Tank Girlz Weather Chronicle: Morning Fog is a normal occurrence here since we live up in the hills, luckily its burning off into a beautiful sunny and semi-clear day!
I am hoping this is the last blog playing catch up and we can get back on track to daily blogs about life in NEVER NEVER LAND.
On March 22, 2011. Something wonderful happened to me. I made a new friend out of my neighbor. Her name is Mariannae (pronounced MAR-EEE-ON-AAA) her son Jens speaks English, so I was able, over the fence to convey my desire to garden and of course explain my complete lack of knowledge on how to do so. She kindly made an appointment to come over the next evening and tell me what is good and what is bad in the front garden that is overgrown, and also give me a run down of what is actually in my yard.
Patiently, and with sheets of paper from the internet of plants in English and German her son Jens and her walked me through the yard, told me what I have and what I need to do. I have about 10 trees in my yard and all of them are fruit trees. I have several plum, pear, and apple trees and two cherry trees. I am sure you can imagine my surprise as I realize how amazing my yard already is but the possibility of access to so much fresh fruit for pies, jams, jellies etc. made me simply ecstatic!
After the yard tour I invited them in for cookies that I specifically baked for this occasion- a gift of thanks- and gave them a walk around of the house. Mariannae was quite enthused when she saw my knitting on the couch. She picked it up and upon careful inspection offered to help me. (What just happened is a senior-pro knitter, just offered to help this rookie because her knitting is a hot mess.....how embarrassing.....)
As promised Mariannae arrived the next afternoon and I watched very carefully as she showed me a few knitting tips and tricks. Then she showed me her own work......I am pretty sure my mouth hung open for a few minutes and I was in complete awww of this woman's brilliance.
She generously allowed me to pick out a few items that she had made for myself, and gave me some jams that she herself had made. The only thing this nomad could offer back was some American Coffee ('Kaffe').
So far Mariannae has helped me plant salad plants and radishes in my greenhouse, given me tomato plants and chillies that she has already germinated, and assisted me in learning to speak Duetsch.
The Tomatoes:
The Chillies:
I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such an amazing and knowledgeable neighbor about all the things that I want to accomplish during my time here in NEVER NEVER LAND. I am so grateful and excited about all the things this woman can teach me. I feel much less alone and isolated now that I have my Mariannae.
Here are some pictures of our Fairy Tale Yard:
This picture is my other front garden, its a clean slate and the plan is lots and lots of flowers!
The Vegetable Garden Before:
The Veggie Garden After:
We have a pond!
March 23, 2011
This was the first day I cried in NEVER NEVER LAND. The morning started out great but by the afternoon I was completely hopeless.
We have a Brigade Ball to go to next weekend. So in a panic I ordered a dress off the internet because I have no idea where to get a proper gown, and I do not want to spend a fortune doing so either.
I was relieved when I actually received the dress, but after trying it on I realized that I would probably need to get it taken in because I had lost weight. (Side Note: After many hours of running, strength training and being seriously disciplined with my diet, it had now become apparent that it was effective- so I was very happy at this point). The dilemma of having a dress altered in Europe still stood. So.....I asked around and heard of a good place.
I figured at this point it would not be hard to find the alterations place since I knew the street it was located on. Do yourself a favor- don't assume anything will be easy......I ended up being lost, so I saw some American girls and stopped and asked them where it was, they didn't know. Go Figure.
I would have kindly asked a German, except....oh....yeah I don't have the internet so that's why I don't know the word in German for alteration shop or better yet have a google map in hand. After helplessly wandering for what was in my opinion too long, I found one shop that could do alterations. I took my dress inside and asked the lady if she could help me. She very firmly said no, that altering that dress would be too difficult. I asked her if she knew anybody that could and she said no.
So I pressed on and found the shop I had actually been looking for. They open at 2pm. Its 1pm, and I have to meet the Internet Technician at 2pm. Damn.
I hurried home and waited for the Internet guy to arrive. Once he did, he slopped around and pretended to fix some things. He told me my internet was working. So knowing that LEGS would be ticked if I didn't double check and make sure I hopped on my computer to check. No Internet. So I tell the man I don't have internet.
What happened next was the single most frustrating experience of my entire life. I would ask him a question and he would answer. But I am not sure what he was saying.....I could not tell you if it was German or English. I told him repeatedly in German and English I did not understand could he please repeat, but he wouldn't repeat. After 20 minutes of this song and dance I tried to call LEGS, but he didn't answer. At this point I was on the verge of tears and had to hide in the kitchen for fear of crying or screaming as this Jackball......
After I gained my composure I came back and asked him about the phone. In my mind I was thinking the phone is less complicated then the internet, so it should not be difficult for him to at least get the phone hooked up and working.......Guess Again.......he proceeded to tell me that we made the wrong decision about the company we used, then he asked me who made the decisions in my marriage.
Is this guy for real? Does he know who I am? I am number 7 God Dammit! For fear of assaulting, cursing and turning into a hysterical American I kindly told him thank you and he could leave.
Back downtown to see if the other place could alter the dress.
When I arrived at the alterations place (located right in the downtown square), a little man from Greece greeted me. He requested that I put the dress on, behind a raggedy curtain in a store front shop. As I stripped down, I just told myself that Europeans are not like Americans, they do not get all weird about nudity. He kindly pinned the dress and told me his wife would do it and it would be ready by Thursday.
THANK YOU LORD JESUS.......something has finally gone right today.
Over & Out
Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife.....**
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