A Georgia Girl in Germany

MacKenzie decided this year that she wanted to work on her first Girl Scout age-level award -- the Girl Scout Bronze Award. This award is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn, and requires her to learn leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. This award is designed for the Juniors to demonstrate their commitment to helping others, improve their community and the world, and become the best they can be.

MacKenzie worked on this award with a small group. Their project was to plan and lead the art portion of a Brownie Stress-Busting Round-up. Another group planned and led the spa portion of the Round-up. About 12 Brownies showed up for the Round-up, and earned four Try-It badges that afternoon. I think all the girls enjoyed the afternoon -- the Juniors leading and helping, as well as the Brownies learning some stress free-busting activities.

MacKenzie worked hard on making a presentation about artists Claude Monet and Paul Klee, and practiced several origami creations to teach the Brownies. Here she’s teaching the Brownies how to make an origami crane. She liked making the crane, but thought the frogs were the easiest.

MacKenzie and her group were recognized at last night’s Girl Scouts Bridging and Awards Ceremony. Here she’s standing with Mackensi and Natalie while everyone attending the ceremony is told about their hard work on the project.

To add a little perspective, the Bronze Award project is intended to make a positive impact on a Junior Girl Scout’s community and the world, and shows her commitment to becoming the best she can be. The next level award project -- the Silver Award (Cadette level) -- is intended to make a positive impact on a scout’s community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others, and the final level award project -- the Gold Award (Senior and Ambassador level) -- is intended to fulfill a need within a scout’s community (ranging from local to global), create change and is something that becomes ongoing. Earning the Gold Award is to Girl Scouts what earning the Eagle Scout ward is to Boy Scouts.

MacKenzie’s already stated that she wants to earn the Silver and Gold Awards. You go girl!

Labels: Girl Scouts, MacKenzie

Today was Benjamin’s last day of Pre-School. What a day! He’s really enjoyed Ms. Jill’s class this year, and I think he’s very ready for Kindergarten in the fall. Amazingly, the class was 100% boys for most of the year! At the beginning of the year, there was one girl, but she got tired of standing in the middle of the room asking, “Who wants to play dress-up with me?” and having nine boys return blank stares at her. When she transferred to a different class, her slot was soon filled with -- you guessed it -- a boy. I don’t know how Ms. Jill managed with that many little boys in a single class!

I missed his end-of-class party and luncheon today since I had already agreed to chaperone Zachary’s class field trip, but Benjamin seemed to enjoy the day nonetheless (he told me he ate two pieces of cake!). Isn’t his graduation cap cute!?!! He was bound and determined to NOT smile for the photo -- not sure why, other than the fact that it was me behind the camera.



Doesn’t Benjamin look so very proud sitting with the rest of his classmates during the graduation party? Again, all boys (and two were absent for the party) -- I don’t know how Ms. Jill did it!

Labels: Benjamin

I love the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, from the first time I visited back in 1996, to when I took Mom and Dad during their first visit to see us in Germany. However, during both of those visits, I hadn’t done the walking tour with the town’s Night Watchman (first time I didn’t know about it; second time it was too cold). So, before winter arrived in force, we headed out to spend the afternoon and evening in this wonderfully enchanting medieval town.

We started by strolling along the town wall, and passing several lookout towers along the way. It was really rather relaxing to simply walk and look at the architecture and the valley below.

Benjamin was cooperative, and actually wanted me to take his photo sitting on the wall overlooking the Tauber valley.

At one point, we managed to walk along the outside of the wall. There were very few others out for Sunday strolls, so it made for a very peaceful walk.

We soon came to the Burgtor Castle Gate, where the boys decided to rest for a moment. The gate is decorated with the coats of arms of the city and of the empire. When the town’s castles were destroyed by an earthquake in 1356, this gate became essential. Behind this outer gate was the middle gate, where the drawbridge chains are still visible. There’s also a “needle-eye” in the inner gate that allowed individuals to enter the city without the sentries having to open the entire door. During the night, when the city gates were closed, people were only allowed to leave and enter with the express approval of the council, so woe to those who tried to return late after having a few too may brews!

Zachary and MacKenzie liked stretching out on this thicker part of the city wall for a breathtaking view of the Tauber valley below. Of course, Benjamin wanted to join them up there, but wasn’t as cautious as I would have liked, so I hovered near him and held his hand when he neared the significant drop-off.

I had never noticed the Topplerschlößchen (Toppler’s Little Castle) in the Tauber valley before. It was built in 1388 in the form of a Romanesque castle surrounded by water for the famous mayor Heinrich Toppler who used the building as a summer residence and as a meeting place for political discussions.

MacKenzie liked this little hedgehog wandering through the Castle Garden. She was very concerned for its well-being since she didn’t see a mom or dad hedgehog nearby...and asked if we could bring it home with us! What a kind heart she has for animals!

I like this view from the opposite side of the Castle Garden, looking at a section of the town that juts out like a finger from the rest of the town.

Benjamin enjoyed walking along this part of the wall through the Castle Garden, ducking under the beams where I’m sure vines and such grow during the spring and summer. The wall narrowed as he continued, and he soon had to get down.

We also decided to visit the town’s Medieval Crime Museum. Before heading in, each of the kids had to pose in the pillory, not that they were misbehaving on our outing...more for the novelty of doing so.



There was a lot to discover inside the museum -- four stories worth, covering a thousand years of European legal history from law enforcement and court proceedings to punishments and legal folklore. MacKenzie posed next to a rather large iron maiden -- a coat of disgrace for less than virtuous women and girls.

We all found the various masks of disgrace rather humorous. Those with faces like animals were for men who behaved like animals. Those with long tongues were for individuals who gossiped. There were even specific masks for “wicked women” and for those who made rude comments or jokes. It seemed everywhere we turned, there were more shame masks -- each uniquely made for unique offenses.

Zachary and MacKenzie intently studied the photo of someone locked in a pillory. This particular photo showed someone sitting with his bare feet locked in the pillory while a boy tickled one foot and a lamb licked the other. Talk about tickle-torture!

This 16th century money chest was pretty neat -- or rather, the locking mechanism was neat. It’s made of wrought iron and weighs almost 200 pounds. With a single key, 10 combinations can be worked at once, although the chest has 14 combinations. As a protection against theft, holes in the bottom were used to fasten it to the ground. Since banks were hardly known in those days, it was up to individuals to protect their money, jewelry and other valuables. The locking mechanism of this chest looks like it could have come right out of a Harry Potter movie showing the locks on the vaults inside Gringotts Bank.

Benjamin ran around quite a bit inside the museum…keeping me busy trying to keep up with him. He had fun with this “fire hole” before trying to dodge out the door into the next room.

On the way out of the museum, MacKenzie decided to pose under the dunking stool that was used to punish bakers whose bread was too light by -- you guessed it -- dunking them in water.

After strolling through the Criminal Museum, we searched out a snack, and found the perfect thing: schneeballen, or snowballs! Snowballs are a Rothenburg specialty, and there are many varieties. Of course, this chocoholic family opted for the chocolate-covered variety.

We also had a little extra time on our hands before nightfall and the night watchman tour, so we hopped in the back of a horse-drawn carriage to tour the city while indulging in our snowballs.

Our driver didn’t speak much English, but would point out a few sights and say a few words about what we were passing. When I’d ask him a question about what he had said, he’d simply repeat himself. I soon realized that he had learned just enough English to point out the highlights.

MacKenzie seemed to have some difficulty with the wind blowing her hair into her face while she was eating her snowball.

After our carriage ride and supper, we met the night watchman in the town hall square. Before the 20th century, the night watchman was responsible for the safety of the citizens of this walled, fortified city. He would make his rounds between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., much like a night policeman. Even though his job was important and the citizens trusted him to keep the streets safe at night, only the gravedigger and executioner were lower on the social scale. His tools included the hellebarde weapon, which he’s holding in this photo, and a horn carried around his neck. The hellebarde was used to show his authority and to protect himself from drunks and thieves out at night. The horn would warn citizens of fire -- the worst possible disaster that could strike a city in the days before fire hydrants.

We started our tour by walking down the Herrnasse, the widest street in the town and where the town nobility once lived, toward the tower at the Burgtor Castle Gate.

This is a night view from the Castle Garden, looking at the same section of the town jutting out like a finger from the rest of the town.

MacKenzie and Benjamin took a break from our walking tour to sit on a bench and munch on a few fruit snacks in the Castle Garden.

We continued on our trek with the night watchman through the town and eventually came back to the town hall square and Rathaus -- town hall. He was an entertaining and humorous character, and shared a lot of interesting facts of the town that I didn’t learn on my previous visits.

To the left is St. George’s Fountain, otherwise known as Herterichs Well, with the former Meat and Dance Hall and the Jagstheim House behind it. As expected, we spent a few extra minutes admiring the fountain while Benjamin admired the water in the fountain.

This is another view of St. George’s Fountain, with the Gothic town hall and its nearly-200-foot high tower behind it.

We took one last photo before heading for home: of the town hall square and Ratsherrntrinkstube -- City Councilor’s Tavern -- behind the kids. The old town clock on the tavern (now the visitor’s center) dates to 1683. Staying for the night watchman’s tour made for a late night, but the kids were well-behaved and enjoyed the visit.

Labels: Benjamin, Germany, MacKenzie, Travel, Zachary

The other night, Benjamin quietly began moving one of his train sets into the hallway to set up the tracks and play. When I asked him why he was playing in the hallway, he said there wasn’t enough room in his room because it’s too messy. At least he was being honest!

In reality, his room wasn’t in that bad of shape, but he did lack sufficient floor space to create an adequate track layout.

Labels: Benjamin

Happy Birthday Granny Walker!

Dell Winn was the seventh child of 16, and the fifth daughter, growing up on a farm in South Georgia. I once asked her what it was like growing up during the Depression, to which she said the Depression didn’t affect them much since they were farmers and grew most of their own food and didn’t have to buy much.

She worked at a drug store before meeting my grandfather, and seemed to have a stubborn streak all her life (I must get my stubbornness honestly! -- smile).

She always made a point of visiting us wherever the Air Force sent us -- from California and Texas to Pennsylvania to Washington D.C. We also would trek back to Granny and Grandpa’s house on the farm each summer. When we’d visit, she would always cook fried chicken and homemade french fries (the best in the world straight from her black cast-iron skillet).

One summer, I went out to feed the chickens in the coop by her house, and one of the roosters jumped out and started chasing me around the yard, pecking at my legs. Granny Walker came to my rescue, swatting a broom at him to get him to back off. When we returned home after that weekend visit, she called to let us know she had made “rooster-and-dumplings” for supper. Unfortunately, there were two roosters in the coop, and she didn’t know which one had attacked me...so they both were supper that night! Guilt by association for that second one!

She and my Aunt Mildred used to make birthday and wedding cakes as a side business. They were the best ever! I remember her making a stand-up doll and a family of panda bears, among others, for some of my birthday parties. When she and my aunt worked on wedding cakes, they’d let me decorate a plate with frosting so I could be right beside them. They didn’t complain too much when I sampled the frosting either (except when I got into the flowers that were going to be the finishing touches).

When I was in college, my parents moved to Colorado and Texas, so when I went “home” on the weekends, it was to the farm. She’d always help me do my laundry, and we’d work side-by-side hanging my clothes on the line to dry. It was great having that one-on-one time with her.

I have lots of fond memories of my grandmother, but above all, I love the way her eyes twinkle when she laughs.

Can’t wait to see you this summer!

I love you Granny!

Labels: Birthdays

The final stop on our three-country express was to Feldkirch, Austria, for a tour of the 12th century Schattenburg Castle followed by supper. The castle is perched above the town, and we had to trek up a steep walkway to get there. The castle was built by the most important ruling dynasty of the province during the High Middle Ages in the 13th century.

The castle was enlarged in the 15th and 17th centuries, and was used as a barracks on and off in the 19th century and then as a poorhouse until 1914.

Zachary and Benjamin enjoyed playing on this cannon before we went inside for our tour. Boys will be boys!

This is a view of the town below. The tall, green steeple on the right is St. Nikolaus Cathedral. The Katzenturm -- Cat Tower -- is the round tower just to the right of center.

The kids got a kick out of role-playing a medieval knight and lady. Benjamin was simply himself -- a role he’s good at playing!

The castle courtyard was beautifully decorated with flowers reaching down from the second-story covered walkways. This was the way to the castle museum tour.

The fountain in the middle of the courtyard was a nice centerpiece, again, framed by colorful hanging flowers.

This late 18th century bed with a wooden canopy was interesting. It’s short -- not because people were that short then, but because they slept sitting up.

Below is another view of St. Nikolaus Cathedral and the Katzenturm, from the castle Salon.


I liked this painted farmhouse wardrobe with period clothing. It was a bridal gift to Anna Maria Wangnerinn, and dates from October 1785.

This heavy traveling chest was made in 1676 and has a gabled lid and coat of arms. It was very heavy, even when empty!

I’ve never seen a giraffe piano before. This one was built by piano-maker Alois Kalb in the early 19th century.

This early 16th century sculpture of the crowned Virgin Mary with child is carved of wood!

You can tell how thick the walls are from this window niche in the Great Hall -- more than nine feet thick! The wood sculptures on the wall date to the 17th century.

The armory keep is the oldest part of the castle. The sides of this room are 52-feet by 32-feet wide and more than 72 feet high making it one of the strongest fortified towers in the country. Naturally, it also served as a refuge in the event of war. They have quite the collection of weapons in this room, from spears and arquebuses (the earliest form of rifles) to 18th and 19th century military rifles, 16th century pistols and swords.

After our tour, we settled down to a table in one of the Knights’ Halls for supper including wiener schnitzel and French fries. I was told the wiener schnitzel is an Austrian specialty, although it’s readily available in Germany as well. The restaurant originally opened in the castle in 1927.

When we were done and headed back to the bus for our return trip, Benjamin had to stop and play with the water in the courtyard fountain. He wanted to drop leaves in the water, and didn’t understand why I wouldn’t let him.

Labels: Austria, Benjamin, MacKenzie, Travel, Zachary