Phaedra's 2025 Journey

Just saw this video, and yes, this is where I was from, Taiwan.


Visiting doctors here in Germany is also a pain in the ass, especially some will show very impatient faces when they realize you can not speak fluent German. It's very common to get an appointment after a few months, or you go to emergency and be sent home with some wishi-washi words.

Somehow, I miss her, although I am no longer in her arms.

Affordable health care. Following Dad around with a camera? Oh no! Here, the clinic would be too concerned about a lawsuit for malpractice.

But the strawberry on top the dessert still had a stem ..? How can we account for that?

Steve

I called my P.A. office, on Feb 14th, to set up an appt. My ear is clogged again and I need a new Rx. The first available is March 24th. WHAT?? But I've been his patient for 3 years now. Sorry ma'am. That is our first available.

So I asked if I were really really sick, would you take me in? No Ma'am. You'd have to go to Urgent care. But, I said, that costs $60!! Sorry, Ma'am. We're really full and have no appointments until March.

@Phaedra , you should know that I copy/paste and email your menus to my youngest DD. She studied German in HS/College, and frequently practices speaking and thoroughly enjoys translating.

@Phaedra amazing end result and so pleasurable too. USoA could learn a lot from them. i'm sure it might be more efficient because they don't have tons of paperwork for insurance and perhaps other common sense things.

not having to walk into a room full of people in various forms of distress or illness would make it a much better experience.

I kept cleaning up the perennial beds, one day one section


Making different bread with purple rice, as now I can grind whatever grain I want.
Japanese Milky Loaf and Sourdough Loaf (with olive, dried tomato, and cheddar cheese)


As the color from the purple rice won't fade under heat, different amount results in different purple, so pretty.


I also slowly prepared the ingredients needed for the reopening, like re-hydrating dried fruits with alcohol or tea - this adds another layer of flavor. Wild figs processed with honey whisky - soaked overnight, added sine water and then simmered until they absorb the liquid (and the alcohol was burned away). The finished ones taste totally different from the dried and hard ones. Well, it's a flavor-added process.


Let me share some dishes I created for the dinner party two days ago


A very common Taiwanese street food - rice ball
It's very practical and convenient. Most of the time, we have such things as breakfast, but you can have it in fact whenever you want.

Sausage, pickled radish, meat floss, eggs

Fried rice noodle - with all kinds of veggies, pork, and tofu

Dessert time - black sesame chiffon cake roll and fruits


The guests also choose the drink they want from the cafe menu.


Everyday is surrounded by lovely things.

Amaryllis 'Happy Nymph'

A splendid blooming, one of the best investments ever, 3 Euros for a bulb.

Self-seeded pansies, time to relocate - those are the lovely variety that has pastel colors and ruffled petals. These young plants are already the 3rd generation from the original ones I grew from seeds. As the window sill planter isn't the ideal place for them, I dug them out and repotted them.


Also some overwintered plants that look very sad now

Dwarf Lisianthus - I bought them from Lidl and transplanted them last fall. The part above the soil looks pretty dead.

But, when I pulled them out, oh, look at these warriors! I didn't expect that they are still alive!

Those Dianthus are little miracles. I dug them up and left them in an empty bucket… then completely forgot about them. When I finally noticed, the bucket was full of ice—it had rained and then frozen over. Four plants were trapped in the ice like some strange specimens.

BUT! After the ice melted, they were still alive. I’m absolutely astonished!

I also trimmed them and repotted them.


Let's see how will they grow under roof in another few weeks.





Besides these plants, there are few more earlier relocated and repotted perennials in the greenhouse, so the greenhouse doesn’t look too empty.

My sowing also begins today! With temperatures rising to 15°C, it's at least comfortable to work in the unheated greenhouse. The first batch includes peas (for shoots), cherry radish, radish, and pak choi. Tomorrow, I’ll sow lettuces - all are frost-resistant.

This year, I’m sticking to the proper timing—no more sowing too early.

Other tasks today, sanding the outdoor tables - they also looked sad after standing in front of the cafe whole winter.

After simple sanding, it already looked better.

Then, a layer of wood protection paint was applied.

I also made some vanilla syrup for the new drink - Vanilla Latte

Dark Ram Vanilla Syrup and Pure Vanilla Syrup


One more variety of Duo Cookies - Peanut and Chocolate. I totally finished 7 varieties (14 flavors) cookies and stored them in the freezer. Those are all the preparation for the reopen in March.


A fruitful day, so let's enjoy some reward.


Tomorrow will be another busy day. I still have many bulbs in the 'very cold' greenhouse, and they’ve started sprouting. Over the next few days, I’ll plant them in containers. If everything goes smoothly, I should be able to enjoy a late bloom from the spring bulbs—hopefully creating a lucky overlap of spring and summer flowers.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us Phaedra. It is such a a pleasure to read your posts, and to see your beautiful creations. You are such an inspiration!