This year it seemed as if we would have luck. The morning weather held out long enough for me to mow the lawn and set out the garden furniture. Inside, Marianne was cooking up goodies.

I was not confident enough to set up the bar and barbeques outside, however. About an hour before guests arrived, the rain made its appearance. The sun umbrellas became rain shields.

The group managed to make use of the outside seating, between showers. That's what you have to learn to do here as ex-pats enjoying early German summer.

The first cherry orchard we saw was a modern one, almost-indoors. The plastic covering made it like a giant greenhouse and the trees were bright green and filled with berries. Next door, the local wives were making the equivalent of farmer doughnuts. They took rounds of dough and fitted them over head-shaped molds, before placing them in boiling oil. Hot from the kettle, they were sprinkled with powdered sugar and snatched up by tradition-loving locals.

Grub is on the edge of the Steigerwald forest and trees are a big business for the local villages. Open Barnyard Day included displays of local trees ("Buche" is "birch"), chainsaw training, and automated firewood chopping. It reminded me of my childhood days at town fairs in Western Oregon. Same thing, but smaller trees and chainsaws.

Of course all this farm display could work up an appetite so there were the mandatory sales of local pies and cakes and the traditional open grill for steaks and sausages. I did wonder if the cows behind the thin wires would consider cakes or steaks (or kids) for their fest food, but they settled for grass.

There is also a tradition of hunting in the Steigerwald area and the local taxidermist was displaying his work. The local falconer was also displaying his work with this amazingly large and intimidating bird.