Funiculus!

After St. Martin, another new holiday for Sophie to celebrate: St. Nikolaus. Or "Funiculus" as Sophie called him for a short while. Sophie has been somewhat confused about the difference between St. Nikolaus (who comes on 6 December) and Santa Claus. I told her that Santa Claus is St. Nick's fat brother. I'm not sure that she was buying it. 

 We started out baking some cookies for Nikolaus (and for us).

 We set out plate for Nikolaus and his horse (the other difference between the two of them is the mode of transportation they use: horse & carriage as opposed to reindeer & sleigh). We had a slice of bread and carrot soup (as we had run out of plain carrots) for the horse and a cookie and a glass of wine for Nikolaus. ;-)

 Sophie hung up her stocking by the door and stuck a picture for Nikolaus in it, hoping it would produce more presents. Then it was off to bed. Note to self: next year I will not tell her that Nikolaus will check on her in her room when he comes at night. Tonight she wanted to make sure that her door was shut tight!

The next morning, Sophie immediately checked the stocking. Nikolaus had indeed been there and left a snow globe for her. What a cool holiday!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Our kitchen arrived just in time for us to christen it with our Thanksgiving dinner. Mind you, we have never cooked a turkey before or hosted Thanksgiving dinner. There are still boxes sitting everywhere, but they could wait. Berit and Dennis accepted our invitation and I have to say it was a cozy afternoon/evening with delicious food. Andrew's mum can be proud of his son's cooking skills. ☺

 The preparations began the day before with the corn muffins and the stuffing. Then we went into town to look for pecans, which were almost more expensive than the turkey. We also ended up having to buy more butter (and wine) at the gas station, the only place open on a Sunday.

 The chef hard at work. 

 Tatata! Who would have thought we would have a tasty and crispy turkey on the table after Andrew had stormed out of the kitchen in the morning. It was when he found out that neither pots nor fridge were big enough to hold the turkey in the brine. His patience was gone when he spilled turkey and brine juice all over the kitchen floor and fridge. So unlike him, right? ☺

 Turkey, a bunch of side dishes and five empty bellies.

 Note that Sophie is wearing her kilt for the occasion. 

 And to top it off, our first ever made-from-scratch apple pie in the oven.

 While the pie was baking, Sophie had a quick after dinner runaround in the sheep meadow (aka our future garden) with Berit and Dennis.

 Cutting the American Pie

I think she liked it. 

For those who would like to join us next year - it should be the same place, same time - unless Andrew's schedule gets messed up for some reason.

Saint Martin - Part 2

As promised, here the second part of the St. Martin festivities. This parade was for the whole town with all the schools. 

Saint Martin is back on a new horse greeting the kids with their lanterns.

 Yes, Andrew, you don't need to say anything.  I know what you are thinking. (Clop!)

 My mum attempting to work my camera.  A little too slow. Just missed Sophie's lantern. Oh well. Cheers!

 Breaktime with Pöfferkes (deep-fried donuts with applebits or raisins) and the season's first Glühwein for Oma, Berit, and Mama.

 Saint Martin's "ascension" on a fire ladder. I guess he became a bishop when he was done being a soldier. I noticed he didn't share his bishop cape with anyone tonight. Besides he looks an awful lot like St. Nikolaus.

 The girls are mesmerized, nevertheless.

Plus: current gas prices in Germany. This is per liter, mind you.

 Three chickens awaiting the - oh so noisy - fireworks. 

Berit's friend Li, Berit, and Sophie

 The platform for the fireworks was the old mill tower, former site of the ancient Geldern castle. The mill tower also served as the last control center for the city when it was fire bombed in 1945.

 First fireworks since Disneyland last August

She still loves them - Sophie, that is.

Saint Martin - Part 1

On November 11 children all over Germany celebrate the holiday of St. Martin by taking their usually self-constructed lanterns on a parade and see a short play of the St. Martin story. Very briefly: St. Martin, a well-off Roman soldier with a horse and a warm cape, cut his cape in half a shared it with a cold beggar. The most fascinating part of the parade/play used to always be the live horse for me - turned out Sophie feels the same.

 In the morning, just much too early for my liking, I had joined a group of other mom volunteers to bake 120 traditional Weckmänner - little sweet bread men with raisins. It turned out to be good fun. We were cracking up about the silly shapes of them: most of them resembled edematous aliens.

 Sophie has been counting the number of nights she would have to sleep until she got to walk with her lantern. She was very excited today. After a last-minute hunt on the bike all over town for the lantern stick and safe candles, we were ready to head over Sophie's preschool.

 ...where we started off the festivities with a waffle or two or four. All for a good cause.

 Finally gathering on the school playground and waiting for St. Martin to mount his horse. Or should I say Santa Martina in this case?

 I'm amazed the lantern did not break before the parade. Most girls chose the princess castle theme, although I really liked the frog prince ones. 

 Off we go.

 Wave hello to Santa Martina AND THE HORSE!

 Many houses were decorated en route.

Back at the preschool, Santa Martina handed every child a Weckmann, which looked a lot like a certain edematous alien, to take home and share with the family. Sophie was mesmerized. The lady in the white shirt is one of Sophie's teachers by the way. Her name is Judith and Sophie adores her. 

So this was part 1 with the preschool. Tomorrow is another parade for the entire town with another St. Martin. Sophie is definitely going with Berit. My mum and I have to hurry back from off-loading the container in Dusseldorf. There will be fireworks for this parade.