October Fest

This was our version of the Oktoberfest here at the Koenig Biergarten in Encinitas.
Periodically, Michal puts on a garden party, which we have now renamed the "Crest Dr. Community Party."
What a great time we had.  It was a beautiful sunny day and at great personal expense, Michal engaged the PigPen Band that play Folk-Country and Blues Music.
The pot-luck style food, plus Michal-provided-German-sausage-and-beer, was exceptional. Whenever people ask me what to bring, my standard answer is "something you love," and there is always plenty and a great variety of different, sometimes new and interesting foods.
Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great party.

Our new sign announcing a party

The property is ready to have a party

Lots of sausages and great food

Great friends, lots of laughs and good conversations

This time Michal engaged a great band to play fun tunes.

Next time, we look forward to seeing you at the Party as well.

Social life

Sometimes, our social life really takes off, and it is very unpredictable. Like last week, we had dinner at Wendy and Tom's. Tom is giving a lecture in Germany in September and wanted to know what I still remember about the old country.  I think I wasn't much help, but the dinner was great.

Dinner outdoors under the lanterns

Then there was, on short notice, a BBQ at Corina, Chris and Kaia's place; very pleasant and we got to see Maria, Gerd and Michael.

I think we all had plenty to eat.

I also had a chance to check out Chris's newest addition to his property.  He made about ten vegetable beds; but hold on, its Chris, no half- hearted effort.  They are solid steal frames. They'll still be here after the great Southern California earthquake, and we will get our veggies from them.

Can you believe it: steal veggie boxes

And then there was, of course, Henry, providing the entertainment.

Henry looks so cute

What's up?

Time flies. It's not that nothing happens, just the opposite.
Since I last posted, we have a new gig, looking after Homer, and Eli and Jessica's place (in that order).
We are having a great time here, and I get to walk Homer twice a day, hurray. He is a very quiet and relaxed Shitzu, and when he doesn't feel like walking any further, he just lays down and that's it.

This is about what it looks like to be relaxed.

Here he is just looking cute.

The weather here is fantastic, just like it says in the Beach Boy song, 'It never rains in California.' The best things are the beaches around here. We love driving along and stopping to take in the ocean air.

I honestly can not think of a better place to be at this time.

And then there is, of course, the party time @ the Biergarten. Yesterday, Patricia and I celebrated our 15 years together, the happiest I have been.

Patricia with our friends, Pauline and Dan

And me with  Atsuko and Francis

Today, there was another party next door to our old place on Crest. A young couple just bought Irma's house and are is renovating it. Actually they are very smart. They are heading out for a three-month trip around the US, and when they get back, it will all be done, they hope. Ahh, and congratulation; Jimmy and Taya just got engaged.

Here you have it.

Taya

Jimmy

Have a safe trip.

That's it in the rough until next time.

Summer is here

Summer has arrived in Southern California, and we celebrated it with, what else, a Biergarten Party.
I spent the last few days getting things ready while staying at Michal's, and yesterday, we had about 50 people over in the afternoon. We saw some new neighbors and friends of friends.
Everyone had a great time, at least the people we talked to, and the kids had fun when we took them over to Chicken-house to see the chickens and the goats. Of course, now some of the parents are in trouble.  There children now want a goat, too.
As always, there was a great variety of food and drink; everyone contributed something, and in the end, we were left with some very nice half bottles of wine, thanks to whomever.

The garden is ready.  Patricia planted the flower-boxes, and they look great.

Ready for business; just waiting for our friends to fill up the tables.

Michal is staring to grill the sausages.

Natalie's family brought the biggest Pizza ever. It hardly fit through the
gate, and we needed to bring out a special Pizza table.

One of the highlights was chasing the chickens at Natalie's.

And then there was the spectator lineup.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, everyone is enjoying themselves 

We are all very excited; Aariel is in her fourth month, and it's going to be a boy.

Here's Patricia getting ready to be Oma with Danny.

Here is Jessica teaching Jack and Jaiden to hold
onto the goat.

Sparta is loving her goat.

Then there is the Goat pulling contest

All in all, another great party.  Hope to see you in a month or so at the next Biergarten Party.

Eddie is not ready to go home jet.

Some Excitement @ Johns River

Johns River was buzzing with activity today.  This morning, a once-a-month market was on.  Then at 1:30, a panel of politicians, a farmers’ group and one scientist assembled in the Community Hall for a Q & A with the local population about the issue of coal seam gas exploration in the area, and in the evening, we had the Camden Brass Band playing Christmas Songs. A rousing good time was had by all.

When the town of Johns River was bypassed by the new highway a year ago, the market vendors initially stayed away, but they are now coming back as more people come to the once-a-month market to buy local handicrafts and produce.

Nice day to have a coffee and cake at the Market

The vendor on the phone, properly talking to his mom

A big deal at the moment is the coal seam gas exploration proposed for the larger area, and as with most things, there are people for and against, and some of the opinions are based on not enough information or information that is not relevant to the area.

Upper panel of experts and dignitaries and Lorri and David; lower panel Dr. Mary White and an opposition representative

Everyone is listening very attentively

Patricia debriefing, and Roy seems to be the only one listening 

The meeting was very well attended, and when the question: “who has learned something new today” almost everyone put the hands up, and the next question: “how many have changed there minds?” No hands went up.

The Hall is still empty, but soon the Christmas lights will be up

Then it was time to get ready for the Carols by Candlelight performance. The organizer put in a lot of work getting the right atmosphere going for Christmas; after all, it is the middle of summer here.

The band is playing jollily along

While the kids make an indoor picnic.

The kids loved father Xmas giving them little presents.

Luke kept busy grilling sausages and onions for sandwiches with beer in hand 

and the rest are standing around having a beer, a good Australia custom.

And then it is all over and the town goes back to its quietness.

One of the last BBQ's, maybe

We are very busy clearing our place out, all the pictures are down and the plant have gone to friends to be cared for while we are gone.

My corner looks still a mess, and this weekend I will pack it all.

As always there is time to have a BBQ with friends, Michal is easy to be
talked into organizing a few friends and I make the fire.