Last year I had so much fun at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival that I said I was absolutely going back in 2014 for the Pumpkin Regatta. It was a major priority for me this fall and since Mike knows what's good for him, he went along with it.

Well, mostly. We did get in a huge argument that morning and that miiight have tainted this years experience just a bit, but we're going to ignore that, ok? Thanks.

The regatta wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I thought it would be several people in pumpkins battling it out American Gladiator style to be the first to the other side of the pond.

It was really two lanes cordoned off on either side of the pond and one person in each lane racing the other person. So, much more reserved that the epic waterlogged pumpkin battles of my imagination. It was still fun to watch for a while, though.

The theme for the rest of the park was Kurbis Royale, or Pumpkin Royal, and the Baroque Gardens was the perfect setting for it.

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year, mostly because I was being stubborn regarding the morning's argument, but I finally gave up and decided to enjoy myself at least a little bit. Sometimes I need an attitude adjustment and Elvis was just the pumpkin-man to break me out of my funk.

I mean, how can you not smile at this guy?

I don't know when we will have another chance to go to another pumpkin festival like this one, but it's one of my favorite memories of Germany and I'm really glad we made the time to go. Perhaps if you're ever in this area in September or October, you'd like to check it out.

Now I just need to find a chocolate festival that's even half as awesome! 

It's impossible not to know it's fall. Even if you didn't look at the calendar yesterday - like yours truly - or the leaves in your area aren't turning - not like yours truly; Germany does fall really well - I'm guessing your Facebook or Instagram feeds were hoppin' with pictures of pumpkin spice lattes, boots and scarves. Mine were. 

Side note about pumpkin spice lattes - they are good enough and I know people love them but what I'm super stoked about is the caramel apple spiced cider. It's my absolute favorite. Some people are all about the pumpkins; this girl is all about the apples. One of the baristas at my local Starbucks messed up last year and made it with cinnamon instead of caramel, and letmetellya - that was one delicious drink, too!

Oh, how I love apples...

But back to the original topic - fall. I hope you all had a great first day of fall. I woke up with my first cold of the season. As beautiful as I think this time of year is, I am just not built for cold weather. So I spent the day cuddling under my favorite blanket and looking up natural cold remedies. And, hey, sharing is caring, right?

A few years ago I started using this honey & cinnamon syrup the moment I start feeling a cold coming on. I made a big(ish) container of it yesterday and will keep some in the fridge for the rest of the winter. If you want a little extra immune boost, you can add some organic apple cider vinegar to the mix (I use Braggs, but I think anything with the mother would work). Also, I don't think the proportions matter much; I just eyeball it. Every time my nose or throat tickles, I take a spoonful. It can also be mixed into tea or if you use the ACV, just mix some with hot water - that feels amazing on sore throats. And, yes, I do actually feel quite a bit better today. (:

A friend who lives here made this elderberry syrup and you can read about how much her kids love it here. Annnddd she has a great source for elderberries in case you can't get them locally. This recipe is next on my list; I just have to get the elderberries.

I found this Golden Milk Recipe that uses turmeric, ginger and coconut milk and doesn't that sound amazing? This might just be my bedtime treat tonight since I have everything already in the kitchen. And as soon as I get some cute little jars, I'm totally trying these honey infusions. They are pretty similar to what I'm doing with the honey & cinnamon syrup, but with the addition of heat and variety of other flavors.

I am also really interested in trying kombucha since it's probiotic benefits would be immune building, but, frankly, the process to make it seems rather involved and I have a lot going on from now until the end of the year. I think this project will have to wait until after we've moved. I've seen kombucha in supermarkets but I've heard it's not as potent as a health drink. Thoughts, anyone?

So that's my life today - curled up under a blanket with cozy socks on drinking what Mike calls my "weird hippie vinegar drink." I have borscht simmering on the stove and if I continue to feel better, I might go to the market and grab a few things to make chicken and dumplins tomorrow. We all know the benefits of bone broth, right? And the dumplins - those are just comfort food. ;)

Hopefully after a couple of days of nutrient rich soups and some of mother nature's finest cold remedies, I'll be ready for the weekend... and a trip to Starbucks for an apple cider! 

I hope your fall started off healthier than mine did, but I'm curious - do you have any magic remedies to share?

Yesterday, I shared a little about our anti-climatic Oktoberfest. We got to the festival grounds later in the evening and stayed into the night, but what did we do the rest of the day?

Well, after getting a much later than expected start and revising our 'Fest Plan, we went to Ludwigsburg for their annual Pumpkin Festival. We had never been to this gorgeous little town before and the weather was perfect for checking things out. Warm in the sun without being too hot, slightly cool in the shade.... When Germany chooses to do so, it rocks good weather!

In the market square (every town in Germany has a market square it seems) they were having an antique market that was fun to look around. It's one of the better antique markets we've been to here with a wide selection of goods. I found a leather satchel to die for, but Mike wouldn't let me get it. {{Sad face}}

The Pumpkin Festival is a big deal every year. It lasts from the end of August until the beginning of November and always has a theme. This year the theme was the Olympics, so all of the pumpkin displays were of Olympic sports.

Also, each weekend has a different event. We found out about this fest a little late this year and missed the Pumpkin Regatta - that's right, grown men hollow out huge pumpkins to float in and race across the water - but it's SO on the calendar for next year! I sort of want to enter my husband next year to get him back for the leather bag I didn't get to buy this year. Is that terrible of me?

The weekend we went they were having a Pumpkin Soup Cook-off! The lines to try the Pumpkin Soup were ridiculously long so we ate at a restaurant on the palace grounds instead, but we enjoyed walking around the market area and checking out the other displays, too.

And can I just say how adorable it is to hear a little German girl calling out their version of, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!" and then giggling excitedly when the braid starts it's descent. It was one of the cutest things I've seen in a while.

Did you know that flamingos are my favorite birds? They are the one exhibit at most zoos I could spend all day looking at. That has nothing to do with anything either.

This guy was kind of a show off.

Note to Mike: This is what I want lining my driveway one day.

And maybe this for the back yard.

Entrance Gates from our table at the restaurant.

The palace as seen from below on the Baroque Grounds.

So that's it for us! That's how we started our Oktoberfest (read about how we ended our day here). I think this might have been the more enjoyable part of our day. We're pretty laid back and aren't interested in partying a lot. If we'd had a picnic blanket and a couple of books, we'd have been in heaven in Ludwigsburg. 

I'll have to remember that for next year.


Update! You can read about our time at the Pumpkinfest 2014 here!