Creative Mess

Paying Bills German Style

Or it may just be European style, but I can't be positive...

 

Back in America, we paid all over our bills online and we still do for the most part.  But here, they pay bills differently since they are very anti- credit card.  You get a little bill in the mail that looks like this.

Of course it is in German, so if you don't completely understand it, you must take the time to translate it.  I must do this with this particular bill because I have no idea what it is about and they want approximately $90 from me.  

Next step is to rip off the bottom of this bill and take it to your bank.  We had to open up an account here just to pay our German bills.  The bank then makes a transfer from my accout to theirs that is listed on the bill.  I think it is interesting.  And then I think, 'isn't paying online via a credit card easier for everyone?"

 

I got another bill today in the mail that doesn't require any translation at all.  It is Keith's 27th parking ticket, so I am very familiar with the process!!

Munich Delight

Munchen is such a fun city to visit and one that decided to keep their quaintness after the war.  They voted to rebuilt their city to look just like it did before the bombs were dropped.

I am going again this week but last week I went with Bridger's class to go hang out at an art museum and then visit the food market.

The only art piece I was interested in is the one of a food market.  This painting is 400 years old and I like to admire the variety of fruits and vegetables that was available.  This is Whole Foods, old-school style.

After this gorgeous lunch in the sun of falafels, hummus and mixed salads with a warm pita I decided to go around and buy dinner for the evening.

It consisted of fresh cheese, mixed olives, salad and a bottle of Rose' Prosecco.  I am pretty sure I had more fun then the kids.

I'm dreaming...

In the last few years I have come to a realization that has changed the course of my life a tad bit.  I don't know why it took me this long to discover it and if you are much younger than me, I hope you realize it sooner.

 

So here it is...........

 

Things don't make you happy, so trying to acquire a house and garage full of them will make you happy for about 12 minutes- but I find that experiences, memories, and the family and friends to share them with will bring you happiness for years to come.

 

With that being said HERE ARE THE THINGS I WANT RIGHT NOW!

hahahahahhaha

And yes, I know they will only make me happy for about 12 minutes!

With gas being $4.20 a gallon as of yesterday I am dreaming of getting rid of Keith's truck and buying the Italian Fiat 500.  If I get my way, this will be a reality before summer.  Trucks are virtually non-existent in Germany and are viewed a a novelty among the Europeans.  We are hoping to sell it to a farmer for a great price!!

So the next item that won't make me happy but for 10 minutes is this outdoor kitchen deal.  In Texas we did a massive amount of backyard improvement and this was going to be the next step.  Unfortunately we were only given 2 years in our home and ran out of time.  At all the home stores here in Europe they sell these.  They are made out of stone and they are MOVEABLE/PACKABLE!!!  Hello America!!!  Get these!!  They are perfect for us military family who want to cook a pizza in our backyard.

 

And I am sure this will only provide about 8 minutes of happiness, but I have yet to replace the cookware the military packers destroyed on our way over here.  I am waiting for the right time to strike and I am feeling it coming.  The French make the most delightful cookware and this color is calling my name.  It will look great with my white Italian dishes.

I will need to counterbalance all these purchases with a great vacation to 'make memories' so the Tyler family can be happy!  {Keith is totally rolling his eyes right now}

European Treasures

It is difficult to contain oneself when you know that you only have so much time in Europe and you don't have to pay to ship your belongings back to the US.  One must plan to make a lot of purchases while still have money to travel and not go into the hole.  It is a process!!

 

Thus far, I have acquired 2 sets of dish ware.  One Polish which the collection is not quite finished and one Italian.  I don't think that collection is quite finished either.  I really have my eye on a set of french cookware, but that may have to wait awhile. I have started and FINISHED a collection of mineral water jars made from clay.  I have started a collection of old globes, I only need 3 more.  And I have started a collection of grain sacks.  I don't know if I will ever end that one because I envision having furniture recovered using the sacks I hunted for personally.

What is so enticing about these little collections is how much moola you can actually save buying straight from the source!!  Pottery Barn has their buyers here raiding Europe of all its cuteness.  And I swear I can see it when I can't find a pizza board anymore to save my life.  Though a year ago there were plenty.  I only have ONE of those and could like a few more!!

Pottery Barn is raiding Europe in the pickling jar department.  Aren't they cute?  They charge $140-180 for each one of these.  I found a source of them just yesterday and the guy told me he sold 300 of them last week.  I bet they went on a boat to America.  I purchased mine for less than $15 apiece.

I purchased them in different sizes and colors ranging from clear to green and turquoise.  They are lovely.  I have great plans for them.

This particular one is holding coasters that we have picked up from various restaurants we have gone to.  Most restaurants have their own coaster and they are fairly intricate.

Here is another item that seems to be disappearing.  Dough bowls!!  I have purchased many of these but have not kept a single one of them.  Now I am feeling a bit pressured to keep the 2 I have and not part with them because you just never know if you will find another one for a great deal.  A great deal is less than $30!!  Not $200 like PB!

 

Here are a few other things I have going on.

This is Bavarian pottery.  I have a couple pieces but purchased these little ones to put succulents in.  I don't think they are worth a lot of money but I think they are cool to have because they are so distinctive of this area.

Speaking of distinctive... one must never leave German without a couple sets of Fest tables and benches.  These are great for outdoor entertaining because they are easy to store and then throw up when needed.  As you can see, Pepsi agrees!  

But I didn't just buy any old Fest table

MIne are stamped with where they came from.  These in particular from from the brewery Augustiner in Munich.  Hope Pottery Barn doesn't discover the barn full of them.  I might need 2 more sets.

Old Beer crates!!!  Fun!!!  But I didn't keep this one!

It got a makeover and filled with goodies and passed along~

 

But if Pottery Barn starts buying these up, I may need to rethink my strategy.

Modern with European Antiques

 
Country Living Magazine

 

Love the mix of modern with the not so modern.

I have aquired several of these pizza boards and cutting boards to pretty much store away until I return to the US.  I have bought many dough bowls but have kept none of them for myself.  That is about to change!!

Love how they are displayed above the window on a shelf

 

 

 

 

 

It's snowing and it never ends!

So my previous post!   Ridiculous!  But was completely my state of mind so I am not changing a thing!  To include the misspellings.  So when I have my Blog Book made, I will read it just laugh hysterically.  That is the way I roll.....sometimes.

So, last year was supposedly the worst winter here as far as cold and snowfall.  My German neighbors told me so.  So now that my back is killing me because all the shoveling I have done, I asked my neighbors once again about their statement last year.  And they corrected themselves.  THIS YEAR is the WORST Winter in 30 years!  Whatever!!

The problem isn't necessarily the snow- just the roads and how fast it can be cleaned.  School delays and cancellations have been crazy thus far.

Forest across the street from my house. Everything has been 'frosted'

Regensburg Castle- one of the better Christmas Markets.

Keith standing in line to get Gleuweine. It is mandatory to drink some as you walk around and visit the stalls.  It makes your insides all warm and fuzzy.

This would be your typical Christmas Market set-up.  All these cute shacks that are dressed up to the hilt selling wares.  Doesn't it just look cold?  Hence the Gleuweine!

Melynda and Kimmey trying on hats.

Little Avery in her new sleep bag get-up.  I have never seen these until moving here and I just love them.  It almost makes me want a baby so I can buy one alone with a beautiful German Pram so push the baby around in!  lol

Christmas

A couple of weeks ago I bought Keith his Christmas present and I think it is pretty great also!

It is called a riddling Rack and it hails from France.  It holds a 120 bottles of wine because that is Keith's obsession, but in France I believe it was meant for champagne.  It is absolutely beautiful and just needs a little TLC to clean it up.  Unfortunately will have to spend its time in Germany in our basement because we don't have the room but someday it will sing with all it glory for everyone to appreciate!

 

Years ago in the magazine I saw where they had several globes on top of an armoir.  It was beautiful and it stuck with  me!  So I am now on the look-out for a few more.  These globes hail from the year 1940 according to Keith-- something about India and Pakistan were not separated yet on these globes.

 

(I hate that natural light is not readily available in Bavaria--- but come September you just can't wait around for it anymore!!!)

 

These fabulous handmade pottery used to hold mineral water in the olden days. They even have fingerprints on them!  After some research, I found out that the ones marked with the company names are worth quite a bit more and or course both of these are.  Nine to seven of these up the middle of your dining room table would look fabulous with tapered candles!!

 

(please admire my popcorn ceilings!!!  Aren't they great!  NOT!)

 

 

I scored these milk bottles with the wire baskets from a dealer who got them from Romania.  They are so darling and would be super awesome with a bouquet of fresh flowers in them!  I wish I had more room so of right now, they are going to be resold at the Spouses Club. (Keith is very strict with me that if I bring new stuff into the house that old stuff needs to leave!  So all purchases from Tuesday Mornings are on their way to the Thrift Shop!)

This new purse is just a dream!  I love it soooo much!!  It is actually made from a vintage Swiss Army blanket.  I am looking to buy one more in a different shape so I easily travel with it.  The straps are actually made from a bayonet holder.  I think I have the coolest purses and not one of them are a Coach or Dooney & Burke.

 

Be prepared for many more posts like this one (except for better pictures!) because I have just begun my European collection!  The hunt is almost more fun then the actual purchase.

 

What A Month

My September calender was quite outrageous.  Every block was filled with activities, meetings, appointments, etc, and I haven't even started my new job yet!  Probably a good thing.

 

Last month Jadyn did celebrate a birthday.  She knew she was going to get an iPod touch but was expecting it at this exact moment.  We took her friends to the Parsberg festival and then came home for cake and presents.

This is her suddenly realizing exactly what it was she was getting.

She is so happy!  She has waited a long time to get her own!!

 

This month there was a lot of creativeness going on too!  I helped a friend make thee for her kitchen.  She painted 24 inch rounds and then I added the vinyl lettering.

It was also my sister's birthday so I created this little number to include presents for my two neices.  Put everything in a polish pottery bowl and you can never go wrong!!

 

My old Navy friend Heather came to Germany and Keith and I got to spend some time with her in Munich.  Here she sitting next to this guy we met from Norway.  We had a GREAT time together and I hope we can do it again!

 

This character also from Norway had these crazy glasses on.  You can't tell here but they were green!  So I was teasing him that he was wearing John Deere glasses and how silly was that?  I was corrected and apparently these are high-fashion 400+ Euro glasses!  And he is not even a farmer?!?!?  I say- Ridiculous!

Bridger started football this year!  Finally!!!  With Keith's work schedule over the past few years it has been difficult to put him into sports.  Well this is his year!   Bridger loves it even though he assured us he wouldn't.  He practices 3x a week with games on Saturday.  And I have to say, their practice field is in a beautiful location.  He is number 16

So far they have lost one and won one.

4th

We still have a festival to attend but I thought I would get these pictures uploaded.

We rented some kayaks for the weekend and headed to Kallmunz.

These things are ridiculously long

I didn't get any pictures of us floating on the river!

 
Notice the castle on the hill.... it was beautiful to kayak right beneath it. 

Strawberry Season

In Texas, I always thought about strawberries too late.  It is definitely a spring thing there because of the heat.  Here in German- it is still going strong and we found a field where you can pick your own.

It was absolutely lovely!

Our Loot!

And then all you need is Lemon Balsamic Creme to drizzle over the top!  BTW- I saw this Balsamic Creme in chocolate flavor also- OMG- can you imagine??

And then if you want to take the strawberry experience one step further- sprinkle with powdered sugar and you will weep tears of joy!  I am not kidding!!