Wärschtlamo

If the title of this post seems a bit weird to you, don't worry, probably half the Germans who are reading this don't know what it means either.
Wärschtlamo (frankonien for sausage man or in German Würstchenmann) is one of the many cool things about my hometown Hof.
These man who stand on the street selling sausages are a tradition in Hof since 1881. They are selling different kinds of sausages (Wiener (which I will NOT insult by calling them hot dogs), white sausages and other ones that are hard to explain, just come and try :-)) and they are made and kept hot in a brass kettle with a charcoal grate underneath. The sausages are steamed rather that boiled and the fact that all of it happens in a brass kettle gives it a very distinct, delicious flavor.

Of course, in typical German fashion the sausages are served in a crunchy bread roll and with mustard (or ketchup, even though I have heard that is looked down upon by real Frankoniens :-)).

A lot of people eat the sausages either as their lunch if they are working downtown or as a snack during their shopping trip. I love eating them and Erlend has taken to them as well. But really there is only one way to find out how good they really are - come visit us and try for yourself!

 they even build a statue for all "Wärschlamo" in Hof

you pay about 1,50 Euro for a pair of Wieners

little baby girl hat

A wee project I have been working on during the last few weeks was a hat for my niece who will be born sometime in December (according to my sister rather earlier than later). I think all work hours together were just a few, but when I put it down it takes me forever to pick it back up again. You could also say that I have a motivational problem until I have a time problem :-).

I have made two hats before this one (for my youngest two nephews) but with this one it was time for some girly details. So I went on youtube trying to find "how to knit a flower" videos. There are not many I found out, but hundreds about how to crochet a flower. So I picked up a crochet needle for the first time in over 15 years and watch a few videos and then just made my own version, because I did not quite get all of the videos...

Here we go, the finished product, sorry the picture is not so good

we are so similar

I know I have not blogged in a while, but in a nutshell we were gone over the weekend, I finished knitting a wee baby hat (stay tuned, there might come a picture of it soon) and Erlend has had two final German exams (after only 3 months in the country he has finished level B1 - anybody who knows about these levels will be seriously impressed by that, especially with a hard language like German, I know I am!) We will know if he passed in a few weeks.

But what I actually wanted to write about is my youngest brother. He did something yesterday and I have the feeling he did it only to become more like his precious oldest sister :-) - he fell down stairs and ruptured his ligament on the outside of his ankle. That is so me, I have done that 6 times :-) (remember this post?) No, but seriously, I am glad he did not hurt himself more and that he already seems to be in less pain.

We promise we will come a play lots of games with you so you don't get bored!

look at the very cool brace he has to wear 

(they only had them up to shoe size 47 which is still two sizes too small for him :-))

a nice surprise

Today Erlend got a nice surprise in the mail. He got a little package from friends in our church with some "motivational tools" :-) - a power bar, a "good mood" snack and a nice card.

Danke, Johannes und Annegret!

So now he is very motivated for his language test tomorrow morning. Prayer is much appreciated!

just swimming, swimming, swimming

We got to take our nephew to the local indoor swimming pool today. He was so well behaved and we had lots of fun. We felt like real aunts and uncles because he did not once ask for his Mama or Papa.

 He loves the water slide - I know it looks like he went down there alone - don't worry, he did not 

 Erlend was his "sled" :-)

Afterwards for a little break climbing some chairs

he did not look too impressed when we had to go home

New Years Convoy

My brother in law (the German one :-)) is going to join a convoy of 40-ton-trucks to Belarus this New Years. (He got his driver license for those huge things this year *proud of him*) A church here in Hof has been organizing those trips for the last 22 years to bring clothes and food and things to people in need there.
So today we packed some boxes with clothes which will get to come along on the long adventures ride and maybe be a blessing to somebody over there.

Please pray for all the packing that is going on right now and over the next 6 weeks, all the brave people that will help delivering the goods, that the border crossings will go well and that the Lord will provide the necessary finances.

this is just a picture off of google, but I won't let the lack of picture keep me from blogging (lack of picture is the main reason why I don't blog every day any more :-))

to kindle or not to kindle?

I was asked today by several people what I want for Christmas and one of the things I have been thinking about is a kindle. Considering that we will be moving a lot and dragging around a whole library is always a downer I thought it would be a good investment. I don't know though if it is worth getting one, which one would be the best to get and I just wanted to ask if any of you have one, if you like it, which one you got and so on... I would be thankful for any advice, let's hear it!