Thankful

Thanksgiving this year was spent thousands of miles away from our family. While we did indeed, miss everyone, we were not sad nor were we lonely. Rather, we spent the day with newfound friends.

We spent the day in Bavaria at a family home that dates back to the early 1600’s. In fact, if you were to view a “copperplate” of the town circa 1602, you would find our host’s home and the exact location on the town map!

Prior to our Thanksgiving Dinner, we were afforded a tour of the home. All of the doors were typically “short” (by American standards!) and all had the original iron-work door handles—still in perfect operating condition! In each room throughout the home, were antique “shranks” (known primarily in America as “armoire”), beautifully carved tables, chairs, and beds. There was also a traditional ceramic stove that served as one of the room’s heaters. This ceramic heater is used to this day! Throughout the house was original artwork and paintings (one of our hosts’ sons is an artist). There was one painting in particular that my husband noticed and inquired about. It was a painting of a French farmhouse, gate, and structures. Nostalgic memories of our host surfaced and wonderful stories to accompany the painting were to be heard!

Of course, there were “modern-day” additions to the home and these changes were incorporated beautifully with the “old”. The home was warm, comfortable, and quite welcoming to us!

At last it was time for our “Traditional” Thanksgiving Dinner! Yum! Dinner was prepared by one of Porter’s co-workers. (Each year for the past five years-plus, she has prepared a “Traditional” Thanksgiving Dinner at our hosts’ home). We had turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams, fresh cauliflower with a cheese sauce, a “mashed-potato-stuffing” (first time I had tasted anything like that....absolutely delicious!). I am sure there was more, but for the life of me, I cannot say what there was!

After dinner was cleared away, we sat and chatted. Our host(s) shared their memories of growing up in the family home (over 70 years ago!). Then it was time for coffee, tea, and dessert! We had an apple pie (HUGE apple pie, I should say!), a walnut-cranberry tart, and Pecan-Streusel Pumpkin Pie and whipped cream! The pies were delicious and all were received well by the other guests. (I was the baker!)

All-in-all, it was an enjoyable day and we were indeed full of “Thanks” for this life, our family, and friends that God has Graciously Blessed us with!

Esslingen am Neckar 

We decided to take a “Sunday” drive and visit Esslingen am Neckar as it is about a 20 minute drive from our home. Esslingen is a charming mediaeval town located on the Neckar River.

Like many of the German towns and villages we have visited, there is an ascetic mix of the old world charm and the modern world. From some of my reading regarding Esslingen, it is said this town was first mentioned in records as far back as the year 777.

We walked around the old town centre and marketplatz and were treated to views of beautiful buildings, homes, and of course, the ever present churches. Above are just a few of those sites. (The photograph in the upper left is the remenants of an old castle burg which defended the town and areas immediately surrounding the town. You can hike up to this area and view the town and area from the ramparts or one of the rounded turrets.) You will also notice the many vineyards on the hillsides surrounding the town.

Since Esslingen is on the river Neckar, you will see from the two center photographs, the canals that are located within the town. When we visited, we noticed a couple sitting in their yard reading what appeared to be their Sunday paper. Their home/yard is located where the canal splits, thus affording them one of the best sites/views [in my opinion] of the town!) Lucky them!