Ameise1 (Barbara)'s first try (Part 12)

Welcome to my 12th thread.

At the last Sunday in October I was at a reading event at Café Odeon. The history of this Café is like a 'who and who' from the last nine decades. Therefore it's more than appropriate to introduce this historical place.
It was open on July 1, 1911. The first clients discovered a magnificent Art Nouveau café with its own pastry shop in the basement and a billiard room on the 1st floor. It had typical Jugendstil attributes such as a very large and high-ceilinged room with large windows, chandeliers, brass linings (with linear vegetabile ornaments) and marble-clad walls. The history reveals all the political and economic turmoil of the last nine decades. Here, politics were discussed and artistic movements found their cradle, people from most different nationalities, cultures and religions seeking refuge or distraction from every day life. Some of the celebrities were: Stefan Zweig, Hans Arp, Franz Werfel, Albert Einstein, Else Lasker-Schüler, Claire Goll, Frank Wedekind, William Somerset Maugham, Erich Maria Remarque, Klaus Mann, Friedrich Torberg, Franz Léhar, Arturo Toscanini, Wilhelm Furtwängler, James Joyce, Lenin, Max Frisch, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Carl Seelig, Hugo Loetscher, Alfred Andersch, Dr. Emil Oprecht, Kurt Tucholsky, Rowohlt, Trotsky.

___

January

# 1 Die Feuer von Murano by Giuseppe Furno ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
# 2 The Case Of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall (4 stars)
# 3 Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (4 1/2 stars)
# 4 The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry (3 stars)
# 5 Nelson Mandela by Biography Series Member Giveaway (4 stars)
# 6 Beneath The Bleeding by Val McDermid ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 1/2 stars)

February

# 7 Even Money by Dick Francis (4 stars)
# 8 The Spy Game by Georgina Harding (4 1/2 stars)
# 9 Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker (4 stars)
#10 L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 1/2 stars)
#11 Table For One byDaniel Kelley Member Giveaway (4 1/2 stars)
#12 The Private Patient by PD James ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)

March

#13 Continuance by Marta Tandori Member Giveaway (3 stars)
#14 The Lost Diaries Of Adrian Mole, 1999 2001 by Sue Townsend (3 1/2 stars)
#15 Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (4 stars)
#16 Digital Fortress by Dan Brown ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (3 1/2 stars)
#17 Blindman's Bluff by Faye Kellerman (4 1/2 stars)
#18 The Infinities by John Banville (4 stars)
#19 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (4 stars)

April

#20 Pitch Black by Alex Gray ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 1/2 stars)
#21 In The Kitchen by Monica Ali (2 1/2 stars)
#22 First Family by David Baldacci (4 stars)
#23 No Lovelier Death (DI Joe Faraday) by Graham Hurley ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
#24 The Associate by John Grisham (3 1/2 stars)
#25 Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay (4 1/2)
#26 The Ritual by Darren Kirby Member Giveaway (2 stars)
#27 False Impression by Jeffrey Archer Audiobook (4 stars)
#28 NO HARD FEELINGS (A Kate Stanton Mystery) by Marta Tandori Member Giveaway (4 stars)

May

#29 White Jazz by James Ellroy ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
#30 Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (4 stars)
#31 Family Album by Penelope Lively (4 stars)
#32 Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (4 stars)
#33 The Poison Pen by Marjorie Owen Early Review (4 stars)
#34 Diver Down (Mercy Watts Mysteries) by A.W. Hartoin Member Giveaway (4 1/2 stars)
#35 The Templar's Quest by C.M. Palov ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)

June

#36 One morning like a bird by Andrew Miller (5 stars)
#37 The Aunt Paradox by Chris Dolley Early Review (3 1/2 stars)
#38 The Fire by Katherine Neville (5 stars)
#39 The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
#40 The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 1/2 stars)

July

#41 Deception Point by Dan Brown ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (3 stars)
#42 Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (4 stars)
#43 Vanished by Joseph Finder (4 stars)
#44 Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories by Nancy Christie (4 1/2 stars)
#45 Open Season by C. J. Box ROOT - 2014 Read Our Own Tomes Group (3 1/2 stars)
#46 Second Honeymoon by James Patterson (3 1/2 stars)

August

#47 Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare Stories) by William Shakespeare (4 stars)
#48 The Goldfinch by Donna Tratt (4 1/2 stars)
#49 Vulture au Vin by Lisa King Early Review (3 stars)

September

#50 The Winter Boy by Sally Wiener Grotta Member Giveaway (4 1/2 stars)
#51 The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse (4 1/2 stars)
#52 The Fifth Floor by Michael Harvey (4 stars)

October

#53 The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (4 stars)
#54 The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (4 1/2 stars)
#55 The Devil's Feather by Minette Walters (3 1/2 stars) Audiobook
#56 Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann (4 stars)
#57 Voice of an Angel by Becky Lower Early Review (1 star)
#58 The Night Season by Chelsea Cain (4 stars)

November

#59 The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín (4 stars)
#60 The Skull Beneath the Skin by P. D. James (4 stars) Audiobook
#61 Last 10 Seconds by Simon Kernick (4 stars) Audiobook
#62 Storm Front by John Sandford (3 1/2 stars)

December

#63 Gooseberry by Michael Gallagher Early Review (4 1/2 star)
#64 Catch Me When I Fall by Nicci French Audiobook (4 stars)
#65 Emerald City by Jennifer Egan (3 1/2 stars)
#66 Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie Audiobook (3 1/2 stars)
#67 Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith Audiobook (4 stars)
#68 Siege by Simon Kernick Audiobook (3 stars)
#69 Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio (4 1/2 stars)
#70 La Belle Femme by Aine Greaney (4 stars)
#71 Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck (5 stars)
#72 The Life of Hunger by Amélie Nothomb (4 1/2 stars)
#73 A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh (3 1/2 stars)
#74 Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich ( 3 1/2 stars)
#75 Wolkenbruchs wunderliche Reise in die Arme einer Schickse by Thomas Meyer (4 1/2)

Take It or Leave It Challenge

challenges

January

7.: Read a book you received as a present (in-laws/Christmas 2013)
Die Feuer von Murano (2014-01-04)
8.: Read a book that has a glossary
The Case Of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall (2014-01-07)
11.: Read a book that has two of something in the title
Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (2014-01-14)

February

3.: Read a book of short stories
Table For One by Daniel Kelley (2014-02-24)
5.: Read a book that is part of a series
L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy (2014-02-23)
9.: Read a book with a polar vortex related word in Chapter
The Spy Game by Georgina Harding
20.: Read a book with an object on the cover that starts with a letter in rolling alphabetical order (note)
Even Money by Dick Francis (2014-02-02)

March

1.: Read a book with a red-lettered title
The Lost Diaries Of Adrian Mole, 1999 2001 by Sue Townsend (2014-03-03)
3.:Read a book with a word in the title that starts with a vowel
Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear (2014-03-07)
9.: Read a book whose title's initial letter spells out DAYLIGHT, on a rolling basis
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown (2014-03-09)

May

1. Read a book which mentions a tree on any page with double numbers
White Jazz by James Ellroy (2014-05-06)
2./2.: Read a book with at least two words in the title containing an embedded word of at least three letters
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (2014-05-18)
The Templar's Quest by C.M. Palov (2014-05-30)
6./6.: Read a book with a title that looks like it has been designed in some kind of handwriting
The Poison Pen by Marjorie Owen (2014-05-24)
Diver Down (Mercy Watts Mysteries) by A.W. Hartoin (2014-05-25)
9. Read a book that is trade paperback-sized
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (2014-05-09)
10.: Read a book that is divided into chapters, with each chapter having it's own name
Family Album by Penelope Lively (2014-05-13)

June

1.: Read a book whose author’s first and last name end in the same letter
The Fire by Katherine Neville (2014-06-20)
9.: Read a book that doesn't have a person on the cover
The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth (2014-06-29)
12.: Read a book with a body part on the cover
The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen (2014-06-22)
17.: Read a book which has a "don" word on any page with the number 57
One morning like a bird by Andrew Miller (2014-06-07)
18.: Read a book that you can only read/find online or in E-book form
The Aunt Paradox by Chris Dolley (2014-06-09)

July
4.: Start a series and continue if you want
Vanished by Joseph finder (2014-07-18)
18.: Read a book of short stories
Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories by Nancy Christie (2014-07-20)
19./19.: Read a book whose author is from a country that competed in the 2014 World Cup
Deception Point by Dan Brown (2014-07-06)
Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper (2014-07-14)

August
3.: Read a book with an animal in the title, which does not refer to an actual animal in the text
Vulture au Vin by Lisa King (2014-08-31)
6.: Read a book whose title contains an element (Gold)
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (2014-08-24)
22.: Read a book by an author who has no 9 in his birth year
Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare Stories) by William Shakespeare (2014-08-01)

September
2.: Read a book by a living author who is younger than you
The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse (2014-09-13)
5.: Read a book you didn't buy
The Fifth Floor by Michael Harvey (2014-09-15)
17.: Read a book which has a 'season' in its title
The Winter Boy by Sally Wiener Grotta (2014-09-10)

October
1a / 1b: Read a book with a species of bird named in the narrative a-(kingfisher/p 395) / b-(hawks/p 157)
a - The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (2014-10-06)
b - Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann (2014-10-15)
5.: Read a book with an S and a T in the title that you've never read before
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (2014-10-11)
14: Read a book that is dark
The Devil's Feather by Minette Walters (2014-10-13) Audiobook
15: "And Every One Was An Henery": Read a book where either a character or the author is named Henry
The Night Season by Chelsea Cain (one of the main character's name is Henry) 2014-10-19
16: In honor of my dear friend Don, who just passed, read a book that has something to do with music.
Voice of an Angel by Becky Lower (one of the main character is a singer/songwriter) 2014-10-16

November
4.: Read a book by an author whose publication career spanned at least 15 years
The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín 2014-11-02
5./5.: Read a book with an embedded word in the title
The Skull Beneath the Skin by P. D. James 2014-11-04
Gooseberry by Michael Gallagher 2014-11-30
12.: Read a book with one plural word in the title
Last 10 Seconds by Simon Kernick

December
6.: Read a book whose title includes either a color or a word to describe a shade of color
Emerald City by Jennifer Egan 2014-12-07
17.: Read a book written by an author who has a pseudonym
Catch Me When I Fall by Nicci French 2014-12-07

currently reading

currently listening

From my last thread: Lori, thanks for the insight about your library. My local library is the biggest one in Switzerland which isn't connected to an university one. It receives subsidies from the city government but that can't cover everything. Therefore I think a membership fee is indicated. They provide users with a wide range of different medias and the newest ones can always be found. Furthermore they have a wide range of daily newspapers and magazines which everybody can read there without needing a membership card. A lot of people are using this service.
I really love our library and luckily it's very close to my home.

I hope I am not to early :) Congrats to another lovely thread and thanks for the history of this beautiful cafe. It is indeed a beautiful Art Noveau building.
Do you have many of those buildings in Switzerland?

Happy New Thread, Barb! Love the toppers! Yah, for Café Odeon!!

Happy New Thread Barbara! I would love to visit the cafe. Now I'm thinking about a coffee run. I'll have to work myself up for getting the dogs in their harnesses for riding in the car, though.

>6 drachenbraut23: Bianca, thanks a lot. We do have some quarters with a lot of Art Noveau buildings. They are mostly residential houses with gorgeous windows and balconies. They are under monument protection and the renovations of those buildings are very tricky and expensive.

For being first, here some Züri Tirggel which are made with honey.

>7 msf59: Welcome Mark, thanks a lot and Café Odeon is really a thumb up.

>8 cbl_tn: Carrie, thanks so much for stopping by. Even nowadays it's a lovely place for a cup of coffee and reading the papers.

Barbara have a lovely weekend. The Cafe Odeon looks quite the place to go and chew the fat and put the world to rights with a great view, wonderful coffee and a cake or three.

That cafe does look appealing. The one in our library is closed today because they've found it doesn't really pay them to be open on Saturdays. It's a low-traffic day for library too. Unfortunately I have to work so if I get coffee, I have to stop on the way or make it before I leave home. I'm opting for the latter today.

>11 PaulCranswick: Ha, Paul, another weekend where you have been quicker than I am. Thanks a lot for the well wishes and indeed the Café Odeon is always a good choice to make a stop.

>12 thornton37814: Lori, our library is on Saturday open from 10am to 2pm. From Monday to Friday it's open from 11am to 7pm. There is a coffee dispencer so one is able to get some coffee at all opening hours.

Yesterday, the author Bodo Marshall came to our school for some readings. His daily profession is forest warden and he is writing in his leisure. In his stories forest animals are the main characters and there is always a main theme like hibernaton, animal life in the earth etc. He is gorgeous and his readings have been fantastic.

_

I continue to admire the wonderful pictures of Café Odeon. I love that it has been preserved in all if its historical glory.... and quite the impressive list of celebrities who frequented the place!

>5 Ameise1: - That makes a lot of sense. Our library system has free reign when it comes to overdue charges but because they are funded both at the municipal level and the provincial level, that is pretty much where they are limited in raising additional funds - that and the usual Friends of the Library book sales, but I never really get to those because they usual occur at a branch at the other end of town from where I live. ;-)

>15 lkernagh: Lori, I had the luck that one of my grandfathers was living and working in the historic centre of Zürich. He was a so-called city original. Everybody knew him and he knew everyone. Therefore when I was a kid I had the luck to meet a lot of people from cultures and politics when visiting Cafés like the Odeon with my grandfather. The discussions were very intensive and I can tell you that they had to discuss a lot. I was sitting among them and just stunningly listening.

Happy New Thread, Barbara! The Café is brilliant. I'm thinking how different your life has been from mine and, once again, what a blessing this place is. How else could you and I ever have gotten to know each other a bit?!!

>17 LizzieD: Peggy, thanks a lot. I agree absolutely that this place is one of the most amazing one I found and join. It's so gorgeous to meet you and all the others. Indeed, I've learned a lot from everybody's every day life. There are things which are/were new to me and a lot of things we do have in common even though we are living in different parts of the world we are struggling or enjoying the same things.

Hi Barbara, great new thread my dear and I just love the Café Odeon pictures, hope you have had a good Saturday and have a lovely Sunday.

Have a lovely Sunday, Barbara.

>19 johnsimpson: John, thanks a lot for the compliment. Yesterday morning was beautiful. We went to the market for our weekend groceries and were able to have a nice cup of coffee in a street café. In the afternoon it started to rain and didn't stop until this morning. Now it's sunny again. I've done some reading and I hope I do some more today. Mostly I was in front of the computer doing work for school.

>20 Trifolia: Monica, what a gorgeous photo. I love it very much, thanks so much. Wishing you a lovely and relaxed Sunday, too.

Happy Sunday, Barb! Hope your nose has been stuck in a book.

Happy New Thread and happy Sunday too!

Happy New Thread, Barbara! Love the photos - gorgeous!!

>22 msf59: Thanks for the coffee, Mark. Will stick my nose soon in a book.

>23 connie53: Thanks Connie, I wish you a lovely Sunday too.

>24 scaifea: Amber, thanks a lot. I'm glad you like the photos.

Hi Barbara! Nice new thread!

>26 EBT1002: Hello Ellen, thanks a lot for stopping by.

No reading today. I spent the whole day in front of the computer. First I did work for school and than I did some more stuff for our digital adventskalender. BTW if someone is speaking/reading German and would like to have a daily surprise in December, please PM your email adress.

^ I'm curious *and* fully illiterate in German.

Every day an adventskalender 'door' will come by email. Behind this 'door' could be a poem, a story, a comic etc. It's just something which should/could help to shorten the time until x-mas.

>27 Ameise1: >29 Ameise1: Ooooh, that's a lovely idea!! My German is so rusty, though...

Happy new thread! Hope you are enjoying your Monday. I love the idea of authors coming to schools!

Hope your Monday is going well! Hugs!

>30 scaifea: Amber, you could give it a try. PM me your email adress.

>31 michigantrumpet: Marianne, it's always me who is organizing this event and the lucky me have always lunch with the author which is great fun.

>32 msf59: Mark, so far it was a good start. Now I start with the afternoon lessons. Hugs right back to you :-)

Happy New thread, Barbara!

That cafe looks wonderful. Hopefully one day I can cross travelling to Europe off my bucket list! :)

>34 jolerie: Hello Val, nice to have you here. Would be great to have you here in Europe. I've to admit that I haven't been to the US and Canada so far.

I'm interested, Barb. I should be able to read some of it. I had German at school for five years so something must have lingered in my memory somewhere!

I pm-ed my mail adress

Glad you give it a try, Connie.

We just came back from Peter Gabriel in concert. It was gorgeous. I'll post here some ohotos tomorrow.

Hello Barbara! What lovely photos of the Odeon Cafe. What nice memories you have of your grandfather taking you there. Your students are very fortunate to have Bodo Marshall come speak to them. I wish the importance of animals and conservation were taught in schools here. My father is a lifelong land conservationist. I'm glad you enjoyed your concert.

Hello Roberta, it's fantastic to have you here and thanks a lot for all the lovely compliments. Indeed, the visit of Bodo Marshall was great. I got a lot of compliments from my work colleagues that I've invited him.
Photos of Gabriel's concert will come this afternoon.

book 61 Audiobook



It was gripping from the very first sentence. There are two crimes which are going on side by side. Whereas in one case a team is trying to solve the puzzle the other case is worked undercover. Both detectives which are responsible aren't aware that their cases are related to each other and therefore they get into big danger. When time goes by both become aware of having a mole amongst the police department. Even tough as a listener I could see how they had to struggle for solving the cases it let me guess until the very end about the outcome.

Ok, here is the update of yesterday evening. My hubster got on Monday night tickets for Peter Gabriel in concert which took place yesterday evening. Don't ask how my hubster is doing this but he always gets the best places.
The concert was absolutely GORGEOUS. I love Peter Gabriel's music and songs and he is a fantastic person. When he came on stage (alone) and started to talk to us, it was like sitting with him in a living room and have a nice chat. The first few songs were more or less close to unplugged (he at the piano). Later there were songs from all periods of his producing. The show especially the light was exceptional and with getting older he hasn't lost his strength and fierceness. He still announces his political thinking about corruption and social injustice.

___

Sounds like a wonderful concert. Thanks for the photos.

That looks, and sounds, awesome, Barbara. Lucky you!

>42 catarina1: >43 jnwelch: Thanks a lot, Catarina and Joe, it was indeed a fabulous evening and the tune lasted today during the whole day. :-)

Hi Barbara, fantastic photo's from the concert my dear, glad you both enjoyed it.

>45 johnsimpson: Thanks a lot John, it was a fabulous evening.

I'm so old. I had to look up Peter Gabriel, and I see that I'm older than he is too...... Anyway, it looks exciting, and I'm happy that you and your husband could go and enjoy.

Oooohhh.... jealous. I am a big fan of a lot of Peter Gabriel's music! Great shots of a wonderful night!

>47 LizzieD: Peggy, you would have felt very comfy due to the audience average age. The main hair colour was salt and pepper.

>48 lkernagh: Lori, I hope he will come close to your place too, one day. It was indeed a fantastic evening.

Oh, wow! I love Peter Gabriel!! It's awesome that you got to see him in concert!

>50 scaifea: Amber, it has been a perfect evening after a terrible work day. I love his music and on stage he is still gorgeous.

hi :=)

>52 AuntieClio: Hi Stephanie, it's nice to have you here. I hope the pain with your broken wrist isn't too bad.

i am doing okay, doing as much right handed as i can

eta: i am left handed

>54 AuntieClio: It's always the same, one breaks the strong parts. Isn't it?
It's good that you are not completely helpless with right hand.

Happy Saturday, Barb! The Peter Gabriel show sounds fantastic. I am a fan too, especially of the first 3 solo works, but I have never seen him live. A very good friend of mine is a die-hard fan and has seen him many times.

I did see Genesis at one time but it was with Phil Collins at the helm.

>56 msf59: Mark, sometimes I've the feeling that I'm growing old with all the fantastic singers, songwriters and groups. Luckely I was all my life able to go to concerts and it's amazing to see all those guys during their lifelong producing and together with the artists the audience is getting older too. It's just great.

Happy Saturday, Barbara! I'm glad (and a wee bit jealous) that you saw Peter Gabriel in concert. "Sledgehammer" is one of my favorite 80s songs, and I would have loved to see him perform it in person.

Barbara! Stopping by to wish you a wonderful weekend! Love the photos of the Peter Gabriel concert. That must have been absolutely awsome.

>58 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl, we are lucky here to have fantastic concerts of every genre and 'Sledgehammer' was performed gorgeous.

>59 drachenbraut23: Thanks a lot Bianca, I'm still riding on the grooves. It was absolutely fabulous.
Oh, BTW if you like to get a daily digital surprise in December than please, PM your email adress.

Hi Barbara! I'm so far behind, I had to skip your last thread. :0( Thank you for always visiting my thread with your amazing photos.

>43 jnwelch: Exactly. What great photos of what must have been an awesome concert!

Is it too late to sign up for your digital surprise? My German is ... hmm ... yes, well; rather worse than it was when I was actually studying it, all those years ago. :0)

>61 humouress: Nina, you're welcome. Thanks a lot the concert was indeed fantastic and the memory of it will last long.

Please, PM your email adress because the adventskalender will start on the 1st of December, so you are not late.

book 62



It was an easy reading. Sometimes I had the feeling that some parts of the story could have been shorten but nevertheless I enjoyed it. Virgil Flowers has to chase an ancient stele which was smuggled to his district from Israel illegal. Several parties are interested to put their hand on this artefact and Flowers is rather occupied to find out whom he can trust and whom he should put behind the bars. Sometimes he is acting unconventionally especially when his 'lady friend' Ma is involved.

You're the first person I know who's read John Sandford! He's fairly popular at work (library), but I never see browsing his books or walking around with them to ask what they think! Thanks for your review!

What what what? Digital surprise? How did I miss this? (Oh yeah, I wasn't paying attention........as normal). Dunce's cap for me.

Hi Barb! I am so jealous that you saw Peter Gabriel. How fun! Wishing you a great weekend.

Not able to get to your thread before you made it to mine this week Barbara!
Have a lovely weekend my dear.

Hi Barbara!

>64 LauraBrook: Laura, I came across Sandford's book by hazard in our local library four years ago. I like his story very much. Therefore when ever I'm able to find another one of him I take it.

>65 lunacat: Jenny, if you are able to read German you are very welcome to PM me your email adress. We started this virtual adventskalender years ago and by now it's a kind of institution.

>66 Berly: Hi Kim, am I not a lucky lady to see such a fantastic singer? However, don't be jealous, I guess you are able to go to concerts or readings I would never be able to do.

>67 PaulCranswick: Ha, Paul, glad I made it first because with the time zone you would be in a kind of a pool position ;-). I hope you have a lovely Sunday full of reading.

>68 EBT1002: Ellen, what a fantastic photo. That reminds me of an adventure on Sicily twenty years ago. We were driving back from Palermo to our hotel which was in the south of the Island. Therefore we had to cross the mountains. Unfortunately it was night and pitch dark. There were no lights on the mountain roads. This trip would have taken us only one hour during day time but in this night it took us more than two hours due to all the cows (unfortunately black ones) which were standing on this road. We weren't able to see them upfront only in the last second. I was sweating and afraid very much. It was far away of a pleasant drive.

Hi Barbara, hope you are having a good weekend my dear, love and hugs to you both.

>71 johnsimpson: Hi John, sorry to hear that Karen didn't feel well this morning. I hope it's getting better soon. Please, give her our love.
I have to do some stuff at the computer but I'm looking forward to some reading too. Hugs xx

I can muddle through in German. I might send it on to my cousin who lives in Berlin and whose partner is German - she can translate the bits I get stuck on. I get the general gist anyway!

I'll have you know that "Sledgehammer" has been playing in my head nearly continuously since yesterday morning. I don't mind it, though.

>73 lunacat: Jenny, just skip what you don't understand. So don't worry, there are a lot of easy-going ones.

>74 kidzdoc: LOL here something to refresh your memory. http://youtu.be/W9oYSawDEkA

Congratulations for the Peter Gabriel's concert - well done.

>76 paulstalder: Thanks, Paul, it was a fantastic evening.

Hi Barb, finally visiting your thread due to the busy weekend (my thread). What a story about the cows on the Palermo road. I would have been terrified!

I hope your week will be a nice and calm one!

Thanks, Connie, for this lovely gif. Yes, since the adventure in Sicily I don't like drving mountain roads during the night.
We have a busy week ahead. On Wednesday evening our school has the concert (singing) with the professional orchestra in a big church in Zürich. I keep my fingers crossed that everthing is going well. Since August we are learning all the songs and I have the feeling we are ready to go.
On Friday evening we celebrate my BIL's birthday. We'll have roast saddle of venison. I'm looking forward to it. And finally I should fix everything for the first Sunday in Advent.

Hi Barbara, Karen is now home and feeling better for it, she spent the afternoon until early evening downstairs and has now gone up to bed to lie down. She is a bit tender and being careful when going upstairs with me following and will hopefully get a good night's sleep. Love and hugs to you my dear.

>80 johnsimpson: John, thanks a lot for the update. I keep ny fingers crossed that her recovery will be steadily up. Give her my love please. Hugs for both of you xx

>81 Ameise1: I will pass on your love to Karen, Barbara dear. I am sure she will recover nice and steadily now she is home and to help her Louise came over with her mum and dad and the gorgeous Hannah, that was a big surprise for Karen and she lit up when Hannah bounded in and bless her she knew to be careful around grandma.

>82 johnsimpson: John, that's so lovely to hear. Bless little Hannah.

Hope the concert goes well tomorrow!!

>84 SuziQoregon: Thanks a lot Juli, I keep my fingers crossed.

Lots of Hals- und Beinbruch with the Concert, Barb!

>86 connie53: Thanks a lot Connie. It's the perfect quote I need for tomorrow evening.

Looking forward to hearing about the concert!

Will do so, Lori, but it could be tomorrow. It depends what time I'll be at home tonight.

Ok, back home from our concert which was fantastic. The pupils (450) sang absolutely perfect. We had a fantastic audience and the church was 'sold out'.

Here are the songs:
1 Freue dich Welt (G. F. Händel)
2 Joloschka (Russia)
3 Navidava puri nihua (Bolivia)
4 Es schneielet (Switzerland)
5 Vamos Pastorcillos (Argentina)
6 Ave Maria (J. S. Bach)
7 Il est né le dinin enfant (France)
8 Shalom chaverim (Israel/Palestine)
9 Deck the Halls (England)
10 Glisch nuviala en ina stalla (Grisons-Switzerland)
11 This Little Light Of Mine (USA)
12 Stille Nach (Austria)

I was only able to take two photos before the rehearsal. I'll try to post more when we get them from our photographer.

_

Wow, the concert looks awesome Barbara, loved the list of songs. Hope you and Thomas and the girls are well my dear.

>91 johnsimpson: Thanks a lot John, it was a long but fatastic day. Some of the litle ones were very tired after the concert. Luckily, due to todays event we'll start school tomorrow at 10.15am instead of 8.15am.

Love and hugs for both of you xx

Wow - 450 young singers! That would have been amazing to hear!

>93 lkernagh: Lori, it was and due to a perfect acoustics the sound was heavenly. I had goos bumps throughout the concert.

Sweet Thursday, Barb! I know it's just another work day for you. I hope it goes quickly.

Sounds and looks like a wonderful concert. A good looking choir in a great building. Thanks for the photos. Glad that it went well.

That concert must have been fabulous, Barbara. I'm glad that you had the opportunity to see it in person.

>95 msf59: Thanks a lot Mark, I wish you Happy Thanksgiving. Everybody was very tiered after yesterday night's event.

>96 catarina1: Thanks so much, Catarina. The acoustics in our 'stone' churches is so gorgeous.

>97 kidzdoc: Darryl, thanks a lot. I couldn't enjoy it in the same way as the audience was able to do because we teachers were among the singing pupils. Thomas told me after the concert that it was absolutely fabulous.

Every second year we have a huge 'Christmas' tree on the school building's roof. Therefore each pupil makes a decoration for it. This year they made from parts of the egg boxes bells, angles etc.. Next Saturday the tree will be decorated. The pupils have the chance to go up on fire ladder to put their selfmade decoration on the tree.

Here are photos of the decorations. They lay eady for the event on Saturday:

__

I'm glad the concert went well. I have happy memories from my school years when I participated in choir. I hope it will be the same for these students.

I think your tree will look stunning with these lovely decorations on it.

Hi Barbara, the photo's of the decorations look fabulous, the tree is going to look superb. Hope you have had a good day my dear after the lovely concert. Karen is doing fine at the moment, just a bit tired now and she has gone to bed. Love and hugs to you and Thomas.

Hello Barbara

love the photos of the concert and the choice of songs. Also my alltime favourite is the Ave Maria. Just love it.

The christmas decorations look beautiful and I imagine that it must be incredible exiting for the children to have the opportunity to climb the fire ladder in order to decorate the tree. You have to post photos, once the tree is decorated.

Those decorations are amazing! We never had such fun projects back when I was a school aged girl - except for maybe making paper chain garlands. Nothing compared to those decorations. ;-)

>100 cbl_tn: Thanks so much Carrie, it was an event we won't forget. We just were very tired yesterday and the kids have been very quiet :-)

>101 johnsimpson: John, thanks a lot, I'm always astonished when I see the finished products. It's so fantastic what everybody is able to make of the same material.
I'm glad that Karen feels a bit better. Hugs xx

>102 drachenbraut23: Bianca, thanks so much. It is indeed a high light when they are aloud to go up the fire ladder. I will definitely post photos of the decorated tree next week.

>103 lkernagh: Lori, as you can see we have a lot of projects in our school. It's good so because the pupils are studying hard and therefore it's important to do other things, too.

Oh, those decorations look so bright and cherry! So beautiful! :)

>105 jolerie: Thanks a lot Val, I'm looking forward to Monday when I'll see the x-mas tree decorated.

Wow, reading this is getting me in the holiday spirit!!!

>107 LauraBrook: Isn't it, Laura? :-)

I love your images! Thanks for sharing the beauty!

>109 Whisper1: You're very welcome, Linda.

Thank you for your kind wishes. I hope you have a nice weekend also. I enjoy your photos, especially of your England vacation last summer.

Thanks a lot, Catarina. I hope I get some reading done this weekend. After doing the grocery on the market this morning I had to do a lot of work at the computer. I guess it's enough for today and I just do some reading.

# 63



This is a lovely cosy mystery which is set in the Victorian age. The main character who was himself once a pickpocket and now is working as a detective for a lawyer is draw back to work underground and is faced by his old nemeses as well as old friends. He has to solve a mystery which includes not only the underworld but also the upper-class as well the Queen and her husband. The spelling style is absolutely gorgeous because there are parts of street language as well as the proper English.

Happy Sunday, Barb! I hope you have a great day and get plenty of reading in.

>114 msf59: Thanks a lot, Mark. Yes, I'm reading the whole afternoon. :-)

Reading all afternoon, how lovely! I hope you have a nice, relaxing time. I have to go and battle Connie in the mud - she's a little 'enthusiastic' about life at present so it's a little like trying to tame a rodeo bull. Wish me luck!

>116 lunacat: Keep my fingers crossed, Jenny, that she knows how to behave.

>113 Ameise1: Oooh, you've hit me with a Book Bullet! Onto the wishlist it goes. :)

>118 LauraBrook: Laura, I hope you'll like it as much as I did. It is really fantastic.

>113 Ameise1: - I had my eye on that one but for some reason decided not to request it. Now I am kicking myself. I will have to see if I can source a copy locally at some point.

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend, Barbara!

>120 lkernagh: Lori, there have been books I requested but didn't got. I hope you are able to get a copy once.

So far, it was a quiet and relaxed weekend with a lot of reading. Something I haven't done since a long time.

I'm not sure 'behaved' is quite the way to describe her, more 'argumentative toddler throwing her toys out of the pram', but we're both still in one piece so it was mostly successful. She can drive me up the wall like nothing else though.

Jenny, that sounds like she's got a very stubborn mind. Luckily you were successful this afternoon. Wishing you a good start into the week ahead.

>113 Ameise1: That looks like an enticing "cozy mystery," Barbara.
I hope your week is pleasant and relatively stress-free. :-)

>124 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, it was indeed a wonderful reading. I have another busy week ahead, so I hope it will be stress-free.

It does sound good!

I'm so happy to hear that the concert was a success, Barb.

And what a lovely Christmas decorations! Really a good idea!

>126 drneutron: Jim, it's really enjoyable. I'm looking forward for the next one which will be released in June/July.

>127 connie53: Thanks a lot Connie, the x-mas tree is now decorated but today the weather was so awful that I couldn't take a photo.
BTW did you receive the Törli 1?

Barbara,
thank you for the virtual advent calender. It's wonderful. I received already earlier today Törli 4, but I haven't looked yet. I do will wait for tomorrow.
I wish you a wonderful midweek :)

Bianca, you're very welcome. We send it always before we go to sleep and with all the different time zone it can really arrive anytime ;-). It's like Santa who can't be at the same time at every place :-)

Good to hear the concert went well. Love all those decorations.

>131 SuziQoregon: Thanks a lot, Juli.

Happy Friday, Barb! Hope the week went well and you have a nice weekend planned.

>133 msf59: Thanks a lot Mark, I'm happy that this week is over. Tomorrow I'll meet my goddaughter for brunch. I'm looking forward to it. She spent some time in Sout Africa and we'll have a lot to chat.

This morning at 7.30am our x-mas tree at school looked like:

At 8.20am we left for our forest school. First we went looking for the boars' wallows. Usually we can't visit those places because they are occupied by the boars very frequently, but today we had got a chance.

Afterwards we saw a brown owl who didn't mind our appearance. Well, the pupils were very quiet.

When we were on the way back to school we met by chance Santa Clause and Santa's Little Helper with their horse. It was a big surprise. Of cours he had about every pupil something to tell and the class sang some songs. Before we left them everybody has got a Grittibänz.

___

>135 Ameise1: Oh, how cool is that! How great that you happened upon it by chance, Barbara. Did you get a Grittibänz?

>136 jnwelch: Ha, I love Grittibänz. It's the season for making them and for breakfast I've daily my Grittibänz with jam. Heavenly -sigh.
Isn't it fantastic to meet them by chance ;-)? Well, for the kids definitely it was so.

>137 Ameise1: They look delicious. I'm giving them a try over at the cafe, based on your recommendation.

>138 jnwelch: Joe, I hope everbody will like it. Here in Switzerland it's a so called must-eat and everybody likes them.

Thank you for the lovely photos Barbara. We call them "Stutenkerl" in Germany and for us they are also a seasonal "must" - Yes, butter and jam. Just can't wait to get home. :)

Have a wonderful weekend Barbara!

>140 drachenbraut23: Bianca, isn't it fantastic to smell and taste those little fellows? I hope you haven't to wait too long for returning home.

>141 jolerie: Thanks a lot, Val. The same to you. Will jump over to ypur thread later.

Lots happening here, so glad I stopped in to read about your forester visiting class and the concerts and then meeting Santa out in the wild!

>143 sibylline: Thanks a lot, Lucy for stopping by. Indeed, it's a busy time here.

Hi Barbara, I hope you have had a lovely Saturday and have a fabulous Sunday my dear.

>145 johnsimpson: Hi John, I had a gorgeous meetup with my goddaughter for brunch. We were chatting during four hours. It was fabulous to see her again.
Tomorrow I have to do some work for school but I really hope to get plenty of reading time as well.

>146 Ameise1:, Hi Barbara, sounds like you had a good meetup with your goddaughter and it is amazing how quickly the time goes by, when we met up the time just flew. I hope the work you need to do for school doesn't take up too much of your time and you can get some reading done. It is Panto day for us apart from Karen who is not well enough to go, her best friend Tina is coming over so they will have a real girly afternoon., Love and hugs my dear.

John, could you please explain what 'Panto' means?

>135 Ameise1: Oh, how neat! I love it!!

>149 scaifea: Isn't it? Thanks a lot Amber. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

>148 Ameise1:

Panto is pantomime - a musical comedy play acted out at Christmastime for children (and adults!), with songs and skits. The most common ones are things like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk.

I love coming across Father Christmas in the forest. What a thrill for the children :)

>151 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny, for the explanation.
Indeed, they were very surprised to meet Santa in the wood :-)

As I've promised earlier here are some photos of the concert from our photographer:

My class on the way to the church:

Waiting before the gym which was our cloakroom. Some of my pupils and myownself on the right hand side: __

In the gym listening for the last instructions (me, the lady with the orange jumper): _

Rehearsal in the church (some of my pupils):
___

# 64 ♫



This was a very gripping listening. The first two-thirds was from the view of Holly who is suffering from a bipolar disorder. During her manic stage she was going out with men she didn't no, she bought a sculpture for a little fortune and lost a lot of money in a poker game. Her best friend Mel and her husband Charlie weren't able to stop her nor to help her. They thought that the only way to get her out would be a stay in a mental hospital which Holly refused to go first. When Holly was drifting into the depression she tried to kill herself by a pill overdose.
The last third is narrated by Mel who found out who drove Holly into all the mess and who was trying to kill her.
The outcome of the story let me guess until the very last sentence.

Happy Sunday Barbara! I hope you have had the most lovely weekend.

>155 luvamystery65: Hi Roberta, thanks a lot - I got a lot of reading time.

book 65



This book contains 11 short stories which have in common that the narrators have something to hide, to reveal or were once struggling a personal failure in their relationships. Each story is written like a story within a story. As a reader I always had the feeling that it starts very harmless - nothing to worry about the narrators or their surroundings but with the time being I was surprised what kind of history the narrators had to tell and with each new story I couldn't wait what kind of human fate would be released.

Hi Barbara, the Pantomime was really good, it was Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Andy was playing the baddie, Arte Farte and Amy was in the chorus, Andy also co-wrote this years production. We all had a good time and Hannah loved it, this was her first pantomime and won't be her last. Hope you have had a good weekend and you managed to get some reading time today, love and hugs to you my dear.

Happy Sunday, Barb! Emerald City sounds good. I really want to read more Egan. I didn't realize this was a story collection.

>158 johnsimpson: John, how could I forget that Andy and Amy are into pantomime. I'm glad that the performance went well and everybody enjoyed it. I love the story of Ali Baba.
I hope Karen feels better. Please, give her my love. Indeed, I got some reading done today but I"m miles away from my target.
Wishing you a good start into the new week. Hugs xx

>159 msf59: Hi Mark, I guess you would like this book. It was an enjoyable reading. It was my first Egan but not my last one.
Wishing you a good start into the new week.

Barbara, I love the Father Christmas encounter! I would like it very much if our American Santa looked like him. Of course, I would love it if he gave me my wrist surgery for the holidays.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support, I'm so grateful to have you and your lovely photographs in my life.

My surgery support fund raiser is here: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-stephanie-pay-for-wrist-surgery.... if you cant't help financially, thoughts, prayers and messages of encouragement are also welcome.

>162 AuntieClio: Stephanie, you are always in my thoughts. I donated over the weekend.
Isn't it gorgeous to meet Santa in the woods?

Wow, Ellen, I love it. This is so cute. Sometimes I wish, I would be a cat like this morning. My cats can still lie lazily around whereas I'm on the way to work.

>165 Ameise1: Well, you know, if they don't get their 20 hours of beauty sleep, they are worthless!

>166 EBT1002: Ellen, in this case I need a beauty sleep too. Usually I get 6 hours but 8 hours would be much appreciated. I guess in my next life I'll be a cat. ;-)

Grittibaenz - I was intrigued and found a few recipes on the internet. Have to go to the grocery store to get supplies but I'm planning to make some. I've seen some photos of decorated ones with raisins and dried fruit. Do you do that to them?

I love those pictures of you and your pupils Barb!

>168 catarina1: Catarina, for the eyes we use raisins or hazelnuts. Sometimes we make buttons too. If you make a sweet dough than I put coarse suger like in the photo of >135 Ameise1: on it.

>169 connie53: Thanks so much, Connie.

Hi Barbara, love the photo's of you and the pupils my dear, hope you have had a good day. Love and hugs.

Hi John, indeed I had a good day but I'm terribly tired. I'm looking forward to the holiday to get some more sleep.

# 66 ♫



As it should be it is a cosy mystery with Hercule Poirot in action. I liked the listening very much because it is a BBC Radio Drama and therefore with all those different players and voices it makes it very vividly. Poirot is helping to solve an old mystery so that a new generation finds peace and is able to move on with its future life.
It was very gripping and it let me guess a long time how the outcome would be.

Hi Barbara, how did the check up go on your hand my dear, I hope everything is ok with it. We really enjoyed the film my dear and laughed and laughed at the antics on screen, it was nice just the two of us. Hugs xx.

Hi John, the check up went more or less well. My doctor isn't 100% content but after giving me such a lot of cortisone shots during the last 5 months he would like to make a break in this therapy and will see what will happen. He got me a cream which I have to massage in there and hopefully I won't have to go back to square 1.

I'm glad you both enjoyed the film. I hope we find some time during holiday to go to the cinema.
Please, give my love to Karen. Hugs for both of you xx

Hi Barbara, glad things went quite well and so glad you don't have to have any more cortisone shots for the time being. I hope the cream does the trick, so much nicer than injections. I hope you get the chance to go to the cinema over the holiday period. I will pass on your love to Karen and the hugs. xx

Love all the photos from Forest School and the concert. Thanks for sharing.

I need to look for Catch Me When I Fall I read Blue Monday by Nicci French and liked it a lot.

Hope your hand improves.

>177 SuziQoregon: Hi Juli, thanks a lot for the compliment. I like Nicci French's books very much and that one was gorgeous, too.

I keep my fingers crossed that their will be only improvements.

Happy mid-week, Barb! I hope everything is going smooth for you.

>179 msf59: Thanks a lot Mark, it's a very busy time and I'm looking forward to the holiday. I'm more listening to audiobooks (on my ways by trams and buses) than reading books.

Audiobooks are so perfect for that! That's one thing I miss about my iPod hookup in my car. It broke, and ever since then, my audiobook intake has been very low. But, with needing a new car, I'm sure there will be some new plug-in for it, so I'll hopefully be happily listening to some more soon! Right now, all I've got is the radio, which is better than nothing, but not by much. :/

Hope you're having a nice Thursday!

>181 LauraBrook: Laura, when I'm driving by car I never would listen to audiobooks because I wouldn't be concentrated 100%. This week I was very often on the way by puplic transportations and therefore the audiobooks are gorgeous.
I'm back home after work and a lot of meetings. It looks like some of them could be called 'never ending ones'.

Hi, Barbara! I like the idea of audiobooks for public transportation!

I'm a big fan of Jennifer Egan so I will find that book of stories, thanks for the review!

Lovely pix of your students, no snow when those were taken. My world is now white white white - we got a lot probably 25 cm? 18 inches, anyway.

Love the kitteh yoga!

>183 scaifea: Isn't it, Amber?

>184 sibylline: Lucy, around Zürich there is no snow but in the mountains they got a load of snow last week. Here it doesn't look like snowing in the near future. We probably have another green x-mas.

When we were in the wood this morning we saw finally blue sky. It's weeks ago when we last saw it like this.

It was my first Jennifer Egan. I'll have a look at our local library if they have got some more of her.

Happy Friday, Barb! And yah, to audiobooks!

>186 msf59: Thanks a lot, Mark. Just came back from the gym. Next to the work out I finished one audiobook and started with a new one. Woohoo, for those audiobooks.

Hi Barb, just read about your hand and the trouble it is giving you! That's really troublesome. I hope it will get better soon.

>188 connie53: Connie, I'm not worried and they told me in August that the recovery will take a long time. Therefore I just have to be patient a quality that isn't my strength.

I've just discovered the joy and convenience of audiobooks this year and it's fast becoming a big love affair. :)

Dear Barbara - what a lot of joy and warmth you have brought to the group in 2014. Pretty sure that you'll get the Rookie award for most posts.

This tree is a favourite of mine and is to wish our teacher of the forests a wonderful weekend.

>190 jolerie: Hi Val, I too love audiobooks and I'm glad that I find some time (gym, on the way by public transportation) to do some listening.

>191 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much for this lovely compliment, Paul. I enjoy this group very much. I won't reach my target of 75 due to all my chatting around here but I won't miss doing so. I 'met' a lot of very nice people and that's absolutely great.
I love your favourite tree. It looks so strong and archaic.

book 67 ♫



This was a lovely listening. It was my first McCall Smith's story but won't be the last one. First it took me some time to get the clue, that different everyday events are told which seem to be related to each other or are taking place at the same locality. Furthermore I loved the idea that those events were told by characters from different ages. I loved all of them and the children's view, especially Bertie's one, is adorable. I had the feeling to sit amongst them as an observer and being a part of this community.

I'm really enjoying audiobooks as well. I'm considering joining a gym in the New Year to try and improve my overall fitness - I just can't bear the thought of going running in the cold - and audiobooks might help me do that. At the moment I'm listening to them while I ride.

>194 lunacat: Jenny, don't you have to be concentrated too much when riding? I guess I wouldn't be able to do horse riding and listening to an audiobok at the same time.

Happy weekend, Barbara!

>196 scaifea: Thanks a lot, Amber.

Barbara, I'm loving all your pictures! I wonder if your students realize what an extraordinary education they're receiving......... Wonderful!
Thanks for all your book reviews. I'm currently enjoying a Jack Frost mystery, Winter Frost, by R. D. Wingfield. It's been on the shelf for about 15 years - the last one I own in the series. Anyway, I'm enjoying it a lot. It's not cozy at all, but I'm wondering if he's somebody that you read.

>198 LizzieD: Thanks a lot, Peggy. Some pupils and parents realise what they get but normaly they realise it only when they were leaving for another teacher. I have the same pupiles three years before they are moving on.
I wish you happy reading. I took a look if we have this book/author in our local library but they don't have something written by him.

>194 lunacat:

Actually it helps me ride better to have 10-20% of my brain focusing on the book rather than getting caught up with the riding. I have a tendency to get quite tense and stressed about how Connie is going and how well she's working, and tension is the last thing you need when riding. I'm over critical and a bit of a perfectionist and when she is having a bad day, it frustrates me.

So being able to shut off part of my brain and focus on that makes for a more relaxing ride. I don't do it when I'm trying to learn something new or when I'm being instructed, but for general use it's great. So much of riding is muscle memory and works better if you don't start thinking it through, you just let your body do what it needs to and work more off instinct.

Plus when I'm riding out on my own I get incredibly bored so having an audiobook makes it more bearable :)

Happy Sunday, Barbara!

>200 lunacat: Jenny, I can understand your explanation. You are good hores rider. Myownself isn't so good doing it.

>201 kidzdoc: Same to you too, Darryl.

Hi Barb, Just stopping by, catching up on things and waving.

Hi Barbara - just wanted to stop in and say hello ;-)

>203 connie53: Hi Connie, waving right back. :-)

>204 SuziQoregon: Hello Juli, it's nice to have you here. :-)

Last Monday we had a theatre company at our school. They performed the play Safran, Dattel und der Weihnachtsbaum (Saffron, Date and the x-mas tree) which takes place in the Magreb desert and is like a x-mas tale from Arabian Nights. It's about two camels and a x-mas tree. The story itself is lovely and the actors were playing so gorgeous. They changed into camals by putting on a special sock (camel head) and when they performed people they needed only a piece of clothing. The oriental music made us dancing and the smell was heavenly. The pupils got involved by helping the actors.

Here are some photos (they aren't so well taken, sorry):

___

Happy Hump Day, Barb! The play looks wonderful. Nice photos.

That looks really beautiful, Barb. And so inventive, just using clothing to change into another person.

>207 msf59: Thanks a lot, Mark, I enjoyed it very much.

>208 connie53: Connie, it was brilliantly made I felt like being in the Magreb.

Wonderful!

>210 thornton37814: Isn't it? :-)

>206 Ameise1: Very cool, Barbara!

>212 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber.

Very cool, Barbara!

>214 jolerie: Thanks, Val. The pupils and we teacher enjoyed the play very much.

book 68 ♫



It was a quick listening. First I had that feeling that I won't like it because it was too violent but by the time I got to like it. There were different stories behind this story. A police officer's husband was murdered and her children were being taken hostage. An islamic terror group has taken a MP hostage and with him a lot of innocent people and a father and former soldier was looking for revenge.

book 69



This is a fantastic story. I loved the reading very much. It's written with a lot of love for the characters. There are two stories within one story which are related to each other in many ways. Both women had lost their only child. The first one because it was taken from her when her little son was three years old in 1933 and the other one lost her unborn child when she got involved in an accident (nowadays). The younger woman is a journalist and she got the task to write a story about a late snowstorm in May which is called Blackberry Winter. During her research she found out that such a snowstorm took place in 1933 and that a little boy went missing. When she started to look into this case she wasn't aware that that story is very close related to her story.

book 70



This is a wonderful short story about a woman and man who would like to put an end to their affair. Both are married to somebody else. Whereas one marriage will end the other one will restart after their daughter went to college.
Both involved persons are rehearsing how to tell the other part that their affair is over. The writing is very loveable and in some parts I had to giggle loud.
The outcome is a surprise.

Blackberry Winter sounds like a good one. Onto my library list it goes. Thanks Barbara. Hope you have a fantastic weekend! :)

>219 jolerie: Val, I hope you'll like it as much as I did. It's a wonderful story.

Hi Barbara, hope everything is well with you and the family my dear, we are both well and have had Hannah today which lifted Karen's spirits as she has missed her. Have you finished today for the Christmas holidays? Are you ready for the festive season my dear?

>221 johnsimpson: Hi John, indeed we finished school with a special very early morning. The pupils came to school at 6am. I went into the wood with my pupils. We didn't take any light with us, so it was very mystic. The kids weren't afraid but they saw behind each tree an animal some even friendly ghosts. At the break of dawn we had breakfast in the forest.

Close to noon I had to see my ophthalmologist due to my sore eye. It's the third time this year that I've a pinkeye. I got some antibiotic drops for the treatment.

Barbara: What a wonderful morning treat for your students! I just love hearing about the special things you all do at your school. I'm sorry to hear about the pinkeye, though - I hope it clears up soon!

>223 scaifea: Amber, thanks a lot, with the antibiotic drops it doesn't hurt so much anymore. It's nice that you enjoy our special things at our school. Those are the highlights but usually we are also only 'cooking with water' by teaching our pupils like everywhere on the globe.

Oh I'm glad to see you liked Blackberry Winter I have that one but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

>225 SuziQoregon: Juli, you should put this book on your reading list 2015. I can strongly recommend it.

Happy Winter Solstice to you, Barbara!

>227 EBT1002: Thanks so much, Ellen. I'm really looking forward for more daylight.

This evening we were at the 'Theater Rigiblick' and saw the play König der Bücher by Urs Widmer. It's a story about the old publisher Dr. Göschen who is a gem under all publisher but will die soon. An American book concern will buy his publishing house because it's all about profit margin and profit maximisation whereas for Göschen, also trying to earn money, the subject matter of the books is most important. This play is about the farewell Edgar Göschen in particular and of his world of books in general.

The performance was fabulous and we spent a gorgeous evening with my in-laws.

Hi Barbara, glad you had a lovely evening at the theatre with your in-laws my dear, I hope you have a lovely Sunday and no work tomorrow, love and hugs.

Today, the 4th candle of our Advent wreath is burning. Christmas is round the corner. How I love this time. :-)

>230 johnsimpson: John, I'll be back to work on the 5th of January. Tomorrow I have an appoitment with my hairdresser and also doing some shopping. Today it's only reading and LT. :-)

>232 Ameise1:, Hi Barbara, it is lovely to have a nice long break and of course you have got your priorities right with your hair appointment and then some shopping. Have a lovely day reading and on LT today my dear.

Glad you had a fabulous time at the theater and with your in-laws, Barbara. Plus a nice long break - enjoy!

>234 jnwelch: Joe, the play was fantastic, indeed. I'll definitely will enjoy this break. We have some family reunions but also enough time to do what ever we want to.

book 71



This book is a must-read. The language is so strong and colourful. I wasn't able to put it aside. It's the story about a house and a landscape which saw a lot of different inhabitants starting before WWII and ending nowadays. It's the story from a Jewish family who lost this house due to WWII but also the stories from people who were living in East Germany. There was a gardener who seemed the only one who had met all those different residents and also was the only one who knew how to care for the landscape and the wishes of every new owner. Alternately their is a chapter about the gardener and a resident. In each chapter there is the whole story of the person, where she/he cames from, his profession, all his family links, his love life, his anxieties and happiness. It's written with a great love and understanding for each character.

Hi Barb, I seen to have missed a call by you! Sorry for that. And I somehow can't return it. So I hope there it is nothing urgent or scary going on.

I wish for you and Thomas and the girls to have a very happy and festive Christmas.

Love and hugs, Connie

>237 connie53: Nothing to worry, I just pressed the phone bottom on the messenger. Everything is fine here. I hsve to take a look why you can't return it.

I wish you and Pit also a Happy Feast.
Love and hugs xx

I seem to need a code to return the call, but I don't know what it is. My usual password did do nothing.

Sorry, I can't help because I'm a bit usless with technical stuff.

Finally, our christmas tree is decorated. It's all Marina' work.

I love the tree, Barb and one with real candles! That's really special!

>242 connie53: Thanks a lot, Connie. We have always a real tree with real candles. Some years Thomas went with the girls in the wood to pick one themselve. In some parts it's aloud to do so.

We have a real tree, but no real candles!

>244 connie53: Connie, my Dad left half an hour ago. We had a lovely evening with a 'delayed' dinner due to our table barbecue which stopped to work right in the beginning. Our daughters went to several neighbours and came back with one. So dinner could take place.
Tomorrow we have to buy a new one because we'll use it the next few days very often.

O, sorry the thing broke down! Happy barbecue shopping tomorrow!

>246 connie53: Connie, we try to do our best. Will be a lot of fun.

Barbara, we don't overlap much in our reading, but I have certainly enjoyed your images scattered across the threads this year. It's Chrismas Eve's eve, and so I am starting the rounds of wishing my 75er friends the merriest of Christmases or whatever the solstice celebration of their choice is.

>248 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni. What a cute picture. I wish you Merry Christmas, too and I'll try to find you in 2015.

Wow, all those lovely pictures! Barbara, thank you so much for the Adventkalender and all those picture-posts on my thread through the year!
Ich wünsche Dir und Deiner Familie ein frohes gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest und einen "guten Rutsch" ins Neue Jahr!!

Doing the rounds with a festive Connie to wish you a very Merry Christmas full of joy, love and books.

Happy Holidays, Barb! And Happy Reading!

>250 Deern: Nathalie, I'm glad that you liked our Adventskalender, you're very welcome.
Ich wünsche dir auch von Herzen frohe Weihnachten.

>251 lunacat: Jenny, what a lovely photo. Thanks so much. Wishing you a lovely Christmas, too.

>252 msf59: Mark, thanks so much for this lovely pictures. I wish you a wonderful Merry Christmas, too.

Hi Barbara, just posting to wish you, Thomas, Isabelle and Marina a very Merry Christmas and have a fabulous day my dear friend from John and Karen. Sending love and hugs from Yorkshire.

>241 Ameise1: Oh, your tree is *beautiful*!! Happy Christmas, Barbara!

>254 johnsimpson: Thanks a lot, John. I'm in the kitchen making salads. I wish you and Karen a blessed Christmas, too.

>255 scaifea: Amber, thanks so much. I hope you enjoyed our Adventskalender.

From our family to yours!

Barbara have a great Christmas and new year!

Merry Christmas, Barbara, and a joyful Happy New Year!

>241 Ameise1: - Oh, real candles on the tree! I am almost tempted to consider that for our tree, now that half of my tree lights refuse to shine for me, but my other half has reminded me that our insurance provider would not be amused if something were to go.... wrong. ;-)

Sorry to read about the table barbeque deciding to pack it in on you. Talk about rotten timing! Good luck with shopping for a new one.

I have enjoyed following your reading this year along with your travel and event pictures and the thoughtful pictures you have left on my thread to brighten my day. Merry Christmas and best wishes for you and yours in 2015!

>257 jolerie: Thanks so much, Val. I love your pic. Unfotunately, we haven't got any snow so far. Merry Christmas to you andyours, too.

>258 SandDune: Thanks Rhian, I wish you and yours a great feast too.

>259 LizzieD: Peggy, thanks so much. I wish you and yoursalovely feast too. What a beautiful x-mas tree.

>260 lkernagh: Lory, I love real candles also this year we couldn't put much on the tree due to the form. We already bought this morning a new table barbecue and gave our neighbour their table barbecue back with a lot of candies as a thank you.
I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas too.

Barb, I'm so happy to have made your acquaintance this year. Your lovely pictures and encouraging words to me mean a lot to me. I'm so grateful to have you in my life.

Happy Holidays!

>262 AuntieClio: Stephanie, you're very welcome. It's a great pleasure for me to have met you (virtually). I wish you Merry Christmas andthanks so much for this lovely gif.

>263 jayde1599: Thanks a lot Jess, I wish you the same too.

Merry Christmas! Thank you for brightening our weekends this year. I look forward to 2015 reading with this group!

>256 Ameise1: Carrie, you're very welcome. Merry Christmas! I had a fabulous first year in this group and I'm look8ng forward for the upcoming year, too.

We bought yesterday a new 'table barbecue' after our 'old' one stopped working in the beginning of our x-mas dinner last Tuesday. Tonight we're going to use it. It looks like this:

Merry Christmas, Barbara! Thanks for your friendship and for the lovely weekend images that you've posted on our threads; they have been a highlight of my Saturdays. I hope that our paths cross in the near future, in London or elsewhere.

Great review of Visitation. I'll finish Jenny Erpenbeck's book The Old Child & Other Stories this weekend, and I'll let you know how I liked it.

book 72



What a formidable reading. It's a kind of a fictional autobiography about the author's childhood and teenage years which she spent in Japan, China, New York, Bangladesh and Laos due to her father being a Belgian diplomat.
She describes the enormous hunger she had not only for food but also for experience, for life, for sweetness, for books and for hunger due to her afflicton of anorexia during her teenage years.
She is telling the story in a speedily way and as a reader it's sometimes difficult to keep up with her pace.
The spelling style is vividly and I couldn't put it away. It's a story which I can strongly recommend.

>268 kidzdoc: Darryl, thanks so much. It was a great pleasure to meet (virtualy) you and I really hope that we'll meet one day in person. I appreciate your friendship very much.

I'm looking forward to reading your review.
BTW unfortunately, I'm not able to see your photo.

>270 Ameise1: Oh, no! It was supposed to be an image of Christmas in Zürich. I'll substitute this photo of Christmas from Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta instead:

Oh, how thoughtful of you, Darryl. Thanks so much. The Antlanta x-mas view is lovely.

Liebe Barbara,

Ich wünsche Dir und Deiner Familie noch wunderschöne verbleibende Festtage und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr.

Merry Christmas Barbara. And happy barbecue-ing. I haven't had a Christmas barbecue since I lived in California.

Merry Christmas!
On the eve: Do I smell turkey?
During: Worn out:

>273 drachenbraut23: Liebe Bianca, vielen herzlichen Dank. Ich hoffe, du hattest auch ein schönes Fest.

>274 catarina1: Thanks a lot, Catarina. Tonight we had with our new table barbecue a leftover dinner.

>275 sibylline: Oh Lucy, what wonderful photos. Thanks so much.

Let the madness begin!

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2015

Barbara, wishing you a lovely festive season.

This little guy and I will be cheering for you to finish the three books needed for you to hit the 75 books mark.

>277 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim. I already put up my new challenge. I couldn't wait doing so even though I'm still trying to reach my target in 2014. Only two books and an audiobook to go. :-)

>278 PaulCranswick: Paul, many thanks for this lovely pictutre and the well wishes. xx

>279 kidzdoc: Darryl, that's gorgeous. Thanks so much, I hurry up to finish my challenge.

Yesterday, we were in Berne (capital city of Switzerland) in the Museum of Communication. Not only the permanent exhibition was fantastic but also the special exhibition about 'Pop Music in Switzerland' was absolutely gorgeous.

The first computers
__

Snail mail:
___

Telegraphy
_

Transport:

special exhibition
_

Happy Saturday, Barb! I hope you are having a terrific weekend. Love the museum photos.

>283 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I went to the library to pick the books for the January's AAC &BAC challenges. We got snow during the night and therefore walking to the library and market took its time.
I hope that I'm able to finish another book today.
The museum was indeed fantastic.
Wishing you a great weekend, too.

>282 Ameise1: - I am a bit of a technology geek and would love to visit the Museum of Communication! Great pictures, Barbara!

>285 lkernagh: In this case you would love it. It was the first time I was there but not the last one. I could stay for hours.

Belated Christmas greetings to you and your family, Barbara. I'm so glad that I've gotten to know you over the year. :) Here's to a wonderful 2015!

>287 LauraBrook: Thanks so much Laura, I wish you the same too. I hope you'll join the 2015 group too.

book 73



This was an easy and fast-paced reading. The story is set in the wonderful world of Regency England. It's a love story which explains that there are no barrier when true love has to succeed. What I liked most was the fact that the woman was so inventive.

This morning I had a most lovely view for breakfast. Drinking my cappuccino and having the feeling sitting in a fairy tale world.

__

Barbara, Thanks ever so much for your warming, frequent visits to my thread. I deeply appreciate you!

I send all good wishes for a warm, wonderful holiday!

>292 Whisper1: You're very welcome. I hope to see your thread in 2015, too. I love all you're gorgeous pictures from thos picture books.

Wishing you a most lovely Holiday season too.

book 74



First I wasn't so excited. I rather thought that will be a bored reading and therefore I was a bit disappointed because usually I like this serie. From the middle away I was disabused because the story turned for the better and I had to snort with laughter what crazy stuff Stephanie and her takers were doing. Only the thought of getting a horse into a lift and what can happen made me giggle.
In the end I have to admit that it was a very funny story.

book 75 ♫



This was a fantastic listening. First, the story takes place in my home town Zürich. Second, the reading is a mix between German and Yiddish and I love this kind of mixed language. Third, it gaves a kind of insight how marriages are arranged in the Jewish culture. Wolkenbruch's mother is trying to find a wife for him. However, he has other plans for his life. Therefore he doesn't buy new galsses anymore from a Jewish shop, he doesn't like to wear black and white clothes and to the dismay of his family he is deeply in love with a non Jewish girl. He is struggling with his feelings for his family and a free life of convention.



Yes, I did it. I reached my target. :-)

Yay, well done on 75!

>296 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. What a gorgeous seal. I love it :-D

Congrats on reaching that special number, Barbara!!

>298 jolerie: Thanks so much, Val. In the beginning of December I didn't thought I'll do it.

Happy Holidays, Barbara. And congratulations on reading your 75th!

>300 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. So far we had a wonderful time. Today we were at the lunch cinema and saw an impressive movie (see on my thread 2015). Tomorrow will be in Basel.

Congratulations on reaching 75! I'm lagging very far behind.

>302 catarina1: Thanks so much, Catarina. I'm happy that I did so. I hope you'll join the 2015 group too.

Congratulations on 75, Barbara! A magic number for sure. ;-)

Congrats!

Congratulations, Barbara!

Congratulations!!

Thanks so much Lori, Jim, Darryl and Juli. I'm very happy that I did it :-).

Thank you for sharing the interesting photos of your museum visit with us. That looks like this was quite fun. The communication devices look pretty much like the ones we saw in the secret Soviet Bunker in Ligatne, we have seen this summer.

Congrats on reaching your target this year.

Happy 75 Barbara!

Ha, just found this one :)

>309 drachenbraut23: >310 drachenbraut23: Thanks so much, Bianca. It was a fantastic visit and very interesting.
Ha, this is a cheering gif, thanks so much.

Hi Barbara, congratulations on reaching 75 books for the year, I have just finished my 65th and last book of 2014.

>312 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I only was able to reach my target because I didn't read such chunks as I did before.
You read definitely more pages than me. Well done to you, too.

>313 Ameise1:, Thanks my dear, let's see what we read in 2015.

A belated congratulations, Barbara! I can't wait to see what you read in 2015. :)

>315 LauraBrook: Thanks so much, Laura. I've already finished my first book as you can see on my new thread in zhe 2015 group an I'm reading the second book and listening to a fantastic audiobook.