All about energy and environment in germany

We went to my husbands familys home last weekend. It's a two hour drive. We had wolfgangs mother with us, who stayed a few days at our house. So i had the chance to sit in the back with the boys and just look out the window and enjoy my old home country.
While we where driving i had the idea for that article today: All about henergy and environment in germany. And i have to say i did'nt realize in what specific way the germans are taking care of that matter. I knew that they HAVE to sort out all recycable material for many years back. I knew that the cars are very gas-efficient, because, the most of them are very small (i guess an american would freak out driving with this high speeds in a little car). I know you don't get a plastic bag on the check out for free (1 Euro!).
But there is so much more going on i didn't know of. Did you know that germany is the country with the most windmills in the WORLD? This little country...i was stunned to learn that fact. You see them everywhere, on every hill; and it's o.k.; they belong to our countryside, they are not disturbing at all. At the G8 summit in Hokkaido back this July the leaders of the world asked for more nuclear power. Germany made a contract 10 years ago to END all nuclear power programs within a certain amount of time (i don't know the year know) and get energy out of other resources. I like that a lot, i hope it can stay that way.
Well back to germany today. There is the fact, that every house in germany has an energy pass. It tells the owner how much energy his house needs. You can get an energy consultant, who advises you how to safe more money. Cool huh?
CARS: Gasprices in the US are high, but back here the gallon is (are you sitting?) $9. Most of the cars are very efficient now, mine for example goes 38 miles with a gallon of gas. You can image that heating oil is pretty much the same in price like the stuff you get on the gas station.
Since this year, cars have to have a special sticker on their windschield. It comes in different colors (red, yellow, green) and depending on the level of the exhaust emission you are allowed (or not) within citys, schoolareas and so on. So most of the big trucks for example are not getting within citys any longer, except they have special papers for delivery and pick up.
I found that very interesting. There is a city very close to our town that wants to make it a rule that every house has to have solar panels on its roof. Well, i think that's a little harsh to dictate people what they should put on there roofs, but i guess they also offer good funding for that project.

As a result of this policy germany has kept it's clean drinking water in most areas. The soil is free of chemicals and stuff that would end up in our food.

We had our scandals too, trust me and they are still happening. We have our industry here, close to homes. But the regulations for that kind of business are hard .

This is a very clean country and hey....just come and check it out :)

Now, i gotta go, sit on the patio with a glass of GAVI and enjoy the quiet time without pollution (and kids, lol)

Good Night!

Love

ME

Artwork

Well the weather is not our friend since we moved in here. Rain and cold and no end in sight. Philip keeps busy with drawing everything that comes into his mind. He loves the ROBOTS movie, so he started with drawing robots. He surprises us with drawings of music notes and also with him writing words without our guidance. Here are some excamples he drawed (and wrote) all by himself while we where still in bed sunday morning.

Oh where, oh where...

Moving here from the US has many positive aspects. I think i named them all while we celebrated our farewell. But all good things have negative aspects too. Unfortunally. Going through the grocery store is cute here, you are through in 15 minutes and you saw all isles in the store :)
I find myself searching for many things, but especially for BEEF! Yes, this red meat is very rare here and i ask myself why? Is it that the americans own the burgers? Is it that the best cows live just around G.W.B.'s ranch's corner? Is it true that germans are pork-eaters and can not handle a good, bloody steak (hmmm, just stop thinking about it and the craving will pass....).
It's not that you can not find beef here, its just very expensive, not affordable is better described! NO WAY to have beef 2-3 times a week. NO WAY!
I bought some beef the other day for stew (It was already precut, i guess germans would not really know how to handle a steak!). And while i was washing the meat i almost lost myself in thoughts about this great steaks, burgers we have enjoyed the last 8 years. Without appreciation that was.
So, you americans: Next time you rush down your preformed burger patty (what a heavenly invention is that anyway) or your medium-rare steak (let's just dont think about this Sirloin strips that sceam eat me when you remove them from the grill) , yes, next time you have this bite of soft meat and the smoky juices in your mouth, think about us. Us, eating pork, previosly frozen fish and the chicken.
And if you still plan to visit us, prepare yourself: This is the land where we eat different. Not bad different, but beef-less!

MAHLZEIT (ENJOY YOUR MEAL/T )

Getting settled

The last week went by so fast. Philip started with Kindergarten, which goes every day from 7.30-12.30. Next week he will go three days till 2.30 and two till 4.30. He will eat his lunch there and will have a little resttime. I will report how he is dealing with the longer days. Even he loves his new Kindergarten, he of course has trouble to communicate with his new friends. But kids can talk,even without the same language. Philip already brought home a few new phrases and words, like "Los gehts". That means "Let's go". With that phrase he is rushing me out of the house in the morning :)
Nicky still enjoys his lazy mornings. He sleeps till about eight, then a little TV, then his breakfast and then we do something fun.
Nicky lost his two front bottom teeth last week. Both where never found, you can guess where they endet up :( He looks funny now. It made me sad, he is growing up.....

Yesterday and today we made walks in the nearby forest and fields . Its so beautyful; i was stunned. It felled like vacation in tuscany. The air is filled with sounds from the birds and is full with smells from flowers.
There is a path going from our town to the next one, about 2 miles away. The path is named ''Hochzeitsweg" which means ''Wedding-path". It goes through forest and fields. The fields are not belaboured, so many butterflys, bees and birds feel home here.
Philip found a watchingtower, but look for yourself.....

Dance with the Backyardigans - Moves by DJ Nick

While is was preparing dinner today, Nicky found the treasure chest of toys that is always hiding in some of my kitchen drawers. As a mom of an autistic son you sometimes have to hide very noisy toys. Its then more a surprise when your child finds them and has fun with dancing. This is new with Nicky. He dances, he shakes his bum and he sometimes even lifts his arms. Hey, does he have that moves from his father? Enjoy!

A new friend for Philip

Since we moved in on the 4th we've been busy getting everything back on its place. We had 482 pieces. Most of it are boxes, but also furniture or stuff like bikes.
Our house is on three levels, lots of stairs, very good excercise :) Its an up and down of boxes and stuff to finally find the right place for everything. And since we moved in without any closets, all our clothes are in baskets right now. What a mess. But we are starting to love our new house, we find ourselfes in the old routines in the morning, like snugglebuggeling in our bed with the boys :)
Jerry the cat finally found her home now too. After almost two days outside not beeing seen she showed up yesterday evening beeing hungry.
But the best treasure happened to Mr. Flippy. He found a friend. The neighbours son, Timon showed up yesterday with his sister and their bunny and cat in tow. Both are blond like swedish kids.
I paid our neighbors a visit and found myself talking ENGLISH to a canadian-german very sweet couple. Both are music teachers and life the very organic way. Their house is build completly out of wood and has many features i loved in an instant. They have a vegetable garden and a big pond with a waterfall.
Well needless to say, we didn't see a lot about Philip for the rest of the day. He followed Timon, who is eight wherever he went.
Wolfgang and me asked ourself why we out of the sutten let Philip go without going with him. But it is this little village we life in now. Its sleepy, quiet. Everybody knows everybody and everybody watches over the kids.
It was funny, while i was talking to our english talking neighbors, all other neighbors just came out and said hello. Everybody told me where i will get what for shopping, how things work. When school is starting. It was very funny. I felt includet :) It made me really happy.
I found out a few nice things here: The bakery comes almost everyday and stops with a delivery car right in front of the house. There is a lady who deliveres eggs once a week, and the chicken are happily scratching outside the barn :) She also sells turkeys on christmas.
Wolfgang got the TV fixed yesterday, that gives us a little brake in the evening. It stayes bright till about 9 o'clock, so the kids stay up later.
We also have a playground just around the corner, Nicky already knows the way there. It has some climbing bars and Nicky is always on top of it. He already wanted to hang upside down on one of them. We where very impressed.
Tomorrow Philip and me will check out the Kindergarten right across the strees. He is very excited.
Love you all and have a great sunday!

Welcome to germany

Wow, it has been a month since my last posting. A lot has happened in the last four weeks.
On June 25th we had the closing at 11 Kingsley Circle and it was time to say good bye. It was hard, but the excitement was stronger. We got on the plane to germany with eight pieces of luggage, four of handluggage and Jerry the cat with us. Thank haven for a big minivan ;) We had a flight with Iceland Air over Reicjavic, which is four hours from Boston and then another three to Frankfurt. When we arrived in Reicjavic it was midnight there, but with midsummer there it was still bright and sunny.
We arrived in Frankfurt the next morning and stayed at my mother-in-laws for a week.
We learned that the container with our stuff will not arrive before friday, so we decided to move in today (Thursday).
Philip was excited to finally see the new house. When we arrived we had to go through all three floors to check everything out. He counted bathrooms and he had to see his and Nickys rooms "under the roof" .
Nicky had a harder time to adjust. Well its a very empty house, nor furniture, so the echo is very loud.
Tomorrow morning the container comes. Long waited for and many hundret thoughts how to make things, here is the day. Moving-in-day!
Wolfgangs sister comes to help and hopefully we will manage to get the house kind of organiced by tomorrow evening.
Well, i gotta end here, our take out pizza is ready to eat. I will post soon.
Love to all and i miss you guys!