Yesterday was a great day! After a morning of puttering around the house and cleaning, we took the boys over to Blue Jay Orchards. Only 5 minutes from our house, it is a local apple orchard where youcan pick your own apples. Despite weather reports, it was a beautiful day and the boys loved it.
Sam loves trees, so he really enjoyed getting a close look at the apple trees, and JAmes lvoed picking the apples right off the tree. While walking through the orchard we enjoyed the breathtaking view of the leaves beginning to change colors on the surrounding hills. We love living in Connecticut - it is so beautiful!
All we need now is our friends to come here too!
Many people may think that there is not a lot to do in Bethel, CT, but every once in a while, we have some pretty fun stuff go on around here. The current prime example, Oktoberfest at the Old Heidelberg Restaurant. John and I frist ate at the Old Heidelberg when we came for our first weekend visit. Our friend Sean came down from Boston and met us there. We went there with no information about it - only that John and Sean found it online and thought German food sounded interesting. It was terrific! So, we are great fans of The Old Heidelberg.
That said, when I drove by on my way to the grocery store Saturday and saw that this weekend was their Oktoberfest celebration, I thought "We must go!" So, I got home at 3:00 from the grocery store,a nd called our faithful babysitter. Luckily, she was available, so off we went.
Due to Oktoberfest Celebration, the regular restaurant was closed and they had a large tent set up behind the restaurant. John was quite excited to know that this was going to be an authentic experience. We went in and got tickets for food and beer and got in line for the food. (We could have just sat down and have a waitress serve us, but the line was short and we were already there.) John got the pork shank and I got the Bratwurst platter. Both were served with sauerkraut and German potato salad. So far I had managed to go through life without eating any of these things, but last night I was truly adventurous.
Then we got in the beer line. They were serving 4 kinds of beer, but when you are at Oktoberfest, what other beer are you really going to have? So, we got the Oktoberfest, which was very good. We then proceeded to find a spot at the tables. We arrived around 5:30 and the band was starting at 6:00, so we got there right before the rest of the crowd. An hour later, it was quite difficult to find open seats.
John and I enjoyed the food and the beer, but the music really made the whole experience. Before the band started they had recorded German songs being played. I don't think there was any David Hasselhoff playing, but we had a lot of find trying to figure out what American songs they were covering in German. The best was The City of New Orleans by Willie Nelson.
Then the band started. It just made you want to start swinging your glass from side to side. there was also a toast/cheer "Tiki Tocky, Tiki Tocky, Oi Oi Oi?" Not sure of the significance, but you couldn't help but join in. Other songs included were the chicken dance (John wouldn't let me join the kids, but was very entertained by me in my seat). the Hokey Pokey, and our favorite was the Sauerkraut Polka (much better in German that translatedinto English). Unfortunately, John does not know how to polka, so we did not dance. WE also learned from one of the band members that if you are a professional musician, one of the best bands ot be in is a polka band. Very steady work! Who would have thunk!
Well, those were the highlights of Oktoberfest! Next year, you will have to come visit and experience it yourself with us!
