Into the Forest

In June, I began planning a long weekend for our July visit with Jenny.  I searched Homeaway.com for rooms in Munich, then broader Bavaria, then Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, Innsbruck, various small ski resort in the Austrian Alps....fully booked.  Europeans plan ahead.  I found one two bedroom apartment in Todtmoos,  a small town in the Black Forest.  The Black Forest had been on our top ten list, so why not.  I overlooked the condition - probably last updated after the War and the lack of  reviews.  I just wanted a place.

The Black Forest, Scharzwald, consists of dense forests covering a 100-mile range of hills - the highest peak 4,900 feet.   The area begins about a 90 minute drive south from Frankfurt and extends to Switzerland.  Rick Steves promised clean air, cheery villages, and cuckoo clocks.  I planned a four night trip with a day at a glacial lake, one in Freiburg, and one in Rheinfalls, Switzerland.

We decided to rent a car.  The air conditioning broke in the van and with such a cold spring, we considered not fixing it.  We regretted this decision when the temperatures reached 100 in the days proceeding our trip.  After calling three car rentals places, Dave found one with an automatic.

After working 21 consecuive days, I needed Saturday morning to regroup.  We slept-in, packed, picked up the rental car, carried our 60-plus pound air conditioner down three flights of stairs and squeezed into our very small trunk, and stopped at the market for waffles before we headed south.   (I told Dave there was no way the air conditioner - which we named R2-D2 - could possibly fit in our trunk.  Thank God, I was wrong.)

Two hours into the drive I asked Dave where he put the passports. "Why would we need those?"  "To get into Switzerland." "That may be a problem."  We phoned a friend.  Switzerland is not part of the EU and would most likely be doing passport checks.  One day trip bites the dust.  (We considered checking with border control, but I could not imagine anyone letting us in with no documentation because we "looked nice.")

We arrived at guesthouse "Bi.ke" in time for dinner.  Dave and I headed for the grocery store - always an adventure in a new still foreign city.  The mountains did not escape the heat so Emily and Owen squeezed into our room while Jennifer, who does not run her air-conditioner at home - yes, you heard that right, stayed in the living room.  We all dreamt of the North Pole.

Aunt Jenny Comes to Town

Jennifer will end her three week European adventure at our house.  Dave and the kids drove to Hahn to pick her up from her Ryan Air flight from London.  She came bearing books.  Emily implored her to keep reading "Ivy and Bean."

We celebrated with an ice cream social.  Emily invited Gillian - her friend from downstairs.  Thank God Jennifer likes the heat - and keeps her AC off even in DC summer weather.  She is at home with our July heat wave and lack of AC.

Cheryl's Brownies

Two months before Owen joined our family, Dave, Emily, and I spent the weekend in Richmond with my college roommate Cheryl.    I watched her quickly melt a chocolate bar and butter, measure flour and baking powder, and mix in eggs and brown sugar.  Delicious.  I adopted her recipe for Ghiradelli classic brownies, and have made them every weekend since.  In Nora Ephron style, I am including the recipe here.

Butter and flour 8X8 pan.  In a heavy 1 1/2 saucepan, melt 4 ounces Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bars and 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces over low heat, stirring until smooth.  Remove pan from heat and let cool to room temperature.  Stir in 1 cup brown sugar, packed and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add 2 eggs, mixing well.  In separate bowl, sift together 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of flour, b1/4 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Slowly fold into chocolate mixture; mix well.  Stir in 1/2 cup chips.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.


My love for brownies began in college.  We made them low fat from a mix and spooned cool whip on top.   I spent the summer before fourth year in Charlottesville, studying for the MCATs and training for a triathlon.  Each Friday night, whoever resided in our 14th street apartment watched movies with brownies in hand.

With access to the best ingredients, our weekend brownies continue to improve - European butter, dark brown sugar, and Belgium chocolate.  We can taste the difference.  My friend Bev picked up 40 euros worth for me on her last trip to Belgium.  These small pleasures definitely add to our everyday experience here.

Summer Golf

Dave and I began our weekly golf dates again.  We started this tradition a few years ago, but the move forced a hiatus last summer.  The incredible summer weather and long days provide extra energy and desire to be outside.  One night a week, we play nine holes at Rheinblick, a local US army run course, and eat at my favorite Weisbaden restaurant.  Dave joined the course last August and now plays regularly with a standing foursome.  (The Germans currently wait three years for membership. )   I am limited to this course since German ones require a handicap card.

Emily continues to work on her game as well.  Pretty soon,  Dave will have a new foursome.

Perfect Weekend

The 75 degree-no-humidity weather beckoned us outside this weekend.  Saturday morning, we biked to the Konstablerwache market for our favorite waffles.  The kids navigated their bikes around crowds of people, strollers, and other bikers.  We enjoyed perfectly cooked powdered sugar hearts while we watched the flurry of people running Saturday morning errands.  After an hour, we jumped on the U-bahn to the river for a ride.  The kids love the sesaws and I love sitting in anonymity admiring the European architecture.  On our way home, we spotted a festival across the way.  I negotiated - ice cream now, rides tomorrow.

This morning my neighbor took me on a five mile run.  I decided to train for the Frankfurt marathon, and she has done dozens over the last decade.  Mid-morning, we packed a picnic and headed downtown to watch the end of the Frankfurt Ironman.  I am in awe of these athletes.  We cheered both the men and the women leaders as we ate Cheetos in the shade.  I forgot my camera so I relied on Dave's Iphone to capture a few moments.

Emily pestered us to walk to the rides.  We relented and put the kids in the bounce house.  A four year old kid came behind Owen and viciously pushed him from behind.  The parent said nothing.  We removed Owen, praised him for not pushing back, and began discussing cultural issues.  Of course, Dave and I fumed and empathized with our child.  After a year of playground visits and festivals, we noticed a rougher behaviour from the kids and adults who barely notice.  In Waynewood, we believe the parents would have swooped in immediately, apologized, and disciplined the child.  Incidents like these cause us to create stereotypes.  At the next ride, Emily boarded the dumbo-like seat and another child literally pushed her out of the way and got in.  Again, silence from the parent who stood a foot away.   Hmmm.

We ended the day with painted faces and yes, more ice cream.

Fourth of July

Summer here means good-byes and hellos.  (One friend's office had a "Wheels Up" party to celebrate a detested collegues' departure.)  Dave and I welcomed a new family, Katie, JP , and sweet baby James, on Wednesday.  As their sponsors, we unpacked their welcome kit, bought a few groceries, showed them the best food markets and toured the grocery store.  On the Fourth, we took them to a small BBQ where we all met more new families.  I made a French tarte - American style.

Emily took her responsibilities very seriously.

The Fieldhouse also hosted a party.  The kids painted their hands,  jumped in the bounce houses, and rode the wild bull.

We returned home to watch the Nationals beat the Padres.  Totally surreal - eating BBQ, watching baseball, and celebrating the fourth in Frankfurt Germany.

Summer Riding

Emily and Owen want to bike everywhere.  I am amazed when I watch them.   The Siedlung provides the ideal bike riding environment - safe paths without streets, obstacles to navigate, and lots of kids to push each other to learn.