I am still tweeking our meal plan, but this is what I have come up with for this week. I want to expand and try new main and side dishes. I would also like to include more fruit into our diet :)
(This is only hot meals or weekly breakfasts and lunch tend to stay the same)
Monday- Spaghetti
Tuesday- Cutlets, Knoedel (a german potato dumpling) corn, and brown gravy
Wednesday- Chicken and wild rice casserole
Thursday- Grilled Cheese and tomato soup
Friday- Tuna cakes and Baked potatoes
Saturday- Breakfast- English muffin bake with tomato, bacon and cheese
Lunch- BLT with fries
Dinner- Pear and Walnut salad with Basalmic vinaigrette
Sunday- Breakfast- Hot rolls with wurst and cheese, or marmalade
Lunch- Soup with french bread
Dinner- Red beans and rice
So what are you having for dinner this week?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The legend of St. Nicholas
A man with a long white beard, a bishop’s miter, and a thick red cape comes knocking on the door at some houses every December 6. Other children wake to find their shoes have been filled with treats. Who is this international man of mystery?
“Ho, ho, ho, have you all been good?” The old man with a long white beard, a bishop’s miter, and a thick red cape stands with his finger raised before the excited children, his eyes moving from one beaming face to the next. “Yes!” they all shout in unison, impatiently eyeing the heavy brown sack that Saint Nicholas has carried in from the cold night over his shoulder. What could it possibly hold? Toys, books, or even candy? “Well, that’s good to hear!” Nicholas declares and opens his big golden book, from which he reads the names of the children and presents each of them with a small gift from his sack. They politely thank him, offer homemade cookies to their peculiar guest, and recite small poems. Finally, they accompany him to the door, where he trots off with a jolly “ho, ho, ho,” disappearing into the dark on his way to the next house.
Such a visit is not at all unusual in Germany in the pre-Christmas season, for every year on December 6 Saint Nicholas is remembered and celebrated in this way. Like many traditions handed down over the centuries, it is unclear what is true and what has been added over time to the legend of Saint Nicholas. What is known, however, is that the person we now celebrate as the holy Bishop Nicholas is purely fictitious and has evolved from two historical figures: The first is Nicholas Bishop of Myra, who lived in the forth century in what is now Lycia, Turkey. The other is Nicholas Abbey of Sion and later Bishop of Pinara. The figure who later became known to us as the powerful Saint Nicholas Bishop of Myra evolved from them and the good deeds they did to help the poor, infirm, and oppressed.
From that figure have grown numerous legends describing Nicholas’s altruistic and sometimes miraculous good deeds. In the most well-known story about him, Nicholas peacefully stopped the plundering and rioting in the city and saved the lives of three innocent men who had been condemned to death. In one of the more mysterious legends, he rushed to the aid of sailors on a ship during a raging storm and calmed the sea, thus enabling them to reach the harbor safely. The tradition of gift-giving is believed to be based on the story in which he generously gave the entire inheritance left him by his wealthy parents to the poor and protected them from the cold and hunger. These and many more legends about this saint have been handed down from generation to generation and are meant to teach children how to live unselfish lives.
Read more here
German Missions- St. Nicholas
In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel outside the front door on the night of December 5 to December 6. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch (rute) in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
But for many children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht), who would threaten to beat, or sometimes actually beat the children for misbehaviour as using this myth to 'bring up cheek children' for a better, good behaviour. Any kind of punishment isn't really following and just an antic legend. Knecht Ruprecht furthermore was equipped with deerlegs. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the dark forest. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries and regions such as Austria or Bavaria.
In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist.
Wikipedia
So does that mean I get a stocking and a shoe? :)
“Ho, ho, ho, have you all been good?” The old man with a long white beard, a bishop’s miter, and a thick red cape stands with his finger raised before the excited children, his eyes moving from one beaming face to the next. “Yes!” they all shout in unison, impatiently eyeing the heavy brown sack that Saint Nicholas has carried in from the cold night over his shoulder. What could it possibly hold? Toys, books, or even candy? “Well, that’s good to hear!” Nicholas declares and opens his big golden book, from which he reads the names of the children and presents each of them with a small gift from his sack. They politely thank him, offer homemade cookies to their peculiar guest, and recite small poems. Finally, they accompany him to the door, where he trots off with a jolly “ho, ho, ho,” disappearing into the dark on his way to the next house.
Such a visit is not at all unusual in Germany in the pre-Christmas season, for every year on December 6 Saint Nicholas is remembered and celebrated in this way. Like many traditions handed down over the centuries, it is unclear what is true and what has been added over time to the legend of Saint Nicholas. What is known, however, is that the person we now celebrate as the holy Bishop Nicholas is purely fictitious and has evolved from two historical figures: The first is Nicholas Bishop of Myra, who lived in the forth century in what is now Lycia, Turkey. The other is Nicholas Abbey of Sion and later Bishop of Pinara. The figure who later became known to us as the powerful Saint Nicholas Bishop of Myra evolved from them and the good deeds they did to help the poor, infirm, and oppressed.
From that figure have grown numerous legends describing Nicholas’s altruistic and sometimes miraculous good deeds. In the most well-known story about him, Nicholas peacefully stopped the plundering and rioting in the city and saved the lives of three innocent men who had been condemned to death. In one of the more mysterious legends, he rushed to the aid of sailors on a ship during a raging storm and calmed the sea, thus enabling them to reach the harbor safely. The tradition of gift-giving is believed to be based on the story in which he generously gave the entire inheritance left him by his wealthy parents to the poor and protected them from the cold and hunger. These and many more legends about this saint have been handed down from generation to generation and are meant to teach children how to live unselfish lives.
Read more here
German Missions- St. Nicholas
In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel outside the front door on the night of December 5 to December 6. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch (rute) in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
But for many children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht), who would threaten to beat, or sometimes actually beat the children for misbehaviour as using this myth to 'bring up cheek children' for a better, good behaviour. Any kind of punishment isn't really following and just an antic legend. Knecht Ruprecht furthermore was equipped with deerlegs. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the dark forest. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries and regions such as Austria or Bavaria.
In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist.
Wikipedia
So does that mean I get a stocking and a shoe? :)
Freebie of the week- 17 free ebook novels
For adult readers only :)
You can download (in pdf format) 17 full length novels from Harlequin
check it out here
You can download (in pdf format) 17 full length novels from Harlequin
check it out here
Friday, December 4, 2009
A2 ist fertig
Well for the most part that is. We did the majority of our test today. That included reading, writing and listening comprehension. We were supposed to do the speaking component as well, but after waiting 45 minutes for an additional instructor to make an appearance, our teacher said the hell with it, she will call in her assistant next week. I believe I did pretty well over all. I know that I made mistakes, but I understood this test better then the A1 and I consider that a substantial improvement. I will find out Monday the grades on these three components of the test, and then the completed score late next week.
So next we will take on b1, and then the orientation course, before taking on the b1 test next March. In a few weeks we will be getting a 3 week Christmas beak and I look forward to that as a time to wind down and relax, but also to catch up and refresh on some tough spots.
I am glad that we are coming toward the end of the course, but at the same time I am a bit saddened. I have made so many wonderful friendships, and I look forward to the class daily. And while I am sure many of these friendships will remain outside of the course parameters, I am a bit disappointed for the days when I no longer get to look forward to the next days course.
But I am truly happy with the progress that I have made. Liberating is an understatement in terms of the changes it has made in my life. I think that two often we are quick to judge immigrants, but really have no standing to talk until we too stand within their shoes. I came to Germany with 2 suit cases, a carry on bag, and two words of German. And for the first time in my life I know what it feels like to start a new life in a foreign world, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for everyone who conquers that difficult task.
So next we will take on b1, and then the orientation course, before taking on the b1 test next March. In a few weeks we will be getting a 3 week Christmas beak and I look forward to that as a time to wind down and relax, but also to catch up and refresh on some tough spots.
I am glad that we are coming toward the end of the course, but at the same time I am a bit saddened. I have made so many wonderful friendships, and I look forward to the class daily. And while I am sure many of these friendships will remain outside of the course parameters, I am a bit disappointed for the days when I no longer get to look forward to the next days course.
But I am truly happy with the progress that I have made. Liberating is an understatement in terms of the changes it has made in my life. I think that two often we are quick to judge immigrants, but really have no standing to talk until we too stand within their shoes. I came to Germany with 2 suit cases, a carry on bag, and two words of German. And for the first time in my life I know what it feels like to start a new life in a foreign world, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for everyone who conquers that difficult task.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Our Meal Plan
Here is a peak into this weeks meal plan.
Monday- Corn roll sandwiches
Tuesday- Pizza
Wednesday- Spaghetti, herb bread, and salad
Thursday- Pork, spatzle with Jagar sauce, and salad
Friday- Soup and Salad
Saturday- B- Eggs, Hash-browns, L- Sandwiches, D- Tuna cakes, mashed potatoes, and spinach
Sunday- B- hot rolls, L- Sandwiches, Mid day tee and cake- Quark cake D-Red Beans and Rice
So whats for dinner at your house:)
Monday- Corn roll sandwiches
Tuesday- Pizza
Wednesday- Spaghetti, herb bread, and salad
Thursday- Pork, spatzle with Jagar sauce, and salad
Friday- Soup and Salad
Saturday- B- Eggs, Hash-browns, L- Sandwiches, D- Tuna cakes, mashed potatoes, and spinach
Sunday- B- hot rolls, L- Sandwiches, Mid day tee and cake- Quark cake D-Red Beans and Rice
So whats for dinner at your house:)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
I came here to talk
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand
That green eyes, yeah the spotlight, shines upon you
And how could, anybody, deny you
I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter, now Ive met you
And honey you should know, that I could never go on without you
Green eyes
Honey you are the sea
Upon which I float
And I came here to talk
I think you should know
That green eyes, youre the one that I wanted to find
And anyone who, tried to deny you must be out of their mind
Cause I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter, since I met you
Honey you should know, that I could never go on without you
Green eyes
Green eyes
Ohohohohooooo
Ohohohohooooo
Ohohohohooooo
Ohohohohooooo
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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