Happy New Year, dear readers!
I hope you experienced a warmer New Year's Eve than we did here in Minneapolis. The subzero temperatures last evening made ringing in the new year a bit painful, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves.
Now that the Christmas season is over, I finally have time to post about what I have been doing the past few weeks. And why now, you ask? Well, I fully overbooked myself the first three weeks of December with Christmas parties and events, overtime at work, and trumpet lessons (my newfound adult hobby). And the snowstorm in the Midwest in early December made driving (and therefore my Christmas shopping) rather difficult. But enough lamenting!
For several years I have wanted to see the Russian ballet. In early December I finally got my chance. We went to the Orpheum, one of downtown Minneapolis' many historical theaters, to see the Nutcracker. The music, dancing, and costumes were wonderful, and the performance was just the thing to get us in the mood for Christmas.
Lobby of the theater
The same weekend of the Nutcracker ballet, I was to host a German Christmas party (Adventskaffee) for one of my former adult German classes. I was very excited, as this was to be the first party in my apartment (despite already living here for an entire year). The menu included almond crescent cookies (Vanillekipferl), Nutella torte, and Gluehwein (German mulled wine). I had also bought some German fruit cake (Stollen) and German spice cookies. I decorated my apartment enthusiastically in anticipation of the party.
However, heavy snow fell throughout the night before the party, and by noon of the day of the party, there was almost 10 inches of wet snow on the ground, creating very dangerous driving conditions. I sadly informed my students that the party would have to be postponed until January, and began consuming the two dozen leftover almond crescent cookies.
Front gates of my building
Kitchen window
The garlands were hung, with no guests to be seen...
Courtyard in front of the building
My apartment: first floor, right-hand side
My kitchen and living room windows
Almond crescent cookies, longing to be eaten...
French doors from the living room into the kitchen
My 16 inch Christmas tree...
...with a little silver trumpet!
I was naturally curious to see what my neighborhood looked like under the heavy blanket of snow (especially since we had so little snow last year), so I tramped up the street in the twilight.
Harriet Avenue: street in front of my building
It's Minnesota: why
wouldn't you bike during a snowstorm?
Street in my neighborhood
No bicycle EVER deserves to be treated like this.
Bryant Avenue: probably my favorite street in the neighborhood.
The view of the college and Loring Park from my office. As you can see, the snow has not
disturbed the morning commute of this cyclist.
