simple.cooking

you're not working and thanked God that the symptoms have subsided and you also regain your energy.  during your sick leave, besides sleeping you also watched some hong kong tvb program to kill time...

 and this is the hong kong style french toast you made inspired by a cooking show by maria cordero.  you make this using brioche bread with a thick spread of peanut butter, dip in egg and pan fry in low heat.

 and your first attempt of eating artichoke at home.  this is super easy version of boiling the artichoke until it is cooked and simply peel off the petal and dip it in the olive oil cassis dip and eat...

the heart of artichoke, it's rather hairy but once you got rid of the hair, you will have the tender and delicate artichoke heart to your taste bud.  it's relatively simple to prepare and you won't mind making this again while artichoke is still in season.
you certainly feel much better now and back to your routine zumba session tonight.  the doctor called to inform the blood test result that besides a minor vitamin d deficiency, there's no big problem from the blood test.
and you personally think it's due to stress and an overly tired body, since you have been on a hectic and prolong weekly travel for 2 months, both work and private. your body just screamed for rest.  now that you've rested, you do feel a lot better and fitter, no elaborate cooking/baking but just take things easy this week.

::monschau::

on your way back from mosel valley, you decided to stop at this small village called monshau

monschau is a petit and picturesique village along a stream/river. it is nested and partially hidden in the hilly forests of the high fens region.

the history says this was once a village that torn by france and germany, as a result the german architecture is more prominent

although you can see a sight of french rococo at the facet of red house

but still germany brim house are visible everywhere...

it's a very touristic village and especially true at the time of your arrival, but the further you walk away from the main square, you're able find some quiet corner all to yourselves....

the weather is changing and about to rain, so you just went into an ordinary bakery and order two pieces of cake and a drink.  your strawberry and raspberry yogurt cake was great and likewise he like his apple cake.
from monschau, you made your return journey and that also marks the end of your long weekend spring or easter break.
===
i am feeling better, slept a lot and do nothing besides sleeping and eating to fill the hunger.  the numbness and tingling has gone, and i praised God for that, now just need to wait for the blood test result.
===

wine.tasting

wine tasting at one of the "weingut" just a stone throw away from where you lodged.

 the brief tour to the underground cellar...

 note that the briefing and explanation is all done in german.  the guide did ask if we needed english explanation but your other half has good enough mastery of german language and thus you're pretty much guessing unless he explains to you...

 the cellar is no longer used...

 and while he went on with his explanation, you're more keen on wine tasting...

 so finally the wine tasting moment and this is the list of riesling wine to taste. personally you favor dry wine but you come to term with riesling wine it has to be medium or else all you have is acidic and tarty after taste. and it's not an enjoyable experience.

you didn't have any excitement at the beginning, the wine is basically too young and tart to your liking.  it's only from the fourth bottle where you started to nose the distinct fruits and petroleum that you know it's only going to get better. and the remaining were pretty much a sweeter journey that you feel more excitement after every taste but you know it's not good to your sweet life.
normally after a wine tasting, you are pressured to buy some wine or at least being persuaded to do so, but this winery is quite easy, so you pay your wine tasting fee and go.
the wine is not entirely great or the type of taste that you're looking for but it's a good experience and orientation with riesling wine in the region.

==
officially called in sick today and spent half of my day at the GP and hospital for blood test.  so i will just rest and relax, hopefully the blood result will reveal the root cause of the numbness of my face.
==

::random.thoughts::

it's the time o the year, azalea is in bloom!

 you're on your way to the japanese garden but that's not your final destination, so you actually didn't go in to the garden, instead you walk on a bit

 through the wood where the leaves are still in baby green color... and arrived at the designated kid playground...

 you're invited by a mum of a two year old.  the little boy is celebrating his second birth day with picnic, hence some of the kid's food along with some typical dutch snacks

but the true malaysian fare is the ayam masak merak (tomato chicken) and the tomato rice...

and of course the creative birthday cake for the boy!

you started to feel a bit of numbness and tingling on the left side of your face and the tingling is particularly strong on the bridge of your nose and your eyebrow... you're not sure of the course but you do feel a bit tired as usual,  perhaps you caught an infection, perhaps you're a bit too stressful lately... there are many questions in your mind, you returned home from the picnic and rested awhile before you go to the revival service at 4pm.
it's full house and the anointing of God is so strong in this place.  you feel truly blessed to be here and received a touch from the Lord. and your questions are not answered but that's not important, what's important is you know He holds your future.
have a blessed week ahead!

king's day

the very first king's day since coronation of the king was done just before the last queen's day last year.

 you arrived rather early, way before noon but the city is already filled with people, even the cafe that you have in mind to brunch is almost filled up...

 you got a cozy corner anyway... and it's interesting to look at the happenings from the window

 this is oranjesoes, it's sort of cream puff fills with lots of cream,  coated with orange color sugar with more cream and top with a slice of mandarin... very festive calories bom!

 you opt for the summer pancake whilst he had his savory pancake and truth to be told, the savory pancake is the winner... you just dislike the sour and greenhouse grown dutch strawberries and the mint chocolate ice cream that doesn't compliment the entire pancake...

 you went for a quick stroll, just to catch the king's day vibe but the crowds are coming around noon time...

 as usual, many flea market or second hand stalls are set up and people are free to sell whatever they wish... hence mostly junk...

 you spotted this rustic old fashion door bell which you didn't get

but what you got instead are these... he adores the copper teapot and the warmer while you actually like the blue and gold color cup and saucer from royal heidelberg, winterling.  that said, what is junk to one is treasure to the other ^^, for now you just admire your new addition of cup and saucer where you can drink your tea from...
happy king's day!

::hike::up::

a hike up to landshut ruin castle
along the way you got to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of mosel valley, the bernkastel town and your perspective from an alleviated level.

 the higher you go, the windy it becomes but you like the fact that you're perspiring as you missed the sweat out moment from your zumba session...

 the castle at a glance, it's actually closed for admission and you knew it in advance but decided to walk up anyway... sometime it's about the journey and not the destination... after all you truly enjoy view, the vineyard and the fresh air...

 and at the top, you stop briefly, looking at the ruin castle while munching your apple away...

and then walk slowly down the hill again, the scenery and descent perspective and view are totally different..

===
it's friday and you somehow feel stress even though you're not travelling this week.  perhaps it's even harder to cope with life when you're a wife and working at the same time.  plus the fact that being remote from your colleague result in long hours spending on the phone is not helping either.
but, hey, it's friday and it's time to disconnect from work again.
have a blessed weekend.
===

bernkastel.vineyard

while visiting another village in mosel valley, you had the opportunity to be at close proximity with the vineyard

 it's still too early to see any grape leaves on the vine

 as a result most vineyards are still relatively barren...

but at a closer look, you notice the technique used in mosel region and how the wine growers twist the branches in a uniform patter as it encourage the growth of riesling grape.
while walking through the vineyard, you're reminded of the scripture john 15:5 - 8: "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
as for you, your choice is clear that you want to abide in Him.

mosel.river

 mosel river at different time of the day is ever so charming...

be it early in the morning

 or under the mid afternoon sun

 or under the ever changing cloud and blue sky

 or in the evening

even in a grey cloudy day, mosel river is flowing graciously and streaming calmly and brings forth life to the tree planted by the river and the vineyards on the slope...  it's like the words from the bible... 
jeremiah 17: 7-8 " blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes;but its leaf will be green,and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Psalm 1:3 "He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper"

little.town.along.mosel.river

your first day at traben-trarbach. by the time you arrived, it's already in the evening of good friday...

 the town village is rather quiet and you're told that tonight silence will be observed due to good friday...  this is a very distinct art nouveau/jugendstil at the beginning of moselle bridge

 you just explored the back streets of the hotel and chanced into this rustic restaurant cum beer house and decided go give it a try...

 you opt for the seasonal fresh white asparagus on a toast with a slab of pork, all there ingredients are buried under the cheese sauce, but it's quite a light plate and good to wash down with a glass of dry riesling white wine...

his more rustic and bold blood sausage, which was good too... the blood sausage tasted more like a crunchy toast than sausage...

while he has a pint of local beer, you opt for a local riesling wine... nothing too heavy and not too light, it's just the right portion to end the first day of your long weekend away...

===
back to work today, i worked for an extremely long hour and also was on the phone for long hours today since 9am.  a bit grumpy and tiring after a day of work and especially the first day resume to work after a long weekend.  that's life and really and i am hanging in there, after all i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
===

::vianden::

it's not your plan to visit here but while driving your way to germany, he suggests to en-route vianden for a brief visit, after all you talked about this place for years and actually made plan to visit last easter but cancelled eventually due to the extreme cold winter you had last year.

 the castle is located in a small village tucked in the border of germany and luxembourg.

 the weather was fine, typically spring weather with chilled wind and changing of light

 but you loved the fresh air and the space, and you feel relaxed and disconnected, even though you're still tired

 the river bank reminded you of arashiyama of kyoto

 although the statue reminds you that you're in europe

and it's just tranquil and peaceful...
vianden is not necessary a town that you will come all the way just for the castle but you do find your space and freedom here, even though it's just a brief stopover.