Happy New Year!

MySpace Comments I wish you all a Happy New Year!! :o) With much happiness and much of love. Yours Yvonne

History of Chocolate

We all love chocolate. I love that too and I was wondering, how the history of chocolate is. So I have search in the internet and I have found this article. Is very intresting. :o) 600 Culture and Cocoa A.D. 600 the Mayas undertook a massive migration which led this highly civilised people from Central America deep into the northern regions of South America. In Yucatan they established the earliest known cocoa plantations. There is no doubt, however, that the Mayas must have been familiar with cocoa several centuries earlier. 1000 Beans and Figures From the very early days of cocoa the peoples of Central America used beans as a form of payment. The use of cocoa beans as units of calculation must also have become established before A.D. 1000. One Zontli equalled 400 cocoa beans, while 8000 beans equalled one Xiquipilli. In Mexican picture scripts a basket with 8000 beans represents the figure 8000. 1200 Chocolate War By subjugating the Chimimeken and the Mayas, the Aztecs strengthened their supremacy in Mexico. Records dating from this period include details of deliveries of cocoa which were imposed as tributes on conquered tribes. 1502 Columbus and the Cocoa bean On his fourth voyage to America, Columbus landed on 30th July 1502 in Nicaragua and was the first European to discover cocoa beans. These were used by the natives as currency and also in the preparation of a delightful drink. But Columbus, who was still searching for the sea route to India, was not interested in cocoa. 1513 Payment in Beans Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez, who went to America in 1513 as a member of Pedrarias Avila's expedition, reports that he bought a slave for 100 cocoa beans. 1519 A Spanish Bank Hernando Cortez, who conquered part of Mexico in 1519, finds the taste of cocoa not particularly pleasant and is, therefore, much more interested in the value of cocoa as a means of payment. He immediately establishes in the name of Spain a cocoa plantation where, henceforth, 'money' will be cultivated. 1528 Sweet Plunder In 1528, Cortez brings back to Europe the first cocoa and the utensils necessary for its preparation. 1609 The First Chocology 'Libro en el cual se trata del chocolate' is the title of a book which appeared in Mexico in 1609. It is the first book devoted entirely to the subject of chocolate. 1615 Fruitful Marriage The Spanish princess Anna of Austria marries Louis XIII and introduces, amongst other Spanish customs, the drinking of chocolate at the French court. 1657 A Frenchman in London London's first chocolate shop is opened by a Frenchman in 1657. 1662 A Solomon of Chocolate After Pope Pius V had found cocoa so unpleasant that he declared, in 1569, that "this drink does not break the fast", the supreme church of Rome became more and more tolerant towards the exquisite beverage. The question of the fast took on a new urgency. In 1662, Cardinal Brancaccio hands down the judgment of Solomon:"Liquidum non fragit jejunum." In other words:"Liquids (in the form of chocolate) do not break the fast." Clearly, one had to wait until Easter to indulge in the eating of chocolate. 1670 The Fate of a Seaman Helmsman Pedro Bravo do los Camerinos decides that he has had enough of Christian voyages of exploration and settles in the Philippines, where he spends the rest of his life planting cocoa, thus laying the foundations for one of the great plantations of that time. 1671 Blissful Accident A clumsy kitchen-boy drops a bowlful of almonds on the floor. The angry chef tries to box his ears and, in the process, spills a panful of hot, burnt sugar over the almonds. The Duke of Plesslis-Praslin, a marshal who is renowned as a gourmet, is waiting for his dessert. "What now?" thinks his personal chef and, in desperation, serves the marshal with the almonds covered with a coating of cooled sugar. The guest is delighted with the novel dessert and promptly gives his name to the new sweet. Not, however, the full name, but simply "Praslin". Since then this sweet has undergone many changes, including the development of the modern term "praline" from the original name. 1674 Roll Call "At the Coffee Mill and Tobacco Roll" was the name of a famous London coffee-house where, as early as 1674, one could enjoy chocolate in cakes and rolls "in the Spanish style". 1677 A Royal Decree On the strength of a royal decree dated 1st November 1677, Brazil - later to achieve an important position in the world market - establishes in the State of Para' the first cocoa plantations. 1697 Premier in Zurich Heinrich Escher, the mayor of Zurich, visits Brussels where he drinks chocolate and returns to his home town with tidings of the new sweet drink. 1704 Chocolate Tax Towards the end of the 17th century, chocolate makes its appearance in Germany. The policy of restricting the importation of foreign produce leads Frederick I of Prussia to impose a tax on chocolate in 1704. Anyone wishing to pay homage to its pleasures has to pay two thalers for a permit. 1711 Chocolate Migration Emperor Charles VI transfers his court from Madrid to Vienna in 1711. With the court, chocolate moves in by via the blue Danube. 1720 Chocolateers As early as 1720, the coffee-houses of Florence and Venice are offering chocolate whose reputation reaches far beyond the country's borders. Italian chocolateers, well versed in the art of making chocolate, are, therefore, welcome visitors in France, Germany and Switzerland. 1747 No Hawkers In the year 1747, Frederick the Great forbids all manner of hawking, especially the hawking of chocolate. 1755 Last but not Least America, in those days not yet the land of plenty, learns of chocolate relatively late, in fact, not until 1755. 1780 First Factory About the year 1780, the first machine-made chocolate is produced in Barcelona. 1792 Two from the Grisons in Berlin The Josty brothers from the Grisons made a major contribution to the reputation of Swiss chocolate in Germany. In 1792 they open a confectioner's shop and chocolate factory in Berlin. Eberty, the historian, sings the praises of their products: "Everything which one got at Josty's was excellent, and the chocolate really first rate." 1797 Cautious Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe does not have much confidence in the Swiss hotel industry. For his tour of Switzerland in 1797 he includes in his luggage chocolate and a chocolate pot. 1810 Top of the League Venezuela's leading position in the production of cocoa is established. A survey in the year 1810 shows that this country produces half the world's requirements. One third of the world's entire cocoa production is consumed by the Spaniards. 1819 Pioneers The first Swiss chocolate factory is set up in a former mill near Vevey. The founder, Francois-Louis Cailler, had learned the secrets of the choco- late-making trade in Italy. 1822 Ornamental Plant The Portuguese Jose Ferreira Gomes introduces the cocoa tree as an ornamental plant on the small island of Principe in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa. 1857 The Swiss in Africa Under the encouragement of the Portuguese Baron of Agua Ize, the culti- vation of cocoa passes from Principe on the neighbouring island of Sao Thome, and from there to the African continent. In Ghana, the members of the Basle Mission promote it successfully. Surprisingly quickly, the many small and medium farmers develop the country into one of the most important producers. 1875 With Milk After eight years of experiment, the Swiss Daniel Peter puts the first milk chocolate on the market in 1875. 1879 Melting Sweetness Rodolphe Lindt of Berne produces chocolate which melts on the tongue for the first time in the year 1879. 1900 Changes in Leadership Spain, formerly the classic land of chocolate, falls far behind. Germany takes the lead in consumption per head, followed by the United States, France and Great Britain. In just a decade or two another country will be playing first violin in the orchestra of the chocolate nations - Switzerland. The reputation of Swiss chocolate, bolstered by unbroken series of medals at international exhibitions, has not only fallen upon the ears of foreigners. It has also conquered Swiss palates. Like bratwurst, rösti and fondue, chocolate has become a national dish.

Frank's Children

Estelle




Claude






Cédric



Jérôme




Today evening my parents and I visit my brother Frank and his family. It was a wonderful evening. Jérôme and Cédric plays on his instruments christmassongs for us and Claude plays with his Grandpa his favorite game "UNO". Estelle give me for show her christmasgift. :o) Here are some pics of the kid's.

Grandpa

This is my Grandpa. My parents and I visit him yesterday in his new "home". He is sice a few weeks in a institution for older people. In the October celebrate my Grandpa his 90 birthday. :o)

Christmas Eve

Today we have a great dinner. We have a fondue of meat. Yummy! :o) Do you know, what that is? It is a boullion soupe very hot and than we can meat cooking in this soupe. The favorite meat for this dinner is from cow or chicken. Is very delishes. And on this afternoon we going to visit my grandpa. He is since a couple of weeks in a old peoples home. He is 90 years old and have lifes until recently time in his own house. But now it's for him a danger this house. So it's better for him life now in a old people home. I hope, I can make some pictures of him this afternoon. Than I can some post here. I wish you all, a merry christmas! :o)

Christmas Tree Cat - A Short Story

Her people had put her outside the door. She was so excited! There were so many things to see, smell and do she didn't know where to start! She was aware that there was a lot of activity around her home, with all the people coming in and out, but she had too many things to explore to take much notice. She had stood at the window many times looking out and now she was here!
She chased a few squirrels, played in the leaves and even tried climbing a tree for the first time. Just when she was beginning to think she didn't ever want to go inside again, she heard a loud growl and turned around. There was a large brown thing coming at her! She hissed and took off running with the brown thing right behind her. It was almost on top of her when she came to a tree and used her new found tree climbing skills to escape. Whew! That was close!
The big brown growler stood at the bottom of the tree for a long time, but it finally got tired and left. She stayed in the tree until she was sure it wasn't coming back and then climbed down to the ground. Just when she got to the ground, she heard another loud noise. This one was louder and coming faster than the last. It was huge and spewed smelly fumes.
It narrowly missed her as she ran across the street. She was scared and wanted to go home. Outside wasn't fun after all. There were too many bad things outside. She went to the door where her people lived but everything was quiet and still. She cried pitifully but no one came to the door to let her in.
It was getting dark and still no one came. She could see lights coming from all the other windows but there were no lights in her own home. She was hungry and cold and wanted her nice warm blanket! She hid under the stairs and shivered until morning.
For the next few weeks, each day was a frightening struggle to survive. There were some kind people who would leave food out but she was too small to fight the big cats, who took all the food. Then there were the big growlers who chased her up trees. One almost caught her and left a cut on her little paw. She hid under the stairs and licked her wound wondering why her people had left her. Had she been bad?
One day the weather turned especially cold. She decided to go to all the doors in the building and cry as loudly as she could -- no one came.
Finally, at the top of the stairs, a door opened. It was a woman who bent over to pet her. She stood on her back paws and rubbed her little head against the woman's face. The woman went inside and came back with a bowl of food and a warm blanket. She was so grateful! While she ate the food, the woman stroked her little head. When she was finished eating, she snuggled in the blanket until she was warm and went to sleep.
Everyday, for the next week, she came to the woman's door and waited for her food. Everyday the woman came outside and brought her a bowl and petted her while she ate. Finally, one day the woman picked her up and brought her inside. She was so happy. It was warm and cozy and she rubbed the woman's ankles purring. If only the woman would let her stay she would never go outside again!
She began to explore this new place. In one room she found a tree. It wasn't like the trees outside -- this one was smaller with low branches and shining things all over it. It had shining boxes all around it too. She walked around the tree sniffing. The woman wasn't in the room and she wondered if she would get in trouble if she climbed this tree. Her curiosity got the better of her and she started up the trunk. She went out on an upper branch and sat there feeling very pleased with herself.
The woman came back in the room and started calling her. Would the woman get mad at her for climbing the tree and make her leave? She got scared. Just then, one of the shiny balls fell off the branch she was on and hit the floor with a crash. The woman looked up and was face to face with her in the tree. She just sat there and purred to let the woman know she was sorry. She was so afraid of being put outside. She let out one tiny little meow and the woman, who had been staring at her with her mouth open, started to laugh! The woman reached out and took her off the limb. She snuggled in the woman's arms as the woman stroked her smooth little head.
"Merry Christmas little one!" the woman said. She blinked her big yellow eyes and purred.
by Ann Hudson

Few words

St. Nikolaus

We had this celebrate yesterday. :o)

As you all are aware, in Switzerland we celebrate Samichlaus on the 6th of December. It originates from the holy St. Nikolaus of Mira (nowadays in Turkey), who was a caring Bishop. He distributed all kind of goods to the poor and needy. In honor of St. Nikolaus, the Samichlaus distributes nice things to the children. He brings fruits, nuts and often a Grittibänz, a bread in the form of a man with legs slightly spread. There are many different names (and pronunciation) for this kind of bread; depending on the region it is either Grittibänz (Zurich area), Grätimaa (around Basel), Elggermaa (around Elgg in the canton of Zurich), Chlaus (coming from Nicolaus) oder petit bonhomme. In the 1930 this kind of bread was only known in the northwestern part, before it became known throughout Switzerland by the distribution of bakers and stores. Benz, or Bänz is the short form of the first name Benedikt. Gritti or Grätti is coming from the form of the legs (gegrätschte Beine, spread legs).
It is thought, that the custom of the Grittibänz is known since the 16th century, and of course it should represent St. Nikolaus.

He, he....

Hallo!

You have to try this!

Enter a boyname in the first box and then your name in the
second!
Then click on "visualizer" and have an amazing look!

http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/

Advent

Advent Beauty

By John Piper

Tilting on her yearly track
Advent beauty circles back,
Flying faster with the years,
Hardly giving time for tears
First to dry upon the cheek—
Has it been more than a week
In the ground now winter cold?
Has there really been a spring
When the birds began to sing?
Has there been both summer,
fallSince the Baby in the stall
Called us with a Christmas bellto sing,
O Come, Immanuel?
Tilting on her yearly track
Advent beauty circles back,
Flying faster with the years—
Ah, but overtaking fears.
Let the Lord of advent lift
Every care (an early gift!);
See the Savior and the Son
Shine in advent candle one.