Fasching

The kids had last week off of school for Fasching. Never heard of it? Well, neither had we until we moved to this part of Germany. It turns out that Fasching (or Fastnet) is a Germanic rendition of Carneval--the big party time leading up to Lent (the reflective and repentant weeks leading up to Easter). There are many traditions surrounding and leading up to Fasching that I don't begin to understand (like the particular day when groups dressed up as Witches storm city hall and/or offices and cut off men's ties) but some that I very much enjoy (like feasting on jelly-filled donuts and fried scones rolled in cinnamon sugar). The kids spend time at school making masks, and having costume parties. Even the towns themselves dress up by stringing cloth streamers across the main street, and by putting out Hexen (witches) and Narren (fools). Here is a shot of part of our main street here in Ehningen.

Witches are hanging out at the Town Hall in Hirschau, one of the towns we drive through on our way to our Wardhouse in Tübingen. And "Hey!" (that's for you, Ab) -- there's a fool keeping watch at a nearby house.

We also had a Fasching party with the Primary--our very own homegrown circus! Hmmm...they're not looking too lively.

Now, that's a little better. Hokey-pokey, anyone?

On the last few days of Fasching (Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), most of the bigger towns and cities have parades. One of the most famous is in the town of Rottweil (yep, where those dogs come from), which is only about a half an hour away from here on the Autobahn. Chuck took Sarah and Madeline (I stayed home with sick Emma and Kira) early Tuesday morning to check out the traditional masks and costumes (traditional meaning they have been doing it this way for hundreds of years!) Chuck came back with some fun pictures (and the girls with quite a bit of candy, that the Narren were throwing into the crowd). Here are some fancy-schmancy uniforms right out of the middle ages.

Love those bloomers!


Clowns of ALL sizes

All the costumes in the Rottweil parade have to be officially approved and certified. There are a few particular types of Narren--each with specific types of carved, wooden masks, clothing (decorated with paintings, embroidery, feathers, etc.), and accessories (like staffs, bells, or parasols).



This poor fool and his horse end up getting a real whipping.

This guy uses his "animal tail on a stick" to tickle people with. That's a bit different, but I was told that, in Rottenburg, the fools instead bonk people on the heads with an "inflated pig bladder on a stick". I'm sure there is some deep meaning behind it--just don't ask me what that might be (it could also be that it makes a lot more sense after you've had a beer or two--but I wouldn't know about that)

I love the yellow sign in the background. It lets you know that you are leaving "here" and heading towards "there".

Fasching has been a completely new cultural experience for us--and one we have begun to enjoy. After all, a holiday that introduces some life, fun, and color into the month of February can't be all bad.

February Odds and Ends

For us here in Ehningen, February was definitely winter--with more snow than the last two winters put together. But, there have been some brights spots, when the sun has broken through the clouds (both literally and figuratively).

And there have been some encouraging and exciting signs of spring. The snowbell shoots I found a couple of weeks ago are just about to open!



The kids were able to enjoy some of the snow (except for when it was their turn to have the colds and flu that we passed around). Kira was very proud of the Calvin & Hobbes inspired snowman she made all by herself. After a few days, though, even he looked like he was tired of February.


Sarah surprised us with a bit of "springtime" when the little, green chrysalis she has been keeping in a glass in her room since fall actually produced a little butterfly (Emma had saved one, too--but when it started growing mold I banished it to the bin). Schmetti (short for Schmetterling, the German word for butterfly) subsisted the first few days on sugar water. Then, amazingly, the plant that Sarah had also had in her room since fall produced one single flower. It was amazing to watch Schmetti's long tongue roll out to eat the nectar. I'm embarrassed to say that as a former Biology teacher, I don't know the normal life span of a butterfly--but, Schmetti was only with us for a couple of weeks. During that time we were able to witness and enjoy some incredible miracles of nature, as well as learn some of the consequences of changing the natural course of things.
Also on the subject of "the natural course of things", Chuck, Kira, and I spent yesterday afternoon at the funeral of a wonderful lady who had been the oldest member of our Tübingen ward--Sister Margarete Schneider. It was a sweet service, even though the weather was rainy and cold--just like funerals in the movies. We are especially grateful that we were able to spend some time with her just a few weeks ago when we took the older Primary kids (plus Kira) for a visit--with our offerings of flowers, goodies, and songs. It was meaningful to all of us to see how thankful and happy she was to have us there.

Looking for Green in February

Even though it is still a few months away, this is about the point of winter where I get anxious for spring to make its appearance. Cold and snow is fun in December--even festive! But, by the end of January, I have had my fill--and trying to stay pleasant and productive while plodding through until the sun's light and warmth return is a constant challenge. This past couple of weeks we have actually all been healthy, and I have been able to resume my daily walks. There have even been a couple of days where the pale winter sun has peeked out from behind the clouds.


With all these thoughts in mind, I made it my mission to keep my eyes peeled for signs of spring--sunshine, blue sky, and anything green! Even moss and lichen make me feel more hopeful. As Dickon would say, "It's wick!" And it gives me hope--spring IS on it's way!

Trees with mossy green legwarmers (hmmm...make that trunkwarmers)

Sunshine and green at the same time--what a splendid surprise!

Wild strawberries hiding under the leaves.


The first signs of snowdrops and/or crocuses!


Here comes the sun!

Miracles Never Cease

Can you believe it? I am actually posting to my blog! It's not that nothing has happened since September--it's that so much has happened I never know where to start. But, after a bit of gentle prodding (thanks Casey! :) I thought it would be better to do something than nothing.

So, here are the highlights of what we have been up to since my last posting:

Kids started school--Sarah goes to the Otto-Hahn Gymnasium (college-track Jr./Sr. High), and hasn't been late for the train once! Madeline and Emma are in 3rd and 4th grade at the Friedrich Kammerer Schule here in Ehningen (which they walk to rain or shine). Kira has a blast at the Kindergarten (what we would call preschool) at the end of our street.

We celebrated 4 birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, St. Nikolaus Day, St. Martin's Day, the 4 Advents, our 12th Wedding Anniversary, Christmas, and New Years.

During the above celebrations we ate way too much chocolate, candy, and food in general--but we aren't really complaining.

We have been busy, busy, busy in our Tübingen ward, where Chuck started his second year as Bishop, and I work in the Primary.

The kids have been constantly slogging through WAY too much homework (just ask them).

We went on a New Year's trip to the very Eastern edge of Germany. After enjoying a few lovely, relaxing days in Forst with our friends, the Gäblers, we headed south to the resort town of Oybin. There we stayed in a rustic and cozy vacation home and played games and went sledding to our hearts' content. We also popped into Poland and the Czech Republic (just to say we've been there) and took a ride on an old narrow gauge steam train. It was the perfect way to start the New Year--only problem was that we had to come home and jump back into work and school again.

Here are a few photos from our trip:


Dinner at the Gäblers'--with Papa, Mutti, Omi, and Yvonne.













Sledding with Yvonne.
















Go, Madeline!

















The water tower in Forst.

















Haus Isabelle on the outside...


















....and on the inside.








We had lots of snow and there was a fantastic sledding hill just across the street!
















Racing down the hill!



















The train from Oybin to Zittau and back.









The Czech border...about 100 yards up the road.

























Heading into Poland.













A power plant in Poland. I'd never seen so many reactors in one place before. As we left the area, we noticed that just a few miles away, on the German side, there was a big field of wind turbines. It was an amazing contrast.














Castle ruins above Oybin.



















A frosty sign post.










Sarah and Chuck walked a half an hour up the road to this tower...and spent five exhilarating minutes sledding back down. "The BEST sledding run, EVER!" (according to Sarah, anyway).












Some shots out the window at our winter wonderland.