Welcome Bird

 Opening Day 2023

This little bird must have been awaiting my arrival. By the white corner of the raft, he must have been perching there for a while.

Almost out the door.

Bundles and bags packed.

Maybe Viana Do Castillo

 

Snowflakes Arrive In Hamburg

 

One Last Christmas Markets Trip Downtown

One last train trip downtown to the fabulous Hamburg Christmas Markets. Gotta get one more Glühwein. Wonder if there will be any Glühwein in Lisbon next Tuesday night?

Peter's welcome back Amaryllis opened up in time for enjoying the flowers before we fly off.

 

Last Leaves - Never-ending Gray Days

 Looking outside of my studio window, the last few leaves cling to the tree. What they are hanging on for is a mystery. The never-ending gray cloudy days continue. At least there is not constant rain as we weathered through the last two weeks in Portugal. 

Now we are heading off to Harbor City and then an attempt of finding much less crowded Christmas Markets downtown Hamburg. Saturday night, there was a solid wall of humans shoulder to shoulder in the lanes between the stalls. This caused no possible visibility of the charming stalls featuring food and wares. The possibility of getting crushed was a legitimate fear so we left. (of course, after my glo-wine) The Gluehwein stalls were racking in cash and there was no shortage of filled cups and happy customers. I tried a Gin Gluhwein which was a change but today will revert back to the traditional Gluhwein. Peter is looking forward to his favorite Grünkohl. (sort of mashed green kale and potatoes)

A typical Gluhwein stall - packed with people enjoying their pots (mugs) of warming liquid.

My Christmas Market treat in the pot which by the way carries a redeemable deposit.

A traditional Grunkohl stall. Just look at all of those boiled potatoes.

Yum.

An old-time carousel for the little ones.

First Snow of the Season

 

From the North Shore down to the Twin Cities, Minnesotans across the state woke up to a coating of the white stuff Friday morning.

In Duluth, the National Weather Service recorded 1.8 inches of snow by 6 a.m. and set a new daily record when 2 inches was recorded at 1 p.m. 

First snowfall before the first freeze! For context, our average first measurable snowfall is November 4th, and our average first freeze (32°) is October 11th. We have yet to record our first official freeze.

Hot Potato

 

So happy that there was a potato harvest today before the frost kills them.