At every step a magic moment and a little wonder. The trees, bushes, and undergrowth of this special homeland glimmer white on a foggy, frosty morning. Winter enchantment in the forest.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Summer Fields in Kreis Saarburg
"... now the sky is so high and so clear
and the wind blows so cool.
And it's a wonderful, glorious feeling" ... Ernst Thrasolt, Hennem Plou
"Leaves and flowers crowd together and understand each other..." author unknown, French Dreams
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| The sky so high and so clear |
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| The cornflowers and Queen Anne's lace grow |
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| Poppies share a field |
 Leaves and flowers crowd together and understand each other |
Friday, December 9, 2011
Irsch in Winter
This is a very broad translation of a bit of the poetry of Ernst Thrasolt. In his "Winter" he finds God's blessing in the cold, short days of the season. The poet says:
In the winter,
there is rest for man and horse and cow,
a rest which is scarce
in other seasons.
Now all can sit in the warmth from the hearth,
sleep peacefully during the long nights,
and rebuild their strength.
Praise the Lord God above.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Forest Begins Its Time of Rest
Poor are they,
they who go with empty hearts!
How many blessings are brought to them
in the cold of the earth...
from "Wer Noch Staunen Kann" by Otto Gillen
Monday, October 24, 2011
Imagine How It Was - Zerf/Oberzerf
These photos are from Zerf and Oberzerf and were taken from 2001 to 2004. None of us can step back in time to see the villages and the fields exactly as they were in the first half of the 19th century - except with our imaginations. But today Mother Earth still produces the trees and grasses, insects and birds that flourished in the earlier times as well as the streams that helped sustain them.
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| Oberzef in spring |
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| Fishing in the Mühlenbach |
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| The old mill stone of Zerf |
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| Zerf Pasture |
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| Autumn in the Zerf Hochwald |
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Autumn's Treasures
Josiane loves the autumn as much as I do, and she wrote this when she sent some photos she took on a forest walk, showing the Saarburg region at the start of her favorite season:
"The weather is a gem. Autumn is here with its cool misty mornings, pale light during the day, beautiful sunsets, early nights and late daylights. The leaves start to change colour here and there, and it is lovely in the sunlight; plenty of walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts to be gathered along the walks. Sometimes (there are) apples from the open orchards - I shouldn't, but just to have a bite is so tempting!"
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Grape Harvest in Saarburg
September - when the vines are heavy with the green grapes that will all be harvested by the end of October. It's a delight to walk the streets of Saarburg, where grape vines are as common as shrubs and fall flowers in other cities. If you are lucky, you may have a chance to watch the grapes being harvested. If you are very lucky, you may have a chance to enjoy tasting the new wine. And if you are near Saarburg or are lucky enough to go there for a holiday in early September, you may even taste the wines of the area at the regional wine festival held there. Hold out your glass during the parade to sample each wine village's finest. You can cheer on the wine princesses, one of whom will be crowned the wine princess of the region. Then drink a toast to a Roman in a toga, or partake of a wine served by a couple of jaunty fellows in panama hats.
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| Walking along the street in Saarburg |
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| The grapes are ready to be picked |
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| This vineyard is around the corner from a main street in Saarburg |
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| My vacation apartment's owners planted a few grapes of their own |
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| Wine tasting in an Irsch wine cellar |
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| The Serrig website captured all the events of the Saarburg regional Weinfest |
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| The Roman legions brought grape vines to their outposts along the Saar and Mosel |
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| Every wine village has a princess and the one in red was crowned the 2011 wine princess of the region |
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