Beautiful Day

Friday was about the prettiest day Berlin has seen in many weeks. Perfect temperatures, bright sunshine and a gentle breeze that kept people from feeling too hot.

I woke at 1:30 AM and I was wide awake. I got up and wrote Hubby a note and then went back to sleep until 5:30 when Anneliese woke me with her gentle kisses. After a brief walk around the back yard, in the already bright sun, I went back to bed and slept until 7:30 when I forced myself to get up.

Breakfast was some of the wonderful fresh German rolls, some cheese and some yogurt. Also two cups of Uschi’s wonderful coffee!

We headed out in the late morning and to the S-Bahn into Alexanderplatz for a day of window shopping and a chance for me to see all the changes to the city.

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The Neptune Fountain

I was shocked and awed by all the building and new business in a place I once knew quite well.

Finally our feet and our stomachs demanded we stop for lunch. Since it is still Spargel Season (asparagus) here, we both had wonderful while spargel, with hollandaise sauce, a kraut salad and boiled potatoes! Oh my goodness, was it good!

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Our lunch

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Uschi

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Maribeth with a nice cold one!

We walked down Unter Den Linden, until it met up with Friedrichstrasse

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and then went along to the S-Bahn station where we took the train home.

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We stopped several places looking for Anneliese’s food, as I only brought a few days worth, but they do not sell it here! So much for Iams! I bought Royal Canine for dackels and I have mixed it with the Iams and hopefully it will sit okay.

Saturday we go to see Herr Isegrim. I know my little coquette is looking forward to her trip. She is giving me very clear signs that she is ready to accept his affections!

I am having a wonderful time and Uschi and I seldom stop talking. In fact it was very funny today at a shop, Uschi had been speaking English all day and when a salesgirl spoke to her in German she began to answer her in English! We all laughed so much at that!

Time for me to unwind and settle down for the night. Wish me luck on Saturday! Or should I say, wish Isegrim luck! After all, women can be very temperamental!

Back In Germany

It’s a lovely and warm spring day here in Berlin. Anneliese and I arrived on Thursday at about 9:15 AM. She was an absolute angel on the planes, but I do have to tell you about a real jerk that we encountered in New York City.

We were forced to fly into LaGuardia Airport from Boston, as our original flight became overly full at the very last moment. This found me running from one gate to the next, clutching Anneliese and catching that flight, along with several other employees. We all agreed to share a taxi from LaGuardia to JFK Airport on the other side of the city.

Well, it was very hot, 87 degrees (F) and humid. When we all got into the taxi, the air conditioner was blowing lovely cold air. I could feel Anneliese panting heavily so I unzipped her bag and let her head pop out, so she could breath.

Well, the moron cab driver announced that “I do not run air conditioning for a DOG!”. We were all incensed and we did not tip the jerk. The ride was long, hot and by the time we reached Kennedy Airport, we were all dripping messes! I was angry and felt bad that the other 3 people were forced to suffer.

When I got to the gate for the Berlin flight, I noticed my name was not on the passenger cleared or the passenger stand-by list. I went to the counter and found out that a mistake had been made in Boston, but the nice man assured me that I would get a nice seat, and I did.

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Business Class was not completely full and this was wonderful. It meant I did not have to share my area with any one but Anneliese, and that I could also enjoy conversation with the all male Stewards for the flight. They were all the best, and a pleasure to speak with.

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The ride was bumpy and I had to get up a few times to visit the ladies room even thought the seat belt sign was on. However we made it in one piece and early to boot! All good things.

Uschi’s husband too me out to lunch along with their daughter. We had Chinese food! It’s very different here, from what we get in the USA. Perhaps a bit hotter.

When Uschi arrived home from work, we hugged and hugged and talked and talked. We even took a walk, which felt very fine indeed.

Since I have not slept at all in the last two days, I plan a nice early bedtime with Anneliese, and then I hope to hit the ground running in the morning.

Meanwhile, here is a picture of Uschi’s handsome dog, Noah!

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Friday Fil-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

Courtesy of the lovely Janet.

1. Germany_ is my favorite place to travel to.
2. When I think about my childhood, I often remember Going to Surf drive beach, walking on the jetties and swimming to the raft_.
3. Laughter, loving and kindness_ makes for a good friend.
4. The wind in the trees, the rain on my skin, and love in my heart_.
5. Breeding Anneliese again_ is so exciting!
6. My best friend knows The good, the bad, and the ugly, but still loves me!_.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to talking with Uschi until we exhaust ourselves, tomorrow my plans include BREEDING ANNELIESE and Sunday, I want to meet up with a blog friend in Berlin and enjoy a leisurely meal and lots of good German beer!_!

Leaving for Germany

I am hoping that I am now in Berlin. I’m writing this ahead of time so that I can auto post it as I travel. Anneliese and I are due to leave New York’s JFK Airport at 6:45 PM on Wednesday June 2nd and arrive in Berlin at 9:45 AM Thursday morning June 3rd.

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I am hoping the flight went well and was uneventful, but tomorrow I will give you a full accounting of my trip. All the wild, wacky and wonderful moments!

Auf Wiedersehen

See you tomorrow!

Preparations

Well, we got it done. I drove nearly three hours down to Massachusetts, got Anneliese’s documents signed and took her with me too! She was such a good little passenger and kept me company. I sure hope she rides this well in the plane on Wednesday! Then we drove three hours home, stopping for gas, mail, money, and groceries for Hubby.

By the time I actually got in, I was beat and just wanted to sit and do nothing. Of course this was not to be the case. I had to finish packing my bags, made a meatloaf, finished the laundry and then repacked my suitcase three more times, subtracting a few things each time. It still seems heavy to me, but it isn’t really.

So Wednesday morning will find Hubby driving me to Boston and from there Anneliese and I will make our way to New York and then Berlin.

I will check in with you all as soon as I get to Germany.

Paperwork

Currently I have done the preparation needed in the house and in my suitcase and Anneliese’s bag to prepare for the journey. Now, I must attend to the paperwork. I have all my documents, and I will drive the 103 miles down to the Federal Veterinarian to get Anneliese’s travel documents stamped.

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Then I will drive 103 miles home, hopefully getting back in time to prepare Hubby a nice meal, and retiring early enough to get a good night sleep. I tend to be nervous the night before I travel, but I am going to really try NOT to do that this time.

Anneliese really needs to be bred soon, and I am thinking that Saturday may be the great reunion between Isegrim and his lady love! The weather is due to be sunny and warm that day, Could springtime love be in the air? I certainly hope so.

dackie

Meanwhile I am keeping my eyes on the paperwork to be completed, and have packed the car for my trip, loading it with CD’s and a nice mug of hot coffee in the morning will help.

Planting

Sunday was a hard work day for me. Hubby helped early on to turn the soil in the garden and then I raked and set about planting all my enormous seedlings in the garden. Zucchini, summer squash, pickling cucumbers, regular cucumbers, green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, peasĀ  and green and purple beans!

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Betty asked me if we eat all the vegetables that we grow. Yes and no. We cook a lot of them, and we also preserve them by canning them. Our fruit trees yield so much more than we actually eat, so we sell what we can to a local farm stand. But the vegetables are pretty much just for us.

I did plant twice as many pickling cucumbers this year because I made bread and butter pickles last year and they were a real treat! I only made one batch, and they got eaten far too quickly! So I am hoping to make two or three batches this year!

I had a lot of help planting the garden too. Fritz stood guard, along with his favorite ball.

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And I had Anneliese out with me so she could stretch her legs and enjoy the day. I did use a leash with her though, as I am a tad nervous with her in an impregnable condition!

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All in all the six hours I spent, along with Hubby part of the time, planting were nice. The weather is warm, although it was a bit windy. I slathered on sunscreen and later in the day actually put on a light weight turtleneck to protect my shoulders and neck.

Sunday night found me watching the Family Channel’s Harry Potter Marathon. I never get tired of that! Monday is laundry, ironing and packing day, and Tuesday I finish up Anneliese’s paperwork by getting her documents stamped!

It’s getting very close now!

Memorial Day Celebrations!

You all know I am crazy about Lobster. I’ve written about this several times. Today my friend Dave, who is my cousin Janet’s boyfriend, brought Lobster and Steamers (clams) to my home. I’d made potato salad and gotten the corn on the cob, and butter and we set about preparing the meal.

While we waited for the water to come to a boil to cook everything, we kind of played around with the lobsters.

Here is a close up of my Lobster “before”!

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Here I am juggling them! (Not really)

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One got rather amorous with me!

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Yes, it was love at first sight!

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Even the dackels wanted to check them out!

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After a while the water boiled and fighting back tears, I plunged them into the water and put the lid on tightly. Before we knew it, everything was done and our luncheon feast was ready!

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And here is my lobster! He cooked up very prettily, don’t you think?

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We ate outside on the patio and the day was just perfect for that!

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After eating, we cleaned up and headed into town. Today was a Crafts Festival in our downtown area, and we wanted to check it all out. I live about a 10 minute walk from the center of town, so we walked off all the lobster and clams that we had been eating.

There were a lot of Craft Booths set up and many people were out looking, but I didn’t see a lot of people buying. About the most popular booth was the Kettle Popcorn Booth that also sold Lemon-aid! Janet and I split a lemon-aid and it was so good!

We walked around for an hour and a half and then walked back to my house. What a wonderful day it was all around. I thank Dave and Janet for bringing the wonderful main course for our meal. Those Lobsters were so fresh and sweet, and so were the clams!

Happy Memorial Day!

Anneliese & Me

The planning begins. Now that Anneliese is definitely in heat I am planning our trip. I have made my reservation and now just need to list Anneliese on the flight and all will be set.

Talk about being excited! Last time I took Anneliese to Germany I was VERY excited! After all, it was the first time, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. This time, I know Isegrim, I know his owners and I am even more excited.

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Anneliese & Me.

I’m also excited because I get to spend time with my best friend, Uschi! I want to take long walks with her, sit curled up on her sofa, talking until we both fall asleep, and enjoying every moment!

So now I pack, for myself and for Anneliese. I need to find someone to come and walk the dogs during the day when Hubby is working, and I am gone. Aside from that one minor detail, I am good to go!

Woo-Hoo!!!