Bietigheim wochenmarkt

I miss home, I miss my family, I miss my good old friends. At times, I live on the memories of the good old days and I always long for and look forward to such times again. I can't deny the fact that I'm loving it here in Germany. I have a great husband, blessed with two wonderful kids and surrounded by amazing friends but it's not always easy to throw away the past (especially, the things you cherished). Because of this, there are some things that I have found and embraced (here in Germany) because they remind me so much of home. I will be sending some posts on what I call things that reminds me of home. One of them is BIETIGHEIM WOCHENMARKT. This is a weekly market where farmers in our area bring their newly harvested food crops to the market. The market takes place just once in a week at the city centre and lasts for some couple of hours. There are fresh vegetables, fruits, home-made stuffs etc. This reminds me a lot about my village market (in Enugu State, Nigeria) because, they share some similar characteristics. Going to this market every week has become a ritual. I love the fact that I can interact and chart with the people (the local farmers) I'm buying things from, ask questions and get some tips (eg, some recipes) from them as opposed to the groceries stores. It also feels good to know where the food items I buy are coming from.
I still remember that one of the motivations for making my own baby foods was - If I could always get them fresh and direct from the organic farmers, then I could make better baby foods than whatever they sell in those cocked bottles.
I love the friendly atmosphere, that's how it is back home. This is one of the things that reminds me of home.

The Market is situated at the Altstadt (City centre).

A Bio (organic) stand

I can hardly leave the market without my favourite Olive-peperoni-tomatoes mix.
Super to eat with salad.

Some fruits.

Salads

Another Bio (Organic) stand.

Japan 9.0 Earthquake + Tsunami

I don't really feel comfortable sending a new post considering all the tragic incidents of multiple Earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan.
What would I say that haven't been said. With a little knowledge of earthquake, I can't even describe the situation like all the world experts have done, but I know that I'm concerned about the people of Japan. I have been going about my day-to-day business, living a normal life but I will not pretend as if this tragic incident never happened. My heart goes out to all those who in one way or the other were affected by these disasters.
Japanese are innovative, dedicated and well cultured people, always supportive of one another and I know that our support will help them pull through this difficult time.
Google has done a wonderful job by providing a support link through which people can help by donating to Japanese Red Cross Society, UNICEF,etc. Your support will definitely make a difference. Make a Donation to Japan.

A note on giving:
You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.
- Albert Schweitzer

Birthday with Hornolino

I like how creative mothers can be when it comes to birthday party/celebration. We've been invited to so many Birthday celebrations and each one is always unique in its own way. The kids are not only just invited to come and eat and drink (which they are least interested in) but the host mothers always have a theme for the party, some craft activities, games, stories, etc. I've also noticed that choosing an interesting venue for the occasion makes it even more interesting. If you have a Garden, you might not need to look far (especially in summer) because you can do a lot of activities outdoors.
We've attended Birthday Parties in places like croco-island, jumpinn-freiberg, Bauernhof (farm house/barnyard), and one of my friends even celebrated for one of his sons at a Fire Service workshop where the children all dressed-up and pretended to work as fire men.
Lately, Big Sister was invited to the Birthday party of one of her friends from the kindergarten. It was in a small Museum (Das Hornmoldhaus, stadtmuseum.bietigheim-bissingen) in our city.
The Idea was for the kids to tour round the Museum while in search of a Treasure and the mothers to go out for coffee. I couldn't join the mothers though. I had to stay back with the kids since Little Brother wanted to take part and he couldn't stay without me. I went round the museum with the kids and as always, I put my Camera to use.

This is HORNOLINO, He is the resident of the museum (HORNMOLDHAUS) and he took us round. The kids loved him so much, they've only drawn his pictures ever since.

They started off by welcoming the children, introducing HORNOLINO to them, explaining why they were there and what they would be doing and singing a Birthday song to the celebrant.

Kids painting Hornolino's picture.

They were thrilled to see the whole city (Bietigheim-Bissingen) at a glance.

This was what the city looked like in the 1700's. At that age, there were no cars.
A good look at the picture will show a man on a horse. The cattle were left to move freely on the streets.

A small farmyard.

A stop over for some light refreshments.

Another painting break. Here, they painted some precious stones and flowers with which the museum is decorated.

Some Carriages.

As they were going round the museum, they also searched for treasure at every nook and cranny (which they finally found). Inside the chest were some collections of a Japanese Artist who lived in the city in the year..............ouch, I forgot.

Craft of the day: A small cotton bag filled with dried Lavenders. The kids made the prints themselves.

The finished work.

Last but not the least: Refreshment.

It was so exhausting (at least for me). Everything was done under two and half hours. I couldn't help but marvel at the kids. Still full of energy, they played and ran around. Non of them wanted to leave.

"The Lion King" musical - TV performance

I sent a post this morning about the Lion King Musicals and I said I'm dreaming of attending the life performance. Here is a clips of the Performance on a German TV. The people were so crazy. I can't wait for them to perform in Stuttgart.
NB: You can also check my earlier post on the song "HE LIVES IN YOU"- German Version.
Enjoy.

The Lion King 2 - He lives in You (German Musical Version)

I just met one German that told me he wants to start touring Africa after attending a Lion King Concert in Berlin. What I cannot forget is the passion with which he said it and he meant it. There is another "Lion King" performance coming soon in Hamburg, I can only dream to be there. I can listen to the Musicals the whole day and they always up-lift my spirit. The Lion King Musicals - Music To My Soul.

For the song (He lives in Me), I love the German Version. Even if you don't understand the language, you still feel it. It sends goosebumps all over me.
Enjoy.

Gänsehaut Pur.

FASCHING (Carnival in Kindergarten)

It's Fasching (Carnival) week in Germany. At least in Baden Württemberg ( I don't know if its all over Germany). It is usually done before Lent. It has a Christian background, but I don't know the whole story. This Carnival involves celebrations and parades and people often dress up with different types of costumes.
For children, this is a time for most of them to live their fantasies. When you listen to children in their make-believe plays, you can hear all the things they pretend to be - Pirates, Dragons, Superman, Police, Princesses, Fairy, Butterflies, and it goes on and on. Thanks goodness they can't be some of these things in real life.
Our Kindergarten has celebrated their own and it was great. Most of the kids dressed up and were treated to a buffet which was contributed by their parents.
Here are some of the pictures:

Most of the girls dressed up as princesses.

The boys - Pirates.

Breakfast Buffet - "LECKER".

I couldn't even pictures of all of them.

This is what their dinning look like every morning. The teachers are doing a great job.

The first day, my daughter cooked up her own dress-up. A combination of Tutu, Butterfly wings and a Magic wand. I don't know what to call her.

You can't DARE her!!!

On the second day, She finally agreed to dress as a princess. But she still had her wings(funny).

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