Weekend Reflections

Today I experienced a bizarre bit of weather. It's very sunny here, people have exchanged wool coats for thick jackets, and then I look outside and what do I see? Snow! It's funny how the weather has been in Germany this winter. We've had snow nearly every day since the 2nd week of December. We moved thinking we'd not have to endure long snowy New Hampshire winters and we were wrong! Though our family assures us that this is very uncommon for Hannover. I don't mind the snow -- especially since I don't drive, no car to clean off! And the forest is divine when covered in a blanket of fresh white.

The white ground also helps brighten the day as the sky has been mostly gray. It feels a little brighter with it around. And another thing I'm noticing... daylight lasts longer. By this time (nearly 5:30 pm) it would be dark - days were ending last month around 3:30. Now the sun is out almost like it's 1:00 pm -- guarantee that the beautiful Spring is knocking at the door. I bought some flowers and scattered them around my house in little cups. These above are on the windowsill. They are simple but beautiful. Tomorrow I'll go find some tulips - they are everywhere at the moment in every color imaginable. Stores and nearly every business is closed in Germany on Sundays except for coffee shops, restaurants, bars and flower shops so my Sunday ritual is to go flower shopping and then to my favorite local cafe to read the newspaper. But back to the tulips -- I had no idea that Hannover was a little Holland in the Spring. It's quite lovely! There is even a Dutch man who sells them to me at the market on Wednesdays - he brings them over the border and speaks German in a thick Dutch accent which sounds like he is gargling German like mouthwash, it's quite comical. Did you know that tulips originated in Istanbul, not Holland? I read the history of the tulip last year and found that so fascinating... Almost as interesting is how the Pennsylvania Dutch aren't Dutch at all but German.

Tomorrow we go to look at another apartment nearby, though it doesn't look or sound too hopeful so I'm not that excited to see it. It's another "open house", well you know it is what it is I guess. I'm no longer dying to move, I want to find the perfect place and I'm willing to wait for it. But I'm still looking just in case because often the treasures are found in the least common place. We will also go to the hospital to see Thorsten's brother - he just had his 11th surgery so he will be needing some candy. :) :) :) Hope all is well for you dear readers. (images: holly becker for haus maus)