H I T S C H E R H O F farm festival

Germans love their fests.
We love German fests.

It seems if there is  an excuse to have a fest or celebration- they're on it! They know how to work hard, but they also know how to celebrate.

There are onion fests, chocolate fests, chestnut fests, chicken fests and any other variety you can imagine.

Finishing up our time with Uncle Neal and Aunt Cheryl here in September, we found a great farmer's pumpkin festival and decided to give it a try. 

What a fun day- definitely worth the forty-five minute trip and definitely worth going back next year!

Up in the hills in farm country of course, the drive was scenic- beautiful Germany.
Booths lined the farmer's area with craft and food vendors. It was a mini fair without all of the craziness that a fair attracts.

We tried the pumpkin bratwurst on white brotchen- a new variety of brat that was super good.

We also had to try the fried goat cheese on toast. It was delicious- how can you not love goat's cheese. Heavenly.

Close to the entrance was a man with antiques. We looked at a few items and decided to check back on our way out.

Jim found this kraut pot and immediately liked it.

It's common to find the light grey stoneware, but this was the first dark brown variety we have seen. By the time we were leaving, I was convinced we needed to get it.

Better yet, the old man was originally selling the big pot for 18 Euro {about $24} but offered us two pots {40 liter and a matching 30 liter} for just 20 Euro, just over $25 for both.

What a deal.

My favorite part of the transaction was talking to the man and listening as he explained how his mother used to make sauerkraut, putting the cabbage and salt in the big pot, then pushing it down with stones on top to hold it down.

So cool.

For us, they are the perfect containers to hold wood next to our fireplace.

I love how they are worn.
I love how they are stamped with the size on the side.

I love how now they are a forever reminder of our time in Germany.

Super heavy.
Very German.
I love them.

Even better, the man wrote down his name and address to visit him at home to see what other treasures he has in his garage.

Oh, it's a day trip in the making.
How do you pass an offer like that up?