My BFF and I took a trip down to Frankfurt yesterday, to stock up supplies at our favorite tea and spice store; and while we were there, we also took a look at Frankfurt newly-restored (pseudo-)medieval quarter (whose medieval buildings were destroyed in WWII and were now finally restored from scratch, some 70+ years later -- and wow, they sure did an amazing job there) ... and of course, at Frankfurt's main Christmas market, where I found a lovely Rosina Wachtmeister candle holder.

Charlie inspects the gift box I secretly had the store put together for my friend while we were there ...

... while Sunny goes straight for the jugular -- or for his human's jugular at least:

"This smells interesting.  So what exactly are pralines, mom?"

Seconds later, though:
"Why does this light keep moving and flickering?  That's ... intriguing, but it's also seriously spooky!  Lights aren't supposed to behave like that!!"

(Not to be outdone, Charlie has a look as well -- but to everybody's relief, doesn't dare get any closer, either!)

It'll make you feel better, they said.

So this morning, my BFF and I hit the road and drove through this sort of landscape --

(note: these are NOT my own photos -- I was driving, so I couldn't take photos at the same time; these do depict places along the way and the sort of landscape to the right and left of the freeway, however)

... for our twice (or so) annual trip to our favorite tea and spice store in Frankfurt, which we discovered when I was living down there in the early 2000s.

A few hours later, we returned home, laden with goodies (and these are my own photos now):

... among which was also, as it turned out, one part of my birthday gift for my friend this year (her birthday is in 2 weeks).  When I saw this tin:

... I just had to get it for my friend -- I had folks at the store fill it with assorted spices and spice mixes that I know she likes (all of them, the store's own blends / recipes):

... and I'm going to add another few little somethings from somewhere else, and that'll be one gift all set and ready to be given!