Until next year-

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. -Laura Ingalls Wilder

Merry Christmas...

to you & yours.

May it be merry & bright.

And White (here's hopin').

Frohe Weihnachten. Joyeux Noel. Buon Natale.

-Amy

Ludwigsburg Christmas Market (year 2)

I love Sundays.

I have my last batch of Christmas Cookies 2011 baking in the oven and tomorrow's dinner in the crock pot.

Purse is by the door and house is clean.

Sunday is the only day during the week where I feel remotely prepared for the following day: Rhett's outfit is picked out for daycare, my toe nails are clipped, my keys are by the door, etc.

As soon as my alarm goes off at 0500 tomorrow morning, it's pretty much downhill from there in terms of organization.

With that said, I don't know how or if we'll get to anymore Christmas markets this year as many of them will start closing shop before Christmas Eve.

We were no where near last year's record (8 was it?) but that's life.

I hit all my favorites this year so I'll keep trying to remind myself: quality, not quantity.

And, who knows? Maybe there is one more German Christmas in my future.

We will have to wait and see.

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One evening after work, I took my parents to the Ludwigsburg Christmas Market. It's one of my absolute FAVORITE markets.

It wasn't as romantic as last year because there wasn't a snowflake in sight but it was a tad bit warmer and I'm okay with that.

Oh and I was with my parents not my husband which limits the romanticism one can have...

moving on...

The first stop was to get some gluhwein. Can I tell you I thought their mugs were super cute and they now make a lovely addition to our gluhwein mug collection.

After having a drink and standing by the fire, we slowly (systematically) made our way through the market.

I always enjoy a market that mixes practicality with Christmas and both my mom and I purchased German Christmas cards for a really good price.

Like last year, they had fleece, antiques, and food.

Of course, I paid no mind to all the other food booths because I only wanted the Ludwigsburg Christmas Market falafel.

I dreamt about them all year.

The lovely woman who makes all the empanadas and falafel (by hand) has lived all over the world... including London and Argentina. I love people with interesting stories.

We ordered a beef and a corn empanada and 2 falafels- devouring them all.

Rhett loves him some empanada.

Before heading home, we shared a germnudel (filled with plum) topped in a vanilla sauce with cinnamon & sugar. Just like last year.

Y.u.m.

If someone told me I could only visit one Christmas Market next year, I'd pick Ludwigsburg.

First stop, falafels & empanadas.

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I now know the difference between a dampfnudel and a germnudel.

Just wanted to clarify that.

See last years post here.

Need more info? Go here.

December 16, 2011

Esslingen Christmas Market (year 2)

Nothing says the holidays like a sick baby and a flat tire.

Oh yes, it is true, lucky me.

Tuesday was our annual Christmas Brunch at work. As we were heading out the door to go to the restaurant, I noticed a peculiar tilt to my car.

I tried to ignore it and I prayed that I was lucky enough to park in the only pot hole in the entire parking lot but, alas...

my tire was flat.

I couldn't do much about it at that point because I had to take part in my Christmas brunch but I called Chad to let him in on our little surprise and hoped he could fix it before 430 when I leave work.

Anyways, as if a flat tire isn't enough of a wrench in my day, I received a phone call from my daycare provider notifying me that Rhett had been crying for over an hour and the thing we often refer to as his "nose" had become a phlegm chute. The only time he had been remotely content was during meals and snacks. That's my boy.

I told Rhett that he MUST get better so that we can resume Christmas marketing this weekend.

He obliged.

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Now I will move on to the real reason while we're all here:

The Esslingen Christmas Market.

We took my parents to the Esslingen Christmas Market for a couple reasons 1) that it has the medieval market which is always fun 2) it's close and 3) Esslingen is beautiful.

This market is always pretty crowded, especially into the evening, but we got there early enough to maneuver around without too many problems.

Last year when we went, there were about 6 inches of snow on the ground but not the case this year, as the weather was cold but sunny.

After purusing the various stands and making a few purchases, we warmed ourselves with the Kirsch (cherry) gluhwein, maultauschen, a dampfnudel and various other goodies that I can't even begin to name.

It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday with my parents.

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One thing I noticed this year (no snow) compared to last year (um, snow, lots of snow) were all the lit candles on porches, windowsills, and steps all over the city. It was beautifully festive and romantic and added to the overall experience. ♥ Esslingen.

To read about last year's visit, go here.

Need more information? Go here.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

I can hardly believe that it's almost 10 days until Christmas and I haven't posted about one Christmas market. What is wrong with me?

Don't answer that.

My promise to you is that from here on out my blog will feature Christmas market goodness.

Brace yourself my friends-

it's that time of year again.

Gluhwein, dampfnudels, and wursts!

Yay.

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The first Weihnachtsmarkt we visited this year was Nuremberg.

We left bright and early the day after Thanksgiving in order to drive the 2 hours from Stuttgart and to beat the crowd.

This market is one of Germany's most famous markets.

There are about 200 stalls at this market- each one uniquely decorated.

Now, most Christmas markets offer a lot of the same but it's the first time in 3 years that I've seen prune men (and women).

These odd little figurines were made out of dried fruit and, apparently, are one of the most popular souvenirs at this Christmas market.

Honestly, they kind of freaked me out.

Anyways, we wandered the stalls for awhile before we took refuge in a restaurant to defrost.

Gluhwein helped a little, too.

Overall, the Nuremberg Christmas Market is large, diverse, and beautiful. Their blueberry gluhwein is wonderfully delicious and warming and of course...

you can't visit Nuremberg without tasting some gingerbread or nuremberger bratwursts.

I would definitely visit this Christmas Market again...

if only to have a closer look at those prune people.

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Want to visit? Find information here.