement (this wonderful place where I have storage and a laundry room!).

Guten Nacht to all… hubby is back to Ansbach.  To return on Thursday.  Kay and I are on our own – hehe. 

Pictures available on Shutterfly: http://jenostrander2008.shutterfly.com/1930

Home Again

Ah we have settled in a bit, it took us one week to get from Ansbach to Lupburg. The hubby is stirring UPSTAIRS. We went from a one floor 4 room living quarters to now? 3 floors (plus a basement) 3 bedrooms, 2 1/1 baths, kitchen, living room… Take a look at some pics I put on Facebook.  It has been a good weekend, Fletcher drove in his Harley on Friday.  I was unpacking the kitchen and he scared the crap out of me by just staring through the front kitchen window waiting for me to turn around!  A$$.  After calming my heart down I gave him the grand tour of the house and showed him which room I thought we should take for our master bed.  The bed the movers told me they didn’t have to put together (They were supposed to) so Fletch being handed a cold beer, got to work.  We got the bed together (found a few scratches from the movers) and as he wiped his hands, he looked at me saying “Your turn!” ~ finding the bed linens I got the bed made and wandered down stairs to find him hooking up the DVD/TV so that we could relax and watch a movie.  I made my gourmet dinner – Salami, cheese, salads and a glass of wine and we spent our first night in our new home watching a movie.

On a side note: we are very thankful that we have fuel rations. Fletch tried to use the ESSO card and fuel up the Jeep earlier on Friday morning. Only we hadn’t put money back on the card from our motorcycle trip to Regensberg. He had to pay 99Euro for a tank of gas, $138!!! Thank GOODNESS he could take the receipt in and have it reversed out so he was able to pay only $40 for that tank. How do the Europeans afford gas here? No wonder you see little smart cars all over.

Yesterday we took a trip to Vilsek, we would need to purchase some furniture.  I have arranged to get the rest of Fletch’s furniture from Virginia delivered here, but we needed some book shelves and a cable converter for the TV.  What I found?  Was a dining room set and bakers rack (more like a wine glass and bottle display) that I fell in love with.  It will be delivered (along with the bookshelf) on the 14th.    I can’t wait, its really gorgeous.  And while Fletch did have a small dining room set, we figure we will use the table and chairs throughout the house (Kay will probably need some stuff up in her little suite).   After our return, we walked up to the house and our neighbors were out in their backyard so we stopped in to say hello and introduce ourselves.  Fun people, I think that we will have many backyard BBQ’s in the future.   Our evening was complete with a walk to Parsberg for a pizza.  Good times.

Fletcher just cooked breakfast in my completely  unpacked kitchen!  (Yes Mom was right, you have got to get that organized first.  It just makes the rest of the chaos of boxes tolerable). Going to eat then get some more boxes emptied before we check out some trails for a run.

Packing-it-up Tomorrow

So the weekend is ending, the house has been taken apart pretty much.  There are things to get done but for the most part we have readied ourselves to be without home.  Fletch gets the keys for BOQ on Monday.  All is going as planned.  EXCEPT of course we get another letter in the mail from our landlords attorney.  I had to use Google translate to understand from Deutsche:

wir nehmen Bezug auf unser Schreiben vom 11.09.2009 mit dem wir erhebliche Gegenanspruche geltend gemacht haben.  Neben der Miete un Garagenmiete stehen hier insbesondere noch Kosten fur due Hausreinigung offen.  Frau Karoline Zech, die insoweit als Zeugin zur Verfugung steht, hat hier im Zeitraum ab Dezember 2006 bis heute in den letzten 27 Monaten wenigstens 19 mal die groBe Hausordnung fur Sie gemacht, so im Rhythmus von sechs Wochen.  Bei jeder groBen Hausordnung brachte Sie ca. 3 stunden um alles fur Sie zu reinigen, ein Stundensatz von 10 Euro durfte angemessen sein.

Danach ergeben sich 570 zu begleichen.  Keinesfalls wird hier eine Kaution zuruck bezahlt darauf weisen wir hier mit aller Deutlichkeit hin.

To English what was being said:

We refer to our letter dated 11.09.2009 with which we have substantial counterclaim asserted. In addition to the rent and garage rental costs here are still open, in particular for house cleaning due.  Ms Caroline Zech, which so far stands as a witness for Pascal, is here in the period from December 2006 until today in the last 27 months, at least 19 times the gross house rules for you made it to the rhythm of six weeks. For each course house rules took about 3 hours to clean everything for you, an hourly rate of 10 dollars could be appropriate.

Then there are 570 to pay. Under no circumstances is this a security deposit paid back out here we have it very clear.

Ahhh, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.  I just knew it.  On the brighter side of life, we have a 3 bedroom house that is Government leased waiting for us.

Delay in publishing my blog, your not seeing it until a week later I haven’t had internet…

Here we go again…. pack it up move it out… PCS!

Well Fletcher and I are beginning the PCS Journey. It can be a painful one. But with a little organization I think we might make it, but still… there are those MOMENTS:

And we are just moving from one town to the other here in Germany.  I looked at two houses.  It’s come down to the one in the country, it is still in a “suburb” of Parsberg.  I am very happy to report we are moving from an apartment to a HOUSE. It’s called a side by side.  One building, split down the center to form two houses, side by side.  It is 3 floors.  Well technically I guess 4.  It has a basement for the washer and dryer, and plenty of storage for all of the things that need to be accessible – just NOT all the time.  I’ll be able to set up the ironing board (I might actually USE it), a clothes line to dry those clothes that shouldn’t go in (though they HAVE been for a year), and a place for the beer jugs to sit while they ferment! YIPEE.  The “ground” level floor is the kitchen, dining room, and living room.  It’s got a walk out door to our back “yard” and patio (we can actually BBQ AGAIN!)  I haven’t actually seen the second and third floor but have floor diagrams and pics.  The second floor is two bedrooms divided with a bathroom and stairway.  We are actually going to put ourselves on that floor and give the teenager her own little penthouse suite on the third floor.  From the roof we can tell you have that A-frame duck going on where we would put the bed and the size of the bedrooms on the second floor are about the size of what we have for our room now.  It’s plenty.

It has already been an ordeal with our departure.  We got orders right after the 1^st of September with a report date of 16 October.  YUPPERS.  Fun for Frau Ostrander began.  I called housing in Katterbach to make an appointment, then contacted Hohenfels.  I didn’t get an appointment with Katterbach until the 8^th of Sept.  But I was able to get listings for two houses near our new post in Hohenfels, that are Government Leased.  Meaning no more hassle with a landlord (ours has been less than friendly with us), and we would be able to move in without a deposit. So I was really happy going into my appointment and when I got to housing on the 8^th and they told me that I would have to give a notice on the specific “END of the month” being the 30^th, I was concerned.  We have NOT had the best relationship with our landlord.  His wife, HATES me.  She thinks I’m a horrible house cleaner is what I get from translation.  But I figured they’d be thrilled the American rentors they had were finally leaving so I went with the paperwork to have them sign it and got yelled at for a bit but eventulally Herr Zecht signed.  Ahhh … relief.  I went by transportation, set up movers to pick up on the 28^th, we would clean the 29^th, clear with the Zechts the 30^th, I’d get keys the 1^st, and household goods would be delivered the 2^nd.  BAM.  DONE.  WOOHOO.  Then the next week, Fletcher brings a letter in from our local mail.  Not our military box.  Its from an attorney for the Zechts.  Claiming all sorts of FUN.  I was lucky enough to get into the German attorney we have with JAG and…. He at least had some “good news”: (These are all in response to their accusations):

1.  The Garage is included in the written agreement (this is not disputable)

why yes yes he did want to charge us for 50 Euro a month since December of 2006 because we had a “VERBAL agreement” with some Herr P something or another we don’t know and can’t speak the language with….

2.  The painting of the apartment is included in the written agreement (again, not to interpretation).

3.  The inspection has NOT been conducted so there is nothing that they can already claim as to having been damaged, if after the inspection on the 30th, more than normal wear on the apartment is found, fair market costs to fix the damage can be assessed.

4.  In the matter of the DATE of our leaving the premises.  He does concede that the wording that housing uses on its form leaves room for negotiation.  That it says “in compliance with the agreement” which in the agreement it IS 30 days, he is saying we should consent and extend payments due to the 08th of October, which would be 30 days from the date that Herr Zecht signed.  NO problem I actually figured it SHOULD be that way.

SO – here we go.  We are beginning the journey of a move.  And this is JUST from one German town to the other.  Kayla packed her stuff and headed over for Alexes.  She’ll live there through the 18^th and HOMECOMING (She’s going for homecoming QUEEN, I’m totally excited).  Fletch signs into BOQ (Basic Officer Quarters) on Monday – he’s NOT quite done here and will need to stay as I move the house and family on to the new duty station.  And while our household goods go to Hoehnfels the first week of October, the rest of us really won’t be QUITE up there till mid October.  I’ll be staying here on and off working my job until I get Kay there.  So we are thinking by the 19^th or 20^th, at least Kay and I will be in the house, Fletch will improcess with his new unit… the rest we don’t know yet.

The adventure HAS begun.  I’ll keep you up to date on the ups, the downs, and I’m sure the inevitable – DID NOT go quite as PLANNED on this fun move.

Household Six

It has been two and a half weeks. A blip on the radar of a true deployment, but when your man is only an hour and a half away? Their time in the field begins to DRAG!

Most military units go to the “field”, they pack up their gear and head out to a separate location from the day to day job and run simulations of the war time mission. Its normal. But since the CAB’s return? They’ve been home, and after a 15 month deployment? No one is arguing.

Anyway with it – Household Six takes over.  So you may wonder:

What is a Household 6?
A military man’s wife. The head of the household. The one that keeps up with the arduous tasks of washing uniforms, picking up smelly PTs, going to the commissary and PX, raising the children, packaging care packages…you get our drift! A HH6 is the one in charge of everything!

The name is derived from where said wife spends most of her time (the household), and the number 6 is the designation for a commander of a Company/Troop, Battalion/Squadron, Brigade/Regiment, Division or Corps.

Used in a sentence – “I’d really love to go with you on the hunting trip, but Household 6 pulled my weekend pass.”

So with that, our military post has gone from soldier filled sidewalks running in PT’s in the morning and ACU’s during the workday – to mothers and wives running about getting it done.  It can be a stressful time, especially with school beginning, or issues with your kids, health issues of your own.  Or in our case.  A move in our future.  You start to flip through the calendar, wonder where the orders are, try to explain to your teen WHEN you are moving [I DO NOT KNOW] and the list goes on.  And on top of that?  Your life marches on, your job still wants attention, and you still need to make sure you keep going to the gym and taking care of yourself.  This is where the bonding among military wives becomes a necessity.  Really.

Bond with your fellow women folk who GET YOU.  I have found that bond doesn’t have to be with a group or a gaggle.  And while I may upset some of the women folk here, I have definitely determined that woman can not be a mom of a wee-one.  My day is over and – no I don’t want to have to listen to a shrieking child as I’m trying to vent out my latest run in with the car care place thinking I have NO idea what a tune up really is.  So I have found my women folk, I keep it to two, for some reason as I have grown older I seem to keep my girl group small.  I may be social, but I’m not extreme social anymore.  My only child days of seeking a constant companion have passed.  I like to keep it to a trusted source.  And thank god I have, they give me those nights of watching a movie and preparing dinner.  To going out to a restaurant and killing two bottles of wine while the staff hopes to god we are leaving soon hearing our laughter get louder as our talk becomes more hilarious in our own minds.

So that is Household Six.  She keeps the household nest running, she manages the children, the calendar, and quite often gets the move on.  And yes sometimes we revoke a weekend pass.  But we are more than that.  We are soldiers, we are pilots, computer programmers, accountants.  We have degrees: Bachelors, Masters, and certificates to achieve.  Sometimes when things are going as crazy as they can, with the soldiers away from the field.  We just want to be able to be more than Household Six, we hold on to the name behind the call sign.  Because, damnit, we can.  And we do – it all.

Boleslawiec Poland or Pottery Road Trip

As much as we had heard about Polish Pottery, Leah nor I had ever dared the Mad Hatter run that some of the ladies seemed to enjoy (this is where you wake before dawn and drive 5 hours to the opening of the shops, do a mad shop through the town, and drive back all in one day!)  So we decided to do the trip at a more leisurely pace.  Drive up on Friday, shop a little that afternoon, stay the night… shop some more Saturday and drive home.

She had heard of a hotel called the “Blue Beetroot“.  So I emailed them to make a reservation, Barbara emailed me right back and we had a place to stay.

The Blue Beetroot hotel legend has it that in Poland around 1791 the fields of Lower Silesia near Boleslawiec were all planted with beetroots. One of the most popular uses for the beetroot was moonshine! The alcohol was secretly brewed in the cellars of the barn

I had the word doc with the recommended shops ready to go, so Friday AM I headed over to Leah’s.  A little slow we had time.  We had to swing back my place on our way to drop the pups at the dog sitters since I didn’t have my Passport (one can’t be too careful).  After dropping off Wilson and Dori (just like kids they didn’t even look back as they went to play), we climbed into the Mini for our journey.  Leah had loaded the iPod with music and we sang and chatted our way to the border.

Once arriving a the hotel, we decided to drop our bags to have room for our goodies.  Which was a lucky thing to do.  A little chat with the man at the check in about shopping, and mentioned, we were planning on just taking a look about tonight – then shopping tomorrow.  Only to be told that the Christian holiday “Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary”  was a holiday that would keep the shops closed.  :O we were so upset.  I mean, when you make a reservation saying you plan on shopping… well you expect to be told the shops won’t be open for you.  At least we knew.  With that in mind we began our journey.  It was 3:30, and we had seen the CUTEST glass birds throughout the hotel.

http://www.borowski-glas.de/ We would be able to make the 4PM closing time if we hustled, and to our happiness we did.  It was quite the shop.  So many interesting creations!   We do wish that we could have SEEN the creations come to life.  Next year.

STUDIO BOROWSKI is a handmade glass blowing workshop, they only make modern art glass sculptures. Ring at the gate, they speak English and German. If you are in luck and they aren’t very busy, you may have a chance to blow your own glass ball- call one day in advance to see if it’s available. You can observe the glassblowers at work without any arrangements- notice that on Weds they work until 1pm and they have a lunch break from 10 until 10.15am.

Next stop: Andy’s.  This shop was right across the freeway from the glass shop, and came highly recommended by the Blue Beetroot, as well we had a 10% coupons, so it was worth the look-see.  A small shop.  I kept finding myself wanting the more traditional look, and more color!  The shop seemed to use predominately blue.  But it did have the coffee mugs Leah was searching for.  On the handle there is a hole cut in, a slender spoon slides into the handle … quite efficient.  The design I loved the most was this crazy orange circular.  I found a bowl and a mug, so here I got my 8 bowls for my kitchen dishes set.  Leah found mugs and a few other designs she was interested in, a cute plaid looking mug as well!

By a telephone arrangement at Andy’s it’s possible for children to paint their own small pottery piece (eg. mug or small animal) .  Firing takes three days to a week. But if you cannot collect they will happily send it to you if you leave them your address. They will only charge you for the postage.  Please go to the pottery after 2 o’clock if your children would like to do this.(1 piece per child only).

Next stop… CER-FAR.  This store was HUGE.  OMG.  We were like kids in a candy store, all of the patterns and designs to be had were just amazing.  They give a discount on purchase to so the more you spend!  Here I found 4 of my 8 plates.  Leah kept picking up the oober expensive designs.  Though they were gorgeous.  I’m thinking next year they’ll be on the clearance rack (of course then the new designs will catch my eye!)  As well I found a colander to replace my sadly melted colander (that IS another story, when I get a moment I’ll post my Tupperware fiasco).

We had decided one more shop, then we dearly needed to eat before we both got the shakes.  Around the traffic cirlce we went to Zakłady Ceramiczne I found my other 4 dinner plates here and kept myself from going crazy, I think I feared lack of food maybe driving me over the edge with my purchases!

We had driven by this restaurant on our way in.  Outside is a beer mug, and the building itself?  Kinda reminds you of a Brother’s Grimm fairy tale setting.  Intrigued we had decided THAT was wear we would eat.    It was a newer restaurant, but it had a ton of antiques lining the wall.  The menu was in Polish, German, and English… YEA!  I found myself reading the Deutsche words and had to stop myself.  I ordered a cabbage leaf filled with a meat and barley mixture, covered in a rich mushroom gravy.  Leah had a bread dumpling stuffed wtih cheese and potato.   We were both very happy with the food.  Fortified we headed for our final destination!

MILLENA pottery!

Let me tell you, we saved the best for last.  Not necessarily the size of the place, but the patterns?  They just ALL spoke out and really the color combinations they used just WORKED.  The design I was most drawn too, I pulled off the shelf.  As I was admiring it, the owner she says “I came up with that design on a snowy day… I just needed something cheerful!”  Wow, well she succeeded.   They do not however take Visa.  Probably a very good thing at that point in the day.  But we still managed to bag a few more goodies.  A cheese storer, bake dish, and a mug I really loved in the pattern I really loved.  Leah got a cute box and some other items.  We also managed to get some little bowls for dressing or salsa.

Exhausted we drove the Mini back to our hotel, changed our breakfast time from 8 to 10, and made our way to our room.  We stopped on the second floor to poke through the DVD’s and found a few English ones.  Only to find our DVD player was NOT working, I went to go call downstairs?  The phone line?  Not plugged in and when I traced it?  Looked like the jack was under construction.  So I found the owner, he quickly replaced the DVD Player and Leah and snuggled in to our cute little matching twin beds to watch a movie and sip our drinks.  A lovely ending to a lovely day.

The adventure may have been a little rushed, but we enjoyed ourselves immensly – I’m thinking that “NEXT” year we will try and plan it for the weekend they have their Pottery Festival.  THAT is supposed to be loads of fun.  People even paint themselves to look like pottery designs… it is NEXT WEEKEND.  Ugh, oh well, now we know.  Its just another great reason to go back, only this time, NOT on a holiday.

Pics on Shutterfly: http://jenostrander2008.shutterfly.com/1857

3 of 4 Star Sunday

Why only 3?  Well – they can’t all be 4 stars right?  A Sunday has to achieve that level of relax versus excitement to give you a true 4 stars.  Maybe I need to move to a 10 star system, who knows.  It started out just the right way… waking up at 0900 to my dear hubby brewing coffee for us.  A coffee in bed and then watching the news on the couch for an hour before making a smoothie for breakfast.  The normal cleaning up and laundry begins.

After getting my grocery list together I kissed my husband a farewell and off I went to the commissary – hoping to avoid my mistake of last week and stopping daily to pick up items for a poorly planned week of menus.  I ran into a few familiar faces and chatted while blocking aisles – as those who had less time than I did attempted to maneuver their carts quickly.  My list complete, recycled bags packed by the teen working for tips, I was complete in my mission. 1330

When I got home, my DH was ready to help me unload the bags and we talked of plans for the day.  When I took out a meat for dinner he suprised me by saying “I thought we’d go to Dinklesbuhl.”  I had posted our adventure in May when we took the Harley to go camp there.  The Duetsches Haus has by far been my favorite restaurant.  So I was definently happy to put the planned menu on the back burner and enjoy being spoiled by the promise of dinner out.

But first – we decided we needed to get a good run in to our afternoon.  After eating a light lunch and hydrating, we changed into running clothes around 1500 and headed out to our favorite trails.  Of course Fletcher likes to start the run, UP the hill… my heart pounding and lungs ready to pop within 10 minutes of starting out.  But after the trail flattened out, I felt the groove catch.  We had a great jog through the trail, up to the fork and onto the forest paths.  I knew it was coming, the hill.  My arch nemesis of this running trail.  I’m not even sure what the incline is, but we were right about 3.8 miles and I was feeling the burn.  As I lowered my eyes, I began my mantra.  “Keep going, Don’t Stop”… as I leaned in I felt my lungs tighten.  The burn… gasping I slowed down to a crawl, my husband circled and barked, “ALMOST THERE!”  I pushed forward, feeling like a pack mule being pushed that last few feet.   GASPING I reached the top, arms over my head pulling in air.  He looks at me to make sure I’m not going to check out and keeps walking with me till I get my breath.  I mark the tree ahead and as we pass it begin my jog.  A few times he has to prod me, at the T in the path, he pats my arm.  “Run it to the intersection!”  As he turns right to do the loop one more time, I turn left and – with a pace that mirrored a 200 lb old woman, plodded on.  I started wondering, do I just slow it?  What do I want to say when he gets home, 2 words or 3? I DID … or I DID NOT run to the intersection?

The path had a slight incline, I think if I’d seen me running, I might just tell me to give it up… that’s how pathetic the lift in my feet had become.  But as I hit the flat path again, the music flipped to a new song, and I felt my reserve kick in.  I pushed it to the intersection.   I DID.

Fletch and I met up at the apartment, I finished off my work out with abs, and we got ready for our trip to Dinklesbuhl.  We’d take the bikes.  The weather was perfect.  Puffy clouds and warm air.  No wind.   I felt the road below me and could feel that finally I was getting the joy back in the ride.  The day before with the wind, I had just felt like I was still so rusty at the whole “free ride”.  But as I came up the hill that lead out of Ansbach, I settled in and felt myself and the bike click.  Pulling the throttle my mind was able to relax, leaning the bike into the turn I felt it.  The joy in the ride….

We left around 1700, I wish I had checked the net before we left because when we arrived?  We had come right at the end of the fest “Die Kinderzeche“  – that evening would be the closing program.  I was not to be disappointed by the restaurant, our dinner was wonderful again.  I had salmon with asparagus.  The sauce with it, was so light!  There was this subtle taste of mint and lime.  Fletcher’s steak was just perfect, served with krispy onions and gravy, and light noodles.  We only wished we’d known it would be fest as we could have called for reservations to be able to sit outside and watch the festivities.  Most of the town had turned out in costume.  And all were in high spirits.  Children ran around, adults looped arms and danced in the middle of the street.  It was definently a festival the town took much pride in enjoying to the fullest.

The childrens’ program is a recreation of the children pleading to have their city spared.

17th July – 26th July 2009
DIE KINDERZECHE
The historic festival play “Kinderzeche” (performed since 1897) is one of Germany’s oldest and most colourful festival plays. Legend has it that, when Swedish hordes under the command of Colonel von Sperreuth laid siege to the town in 1632 the gate-keeper’s daughter Lore, together with the children of the town, pleaded for mercy and saved the town from pillage and destruction. The festival week lasts for 10 days and is accompanied by a diverse peripheral programme.
Further information is available at: www.kinderzeche.de.

As the sun lowered, we headed towards our bikes.  I was glad to have grabbed an extra layer for the ride home.