Strasbourg (round 2)

The Cathedral, from the outside this time.

Miniature Strasbourg under the town tree.

Close up of the tree decor before they de-decorate.  Is there a word for removing decorations?

Christmas Goodness

The American Alliance of Gundelfingen gathered on this glorious Sunday to bake up a storm - of Christmas cookies!  Between the two of us, I can safely say we baked about 20 dozen cookies of varying sorts.  Sugar cookies, M&M cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and (of course) Gingerbread.  :-)

Our little (plastic) tree -- This year we could actually light it thanks to a battery operated strand of LED lights - thanks mom.

Christmastime

A beautiful, towering tree inside a bank.  Decorations included pine cones, apples, wooden stars, and Lebkuchen.

Beautiful statues behind bars.  I don't know exactly why I like this image so much.  Perhaps it's the contrasting nature of the holiness shared within the church that also appears to be secluded and just out of reach...

Christmas 2010

This was my first Christmas spent away from home.  It was certainly different from all of my other Christmases - no carol singing, no hot chocolate, and no mass production of cookies; instead there was raclette, schnapps, and homemade jam.  And I couldn't have asked for better hosts.  There was snow on Christmas Day, as well as warm drinks, food, and hugs.  And, my mother sent me a kleiner Weinachtsbaum, which was a lovely addition to the family atmosphere.