Visual Story Structure with Cows

The idyllic Naafbachtal hiking trail is gentle on your eyes and on your knees. © Laurel Decher, 2017 Our story begins in the Naafbachtal . . . Naaf brook valley The Naafbachtal is a long valley full of meadows, originally slated to be a reservoir, and now a nature reserve. The lovely little Naaf brook […]

A Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Public Libraries in Germany

  The city library of Cologne is a magical place! I got to go on a behind-the-scenes tour with volunteer librarians from my local library. Six floors of books, music, DVD’s to make any library fan happy. There’s even a special support office that supplies books and support for blind readers. Author Heinrich Böll’s archive […]

Dark and Light: Defense Against the Dark Hot Cocoa

Light leaves in a dark forest. Kottenforst, Germany. ©Laurel Decher, 2015. Defense Against the Dark Hot Cocoa This morning the day felt heavy for the first time this summer. The clouds are low and gray and the day looks dim. But I went for a walk in the forest just now. There the light is […]