Odds 'n Ends

Well, here we are again. We just have to share some of our "most interesting" and "most wonderful" people with you, as well as some odds and ends. We met this gentleman at our stake conference clear back in September. I was fascinated with him as he played the organ. He "performed" like he was on stage at a musical, and at the end of every song, he would play a very loud and sort of long interlude, sometimes 30 seconds to a minute after we quit singing. I suppose he just couldn't help himself! (Although, in fairness, it is kind of the norm for the organist to play a little ending after each song, but usually just a few measures and very softly!)

Anyhow, this is Karl-Gottfried Brun-Otte, and we learned he's actually a member of our ward. He's a professor of music at one of our universities; he's at least 6 feet 5 inches and has a voice that resounds as loud as his organ. It's amazing. When he bears his testimony, he puts the microphone clear down 'cause he would break the windows if he spoke into it! And, he's every bit the profesor!

I must clarify that this is definitely NOT his only tie! He has worn a gray shirt with a gray and blue polka-dot tie (and, as you can see, they are at least 8 inches wide), and he has an equally large red satin tie and pocket handkerchief as well. We first met him in yellow satin.

I didn't know him from Adam at conference, but I hustled up after the meeting and just asked him if I could take his picture, and as you can see, he was delighted!!

This fun little centerpiece was sitting outside our grocery store last Saturday among some other flowers, and Dad let me have it! Isn't it fun??? It is the ultimate German creation, and the totally crazy thing is that flowers still live out in our cold, snowy temperatures. You can't walk down the street without seeing bouquets of roses, and every other kind of flower imaginable, just wrapped in paper and waiting to be sold. They must raise some pretty hardy varieties is all I can say!

And this is how we enjoy it at night! We eat by candlelight almost every night. It's so fun!

These dear people live in Michelstadt, about 1-1/2 hours from Bad Homburg, Bro. and Sis. Frost by name. Bro. Frost is officially our German script teacher. He's incredibly knowledgeable. It's amazing how he can make sense out of the scribbles and is a wonderful teacher. We meet at their church in their family history center. We usually work from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then go to their home for lunch. What a treat! Then we return for another couple hours or so of work.

This is their home, with Sis. Frost standing on their porch. She's the most gentle, soft spoken, sweet lady. They are originally from Poland (different cities), and both their fathers were killed in the war. During the war, both their mothers decided to leave Poland and hope for better things in Germany, and since there was no transportation available, they walked with their children all the way to Germany. So, the Frosts know all there is to know about fear, starvation, courage, hardship, etc., etc. Their families lived in different cities in Poland, didn't know each other, but it just happened that both families left Poland at different times and went to Germany; one family to Bonn and the other somewhere south. They both joined the church later in their lives (the only ones of their families to join), and they ended up finding each other at the university, I think, many years later. They are the stalwarts of their ward, from what we gather from those who know them, and they very humbly talk of knowing and loving President Uchtdorf when he was their stake president, and Sis. Frost worked with him when she was stake RS president for many years. So humble, so brilliant. Good people.

Sis. Frost is an artist when it comes to cooking. It makes me think of what Pres. Uchtdorf said about his wife. This picture just sort of shows how she presents our meals, and they are a delight to see as well as eat. She always has candles lit on the table, and she begins with lovely salads, topped with edible flowers! You can't quite see it, but on the right of the plate is a small silver "stand" that holds the knife and fork while she takes the dishes from one course and brings out another. Anyhow, they are wonderful friends and teachers. (And those pastries are as flaky as anything I've ever eaten, filled with a wonderful turkey and onion combination and served with the yummy sauce. The carrots are mixed with a yummy coconut-kind-of topping, with, of course, the sprig of parsley, home grown.)

Sacrament meetings generally have a rather special decoration at the front. Someone just seems to bring something from home, and these are two examples: One a Christmas-y arrangement, and...

the other some rather beautiful live orchids. Orchids are as common here as our dandelions! Not really, but everyone seems to grow them in their homes, and the flower shops abound in them!

And now you can meet Sis. Seidenadder, one of the ladies Dad and his companion baptized all those 40 years ago. We went down to Buhl (about 2-1/2 to 3 hours south of us), and we had a lovely visit for about 4 hours. Dad asked her all about her genealogy, who her parents were, birth dates, etc., husband, family. And they both got out some pictures and talked and talked. Her younger daughter, Ruth, came and visited as well. Sis. Seidenadder then sent us off to a restaurant to eat (with a 50 euro bill in our hands), while she rested. Then we came back for more visiting.

Picture out of order, as usual, but this is her gracious hosting after we got back from lunch--we had kuchen and a drink with Sis. Seidenadder's daughter and Udo. We're not sure whether Udo is a boyfriend or a husband, but he's sure fun. He's very good to Sis. S. Ruth has her own "traveling" pedicure and manicure business, where she goes to the home and gives people the treatment! Pretty good way to do things, I think! I ought to mention it to Tami Vernon, huh??
Sis. Seidenadder and Ruth.

And this is Udo!

The foursome!

This is for you, Erick. Udo was so proud of his Harley, and when we told him you had a bike, he immediately asked all about it. That led to a trip down to the garage for a picture! We promised we'd send him a picture, and I'm sure it'll be framed!

Just a quickie stop on our way out of town for another picture of a church. You'll stop reading the blog if I put too many more of those in, huh?!?

And last but not least.....LAUNDRY DAY! Sorry it's not more colorful, but this was mostly whites day! And, I'd like to mention that underneath that sheet hanging in front of the window, we really do have a lace curtain that really hangs at the window. Between the window and the smaller rack on the front right, we get one set of sheets washed a day!

So, dear people, we love you all! Friends and family make life so rich, and we are truly blessed because of you. Here's a little thought that came from SOMEWHERE, can't remember where...."If you don't find happiness along the way, you won't find it at the end of the road." I'm learning that's so true. Thanks for the happiness you bring to us.

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!