The Appreciation Game (Join in!)

[Paradise-on-Earth]

oh wow! what an amazing photo with your husband and son in the snowy pine forest! It really does look like something from a fairytale!

exactly! We had 1 m snow at that day... It was an for me, before, unknown world!

I LOVE this idea!

I do, too! Since I saw Hägar the Horrible convince Helga, that they should not clean up their court outside, because it will look like magic when it snows, I always ponder this idea in autumn!

yes!! I so enjoy to hear your interpretation of clarity! Thank you for playing with me!

Thanks for asking! That was a precious pondering for me...

[spiritualcookie]

W: Walk(s)

I like spending quality time with loved ones, going on walks.
I like how it's just us, the fresh air, and the changing scenery as we make our way ever forward.
I like the feeling of the fresh air against my skin.
I like the feeling of movement in my body.
I like how it feels dynamic and refreshing.
I like how I feel the powerful capability of my body.
I like looking around, taking in the scenery.
I like noticing all the little details in the different seasons.
I like finding names for the plants and trees and challenging myself to remember them in the future.
I like noticing little changes from the last time I had walked this walk. It feels satisfying - like a game of "spot the difference"
I like the peaceful energy of walking together at a pleasant pace.
I like the opportunity for relaxed chats - how it really feels like good one-on-one time, with lots of attention and focus to listening to one another.
I like the opportunity to mutual appreciation as we appreciate the sights around us together - pointing out things that maybe the other didn't notice; or adding our unique perspective and thoughts about the sights around us. Maybe sharing a happy memory it reminds us of.
I like going for walks in new places - exploring places I've never been before - I like the newness and the interest in it. I like feeling it out. Taking it in.

A walk together -
it feels like togetherness;
it feels like a pleasant joint experience
it feels like an opportunity for deepening our bond
it feels like lifting stagnation and clearing out the cobwebs
it feels like being really IN the world, seeing the wider world around
it feels relaxed and easy and pleasant
and in our togetherness it feels comfortable and safe and quietly loving
I like how I enjoy holding his arm and how he doesn't mind it
I like how I feel our closeness

-

Next letter K or S

[Paradise-on-Earth]

Oh, I really enjoyed "taking a walk with you", Cookie! It felt even a bit as driftwood, to- maybe- someday soon, be able to take enjoyable walks for FUN!

I just now asked my son for something nice that starts with "K", because I wasn't inspired, yet. He started rattling off all the alpha-male German K-words... (beginning with German 4 letter words that I will not repeat) as Kalaschnikow (Russian assault rifle), Königswelle (crankshaft bearing), Koenigsegg (Swedish Super-sports-car manufacturer), and ended with Kartoffel (=potato). I HATE plain boiled potatoes, so I, at first, thought that would not be a good idea, either. But then I thought again....


Kartoffel- PommesFrites (French Fries) and Strohkartoffeln (Deep fried very thin and crispy FrenchFries)

Really not having been a fan of potatoes as child, I also was a late-bloomer in regards to french fries. But I learned to love them, with mayo AND ketchup,

but ESPECIALLY as Strohkartoffeln ("straw from potatoes") This is sooooo good! Sometimes it even gets mixed with incredibly crispy "straw from onions". Your life will not be complete without having tried this!


Kartoffel-Stampf (more elegant: totally lump-free Kartoffelbrei, both: Mashed potatoes)


...what once was poor-people food, mashed maybe with milk or just water and salt, becomes an amazingly delicious, creamy, dreamlike purée when stirred softly with butter, creme or even Crême fraiche, herbs, garlic, sometimes melted cheese... a side dish for royalty!


Kartoffelkroketten (potato croquettes) from mashed potatoes

When I have leftovers from Kartoffelbrei, I add some more butter and an egg and pipe it onto a tray,and bake it until golden brown. Kids love the "potato-roses" and they are such a quick delight!


Kartoffelkrapfen (deep fried potato dumplings, made with flour and a bit yeast)

A special delight from deep-fried dough . SO yummy.


Kartoffelpuffer (potato fritters, or -pancakes)

With or without grated onions in the dough, baked super-scrpy in a pan, can these be served sweet (with applesauce or Preisselbeeren, sort of cranberry-jam) or with any hearty stew or shortly fried leftovers, tossed together with a dash of creme and some cheese. I love them for being such uncomplicated tasty "life-savers" when there is "nothing" in the kitchen, or too much that doesn't fit together, or I am not inspired to think up a meal!


Kartoffelchips (potato chips/crisps)

As a child I didn't like them either. Today there are sooo many awesome different tastes and recipes, I LOVE finding new ones!


Kartoffelgratin (potatoes au gratin, or Pommes pavé)

When I want to show my love to hubby in an extraordinary way, I sit down for several hours and prepare such an amazingly time-costly dish.


Kartoffelknödel (potato-dumpling, either from boiled or raw potatoes, or from a 50/50 mix), in the picture it's "Seidenknödel" from boiled potatoes ("silk-dumplings") The probably most Bavarian side-dish you can imagine. While, really, they are all over Europe, especially in the Eastern regions! I SO love Seidenknödel!!





Kartoffel-Bube-Spitzle ("boy's little parts", made from potato-dumpling-dough)

Very Southern-Germany and Austrian- specific are "tiny Wieners from boys", just cooked and served as dumplings, or fried and served with salads and as a vegetarian dishes.


Gnocci filled (or not filled) potato-dumpling dough, boiled or fried

They seem to be Italian but really, they are known all over Europe maybe in other forms- and from lot of other veggies as pumpkin, beets, sweet potatoes, turnips, peas... the possibilities are endless and always sooo delicious!!!


Kartoffelsalat (potato-salad)

Endless options exist, and I am always amazed how much I learned to love all of them!


Kartoffelbrot und Brötchen (Potato bread and -buns)

In my youth this seemed to be a speciality, it's not anymore. Very soft and moist bread, in the land of intensely crispy and hard bread-crusts, this might be a life-saver for Americans!

...Oh my, what have I done...? But I seem to really... like, what one can do with potatoes!
Next letter L