Tag Happiness Adventures

St. Martins Church, Ettlingen, Baden-Wartümberg, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

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One lovely, very sunny (and thus hot day), I leisurely went into St. Martins to enjoy the shade and for prayers.  The church was silent, in reverence of peace and quiet–the church being void of other humans.

I bolted upright from a very bizarre sound, not from the ding dang dong of the musical bells, for it was only 10:12 in the morning. Thinking something amiss, I searched for the source of the disturbance and was but awoken by the reverberations of my own rumbling snores echoing off the walls.

 

St. Annas Potthoffs 2780Martins Church, located in downtown Ettlingen (Kirchplatz) is a lovely place to visit–the church has different periods of construction (having been destroyed at points during previous wars.) The Spire is original and is easily seen from about anywhere in town.  Annas Potthoffs 2777

Upon looking up (once inside) the painting on the ceiling will fascinate as it is not rendered in the traditional sense.

The wooden, standardized pews are a lovely way to sit, relax and enjoy the divine presense of our Lord Saviour.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Hobbled by Cobbles, Freiberg, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

Once upon a time…a long, long time ago, I dreamt of excitment, not tripping over uneven cobble stones, which is how I literally stumbled across some amazing things on the streets of Freiburg–I think, therefore I am not sure, that these were once markers of cities, trades or something that were once welcome into the markets of Freiburg, and there they remain.

Thomas and I stopped and had a ice-cream Sundaes and my cobbled legs got a rest….

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

City Trade markers

City Trade markers

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Celebrating my ’21st’ birthday abroad

Anna--The Adventurer

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with a dinner in the backyard

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany–family and friends in Ettlingen, Germany

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with Fabian and his sisters

I turned 21 today, for the 13th time but who is counting??

It is truly the first time, though, that I have celebrated a birthday abroad and it has been wonderful. Thomas hosted a dinner celebration in the backyard for my special day, with family and friends attending.

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

 

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

The Porcelain Palace–

Anna--The Adventurer

Amazing day!! The chapel is not normally open to tourists-visitors but today, with special perimissin, Thomas and I not only got a tour of the private chapel on estate grounds but I also was given the opprotunity to cross something off my bucket list–our guide ENCOURAGED me, with full permission (without me even asking) to ring the bell in the chapel–all after an amazing, personal tour of the estate–including the private chambers of the Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg.

A week after touring the estate, Thomas and I were invited to attend a classical concert at the estate–an amazing evening where the musicians dressed in period correct costumes.  Champagne and delights were served during intermission and oh, what fun!!!

History Courtesy Wik.

Schloss Favorite is a castle on the outskirts of Rastatt-Förch in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Built by Johann Michael Ludwig Rohrer between 1710 and 1730, it was a pleasure and hunting palace (French: Maison de plaisance) used by Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg, widow of Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden (‘Türkenlouis’). It is the oldest of the German so-called ‘Porcelain Palaces’ and the only to survive intact to this day. The castle was only used for several weeks a year as a summer residence.

The castle houses a large collection of Chinese porcelain, black lacquerwork and Schwartz Porcelain.

Address: Am Schloß Favorite 5, 76437 Rastatt, Germany

Making a Plan

Anna--The Adventurer

The New Year has officially begun….and thus my brain started reeling of all the exciting things that the New Year will hold for me.  Daydreaming, I admit, is a ‘bad’ habit I possess; I am guilty in relishing in this habit as well, practicing it often, sometimes daily for hours on end. Whew!!

A fascinating article (5 Important Lessons You’ll Learn About Your Life When You’re Following Your Dreams) has prompted (inspired, encouraged) me to write down, list the things I dream (a.k.a. day dream) about doing…a bucket list of sorts but I am not about to keel over, no worries.

Dreams of Mine

(in no particular order, at this time!)

  • Swim with Whales
  • Whale Watching off the Coast of Alaska
  • Road Trip Across America with Friends
  • Niagara Falls
  • Dracula’s Castle, Borgoe Pass, Carpathian Mountains, Romania
  • Write a Novel
  • Plant and Maintain a small Fruit and Nut Orchard
  • Soak in the Hot Springs of Iceland
  • Marriage and Children
  • Build a Garden shed and chicken coop with my own hands
  • Make a Quilt from old T-Shirts
  • Write and illustrate a children’s book
  • Start-own-run a small farm-dairy
  • Be Fully Self Employed
  • Adopt a Shelter Pet
  • Sell an original art piece of mine
  • Be a ‘tour guide’ for my family on a fun adventure I designed for them
  • See the Heather blooming in the Scottish Highlands in July
  • Write a Love Letter, old school style
  • Dye My Hair a funky color
  • Send a random letter to a person, see if they write back
  • Send $10 to a random address, just because
  • Write a letter to myself to open in ten years
  • Decorate an outside (living) tree for Christmas
  • Ride a Bicycle for a whole day ( to run errands, everything!!)
  • Attend-Host a fancy tea party, wear a big hat
  • Learn to sew (with a machine), make myself something to wear
  • Learn to Knit
  • Clip Coupons and use them to purchase canned-dried goods to donate to a local food bank in a needy area
  • Pay for a strangers meal
  • Go to Veterinary School, become a licensed Vet.
  • See Fairy Pools, Loch Ness, and Standing Stones in Scotland
  • Live in another country
  • Go to a Swiss dairy farm
  • Learn to play the piano
  • Plant-Maintain a perennial herb-vegetable garden
  • Ring the Bells (the kind with a dangling rope) in a Church
  • Fill my passport with stamps
  • Collect 100 smashed souvenir pennies
  • Do something nice for someone else
  • A Random Act of Kindness
  • Purchase land with a home on site
  • Fly First Class
  • Host a game night at my house
  • Adventure to places I have never seen
  • Cook a meal for someone
  • Practice Cooking
Why not??

Why not??

AJ’s, Orchard, Colorado

Anna--The Adventurer

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Family Night having Dinner at AJ

AJs, Orchard, Colorado

Enjoying Colorado Raised beef, Prime Rib

Prime rib is always a good idea!!!

Haake and I knew about this place for a while but we discovered recently that it has  Prime Rib specials on Friday evenings–and dinner is always more enjoyable with good company.

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M. Haake and I love the Prime Rib Fridays at AJ’s In Orchard, Colorado

 

 

  • AJ’s Corner Tavern
    24213 Hwy 39
    Weldona, CO 80653
  • Phone number 1 (970) 645-9881

 

 

Mammoth Lacrosse–Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

Anna--The Adventurer

American Lacrosse

             Colorado Mammoths

Going to the yoo with Kevin H.

Goofy friends with Kevin H.

Pepsie Center, Denver, Colorado

Friends watching the Mammoth Lacrosse Game at the Pepsi Center, Prive Box, Denver, Colorado

Mammoth Lacrosse

Watching Mammoth Lacross, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

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Tanner, Margaret, and Haake enjyoing the game from box seats.

 

 

What a fun, wonderful evening!! Friends and family enjoyed a Colorado Mammoths Lacross game and the crowds were roaring!! The skill and agility of the athletes was astounding!!!

 

 

Denver Zoo

Anna--The Adventurer

Kevin and I at the Denver Zoo

A day of fun and sun on the wild side–we drove to the Denver Zoo!!! The elephant feature is really, really cool.  I also got a smashed souvenir penny today for my collection!! woohoo!!!

Turning over a new leaf

Anna--The Adventurer

Hundreds of letters have been exchanged between us.

A long history of letters…and we wrote.

 

So, as our story continues on, Thomas and I have continued to write, sharing our lives and friendship through letters..and now we have been very dear, good sweet friends for almost 20 years. We continued to write when one day….

Thomas asked me to come to Germany, not for a vacation, but for something more, something special. Thomas wrote:

I hope you will come to Germany and stay for a long while. I would like to opportunity to date you, make a future with you, and get to know you even better than I already do.  Please, come and stay. ‘ (small excerpt).

 

Upon receiving, reading and re reading the letter, I discussed this with my sister and Acacia, asking their advice and thoughts on it–for the power of girlfriends and sisters is something very unique (but that is a discussion for another day).  They both hooped and hollered with joy, with the confidence and hope for all good things.

I wrote to Thomas asking him when he would like me to go, a very big decision for me..and we continued to write letters.

So, now comes the point, that I know I am moving to Germany, at least for a while, as Thomas wrote back and said when I can and am ready, that he wants to welcome me in his home when I am ready…now for preparations.

As we discuss what the future for us holds….we continue to write letters.

And suddenly you know.... its time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings: