S U N S H I N E farm

Germany really is beautiful- especially when the sun is out. The grey was back this week, reminding us of how it was when we first moved here- the end of November. No wonder it was so tough.

As I was driving Justin to school one {grey, rainy} morning this week he said, "This reminds me of Garni." Our hotel when we first arrived.

I was happy to comment back to him, "Isn't it nice to be in a much better place now?" Settled in school, playing sports, good friends, a comfortable house, a cool village, wonderful landlords...

We've come a long way in a year. I wouldn't want to go back. No way.

There is a lot here that reminds us of Alaska. The cold, the fireweed, the evergreens, the snow, the scenery. The cold.

As strange as it sounds, there is also a lot here that reminds us of Kansas. The sunflowers, the corn fields, cows in pastures, bales of hay, tractors.

I would never have pictured this country as a mix of the two states we're from. 

Yesterday, we went on an organized Saturday trip with Caden's kindergarten class to a German farm. We were pleasantly surprised with how much fun we had. It was great.

I think smelling the cow poop, hay and being in a barn reminded us and made us miss our Kansas home. They don't waste their tires here.

Every one is used.

Caden's teacher told us that several years ago, the German farmer started inviting American groups up to his farm and pumpkin patch.

Now that he's no longer able to do it, his grandkids have taken over.

The grandson told us that his grandfather lived in an area of Poland right after WWII and was kicked out of their country.  

After a little time in northern Germany, he moved to this area- just about twenty minutes from our house.

He started with one cow. A great example of a typical hard-working German who made a living from nothing.

We started by checking out the cow barn. There was also a horse that the kids loved to touch. Caden was totally in his element. I think he {and his Daddy} were born to farm.

 We were then taken into the calf barn with three different sections of calfs- the youngest about two months old. They were wobbily, frolicking and so sweet.

How can anyone not love those little guys? They're adorable. 

 

We spent quite a bit of time there before being shown the chickens and pigs.

We were then treated to a warm cup of apple cider and fresh {still warm} homemade chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin muffins. As with most of the baked goods here, they weren't too sweet- delightful!

The weather was a little chilly- typical fall weather, but the sun was bright- skies were blue. It was beautiful.

We loaded up on the wagon attached to the tractor and he drove us down the road to the pumpkin patch where the little guys could each pick out their own pumpkin.

They had a blast.

The scenery was all farmland- similar to Kansas except for the fact that it's super hilly with winding roads everywhere. It's all beautiful.