A "GREAT" Spring snow...

I am a tad late in telling the tale of the "Great Spring Snow", but better late than never I say.

Being only the second chance for a good old snow frolic this year for Clover and I, it really meant a great deal. Hence the name, "GREAT Spring Snow". Sadly here in Ladenburg, perhaps because of our position directly on the Neckar river our snow only lasted a day. Once the sun peeped through the clouds, it all melted fast away. LUCKILY we could see the snow, as if it were painted on the hills of the Bergstrasse (mountain road) just a few kilometers away.

On about the 3rd day of seeing the snow painted hills in my rear view mirror while I ran my errands, I could take it no longer and packed up my crew and headed to the shady side of the hills that still held onto a nice layer of the fluffy white stuff.

On arrival I feared my Spring layers were not going to be enough to keep out the cold, but I was soon warmed by exertion and the spotting of the warm sun as it danced in and out from behind thick while clouds afloat in a clear deep blue sky.

Of course my trusty sidekick was more than ecstatic to once again have his furry feet cold and wet, and his beard dusted with snow. He was off his leash and tracking various critters with a skip in his step. Ignoring all commands and request to return to the pack. One must discover a world so full interesting scents.

It was lucky that we had taken the time to head out into the deep dark snow dusted woods as I do believe it to be the last of this season. The breezy and fragrant Spring air is once again warming us with it's promise of better days to come. Hard to believe some days that it can only get better and brighter.

Well, I will leave you with some images of our adventures in the crisp Spring snow, with the sounds of dripping snow melt and the spotting of young plant-lings popping up to see if the coast is clear to begin to bloom again.

I know I promised to write more about the places I have lived, but perhaps we can make that a rainy day blog....when nothing else interesting is going on. Then I can revisit my past great living arrangements....but right now, in this Spring...I must write what is current.

This week we have been blessed with a visit from our 20 year old niece Jessica who is on break from studying Art in Florence. (Yes, I am totally jealous). It has been great having a young creative, intelligent spirit in the house. We having gone too far a field yet, but we did get to a wonderful festival that I feel motivated to tell you about.

On a beautiful breezy warm early Spring day, we drive up the Deutsche Weinstraße, (the German wine route) and stopped in a village called Gimmelingen. I had read that they were having a Mandelblüten festival, (almond blossom) and just could not imagine what it could be.

We drove into the village which is surrounded by vineyards and there were droves of people trying to find parking along the streets. The whole area was intensely fragrant and the roads were lined with trees blooming in this soft pale pink. I would have guessed that they were a flowering Cherry, but we were later to discover that these were the almond blossoms that this whole celebration was based around.

We parked at the foot of the rolling wine covered hill. From the bottom you could see on the different step like plateaus of the hillside, the many tables and benches with people sitting, enjoying the sunshine and the view while sipping their wine or coffee. Everywhere the place was a light in color...this soft pale pink of the almond blossoms.

On each table there were two grape branches entwined and tied with a soft pink organza bow. Even the cookies there were selling were delicate and perfectly packaged. I am always amazed at the attention to detail the Germans give to small fests like this. The cookies were sealed in a beautiful clear plastic sack that had pink fleur de lis (sp) printed on them and inside....there were round delicate almond cookies with five soft pink meringue pipped icing to represent the petals of the blossoms. They were delicious. Even my manly husband enjoyed them. :)

There was a coffee and cake stand on the top level of the hill, wrapped around a beautiful enclosed round garden feature where obviously people could sit if the weather was not optimal. You could imagine the growers sitting in there during the picking season enjoying their bag lunch and the view. Of course everything was served off of china and in glassware. That always amazes me about festivals here. No styrofoam or plastic for these civilized people. That would all just end up in a landfill...they have large portable dishwashers and they wash continuously all day during the fest. It is all just ordered perfection.

I enjoyed watching a small girl discovering the beauty of a small flower with her digital camera. I snapped a shot of her and her mother laughed....I smiled and said..."future photographer". Her parent's smiled and said "Perhaps". There was also an artist capturing the many views and displaying and selling his sketches. A very theatrical painter that seemed from another era.

I think Jessica soaked everything up as if she were using a crusty piece of bread to clean up a delicious sauce. I could see her recording it all in her minds and it was great. As much as I still enjoy these kinds of days even this many years later, it is never better then when shared with someone who sees it all with fresh eyes.

I hope you enjoy the shots from the day...and I hope you get out and breath in this glorious Spring.