Saturday, December 12, 2009

Presents



When my dad visited, he brought with him a couple of gifts I want to show you (Danke, Papa!!). The first is a gorgeous stoneware pitcher from a small village in Germany, called Adendorf, that has a history of creating beautiful pottery. We both love pottery and next time we visit my family, we'll have to go see this place for ourselves.

My dad also brought us an issue of a German magazine called Landlust. A few years ago, he had a role in getting it started. It's about anything connected with living in the country and I love it! It has interesting articles, recipes, craft projects, gardening tips and even knitting patterns! Plus, it has a fresh and beautiful look! For all of you in Germany, you can take a look at it here.




A couple of days ago, I received a surprise in the mail from my dear blogging friend Dorthe, who lives in Bornholm, a Danish island. She sent me one of her gorgeous driftwood angels and an old map of Bornholm, because she knew that I vacationed there with my family when I was five. Thank you so much, Dorthe! She makes the most magical creations, so make sure you head over to her blog!
I promised Dorthe that I'd post a couple of photos from this vacation for her to see. Most of them were beach photos, but here are a couple that she might recognize. In the first one, I am the little girl on the right (I was five years old at the time). Next to me is the daughter of family friends. We were at the port either waiting for my aunt and uncle to come in on a ship or to see them off.
And here a photo with my mom. I remember that to be such a fun vacation. The weather was beautiful, the beaches white as snow, the water perfect, lots of laughing and I remember reading my first book out loud.

It was called Tausche Baeren Gegen Hund (Trading a Bear for a Dog) and I can still recite some of the lines. Can you still remember the first book you were able to read by yourself?

17 comments:

  1. That is beautiful Silke, all of it. Thank you for sharing. My first book was an Edgar Rice Burroughs comic book adaption, "Tarzan" and I still have it. As a child I was so infatuated with this author that I collected over the years, I believe, every book he ever wrote.

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  2. Nice post! I love the pitcher and the magazine. And it is fun to see you as a little girl. There you are with your long legs, even at age 5! Cute!!

    I have no idea what the first book I ever read was. More than 50 years ago ~ the memory gives out after awhile!

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  3. The magazine your father helped start looks full of lovely pictures. I love magazines like that. Thanks for the Christmas cheer, I think I'll bake some cookies tomorrow.

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  4. I could never remember my first book. I mean I can't even remember what I read yesterday:) Great post, great pictures and lots of cheer. Thanks for sharing and have a great Sunday.

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  5. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing! Love that driftwood angel! I can't remember my first book. And I can't even remember all the lines of my favorite poem/story as a child: Frosch ist krank... Ofenbank... tagelang! Isn't that silly?

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  6. What a beautiful vase! And that magazine looks so gorgeous. I don't think I can remember the first book I ever read - what I can remember is being down in the basement family room with Bread & Jam for Frances (one of my childhood favorites) by Lillian and Russell Hoban and reading along with the record that would always say "turn the page." :)
    Talk to you soon! Theresa

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  7. Don't you just love German and Scandinavian Magazines...they have such a homely feel...and that vase is gorgeous!Such a treasure.
    I really remember reading a book about a naughty princess and reading it over and over.
    But can't remember how old I was.
    Have a lovely Sunday.
    Char

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  8. Such beautiful gifts!! The images in the magazine are absolutely stunning!!

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  9. I love seeing life through photographs -- be they from our past or our present (or our presents!). This magazine looks wonderful -- I would be happy flipping through it -- even if I couldn't read it..the photography is so appealing! Congratulations to your father for being in on the ground floor of getting this published!

    Gifts from family and from friends we have never met -- knowing that we are thought of in such a loving way -- does it get better than that?? :)

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  10. I love your gift from your father. The pitcher is so pretty. And the magazine looks like it is full of wonderful articles and pretty photos. Dorthe is an angel herself. I love her dolls! She seems such a sweet soul. I loved the images of you as a youngster. The knee socks made me chuckle. They are actually on my mother's Christmas list, this year. lol
    Have a lovely Sunday, friend,
    Tammy

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  11. Hallo Silke,
    Ja die "Landlust" lese ich auch schrecklich gern.
    Der Krug den dir dein Papa mitgebracht hat ist wirklich sehr schön.
    Ich hab von Adendorf bis jetzt nichts gehört, das muss ich doch gleich mal schauen wo das liegt....
    Ich wünsch dir eine schöne Woche
    Janine

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  12. Hallo liebe Silke.

    I`m so happy you recieved my little angel,and that you likes her --and thank`s for the pictures from here.
    The one is taken in the harbor of the biggest town :Rønne ,-and the other is from an old casle called: The ruins of Hammershus,-it is still a very beautifull place to visit.
    So great to see you as a little girl, dear.

    The magazine looks very cosy, I will try if it is possibly to get it from Germany.
    Wishing you a wonderfull week.
    Hugs, Dorthe

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  13. Silke, the pictures of you and your Mom are adorable. You must cherish those.

    The jug is fantastic. Lucky duck.

    xoxoxo

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  14. just beautiful!!! I love the little mittens, thanks for sharing.

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  15. The driftwood angel is so cute and the mittens are precious! Your Dad sounds fabulous Silke!

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  16. What lovely treasures and memories, Silke. Thank you for sharing. As for the first book I read aloud, I wish my memory was much clearer but it's probably a Beatrix Potter or Enid Blyton tale. Timeless magic! Festive greetings, dear one, to you and your loved ones.x

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  17. Beautiful memories and my favorite is your picture when you were 5 years old. You were beautiful then, you are beautiful now!

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