Today out my kitchen window the fog bed lifted by 8:30 and I could see the Vogelbeere Trees (European Rowan or Mountain Ash) leaves which have turned a brilliant red. These trees literally named in German, "Bird Berry" because the small red berries, are an important food and vitamin source for the birds before the onset of winter. They are bitter but can be used in Jelly or marmalade. The fall trees in Germany are not as colorful as the northeast of the States but this year I must say that the foliage display is quite beautiful. The maples are red and gold and I must get out with the camera to capture this year´s magic. G is feeding the cat Mohrle ( as in the English word Moor) pats of butter which are placed on the newspaper on the bench of the breakfast nook. Not a good way to train an animal, but, if simply given the butter she drops it on the floor. This is somehow more hygenic. I walked to the bakery this morning to pick up fresh baked rolls which being Sunday the bakery is open from 8 to 11, a recent phenomena in Germany. Up until recently, all shops were closed on Sunday. They are slowly moving in the direction of other countries but things move here very slowly at times into the future which is not always bad. When I came here 17 years ago, all stores and shops closed on Saturday at noon and you had to wait till Monday to do any shopping. Needless to say, Saturday morning was a mad rush to pick up any necessities. During the week, all stores and shops closed at 6 PM and many were closed during the noon hour so the employees could go home for at least an hour or so. I was working daily in the theater and when I got my mid-day break nothing was open! Now the major stores are open till 8 on most days of the week as well as Saturday. Sunday is still a quiet day for most people to stay home and be with their families. Trucks are not allowed on the highways from Saturday evening till midnight on Sunday making travel more pleasant.
Later after church, we drive to a small restaurant in a nearby village where we can sample the local Frankish food. The day is sunny and warm for a change as it has been an unseasonably cold September with frost in my garden killing the tomatoes. This sudden warmth is called "Alt Weiber Sommer" or old wife summer akin to our Indian summer. Federweisser, the new wine of the season, is the drink of choice at this time of the year. Its name is comprised of Feder-Feather and Weisser-white from the yeast color suspended in the wine. The yellow jackets circle the plates and glasses as we sit outside on the heavy wooden benches and tables outside of the Gaststätte.
