FO's - 3

(photos were taken with -10C, that's the least she could do to model it-right?)

I'm very proud of this cardigan. I saw it on Melissa's blog, long before it was in Knit 1 magazine, and fell in love with it. She made her first version in grey with orange buttons - instant love! As soon as I knew the pattern was in the magazine, I hunted down a copy and crossed my fingers, that my DD Hannah would like it too, so I could knit her one. Sometimes, she's just too good to me, and said YES. When she came home for Christmas we went yarn diving in my stash, and she choose Patons Classic Wool Merino in royal purple. Besides the February Baby sweater, this was the first adult top down sweater I've knit, and it was fun!

She said she would love to wear it at New Years Eve (she didn't in the end, but I finished it in time anyway), so I got to work. The body was knit quite fast. But I think the sleeves were cursed. As soon as I sat down to knit them (on double point needles), somebody, something interrupted, so I had to put it down and get up. Once I was so fed up, I (cursed) put it down, and went to pick up my crochet blanket to work on that instead, and wouldn't you know it, no interruption whatsoever, for as long as I wanted to work on it.

Of course, as you can see, the sleeves got finished eventually. Hannah would have liked them a little longer, but I made it exactly the length given in the pattern.

If I were to do this again, the only thing I would change is the garter stitch border at the bottom edge. It's only 4 ridges and it kept folding up. I had to seriously steam the heck out of it, to ly flat. I did not wet block the whole thing, but steamed everything.

Hannah found the buttons downtown Toronto. I did not like them, when I first saw them, but after they were sewn on, I thought they looked O.K. The other thing is, my tension sucks. Knitting stockinette stitch on a large piece like that, with back and forth rows, my purl rows are always way looser. I was hoping the steam would take care of that, and it did - some.

pattern: Garter Joke Cardigan , Knit 1 Magazine Fall/Winter 2008, by Melissa LaBarre

yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, royal purple, 4 balls

needles: 4.5mm needles

size: 34"

start-finish: Dec. 21-30

This was a fun and easy in between project. Great for relaxed knitting, because I didn't have to look at any pattern.

pattern: simple K3-P1 ribbing socks, with German heel, and star toes

yarn: Fortissima Socka, color # 1026, 2x 50g, I had this yarn in my stash for a very long time

needles: 2.25mm DP

size: men's 11

for: DH Karl for Christmas

start-finish: Nov. 30-Dec. 02

My last knit for 2008 was this "Thermis" cowl. Hannah choose the yarn/color/buttons for it, and I enjoyed knitting it immensely. I'll knit one for myself soon.

pattern: download (not free) Thermis by Kristen Patay

yarn: Ultra Alpaca Light, color # 4281, 1.25 skeins

needles: 4mm circs

size: large (because I used DK weight yarn)

start-finish: Dec. 30-31

Well, there's only two more FO's left to show you, and one handspun yarn. After that it will slow down a bit here, since I'll actually have to knit/spin/crochet in real time before I can show you.

Yesterday afternoon, I finally got around to bake these Chocolate wafers. I don't really know the real name of this "cake". My mother in law used to make these, and my son wondered, if I could make it, when we saw the wafers at the store. I wanted to make it for Christmas, but DH Karl brought home 5lbs of Christmas cookies, over 20 different kinds, and we really didn't need any more sweets then. I don't have a recipe, just a memory of it, so they are not quite like Helene's were. I cut the pieces too big too, but they dry out quickly. DH said, it's "soul food" for him, too bad he can't have any of it.

FO's - 2

Yesterday morning, I paused, when I saw this sight, out of my bathroom window. I love to see the sun coming up. See the moon as little fleck there? The day before, I was afraid one of the icicles would land on my head, while I was clearing the balcony of a ton of snow. They dripped ice cold drops on my head instead. Lets just say, you could see me swinging the shovel like in fast forward, snow flying over my shoulder. With the temperatures we are having, I don't have to worry about the icicles anyway. I was pretty grateful to be in a warm house, about to take a shower, when it's -20C outside. It seems this year's motto for me turns out to "be grateful". It's incredible how many things I can think of, to be grateful for.

Like knitting this shawl! I'm so happy that Paivi thought of me, and let me have the pattern for this beautiful shawl. She's the one doing a free Vernal Equinox Surprise Shawl KAL, by the way. Clue 2 is already out. I'm a little behind, just got the yarn yesterday, but I'll catch up today.

Anyway, I loved knitting every stitch of this shawl!

pattern: Terttu shawl II by Lankakomero/Paivi

yarn: Knit Picks Gloss, 70% merino/30% silk, 3.5 skeins ~ 770yds

needles: 3.75mm circulars

size after blocking: 43" x 75"

for: a friend of my moms

One day I'd like to make this shawl again, and I want to have a black shawl for myself. It was hard letting it go.

Bea is another lovely Lady, who gave me her V-striped sock pattern to knit. And how did I repay her for her kindness? I made only one sock! I totally loved her design, it's good looking, but for some reason, the steam was out, and I could not bring myself to knit the second one. Totally only my fault, I like all her designs! I let the one sock sit around, and cry a little for it's brother, but it didn't help. Come January, I decided, either rip it or knit another sock, for gods sake! Well, I knit a sock. I even started out with a stitch pattern after the cuff, but after the third repeat I just wanted the sock to be done! I'm still not feeling the sock knitting love right now, so I don't knit them for a while. (That feeling can change at any moment, I'm like that.)

pattern: V-striped socks (totally lovely, see for yourself) by Bea

yarn: Spritely Goods, limited edition, fey merino, color: pewter (love this color and yarn)

needles: 2mm DP

for: myself

Lets not forget this little swiffer cover. It's not glamorous, but it does it's work very well. I wanted to use up some cotton I have so much of, just the left overs from other projects alone! I thought I'd make several of them, but first wanted to see how it works. I made it way too big, but I thought kitchen cotton always shrinks so much after the first wash, not this one, not enough anyway. I had to rip out 1/4 of the whole thing, but in the end it fit, like a slipper. I might want to make more, it works well, and I don't like using the throw away stuff, which you can buy for this tool.

There are many swiffer cover patterns out there, best look for it on ravelry, or just knit it, like I did.

I amused myself yesterday afternoon, and you surely think I'm weird. But I thought it was hilarious, to eat cherries (in January!), and drink Kukicha tea at the same time. What a combination! I thought it was funny, and daring (and delicious). ;o)

FO's -1

There's too many FO's to show in one go, so lets get started.
I've never stopped knitting, crocheting, or spinning during my break. In fact I've been quite busy, but it was nice to work on things, and not have to think about getting it done, so I have something to show on the blog. It was kind of relaxing.

For those who are on ravelry, and/or flickr contacts of mine, have probably seen these already.

I made the fingerless mittens as gifts for some of my relatives, they REALLY loved them:

pattern: Rib-and-Cable mittens by Marji La Freniere, IK Spring 2006 magazine

yarn: Debbie Bliss merino dk

needles: 3.25mm

for: my cousin Romy

These mittens are lovely, and easy to make. It's the first and only time I liked a reverse stockinette thumb.

pattern: Princess mittens, by Jennifer Hagan, "The Knitters Book of Yarn" by Clara Parkes

yarn: Debbie Bliss merino dk, color # 225102

needles: 3.5mm, on 5 DP

for: my cousin Daniela

I liked these a lot, and it was hard to give them up.

pattern: Kyla by me; I knit a heart shape instead of the cable on top

yarn: Koigu KPM

needles: 2.5mm, could have used smaller needles, it turned out a bit loose

for: my aunt Rosi

pattern: Bliss Blanket by Melissa Goodale
yarn: Butterfly Super 10 multi color # 2016-Carousel, 5 balls (1100 yds)
needle: 4.00mm
size: to cover the doggy bed
I thought I would go insane knitting this. I like entrelac, but I don't like this cotton yarn, or better, this color. I wanted to get it out of my stash. Did not think it would end up as cover for Sam's pillow in the kitchen, but it did. This is a lovely pattern for a baby blanket, with any other yarn, I would knit it again. I made it a little bigger as the pattern calls for.

I did not nearly spin as much, last year, as I wanted too. I managed to finish this though.

Chocolate & Cherries, superwash merino, Sunshine Yarns, 4oz, 520yds, 2-ply

I've started knitting a scarf with this yarn, but ripped it out again. It didn't look like I imagined it would. Now it's on time out, like all the other handspun yarns, waiting for the perfect pattern.

Stay tuned for FO's 2!

Good things are happening ...

The lovely Irene bestowed this award on me: Thank you!
I'm not sure I deserve it, but I'm very flattered, and grateful. Receiving this award is in sink with my intentions to start this year in a good, positive way, so I'll accept this award thankfully, and will do my best do find others I can award it to.

The Definition seems to be: “for those who bring unique and creative elements to their blogs. For those who incorporate art, music, creative writing, photo’s, and other beautiful visual effects into their website. For those who put a unique spin on things and come up with new ideas. This award is for the artsy, the funky, the inventor, and even the rebel. This award is for those creative individuals who stand out from the crowd.”

The rules are:
1. The winner must copy this Award to their own blog.
2. Link to the blog from whence you received the Award
3. Nominate a minimum of 7 other bloggers
4. Link to the nominated on your blog
5. Leave comment about the award on the nominated blogs.

My nominations are (in no particular order):

1. Fleegle's blog : she makes me laugh, she's got great humour, besides, she's a wonderful knitter, and story teller

2. Victor : he's a great knitter, and I love his photography, as well as his use of the wonderful Wollmeise yarns. :o)

3. Claudia of Mr. Puffy the Dog : I just feel comfortable reading her warm, fun, and interesting blog posts, as well as enjoy her photography, and wonderful knitting projects. She's also making it hard for me to stay on my diet, with her delicious recipes. :o)

4. Lynne : I've come across her blog once upon a time, and can't stop checking back. She's got her very own style, and I love reading it.

5. Marianne : being a photographer, her pictures are always wonderful to look at, but besides that, she's a great knitter, and has become a talented spinner as well. I love to read her family stories. She's contagious with her love for her new husband! :o)

6. Hannah : my friend from Holland. She takes wonderful pictures, and since she's got a new White German Shepherd puppy, I love them even more!

7. Knatolee : She makes me laugh with her stories of her furry friends, as well as the wild ones around her house. She's generally fun to read.

Since the title mentioned good "things" plural, there's one more thing I'm grateful for:

My dear friend Sybille, who vanished without a trace last July, has come back, and I'm so glad she's O.K. and knitting/blogging again!

I wonder when I will be able to show you my FO's of 2008 you haven't seen yet. I guess it will be my next post, but don't hold me to that promise, since I've broken it already! :o)

Now, I'll go and start digging myself out. We've got snow people, lots and lots of snow! Another good thing, since I happen to love snow. I don't have to go anywhere today, so I can take it easy, hopefully not getting a heart attack , while swinging the shovel. I DO have help from my DS David though.

No doubt who's boss here!

First time outside today, everybody is looking for Sam's red ball: look as the story unfolds. Click for more viewing pleasure, and commentary. ;o)

The last of my pictures from my trip

If you wish to see a picture more closely, click on it. Try to view it in its orignal size. There's some info with each of them. Enjoy!

Trip to Austria - Part 5

I had this post ready as a draft, before I took a break. I was debating with myself, wether to delete it or just show it. I liked the pictures so much, that I thought I'd show it after all.

This was back in October 2008:


Almost there, really! I have so many photos I like, each has it's own charm. I have to decide how to present them, so I thought today's post is dedicated to the animals we encountered. There were not many, but interesting ones. DH and I took turns taking pictures, but the animals were all mine. :o) I would recommend to click for big if possible, I think it's worth it.
This picture is one of my favorites. It's indicative of how the countryside in southern Styria looks like; very hilly with vineyards up and down, houses on top of the hills. It was wonderful standing there, taking it all in. I grew up in the eastern part of Styria, it's similar, but not quite so many vineyards, and maybe slightly less hilly.
I had to zoom in on those critters, because there was an electric fence, I would have jumped another one, but not an electric one. :o)

At least they did not ignore me. Poor buggers are not bred for wool, but for meat.

We were driving along, heads swirling to get it all in, when I saw this herd, yelled sheep, and DH jumped on the breaks. I was out the car so fast, I was glad that I didn't scare them away. They seemed to be equally interested in me, as I was in them. What else is interesting here are the wooden poles in the background. They are used to support hops for beer. Harvest was long over.

On we went, this was on Saturday, when we were driving the "suedsteirische Weinstrasse", meaning "south styrian vine road". It's something to be seen. We did not have great weather, it was overcast all day, just not raining, which was good. I didn't mind though, I still enjoyed it.

So we were driving along, when I glimpsed these brown beauties. I had to get close to get some pictures, but I had healthy respect for those horns. The calf was just too cute!

That's Highland cattle, which supposedly produces leaner meat, and can withstand cold much better. I like the long coat they have, they look so cuddly.
The big bull looked at me, but didn't think I was worth getting up.

And here we have the "Reblaus" = "vine louse" or Phylloxera, which we saw in one of the vineyards.

Well, I'm almost done with the year 2008. January is for clearing up loose ends, is it not?

Where's the book now?

It feels wonderful to be back, especially now, after that warm welcome! You are the best, making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Thank you all so very much!!!

Now, I know why you are really here:
I want to keep this "book-passing-along" simple. Not many strings attached:

Rule 1: When you receive the book, please come back to my blog and add yourself to the world map I've installed, so that those interested, can see where the book is. Please add your Name, location, and your blog address, so we can visit, and for those who want the book, to leave a comment on your blog post.

Rule 2: Read the book, enjoy it, let it inspire you, then do a draw, so you can pass it on. Best to copy the rules to your blog post with a link to my blog. (So others who know nothing about me, know what's going on.)
I'll glue a page into the book with before mentioned rules too. It would be nice, if the book would not lie around for TOO long at any one point.
Thanks.
That's it, very simple.

I liked the ideas, for setting up a blog for it, like so many KAL's do, and also add information about local charities, but I can't commit to maintaining such a blog. Maybe somebody else would love to do that. It was also a nice thought, to send something knit out of the book to the person who sent you the book, but I'd rather people, if so inclined, knit for a local charity instead. And it's simpler that way, with more chances of being passed on successfully.

If there's anything unclear, please let me know.

The random generator spit out Ann as the next person to get the book. Congratulations, Ann! Please e-mail me your snail mail address, and the book will be on its way asap. :o)
My scarf is past halfway point. It's doing strange things with the colores. I hope I'll be done with it at the end of this week.

Next up will be my FO's I made during my break. I'll be posting them in quick succession, but after that will get back to a more leisurely pace.

Just a quick post ...

Lankakomero is having a shawl knitalong. I've joined! ( I feel this year, I need to be more sociable and join more activities).

You don't have to sign up or anything. Just go here to get the first clue. It starts today. There's a ravelry group, and you can find more information here.

Hallo! I'm back!

It's been two month since my last post, and now is as good a time to come out of hibernation as any, and resume blogging. Wonder if there still is somebody left interested in my ramblings? At first, after announcing the break, my head kept going, fabricating blog posts, looking for blog worthy information, only to slowly realize, it doesn't have to. Then it got quite easy, and the thought of never blogging again wasn't as horrible as it seemed at first. I've still been busy, knitting, and crocheting, not much spinning, and I will show you what I've accomplished over the last months.

It's always tempting to make changes, especially after a break, combined with the beginning of a new year (hope it will be a healthy, happy one for all of us), but I find, I'm a girl who needs her routine, and change, while sometimes necessary, is not always digested easily or welcome. So, my blog will stay the same, no new template, or change to a different provider etc. It will continue to be mostly about my knitting, spinning, crocheting, the dogs, sometimes about food, and what not. But before we start off with a parade of FO's, this post will be about an idea I had.

I found this book under the Christmas tree: Knitting for Good! by Betsy Greer. I've seen, and read about it on Li's blog.

I think, some books are not meant to be squeezed into a bookshelf, after we read them, and this is one of them. What I would like to do, and this is meant for people, who have and maintain a blog, is to pick randomly one person from the comments to send this book too, for reading and passing it on, in the same manner. I wonder how far and to what countries this book will go? If you are interested to play this little game, please leave a comment (even if you don't want to play, you can leave a comment ;o) ) We will need to link from where to book has come, and where it will go, so we all can follow it around.

I thought I'll insert a sheet of paper, with name and blog address on it, so people who'll get the book, can add their name and blog address. I'm also knitting Li's scarf for charity, the pattern is in this book, or you can get it from her, by asking for it in a comment.

It's not obligatory to knit something from the book (there are nine patterns in there), but if you want to, it would be nice. I'm knitting this scarf with Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz. It's merino wool, with a strand of glitter, DK weight, and I'm using 4mm needles. I've cast on 42 stitches, because the yarn is thinner as recommended in the pattern. It will need blocking to open up the ribbing a bit, it's reversible, a fun stitch pattern. You can't really see it from the short piece on the picture, but the pink is doing a zig-zag in an orderly fashion, not just boring pooling, which I really hate. Still it's slow going. I think the herringbone ribbing draws it together, and I think I could have even used 4.5mm, but I'm NOT frogging it for that. Who will this scarf be knit for? I don't know yet. I hope I'll find someone in need of a warm scarf. It sure is cold enough right now around here. I hope I'll be done with it, at the end of the week.

So, I think this was a long enough post for getting back into the groove. I'll be back with FO's pictures. It's good to be back, and I hope I'll hear from you. By the way, if you have suggestions on how to make the "book forwarding" more interesting, or easier to follow, lets hear it too! :o)

It will only be a break!

Birthday flowers from DH Karl

My husband said, I could not leave you like that, and he is right of course. I want to thank you all for your Birthday wishes and comments you left on my last post! They are heartwarming, and very much appreciated!

My decision to take a break from blogging was a right one for me, necessary and important, but I already know that I will be back next year! So, my friends, lets not say goodbye, but rather, see you later! :o)

And apropos nothing, look what I saw in the Supermarket: Disney's new character is a White German Shepherd puppy called BOLT!

He reminded me of Sam. :o)

It's my Birthday!

It's my birthday today! I found this picture while looking for another one. I wish I was still that girl, but wise beyond my years, with my life ahead of me, making different decisions at every crossroad of my life. I'm saying Goodbye here for the time being, I don't know yet, when or if I'll be back. But I'm sure we'll meet at ravelry and I'll continue to read your blog posts.
Happy knitting, spinning, and whatever you enjoy doing!

Monika

Trip to Austria - Part 4

Oh boy, I hope you are still with me! I was only away for a week, and there's so much to show. I can't possibly show it in one or two or three, but more posts. It will come to an end eventually. :o)This is my sock knitting grandmother (87). She's wearing a mohair capelet I've knit for her. She's always feeling cold, unless she's got hot flashes. ;o) We both knit a pair of socks during the time I visited.

I made three of these capelettes, the pattern is free by Mary Jane Protus, very fun and easy and fast to knit. The top, blue capelet was made with a 90% mohair 10% Polyamide yarn, and was for my grandmother. The other two I made with yarn my mom sent me some time ago, which was the other way around 10% mohair, 90% acrylic. Not my favorite stuff to knit with. My mom kept the redish one, and she'll find someone for the pink one, I'm sure.

I was surprised to learn that my godmother is a sock knitter too! I haven't seen her in many years. Never knew she's a knitter. I would have brought some sock yarn for her otherwise. I think she liked her scarf. She said, she was gifted with knitting only once before. I'm not sure baby blue is her color though.


My mother had invited my sister in laws, so they could meet their brother and me. Those ladies have wagging tongues, I tell you. I almost fell of my chair for laughter. They thought I used a knitting machine to knit the scarves, and wondered how one can knit those fine stitches. They are NOT knitters at all. But I think they liked them as well. The forth SIL was there too, but not in the picture. Too bad.

I did not get pictures of all people I gifted with my hand knits, but they all seemed to like their gifts.

Trip to Austria - Part 3

Winery Kieslinger on top of the hill

I arrived in Austria on Wednesday, and Karl picked me up at my parents house Friday afternoon. It was another wonderful sunny day. We had enough time to hike a little. Our first destination was Buschenschank Kieslinger. It's on top of this hill surrounded by vineyards in all directions.

From there we walked to a look-out, which you can just imagine in the next picture. It's a little to the right and up from the group of houses.


In the next picture you can see the Kieslinger house left far behind us. It was magical to walk there, the sun was already low, the fall colores on the leaves and everywhere around us, just gorgeous!
The view in the next picture was like from a fairy tale book. I hope all the pictures are click able, to really enjoy them full.
Most of the grapes were already harvested. Only here and there were some left for special wines. I don't drink wine or any other alcohol, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the beauty of those lovely country sides, and what they have to offer visually.

From the look-out we walked back to the winery, and had some refreshing elder-blossom juice mixed with sparkling water. That's a divine drink, if you ever have a chance to drink this, you MUST do so! We would have had dinner there too, but my sister had invited us, so we had to drive back to Graz.

We met with my sister and her family, as well as my brother and his girlfriend, and had a nice evening. No pictures though. Sometimes it's just not happening.

New books, a ton of inspiration!

Yesterday these fine books, and magazine came into my hands, long awaited, and now I'm going to work through them. From what I've seen so far, there are many projects in them, which I want to make right now, or later. This will keep me busy for a long time.
Knitted lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. This is a wonderful book. I've preordered it and now I have it, and I'll go and look for some yarn, to start right in on a project. Don't know yet, which one, because there are several I like.

This book I preordered here. The title page picture was an unfortunate choice, but there are several projects in them, which I like very much. The colores, and yarn choices are not always what I would have chosen, but the designs are great. Can't wait to cast on for something from this book as well.

My son brought me home this magazine. Before I left for my trip I got one copy, which I sent off to Germany. This Holiday issue has several nice projects in it as well.

On the other hand, I saw the preview of IK Holiday Issue, and I'm very disappointed. There was only one project I would have liked to make eventually, and it turned out, that it starts with casting on over 900 stitches. Ahem, not exactly what I love to do. So no, this year I'll pass on this one.

Really, I'm off reading my new books, and trying to decide what I will be casting on first. Tough decision! :o)

Trip to Austria - Part 2

I realize this is a knitting blog, but not much knitting has been going on during my trip, or since my return back home.

This trip was very important to me, since my life has become narrow, confined, cut off from the rest of the world. I discovered that there IS a world outside the knitting world, where people have no clue, nor interest in knitting or any other fiber activity, even the only yarn shop owner in the small town of Fuerstenfeld, where I stayed with my parents, knew nothing about knitting blogs or Ravelry. I tried to explain to her, but in the end she just called me weird in my face, which had me stumped, but I had to laugh too. Poor woman, she doesn't know what she's missing. Her store is a one room store, with one half stuffed with yarn, the other half was reserved for all kinds of needle point stuff and other. She did not have a single Knitting magazine, except some from Lang Yarn, which she was selling. I was only interested in sock yarn, but there was not much to choose from. I was looking for Regia Silk, which she didn't have. I still managed to buy a few balls of self patterning sock yarn, because I liked the happy colors. And there were new Hundertwasser sock yarn colorways I liked too. I was surprised to find, that she did not have Steinbach cotton thread at all! I was so sure I would find it there, since it's an Austrian company, but no luck there. I did not want to leave without any cotton thread, still thinking of knitting Franklin's 1840 Nightcap. I choose a different brand, in these colorways. Not all are meant for Nightcaps, but for lace shawls as well.

Out front there was some sock yarn on SALE. I took one ball of 6-fach sock yarn and knit a pair of socks on 3mm needles for my son. I just managed to finish them on time. They were meant for bed socks, and he wore them before I could take a picture, so you get a picture of worn socks! :o)
By the way, I took some lace knitting with me to the airport. I started to knit a shawl while waiting for the flight. I had no problems whatsoever with security, but since it was a night time flight, I did not knit on the plane at all. I think I'll rip what I have so far, but it was good to have, to keep me occupied while waiting.

You'd like to know if Sam missed me? This is him, sleeping in David's bedroom, in the middle of the night, taken with his cell phone. Want to see another one? Same dog, different night. He slept like that each night.

... sometimes Biko got to use the bed as well. When I returned Sam ignored me until the next day. He's so funny.


... next post I'll show you some goodies I've brought home with me, or I might squeeze in a post about places I went ...

Trip to Austria - Part 1

I had some trouble getting back, my soul must have taken a different plane home than I did, but now I think it caught up with me again. This trip was booked with two purposes in mind. To make a long overdue visit to see my parents and grandmother, and to resolve, if possible some other issues.

Of course as you all know, every trip is too short, and so was this one. I flew from Toronto to Vienna, and from Vienna to Graz. I arrived very tired, but excited at around lunch time. My DH Karl picked me up and since it was a warm, sunny day, we went straight Downtown Graz to have lunch, and walk around to reconnect with so many old memories, and sights. I have to admit, we took the elevator up the Schlossberg, because I could not face the many steps leading up to it, I was too tired. The Schlossberg is 475m high, and we had a wonderful view in all directions. I could easily stay in Graz for a week and not get bored at all. I'm sorry that I was too early for the Advent markets, but I got to see the "Maroni Brater"; they grill Chestnuts on the streets; the smell is divine, and the taste wonderful.

I did not take any pictures during the first few hours after my arrival, I didn't think straight, was too tired and wanted just to enjoy being there.

In any case, Graz was not my final destination, and we had to drive another hour to get to my parents house. There, a big WELCOME sign awaited me, with my parents and grandmother in front of it! It really had been too long.

To be continued ....