I am at O.K.‘s for the weekend and typing this on my ipad - not my preferred way of writing without a proper keyboard, which is why I am keeping this short.
Because I won‘t be home until Monday morning, yesterday after work the only thing I did in terms of Christmas preparation was to bring the beautiful Advent wreath up from the cellar where it‘s been stored in a cool, dry place since I bought it last Saturday at a local garden center, handmade by the people working there - one of them is my sister‘s next door neighbour, and you should see her hands after she‘s been making wreaths all day!
I plan to light the first candle on Monday night instead of Sunday, and will then take a picture of the wreath to show you. In the meantime, here are the Christmas cookies I got on Thursday, made by the family friend of ours who used to be a baker and is like a big brother to me. I wish I could include here the scent of when I opened the lid! So far, I have not eaten a single cookie from the tin; I always very carefully ration them so that they last until Christmas.
Here are two pictures fron Ripon that were sent to me yesterday and today. The market square is from my friend George Pickles, the former Hornblower. The second one is from Ripon Cathedral, where my aunt J and uncle B visited the Christmas fair this week. I wish I could have joined them!
Our Christmas market here in Ludwigsburg was all set up and ready to go, as these pictures taken last week show. But… less than 12 hours before it was to open this past Tuesday, it was cancelled, because infection rates are shooting through the roof and our local hospital is full to the brim; some patients on the ICU had to be transferred to other hospitals already in order to make room for new patients.
It is all very worrying, but so far I still manage to enjoy this time of year - personally, I have nothing to complain about, just reasons for gratitude.
Never mind about opening the lid. I would actually like to eat one.
ReplyDeleteComment of the week, surely.
DeleteI am going to have a select few on Monday night after my tea, probably while watching Midsomer Murders.
DeleteTasker, if I had something like Comment of the Week going on my blog, I agree - this would be it!
Those cookies look so yummy! Such a variety too! You will enjoy those all through December!
ReplyDeleteOur friend always makes at least 10 different kinds, and only uses very good quality ingredients. They taste as great as they look!
DeleteThose cookies look so delicious! I read this post earlier today and then went to our local Lidl store. I saw a cookie assortment that reminded me of you and of this post. I'm sure they're not nearly as good as your cookies!
ReplyDeleteSee my reply to Ellen; these are truly great cookies, and I am sure they are healthy with so much good stuff in them 😋
DeleteWhat a wonderful Christmas gift those cookies are for you and anyone that visits you! They look quite yummy and is that a cat cookie I see on top? We just had our Thanksgiving last week and that officially starts the Christmas season for us. I love the pictures of the market, fair and church. It is too bad the market had to be cancelled. The virus rates are up here too but nothing has been cancelled here except the mask ordinance. We just stay home most of the time.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted, Bonnie - it is indeed a cat cookie!
DeleteCancelling the market at the last minute was disappointing for us, but a catastrophe for the vendors. It would have been much fairer to pull the breaks at least a week earlier, and the development of extremely high numbers was already well under way and widely known.
Yum. What a beautiful (and tasty) gift from your baker friend.
ReplyDeleteAgree with your response to Bonnie, I feel bad for the vendors. Shutting down the market at the last minute when they were all set up was particularly cruel. Not like the authorities didn't know the numbers were rising.
(Sixth try with Blogger sending out the whoops message. :( )
I am really looking forward to the first 5 or 6 cookies tomorrow evening!
DeleteOther towns and cities in our area have decided in advance not to go ahead with their plans for markets, my town waited until only a few hours before. They are now trying to explain it with their desire to save the market, but talking to the head of the local hospital made them understand that they could not go through with it while in the nearby hospital people are fighting for their lives.
Actually, there will always be someone fighting for their live in hospital, Covid or not, and with this argument no markets, funfairs or other such event would ever be morally justified.
I love that you have an Advent wreath.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I fear, here we go again. A new variant, rush to make vaccine, hospitals overcrowded.
This time of year just wouldn‘t be the same without an Advent wreath! My Dad used to make ours, but now that this is no longer possible, the handmade ones from the local gardener are a good choice.
DeleteLove the pictures from Ripon, a lovely lovely town.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely town, Unknown!
DeleteOh, I have been wondering how things might be different due to Covid rates going up in Germany. I am sorry the Christmas Market had to be careful but of course, I understand the reasons behind it. At least you have that wonderful tin of cookies! Take care and wear a mask even if fully vaccinated!
ReplyDeleteMost people understand the reasons for not holding the markets, but the way they waited until the last few hours was very unfair to the vendors; things could have been handled much better.
DeleteHad to be cancelled not careful!
ReplyDeleteI understood, Kay! And don‘t worry about me not wearing a mask - it is mandatory here, but I would do it anyway; wouldn‘t feel safe on the train etc. without one.
DeleteHow terribly sad the Christmas Market had to be closed down - I know how enjoyable they are in Europe. Things sound really sad in your area and, once again, we are all concerned for friends and family everywhere.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and be well - you, O.K., and your lovely family.
Still enjoying Arizona in perfect weather, returning home to chilly NC on Tuesday.
Sad for us, but existential for the vendors who not only depend on the turnover but also lose a lot of money because they have already bought or produced their goods in advance, and much of it I‘m afraid will go to waste.
DeleteYou too stay safe and well, dear Mary, and enjoy your trip!
I always have Lebkuchen at Christmas. My son says that they don't taste like the ones we had when we used to go to Germany when he was a youngster. He's actually at a Christmas fair with his wife and Brodie in Hamburg at the moment. For me they are always a reminder of happy times.
ReplyDeleteLebkuchen are the most traditional Christmas food we have in this country, they go way back to Medieval times when spices were not only extremely precious but also a way to conserve food.
DeleteHamburg has a Christmas fair? Maybe their infection rates are not as high as ours here down South. I hope your son and his family are safe and well, and enjoy their pre-Christmas trip without problems.