December Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

The Holidays are upon us once again! I don’t know about you, but this past year has gone by incredibly fast. We were able to travel a lot this year and visit family and friends along our way. Those moments are really special to us; and, as many of you know, I usually share those times in my Travelogues. Some of you receive them via email and then I post them on my website and on my Blog. I started writing the Travelogues when we were away so that our parents could know what we were doing and seeing.

December greeted me with a wonderful surprise. I have been named one of the “Top 50 Travel Agent Bloggers in the United States”! Here is the link to the website. I am one of the Travel Agents Who Love to Travel - that’s me – Enthusiastic Cruiser! http://www.onlinemarketingdegree.org/the-top-50-travel-agent-bloggers-of-2010
As I often do at the end of the year, I reflect back and think about how lucky I am. Sometimes when the world is so busy around us, we forget to take time to thank those who have made a difference in our lives. This year, Carpenter Travel has grown because of all of you. If I have not told you before, I will tell you now – I realize that you have many choices today when it comes to making your travel plans; and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help you with yours.

The holidays are a very special time for many of us as we will be traveling near and far to spend time with family and dear friends. Many of us have special traditions; and this month I thought I would share some German family traditions that I’ve learned about from the German exchange student that our brother and sister-in-law have had the pleasure of having join their family for this school year.

Leoni is 16 years old and her family lives in a small village about 200 miles south of Frankfurt. She is quite a talented young lady who not only sings but also plays the flute and the piano. She speaks excellent English and has blended into our family very nicely. She has beautiful rosy cheeks and her eyes seem to light up when she speaks about Germany and her family. Jim and I have been really enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about Germany and their culture and way of life.

In Leoni’s family, their holiday celebrations begin on December 5th when each of them sets one of their boots outside their bedroom door. When they awake in the morning, their parents have filled their boot with special treats including some candy or something sweet. On December 6th, the neighborhood children will walk door-to-door and either say a poem or sing a song and the neighbors will give them a treat (very reminiscent of our Halloween except they do not dress up in costume).

Leoni has told us that her family does decorate for the holidays, but not nearly to the extent that people decorate here with all the lights and festive garlands and trees. Their decorations will be a beautiful table setting that will always include four candles – one to be lit each week during Christmas. They celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.

We have talked about special foods that her family prepare s for the holidays and she mentioned red cabbage or Rotkraut. My Grandma used to make this for every holiday – and my Mom has continued with that tradition. The recipe we have is over 100 years old from my Great Grandmother Hoffman. So, I thought I would share that recipe with you this month. If you have any recipes you’d like to share with me – I would enjoy receiving them and giving them a try in my kitchen. I know that you will all be cooking some wonderful things in the kitchen – and your holidays would never be the same without them. Those special aromas and flavors are distinctly familiar and make our holidays very special.

Grandmother Hoffman’s Red Cabbage –“Rotkraut”

1 – large head of red cabbage – shredded fine
2 – Tablespoons Crisco shortening
2 - Tablespoons Canola oil
1 – Red apple cored, skinned and shredded
3 – Tablespoons light brown sugar
½ - Teaspoon salt
¼ - Teaspoon pepper
3 – Tablespoons Vinegar

Stir well. Simmer at least 2 hours. Put lid on tight. Stir often. Serve warm.

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May your holidays be filled with special memories.

And, As Always,

Safe Travels

Barbara
Your “Enthusiastic” Excursionist

P. S. Whodunit?

Whodunit?
You all know I LOVE cruising! But did you know that I love a good mystery as well? Ever since my childhood when I read the Nancy Drew books (“The Secret of the Old Clock” – “The Hidden Staircase”), I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. When I came across a company called Whodunit Mystery Cruises, my curiosity was peaked. In 2011, I am becoming a “Partner in Crime”!

What better way to get the best of both worlds than on a Whodunit Mystery Cruise! Enjoy an elegant experience at sea, while MYSTERY and MAYHEM LURK all around you, and even INVOLVE YOU! As the clues unravel, you try to solve the spectacular mystery of "whodunit" - before it's too late! Whodunit creates a Live Mystery aboard the most beautiful ships in the world that you become a part of ... as well as try and solve. There are times during the mystery cruise that you will be following the deadly saga and other times when you are free to just enjoy the cruise ... They don't want you to have to look over your shoulder for the entire time aboard the ship.

If you book the cruise and choose to be a part of Whodunit, when you board you will be given your own deadly role to play. Don't worry, if you are on the shy side you can just sit back and watch the plot unfold. But if you are not shy, then you can use your character to find out as much as you can. You see, the actors will be mixing among you and in character for the entire mystery cruise!!! The hilarious story begins to unfold on the opening night where you will first meet all of the very M Y S T E R I O U S Characters. Then during the week there are mysterious notes slid under your cabin door, secret rendezvous set up for you ... all kinds of suspicious happenings!

On the days we are in port, nothing will happen aboard the ship at this time, so you won't miss any important clues. But be careful.... Captain's Night is bound to be a beautiful, elegant but- a D E V I L I S H night, for sure!

Just think...mutiny and...mayhem... gambling...all the grub you can handle...intrigue...laughter...star laden skies...and Mystery on the High Seas!!!! On May 20, 2011 Jim and I will be on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas sailing out of Seattle to – where else? ALASKA of course!! (Now, come on – you knew that was coming didn’t you?)

So - Supersleuths! Grab your magnifying glasses, deerstalker caps, and life vests as Whodunit heads from Seattle to Alaska on a 7-Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier Cruise! There are bound to be clues around every iceberg as we cruise the inside passage to Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord and Victoria BC.

In addition to the May 20, 2011 sailing on Rhapsody of the Seas for 7 nights from Seattle to Alaska – there are other mystery cruise opportunities for 2011:

1) September 3-8, 2011 on Enchantment of the Seas for 5-nights from Baltimore to the Bahamas

2) October 28-31, 2011 on Monarch of the Seas for 3-nights from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas

3) December 3-10, 2011 on Voyager of the Seas for 7-nights from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean.

Pricing starts from $997.53 including taxes, port fees and Whodunit Murder Mystery per person based on double occupancy.