News from the Gingerbread Cottage
[ Happy Holidays 2003 ] [ God Jul 2005 ] [ Xmas 2004 ]
New Wireless Internet is available for guests who travel with their laptop!
We have a wireless N network available to our guests who travel with their
computers. Simply ask for the code when you arrive.
The Cottage gets a 100th Birthday Gift.
The cottage has its 100 year Birthday in 2005 year. As a gift to commemorate
this event the old main mast from the 52' ketch,
the Alice D - currently
on her way to Denmark, was erected and also has found a new tour of duty in our
garden. The mast serves as a weathervane, flag pole and clothesline pole. It
offers the garden some new nautical qualities that our guests will be sure to
enjoy as well as a handy clothesline to dry off those things that get rinsed out
in the sink from time to time.
Krista Goes to Montreal
Krista got back from Anyang, South Korea where she taught English for 8
months. All reports
are good with a lot of culture coming back with her.
Check her website for her fancy art
photography.
She now moved out to Montreal to attend a Professional Photography Course. We are certain she will adapt and enjoy the
adventure in a wonderful cultural surrounding.
Vanessa's Food Styling
Vanessa is commissioned to bake the various types of Gingerbread and sets up
the Photo Shoot for a Christmas magazine article about the history of
Gingerbread.
- Vanessa also was commissioned to design the dream commercial kitchen for a
large floating complex in Nutka Sound.
Dean expands Carpenter Skills
Dean is involved in a project with an architect from Los Angeles and learns
the ins and outs of earthquake reinforcing for residential construction.
Dean assists in Re-rigging a Ferro Cement Sailboat headed for Denmark . Read
about Ferro Cement boats, this project and the journey to Copenhagen at www.captainjan.com
Roland Convocates - June 2004!
Roland von Schellwitz, our son, has finished his degree in Computer
Engineering. He has his dream job with an firmware
development firm in Victoria.
Krista Brandhagen graduated in June 2004
Our daughter, also finished her formal education in June with and Arts and
English diploma from the University of Regina. We are proud of her for this
accomplishment .
Roses, Roses, Roses
Move over Butchart Gardens! Here are our own Roses grown right here at the
Gingerbread Cottage. It is really rose season here in Victoria!
"It's the time you spent on your rose, that makes your rose so
important....." from 'Le Petit Prince' - Antoine de
Saint Exupery via Krista Brandhagen
Pure Cheese
Dean got bored with creating the elegant fruit trays and started getting creative
with the cheese trays on the breakfast buffet!
Martha who?
Dean Gets Funky with the Fruit trays
Everyday another creation... so much fruit - so little time!
Here is today's creation...........
here is another yummy creation....
Yikes, Butler got in an Altercation with a Car on June 7, 2003
Update Oct 2005 - Butler is totally mortified as Manny the
backyard Squirrel at the Gingerbread Cottage gets table service.
Update Jan 2005 - Butler is doing very well and seems to have recovered fully
although the squirrels still seem to rule the yard.
Update June 2004 - Butler has made a full recovery as far as we can tell.
Update, September 1, 2003 - Butler has
recovered almost totally except... for a healthy fear of squirrels.
In a related story......... The
squirrel now has complete control of the garden and has no fear of cats.......
UPDATE, July 14 - Butler is pretty
much back to normal, but is avoiding any squirrels like the plague...The last
one really kicked his butt !
Our gorgeous Siamese cat, Butler, is recuperating from very serious injuries that
occurred when he was chasing a squirrel last Saturday and got hit by a car. Thanks to some good
intervention from the ER at Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital he seems to be
on the mend but is moving really slow!
Cudos to all the staff for their excellent services. The Central Victoria
Veterinary Hospital is a 24 hour emergency pet hospital located on 760 Roderick
St.
We will keep updating this as to Butler's progress, and we hope he will be
soon chasing squirrels again...
***
News! Vanessa takes a Sabbatical Leave from Cooking Classes at the local
Community Centres.
Vanessa has decided to take some well deserved time off from her rigorous schedule of
cooking classes after 12 years, She will be writing some new cookbooks and using
the time for other creative ventures.
***
New Addition to the Family - Oct, 2005
We have had Merlin the Umbrella Cockatoo for 4 years now.
Below is a photo of our new pet, Madam Mim. She used to be named Casper
(how boring) but we renamed her 'Madam Mim' - after the other sorceress from the
"Sword and the Stone" movie. She is a delightful little creature and
is responding well to all the attention she gets from us and the guests at the
GBC. Merlin and Madam Mim are performing everyday at the Gingerbread
Cottage.
She is quite a talker as well. Between the two of them, Merlin and Madam Mim
are pretty good cockatoo style entertainment and very cuddly creatures. Come and
visit them soon!
***
Our 2003 Trip to Europe
We spent 6 weeks in Germany, Austria and Italy this spring and had a super
time! Saw a lot of family, skied in the Alps and ate a lot of sausages! And
spent a few days at a friends mountain getaway in Mitterndorf in the Austrian
Alps
Here is where we tried to steal the secret of the Apple Strudel at the famous
hotel, Im Weissen Roessl , but alas, even though it looked wonderful...
Vanessa's "Apfel Strudel" was already superior.
Holy Edelweiss! Dean got rid of the ball cap and tried on a new look in a
flashy new Austrian Tyrolier with a Gamsbart ( the brushy thing )......Dean tries so hard! (Actually Vanessa could have had any man she wanted but "she took the
$200.00 and grabbed the Norwegian!" haha an old Scandinavian joke)
Roland joined us for some delicious "Leberkaese Semmel" on Mutti's
balcony overlooking the Bavarian Alps. He looks much better in the Austrian hat
that's for sure!
We also visited the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf Austria, where the
famous song was first penned and performed.
And we had a wonderful dinner with Vanessa's family at Tegernsee in Bavaria
We also were fortunate to Visit Vanessa's Auntie Wilhelmina ( Mia for short )
with Roland.
Here is Vanessa's Mother - Rosina - and Dean and Tanti Mia
Italy was amazing!
If you have a fast connection and like birds.. check out this
movie from our recent trip to Venice, Italy
Here are a few shots of Florence
Here is the view from our pensione room in Florence's central Domplatz.
Click for this funky collage of
sightseeing in Bavaria
Stay tuned for more interesting pics and
clips from Europe..................
The Garden at the Gingerbread Cottage
We have done some nice photos of the Garden. Click here
to view
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