Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

The residents of Stuttgart awoke to their first snow fall of the 2010 Winter Season this chilly morning in Germany. The temperature was a whopping 37 degrees (Fahrenheit) but that didn’t stop the 2-3 hour snow fall. Much of it didn't stick to the roads, but the rooftops and grassy areas were blanketed with just enough of the "white stuff" to wish for more!

The children skipped to school with their mouths open side tongues in the air, catching snowflakes while Moms trotted along several feet behind holding an umbrella and shaking her heads in disbelief; it’s only November 22nd!

Can you see the bicycle covered by the snow?

I broke out the Holiday Music today and now I'm looking forward to putting up our Christmas Tree and baking Gingerbread Cookies!

Liebe,

Mandy

Parmesan & Garlic Chicken ala Mandy!

I've been pretty busy with grad school, working on the house, applying for jobs, dealing with an injured back, and filing the household goods claim from hell with God only knows who (I've spoken with so many different people from too many different agencies, for all I know Santa Claus will be replacing our damaged items!) HOWEVER...I have been kicking butt in the kitchen whipping up some new culinary delights! Here is one of our new favorites...

Parmesan & Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
8 bone-in chicken breast halves, skinless

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. In a shallow dish or bowl, pour the Parmesan Cheese and set aside. Melt Butter in a small saucepan; add Garlic and Worcestershire Sauce and sauté garlic until tender. Remove from heat.

3. Dip chicken breasts in garlic butter mixture, then roll in cheese, coating thoroughly. Place coated chicken in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with any remaining garlic butter mixture.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

 

Enjoy!


Liebe,
Mandy

Veterans Day 2010- Visit to Birkenkopf World War II Memorial

National Veterans Day Ceremony

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

This year for Veterans Day, Matt and I decided to take advantage of being in Germany and check out some history. We found a WWII Memorial in Stuttgart called Birkenkopf. This particualr memorial is in part, a Schuttberg (debris mountain); an artificial hill built from the ruins and rubble from the WWII bombings. 















These types of mountains are more specifically termed "trümmerberg" (rubble mountain) and are known colloquially by various namesakes such as Mont Klamott (Mount Rag), Monte Scherbelino (Mount Shard), and Scherbelberg (Shard Mountain). Most major cities in Germany have at least one Schuttberg.

At an altitude of 511m (1,676 feet) above sea level, the Birkenkopf Memorial reaches 40m (131 feet) and lies in the Stuttgart-West city region, only about a 20 minute drive from our house. The weather was perfect for a hike up this massive trail.






















I couldn't decide how to feel as we began our ascent to the top; the trail was beautiful and the view of the city was magnificent. 

I tried to think about the reason this memorial was built in the first place; there had been a war, cities were destroyed, thousands of lives were lost, and we were climbing our way to the top of a hill which was created out of the rubble left after the war. 

We could see that there was a large cross on top of the hill once we hit the half way point. It gave me a sense of peace, a calm feeling came over my mind and I knew this place was not meant to mourn, but to remember. To remember the goodness still left in mankind, and the grace of God no matter how often we lose faith. I couldn't wait to reach the top.

Anyone else see an arrow pointing to the heavens?

Between 1953 and 1957, 15 million cubic metres of rubble from 53 bombing missions during World War II were built on top of the hill, which resulted in an increase in height of around 40 metres. At the summit there are many recognizable facades from the ruined buildings.

The locals colloquially call the Birkenkopf "Monte Scherbelino", which roughly translates as "Mount Shards" but in childlike language. One of the pieces of rubble has a plaque attached to it, which says: Dieser Berg nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg aufgetürmt aus den Trümmern der Stadt steht den Opfern zum Gedächtnis den Lebenden zur Mahnung. This translates roughly as: This mountain was built after the Second World War from the rubble of the town to stand as a memorial of the dead and a warning to the living.

From the summit the whole city centre can be seen, and on a clear day the view extends to the Swabian Alb, to the Black Forest, and the lowlands of Württemberg. On the summit there is a steel cross, which in 2003 replaced the original 1953 wooden cross. In the summer, early morning services are sometimes held here.

This was an amazing adventure; one we found only minutes from home. I am so thankful for the sacrifices made by our service members of the past and I will never forget them. They paved the way for the freedoms we as Americans enjoy today and those same freedoms are being defended even as you're reading this Blog post. Always keep our military and their loved ones in your prayers, I know I do. God Bless America!

Das ist Leben!

Liebe,

Mandy

Happy 235th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps

What it means to me, to be the wife of a U.S. Marine

Marine Corps ball 2010

Being a Marine Corps wife means being flexible and resourceful at all times, with as little notice and resources as possible. It means moving to new places every three years which means making new friends, finding a new job, and claiming damaged household goods…every three years. As the wife of a Marine we learn how to fix things around the house even if we don’t know the name of the tool used to do the job. We change our own flat tires, sometimes even the oil, and make sure the tread is still “good” before making an eight-hour road trip across the Country in the dead of winter to visit family while hubby is deployed. 

Nutcracker

It means mailing Christmas cards to APO’s and PCS’s to friends far away; baking cookies and delivering them to wounded warriors around the holidays. We teach our children to say “sir, and ma’am” and raise our sons to open doors for ladies. There will always be tears to cry and bills to pay, but at the end of the day, seeing those boots at the front door makes me think of one thing: they are worn by a U.S. Marine who fights for my freedom, salutes the American flag, and will forever and always hold the key to my heart.

God Bless the Marine Corps

Semper Fidelis,

Mandy Lyman

Daughter of a U.S. Marine Corps LtCol (Ret), and proud wife of a U.S. Marine Sgt.

165th Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest

Ich Liebe Pommes

The Cannstatter Volksfest, known as the "Stuttgart Beer Festival" to many Americans, is the second largest beer festival in the world; the Oktoberfest in München is the largest.

 

"Big Corn"

Wurst

Matt enjoying Schnapps

"The Giant Hamburger"

Simona, Tonya, Me

Matt and I went to this fest twice since it's where we live...just a short train ride to the Wasen (fest grounds). Oktoberfest in Germany is nothing like an American festival, at least none that I've ever been to, and I've been to TONS! Once we arrived at the festival on Sunday the 10th, we enjoyed some Pommes and Steak Brötchens with our new friends; our next door neighbor Tonya and her friends Jim and Simona were our escorts. This was the final day of the festival and it was pretty packed; I have a feeling it was because of the nice weather. The first time we visited it was opening day, and it rained on us the entire time.

Inside the Beer Tent

We met a "Bachelor Party" on the train

Matt & Tonya eating Steak Brötchens

The Grille

A Walk to Remember...beware of pictures!

Matt and I decided to take a walk Friday evening down to the City Center in Böblingen which has many fun shops, nail & hair salons, clothing stores, and eateries. There is an underground parking garage, a Solarium (tanning salon) and a great grocery store; I can't wait to get our vehicle so we can do some real shopping. The walk from base housing is about 45 minutes and offers a pretty scenic view along the way...

It's fall in Stuttgart! 

Bitte ein Bit

I love Clock Towers

We began our walk around 4:00pm and it was beautiful outside, there weren't too many cars on the road and the temperature was just right for a stroll through the town wearing a T-shirt and jeans. I decided to look cute and wear my brand new, wine colored, low-top, Chuck Taylors...sans socks! I have never owned a pair of Chucks and figured they were like Sperry's and didn't need socks. Well, that was a massive mistake and lucky you, I took pictures to prove it. My pinky toes began to ache around the 15 minute mark and there wasn't a shop in sight in which to purchase socks so we kept walking until we stumbled upon a shoe store. This store carried hi-tech running shoes and apparently the best socks in the world because we paid 11,95 Euro for ONE pair! Today's exchange rate says that's just over $16.50! They even had a Left and a Right designator on these babies...when I'm able to wear shoes again, I'll take them out for a spin and see if they make me fly. Unfortunately, the socks didn't help, the damage was already done so I puttered forth at a snail's pace as we searched for flip flops.

Above the mask it says "Business" Hmmmm

"Macho"

Das Schnitzel Haus

We found what appears to be a fresh market or organic grocery store and I bought a bottle of Italian Cabernet for 3,45 Euro, Woohoo!! We'll definitely be back for more when we get our car.

Cabernet Del Piave 2008

Rapunzel Vinothek

City Center

Matt also found a tobacco shop that sells cigars but I don't think the ones he bought were very good. We kept walking until we made it to the City Center where I found my first sign of relief at a shoe store, in the men's "house shoes" section. I tried on several pairs of these and finally decided to go with a snazzy pair of size 40 (American size 7 Mens...9.5 Womens) "Relax" brand called "Der Wohlfühlschuh."

Comfy House Shoes

Schuhe zu Haus

I wear between a 6.5-7 normally so these are pretty big on my feet but they are lined with 100% wool and I am wearing them around the house every day, I don't care how large they are, they rock!





Now for the horror shots...

The "Enemy"

Poor "Righty"

Poor "Lefty"

Even after walking around for another hour or so, we decided to head to our favorite Böblingen restaurant, Hendlhouse, (their slogan is...wir grillen die hendl! Which means, "we're grilling the chicken") and have dinner and dessert before walking back home. For dinner Matt had the "Mega Burger" (Four times in a row now) and I tried the chicken strips, I usually go for the "Bier Hendle" but I wasn't as hungry this time and wanted dessert!

Fasten your Lederhosen

Matt's Eis Schokolade mit Vanilleeis

Meine Himbeere mit Vanilleeis

All in all it was a pretty nice walk and at least I broke in my new shoes!

Liebe,
 Mandy