Would you like to go on a little trip with me?   It’s one of those Memory Lane sort of trips that make you smile like flipping through old family photo albums.  You and I can just look through some of the memories from Year One on Making This Home.  Would you like that?  I don’t really have any particular reason for picking the posts that I did.  I know that they were moments that made us happy and discoveries that made our life a little more beautiful.  Enjoy!

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October 2008:  How to Celebrate Autumn in Germany

“This year, October isn’t about the Halloween candy or fake cobwebs.  It’s a season of embracing harvest and the beauty of our surroundings.  My favorite part of this season in Berlin is the outdoor markets.  They were fun in the summer, but now they feel magical.”

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November 2008: Tiny Kitchen = Tiny Combo Units

“Here’s another moment where you might begin to think we’ve gone a little crazy.  This is our grill… er, oven… er, microwave.  Actually, it’s all of these. This little fella is an oven/microwave combo that has about five other features that I haven’t translated yet.”

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December 2008: German Christmas Cookies

“German Christmas culture used to come to our house in a little red package from an Italian grocer near my parents’ house.  The little man sold random food products from all over the world.  It wasn’t very good.  The cookies were dried out and filled with preservatives.  But it brought a little bit of Germany to my husband… until we got this recipe.”

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January 2009: How to Restore Old Furniture

“I’m back with an extra-easy tutorial on how you can reshape a piece of banged up wood furniture into a work of art.”

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February 2009: Dishwasher or Hand Washer?  Our New Appliance

“Every so often, I read about women who claim they are saving money and water by washing dishes by hand.  While this theory sounded very probable, I set out to find out what the most energy efficient method really was.  The truth, of course, is that I want to be sure that my laziness is actually helping the planet.”

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March 2009: Author & Chef Mark Bittman’s Tiny Kitchen

“Mark recently wrote, ‘When it comes to kitchens, size and equipment don’t count nearly as much as devotion, passion, common sense and, of course, experience.’  He should know.  His kitchen is only 42 square feet!”

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April 2009: Using Natural Varnish

“Spending a little extra money on natural varnish meant we could keep living in our house during our kitchen remodel.   We didn’t have to stay in a hotel, and we didn’t have to worry about future off gassing.”

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May 2009: Gift Ideas for Americans in Europe

“After gobs of requests for the perfect gift to send to Americans and Canadians heading off to start a life in Europe, I’m here to dish out the goods… err make it easier for all of you hunting for the perfect goods to send to your expat buds and overseas friends.”

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June 2009: How to Afford Living in Two Countries

“When I think of people who live in both the United States and Europe, it sounds really expensive.  I think of Senators’ wives, rich real estate tycoons, families with old money…. oh wait.  Then I remember that I’m living in both the United States and Europe this year, and I am far from any of those.”

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July 2009: Getting Safe Drinking Water

“Now that we’re in the country for the summer, we’ve started wondering about a topic we never really thought about much in the city:  the quality of our drinking water.”

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August 2009:  Don’t Dispose of Chemical Cleaners.  Donate Them!

“Ever since my baby sister read the post, Green Cleaning Tips, she’s had green cleaning on the brain.  The only problem was that she had gobs of nasty chemical cleaners filling the entire space below her sink.”

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September 2009: A Natural Beauty Routine

“Try counting how many products you use in your daily beauty routine – from lip balms to shampoos.  Then think about how many ingredients are in each of those products… and how many chemicals that might be.”

Last week when we went grocery shopping, Martin and I just smiled when we each reached for our “You Know You’re In Germany When…” piece of food.

Martin grabbed this black licorice that tastes like tar.  Okay, so I think it’s tar.  It must be the expat living in me because Martin actually has friends here who make fun of him for eating such mild licorice.  Mild?!  My friends, this licorice is strong enough to knock your socks off… and that’s when the person on the other end of your house is the one eating it.

I feel like I should say, “Haha!  I’m totally exaggerating.  It’s not that bad!”  But I am not German.  I grew up eating fruity candy like Starbursts and Jolly Ranchers, and I never knew licorice could be so strong.

Luckily, the item I reach for every time is something we can both enjoy.  Anyone who comes to our house can enjoy it.  In fact, anyone who comes to your house can enjoy it, too, which is why it’s such a perfect autumn recipe to share this chilly weekend.

I like to grab a bottle of apple juice.  Don’t ask me what’s so German about apple juice.  It’s really that we’re in Germany, and it’s autumn.  And apple juice costs half of what other juices cost.  On a chilly Saturday morning or right before we have guests, I pour it into a pot and make what has to be the world’s simplest hot cider.  It’s so easy, in fact, that I get a little speechless when people ask me where they can buy it.  Do I dare give up my simple secret so early in the season for the world’s easiest…

Hot Apple Cider

3 parts apple juice*

1 part water

cinnamon stick

ginger, thin slice (optional)

lemon zest, several thin slices (optional)

several whole cloves – too many makes it bitter (optional)

1.  Pour juice and water into a tall pot with a lid and turn on heat to high.  You can see that a lot of the ingredients are entirely optional.  We like it that way because then we’re not limited to making cider only when we have everything at home.

2.  Prepare spices and add to pot.  We put everything but the cinnamon stick in a tea infuser.  Otherwise, you have to strain the cider or pick out small chunks one by one.

3.  When pot reaches a boil, turn to the lowest setting.  Let simmer about 15 minutes.  Add thin slices of lemon for decoration if desired.

4.  Remove infuser.  Ladle into mugs and enjoy.

*When picking out apple juice, read the label and try to get juice without added sugar – often called “apple cider” instead of “apple juice” by some companies.  Unfiltered juice (which looks a little foggy) is our favorite when we can find it.

**Do not combine with black licorice of any sort.

Have any seasonal beverages you are looking forward to? Cozy up and tell us what’s the perfect warmup.

(DIY shared with Kimba; Image from Flickr)

Boy how time flies.  One year ago, our kitchen was a disaster in mid-remodel.  And because our house is so teensy, it meant our entire house was a disaster.  One year ago, we also launched Making This Home.  Pull out the confetti and birthday cake (chocolate please).  No, no – it’s not to celebrate the anniversary of this blog.  It’s a time to say thank you.

Martin and I both never imagined how much you’d all become a part of our life.  You cheered us on as we attempted to share what life in Germany is like.  Then you really started cheering when I hoped into the pilot’s seat and learned to fly.  But most of all… you’ve reminded us how the little things in life are what matter.  You’ve shown us how a simpler life really is a more beautiful life.  You’ve become a community of people I think we’re good to call our internet pals.

So here’s a big, warm, and overly gushy American hug of thanks from me.  And Martin?  Well how about a good, firm German handshake of thanks?  You know how those German guys are!

Do you also know how much Germans like data?  You can find a Consumer’s Report for all kinds of things around here.  It cracks me up.  Meanwhile, Martin eats it up.  So because we are in Germany, how about a few Making This Home stats of our very own?

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4 – number of places we lived since Making This Home began (here, here, here, and right here in Berlin)

315 – number of posts that have been written in the last year

3928 – number of lovely comments that kept us skipping toward the computer

7 – number of beautiful women who shared their weddings with us this summer

?? – pounds of garbage that didn’t wind up in landfills after our Green Christmas Challenge

6 – number of times today that I understood what a German speaker was saying to me… well mostly understood

2 - number of times the church bells have rung while I’m writing this post

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So from our house (or wherever it seems we’re living!) to yours:  thank you, thank you.  I never imagined a simpler life could be so fine.  Thank you for teaching me and motivating me.

Now who wants the first slice of cake?

(image from Flickr)