Alright, you may think: What has a plant to do with the celebration of Christmas? I’m not even talking Christmas trees today. Most of you probably know that story well enough. I’m talking of a popular Christmas carol, “The Holly and the Ivy”, which was created in Britain in the early nineteenth century. When I […]
Across the Fence: Turkey Days
When I was planning my first Christmas dinner after my arrival over here in 2010, I found to my surprise that there are obviously just two options promoted by supermarkets all over the country – you either have turkey, or you have ham. Not like back home where different regions have different traditions. There’s Christmas […]
Across the Fence: Not All About Kisses
Now that the Christmas season is upon us once more, let’s see who has a mistletoe hanging somewhere from a door frame or ceiling. Do you? And would you know why? Sure, you might like to snatch a kiss from the lady or gentleman of your heart underneath it. But what is it all about? […]
Across the Fence: Stepping into the Past
The other day, I finally did something that I had wanted to do for a long time. And, actually, I think it’s one of the first things one should do if one’s hometown has one: visit the local historical museum. It was a sunny Thursday afternoon when I parked at the new Motor Avenue Plaza […]
Across the Fence: Spreading the Joy
Remember those days when you were little and you knew soon it would be Christmas? You had no clue when exactly, and every day was filled with wonder and worry whether Santa, in a German’s case the Christ child, would bring you gifts? Because you hadn’t been all that good as expected? But you were […]
Across the Fence: Mix it up!
When I grew up, meat was on the table only scarcely. Which made the Sunday roast my mother prepared for lunch ever so much more special. Besides she had quite a variety of recipes. It could be a sauerbraten or a beef roast, a larded beef roast, a pork roast, a crusted pork roast, a […]
Susanne Bacon Signs Books at SHMA
It might be your last opportunity of getting yourself a signed copy of one of my books this year! I’ll be at the Steilacoom Historical Museum’s Holiday Store on Sunday, November 17, 1 through 3 pm, with my latest Wycliff novel as well as my essay collection “Home from Home”. “Home from Home” ran as […]
SHMA Holiday Store Opens Doors
It’s become a long anticipated, beautiful tradition that the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association (SHMA) has created right in time for Christmas. The SHMA Holiday Store opens its doors in mid-November again and invites anybody to browse its beautiful gift items on Saturdays (10 a.m. through 4 p.m.) and Sundays (noon through 4 p.m.). Marianne Bull, […]
Across the Fence: Us and Them
Do you remember November 9, 1989? If you have a German background or were traveling there at the time, you will. Thirty years ago, the Wall in Berlin fell, the Iron Curtain was lifted, and apparently Communism as known in the Western world was defeated. This is what Germans will be celebrating this Saturday. But […]