Josh and his snowman in our snowy autumn backyard 

Josh in action! 

Josh in a strategic position on the back patio 

A tree of all seasons. With our warm weather the week before, it had been putting out pussy willows. Then we have green leaves of summer with yellow leaves of autumn. It's all topped off with a snowcap! 

Josh has a big one! 

Timothy's preparing a response. 

Josh hurling a snowball at Timothy 

Timothy in the snow.

MARIA LAACH ABBEY

November 7, 2004--We decided to do a last day of sight-seeing while the good weather held out. We chose a place in the Germany Eyewitness Guide in our area, Maria Laach Abbey on the Laacher See.

We ended up having spectacular weather for our trip. Along the way, we learned that even vineyards change color in the autumn--hillsides of grapevines were bright yellow, while other hillsides were the normal jewel-like green. Other hillsides had trees with oranges and yellows.

The abbey was a pretty Romanesque building. Besides getting to see inside the church, we had a walk through the lovely autumn woods to a nature museum. The museum was big on lizards and stuffed dead animals, so I didn't find it thrilling, but the walk through the woods was worth it. They also had some nice shops, one with books and stationery, and another with produce and some lovely teas. I discovered a ginger tea (Ingwer) that I just love.

When we finished up, we went down by the lake to enjoy the view in the setting sun. All in all, it made a nice outing, and a good excuse to drag our boys away from the TV and out into the beautiful autumn world. That night had our first frost of the year, so we were glad we had enjoyed one of the last lovely warm days.

Maria Laach Abbey 

My boys entering the abbey 

Looking up at the Abbey from the atrium entrance 

The Loewenbrunnen in the atrium. 

The Maria Laach Abbey 

Walking in the autumn woods 

An iguana at the small Nature Museum a short walk through the woods from the Abbey 

I like the glowing tree behind Steve. 

Ducks in a pond in the woods near the Nature Museum 

When the sun decides to shine in autumn here, it gives a golden glow to the world. By three o'clock, the shadows are already long.

My boys enjoying the ducks and the glowing forest. 

A field with horses by the Laacher See 

The sun begins to set behind the Abbey 

Birds over the lake at Maria Laach 

A German family feeding the ducks

Josh is cold! 

The Abbey towers against the setting sun.