Ammersee Dining

My husband surprised me with an unexpected destination for our night. We had decided that it made more sense to drive up to Munich the night before our flight (3 hours, I’m sure you agree). As we were driving I saw a big blue body of water on the Garmin and new we had gone past Munich, plus my butt was tiring from sitting in the Jeep. The sign ahead said “Amersee” (See in German meaning Lake) Lake Amersee was one of my favorite camping memories, last we had been here we had had an incredible lightning storm, the lake is huge! As we pulled up I felt myself relax at the site of the water and the sailboats. I seem to be drawn to the water lately – maybe its all these land locked countries I have been in?

After 3 hotels with “kein zimmer frei” no rooms free, we found one right across the street from the lake and dropped our bags in our room to find dinner. A lovely Italian restaurant, our table right on the Promenade had a great view as the sun set. Off in the distance, on the other side of the lake, we were welcomed once again with lightening. I didn’t get the chance to photograph it, it really was too far away but the “Blitz und donner” – lightening and thunder were quite a bit of a show for us.

After our incredible meal we wandered down the promenade, dipping our feet in the frigid lake, and stopping at a little outdoor wine bar to watch the sun completely set. And then – the mosquitoes began to feast on me! YIKES…. I really am like a fine wine to these tiny little beasts, and I’m allergic too! So after a quick finish of wine we hauled butt back to our room, thankfully I always travel with Benadryl and still had itch cream from Thailand! Oh well, the price you pay for amazing sunsets and lake views. (Do you have a travel toiletry bag with all those nifty travel items ready for anything? Mine has definitely become a variety of possible needs for our adventures)

Now I sit at the airport preparing for our flight to Dublin. Buh-bye “Sledgehammer heat” or “Africa Hot” as the Bayern Radio commentator called it. Hello 60 Degrees – expected cloudy with light showers. Today? It’s beautiful. I can’t wait!

Steinberger (Lake) See – Sailing Away

I have been off the radar for awhile. I took a challenge to do a photo a day and for the most part I have.  But getting those edited and loaded has been another story. Packing, preparing to move, seeing the last travel sites of Germany before I PCS; they all have been priority.   And its not slowing down.   So I’ll have to take out the timer and get myself back on track, not only with photo editing and blogging, but in getting myself to the gym.  Because with all the STRESS in my life, I’ve let the things that bring me such pleasure slide.   I went to the gym yesterday before we headed to the lake and when I got done I FELT SO GOOD!  I felt like laughing with sheer joy at feeling myself shaking off the stress and pushing my body as I ran.   We know that these things make us happy, so why are they the first to slide??  Yesterday was a good wake up, a good reminder to relax and de-stress.

Reflections

I’m sailing away,
Set an open course for the virgin sea,
‘Cause I’ve got to be free,
Free to face the life that’s ahead of me,
On board, I’m the captain, so climb aboard,
We’ll search for tomorrow on every shore,
And I’ll try, Oh Lord I’ll try, to carry on

Relaxing views

You can rent a paddle boat (Boots Verlein) how fun paddle around and slide in on your very own race car boat!

I love the yellow hull on this sailboat! (I had to ask hubster the correct terms for the boats)

Come Sail Away with Me! (do you remember that song?)

Some of the boats seem a bit much for a lake, I’d still be okay with this one. The sails here had gone slack as he turned into the wind.

This seems more to scale for the lake, and FUN!

A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope and this is what they said
They said, “Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me lads
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me baby
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me”
- Styx … I’m Sailing Away lyrics

I wish we’d found this before, it’s only a 45 minute drive! I think we’ll be back

My first time using WB cards – outdoors I didn’t notice a huge change when I tweaked the WB in LR, but the indoors change is huge!

Hope life has been relaxing for you, and that you have taken time
this last weekend to just watch the world sail by.

On a Steel Horse I Ride

We arrived in Ansbach at around 1400 after walking through the park and over to Willards shop, seriously the best place here for military to store their motorcycles while deployed.  10 Euro a month.  He got us started up, we pre-checked our motorcycles. And happily drove off. It couldn’t have been more than 5 miles into the ride, I felt like I’d settled in and got comfortable. Happily taking to the clutch, shift, and lean like it was yesterday.

Seems appropriate I’ve had a rubber devil-ducky keychain here.

Then it began to rain… for the full 70 miles to Parsberg. Thank goodness for our wet weather pants, but 44 miles in, we had to pull over to add the jacket. It was just not stopping, another 10 miles and I could feel my wet weather pants pull as I shifted, in went a small ice river to my left boot. Meanwhile my shield could have done to have a wiper, I kept swiping away to see clearly, of course the need to breath kept a nice constant fogging inside my helmet shield, so I started breathing in slowly and exhaling through my mouth in an almost whistle fashion trying to point the warm air DOWN out of the helmet… still fog.

Oh what fun it is to ride – NOT.

71 Miles on the tripometer which is also how I know how much gas I have. Go 2004 Yamaha V-Star

Thankfully I had my little Good Luck – Gremlin bell to keep me from the attack of the gremlins on the way home. Who am I kidding they were curled up with warm totties watching us drive in the rain figuring we had enough.  Never heard of the bell for a motorcycle?  Read more: Legend_of_the_Bells 

THE LEGEND OF THE BELL

As we all know, life has many mysteries that have no apparent solutions. One of these is Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride. They’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work, or the battery goes dead … It is said that Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of a bell. The legend has it that they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Or that their hearing is supersensitive and the constant ringing of the bell and/or the confined space drives them insane.

An Umleitung (Detour) in Roth added on about 15 km. You know that last 15 km we didn’t need where your frozen foot is chattering and your fingertips go numb?  Or how about where a puddle of cold water forms on your seat and since you have those wet weather pants on that puddle sits at your crotch, just chillin’ … Yea it was a little like that.

It was actually a little hilarious as we pulled into our drive, one neighbor was getting ready to roll out and looked surprised. Really? A ride? Today?! And our other neighbor walking out – he rides as well – was like, not exactly riding weather?

Yes we know, your crazy neighbors. It’s JUNE damnit.  Seriously this is why all the motorcycle advertisements show you beautiful sunny days out.  We are fair weather riders, some enjoy it, some go crazy buying butt warmers, hand warmers, face shields with heaters in the helmet.  I buy a car.  I love to ride, but I am definitely a sun in my face warm wind to my back kind of gal.  Oh well.  Our last ride in Germany … she gets packed on Friday.

I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

Yea a little flashback to the 80′s for ya – your welcome. Just sharing a song that sometimes DOES pop in my head as I ride.

June 2nd, and the rain rolls on

It’s June? Really? Across the globe it seems Mother Nature has shaken herself a cosmo and settled in for a good chuckle. “They think its time for the beach? I’ll bring the water to their back door!” I’m sure she’s not that evil, but seriously?

In German News:

Authorities in Passau, which lies at the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, say they expect the Danube to reach 10.5m by Sunday evening and have requested help from the German army.

Yikes, it’s not quite that bad in Lupburg. I should be grateful it isn’t requiring sand bags. Its just that my moods and motivation start getting a bit “watered” down in this constant drizzle. After yesterday’s good push at organizing and getting all the kitchen goods I will need separated out and placed on the dining room table today has been a whole lotta – nada. My cough has subsided to an occasional outburst, I took a little time to manage my eyebrows and paint my toes – not that they will see sandals any time soon.

I’m supposed to be doing a 30 day photo challenge. Yesterday was a bust – I’m a little OCD about “clean” backgrounds so a photo of my house is NOT happening at the moment. We did go out to dinner last night at our favorite local restaurant the Sipl Stodl and Hubster even managed in talking me to enjoy another glass of wine and watch FC Bayern take the cup against Stuttgart.

So here I go, going to put on the rubber boots … this is Lupburg 02 June … a little drenched for the worse but it gave me some practice with B&W:

Why not take ‘er for a spin?

The only thing sliding was rain drops

Yes mittens and a coat

Just hanging out, no swinging today

Lupburg from my walking path

Drops of rain blowing

And you know what?  I feel better.  I’m glad I went out and played.   As always Courtney at Click It Up a Notch keeps me motivated to learn more on my camera, the rest of the fotos from today are available on Flickr.  I played with some of the editing in Lightroom a bit more than I usually do.

Okay I had to share a few color pics :

The shutter speed could have been a smidge faster but I love the capture of movement as I jumped on!

Gotta love rain boots with puppies, I had fun SPLASHING

I never tire of the German Countryside, the towns are so adorable clustered and colorful

Okay – off to cook dinner and be an adult for the evening
Do you ever go out and splash in the puddles?  I hadn’t but I think I might more often!

Spring is Leaking

So Memorial Day weekend has come and gone… but the rain?  The rain has stayed.  This beautiful Poppy should be covering the fields by this time of year:

Taken on May 24, 2011

Instead it is raining, and I mean constant rain.  It’s been raining at some point during the day for the last week.  We had one day off on Monday (beautiful golf day!) and the week before that was just grey.  Seems to be fitting with the joys of packing.  Not that I’m truly packing boxes per se, but the separation of “stuff” continues.

Life Lessons of  a Military Wife has a great info blog on moving BACK to the USA.  It’s helping me organize and reminding me to separate out the 220v.  I was surprised at a few of my kitchen appliances I’ll have to replace with 110V (so sad to say farewell to my food processor) – also Military.com has some canned lists that helped remind me of a few things.  The biggest of course is my passports and orders are in a briefcase that will be locked behind a door to ensure it doesn’t get packed and shipped off to the USA.  Won’t help me much in a shipping container!

Yea I Feel Something Like That

This week is going something like this:

• Monday – pick up Motorcycles out of storage in Ansbach ( I REALLY hope the rain gives us a break!)
• Tuesday – Pre-move inspection.  Hopefully he’ll understand my seperation of stuff.  I havea  dining room and one bedroom in the house where I have put everything I will need for my apartment in Georgia.
• Wednesday- Pick up temporary plates for my car, appointments with base
• Thursday – Drive POV (my car) to Grafenwoehr for shipment processing (thank goodness my pick up point is Atlanta!
• Friday – Movers come to pack my Household Goods (HHG), this will be my big move, all the stuff I want to go to Fort Gordon, GA.  You get a small 600 lb shipment which is supposed to be things you want right away.  That will have a blow up bed, linens, clothing, and golf clubs!

With that, I’ve spent my entire day up and down stairs; washing, dusting, tossing, separating, reminiscing (you know you find those photos you hadn’t looked at in months!)  so with the rainy day, and my body being done (still getting over a lovely “summer” cold) I’m off to enjoy a little bubble bath time.

I have Wine! Cute Graphic from blog.patriciaknightphotography.com

Check out a few more tips for your PCS Move :
http://lifelessonsmilitarywife.com/

Do you enjoy the move? Or is it a complete stress?

 

Koh Tao Sunset

We have been off seeing sites, visiting with friends, enjoying fests … I have not had much time to get through the fotos and figure out posts.  And now that we are back from visits, the week of packing and shipping looms in front of me.  So I find myself even more anxious about my upcoming PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to Fort Gordon, GA as we have to split our household goods.  I’ll take an apartment of “stuff” and the rest of our home will continue on to Fort Drum, NY where I will meet back up with it in April after hubby finds us a place in January.  Yes its quite busy here at the Ostrander home.

So with all the mad packing and last minute European vacations – I took a moment to have this particular print sent to Printerpix.com for a canvas print (I’ll have to write a review of the site its the first time I’ve attempted a canvas after Shutterfly).  I realized looking at our walls, while all of Europe was decorating the white canvas of our living room, nowhere had I taken the time to choose a foto from Thailand.  I think this will become a theme for our spare room, sunsets and oceans.

Doesn’t it just make you relax?  Feel a cold tasty coconut beverage sweating in your hand as you sip the sweet rum infused frothy mix and just … enjoy.

Taken on December 3, 2012

 

When Pigs Fly

Bergkirchweih Erlangen, a photo by Jen.Ostrander on Flickr.

OOops.. guess that one happened. Isn’t this adorable? At the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen they had this Merry Go Round, I loved the old fashioned style of it. No bells & whistles just an old fashioned fun swing around the park.

Via Flickr:
Bergkirchweih (Fest) in Erlangen. Hubby and I enjoyed a quick travel on the train to arrive at the fest, it was packed! Much festivus to be had. Bands, dancing, rides, food, games – a little bit of everything for all.

A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood

The other day it was a lazy day – the weather was beautiful and with nothing on the agenda except afternoon appointments we decided to get out and walk …

Walking into our little town from See to eat lunch at the Metzgerei

And the sun sets on a wonderful day. Hubby noticed the orange in the sky – I went up to the 3rd floor and was able to capture the amazing sunset:

~ the clouds creating a canvas for the light ~

Touching the clouds

Deepening the shadows

The town goes dark

Oh the sites at the Zoo!

“A Zoo”

Meet George, the asshole of the penguin crew, he liked to dive and swim in the water then run out and shake his body all over his sun soaking buddies

Not sure if her stance was long, this little lady decided too lounge about for her fashion shoot

The polar bears
so white and strong…
The spot neck giraffe
with a stance so long…

Bucket Head! This hairy man was SO smart, and quite the entertainer

Monkey that swing
by their tails in trees…

Just Chillin’ in the Sun

Can’t you see I’m Eating!

The big grey elephant
with the wrinkled knees…

Kiss Me!

I’m CUTE (and yes I know it’s a Rhino)

Let’s take pictures
of one or two,

or a hundred, I loved the Aquarium!

Oh, please,
let’s go to the Zoo.

Love is in the air!

The memories of days when I would take Kay to the zoo… such a precious moment in life.

Poem “The Zoo” = Author: Unknown

Have you been to the zoo lately? I hadn’t gone in years… it was so thoroughly enjoyable!

All fotos on Flickr!

Tranquil Waters

An afternoon at the Tierpark (Zoo) not only afforded views of amazing animals, but nature moments of tranquility.

I think at this time with all of the moving pieces in my life, embracing some of the quiet moments has become more important than ever.