While still enjoying the time at home, I want to show you a few more pictures so that you get a better impression of how things are over here.
~ evening view from the roof terrace ~
I sleep in my old child’s room where I still have my bed and other things. The cuties are making themselves comfortable. My big plush frog Fröschi and Harriet the chicken accompanied me this time. Schnüü, the little plush frog, was already here, because I used to cuddle him so much that the cloth at his toes started to disintegrate, and he had to go into premature retirement to prevent complete wearout.
~ Emily on the sofa, resting from being played frequently ~
I am learning for my clinical psychology exam, which will (as always) cover everything that was mentioned in the lectures, plus an additional topic of my choice. For this special topic I have chosen schizophrenia (which has nothing to do with split personality, as many people believe) because it is such a tragical but also a very fascinating and somewhat creepy disease.
~ clinical psychology stuff (here: model of depression as a result of learned helplessness) ~
Taken together, we are having a more or less relaxed and very happy time. Here you can see my parents playing table games.
~ mom wins 
~
It is too cold to sit in the garden by now, but the garden still looks nice and inviting.
Since my dad started playing golf, he has built a little training site in the garden where he can practise his shots. My mom has been playing for several years now and is quite good, and now they can play together. 
The garden is used as a vegetable supply in part, and also as an extension of the fridge as temperatures dropped.
This weekend, we celebrated my dad’s birthday. It was the first time in several years that I could be home for my dad’s birthday, because in the years before, I always had to visit classes or work. My parents had invited their moms and their friends, and the house was filled with happy chatter and laughter.
Two of my parents’ friends now have chickens in their garden which lay eggs every day. They have different kinds of chickens, so they get different kinds of eggs. One chicken lays eggs that are slightly turqouise.
Another friend grows a lot of vegetables in his garden and gave my dad his biggest pumpkin for his birthday. It is so huge that I cannot lift it. To get an idea, compare it with the size of my feet!
We had brunch in the morning, followed by pumpkin soup, venison roast, and cakes. Actually, there was food all day, and all the food (exchept the bread rolls for the other guests) was gluten-free, since my dad developed an intolerance to gluten following bowel surgery a couple of years ago.
~ leftover birthday cakes (gluten-free) ~
~ leftover roasted pumpkin slices ~
~ leftover venison roast ~
As you can imagine, we are swimming in leftovers now! I have been on a big soup trip recently, so my favorite way to help finishing them off is to throw them together in a nice soup. This is an example featuring leek and tomatoes from the garden, leftover roasted pumpin, leftover venison roast, and a handful of shrimp.
~ my first bowl of today’s lunch soup ~
So this is over here. I already know I will miss all of this when I go back, but fortunately I still have a couple of days left, although they go by very quickly. I hope you are all enjoying a happy weekend yourself!
give all my love to your parents, seeing them sitting there playing board games made me miss them suddenly
I enjoyed staying with them so much! 
ALSO: OMG VEGGIES AND FRESH EGGS <3 <3 <3
Aww, they miss you too! So happy you phoned!
I loved seeing your parents and all the lovely photos of food. Tell me about venison where you live – does your father hunt or can you buy it in a market?
My dad doesn’t hunt, he only fishes, but he’s now the notary of a family foundation (my mom and I are ancestors) created by a northern German trademan in the 16th or 17th century, and there’s a little family mansion that belongs to the foundation, with quite a lot of land (fields, forests, and a large vegetable garden). My parents get baskets full of organic vegetables from there every week, and the man who looks after the estate and does all the agriculture also hunts in the forest to keep the venison population in balance, so there is venison or wild boar every now and then. It’s organic meat from free-living animals.
‘Take Me There’….Yah! I love that music. Who is the singer? I’d love to hear more.
Thanks for all the wonderful pictures. The food looks delicious. That’s how I cook my winter squash/pumpkins too. Baked. Actually I also like to bake it covered so it stays moist.
We use our garage for some of our food storage now that it’s fall. Also we seal off our attic so the heat doesn’t rise up there then we can store the winter squash (pumpkins) all winter. I harvested about 50 last week. It’s one of my staples now.
We also have several different types of chickens and get different colored eggs. We have 4 hens that lay those blue-green eggs. This is the first time we’ve had that type of chicken. I really love their temperment and personalities. They are less high strung and allow me to hold them without struggling. They actually relax in my arms. It’s one of my favorite things to do– is holding those sweethearts.
I had a dear friend who had schizophrenia. I didn’t know anything about it before I met him. So I learned about it experientially. We met on the dance floor and danced a lot together. It seemed that we could communicate nonverbally through movement and it was such a joy to dance with him. It was a very difficult because I loved him so much and he was really suffering and didn’t feel the medications were helping him. He ended up taking his life. He was quite a gifted artist and musician. He could play the guitar ways — left or right — with both hands playing either part. I had hopes that we could find an alternative to the medications….At that time there was just starting to be connections between gut health, diet and mental illnesses. But we didn’t know much.
OOoo I really wrote a lot…well you had a lot of thought provoking photos.
Love to you Kath!!
The band is called 14th, you can find more songs on YouTube.
This one I also like very much:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh-kmzIiDFo
I loved to read about all the food you harvest and the animals you rear! Of course they all have different personalities, when you have animals you know that!
(Even I know that although I never really had animals myself. 
) You seem to have such a peaceful, nature-connected life! 
The story about your friend broke my heart. It’s such a terrible, sad disease! Friends of my parents lost their son to it, he cut his own throat with a bread knife in his paranoia and his parents found him like that in the shower.
I’ve read a lot about schizophrenia these past days and it really really fascinates me. I wish I could do something to help those people!
Kath, In your studies about schizophrenia, do you get to look at other cultures and how they view mental illness? When my (schiz.) friend was in my life, I had another friend who is a professor of anthropology and shamanism. She spends a lot of time in Nepal and Australia with the aboriginal people. I went to her to get a different perspective on my friend’s state. She said that in some indiginous cultures their people – who have what we call mental illnesses – are seen as having gifts that are to be valued and will benefit the whole community. They are cared for and listened to as having important information from another dimension. It seems like such a radically different view than how our medical world sees mental illnesses. Sometimes I’ve wondered if a lot of my friend’s suffering was due to not being believed by everyone, being drugged and being told by his family to “take your medications and get a job and do something right with your life”. I also grappled with how talented my friend was, not only musically, but also as an artist and that we had many incidences of psychic ‘knowing’ of each other…beyond the level of usual verbal communication. It was a profound relationship that really affected me. I don’t mean to suggest that every one with mental ‘illness’ is a genius…I just don’t think it’s all that black and white.
No, this kind of view doesn’t appear in the studies I read. Well, I’ve read cross-cultural studies about schizophrenia, but the bottom line is that schizophrenia has very similar prevalence rates across cultures and genders, and also the symptoms / the different kinds of schizophrenia aren’t as subject to cultural influences as with other disorders (e.g., depression, which tends to appear as a somatized depression hiding behind non-organic pain in more traditional cultures). This is usually seen as evidence for the genetic / biological basis of schizophrenia.
I’ve dug into this topic privately, though, because I find it so fascinating. Funnily, I’ve talked about exactly this with my mom on the phone just an hour ago – that schizophrenic people probably really receive messages from spiritual beings most other people cannot sense. I haven’t read about mental “disorders” in the Nepalese and native Australian cultures, but two or so years ago I’ve read a book by the Russian psychiatrist Olga Kharitidi, in which she describes being trained as a healer by an old lady in the Altai mountains, and afterwards she was able to heal schizophrenic patients because she realized that they were possessed (in case of productive symptoms such as delirium and hallucinations) or had their soul abducted (in case of negative symptoms such as lose of affect and clarity of thought) by an evil spirit, and she had learned techniques to make those spirits leave their patients alone. I’ve asked my mom to send me the book because I want to read it again.
You see, I’m a natural scientist officially, but I’m also a magical thinker in disguise. Probably I’ve just read too much about social-constructivist philosophy in my first studies so I just don’t buy the hegemony of the scientific view which dominates the western world. I question everything, and with greatest pleasure I question things and believes that most people take for granted because they’ve been socialized with them and are used to them so much that they can’t imagine otherwise. I very much believe (and know from my own experience) that there are more things in this world / this universe that most people are aware of, and many more than those that are acknowledged by science, so I absolutely wouldn’t preclude that the “otherwordly” plays a role in phenomena such as schizophrenia, which are so unintelligible to most people.
Kath I love how you think! It’s such a breath of fresh air to know that YOU are navigating the academic world while carrying a view point like this: “…I just don’t buy the hegemony of the scientific view which dominates the western world…”.
Another thought on this topic is that of the connection between gut health and mental disorders. Since you are familiar with GAPS and McBride’s book on the topic you might already be aware of the likelihood of there being a connection between gut disbiosis and mental illnesses?…at least in some cases. Or that poor gut health could exacerbate or activate a latent genetic glitch?
Years ago when I was studying Macrobiotics I came across a book on one guys journey to heal his scizophrenia through diet and – I think- a therapy called bioenergetics. The author is David Briscoe and his book is A Personal Peace. It’s a wonderful story. Here’s a link to more about David:
http://www.macroamerica.com/about-macroamerica/david-briscoe/
XXXOOO
Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh I’ll check this out immediately!
Gel, thank you *so much* for appreciating my way of thinking! I really see the shortcomings everywhere around me, and I want to do something about it … Currently I’m studying for my clinical psych exam, and all of this fascinates my so much (schizophrenia in particular, but also other disorders) … I’ve done an internship at an ambulant psychotherapy for several months during my studies, and back this wasn’t for me (this was before I found out about my food allergies and sensitivities and was very irritable), but currently I’m thinking about heading into a clinical direction (i.e., becoming a therapist) after my PhD … This would take me where I wanted to be originally (I wanted to study medicine and become a doctor after school, but my very crappy skin couldn’t bear the disinfecting agent and was gone after two days, as I found out during an internship at a hospital several years ago), and I now feel the strength inside of me to deal with these things, and I really want to help other people. I think I can, and also many people have told me independently of each other (you’re one of them). But doing the PhD first a good idea because it really provides some accountability. Afterwards I’ll be in my early 30s, and that’s not too late to become a therapist. (In fact, I think it’s better to be a little older and come with some more life experience – of which I actually have a lot already – when becoming a therapist.)
Soooooooooo … I’m very much aware of all of these things, and I’m certain their are many things which can really help people and deserve to be implemented into therapy (of whatever kind) but haven’t yet. If my life is to be devoted to do something about that, I’ll be very happy.
Well Kath, It makes me so happy that I have contributed a tiny bit to your wonderful path as a healer. And Yes Yes Yes I think you will be a terrific healer for individuals but also I think you will contribute tremendously to the whole field of work you are in.
Love Ya!!!!!
Thank you so so so much! When it comes to me, we’ll stay in contact over the next years, so I’ll let you know what will happen. It’s all open at the moment, but that doesn’t frighten me (for the first time, haha). We’ll see. I believ that everybody has a “task” in life, and I’m still working on figuring out mine, but probably this is it.
Kath yes do keep me posted of how your path evolves. I can understand that it could have more numerous unanticipated turns. And I can understand that there will be periods of time when you don’t have time to tell us what is happening. Just know that you are in my heart and when you can keep in touch it will be appreciated and savored.
Thank you <3 <3 <3
Reading your posting back home gives me the warm and fuzzies! It must be so nice to spend quality time with Mom and Dad (they are adorable BTW!)
What a great way to celebrate your Dad’s birthday, the food looked delicious, the gigantic pumpkin gift is too awesome, I really wish Americans can find a simpler way of living…
Thank you Jeno! I’m very happy you enjoyed all of this!
oh, Kath! I love the animals all tucked in, so so cute. Neat to see your parents too, another glimpse into my friend and her life
the gardens are beautiful, and that pumpkin, wow! I love the eggs, the blue one especially! my friend has 23 chickens and we are getting fresh eggs from him – oh my, fresh eggs are so SO delicious!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Ha, I bet my parents haven’t dared to cut into this pumpkin yet! Maybe they’ll make a *huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge* pumpkin head for Halloween? I’d love that!
But I think my parents will rather boycott Halloween because it’s not a traditional holiday over here and has been imported from the US just a few years ago, so I didn’t grow up with it and it still feels a little strange … I must remind myself to buy some sweets for the kids. 
Oooooooohhh so many chicken! I must admit I’m a little envious about your fresh egg delivery!
Gorgeous! 
I hope you’re doing well, and everything is okay with your dad! I’m very quiet these days due to *life*, but I think of you every day.
I am so warm by your warmth and inclusion and this family seems to be a respite for you. What a wonderful, life nourishing feast you’ve had. It makes me want to spend the weekend with your family as well!
Aww, thank you, K!
I love seeing photographs of your parents… can see you in both of them.
You really can?
Yes, ma’am. Your father is the thoughtful scientist. And your mother is the artist. Aesthetics come just second to the personalities, but they are very profound.
Hahaha, that’s great!
My mom is the scientist, in fact, and my dad is very practical. I’m the artist. 
Love.
And I want a concert.
Rachmaninov by Kath.
Haha, okay. As soon as I’m ready, I’ll let you know.
I hope you’re happy and fine! Sorry for my absence, I’m buried in mental disorders.
(Clinical psych exam 
)
Love this post! Glad you are enjoying home and your parents who are super cute btw
Happy birthday to your dad!
Katie
Thank you, Katie!
Heey there!! Sorry I’ve been away from blogging..finally I find sometime reading your posts.
Love all the foods.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying your holiday with your parents! Such a cozy looking home and it’s fun to see your parents actually play some kind of board game..
No problem, Jos, I’ve been a very sporadic reader and blogger as well lately! I’ll just try to keep this whole thing going somehow, even if I often don’t manage to make a post or read and comment on other blogs as much as I’d like. The holiday with my parents was really nice, I always enjoy staying with them.
It’s always so much fun to get more insight into your life. So glad you are having a good time. Those gluten-free cakes look pretty scrumptious!
Hahaha, you’d have liked them!
There are so many things to love about this post, Kath! It’s been a few days at least since you wrote it, are you still at home or back at school now?
Firstly that’s the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever seen! I love pumpkin. I’m not obsessive about it like the Americans seem to be, it’s just always been one of my favourite foods – mashed or roasted, not in coffee or oatmeal! Or I LOVE it as soup, and another Aussie fave is Pumpkin Scones.
I would love to have a garden producing so many delicious veggies. I’m watching the first flower on my tomato plants so closely! I can’t wait for that flower to become a fruit!
My best friend in the world has Schizophrenia. She was in a long term institution as an adolescent for it. Today she manages it really well – she has enough insight to realise that despite the horrible effect the medications have on her, it’s a price she has to pay to have a LIFE. She’s studying nursing and is about to get her THIRD dean’s list in a row!
I also have friend who haven’t been able to manage their Schizophrenia and it’s heartbreaking. One in particular, J, is a friendly man who I talk to sometimes when I walk around the neighbourhood. The whole neighbourhood likes him. He’s been anti-doctors and anti-medications for years. He’s by law required to have a depot injection once a month – the medication is injected in a form that will be in his bloodstream for that month as he won’t take his medication himself, but most of the time he has to be picked up by the police and taken there and forced to have it. He is paranoid, and I see him getting more unwell over time, thinking everyone is out to get him, God is punishing him, and then God is evil (he’s devoutly Christian so it’s sad to see him thinking his God is bad or against him) and then it gets to the point where the police have to come, tackle him, handcuff him, put him in the paddy wagon and take him to hospital again. It plays out over and over. It’s sad, really sad. He’s a lovely man who has an illness.
There is so much stigma surrounding Schizophrenia, more than any other illness except HIV. At least you can’t see HIV mostly.
I love your photos as usual and am hankering after your soup!!!
*hugs* glad you are enjoying your time with your mum and dad – precious for you and precious for them!
Love Fiona xx
I made this post about in the middle of my vacation. Now I’m back in Heidelberg, but I don’t have classes anymore, it’s just studying for my exams at home (and my other stuff, such as music lessons and meeting friends).
Thank you for telling me about your friends. It’s awesome that you’re such a loyal friend to them, I really think that going through a lot of suffering makes some people at least more kind towards others. I mean, we know from our own experience how much it helps to know there are people who’re just there and are kind and don’t judge. I think a great portion of mental illnesses is aggravated by adverse experiences with the social environment, stigmatization, and the like. There’s a great need for more education about mental disorders of the general population. I’ve just read world health statistics saying that the life time prevalence to develop a serious mental disorder (of any kind) is about 40 %. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s so much! So much suffering …
There IS so much suffering in the world!! I’m not surprised at all by those estimates. Maybe it’s been since I’ve learnt more about mental illness, but it seems more and more these days, I see people suffering all around me. And yes, many of them have had it worsened or triggered by adverse life events. When I go through the suburb I used to live in last year which is a hotspot for crime, drugs, drunks, homelessness, prostitution etc – I see those people and realise they are the broken among us, so many of them are the way they are because of abuse and they never really had a chance.
And yes, to know there are people out there who are genuine and non-judgemental is really good xx
I’ve been blessed to have the friends I’ve had who have taught me so much, and shown me true courage in overcoming their adversity. Truly grateful
Mmm HOME is so peaceful. Love this post. Lovely, delicious, beautiful!
Alex
Thank you, Alex!
Your folks are such sweet looking and friendly people! I would love to share a moment of board game with them
Thank you, Kim! I’m sure they’d be happy to have a game with you!
Oh God, i Love your pictures and your home! Friends of my parents have geese who lay eggs (which they don’t eat) and I actually wondered if I should ask for some of them and bring them to you but I wasn’t sure of you would want them. Would you?
I love that you also roast your pumpkin!
Ooooohh I’ve never eaten goose eggs! I’d love to try them!
Are you happy in Frankfurt? I often think of you and hope that you’re well! Have your master’s studies started by now?
Awwww so lovely!
Thank you, Becky!