Loving Gosau

So, as I said in the last post, we are back in Gosau...and it has been amazing!  The last three evenings have been just getting better and better.  The first evening we went out for supper at the Kirchenwirt.  As we walked up we could hear the music playing and knew it was going to be good.  What we didn't know was how good it would be.  The first image is of Kasespatzle, the Austrian version of macaroni and cheese (but WAY BETTER).

The next photo is Rowan's meal, which was also delicious beyond belief... schnitzel and butter spatzle all drowned in a pfefferalm sauce (a creamy mushroom and pepper sauce).

While enjoying this food we were treated to live music and traditional dances by a group of young folks.  There were descriptions of each dance, and though it was all in german so we couldn't understand, they were still wonderful to see.  Particularly they had some "slappy" dances where the males would circle while slapping their legs and feet in rhythm (through the night these dances dissoled into silly slap-fighting "dances").  After the meal, the ladies went around offering a variety of schnapps to everyone that was eating there.  When most of the patrons had left, Rowan went up to a group of the performers that were still on the stage to ask for a sample of the special schnapps in a wee barrel (carried over the alps around the neck of a St. Bernard dog), and was treated to a dance... after which we both joined them for more drinking, singing, and some broken conversation.

The next evening was spent at a beer tent were a band was performing a variety of North American/UK songs and some people where two stepping to everything, even if it wasn't remotely country music.  We met some people that we had seen the night before and shared a table and many beers with them.  After some more beers and talking, we were invited to a grill party that they were hosting the following day.  It started pouring rain during our time at the beer tent, but thankfully there was a free taxi service that was able to bring us to where we were staying.... which ended up being right next door to the people we had met (gotta love small towns).

This bring us to last night and the grill party.  After a day in the field (yes, we've still been working amidst all of this), we walked through the back yard to the neighbours where a big fire was burning and coals were warming up on a hibachi.  The landlady from the place we were staying also came over with some very special schnapps that she had made herself.  It is a schnapps that is mostly made only in Austria and it comes from the fruit/pinecones of the Mountain Pine trees.  SO GOOD! It's basically an alcoholic version of maple syrup (if maple syrup was more of a drink)

Anyways, I think I'll end my stories there and leave everyone with a few photos from our field work days.

Back in Gosau

Some will probably recall from the last time we were in Austria that one of the places we visited was Gosau... a lovely alpen town that ends at a small lake called the Gosausee.  Our first day of field work on the surrounding mountains provided this wonderful view.

Summertime in Austria

Well, the weather stations may say that it is supposed to be raining and thunderstorms, but the hostess at the hotel said it was supposed to be summer-like starting yesterday.  She knew what she was talking about, it started a little misty, but soon was bright and sunny out:

Eisreisenwelt... Day 1

Proof that we are not fair weather scientists

Also, some really big beer in Munich!

Greetings from Germany and Austria

There will probably be more detailed, exciting, and photo filled posts to come, but since the first round of photos finally came off my camera, we figured it was time to do a quick post.

For those of you that aren't yet aware: Rowan and I are in Germany and Austria again.  Officially, the reason is to meet with Professors and do field work for Rowan's PhD... unofficially, we're here to enjoy as much wonderful beer, open air, and Alps as we can.  So, as a bit of a preview, here are a few snaps taken from the last couple days.

Christmas in July

While it isn't quite Christmas in July, I have a new pattern for sale... because Winter is coming! ;)

The pattern is for colourwork mittens and is called Snowflakes in Starry Skies, for sale HERE on ravelry.

Night Fury

My good friend Jen (aka the yarn fairy) is a dyer of fabulous yarns and wool rovings! She is the force behind Holiday Yarns, and as a flair for coupling beautiful yarn and funky patterns into fun little kits (yarns and patterns paired together to make awesomer stuff)! While her steampunk socks, Romulan shawl, and stellar (literally) clubs are all glorious, I'd like to introduce you to the youngest member of the Holiday yarn kits.... The pairing of Jen's Nightfury yarn with my Hiccup sock pattern.

This colourway and pattern were inspired by the eye of the Nightfury dragon "Toothless" from the movie "How to Train your Dragon". I loved the brief flashes of color that this dyeing process produced and so I wanted to emphasize the color flash as much as possible without covering it up. I love this pattern because it is really easy to remember and it is a great “first sock” pattern even if you have never knitted a sock before, the photos and descriptions should make it a little easier. 

This pattern is free when you purchase a skein of the NightFury yarn. :D