An Alphabet of My Likes and Dislikes: “G”
This is a post belonging to a new blogging project — the title is pretty much self-explanatory, I think; the project’s introductory post can be found HERE. Credit for the idea: BeetleyPete. As always, the only thing linking the two items mentioned in this post in my mind is that they both start with the […]
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Heinzelmännchen
24 Festive Tasks: Door 23 – Hogswatch, Task 2: A Cologne legend dating all the way back to the Middle Ages has it that once upon a time, there was a race of busy little household gnomes called Heinzelmännchen who would come at night and secretly do all your work: If there ever has been […]
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November Sunset
24 Festive Tasks: Door 6 – Veterans’ / Armistice Day, Task 4: The Forest of Compiègne, just outside Compiègne, France, is the site of the signing of the 1918 Armistice. It was also the site of the signing by the French of a truce with the Germans following the German invasion in 1940. – Find […]
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November Sunrise
24 Festive Tasks: Door 6 – Veterans’ / Armistice Day, Task 1: Sunrise services are a staple of this holiday: Take a picture of the sunrise where you live and share it with us. I’m decidedly more of a night owl than a lark, but this past week was an exhibit of the kind of […]
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A Mother’s Day Memory
24 Festive Tasks: Door 11 – Russian Mother’s Day, Task 2: Do you have a favorite Mothers’ Day memory that you are happy to share? Photos welcome but optional. I usually give my mom a bouquet of flowers and take her out for lunch or dinner on Mother’s Day. One occasion I remember particularly well […]
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Glingleglingleglingle
24 Festive Tasks: Door 23 – Hogswatch, Task 1: Glingleglingleglingle – if you could wish any kind of god(dress) into existence, what would they be in charge of? Dusting? Weeding? We’re not aiming high here… tell us! The Cologne “Heinzelmännchen” fountain: detail A Cologne legend dating all the way back to the Middle Ages […]
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Rhein in Flammen / The Rhine on Fire
24 Festive Tasks: Door 10 – Bon Om Touk, Task 2: If you’ve ever attended a procession or an event involving festively decked out boats, post a picture and tell us about it. I’ve posted about this before: “Rhein in Flammen” (“The Rhine on Fire”, or “The Rhine up in Flames”) is an annual event […]
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The Rhine on Fire
(Source) https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js “Rhein in Flammen” (“The Rhine on Fire”, or “The Rhine up in Flames”) is an annual event, inaugurated in the 1980s I think, linking the towns along the Rhine, all the way from Koblenz to Boon, by a chain of fireworks. The whole thing gets kicked off in Koblenz as […]
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16 Tasks of the Festive Season: Final Tally
The Markers: Stack of Books: Books read Red Bows and Ribbons: Other Tasks completed Joker cards used: The Squares, Books and Other Tasks: Square 1: November 1st: All Saints Day / Día de los Muertos & Calan Gaeaf Book themes for Día de Muertos and All Saint’s Day: A book that […]
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16 Tasks of the Festive Season: Updates / Blackout
I’ve yet to read at least one book for some of the squares, but I’ve completed a minimum of either one book or one task for all of the squares, and in several cases, more. The Markers: Stack of Books: Books read Red Bows and Ribbons: Other Tasks completed […]
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November 11 in the Rhine Valley — Yet Another Sort of Holiday … and Party! (Also: Task for Square 11 of the “16 Festive Tasks”: Soyal)
In the Rhine Valley, where I live, November 11 has yet another meaning, in addition to (and even more so than) the two holidays we included in the “16 Festive Tasks”: 11/11, 11:11 AM marks the opening of the carnival season, which ends roughly three months later on Ash Wednesday (this season: Feb. 14, 2018), […]
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16 Tasks of the Festive Season: Square 2 – Bon Om Touk
Tasks for Bon Om Touk: Post a picture from your most recent or favorite vacation on the sea (or a lake, river, or any other body of water larger than a puddle), or if you’re living on the sea or on a lake or a river, post a picture of your favorite spot on the […]
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