Monday, July 10, 2006
Heute ist Montag. Today is Monday... or it was. It is actually 1am now on Tiara's birthday eve which we celebrated tonight by staying up late and watching Raise Your Voice. My baby is growing up.
Anyway... today was not horrifically notable, but I do have photos to share... so... drumroll, please...
The school playground is open all summer, so we went there today to play and I noticed, for the first time, these three magnificent trees there. I actually noticed the ground first. It was yellow - completely yellow, covered in a thick layer of pollen and piles of long fingerlike flower clusters. They were unusual and dramatic. So I looked up and saw the tree above me covered in them. Most were the long yellow fingers, but other newer growth looked like it was growing white flowers and small round prickly things were beginning to grow too. I asked the lady raking it all up what the tree was called. It is a Maronbaum - or chestnut tree. She said they are delicious in stuffing and chestnut cream and that they were a staple in their diet before Germany had potatoes (potatoes are not indiginous to Europe - they came from the U.S.). So, as in some US homes, it is a traditional autumn food. I tried a roasted chestnut at the Christmas market in Aachen and couldn't tolerate the dry chalky texture, but may be with sugar and butter, it might be ok. She said to come back in the fall and pick them. I may.
Tonight was also calzone night part one. We made 18 calzones with italian sausage and roasted red peppers and herbs. They turned out great and worked well for some impromtu company. The girls each got to make their own too which was fun. Wednesday night we'll make our Greek style chicken pesto ones.
Last, but not least is our sunset tonight. The clouds were beautiful and the skyline where the sun rested looked like a lake on the horizon, glassy and brighter than usual. I love the sky here. This is the view from our side windows.
Oh... and I almost forgot... Tonight I went to my first meeting of the American Women of Geilenkirchen. I already knew a lot of people there and met a few more and we all had a very nice time. The theme was travel and so people shared their recent trips and gave pointers and websites. The disturbing recurring theme was the McDonalds. A handout told where the best McDonalds, Taco Times, and KFCs are. I learned where the biggest fast food playgrounds are and who had the "coolest" bathrooms. When giving directions most women used McDonald's as a landmark. "Turn right at the McDonald's" etc.
So I guess I sound like a total snob, but really... even with kids, aren't there better places to eat? Shouldn't the European experience be more than McD's and Subway? I had a nice time and learned a few things. The women there are very sweet. But, my friend and I both just sat there stunned at how many times good ol' American fast food was mentioned, and embraced with such enthusiasm. We've gone over a year without it... I think we'll somehow manage.
Anyway... today was not horrifically notable, but I do have photos to share... so... drumroll, please...
The school playground is open all summer, so we went there today to play and I noticed, for the first time, these three magnificent trees there. I actually noticed the ground first. It was yellow - completely yellow, covered in a thick layer of pollen and piles of long fingerlike flower clusters. They were unusual and dramatic. So I looked up and saw the tree above me covered in them. Most were the long yellow fingers, but other newer growth looked like it was growing white flowers and small round prickly things were beginning to grow too. I asked the lady raking it all up what the tree was called. It is a Maronbaum - or chestnut tree. She said they are delicious in stuffing and chestnut cream and that they were a staple in their diet before Germany had potatoes (potatoes are not indiginous to Europe - they came from the U.S.). So, as in some US homes, it is a traditional autumn food. I tried a roasted chestnut at the Christmas market in Aachen and couldn't tolerate the dry chalky texture, but may be with sugar and butter, it might be ok. She said to come back in the fall and pick them. I may.
Tonight was also calzone night part one. We made 18 calzones with italian sausage and roasted red peppers and herbs. They turned out great and worked well for some impromtu company. The girls each got to make their own too which was fun. Wednesday night we'll make our Greek style chicken pesto ones.
Last, but not least is our sunset tonight. The clouds were beautiful and the skyline where the sun rested looked like a lake on the horizon, glassy and brighter than usual. I love the sky here. This is the view from our side windows.Oh... and I almost forgot... Tonight I went to my first meeting of the American Women of Geilenkirchen. I already knew a lot of people there and met a few more and we all had a very nice time. The theme was travel and so people shared their recent trips and gave pointers and websites. The disturbing recurring theme was the McDonalds. A handout told where the best McDonalds, Taco Times, and KFCs are. I learned where the biggest fast food playgrounds are and who had the "coolest" bathrooms. When giving directions most women used McDonald's as a landmark. "Turn right at the McDonald's" etc.
So I guess I sound like a total snob, but really... even with kids, aren't there better places to eat? Shouldn't the European experience be more than McD's and Subway? I had a nice time and learned a few things. The women there are very sweet. But, my friend and I both just sat there stunned at how many times good ol' American fast food was mentioned, and embraced with such enthusiasm. We've gone over a year without it... I think we'll somehow manage.
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Life In Germany
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