Switzerland 2010: Planning Notes

We have been kicking around the idea of Switzerland as our next European destination. We originally were going to visit Zurich as the base for our 2008 trip, but it switched to Milan and our "Amazing Race-style" vacation ended up circling completely around Switzerland. I'm happy about that, since we really want to dedicate a whole trip to the country.

The overachievers in us want to tackle and hoard as many experiences as possible. We learn it every time and finally did it right with the England 2009 trip. Although we only had a week, we stuck to three themes: Bath/Cotswolds, Bristol, London. It worked brilliantly, although we needed more time in the Cotswolds.

Dates and such are still TBD...but I am obsessively toting my Rick Steves and Fodors books around with me and already have a spreadsheet put together (nerd alert!) for possible itineraries.

One idea that sticks in my mind is a short 2 hour drive after landing from Zurich up to the coast of the Bodensee, one or two stops, and then arriving in Lindau by Noon. We have been there before (see 9 Oktober 2006) and would stay in our cute apartment gastehaus again. A few beers in the biergarten, a dip in the lake, a climb up the lighthouse, spätzle for dinner, and a long sleep listening to a peaceful city square with fountain bubbling. Sounds good to me.

Then, recharged (unless another day is needed on the Bodensee...possibly?? Ferry to Friedrichshafen for the Zeppelin museum or to Konstanz?) we head off to Appenzell to play with cows, cheese, and clean air. And on from there...

More to come!

Tschüß!!

Old German Postcards (Alte Deutsche Postkarten) - #6

Postcard #6: "Typical German Farm Home"
Stöckel Farbfoto Karte Nr. 5950
Schlagenhaufer (-Döring)

I love this postcard. I want a huge version of it on the wall in our house. Who knows what she is looking at, but I'm sure it is fabulous.


Tschüß!

Old German Postcards (Alte Deutsche Postkarten) - #5

Postcard #5: "Scheidender Tag"
Nr. 1611: Scheidender Tag (Hocheder)
Farbenaufnahme von Jos. Jul. Schatz
Kunstverlag Georg Michel, Nürnberg-O
"Die Welt in Farben"

"Scheidender Tag" literally means "Separating Day" - I am not sure if that's pointing to the separation in the clearing, the clouds and blue sky, or something more cultural. On the back, it does clarify and say "Hochende" which is high.


Regardless, beautiful. It reminds me of driving through Bayern and descending on the town of Lindau - the Swiss Alps beckoned in the distance and they were beautiful like this.


Programming note: I started a series of old postcards that my Grandpa bought during his stay in WWII. He was stationed in Freising, near München, as well as in Österreich. Refer to this postcard label to see the full collection so far.


Tschüß!!!

Couple of Late January Notes

This is an odd time of the year - it's sometimes too chilly and sometimes too warm. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to fresh herbs and plants or lamenting not cooking enough squash and pumpkin waffles. Even the stores are a bit confused...already there are galvanized tubs for sale to hold libations at outdoor summer parties, but light pastels with a smattering of deep valentine red also abound.

Our trip to L.A. continues to be a bright spot for me. Disneyland rocked and the whole trip was perfect. I am getting a little jumpy because it's nearly February and our next trip to Europe isn't on the docket - there are some good airfares out there and some ideas are brewing in my head! There are a couple state-side destinations we have in mind, just need to put the wheels in motion and get them done. I am definately looking ahead to my parents and grandpa visiting in late February - it should be lots of fun.

Scott on the Disneyland railroad

Scott and Ryan on King Arthur's Carousel

 

Ryan and Scott on Alice in Wonderland

Ryan and Scott in front of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Scott on Main Street USA

Cooking notes - with some extra demands at work, most of the cooking has been regular classics. We're on a string of Giada De Laurentiis recipes that include Cannelli beans, Parmesan rinds, and lip smacking goodness! Before we pasta-ize ourselves, though, I'm trying to reign it in. The Farmer's Market is abuzz with Broccoli, awesome Spinach, continued beautiful Mushrooms, and more. I love our FM!

That pretty much catches us up...Tschüß!!

Disneyland Ride Photos - A Series

Oh Disneyland, how we miss thee

with ride photos to aid our memory

we look back at fear and fun and more

as you can see, dear reader, never a bore!

'

Note, the first Splash Mountain picture includes our friend, Regan, in the hoodie. We met on a Disneyland forum back in the early 1990s and finally were able to be at the park together! To celebrate the occasion, the Disney God Tangaroa decided to claim Regan's keys - shortly after or before this picture was taken. Luckily, the magic of Disney (or the forest animals from Snow White who scour the ride vehicles after closing) found them the next day.

Tschüß!

Disneyland Day 1

We are in heaven. 14 hours if Disney fun today and we are as geeky as we have ever been about this place.




Top moments
-segway tour in DCA at 7 am before the park opened







-always holding up two fingers and saying, "2 for the front row?"
-the time we got the back seat in Pirates and held hands
-riding Tower of Terror for our first time and then getting back in line because it rocked so good
-comparing our ride laughter/screams from now to our first Disney trip, oh so long ago
-getting a pic in the Pirates loading dock to recreate the sane picture from our first Disney trip
-churros
-free pizza because a diner in Downtown Disney was no longe serving but they had slices leftover (we shut the park down because if shopping)
-waiting until dark to reenter Main Street and see the park at night
-doing Space Mountain first




-Jungle Cruise at night
-wet pants for hours after Splash
-searching for Hidden Mickeys
-being here with my favorite fellow Disney man


Tschüß!

California!!

I told the kid at the Long Beach airport Avis counter that I was born here. He upgraded my car and said, "Welcome back."

We did a slow start to the vacation, with massages ($45 here vs $150 out here and my eyelids look the same) and packing - slight delay, landed, and rushed to Von's.




Yes, yes we bought bananas and goldfish crackers too. But $30 for this?!?!

Checked into our fab hotel, made a cocktail while unpacking, and saw a glimmer of Disneyland from our 15th floor balcony. Then, we headed for dinner at K'ya just up the street - thanks Regan for the recommendation! It rocked!



(Ry at dinner)

On our way back, we drove through Disney Way and peeked at the Matterhorn. Can't wait to go but it'll be a little bit longer as we switched our West Hollywood day and cousin time to tomorrow. That will be fun!!

Tschüß!

Italienisch Essen

Ribollita

This winter, we've been all about Italienisch Essen. For a bit, we moved into Slovenia, but spent most of our days eating Tuscan-like peasant foods with the help of Giada DeLaurentis. I think my favorite part of this dish is the Parmesan Rind you put into it - parts, but not all of it, melts and adds incredible texture and flavor.

And who doesn't love Cannelloni Beans?? For a few months there, I think we had Black Beans in almost every dish, so it was nice to switch gears.

Grete and the Marshmallow Bed

If you remember our first trip to Germany in 2006, we discovered Bettdecken at all of our hotels, except the American ones (tsk) and loved them. Personal warmth control, no need for stringy sheets when you're trying to curl into a ball, you can layer them if you're really cold, and if it's too warm - just stick a foot out and let in some cool air. Plus, they look so cute rolled up. They look like Marshmallows.

We are not the only ones who like these Bettdecke. Especially after new sheets are put on them. (They are like duvets covers, but the nifty sets we bought in Deutschland zip up at the bottom.)

Here is Grete demonstrating how to kick a foot out to get fresh air. Or watch the ongoings of the house. Or create whatever master plan she has going on in her head to take over the world. She gets an A+ for technique.

California

Next vacation: California. We both can't wait to be in the sunny land. It's unfortunate that a bunch of Texans will also be there for the football game, so I kindly ask they avoid Disneyland at all times that week. We are also going to revisit Santa Monica and a great English pub, Ye Olde King's Head (last seen in June of 2008). Can't wait.

Tschüß!!

Weinachten Kuchen

Ahh, the holidays. The lead-up was rather insane at the office, but in the house we decorated early, cooked, ate, relaxed, imbibed, and enjoyed company of friends.

For Christmas Eve, I made Winter Minestrone soup - going with an Italian theme that is common in our families. I heart Giada!! On Christmas morning, I made the famous Christmas Orange Rolls and while they looked really good, I used the wrong Pillsbury biscuits so they were big on dough and short on sticky orange goodness.

On Christmas night, Kris came over and we snacked on Deviled Eggs, Warmed Cranberry Brie (heaven), Sweet Onion Bean Dip, and more while sipping Scottini's (kind of a vanilla Cosmo) and cooking up dinner.

For dinner...Eggplant Parmesan and Oricette...

Followed by Schwäbische Apfeltarte, a German Swabisch-style apple tart...it was divine.

All-in-all, a wonderful meal and great company!

Tschüß!

Horse Art is Up

Company joins you at the Pissour....my Paint-by-Number is up!




Tschüß!

Nightwatchman

Watching another wonderful Christmas end.




Tschüß!

Banana Bread

Our house smells heavenly with three fresh loaves of Banana Bread out if the oven....nnmm'nn! Ry is an amazing baker!!




Tschüß!

Dutch Oven Apple Pancakes

Yummmm! Happy Anniversary!




Tschüß!

New Entryway Coathooks and Pics

We've made a couple improvements to our entry, taking it to minimalist from empty...

Cute coathooks from Anthropologie (reminds me of Bear Country Jamboree) and framed Black and Whites if our own pics during our Europe travels.
















Finally, we made some personal touches!

Tschüß!

Autumn Goodness and #300

It's taken a while to get this one up - but since it officially is post #300 - hiphorray!! I started this blog in September 2006, while we were planning our first trip to Germany - and really kicked into it in the six-month afterglow. Now, it's become an ongoing spreading funnel that captures our various crazy interests in Germany.

I'll admit, that's expanded to include other favorite European cultures: Slovenia, Northern Italy, England, and more. For instance, I'm reading a few books: one is a historical travel essay on the Balkans immediately following the early 90s wars there. The other is a historical spy fiction novel, circa 1938, that currently is displaying the depths of immigrant Parisian culture.

There is a theme here - it's not trying to be who you are not. It's falling in love with specifically what you are not and adding it in - if it fits - like trying on and then buying the clothes. If you looked at my 3-ring binder of recipes, you'd see exactly what I'm talking about.

With that said...a few randoms from this Autumn...

Poffertjes
We feel in love with these little delightful heavenly pastry pancakes in Amsterdam, at a cafe near our hotel (by Westerkirche). We found a pan at Williams Sonoma, Ryan attacked the recipe, and heavenly eating ensued...





Oktoberfest!
While rain ditched our chances to head out to Fredericksburg for their official Oktoberfest, our friends Melissa and Spencer hosted one at their house! The food was delicious and we made Spätzle - homemade, of course - and created through our manual Spätzle maker. Who thinks that trying to squeeze a very bouncy dough through essentially a flat colander that is perched above a big pot of boiling water on a hot gas stove only to get a handful of heavenly dumplings is fun?? We do!





Isaac and the Wine Rack
Often, friends ask if Isaac can talk or if he's really as intelligent as they say. As a proud papa, I think he's very smart! Smart enough to know what things frustrate the heck out of us and lately, it's when he climbs down his cage and jumps on the floor, then runs over to the wine rack, and takes up residence. He thinks it's hilarious but will nip ferociously and growl if you try to pull him out. Rooowrll! I love our little green guy.



Oktober
Not only did we have a beautiful Fall in Austin, but we had plenty of fall activities that made it extra special - two pumpkin carving events, a great Halloween night in (one trick-or-treater...humph), and Nightcrawler Noodles for dinner. They rocked!





So, that wraps up Post #300. I have some Slovenian cooking tips queued up soon!

Tschüß!

December's Eve

It's all up!






Tschüß!