It wasn’t too long ago that I was getting the house ready for Advent, Christmas, New Year, and most importantly, the arrival of my daughter from Florence. Once she was here my world was whole again, and whatever was missing or felt hollow was suddenly filled. But all good things come to an end, and
Category: Nostalgia
One of the greatest parenting secrets my mother passed on was to raise my child as a friend, a best friend. So when my daughter asked me recently what my opinion is about the phrase “I am not your friend, I am your mother” I was rather shocked. In my book, I cannot possibly imagine
I found this photograph in my archives and decided it was the perfect way to close the decade. This was taken in Udaipur, India, showcasing the glorious past, the remain of a decaying era struggling so hard to keep up with the changing times. My life during the last decade was all about keeping up,
The last three days have been dedicated to decluttering, beginning with the closet. One of the advantages of moving from one country to another so often is that you are forced to sort through your things on a regular basis and discard what is no longer needed, has been outgrown, or was just wasting away
My kitchen is the last place you will ever look into for traditional Christmas cookies, especially German Christmas Cookies. Let me tell you why: my mother learned to bake cookies very late in life, and had it not been for the American and European expats she met during our years in Kenya and Mexico, she
“Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.”-John O’Donohue, Anam
One of the aspects of living in Germany that I had to come to terms with very early on was this overwhelming DIY culture. This is the land of precision tools and exact measurements, and where carpenters, plumbers and painters can become certified masters in their own craft. The value placed on tools, trade and
If Santa were allowed to have some fun on Christmas and were let loose around the German Christmas markets for some mulled wine (Glühwein), he would indeed end up doing the pole dance on one of Berlin’s numerous old-fashioned street lamps, especially if he visited all 80 Christmas markets in the city! Christmas in Germany
This is a recurring blog entry of mine that I tweak every year. Have you been naughty or nice this year? Did you earn a gold coin or a lump of coal? The German-speaking parts of Europe all celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas today and instead of coal or gold in the shoes left outside, children
Translation: Rhetorical question: IF I go ahead and transfer the contents of the open tin of cat food into a tupperware and place it it in the fridge, and IF I forget to label it, and IF my husband makes himself a sandwich with it because he believed it to be pate… and IF he
