Past Adventures: Stories of Immigration
For many people, Bremerhaven was the gateway to a new life in the new world. © Laurel Decher, 2015. What did it feel like to go to America to make a new life? My family and I visited the German Emigration Museum in northern Germany. The museum is in Bremerhaven, literally “Bremen’s harbor”, so there […]
Washerwomen Day, Rose Monday, and Carnival (Karneval)
Rose Monday is the crown of Germany’s Karneval in the Rhineland. In the last days before Lent, people of all ages stroll the city in gorgeous costumes. Sometimes I also run into young men dressed in convenient cow costumes with a single zipper up the front. Learn more about this colorful holiday and how you can enjoy it with your family in the Seven Kingdoms.
Cochem and Beilstein
inspired a zany, fairy tale series for ages 9 to 12 Cochem castle in the Mosel valley. ©Laurel Decher, 2018. The inspiration for the Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales (for ages 9 to 12) comes from the Mosel and Rhine Valleys of Germany. Cochem and Beilstein are two lovely villages worth visiting. But the world of […]
That’s the hardest part about . . .
I wish I’d asked what was the hardest part about working with a horse: keeping the rows straight or making the turn at the end of the row? This post is a mini tour of the open-air museum in Lindlar, Germany: the LVR-Freilichtmuseum Lindlar. “That’s the hardest part of weaving. Getting the edges even.” -Weaver […]
When Helping Feels like a Festival
Breathtaking beauty of Mayschoß, before the flooding. Being part of the hope is the best kind of vacation. Yesterday, I was a worked in a vineyard! My friend, Heike, found out where to help people who’ve had their homes and businesses flooded out in the Ahr valley. It’s an area with many small vineyards. A […]
Surprise Visit to a Local Printer in Germany: Druckerei Paffenholz in Bornheim
More than a tiny copy shop–this is a printing press! They are sitting on the machine that looks like a train that does the four-color printing. Source: https://druckerei-paffenholz.de/ I went into a small toy and stationery store to make a photocopy. There was a huge sign over the door “DRUCKEREI PAFFENHOLZ” and since “Druckerei” means […]
What You Say Depends on Where You Come From
View of the Protestant City Church of Monschau (Evangelische Stadtkirche Monschau) and bridge covered with flower boxes. Monschau’s “Red House.” Monschau, Germany. © Laurel Decher, 2018. Salt? Or Sugar? The charming village of Monschau is in Germany, but Americans and Belgians fill it up on busy days. It’s very close to the Belgian border and […]
Olives and Antifreeze ALWAYS come in Two Colors except when They Don’t.
Is your #expatfamily cranky? Heroes in every story get worn out. Sometimes the right story gives them the strength to get up and go again . . .
Maybe you need Giant Trouble . . .
#jackandthebeanstalk #boypeacemaker #chapatis #comicstripartist #bookworm
4 Things Trappist Monks know about Safe Spaces for Creativity
Abbey Mariawald, the only existing Trappist monastery in Germany. Founded 1470 A.D. Heimbach, Germany. ©Laurel Decher, 2017. Safe spaces to create art Lately, I’ve been thinking about safe spaces to create art. On the weekend, we visited Abbey Mariawald, famous for its split-pea soup. Judging from the number of motorcyclists, families, and hikers, they’ve hit […]
Basic Garden Vocabulary in German and a side-trip to Mexican Oregano
Vegetable garden overtaken by poppies, nasturitiums, cosmos and zucchini plants Clearly this garden needs tools and more plants. 🙂 I’ve never grown vegetables in Germany–until this year. That means I need lots of new words! If you’re considering gardening in Germany, maybe this list will help you out. Or provide you with a little entertainment. […]
Growing into shape: A 1,000-year-old linden tree
This 1,000 year old linden tree has such a perfect shape from the outside. A really old tree gives me a new perspective on life and how long it takes to grow something beautiful. This one almost certainly saw a procession of Emperors passing by. It’s very near the open-air museum of Tilleda, a kind […]
The Good Earth: International Gardens
In 2017, I participated in the local community garden for the first time. A new growing season is always a hopeful time for me. No weeds. The dream of the perfect garden unmarred. Since then, the garden has thrived. The Good Earth: International Gardens. Paydirt. The classic rich soil of the Rhineland. © Laurel Decher, […]