weekend weather
By Kelli M
@spiderdust (14756)
San Jose, California
December 3, 2022 10:29pm CST
Today was the first day of the Menagerie Oddities & Curiosities Holiday Market (a pop-up featuring artists selling strangely unique collectibles, antiques, and handmade wares) on the grounds of the Winchester Mystery House, but it poured rain most of the day and I'm glad I didn't go. It would have been a great opportunity to get some unique Christmas gifts, but I would have hated walking around in the cold and wet.
I'm really hoping that there's dry weather for the German Christmas Market next weekend. It's become a tradition for Otto and me to go to that one for a special date night. We each get a mug of Glühwein, wander around and look at the lights, buy some wooden ornaments and gingerbread, and then get some dinner at a local German deli afterward.
It was a high pain/recovery day for me anyway, so I mostly sat in a chair and gave the kids instructions for tidying the family room so we can start decorating for the holidays. I played some "epic-sounding Christmas music" and they did pretty good work.
How has your weekend fared?
18 people like this
19 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
4 Dec 22
The German Christmas Market sounds like fun.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
Oh, we love it! It's also a fundraiser for a German immersion school in the area. I'm sure it's small compared to the actual Christmas markets in Europe, but it's something I really look forward to every winter.
This is the website for the market:
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@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
4 Dec 22
@spiderdust I lived in Germany for 11 years . The Christmas Markets were awesome.
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@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
@Tampa_girl7 Oh, I had forgotten that! Which part of Germany were you in? I've heard the Nuremberg market is one of the oldest.
This is the tour that I'm hoping Otto and I can take in a couple of years, along with the Vienna extension.
https://www.goaheadtours.com/guided-tours/christmas-markets-of-historic-germany
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
4 Dec 22
Rain, rain, go away! Spiderdust wants to play!
Just cold here. Nice and quiet so far.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
4 Dec 22
I would enjoy the German Christmas market and German Deli meal for sure. Hope everything got decorated.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
4 Dec 22
@spiderdust Yum! Have some for me.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
There's a popular biergarten on the corner near where the market is held, but last year they were utterly MOBBED. We drove to the German bakery/deli down the road and had some schnitzel and currywurst.
Maybe we'll get lucky and manage to get a table at the biergarten... they have housemade stollen this year!
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@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
@snowy22315 Will do! I wonder if I should order it now and schedule the pickup date for this weekend, just to make sure I get some.
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@LadyDuck (502177)
• Italy
4 Dec 22
The Christmas markets opens the 6th of December, kids will be there to wait for St.Nicholas coming to town to take their list of wishes for the Christmas gifts. Now that it's cold I prepare a little mug of Glühwein every evening, we drink it while watching TV while eating a cinnamon cookie.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502177)
• Italy
5 Dec 22
@spiderdust I never heard of Krampus, this must be a German figure. St.Nic arrived yesterday in Fribourg, as he is the Saint Patron of that city, tomorrow he will be here.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Dec 22
@LadyDuck He is indeed a German figure, or at least he's from Central and Eastern Alpine folklore.
There's a related character from a different area in Germany (Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg) called Belsnickel. I actually grew up hearing about this one because he was brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants (along with other German traditions). Where Krampus is more demon-like, Belsnickel looks more like a disheveled man with a whip or stick. His role is to check up on kids to make sure that they are behaving prior to Santa's visit.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
That sounds so nice and cozy.
Both St. Nicholas and Krampus can be found wandering through our market. I didn't manage to get a picture of St. Nicholas, but I got one of Krampus!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174244)
• United States
4 Dec 22
I've never heard of any of the things you're talking about. I'm sorry you missed something you like doing and hope you feel better soon.
You could have gotten some good entertainment out of the day if you had a horsewhip and... maybe... just threatened them a little bit with it... That littlest one sounds like he's be a prime candidate for a whipping. 
Or maybe not... I think most kids are cute, even the smart*sses... 
It's the weekend. Fun all day. 
Or maybe not... I think most kids are cute, even the smart*sses...
It's the weekend. Fun all day. 1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174244)
• United States
4 Dec 22
@spiderdust You weren't just making stuff up to confuse me? Nice! 
Oops! I thought I was teasing you... I didn't realize you harbored a little devil in your brood. I hope Santa leaves more than coal in his stocking... I always hated it when that and switches were all I got on Christmas morning. 
Oops! I thought I was teasing you... I didn't realize you harbored a little devil in your brood. I hope Santa leaves more than coal in his stocking... I always hated it when that and switches were all I got on Christmas morning. 1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
This is the event that's going on this weekend (which I'm not attending):
The youngest one wouldn't be a prime candidate, but the jury is still out regarding his 12-year-old brother. I think that one might be getting coal in his stocking this year. 
https://www.themenagerieodditiesmarket.com/all-events/holiday-market-2022
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
@DaddyEvil I was lucky enough as a child to not get a switch in my stocking, although I'm sure it crossed my parents' minds more than once.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
It just started pouring rain again a few minutes ago! 
I think we're supposed to have rain all week as well. Currently the forecast is predicting rain for Saturday too, which is not what I wanted to hear.
I think we're supposed to have rain all week as well. Currently the forecast is predicting rain for Saturday too, which is not what I wanted to hear.1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
@CarolDM I hope so. Sounds like I'd better bring my umbrella and rainboots all the same.
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@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
4 Dec 22
@spiderdust Maybe they will be wrong about Saturday. It happens.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
5 Dec 22
I puttered all day yesterday and it felt sooooo good. I had a busy day today and so just got here. Worked at my sister's today.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Dec 22
I'm glad yesterday felt good! Was today less so because you were busy?
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
4 Dec 22
That reminds me, I should start decorating too, I'm always putting it off. Yes, unique art collections would be a good gift for Christmas. Good luck with the German Christmas Market. It's the first time I've heard about it. Is it being conducted in the U.S.? Just curious.
Oh, I've read below your post about the German market. Good luck.
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@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
Yes, it's in the US. It is inspired by the open-air Christmas markets in Europe, Germany in particular.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (39003)
• Petaluma, California
4 Dec 22
Not too bad. Met one of my neighbors on a walk yesterday, got some decorating done. Today went to church in the morning and now I'm home to take it easy and write some Christmas cards.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
I'm planning on sending out some cards myself this week.
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
4 Dec 22
How I wish I could go too..that market sounds great.
Hope your pain is subsiding.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
I'm mostly feeling better today. We're finishing up the cleaning and hopefully getting the tree up today.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97908)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Dec 22
My weekend went by quickly and I was just working on my PC. I hope you have a great start to the new week.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Dec 22
I got some laundry done, so I'm at least set until Wednesday!
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Dec 22
@spiderdust I hope you have the rain at night only. I'm glad you're feeling better. Your energy will return.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
7 Dec 22
It looks like it's going to rain that weekend. Hopefully it will rain in the evening and not during the day.
I'm feeling better pain-wise, but I'm quite low on energy today.
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@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 Dec 22
So far my weekend is very good in terms of sharing good news stories and doing surveys.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
4 Dec 22
Sad you couldn't go out, but you and family got lots done readying for Christmas. I too got my Christmas decorations up, at last. New lights for my Tiny Christmas Tree, is pretty. Not going shopping today too for weather is cloudy. I hope you get a very nice date night with your husband and get Christmas shopping started.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Dec 22
Yes, we're both looking forward to it very much.
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@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
4 Dec 22
Sounds like there is plenty of of fun on the German Christmas Market.Hope the weather will cooperate that day !
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
I hope so too. We look forward to it every year.
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@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
I hope so too! I'll be so disappointed if it gets rained out.
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@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Dec 22
It's been good. The rain ruined it for the dealers 
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
4 Dec 22
I know we need the rain, but it's made it so miserable and cold.
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
4 Dec 22
The German Christmas market sounds interesting. Hope the weather is good so that you can go there.
