Life on the Vine

Here you notice quickly that Germans live very active lives.  Hands down - they walk and ride their bikes way more than we do in America.  It's recreation, transportation and just a way of life.   I don't think it matters where you live in Germany, whether in the country or in the city, within a short distance of your front door you will find wonderful systems of trails.  I thought it would be fun to take you all on a walk.  Just here around our house.  By doing this periodically I thought it would be a nice way for you all to experience the changing seasons. I took this walk after work just a couple weeks ago so this would be late summer.  This first picture was taken on a pedestrian bridge just a block away from our apartment.  Our neighborhood is off to the right. Something I really like are the fields of flowers, mostly sunflowers, gladiolus and dahlias, where you can cut your own fresh flowers. The fields have posted signs and a 'kasse' where you deposi

This is some information I've been meaning to get up on the blog for a week or so now.  Just finally had the chance to do it.  I know that folks back in the States are always interested in ways to support deployed service members and wounded warriors so I wanted to share this information in case anyone would like to participate. For October's "Make a Difference Day," the local German American Kontakt Outreach Club is collecting items that will be donated to the Medical Transient Unit at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center here in Germany.  Chances are you have heard of Landstuhl before.  It is where all the wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan are taken when they are medically evacuated.  They often arrive with just the clothes on their backs and that's not saying much as their uniforms are often cut off their bodies during initial medical treatment.  If you have an interest in sending along any of the items below for the donation drive below is my ad