Our "Fist Christmas Tree Together" Adventure

So, my MUST for the holiday season is a fresh REAL tree. This, for anyone who knows me well, knows is by far my favorite part of Christmas. The smell of a real evergreen tree truly can't be beat! This year was no exception, and though I am far from home, a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree no matter where you are. Sam has gotten used to the convenience of a artificial tree but, this is one area to which I hold my ground. So he lovingly conceded but, not without setting a few ground rules, we were to buy the tree from a Christmas tree farm he and his family went to every year when he was growing up. I happily agreed to his terms and this weekend we went on a Christmas tree hunting adventure. It had just snowed the day before so all the trees were covered in a layer of fluffy white powder, it was magic. It didn't take us long to identify our tree...because when you know, you know! So, presented below you will see our first ever Christmas tree hunting adventure.

A forest full of trees...let the Christmas tree hunt begin!

 

Look, we found our very first Christmas tree!

Cutting down our tree. He's so very manly!

Hunt and gather in the Christmas tree forest!

For those longer journeys into the Christmas tree farm.

And, away we go!

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches.

A home full of Christmas cheer!

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our family and friends!

A "Christmas Under the Spires" Adventure

Each year the little town of Oldenburg, Indiana hosts a festive holiday event: "Christmas Under the Spires". It's a great opportunity for everyone in the little town to show their Christmas spirit as they put on craft fairs, choral performances, highlight Christmas decor in local shops, and even invite old St. Nick to meander through the town spreading holiday cheer. We enjoyed the small town feel, away from the city, for the day. During our time in Oldenburg we visited with Sam's grandparents. Sam's grandfather builds beautifully handcrafted holiday creches, and the shop was buzzing the entire day with amazed and rosy cheeked shoppers. The shop is tucked into a beautiful old building, his displays adorn the walls of what was once the old meat locker. A shop full of character, run by a man full of character, in a town full of character.

It was a perfect day.

Grandpa Kirschner in his element.

Outside the Creche Shop.

Holiday chicken? Cluck cluck!

Christmas Under the Spires 2013

An Adventure to Clifty Falls State Park in Indiana

Thanksgiving has come and gone and in the Kirschner family that means a big family reunion trip out to Clifty Falls state park in Indiana. The Friday after Thanksgiving always marks the first day of family fun at the park, and the Kirschner clan claims the space until Sunday morning. The weekend festivities include nature hikes, board games, euchre tournaments, and the legendary annual family football game (which usually ends in arguments, sports injuries and of course a team of victors who are all too happy to remind the other team of their defeat).

The lodge is nestled in the woods atop a hill that overlooks the Ohio river and the quaint township of Madison, IN. I was honored to have been invited to this beautiful weekend with Sam's entire family. They warmly welcomed in to all the family traditions including the girls shopping trip in the town center while the boys stayed back to play the annual football game.

It was weekend for the books. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend. 

Indiana State Park!

A Saturday morning wilderness adventure.

A family tradition. ...but really, who needs an explanation it's us and a larger than life otter, 'nough said.

And, my favorite moment of the weekend. Waking up to a pink sunrise over the river.

A Peak at Our Apartment Together

Well it has been a couple of months since we moved in together and things are going exceedingly well. We LOVE our apartment, our neighborhood, and each other...what could be better?! Many people have been asking to see pictures of our new humble abode, and so today I will share just a couple of pictures of our living space. Many hours of ikea construction later, and we are finally pulling together the finishing touches on a beautiful little home. Our newest addition is the bar cart displayed in the back of the photos. I had SO much fun choosing the furniture, pictures and accessories in the space and though the project is far from over I am excited to share what we have thus far. So, enjoy!

We love it! What do you think?

A Christmas Market Adventure

Yesterday, Sam and I went to a German society sponsored Christmas Market. Anytime I can get  gluhwein (hot spiced wine) I can be counted on for attendance. Though the evening was brisk we all found solace under big tents filled with imported German goods, German foods, themed performers, beer, and my beloved gluhwein. We were in awe of some of the ornate coo-coo clocks shipped in straight from the source. We were entertained by the talented musicians and dancers. And, we got into the Christmas spirit. Here are just a couple of the shots from the day. (Of course I forgot my camera yet again so these are pictures taken from Sam's iPhone). 

A bit of German tradition at the Christkindlmarkt here in Cincinnati.

Christmas tunes to get us in the spirit.

I had to wear the German hat too!

Getting in the spirit! And yes, that is a mustache. We all have Movember to thank.

Happy holiday season everyone!!

A Nice Day For A Long Walk Together

This weekend Sam and I spent a lot of time outside. Sunday we went for a long (nearly 7 mile) walk through a few of the most lovely parts of Cincinnati with Sam's parents. We passed through parks filled with families getting holiday pictures taken, we took in views overlooking the city, we even enjoyed a few cold brews at a local dive bar. The more I get to explore the communities within Cincinnati the more I begin to understand why people love calling this their city. Each part of the city is so unique and allows all to find their unique niche. Here are a few shots from our stroll.

There is magic in this roof-line.

Eden Park river view.

Eden Park pond and foot bridge.

Standing guard.

A city shot.

A man of god...and wine.

A long walk wouldn't be complete with a stop-over for a drink...or two.

The church on the hill can be seen throughout the city.

Last roses of the year.

Lovebirds.

Lovebirds in training.

Cincinnati.

Zoo Day Adventure

It hasn't been long since our last visit to the Cincinnati Zoo, but being within walking distance of our home means that on a sunny day it's a pretty perfect excuse to get outside. The zoo is busy getting ready for the annual 'Festival of Lights', a time when the zoo gets in the Holiday spirit by setting up thousands of strands of twinkle lights adding a bit of whimsy to the season. I'll be exited to share that post with you later in the winter, but until then here are a few of the animal shots from the day. Who doesn't love a day peeking at all these cute creatures!

A glimpse into holiday cheer at the zoo entrance.

I think my dad carried me around the house like this when I was a little girl. Well, it was more my insistence than his idea.

Pretty kitty.

Animal markings by the lions den.

Whose outfit is more colorful? The little girl or the peacock?

Affectionate otters.

Slightly creepy little girl statue.

A flock of flamingos.

The sidewalks looked as if they were covered with confetti from the different colored leaves.

Another happy Saturday together at the zoo. Hope you had a fun day too!

An Autumn Day Adventure In A Halloween-y Town

So, Fall is officially upon us and that means the changing colors of the trees, pumpkin flavored beverages, and Halloween. You can't get much more Halloween than this town we visited last weekend. Decorations adorned many of the shop fronts reminding us all of this spooky time of year. We ended our day at 'Ye Old Tavern' the second oldest Tavern in all of Ohio. This place poured a great beer (and apparently some stronger drinks) and served up some warm bites for us to enjoy. In all it was successful Autumn outing, together.

Fun Halloween decor!

The color of this tree were amazing. This is a unedited shot.

Corky town personality shining through with this monument.

That strong drink I mentioned.

A glimpse into the charm at Ye Olde Tavern.

A Nature Walk Adventure

This past weekend we decided we needed to get out and enjoy the autumn air. It was a beautiful crisp November day in the Ohio countryside. The Glen Helen nature preserve provided to be the beautiful backdrop for our day. Our walk totaled about five miles and included loads of neat trees, a couple of funky abandoned monuments, a raptor reserve, a waterfall, and a natural spring. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here are just a few of the shots snapped along the trail.

A tree too awesome not to take a picture with.

A rest at the waterfall

No walk would be complete without the token unfriendly sign.

Please note the bright red shoes on Horace.

The 'I had to' foliage and waterfall shot.

Hiking past the natural spring.

The difference between a girl from NH and a guy from OH. Birkenstocks vs. Boots. No snow on the ground, no boots on NH feet.