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.

Bye Bye Mr. Mann

Another stunning sunrise.

Mr. Mann is high and dry after spending a  summer with his feet in the lake. It is always a sad bye-bye. I never like leaving Walleye World. Thanks to Jane and her organizing skills, the many boxes of papers are all now in the shop. Yesterday, Jermy returned to move the Happy Camper back to its winter home. I, all by myself, actually backed the little red Jeep snuggly into a cozy place next to the Happy. Then I unbelievably disconnected the red Jeep's battery. Yay Kay!

 

Wonderful Wednesday

  Another foggy sunrise.

Photo op with our hike leader. Goal: three trips around the lake. Looks like a senior high school yearbook picture.

Walleye World Parking Sign by Betsy.

Pre-dinner paddle show.

Jane caught me pushing the lawnmower to the shop for its winter home.