It’s about to become a Christmas tradition. We did it last year. It was fun. So we did it this year again: hunting a Christmas tree. Unfortunately not with our friends (Scott and I got sick).
It didn’t take us too long to find the most beautiful tree. In the winter wonderland (what a nice surprise).
We carried it all the way to the van (no space issue this year). We drove it carefully home. And put it up. Following American traditions: Christmas time starts with thanksgiving.
The most wonderful time of the year has started. Christmas is almost upon us, but, as this has been a year unlike any other, the festive season is sure to follow suit.
Less than four weeks to go. Yeah!
The virus infections keep increasing… well, we have been good in making up plan B all year… so let’s make our Christmas as festive as we can. At home. It might be the last event in 2020, so let’s eat, have fun and enjoy family & friends. Happy holidays! Be merry! (Next lockdown seems just a matter of time so let’s spoil Christmas…).
French Christmas market in our living room.
That being said, let’s get prepared for the last event this year: don’t consume blind (Lametta stays in dusted boxes as in the last years) but rather let’s get to work and plan along with maximum effort. Don’t only decorate your house as beautifully as usual. This year we all should decorate so it would be ready for a filmset.
Why not…! Lol.
How about not getting your ingredients just in the shops around the corner but rather travel some kilometers for a change and explore what’s out there. Get the best. Hopefully local.
Don’t only plan dinner strategically to get the most time with the family. But rather make it a family event. One (or two) glass of wine included.
No time for all of that? Oh, you have plenty of time! Remember, it’s corona time. And lockdown “light” got extended. No Christmas markets… no big parties (social distancing)… actually it’s sad but it’s also great news: you just won time this year. More time than ever before. It’s the plan B!
Time for baking cookies. For hours (one or the other batch will end in the bin anyway). Time for a glass of (Glüh)wine. Time to chill. Time to make own candles from bee wax (and smell it. Sooooo good). Time for thinking of Christmas gifts (sorry out there, this year no excuses for last minute gifts… the goal this year: happy gifted loved ones. So, if you haven’t started gift thinking, now it is the time). Followed by my absolute favorite part of all: listening to Christmas songs while wrapping gifts. Time for enjoying those cold (white) December evenings with candles. Time for Christmas dinner thoughts (I love reading my Christmas recipe book to get inspired… and try one or the other out and make it a festive pre-Christmas dinner). Time to light a fire. Time for long walks. Time to think what to wear. Time to sit back and watch old & new Christmas movies (all time favorite: actually love. Cannot wait… this is when hubby will run away). Time to find a Christmas tree & giving it a festive dress including many many lights. It shall sparkle. (PS: decorating the tree without listening to Maria Carry is a no no. That will be the second time for hubby to run away… you got it: he is the Christmas grinch).
Time to create merry messes in the kitchen. While Charlie is sneaking bits of dough.Home made.
Oh, so much gifted wonderful time. Don’t take it as granted! Make the best out of it! I am looking forward to it!
Happy holidays!
My favorite time of the year has just begun.
Frozen beauty. Just watching the sunrise out of bed.
And what about now, with the possibility of a lockdown Christmas looming? Let’s not sugar-coat the sadness of missing loved ones, but it does mean that, should the worst happen, you don’t need to think of a reason why you cannot attend your outlaw‘s dinner or you won’t have to suffer a chat with the uncle you haven’t seen in a year. No, instead you can lounge in your, well, loungewear for weeks on end.
I usually don’t share adds… but this one is too good to not be shared. Enjoy & maybe even submit your own window! #wanderlust
“Let’s face it. We are all stuck indoors. And it’s going to be a while till we travel again. Window Swap is here to fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else’s window, somewhere in the world, for a while. A place on the internet where all we travel hungry fools share our ‘window views’ to help each other feel a little bit better till we can (responsibly) explore our beautiful planet again. Let’s travel without moving for now. Let’s window swap.”
Well, the original plan was to sit in an airplane on the way to London with my girls – canceled (or postponed to 2021). Plan B: a thanksgiving dinner invitation with friends – canceled. Plan C: dinner for 2! – not canceled!
Hands up if you miss going out for dinner as much as we do right now. Therefore a little change of plan tonight (a little bit of creativity is all you need).
Tonight on the agenda: going out & supporting a local restaurant. Picking up dinner and returning to our private “van restaurant” for two. Dinner to go. (Dinner on wheels since we had to escape from getting a parking fine). And found a wonderful location: Stuttgart West. Just in time for sunset.
No seating these days… but pick up works as great. On top of Stuttgart.The beautiful West.
Served on the plates tonight: Boeuf Bourguignon & deer for hubby. Both served with Spätzle (of course, we are in Stuttgart) plus red wine. So good!
Van life. Different & delicious!Dinner with a view. Happy thanksgiving!
November. 16C degrees. Saturday. Sunshine. A wonderful golden November and an all-season motorbike license plate… that’s all we need this year.
We grabbed the bikes and drove the Solitude racetrack (twice) on our motorbikes today. It is a former Motorsport race track in Leonberg, west of Stuttgart. It is named after the castle Solitude and has hosted various motorcycle and automobile races.
Control tower at the start-finish line.
Today’s trip continued to the Black Forest. Beautiful curves.
Ein Papa, der sich beim Wandern auskennt. Eine Mama, die fürs Proviant sorgt. Ein Opa, der Turley Bräu probiert (und lecker findet). Ein Cousin, der traditionelle Schlitten baut (nach Uropas Design). Ein erwachsenes Patenkind, die ihr tolles Haus zeigt. Was für ein schönes Wochenende in der Heimat.
Knopf im Ohr.Wow! Wandern am Dreilaendereck, entlang der ehemaligen Grenze BRD/DDR. Herbst.So friedvoll. Pause. Wohlverdient. Opa. Ab jetzt kann es schneien.
Das Auto vollgepackt mit schönen Dingen… 2 Rhöner Lämmer, Hiffenmark, Adventskalender, Rhöner Wurst Spezialitäten, einen Schlitten und viele wunderbare Momente. Genug für die nächsten Wochen bis Weihnachten.
Ein wunderschönes Wochenende geht (leider) viel zu schnell zu Ende. Bis bald!
US election. Lockdown „light“. Travel restrictions. Terror in Austria and France. Early dark nights. Increased number of Covid. November Blues.
Hoping continues…
Difficult times for the head & the heart. And plenty of ides how to spoil our souls.
A little NYC at home.
Stay 10 minutes longer in bed. Not sleeping, but awake. Enjoy the light & the warmth. A new day. Every morning. Amazing feeling! And the best: problems don’t get through the thick dawn duvet. And working from home makes it possible!
Dogs…
Snuggle up with your dog (if you don’t have one check them out in the park). There’s nothing better than a dogs love. They just enjoy to be with you. No more reason needed. Greeting you when you come back home. Or just returning from another room. Giving kisses. Pure happiness. Pure love. (Charlie enjoys the extra 10 minutes in the morning the most!).
Just chilling.
Baking or cooking with cinnamon. For the smell. The mind. And the soul. Mmmmhhhh… the whole house is smelling. Winter smell. Famous smell. Fantastic smell.
Supporting the neighbors. Each other. Sharing cake. And soup. And getting fruits in return. Inviting for a common (dog) walk. Exchange over the hedge (social distancing – check). Taking the bin out for them. It feels good to take care of each other.
Thanks, neighbors! Enjoy, neighbors!
Clean up! Rooms. Cellars. Whatever. Feels good! (If not already done in first look down this year. Lol).
Music. Sing. Play guitar. Listening to records. Helps. Always!
…Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now. I feel good, I knew that I would, now So good, so good, I got you…
Forest hike. Go! Put a coat on. Take an umbrella. Maybe a torch. Maybe your neighbor. And dog. And go! No excuse. Get out, move your body, refresh your mind, breath. Deeply. Come back home. Relax with a cup of tea. So good!
Take a bath! No matter which day in the week or what time. Nothing is better than soaking (in lavender). Followed by a hot chocolate or a cup of tea. Sooooo good! Alternatively a foot bath.
Photo show from past vacations. One year ago or 10 years ago. Doesn’t matter. Soooo good. Especially in times of travel restrictions. Feel free to have popcorn and a drink. Get inspired for the after corona time. Dreams on.
Yes, this is the time to be strong and positive. But sometimes it also feels good to let go. Call someone you love. And trust. And tell them how you really feel.
Bord Game times! Play time.
Books! Cuttle on the Sofa. Follow recommendations. Or anything else. And get lost in the story.
Time for watching series. Snuggle up on the couch. Ready for a good film or series marathon…
Preparing rich & spiced up food. For the fun. And the health. Sometimes it has to be a glass of wine at lunch time. Why not!
Pulled pork with home made green tomatoe ketchup.
November Blues. Gone. It’s Christmas Eve in 7 weeks! Pleasant anticipation. Have a great weekend y‘all!
