Castle Trip

Yesterday we went on a day trip with MWR. Our day started at 3a.m. We had to meet the bus in Vilseck at 4 then we had a 5 hour bus ride to get to the 2 castles!!! About halfway there the amusing bus driver, Allen, announced we would stop and have breakfast at the U.S. Embassy....

Yep, McDonald's in Germany!! We were equally happy to see that familiar ol' sign. Although it was similar it definitely had some qualities that stood out. You could self order inside instead of having to talk to the people at the counter & oh how I loved the McCafe. Besides the coffee, I heard was amazing they had lattes, frappes, & fancy cakes, muffins, cookies, pastries, & brownies. YUM! & satisfied w/breakfast & still a lil sleepy, we were back on the road again.

As soon as we started seeing mountains in the background, I started getting excited!!!! :o) I was completely amazed by the stories, the castles in the mountains, and the breath taking views.

Of course as we pull up to the parking lot for the buses, we see the quaint little town, and then look up at the 2 castles in the mountains. At first I looked up amazed at the sight and then I realized that somehow I was going to have to walk up that mountain. :o( AHHHHH!!! The walk up isn't so bad, it helped that I stopped a lot to take pictures. lol & of course the 2 friends we made that are in their 70's & have had spine & knee surgery helped me to not complain a bit!!!! I was certainly proud of that couple, they were troopers!!!

It seems like wherever we go I seem to had issues with the food &/or the bathroom. This time it was both. So, I never quite know what to order from these German restaurants. This time, I thought meatloaf..... "You can't go wrong with meatloaf?" right?!?!? WRONG!!!! Meatloaf here is exactly what they say a loaf of meat, but what kind of meat, IDK?!?!?!? It was a cross between spam & vienna sausages, gross!!! So, the hubby begrudgingly switched meals with me [b/c he'll eat anything]. So bratwurst for me it was. lol Oh the bathroom, UGH,  of course they make you pay to even enter the bathroom. This time it was 30 cent euro. But u had to have 3 ten cent coins. Of course, nobody ever seemed to have that & soon the change machine was out. We then had to backtrack to any store that may be willing to help. Finally, I get my 3 coins to enter the bathroom after a slight panic realize there is no paper in the stall. & to make matters worse they do not have stall like america where you could ask the lady next to u. I literally had to go out to another stall, inform the german speaking people what I was doing after I got weird stares, & cut in front of the 30 or so people waiting for 1 of the 3 stalls. OH MY!

Well, all in all, our day way fabulous. As tired as I was from the early wake up, little sleep, and all the walking uphill the memory of seeing these sights will stick with me forever. It was amazing and pictures will never capture the true beauty. If you ever get the chance, this is one place I would say you need to see!!! Awesome!

Memorial Day Weekend! It is exciting that many get time of work & get to spend a nice long weekend with the ones they love! However, so few people really think about what this holiday means. It's all to real for us Army Wives and our families. It's a day to honor the men & women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Did you know that Memorial Day was first known as Decoration Day [after the civil war] and was a day established for the nation to honor war victims by decorating their gravestones. May was chosen as the month because flowers would be in bloom all over the country by this time. It wasn't until after WWI that it was changed to Memorial Day to honor all war victims. In all my 29 years, this is the 1st time I have heard that. I thought that was interesting & had to share my new found knowledge. :o)

We have a pretty busy weekend planned ourselves. BBQ w/new army friends last night and again tomorrow. Trip planned with the MWR [Morale, Welfare, & Recreation] group here on post to go to a castle [which I am STOKED about] & a "honey do" list for my soldier that I know he can't wait to tackle. hehe

So, on this Memorial Day weekend have fun, enjoy your day off, and REMEMBER OUR FALLEN HEROES!!!!!!

Stuffed Zucchini

Shopping at the commissary the other day, I ran across ROUND zucchini. I have a strange love for zucchini so I had to have them! I really didn't even know they existed [thanks mom for filling me in after all these years] ;o) So today I wanted to try a spin on stuffed zucchini. I pretty much just combined 2 recipes. Took a lil from some & left out a lil from another. Well, it turned out fabulous. The hubs even loved it [even though he swears he doesn't like zucchini]. lol & clearly not the best pic. But I still had to share. I'll share with you my recipe too.

4-6 zucchini

1lb hamburger

1 small onion chopped

1 small tomato
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
seasoning of your choice [I use my infamous garlic pepper, our staple]
shredded Monterrey jack or cheddar to sprinkle on top

Start by spooning out the inside of the zucchini and then chopping it into small pieces along with the tomato & set it aside. Brown hamburger & add onions. After the hamburger & onions are done, drain any grease & mix with squash & tomato. Add seasoning of your choice, parmesan cheese & sour cream. Mix together then stuff back into shells. Sprinkle with a lil shredded cheese & bake at 350 for 30-40 min. YUM!


And of course after we ate, it's about 8pm. The hubs informs me that I should make something because his softball team is all getting together for dinner after the game tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up....after the stores are closed & with no way to get to the store b4 the game 2 morrow. I'll b brainstorming all night. Later peeps!!

This new German washer & dryer of our might just be the death of me. lol. I know one day I will get the hang of it. The dryer was the 1st problem. After the "maintenance" man hooked it up, he pretty much threw the manuals at us & left. All was good until the dryer just wouldn't tun on one day. My husband, the brains, figured out there was no hose to let the water out so the water must be going somewhere. Yep, a completely full water reservoir. Problem #1....Solved!!!!

So, today I started a load of clothes & when I came to check on them F13 flashed on the screen. Of course, the washer was the only appliance that was missing the English version of the instructions. So, for the 4th or 5th time, I sit with the instructions in one hand and my German translator app on my phone in the other. I figure our there is a residual water "thing" going on under the washer. So, I open it [slowly mind u] & BAM.....water everywhere! After almost a min of water pouring out, I'm thinking this can't b normal?!?!?!? I finish & attempt to start the washer again. Well, now I know what F13 is all about & it seems to b working fine, for the time being!

The Adventure Begins

So, I begged my hubby to re-enlist for Germany & much to my surprise, he did!! Now, he would consider himself more of a tropical person so I know his choice was strictly for me! We have been here in Germany for a month and 4 days. Although stressful at times, this has been the greatest and most exciting adventure I have ever had. The views are breathtaking and I fell in love with this country the moment I stepped off the plane.

This is one of my favorite pics, taken from the castle in medival old town of  Nerenberg. It was one of our first weekend trips after arriving in Germany. I was amazed we made it safely after having to figure out taxi's & train rides to & from all on our own. But, we made it & survived to tell about it. & let me just tell you, I have never walked so much in my life. I can not wait for our car to get shipped here! Now, the husband is driving a rental car after finally passing his drivers test after 1 failed attempt [I still have yet to take mine]. The very first day of driving the car, we ended up on a bicycle/pedestrian path. Those paths are huge & the car was so tiny....the husband was so mad, but my navigation skills have improved tons since then. :o)