The Christmas / Advent Calendar

When we first moved here in Germany in 2009, the Christmas calendar is among the gift-giving traditions that I look forward to. And it is very interesting to learn along the way how this very romantic idea of a calendar to make waiting for Christmas day to arrive a little bit easier turned out to be a million industry.

Everything started very simply: with pictures and texts. It was in 1903 when most probably the first Advent calendar was designed, by the Munich publisher Gerhard Lang. The calendar was inspired by his mother, who made him a calendar made from 24 cookies when he was still a child. Every day a cookie for the little Gerhard, which made waiting for Christmas day to come a little bit easier.

Even before the published calendar, this counting tradition is already practiced by many German families - for example chalk marks on the wall or the door to count off the days. But then of course, colorful pictures and beautiful texts are more interesting. Lang's calender with the title "Im Lande des Christkinds" (In the Land of the Christ Child) is a kaleidoscope of various motifs of the kinder world. After the premiere in 1903, new versions were published every year. 

Because children love sweet things, the publisher soon had another idea: Christmas / advent calendar with chocolate. It was in 1920 when the first calendar was published, just like the typical calendar we have today: with 24 small doors to open. It was an optimal idea, because people love beautiful surprises. Clubs and parents in other areas then started designing their own calendar.

It was in 1945, after the second world war, when other countries and even the industry found the idea interesting. Famous artists designed calendars - there is the classic with the chocolate and slowly in more and more variants.

Today, there are all sorts of Christmas calendar available in the market - for all ages and for a wide range of products. There are calendars with chips, seasoning, gin, fragrance, make-up tea, coffee, even Lego and Playmobil - there is a calendar to almost every product that one can purchase. It has become a million-business. 

But do we really need all this? I personally love the chocolate bit, one for each day. But with all the products being sold out today, I think it has already lost its essence and meaning. The happiness that opening one door brings has maybe become superficial. Despite the massive commercialization, may we never lost touch of the true meaning of Christmas.

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Try These Easy Pest Prevention Tips

Summer is the perfect time for picnics and cookouts. Everyone gathers around the grill eager to gulp down hamburgers and hot dogs. Laughter and music fill the air and cold drinks keep things chill, even when temperatures are high. It’s idyllic, at least until your guests start bugging out. Apparently, friends and family aren’t the only ones invited to the party. Insects invade by land and air only to crawl across the food, and worse, your company. Your next cookout doesn’t need to turn into a scene from Creepshow, however. Here are four easy tips for a bug-free barbecue.

Oil is Essential

Essential oils offer therapeutic benefits, but many people are surprised to learn they also provide pest protection. Spiders steer clear of decks and outdoor furniture when sprayed with a solution of peppermint oil, dish soap and water. Citrus and lavender oils are other effective deterrents.

Muscle Up Your Mulch

If ants, beetles, moths or termites are a problem, add cedar chips to your mulch. It’s perfectly safe for people, animals and birds, yet emits a toxic aroma for many insects. Additionally, spreading chopped citrus peels is particularly effective against mosquitos and roaches. You also may want to use one of the all natural tick and mosquito control products available on the market.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

It turns out those pennies you picked up off the street will come in handy at your next outdoor party. Place several pennies in a clear bag, fill it with water and then hang it in an area where it will catch sunlight. Flies will keep away due to the reflections cast.

Wasps Aren’t Welcome

If you’ve got fresh fruit or soda at your cookout, chances are you’ll also have wasps. These stingers may love sugar but they sure hate hornets. Stuff a brown lunch bag full of plastic bags, rags or cotton balls. Tie it at the top and hang it so it resembles a hornet’s nest. Wasps will stay away.

Don’t let bugs ruin your summer fun. Bite back with these four tips.

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Are Spiders Dangerous?

While there’s no doubt that spiders are feared by many, are these small eight-legged creatures actually dangerous? Everyone has heard horror stories of people who have suffered serious effects from spider bites, and there it’s no secret that many types of spiders release venom any time they sink their fangs into their prey. Here is some useful information on the spiders you might encounter in your home and whether or not you need to be worried. 

Venomous Spiders 

One of the first questions people ask when spotting a spider nearby is whether or not it is venomous. The reality is that except for a few unique species of spiders, almost all spiders have venom. However, very few spiders have venom strong enough to hurt humans or even cause any pain. Additionally, many spider species are very docile and will only attack a predator, such as a human, if they feel threatened. It’s unlikely that a spider will try to bite you unless you are trying to move it from your home, which is why it can be helpful to have a spider pest control company do it for you. It is also smart to be especially cautious around spiders if you have a known allergy to spiders, have very young children, or are ill. 

Dangerous Species 

While bites from common species such as the hobo spider or wolf spider can cause minor pain and swelling, they hardly warrant a trip to the emergency room and will heal rather quickly. In America, the only two types of potentially dangerous spider species to look out for is the brown recluse and the black widow. The black widow is easily identifiable by the red dot or hourglass on the back of its black body. A brown recluse can range in color from a light tan to a very dark brown or gray. It has markings that resemble a violin.

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The Eselsmühle in Siebenmühlental

The Siebenmühlental, roughly translated as "seven mills valley", is a hiking area between Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Waldenbuch in Baden-Württemberg. The name does not really correspond to the number of mills because instead of 7, it has a total of 11 mills, of which only one remains operational - the Eselsmühle.

The Eselsmühle has a beautiful history to it and today one can still take a look at the original mill wheel still intact. A visit to the Eselsmühle is a great idea to escape the humdrums and stress in the city. They also produce Demeter-quality breads and baked goods in the bakery using wood-fired ovens. 

There is also a Kaufladen (store) that sells organic and natural products and of course, animals that greeted the guests, both big and small. 

Another attraction: pony riding for the children. They usually make a short tour around the area (around 15 minutes), much to the delight of the kids. In the photos is my little girl, when she had her pony ride some 3 years ago.

 And when you get tired from all the sightseeing and hiking, you can always take a break at the Cafe. They serve organic food and beverages. Yum! It was very good!

After all that eating and drinking, you can continue on the way to explore the rest of the other mills or continue on one of the hiking trails around the Siebenmühlental. :)

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Let There Be Light

Remember the story of the creation? "Let there be light!" was what our Creator said on the first day... and then there was light. 

In our modern world, lights have played a major role in our day to day activities. We use them to light up our streets in the dark of night, to brighten up a room or highlight a display, to add up to the ambience of say a restaurant. We especially pay attention to lights during the holiday seasons because they add up to the festivities. The brighter and more sparkly the lights from ChristmaslightsEtc.com are, the better! Seeing bright and twinkly lights always draw up attention and makes you feel the wonder and beauty of it all. But of course there is more to Christmas than just lights.

Did you know that Christmas lights started in Germany? Upper class German homes in 18th century used candles to decorate the Christmas tree. Then people started using candle holders as part of the decorations and also glass balls to put the candles in. Years passed and electricity was then discovered and the light bulb was invented. From then on, it evolved into the Christmas lights that we so enjoy today: they come in many different colors, dancing in rhythmn with the Christmas carols that come in the package. Also, in the olden days, people used fire, oil lamps, wax candles to lighten up the night and bring warmth in the cold days. I remember touring the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany and saw the high chandeliers which needed to be lighted up every single night with hundreds of wax candles. Imagine the labor that comes with lighting a candle chandelier, which needed to be repeatedly done once the candles melt down.

But thankfully, artificial lighting technology evolved through the years. Aren't you just glad you are born in this generation of LED lights?

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Meerschweinchen!

The first time I encountered the word "Meerschweinchen", I know that the English translation would have to do with "pigs". I was right but I was still surprised to find that it means "guinea pig", those cute and fluffy little critters that you would love to just hold them. Guinea pics make good pets because they are actually mellow creatures and are already domesticated. My little girl loves animals and really love to read, er... hear all about them. Maybe she would love a guinea pig gift? I can already imagine her saying, "Ooohhh, wie süß!!" in a sweet and adorable way you can't help but really give it to her.

But anyway, guinea pigs also make good laboratory experiment subjects too because they are easy to care for and maintain. That and because scientists discovered they had biological similarities to humans that would make them useful in many field. Did you know that vitamin C was discovered in 1907 because of guinea pigs? Or that the discovery of the hormone adrenaline was through them? Would you also believe that without guinea pigs, man would not be able to develop the vaccines for diptheria and TB, antibiotics and asthma medicines, nor be able to develop replacement heart valves and blood transfusions?* I guess thanks to guinea pigs and the many studies they were subjected to, humankind was able to prevent many diseases that may have otherwise plagued the world. 

And no, I am not pro animal testing. I am just stating some facts.

* Source: David Adam (2005). "Why use guinea pigs in animal testing?" The Guardian: The science behind the news series. UK

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The Eyeglasses and It's History

The eyes, they say, are the windows to one's soul. Look a person in the eye, and you can see if he/she is sincere. This is something that I believe is true. But what if you yourself cannot see clearly? That, then, becomes a problem.

Thankfully, eyeglasses came into the picture, making it possible for those even with eyesight problems see things clearly. The origin of this very clever piece of craftsmanship dates back around 65AD (or maybe earlier) in Italy and they weren't even in the form that we are now familiar with. Early reports said that this device originated from a glass globe filled with water used as a magnifier by a Roman philosopher to read "all the books of Rome". In the year 1000, the crafty glass blowers of Italy were credited for producing devices very similar to the magnifiying lens that we have today.

It is still the Italians who are believed to have created the first form of eyeglasses in the late 13th century. And did you know that eyeglasses were called "spectacles" in the olden days? The first two artworks depicting a subject wearing these so called "spectacles" were the ones from Italian artists Tommaso da Modena and Crivelli in 1352. The former painted a series of frescoes where one subject is a monk who was reading manuscripts with eyeglasses perched on his nose and the latter painted Hugh of St. Cher, wearing bulky spectacles. Perhaps in those days, it would be so bothersome to wear these spectacles since they are heavy and bulky but since then, eyeglasses have evolved a lot. Today, one can even choose frames made of Titanium, a material which is very light yet very durable.

I used to wear eyeglasses back in my teenage days when I was myopic. It really helped especially in easing my headaches and in helping me get through all the readings and studying that I needed to do. Thankfully, my eyes are feeling better now and my optometrist even told me I don't need to wear eyeglasses when the myopic symptoms came back some months ago. I wouldn't mind wearing eyeglasses again though, especially if they will help make me look more chic and cool.

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Why I Love Backpacks

While many women would die to own a designer leather bag, I would opt for the more sturdy, bigger and classic backpacks. All my life, I have always used a backpack. I guess I only used a leather handbag when I was working at an English conversation school back in Japan.

Why do I love backpacks like dakine backpacks? Because they are perfect for someone like me who is a student and a mom and wife who likes to go places. You know how it is when you move around a lot and you need to have as many things handy as possible: notebooks, lunch boxes, pens, keys, baby bottles, wet tissues, bottled water and medicines to name a few. All these things just seem to perfectly fit in one backpack. And because it is a backpack, you have both hands free to do other things or carry other stuff. Most designs these days are also ergonomic so that you don't get backaches from carrying a backpack all day. A backpack is very functional and if you want something that looks hip and chic and interesting, you can always choose one that has colored or printed fabric. You'd be surprised at the variety of colors and sizes available in the market today and how the designs have evolved since the word "backpack" was coined in the US in the 1910s.

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