Happy Valentine´s Day!

You know that I could not care less about Valentine´s Day, but since I spent a lot of time in New York City I just love it! And it is the only night of the year when I really, really miss the Big Apple. Valentine´s is the day when the shops are full of flowers, red hearts, candies, pink poodles, the top of the Empire State Building is lit in bright red in the night, the restaurants are full with couples enjoying their special night out together .......... *deep sigh* So, YES, if Valentine´s then the whole package, I want the pink poodles, the cuddly teddy bears, the chocolates in heartshaped boxes!!

Vienna is a bit holding back when it comes to Valentine´s Day and pinky poodles are hard to get, but we try to arrange at least a nice dinner and some small presents.

We had scampi for starters and cheese fondue for main course - Stefan loves it lots, and he only gets it in Switzerland usually, because I am not so fond of it. So it came as a surprise! And I must say that this time - maybe the air outside Switzerland? - I liked it myself. And of course some nice sparkling wine along with it.

We gave each other little presents - okay, he gave me a PS3-game, which is not so little when thinking that they seem to weigh it up in gold - and I gave him a CD, and the evening was spent in very good mood with a warm fire in the fireplace.

Rumor has it, that we might be going out for a late Valentine´s Dinner coming weekend. I just love surprises!!

I hope you all had a perfect Valentine´s Day!

Snow! Finally!

Yesterday it was snowing for the first time this Winter. The area around Vienna usually does not get any close to the tons of snow that the Tirol or Styria usually get, but no snow at all until February is not the norm. So everybody waited for the white fluff, even though when it is finally there we are not so happy usually because public transport does not run on time, roads are blocked - well, the usual that happens in an area that is not really fit for Winter outbreaks. But still we always wait and enjoy the first snow when it is finally there!

 
Who would have guessed that Indy loves the white stuff? He would stay outside for hours and he does not understand at all why everybody else runs inside after a while, waving from the windows telling him to get lost with his balli.

This is one of the corners where we sit in Summer, hiding under the trees from the blazing sun, eat and drink and chat. Now there is silence. Funny...

Of course all the snow has to be shoveled off the terrace, the front yard, the garage area.... Some nice workout that spares you the fitness centre. And it takes a real man to do it! But when the going gets tough, the tough get going...

Dessa could not care less about the snow. She only shuffles outside when mommy is strictly telling her to do so because some things need to be done. Where are the golden puppy days when she was racing around in the snow, full of energy, ready to discover all the good life! Now her vision of a happy life is lots of food and a warm bed. Oh well, just like my vision actually.

Today it has stopped snowing and the sun is out, weather forecast says that all will be melting away within the next couple of days. That probably was it for this year. But we definately had a great day yesterday! And Indy is still waiting for somebody to throw his balli....