WEDNESDAY'S HODGEPODGE

Once again it is time to link up with Joyce for this week's Wednesday's Hodgepodge.  Click the badge above and join us!

1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year...do you participate and if so, in what way?

If having a krapfen (doughnut) during Fastenzeit (Lent) counts, then I'm guilty.  But I wouldn't go so far as inject my own filling with a syringe firmly planted on top.  You never know.  It could be a used one!

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So....butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What's your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

Here in Munich a favorite pancake is served for desert.  It is called Kaiserschmarrn.  It really comes from Austria but has been adopted by Germans and is very popular.   The word "Kaiser" meaning Emperor and "Schmarrn" meaning mishmash = Emperor`s mishmash. It is such a quick and easy dessert recipe, enjoyable to make.  Basically it is cut up pieces of pancake sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a fruit compote of apples, strawberries, blueberries, etc.  I've included the recipe here:

Kaiserschmarrn
200g flour
50g sugar
6 eggs
250ml milk
pinch of salt
2 tbsps raisins

butter
icing or powdered sugar
apple compote or puree of any fruit you wish




Separate the egg yolks from the whites.
Mix the egg yolks, sugar, flour and milk in a bowl.
Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and beat with an electric whisk or hand whisk until stiff.
Fold the stiff egg whites carefully into the flour and egg mixture.
Melt some butter in a large frying pan. Pour in the dough and then sprinkle with raisins. Cook on one side for a couple of minutes, turn over, cook and then chop into rough pieces with a fork.
Do not overcook otherwise the pancakes will dry out.Sprinkle with icing or powdered sugar and serve with your favourite compote.


Or, if you shop in International food stores you might find this:

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What's your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they're lightweights.

Hands down-- the lovely, fragrant hyacinth.  Pink or purple preferably.

4. "Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves." Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

This is a quote I've forgotten about, but I find it to be very true.  I think we all choose to be close to people who bring out the best in us.  However, you can also look at this quote and come to the realization that if you met a brutally honest person, you probably wouldn't befriend him or her.  But I honestly believe that the qualities that we find distasteful in ourselves and others become outwardly apparent to us when we are faced with them in others; thereby reminding us of our own character flaws.  


This quote could be the basis of a great novel, don't you think?

5. Since it's "March" and also the season of Mardi Gras....have you ever been in a parade? What's the best parade you've seen?

Yes.  I was a member of my University Dance Team and did appear in parades "back in the day" as they say.















One of the best parades I have ever attended was a Kite Festival parade in Bali.  The participants were from Denpasar, Bali and were having the parade to honor the Hindu gods to bless their crops.  It was outlandish, exotic, and the kites were phenomenal.  It is one of many memorable moments we had in Bali. 

UPDATE!  I went out this afternoon and lo and behold, there was a PARADE in town.  A Faschingzeit Parade with drummers, music, and cars and trucks loaded with costumed people throwing candy to the little ones.  Here are some photos.

 Every one loves a parade!

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?

I had three wishes!

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

Good thing you asked this question this week, because up until Saturday, we didn't own a car here in Germany (we have one back in the U.S. being stored in our garage.) Since it is only been in our possession for 4 days, it is spanking brand new and clean as a pin--for now.

8. Insert your own random thought here.


We are moving house in a month!  In mid-April we plan to move farther south to a town called Forstenried, Germany.  It is a suburb of Munich and our new digs are located one street away from the Forstenried forest.   The forest is a recreational area consisting of 43 kilometers of hiking and biking trails, paved in part, and extensive riding trails. There are opportunities for sports like running, cycling , horseback riding, inline skating and winter skiing. There is also a playground, a nature trail and a fitness trail. The Rad-Ring Munich, a bike path around the city, crosses the east-west direction. We are looking forward to an active spring and summer this year--that is if we can avoid the numerous biergartens scattered throughout the forest!



SHARE TO GOOGLE BU

WOOO HOOO, SPRING IS HERE!

Well, at least the weather was finally springlike here in Munchen and as a result, the girls decided to have an outing.  It was barely 50 F, but that didn't stop us. Afterall, it was the first warm day of the season and we weren't going to stay indoors. 
 

Our outing was to take us to the Englisher Gardens in the center of Munich.  This garden, or park, is larger than Central Park in New York City, but just as beautiful. 

We began our walk by meeting at the Theaterenkirsch pictured above.  It is located near the Residence.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and we were anxious to spend the morning in nature.

One of the very first things we spotted was this horse and rider.  I know very little about horses, but I could tell this was a practiced rider.  Watching him trot his way through the countryside was thrilling to watch.

A few moments later had us following the river that had been iced over only days before. 

This view was not seen from the ground.  The trees obscure the view from the walking path.  In order to get this view, you have to step into this.

Monopteros

On top of a small artificial hill is this ancient Greek structure.  Built in 1836 under orders from King Ludwig I.  On a great day you get a beautiful view of the Munich skyline and into the Alps in the distance.

Inside of the dome of the structure is the most beautiful decorative painting and detail.  It truly is magnificent.

Another famous structure in the Englisher Garten is the Chinese Tower which was built in 1789.  Around the tower is one of Munich's most famous beer gardens.  It wasn't open yet, but with temperatures flirting in the 60 degree range this week, it is only a matter of days before the crowds begin to descend.  This will have to wait until May for me.  I'm due to head back to the states for a visit.  I doubt they will run out of Augustiner before then.

Beautiful birdhouses such as this one dot the landscape in the Englisher Gartens.  Fancy having this for a home if you were a sparrow?  Pretty posh, eh?

The sparrows are not the only birds living large.  Take a look at these fellow feathered friends.  Life is good!

These ladies did an amazing job of walking from the southern most part of the park to the northern tip.  And we did it all under three hours!  Considering the park is 3.4 sq. kilometers, we didn't do a bad job!

Of course, it's fairly easy to do when you have scenes such as this one at every turn.  I cannot tell you how beautiful this park is and how natural.  There are wildlife sanctuarys, bird sanctuarys, meadows, rivers and lakes.  Honestly, there is something for everyone here in Europe's most famous garden.

It Can't Get Any Better than This!

I thought you might like to take a look at the neighbors homes now that the foilage has given our neighborhood a new look. Everything is in FULL bloom at the moment and we are basking in sunlight most of the time. Today is was full of sunshine, but it was darn right cold and windy. You would think with so much sun there would have been some heat with it! But, I shouldn't complain as the weather in Munich has been made to order for the last month.

Lilacs, tulips, wisteria, baby's breath, and lilly's of the valley have already poked their heads out of the earth to make themselves known. Trees, for the most part, are filling out their branches with feathery, green leaves and some are giving off the sweet scents of spring. Neighbors have begun their spring planting of annuals and perrinials in the certainty that spring is here to stay.

With all of this good weather, I have gone out and purchased a wheely bag as Steve calls it. Actually, it looks a lot like a carry on bag for traveling, but it's wheels are larger and it weighs next to nothing. Women here use it for grocery shopping, so, "When in Rome...."

Some of you have asked if I go to the small shops as I had hoped to when I was back in the States. Although I do have a choice, I have made the conscious effort to only shop at the local shops --avoiding the "chain" markets. Steve and I did this back in the States and it's just as good of an idea here, where the economy is showing the same downturn as the rest of the world.

The farmers bring their produce in each morning and there is an outdoor market with fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers. There is a cheese shop, a fresh fish shop, bakeries, wine, chocolate, and a pastry shop in the same square surrounding the open air market.

This is the local "Viktualmarket" (I think I spelled that correctly) in the center of our little village. Notice the lady shopping with her "Wheely Bag?" Just imagine a much sleeker, younger, more stylish woman and you have me (in my dreams, LOL). During the day, most of the people in town are the retirees, like ME. (I still get excited at the thought that I don't ever have to work again--if I don't want to.) At 5:00 PM the place becomes mayhem. Train, bus, and subway commuters from all directions descend on their little village to do the quick shopping before heading home. Since all stores begin closing their doors at 6:00 PM sharp, you have to be a very skilled shopper to find what you need before closing time. Forget shopping on Saturday--all of Germany who works is considering the same thing. Forget shopping on Sunday. Nothing is open in Germany on Sundays except dining establishments.

Here is the local butcher's shop. I have some interesting stories to tell you about shopping for meat. Bottom line, shop in a store where the meat is fresh and not packaged. Also, take time to translate words like "Hackenfleisch" before you take it home and think it's chicken. I think you get the idea....lot's of wasted preparation time and a quick call to the pizza shop. We have a delightful Thai restaurant that delivers and they also make sushi. In a pinch, that will do as well.

Steve and I decided that we were going to make the most of the park in front of our building. From time-to-time we plan on taking a bottle of wine, some cheese, and

fresh baked bread across the street and enjoy this view.

Not a bad way to spend the evening and enjoy a glass of vino. We are very happy here and life seems to suit us just fine. If we get the urge for excitement, central city Munich is only a few train stops away. But so far, we are loving the tranquility and the beauty that is right outside our door.

One jump on our bike and we are transformed to another setting in another time. The best part is that you can stop wherever you wish, take out a book, and relax on a bench nearby. With bike trails everywhere and benches every quarter mile or so, it is an easy city to enjoy.