New Years Eve....

I decided to splurge and bought some Shrimp and made myself huge Shrimp Cocktail(15 of them), a crisp fresh Caesar salad and opened a bottle of 2009 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine from the finger lakes. Really excellent.

I am sure my friends in Luxembourg plaza will notice that the Ice wine I am enjoying this evening, is the same that we enjoyed over lunch while I was in Prague in September.... ;-) It was a fun lunch.

and this wine is delicious. I will bring another bottle with me next September... and the next year starts very soon indeed...4 hours and 45 minutes from now.

Cheers and Happy New Year to all my friends.

and the new years started a little over an hour ago for my friends in Prague...
St'astny novy rok!

and Eva... notice the card.. I only just rec'd it this afternoon; 31 Dec. ;-)
Dekuju moc..

Merry Christmas

Wishing my family and friends, here and abroad a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas lights.....

Making these today, the 24th

Made these this morning.... just plain ol' cut out cookies, then frosted them..
and ones in the middle are called: "thumbprints" and in the thumb print in the middle of the cookies, sits a 'caramel Hershey's kiss'. Really good.

Will have a few this evening in front of a roaring 'radio'....

Vánočka, na tento Vanoce dneska

The traditional Christmas Bread in the Czech Republic...

Thank you Eva for sending a photo of this special, the three loaves for your family.

again... Merry Christmas to all my Friends in Prague, Mukařov, Žižkov, Přibram, 'Škoda' Bolešov, Teplice, Usti nebo Cologne, and a little place called 'something Lahota', or 'Lahota something'(my apologies Eva, can't remember the name of your town)....

mej se hezky. - S

Vesele Vanoce

..to all my friends in the Czech Republic as you celebrate your Christmas today...

Vesele Vanoce. Merry Christmas !

Czechs bid farewell to Vaclav Havel

Czechs and world leaders paid emotional tribute to Vaclav Havel on Friday at a pomp-filled funeral ceremony, ending a week of public grief and nostalgia over the death of the dissident playwright who led the 1989 revolution that toppled four decades of communist rule.

Bells tolled from churches while a wailing siren brought the country to a standstill in a minute of silence for the nation's first democratically-elected president after the nonviolent "Velvet Revolution."

Family members, friends and leaders from dozens of countries gathered Friday at the towering, gothic St. Vitus Cathedral which overlooks Prague. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron were among some 1,000 mourners who bowed their heads in front of the coffin draped in the Czech colors.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who was Havel's political archrival, and two friends — Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright — paid tribute to Havel at the cathedral, which dates to the 10th century and has not witnessed a state funeral since 1875.

"He was our star, he gave us democracy," said Iva Buckova, 51, who had traveled from the western city of Plzen. "He led us through revolution. We came to see him for the last time."

In a message read at the funeral by the Vatican's former diplomatic representative in Prague, Pope Benedict XVI praised Havel. "Remembering how courageously Mr. Havel defended human rights at a time when these were systematically denied to the people of your country, and paying tribute to his visionary leadership in forging a new democratic polity after the fall of the previous regime, I give thanks to God for the freedom that the people of the Czech Republic now enjoy," he said.

Europe owes Vaclav Havel a profound debt," David Cameron, Britian's PM said before departing from London. "Havel led the Czech people out of tyranny ... and he helped bring freedom and democracy to our entire continent."

..then finally Cut this one...

Finally found this somewhat small one, but it will fit nicely into my apartment.

Brought it home, set it up and will decorate it early this week..

more photos to come.

Searching out a Christmas Tree

Yesterday my children and I went drove into the countryside in search of a place where we could cut our Christmas tree..

We found a small tree farm outside of the small village of Victor, south of Rochester and hiked back into an area to look around...

Found this one... a bit strange with no middle.

but kept searching...

Vaclav Havel, leader of "Velvet Revolution," dies

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright who was jailed by Communists and then went on to lead the bloodless "Velvet Revolution" and become Czech president, died at 75 on Sunday.

I am extremely moved," an emotional Prime Minister Petr Necas told Czech Television when told of Havel's death.

"He was a symbol and the face of our republic, and he is one of the most prominent figures of the politics of the last and the start of this century. His departure is a huge loss. He still had a lot to say in political and social life."

Havel became a guarantee of peaceful transition to democracy and allowed the small country of 10 million to punch well above its weight in international politics.

"Truth and love will overcome lies and hatred," was Havel's slogan that Czechs remember from the Velvet Revolution days.

My condolences to my Friends living in the Czech Republic.

enjoyed some Svařák...

...yesterday while writing Christmas cards.

A friend in the Corporation GTS Czech gave me her recipe and it was..IS excellent.

It is essentially what we call Mulled Wine over here, but I like it the Czech way ( were you surprized?). I made some for Thanksgiving, then had some left so I just kept it in the refrigerator...and heated it up yesterday afternoon... Mnam !!

It was actually better than on Thanksgiving... since it is Now much closer to Christmas.... Na zdravi. pa pa

Dekuju moc Eva.

The Mug: from Dresden; last year.

Busy Day on this Sunday

Started out by making the dough to make Gingerbread men. The dough has to refrigerate for a few hours, so during the waiting time, I got to work on my Christmas cards...

The recipe only made enough dough for Eight of so it said. I stretched it to Ten.

Happy Holidays.

3rd Sunday of Advent

This Advent wreath is something that one can find almost everywhere in Prague at this time of year. Friends who live in Žižkov sent me this photo of theirs. I grew to like these and while I lived there, would purchase one and light it each weekend of Advent.

This another example of differences of here vs there. One rarely finds Advent wreaths over here unless one is a church goer.

Thanks Alex and Ada for sending me such a nice remembrance. Cheers...

Fulll Moon Today

St. Nicholas Day ( Mikulas)

Although here in the US, we do not celebrate 'Mikulas', It is a day I remember fondly from my time in Prague. A special day for families and their children and a special commemoration in Old Town Square; music, singing and children in Awe of the bright lights and Trio's of Angels, devils and Mikulas's walking all about.

To my friends in the Czech Republic: Happy St. Mikulas Day.

Year ago today, I was there

This weekend is the 2nd weekend in Advent already, and ONE year ago today, I was in Dresden, on a icy crisp, frigid day, enjoying the Christmas Markets which spread out from the Dresden Train station to the Elbe.

It was close to ZERO F that day.

Today, here it is 50 F ( 9 C ).

I fond memories of a year ago today. It was a good time. The Glůhwein was excellent as was the company I shared the day with. Amazing Day. Amazing Christmas Markets.

Remember that Family of Deer?

Just a short walk from my Apartment through the wooded area... Here were that Deer Family I have been following all spring and summer... lying quite camouflaged on the leaf covered ground, with their ears perked tall in anticipation of my arrival.

Warm November Sunday

It is 63 F or 17C as I write this on this Sunday Afternoon...

We have had quite a mild November this year; usually Rochester is known for its snow by now. But nothing yet...

This Sunday mornng....

A Rant: A time of thanksgiving... or the almighty dollar

Seems I sense much change in the 3 Thanksgivings I have been living abroad.

This past Friday was the so-called Black Friday", a day when shoppers all across American can NOT part with their money fast enough through seeking out one of a kind deals to get them into stores as early as possible.. Black Friday has been this way for many years...but, now... stores are opening just past Midnight... to lure away the dollars from eagar shoppers..

Saturday, has just been christened "Small Business Saturday", where one is suppose go out and purchase, in a frenzied way, "things" from only Local Small Businesses, in an effort to support the local economy, in a similar fashion, businesses hope, as in what "Black Friday" has become.

Sunday, perhaps really is a day of rest, for tomorrow, Monday, is now called "Cyber Monday". This has been appointed THE day to shop online and online stores are jumping into the frenzied fray of Capitalism.

...so the focus on this weekend post Thanksgiving, is on nothing other than SHOP, BUY and DEALs related to the Almighty Dollar.

Interestingly, rarely a word was spoken this past week about being thankful for what one has...or much about Thanksgiving Day. Seems most verbiage hardly even mentioned Thanksgiving and it's meaning.. All focus was on spending, Black Friday, purchasing...and Capitalistic Greed.

yes, America is changing, though not necessarily for the better.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Last evening I went into the City of Rochester, to The Eastman School of Music's, Eastman Theatre to enjoy the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rochester City Ballet in their annual Holiday performance of The Nutcracker Ballet. It is really a nice and fitting way to start the Christmas Holiday season.

I liked the imaginative interpretation of this production by its Director. This was my first performance in the newly refurbished and downsized Eastman Theatre as well. Now there are box seats along both sides in compartments of 2 or 4 clustered seats, that were totally new to me.

I sat in the front row center section of the Mezzanine and it was perfect., a great view of the stage. Enjoyable.

But I could not help but think many times throughout the evening of just sitting in Prague's 'gold leafed adorned' National Theatre just One year ago, watching The Nutcracker Ballet on a cold rainy evening, with really nice company. Hezky.

Thanksgivng Day

Thursday was Thanksgiving in the US. and this is the Tom Turkey I cook for the occasion... 20 pounds, almost 10 kgs. I had 11 people around the table but one person had to sit next to the table, as I couldn't fit anyone else around the table comfortably. My father choose that 'honor'.

In typical American fashion; too much food. For my friends in Prague, here was the menu in addition to the turkey: mashed potatoes and gravy, hubbard squash, sausage dressing, Brussel sprouts with bacon and pecans, cranberry relish, roasted pear chuntney, green bean casserole, rolls, and several different wine varietals( pinot gris, chardonney, pinot noir, merlot) and I made my Friend Eva's recipe for Svařák, the Czech version of Mulled wine that I grew to love while living in Prague and this time of year, it is a perfect drink.

so there you have it...

and by the way, that turkey was done perfectly. A crispy skin and very tender, after 6.5 hours cooking in a slow oven. Mnam.

almost forgot: for dessert, Coffee from Vescovi caffe in Prague ( ;-) ), Apple, Pumpkin and Shoofly Pies. The last one is an Amish specialty that I thought I might try, after seeing it made on a cooking show.

Happy Birthday Daughter....

Hard to beleive 26 years ago you were born. A wonderful Day. Have a fabulous day today and.....Happy 26th Birthday!!

Last evenings Beaujolais "fest"

I had seen an advertisement in the paper for a Wine Event downtown at one of the nicer hotels, billed as "Welcoming in the Beaujolais Noveau"... Alas, It just did not live up to my expectations...a downside to living in Prague for so long, I guess.

It was more like a "wedding" reception, than a wine tasting. and more of an advertising event for one brand of wine as well.

...longing for Strasnice Culturni dum again.

Beaujolais has been released...

On the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday of November each year, (this year, the 17th, TODAY!) Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated by drinking the wine from grapes harvested this past summer. This is the third really high quality vintage in a row!

Beaujolais Nouveau is a young red wine made from handpicked Gamay grapes grown in the Beaujolais region of France, where the beverage accounts for half of the region's production. While most red wines improve with age, Beaujolais Nouveau is all about freshness.

Under French law, the wine may be released at 12:01 a.m. on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after the wine's grapes have been harvested. Fermentation is so short that the resulting wine exhibits fruity flavors and light tannins. Beaujolais Nouveau should be consumed right away (or within a year of being made), and is best served slightly cooled.

So Worldwide, this years Beaujolais, as of today, has been released for consumption. And tonight I have a ticket to attend such a "release party" in downtown Rochester. Am looking forward to enjoying, this, my favorite wine.

During July and mid August the vineyards enjoyed fair weather with a mix of very nice sunny periods and light rain, perfect weather for the Gamay grapes, which make up this wine. It was said, that the grapes for this year's Beaujolais were healthy with thick skins and dark fruit, with a good balance sugar-acidity, similar to the 2009 which was quite a good year.

A very nice crop was expected, which had a good yield similar to the 2010 vintage.
The harvest began in mid-August this year and was over by the 26th of September, earlier than expected.

Time of Raking leaves...

This weekend was filled with just about everyone outside was raking leaves off their lawns and into piles along the roads. Soon, large vacuum-cleaner trucks will traverse each street and road in the village and county and suck up all these leaves...usually and hopefully, all before the first snow falls.

St. Martin's Wine - The Czech Beaujolais

St. Martin's wine is the Czech equivalent of the French Beaujolais. Today is St. Marin's Day in the Czech Republic when Svatomartinské wines are first sold for consumption. They are indeed the first wines of the new year, just a week before Beaujolais are released for world consumption. The most typical Svatomartinské varieties are Müller Thurgau, Veltlínské červené rané, Muškát moravský, Modrý Portugal and Svatovavřinecké. And as this St. Martin's days is in full swing in the Czech Republic, A traditional goose dinner often accompanies Svatomartinské and it's wines. Unfortunately, you will not find any Svatomartinské wines here in the Rochester area... but, next week on the 17th, French Beaujolais will make its appearance.

11-11-11

almost as good as 1-11-11 while I was living in Prague last January...

but am here now, and this is good.

From last weekend

We finally had a "killing" frost last Friday night, and the leaves have been falling in Bunches, as one can see here...

Election Day in the US

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc-ra-cy)

- a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain
themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

So today we elect more baffoons, who have promised us they will do things better, and make our country/county/city a better place for "we the people", but who once in office, will only work for themselves and focus only on getting re-elected 4 years from now, just as they did 4 years ago.

and a neighbor

This has a 6 car garage... and who knows how many bedrooms.