Heimat. Die raue Rhön. Wunderschön.

Ein Papa, der sich beim Wandern auskennt. Eine Mama, die fürs Proviant sorgt. Ein Opa, der Turley Bräu probiert (und lecker findet). Ein Cousin, der traditionelle Schlitten baut (nach Uropas Design). Ein erwachsenes Patenkind, die ihr tolles Haus zeigt. Was für ein schönes Wochenende in der Heimat.

Das Auto vollgepackt mit schönen Dingen… 2 Rhöner Lämmer, Hiffenmark, Adventskalender, Rhöner Wurst Spezialitäten, einen Schlitten und viele wunderbare Momente. Genug für die nächsten Wochen bis Weihnachten.

Ein wunderschönes Wochenende geht (leider) viel zu schnell zu Ende. Bis bald!

US election. Lockdown „light“. Travel restrictions. Terror in Austria and France. Early dark nights. Increased number of Covid. November Blues.

Difficult times for the head & the heart. And plenty of ides how to spoil our souls.

Stay 10 minutes longer in bed. Not sleeping, but awake. Enjoy the light & the warmth. A new day. Every morning. Amazing feeling! And the best: problems don’t get through the thick dawn duvet. And working from home makes it possible!

Snuggle up with your dog (if you don’t have one check them out in the park). There’s nothing better than a dogs love. They just enjoy to be with you. No more reason needed. Greeting you when you come back home. Or just returning from another room. Giving kisses. Pure happiness. Pure love. (Charlie enjoys the extra 10 minutes in the morning the most!).

Baking or cooking with cinnamon. For the smell. The mind. And the soul. Mmmmhhhh… the whole house is smelling. Winter smell. Famous smell. Fantastic smell.

Supporting the neighbors. Each other. Sharing cake. And soup. And getting fruits in return. Inviting for a common (dog) walk. Exchange over the hedge (social distancing – check). Taking the bin out for them. It feels good to take care of each other.

Clean up! Rooms. Cellars. Whatever. Feels good! (If not already done in first look down this year. Lol).

Music. Sing. Play guitar. Listening to records. Helps. Always!

…Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now. I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you…

Forest hike. Go! Put a coat on. Take an umbrella. Maybe a torch. Maybe your neighbor. And dog. And go! No excuse. Get out, move your body, refresh your mind, breath. Deeply. Come back home. Relax with a cup of tea. So good!

Take a bath! No matter which day in the week or what time. Nothing is better than soaking (in lavender). Followed by a hot chocolate or a cup of tea. Sooooo good! Alternatively a foot bath.

Photo show from past vacations. One year ago or 10 years ago. Doesn’t matter. Soooo good. Especially in times of travel restrictions. Feel free to have popcorn and a drink. Get inspired for the after corona time. Dreams on.

Yes, this is the time to be strong and positive. But sometimes it also feels good to let go. Call someone you love. And trust. And tell them how you really feel.

Bord Game times! Play time.

Books! Cuttle on the Sofa. Follow recommendations. Or anything else. And get lost in the story.

Time for watching series. Snuggle up on the couch. Ready for a good film or series marathon…

Preparing rich & spiced up food. For the fun. And the health. Sometimes it has to be a glass of wine at lunch time. Why not!

November Blues. Gone. It’s Christmas Eve in 7 weeks! Pleasant anticipation. Have a great weekend y‘all!

Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you.

Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you.

First ride without teacher.

Monday afternoon. November 2nd. (Plus) 19C degrees. Passing along vineyards. Sun is setting. I could get used to that after work feeling…

Loved it! More, more, more!

It’s the season.

Love those colors.

Bon Appetit!

Vacation in the middle of corona, wave 2. We had planned to be in the south of France… well, our days off were different than planned but still fabulous. The problem: the week ended just so fast…

Castles, wellness, day trips, getting the garden ready for winter, spa, hiking, massage, trees (cannot get enough of their beautiful color change), motorbiking, home made bread, sauna, BBQing, a passed motorbike test (yeah!), sleeping in, grabbing a coffee and go for another nap, and a lot of Black Forest (my absolute favorite forest in 2020) & cooking. Of course.

Just throw on a jumper and watch the leaves turn to rust… This could keep me occupied forever.

We cannot wait for more richly spiced dishes and to take things slow again while creating a cosy home. Beautiful fall.

Gut Ding will Weile haben // haste makes waste.

Over a year ago it all started (already).

Last year August I chose a motorbike school in our neighborhood and started visiting theory class. I was the oldest between all the 16-year olds (these days you get snickers bars & coke in class. Wow! Spoilt kids. Lol.). Only when the teacher told them I’d do my full motorbike license I was considered „cool“ (and still felt old. Lol). At that point I still was confident to pass my license in 2019…

Over a year ago I purchased my own motorbike (school bike was too big for me). I tried about 30 bikes in the shop… and it came down to 3 which fitted and my feet could touch the ground. Yeah! I love my Ducati Scrambler (in „racing yellow“).

I got my bike. I was ready. The District Office wasn’t. It took them 6 months (!) to do my driver license background check (mandatory before you can continue… yes, it’s complicated in Germany…). By that time I already had finished my snickers classes, I mean my theoretical classes.

And then it was January and I was waiting for good warm weather (>10C degrees) to start my mandatory driving lessons.

And then came corona… lockdown (until July)… schools not allowed to give driving lessons. Followed by student jam. All patiently waiting to finalize their class (poor teacher… he got a lot more grey hair since…). I also ended up in the queue. And waited. In summer I could finally start preparing for my theory test. And passed.

By that time the motorbike had been sitting in our garage since one year… Patiently waiting.

Me not so patient anymore. I wanted to ride my own bike (sitting on the back of hubby’s bike is just not as much fun).

And that sound of this machine… teacher loved it. Neighbors loved it. Examiner loved it.

And all of a sudden temperatures dropped. Unexpectedly early. But my teacher and I had a deal: passing and getting me my license this year! I froze my a.. of on the motorway (it’s amazing how many layers you can wear and still be able to move your body…). I practiced in the rain (followed by hot showers). And in fog (the teacher would start every morning lesson with „hey, good news, it’s not snowing!“).

Eventually, I finished all mandatory classes within the last couple of weeks including the most wonderful sun rises at 6:45am (cold but wow). And sunset rides with a moon as huge as the world. Beautiful! I smelt fries & Döner while passing busy roads filled with cars, bikes and people. I lost my teacher on one of the autobahn rides (got told off for that one…). And got told off again by not providing an older lady the chance to pass the zebra crossing (I’m still convinced she didn’t want to pass the road and just chilled… in fact she was too far away from crossing… anyhow. I keep looking out for chilled older ladies since and forever). I truly enjoyed every single training ride. Many thanks to the teacher and his patience.

I made it. Today was the day. The day of the final test. Temperatures got up again to 19C degrees, clouds, no rain – lucky me!

And I passed (hubby said of course you passed… you drove through L.A. before, you can handle Leonberg… I love him). I am so happy. My father happy. Brother happy. Hubby happy. All waiting for the next ride together (mummy not so happy).

I have the biggest smile on my face since 3pm. Hoping for a golden November now.

Earlier this week was probably the last ride on the back of hubby’s bike. But it was wonderful.

Guess what’s next: I need to schedule an appointment at the District Office to pick up my license. Arghhhhhh.

And we both have a dream: touring the USA again… like 4 years ago. Maybe on Indian Scouts.

Trees dressed beautifully. Enjoying those views. Amazing fall. Fly agarics. Hiking home away from home. Family.

Indian summer. A wonderful weekend. Stay a little longer.

No hangover from last nights beer tasting (that was good stuff!). Best weather. And, hey, it’s Sunday. The decision was made: a little road trip to Bella Italia, or „Germany’s Tuscany“, as it’s called by its locals.

We are back. Back again on the delicious German wine road. 1800 hours of sunshine making delicious wine! Agreed. We love the area: every little village is a beauty itself. Surrounded by many many vineyards including fruit plantations.

Today: wine tasting at our favorite vineyard. Successful shopping included. Stocked up again for dinner(s) & Christmas (and another potential Corona lockdown… you never know…). Anyhow, we are ready for whatever is next 😉

Grapes are harvested and produced into wine. New wine.

And another reason for coming: Fall has arrived. Also in the vineyards. Beautiful!

We had a lovely trip. Now enjoying a glass of wine on the sofa. Happy Sunday!

First fall impressions.

I love fall!

2020, the year in which everything is a little different. And sometimes we just can’t make it Munich. But that didn’t stop us from throwing a mini Oktoberfest. Corona friendly, of course.

Our at-home Oktoberfest wasn’t anywhere near the size of the original in Munich (I hear eight guests are easier to cook for than 7 million anyway…). We are not in Munich but in Hemmingen.

It’s not a tent at the Theresienwiese but our living room. We do not have a giant Ferris wheel and Alpine views in our backyard, hordes of strangers streaming in and out of your front door, or horse-drawn beer carriages parked in your driveway (luckily). And the biggest advantage: no queuing to enter this years party location. Or the restroom. Or the beer bar queue! And nobody has to pee in the garden. Lol.

We had delicious Oktoberfest beer.

Not only our guests dressed in beautiful traditional outfits.

We even had Lebkuchen Herzerl! Super cute.

And the coolest (and youngest) dude at the party:

We definitely had the best guests.

At Oktoberfest in Munich, 500,000 roast chickens, 124 giant oxen, and about a gazillion pretzels are served each year…

Our dinner was just as fabulous & traditional Bavarian: obatzda served on home baked sourdough bread, Haxn, Hendel & salads. And Brezn, of course.

And desserts are all about apples:

O’zapft is!