On the Road again - Day 5 / 6

Yesterday we had such a bad storm that we were safely parked in a state park. 

Morning walk before it got too windy

By mid afternoon the wind was shaking the trees around us and rattling in the straps that are ankering down our solar panels down on the roof. The only thing we could do was staying inside and waiting for the storm to move on. 

The big storm system (we were left (west) of Wichita)

Today was much better, still breezy though. In the kitchen department a pork loin was sizzling in the oven. Provision for the coming days. 

Pork loin steak is ready

While we are traveling we always cook our meals ourselves. We rarely went out dining before Covid and now visit restaurants even less. Those ready seasoned pork loins are really good and easy to cook. One can get a pound for $7 and it will be enough for 4 meals. I cooked carrots and leeks as well and froze them in portions. That way dinner will be prepared within 30 minutes, the time it takes to boil potatoes. While being busy in the kitchen Peter fixed some problems outside. He repaired one of the van's burned out head lights and changed the other one as well. Then he repaired the choke of our generator. It had been a problem lately to get the thing started. 

Now we are all ready to roll out early tomorrow morning.

Enjoying the sunshine

Eastern short-tailed Blue  (Kurzschwänziger Bläuling)

Immature Harris Sparrow
(Harrisammer)

Northern Cardinal in front of a Harris Sparrow
(Rotkardinal, Harrisammer)

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Translation for my German readers

Der Sturm war ganz schön wild. Die Bäume bogen sich im Wind und es rappelte auf dem Dach wenn der Wind über die Befestigung der Photovoltarpanele raste. Man konnte nur drinnen sitzen und abwarten. Heute war es schon viel besser aber immer noch zu windig zum Fahren. Da habe ich Vorbereitung für die nächsten Reisetage getroffen. Ein Schweinefilet war im Ofen und Karotten und Lauch wurden vorgekocht und eingefroren. Das sollte für die nächsten 4 bis 6 Tage reichen. Wir kochen auf unseren Reisen immer selbst. Restaurantbesuche sind äußerst selten geworden. J.P. hat derweil Reparaturen vorgenommen. Eine der Hauptlampen des Vans war ausgebrannt und da hat er gleich beide ausgewechselt. Anschließend hat er noch den Regler für die Luftzufuhr am Generator repariert. Das Ding wollte in letzter Zeit nicht mehr richtig anspringen und wir werden ihn in Zukunft dringen brauchen da uns mehrere Tage mit dichter Wolkendecke erwarten. Nun ist aber alles vorbereitet und fertig zur Weiterreise. 

Merry Christmas to all!

 Merry Christmas to all of you!

Darlen's photo of her Nativity Scene in the desert

You might ask yourself about how we celebrate Christmas down here in the desert southwest.

Lots of good food and being together with friends!

We always have two days to cover. First our German “Heiligabend” on December 24 and

then the American/Canadian Christmas that is celebrated on Christmas Day December 25.

Our tradition has been for years to have a dish for Christmas Eve that origins in Northern Germany.

Peter preparing the kale

Peter himself cooks what his mother used to do.

Kale with smoked pork chops and sausage

Stewed kale with smoked pork and sausage

and caramelized baby potatoes. 

Northern German Traditional Food

Easy to prepare the day before and only the potatoes have to 

be browned in the evening. 

On December 25 we usually have been out for a potluck with friends and so we did today.

Christmas Potluck

Darlene had a great idea about rolling the stuffing into pre-cut turkey slices and just warming them up in the sauce. 

Lots of good food

Friends gathered to enjoy our Christmas Potluck

Sweet potato, dill carrots, mashed potatoes and a salad completed the meal. 

Too much good food!

Cookies and chocolate eclairs cake for dessert.

Dessert plate

Afterward Ron started the propane fire 

Warming up around the fire pit

and we played some games until it got too dark and

the dampness put an end to our feast. 

A difficult game balancing all the parts without dropping any

Card game

Thank you all - another successful Christmas is in the books!

Ron, Jürgen and Emma (on the ground), Emilie, Reynold, Karen
J.Peter, Bea and Dixie (Darlene took the photo)

What about gifts/presents. None. Have not done had for years. We have all we need. No extras necessary.

Translation for my German readers

Ihr fragt euch sicher wie wir wohl das Weihnachtsfest hier in Wüste verbringen.

Wir feiern zweimal. Einmal das deutsche Weihnachten am Heiligabend und dann das amerikanische-

kanadische Weihnachten das am ersten Weihnachtstag, Dezember 25 gefeiert wird.

Unsere Tradition für den Heiligabend: J.Peter kocht immer nach dem Rezept seiner Mutter den norddeutschen

Grünkohl mit Kasseler und Mettwurst. Dazu gibt es karamellisierte Bratkartoffel. Einfach vorzubereiten, man 

braucht dann nur noch die Kartoffeln zu braten. 

Am 25. Dezember waren wir immer zu einem Truthahn Potluck (= jeder bringt ein Gericht mit) eingeladen. So auch wieder in

diesem Jahr. Darlene hat, statt einen ganzen Vogel zu braten, vorgeschnittene Putenbrust mit der Füllung aufgerollt 

und in der Soße aufgewärmt. Dazu gab es Kartoffelbrei, Möhren mit Dill, Salat und Süßkartoffel. Zum Nachtisch/Kaffee

selbst gebackenes Gebäck und Schokoladen-Eclairs Dessert. Anschließend wurde das Propan-Lagerfeuer angezündet und 

Spiele gespielt bis die kühl und feucht Abendluft uns nach Hause trieb. Wir bedankten uns bei allen Teilnehmern die dazu beigetragen

haben daß wir wieder ein gelungenes Weihnachtsfest verbuchen konnten.

Wie ist das mit Geschenken? Nix. Schon seit Jahren nicht mehr. Wir haben alles was wir brauchen und die Reise ist Geschenk genug.

Happy New Year 2023!

 Happy New Year to you all!

May it be a good one.

The day started cloudy and we had a good rain shower during the night, which is good.

In a few weeks we will most likely see wildflowers bloom around here.

Yesterday we had a very nice evening with new neighbours, Darlene and Ron, who are from Saskatchewan.

Good food.

The chocolate cream pie was a dream!

Playing an intricate game afterwards.

And Peter was the proud winner!

By the way: over the years, all our camping neighbours, who camped close to us, happened to have all been from Saskatchewan!(or Alberta).

Carol and Earl, Linda and Bob, Mertie and Bill, Sharon and Louis. Lots of fond memories are tied to those folks!

Today, on the first day of a brand new year, our trailer is rocking in high winds. They had a bad rainstorm at the coast with lots of flooding and we feel the aftermath over here. 

But the sun is out and shining. We sat outside in the wind shade of the shrubs and enjoyed the rest of the chocolate cream pie for a late morning snack together with our neighbours.

The first birds of this year were doves.

An Eurasian Collard Dove and a small Common Ground Dove.

All is well and

Life is good! 

Carpe Diem!

Translation

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Wünsche allen ein Frohes Neues Jahr. Möge es ein gutes Jahr werden.  Neujahrs Abend haben wir mit unseren neuen Nachbarn verbracht. Es gab gutes Essen und einen Mousse aux chocolade Sahne Pie. Anschließend haben wir ein lustiges Spiel gespielt. Dabei hat Peter natürlich gewonnen.

Heute ist es sehr stürmisch. Die Küste hatte Sturzregen mit Überflutungen gegeben und dies sind die Nachwehen des Sturms.

Doch nun scheint die Sonne wieder und wir haben, zusammen mit den Nachbarn, die Reste vom Schokokuchen vertilgt.

Die ersten Vögel des neuen Jahres: Tauben

Eine Europäische Ringeltaube und ein Sperlingstäubchen.

Ich hoffe es ist ein gutes Zeichen.

Man muß jeden guten Tag genießen!

The Gift of a Pumpkin

There was this big orange pumpkin.

It had been part of fall decoration at a friend's house. 

But as summer had come to an end they had to

close up their summer home for the winter. 

As a farewell the big orange pumpkin was given to us.

I did not carve it, and for quite a while 

it adorned our porch. 

November arrived and all Halloween decorations disappeared
from the houses in our neighbourhood. 

Some threw their pumpkins in the garbage, 

others were trampled on and thrown into the ditch, 

where they, to the days day, 

are rotting. 

Mine was taken inside, because, 

this pumpkin is more than an ornament.

It is good food as well. 

I placed the pumpkin into a cool, dark room 

where it could have stayed until February, maybe even March. 

They store very well.

Today though, the house quiet and undisturbed, I decided 

now was the perfect time to cook it.  

I cut it in half, roasted it in the oven until tender and filled 

half the jars with pumpkin flesh for soups or vegetable stews. 

Another portion was seasoned for pie filling 

and canned as well. 

The seeds were seasoned with salt and herbs and roasted. 

Mixed with nuts and chocolate chips they make a tasty snack.

The leftovers went to my compost bin. 

In due time they will be turned into soil together with all

the other scraps from my kitchen. 

The soil will be used as food for my vegetables.

This way the circle has comes to an end.

Food produced from good soil 

utilized to feed people, and to grow fresh vegetables.

It feels good that nothing got wasted.

Thanks again to the friend who shared

this pumpkin with us.