| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Starlight Terrace |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 02:17:59 AM
Hi everyone! I discovered Mary Janes magazine and website back in the Spring when I was living in Texas and thinking about a move to the country and having some land. . . and lo and behold, due to my husbands' work, here I am living in the Mosel Valley of Germany amidst all of the vineyards and fields. I alternate between pinching myself to make certain that I'm really here in the middle of all of this fabulous food, wine, adventure and beautiful country. . . and after 6 months . . . coping with my first bout of homesickness.
It is gorgeous here. As I write the snow is drifting down and the chickadees, robins (very different looking from our USA breed) and a red headed woodpecker are working hard at the feeders. We live in a small village that has a bakery, a butcher, and a tiny grocer. You can walk the entire breadth of the village in 10 minutes and the people are absolutely lovely. I feel in some ways as if I've stepped back in time 60 or 70 years. People walk everywhere. . . the shops all close for an hour and a half at lunch time, open at noon on Mondays. . . close by 6pm every night. . . close at 2pm on Saturdays. . and nothing I mean NOTHING other than an occaisonal gasthaus is open on Sunday. Our village still has the Church with its tall steeple as the centerpiece, and the bells chime on the hour, and for eventide. Food is fresh and largely organic, I know which neigbor my eggs come from because their name and address are on the carton when I pick it up. My house backs up to a field of about 100 acres and we are surrounded by farmers and vineyards in our area. There is also a forest that starts at the edge of the farmers field. I don't know how large it is, but it has its'own ForestMeister, and is big enough to get people lost enough to have to send out search parties (just ask my neighbor!). I'm happy to meet y'all and look forward to planning my garden for summer, making friends, and gaining inspiration and comfort from everyone here. As they say in my new town, Tchoos!! |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| realme52 |
Posted - Jan 28 2006 : 6:34:52 PM
Willkommen, Toni. And thank you for the impressions you relayed. So true and still so close in my own memory. Funny, I did the journey in the opposite direction: from Germany (where I was born) to Texas (about 200 miles North of where you came from). The pictures you painted with your words brought tears of recognition to my eyes.
Since you plan on having a garden, it may help you to find out if your little town has a "Gartenverein" (kind of like a gardener's club). Usually there are farmer's wives who get together like the farm girls here, except they meet in person. They should be glad to have you join them and you will get a lot of help and hints from them. The families there usually lived in the same location for ages and know the weather, the soil, what grows and what doesn't in their sleep. And if you don't think you speak enough German (yet!), don't worry. In Germany nearly everyone knows at least some basic English and this will be an excellent way for you to learn. Viel Glueck (good luck) and "Tschuess!"
From this hour I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
| Julia |
Posted - Jan 27 2006 : 09:31:08 AM
Welcome Toni! How wonderful to get to experience another country. My husband was stationed in Germany and has always wanted to take me there. Keep us posted as to the doings in your little world. You can be our own travel guide! Simply, Julia V.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
| sqrl |
Posted - Jan 27 2006 : 08:22:41 AM
Oh I am just so jealous. Europe had always felt like home to me. I have a lot of family in German near Holland. I just love listening to you discribe your little town with it's shops and church and the people. Can't wait to hear more stories. Welcome Toni!
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
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| asnedecor |
Posted - Jan 27 2006 : 06:55:07 AM
Toni -
I found where you are on the map. You are much more north then where I was. I was 30 miles south of Stuttgart, near the towns of Boblingen and Calw in the Baden-Wurttemberg region. My cousins still live in this area. It is very rural and beautiful. My introduction to small German village life is when I went with my grandmother to go get milk and we walked down the road a ways into the village and knock on someone's home door. When they opened it there were two cows. The cows lived on the street level of the house and the family lived above, quite unique. I do miss it and someday will go back and take my husband so he can see the same things I saw. Yes, please post photos.
Anne Portland, OR
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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| Starlight Terrace |
Posted - Jan 27 2006 : 12:32:54 AM
Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome!! We came from the San Antonio area, and our little village of Binsfeld is between the two larger towns of Wittlich and Bitburg. The nearest city is Trier, which was the center of the Roman Empire in this part of the world during Caesar's day. The Porta Nigra (the old main city gate) still stands in the city. It's the way Caesar entered when he came to check up on things. . . I walked every centimeter of it so that I can lay claim to standing exactly where Caesar stood at some point!!!! We're near the borders of Germany, Luxembourg, and France if that helps anyone out. The weather is VERY different from San Antonio and South Texas!! I wasn't sure what I would think, but I have so far enjoyed having a definite Autumn and Winter. My husband is a physician, and we'll be here for a few years. . . probably 3. Diane, I love the castles and the markets. . . The Christmas Markets were a treat!! In Cologne we stood in the Market square with the cathedral rising above us and snowflakes as big as dinner plates floating down and the sounds, smells, and sights were almost too much to bear! The kids got tired of hearing me tell them to tuck the moment into their hearts because moments like this sometimes come only once in a lifetime. Yawn, at 13, 11 and 9 that thought was just a bit boring to them!!! I'll have to learn the picture thing. . . I think of myself as sort of a functional illiterate when it comes to computer matters. . . but it is so incredibly beautiful here that I'll figure it out. . . it sort of begs to be shared! Toni |
| CountryGirl85 |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 11:05:16 PM
Willkommen Toni!
No, I don't know German. I cheated and looked it up.  Aunt Jenny's right, you describe it so well I feel like I'm there! I've never been out of the country, hardly ever been out of the midwest! It sounds so beautiful. And the lifestyle! I could definitely get used to something like that. What does your husband do? What's the weather like compared to where you used to live? I, too, would love to see pictures!
Much love,
Laura |
| TejasFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 3:02:59 PM
Welcome Welcome! I have never been to Germany but from what you describe...paradise.
D. |
| Fabulous Farm Femmes |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 1:19:11 PM
Welcome Toni!!
OH!! I am SO jealous! We lived in Germany from 1979 to 1982 and I want to go back SO badly. I was SO young and homesick and poor and had a small child, what I wouldn't give to go back now and live and learn and love it even more.
When we were there, the dollar/ mark ratio was so poor, and there was so much anti americanism because we were still in the middle of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall was still up.But we still loved it.We were at a Air Force Base called Hahn, which I understand is now decommishioned, but we lived in 2 small cities name Fronhofen and Rhaunen, near Simmern. I don't know where your city is off hand, but you can bet I am gonna find out. Have you been to any open markets yet? been Castle hopping? The Burg Katz was our favorite.
I am going to email you and finish chatting..hope you don't mind..it's just so exciting to find a farmgirl in my old neighborhood! |
| asnedecor |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 07:04:17 AM
Toni
How wonderful, what is the name of the town you are in? My dad is from Germany and I have many cousins that still live there. It is beautiful and yes the people are very nice. The shopping days are a bit hard to get use to, I was there many years ago and it was hard to understand the time schedule. But in a way it is a nice change from the USA where everything is open 24/7. You must post pictures of the area you live in. I bet it is just beautiful. Welcome aboard.
Anne in Portland, OR
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 06:21:49 AM
Toni, WELCOME!!
It sounds like you live in a fairy tale. How beautiful and peaceful. Please keep sharing those descriptions and stories....we love to hear'em. The description reminds me of the movie "I am David"....the village where David discovers who is mother is sounds just like yours.
What part of Texas did you live in? I'm down by Houston.
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 26 2006 : 06:11:41 AM
Welcome Toni! Wow...sounds like you live in such a wonderful, special place. I have always heard that Germany is beautiful...you decribe your village so well I can picture it!!
Just jump right into the discussions..I am sure glad you found us..we will all love hearing about you!!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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