What is this?

The contest is over and our friend Markus Freiwald has won by correctly identifying this critter as a hedge-hog. We found this one in the backyard and I was WAY surprised at how big it was. Pretty cool. Thanks Markus.


{OK. No hints. The first person to identify this "thing" wins.}

More Fall

I just can't resist it. The fall colors in Germany are beyond description so I have to post photos. Even they don't do it justice. This is a photo of some renegade leaves in an old vineyard as sunset nears. Standing there was priceless.

Autumn In Germany

Fall has fallen in Germany and the entire wine-country looks like an accident in a paint factory. Pictured here is a castle atop a hill bathed in Golden October splendor. This particular hill top is the oldest vineyard in Germany. We're talking around 1200 something A.D. Amazingly beautiful place overlooking the Neckar river. Wish you could see it! Also above, some last hold-out grapes that were missed during the harvest..

Crooked House

You know, from time to time as you wander about Germany, you really feel like you are in Disneyland or maybe a fairy tale. This house suddenly appeared nestled in a little alleyway and it must have come about in a POOF of magic. And no, I didn't photoshop this. It is a real house I saw it myself. You've just gotta love Germany.

Happy Birthday

This first photo is one of the feast we had last night at Annette's birthday party. It was a wonderful party and we had a great time. Annette and Trixi have been friends since childhood and it was nice to help her celebrate her birthday.

The other photo is a famous little street in Bad Wimpfen and we managed to catch it with the light just right. Good grief, it looks like it jumped right out of a post card. Sometimes I surprise myself and take a really nice shot...

Pizza, German Style

As I mentioned before, I am a bit behind on the photo blog but catching up. This is a photo from Thursday when we went out for Pizza. Pizza in Germany, it sounds like it could be a book title. The pizza is very different here. The crust is thin and a little tough and the covering is quite greasy. If that doesn't sound appetizing, sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound that way. It was REALLY good. Later on that night my stomach told me not to do it again... I'll probably not listen.

German Restaurant

As I mentioned before, I am hopelessly behind with photos and blogging, but slowly catching up. Pretty much every Thurday evening we go to dinner with friends from Trixi's childhood days. We go new places each time. Last Thursday we went to the place pictured above. I scanned their post-card because my photos turned out so dark.. We were greeted at the door by the owner who regrettably informed us there was no room. Trixi said (in german).. "Oh sure, we came all the way from America and now you don't have room". His smile lit up like a Christmas Tree and he said (in german)..."Come on in, we'll just make room". And so we did. We had a great meal and he had me drink some rare Italian liquor that I can't even remember (that's how good it was). I think I have a picture of the bottle.... I think. It was a great night. Cheers.

Alps

Not a whole lot going on as we recover from our great-grape-picking episode so I picked a photo from our Austrian Alps trip. It was beautiful beyond description. Here's a picture of Trixi hiking in the high-country. What a memory.

Grapes And More Grapes

The grape picking was just beyond description. The vineyard belongs to a friend's father and he needed help to get the crop in. It was a small vineyard and there were a total of 10 of us picking. It only took three hours. After that the pickers (all friends and relatives of the owner) were served home-made cakes and coffee and beer and wine. After that we took what turned out to be about 3000 pounds of grapes to the winery and watched the process there. Of course we filmed and took photos of the whole process and we'll get those produced and posted when we have time. After our return from the winery it was a full course meal and more wine and beer and schnapps and great camaraderie. It was so not American. I loved it. Kind of like Thanksgiving on steroids. Then, just as we were leaving, the owner of the vineyard gave me some schnapps glasses and a great old beer mug to take back to American with us. What a day. This is a culture that remembers what life is supposed to be like..

Our Neighbors

In case you wondered, our grape picking adventure was put off until tomorrow, Saturday October 6th because it rained like it often does in Germany and we all expected to see Noah gather up animals at any moment. The rain stopped but the vineyards were like giant mud-pots and the grapes were like sponges..... Sooooooo, we will try it again tomorrow. The photo above is of Alex, Jennifer and Manuela our neighbors. They treated us to Onion Cake and Potato cake...Eeee-gads... Delicious. You can see the cakes in the background..

Our Friend Alex

I would like you to meet our very good friend Alex. He and his wife Manuela and daughter Jennifer live next door to us in Germany. Alex knows everything and everyone and is a great friend to have, particularly when you are a doofy American who can't even speak the language. He is the local volunteer fire-chief and here he demonstrates his skill at walking on a rope in the Austrian Alps. I'm not quite sure how valuable this skill really is, but it was fun.

Going To Pick Grapes

News flash!!! It's harvest time in the German wine country. Our neighbor's parents own a vineyard and just found out they don't have enough help tomorrow to pick the grapes. Trixi and I have volunteered to help.... It's old hat to Trixi who has done it many times before since she was born and raised in the wine country. But it is entirely new to me.. So, anticipate a tired dumb American to do the best he can and report tomorrow night..... Hopefully I'll have time for a photo or two for the blog. Isn't life just such an adventure?

Mushroom City

We went hiking in the woods here just outside of Heilbronn after a long day. The hike was wonderful. It was like walking through an enchanted forest. Then, there it was.... Good Grief!! It was mushroom city. Here is the photo but it was even more amazing in person. I have never seen anything like it. I guess it's probably magic...

Harvest Time

Today we took a two-hour hike through a local vineyard. It is grape harvest time in Germany and everywhere you look these big trailer full of beautiful grapes are headed for the wineries. The harvest is largely done by hand, and these tiny narrow tractors haul the hand-picked grapes to the waiting trailers. Pretty slick! Can't wait for the wine.