Birthday Boar

René is now 49. Years. Old. Ouch.  He's dealing with it just fine, but we know what that means.  Werner is getting  O L D.

Since the special day fell on a Sunday this year, and since it is not culturally allowed in Germany to celebrate your birthday except on the very day of your birthday, there was a celebration. On Sunday.  Of course we planned to go, but I'd expected a sort of down-sized event since it is "only" 49 and not the big one coming up.

I was wrong.

The weather was so cooperative!  Tables, standing and otherwise, out in the back yard.

 Dishes and utensils ready in the kitchen for eating the goodies.

Surveying the beast.

And the beast!  Wow.  A whole wild boar, days before bathed in fresh herbs and oil, then rubbed with spices and spread over a wood fire. This guy can grill.  I kid you not.

When the beast was done, René and Olaf, co-chefs, did the releasing and the carving.

Amina has laid claim to the teeth of the beast.  Not sure what she plans to do with them.  Maybe I don't want to know....

Little kids jumped on the trampoline and played in the yard.  Older ones occupied themselves with the newest craze - braiding little rubber bands into bracelets and such.

Alles fertig - everything's ready.  The boar, potatoes, red cabbage, wine-poached pears, wild cranberry sauce and enough gravy to enhance it all.

It was delicious.  Of course it was!  And the company was fine, too.

Here's to the birthday boy and his dad.  Two so very nice and happy smiles.  You can't see me, but I am smiling, too!