Last work days in 2021.

It’s done. Another year in home office survived. New trend: virtual Christmas parties! Drinking in front of the monitor is just not as much fun. I prefer the real get together with humans, mulled wine and hangovers the next day. lol.

An Advent lunch. And more important: the dessert.

Another (Mexican) dinner date with hubby.

A mulled wine street party with the favorite neighbors. A very fun & delicious night.

Producing Pralinés.

Making Christmas dinner plans. It’s going to be delicious! Wrapping gifts. Listening to Christmas songs. Dancing in the kitchen with the chocolate bowl in my hand. Booking seats in the local church for Christmas Eve. Inviting for advent coffee. Receiving Christmas post. Happy times. Delicious times. 5 days until Christmas.

Start spreading the news

I’m leaving today

I want to be a part of it

New York, New York

These vagabond shoes

They are longing to stray

Right through the very heart of it

New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city

That never sleeps

And find I’m king of the hill

Top of the heap

These small town blues

They are melting away

I’ll make a brand new start of it

In old New York

If I can make it there

I’ll make it anywhere

It’s up to you

New York, New York

New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city

That doesn’t sleep

And find that I’m number one

Top of the list

Head of the heap

King of the hill

These little town blues

They’ve all melted away

I’m gonna make a brand new start of it

In old New York

And

If I can make it there

I’ll make it practically anywhere

It’s up to you

New York, New York

New York

-Frank Sinatra-

A scheduled flight. A canceled flight…

We dreamt of spending next weekend in New York. The city which never sleeps. The city most famous for Christmas shopping and Christmas spirit. The city famous for its street Hot Dog.

New York, I’ll come back. Maybe next year?

Honey, snow & cinnamon flavors in the air. It’s a sign that Christmas is close. I love these hours, only 2 weeks to go…

The kitchen is mine: Baking cookies for neighbors, dogs & us while listening to Christmas songs. Yeah! Hubby ran away… Charlie supporting while patiently waiting that I accidentally drop a bit of peanut butter… lol.

Another favorite: writing & posting Christmas letters around the world and dropping little surprises. A little thank you for a big support to us this year. We are very thankful, especially for our family & friends and gorgeous neighbors.

A little bit China at home: Hot pot dinner party. Super delicious & immune booster characteristic.

Surprising guest for Sunday dinner: an old friend from the US.

Not exactly sure how many times I watched the trailer in the past days… So excited. So ready. 90 minutes ahead.

If you can’t be in New York City… NYC comes to you and better: Hot Dog, Cremant and a sofa.

Shock: and just like that… Mr Big died. OMG. Noooo!

Oh and I have frequent dates coming up: my TV, my sofa, my bottle of bubbly and I.

The shoe must go on! Cannot wait for next Thursday.

*pics stolen from Instagram 😉

Our tree is up! Yay! It sparkles! It’s shiny! That smell! Wonderful! Forest scent in our living room. Hmmmmm!

24 doors, I mean 24 days, to go. Counting started… Happy hubby. Happy puppy. Happy everyone. Traditions are wonderful. Adults turn back into children. Our eyes turn as big.

December weekends are the best. Especially in the north of Germany surrounded by family.

It snowed and everything turned into the most beautiful winter wonderland. Stunning.

Couch, cookies & champagne (home made eggnog – the very best)! Many cuddles and Christmas films. And wonderful Christmas shopping. Oh, so many wonderful things for the eyes, the hearts and the soul. It is the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas markets. They are open in Bremen, lucky us & very sorry for making everyone jealous. We cheered to all of us!

We even enjoyed a Christmas concert. Wow! I haven’t heard such a brilliant tossing applause in two (!) years! Goose bump feeling! Happy tears. Christmas spirits.

Getting spoilt by nieces delicious cooking.

Could you spend a Sunday afternoon any better than painting ceramics with the 2 most gorgeous and talented nieces? (No!)

It’s all about spending valuable time with each other these days…

St. Nicolaus found us here, too.

Leaving again. Our hearts are filled with love. We had a fabulous weekend. Tradition to be continued next year!

PS: Another very best of last week: hubby’s wheelchairs were picked up. May they support someone else for a speedy recovery!

3 weeks to go until Christmas…

Thanksgiving & Black Friday kicking off the Christmas season. Ready for the best time of the year. On to Christmas. Yay!

Honey scent from the candles & a cup of tea. Started decorating the house.

Continuing our wonderful tradition: finding the most beautiful Christmas tree. Before: delicious lunch with friends.

The best time of the year is about to start.

Happy 1st Advent!

4 wonderful weeks to go…

Cherry season back in June. Many delicious cherries -harvested by our friends- entered our kitchen for juicing.

5 months later… what we did next is a secret. Lol. All I can say: it’s very delicious. And we’ll use it for digestive or the next Black Forest gateau.

I enjoyed sitting on the loudest table surrounded by Portuguese speaking colleagues.

My absolute favorite chicken dish. All the other 5 courses were as delicious. Mmmhhhh! Thank you!

All of that possible in and around Stuttgart.

From the west to the east. What a great couple of gourmet days. Eat the world with friends & colleagues from Brazil, China, Iran, Canada, France, Portugal. Beautiful & delicious dinners.

Tonight on the dinner menu: online beer tasting with Frankonian Brotzeit – Heimat 💜

Happiness these days is seeing the result of hubby’s hard work over the past months, weeks & days. It’s wonderful to see his progress over the past 6 months with amazing results. Looking back now feels like pure joy.

Happiness is that he can walk again. Not many steps and not long distances, but he is walking again!

He’s playing the guitar again. Different than before but he’s playing again and it sounds wonderful.

He’s got back to “normal” pain level (except muscle ache). That’s the first time since May. Yeah!

He started brewing beer again!

He is preparing meals again: pulled pork, lamb roasts… I missed his cooking so much.

He is cleaning out the dishwasher again (that makes me happier than him 😉 ).

We are eating out again! We have a backlog and huge motivation for the next weeks 🙂

We are beginning to socialize again outside the 2nd house floor.

We are so relieved and very happy that the 2nd knee surgery a couple of weeks worked out. It’s been hard work and there’s still way to go. Step by step. We can do it. Together as team. And for now we decided to just be happy & enjoy the moment.

The least liked month in the whole year for most of us. Not sure why. But it’s a fact. Despite all the wonderful things happening.

Baking bread.

Sitting in front of the fire. Legs up.

Hours and hours on the phone chatting along with family & friends.

Walking Charlie & enjoying the fresh crisp air.

Raclette Dinner. And even better: leftover the next day.

Candle light. A lot of it.

Putting a winter coat on.

Looking forward to go to bed (weekend siestas included).

Snuggling on the sofa to watch a series.

Planning Christmas gifts. That’s pure joy. Cannot wait to put the Christmas decorations up.

Reading favorite magazines.

A cup of tea.

Hubby started brewing beer again.

And when he starts the pulled pork in the BBQ, the smell is all over in the garden. Love.

November Blues? No!