An Austrian Cattle Auction

On Thursday Dana and I had the chance to be the "official observers" at an Austrian cattle auction. Or at least that's what we called ourselves! We woke up a half hour earlier to milk the cows before heading with our host to another area of Austria, about an hour and a half away. We helped weigh the calves that were being sold and waited for the auction to begin. No, it did not start on time! Some things don't change.  This allowed time for Dana and I to start our observations. We noticed a few booths set up selling boots, buckets, and other farm supplies. There was also a table of craft items like tractors made out of vines, baskets and butter molds. Plus, two stands had baked goods and what our host would call Austrian fast food.

Unlike a sale in the US where Holsteins would probably dominate the breeds, Fleckvieh were the most common breed sold with a few Pinzqauers and only a handful of Holsteins. The sale of the calves was very different than what we were familiar with at home. Everyone selling a calf stood in the oval shaped arena where the calves were also tied. The owner then brought their calf forward when it was time to sell. They held on to the calf in the small open area while a man said prices and somehow saw the bidders as well. Those seated in the built in bleachers around the room bid. The auctioneer only spoke the price, there was no auctioneers call. Also, no bidding takers were around to yip and holler when someone held up their bidding number. Dana and I were slightly saddened by this, that's our favorite part of auctions! The farmer had their calf in the ring as the price was being said, but if the price was too low the farmer simply waved his hand and the calf was a no sale. The calves sold for €400-600. While the selling was still going on, buyers walked into the arena and picked up their newly acquired calf.

There was a short break between the calves and cows so Dana and I decided to get some lunch. We enjoyed Leberkäse for the first time! This is a slice of warm wurst on a Semmel roll. We enjoyed it immensely! Much more than each of us thought we would!

When it was time for the cows, the bleachers filled up and one at a time, a farmer brought their cow into the arena and walked her around for all to see. It reminded us more of a show rather than an auction. The auctioneer spoke a little faster this time but there was still no auction call. We decided that Austrians look for different traits in their cows than we do.  The cows Dana and I liked best sold for less than others we didn't like as much. The cows sold for €1500-2500. Regardless of attachment, it appeared to Dana that the bigger or fuller the udder, the better.

Although the organization of the auction was different than in the US, there were plenty of similarities.  Number one was that the farmers all gathered and chatted with each other, most wearing clothes that they would potentially wear to the barn. However, the younger attendees were dressed more nicely. As we often see also in the States, people were enjoying all varieties of food from the venders before the sale even started. Toddlers were playing in the sawdust and there was the smell of manure in the air. There were also more sellers than buyers at the sale.

A few differences included men wearing Austrian hats and jackets, people smoking whenever and wherever they wanted, and the beautiful view of the mountains when you walk out of the sale barn. We agreed the mountains we a super nice touch! We missed having the fast talking, hard to understand auction callers but we couldn't understand this time either as no one was speaking English!

We had a wonderful trip to the auction and enjoyed this simple task of day to day life on the farm.

Salzburg Schnürlregen

Let's talk rain. Lots of rain! Continuous, ongoing for days rain!

This past week we have been thoroughly immersed in the spring rain culture of the province of Salzburg, Austria: Salzburg Schnürlregen.  Salzburg Schnürlregen, otherwise translated in English to mean: Salzburg String Rain.

We arrived last Monday to our new host's farm north of Salzburg city on a beautiful sunny and warm afternoon. By 5pm...it started to rain. It has not stopped raining, except for yesterday, since we arrived!

The entire week past, the sky has been filled with dark, gray rain clouds and the air a constant mist or light showering of water from above. The German mountains, which should be visible from our current location, can barely be made out through the thick haze that covers the land.

Soon we hope to see the German mountains across the valley! Until then we will settle for the fog and mist!

Salzburg - A few of Our Favorite Things

If you know Dana, or if you read our last blog post, you know that she LOVES Salzburg. Six years ago when I visited Salzburg with Dana, I got a small taste of the city that won Dana's heart. Now after getting to spend another week there, I know there are many reasons why she loves it so much. It might be the always present view of the Untersberg. Or maybe seeing the Festung standing guard above the Altstadt. It could be the amazing people, especially her host family. But then there is the fact that around every corner you find a Sound of Music sight. And even if you get a little lost, it will always be beautiful! There are countless reasons to fall in love with the city of Mozart. I will try my best to share some of these through photos, but really, you need to see it for yourself!

Hellbrunn has a lot of paths to choose from, even ones most people don't choose!

The Steintheater is a must see while at Hellbrunn.

You can even pretend there is an audience and do your own performance!

If you see a zip line, just go for it. If you didn't know, I really am a 7 year old at heart.

The gazebo where Liesel and Rolf sang "16 going on 17".

Hellbrunner Allee - not the actual site of Sound of Music filming but it reminded us of where the Von Trapp children climb the trees.

The front of the house used in the Sound of Music. See previous post for the back of house!

Yup, Salzburg even has an assortment of flamingos to offer!

Don't worry about setting an alarm, this guy has you covered! 

We visited Gwandhaus, home of Gössl. Traditional clothes like dirndl's and lederhosen are made right here in Salzburg! Dana and I have a wish list started!

If you are afraid of missing your cows, Salzburg has the best type - ones you don't have to feed or milk! 

The Festung is one of our favorite sights in the city!

Don't forget to stop by the Augustiner Brewery for a beer, or our personal favorite, a radler!

Taking a walk at dusk by the river shows you Salzburg in a totally different view.

We met up with Dana's friend and former German teacher! It was so much fun to spend some time with her!

We have found a new favorite place in Salzburg. Cafe Tomaselli is known for their coffee and newspapers, but we highly recommend the hot chocolate!

The Altstadt - really, I don't know how you can't fall in love with this city.

The Salzach

Taking the road less traveled, again!

Maybe Dana just fell in love with the sweets. Dana and some friends enjoyed this drink her first time in Salzburg and you can't come here without getting some Mozartkugels!

Mirabell gardens - just another favorite place of ours!

Salzburg. Full of so many wonderful things to see! I recommend everyone to see this historical city for themselves to find all their own favorite things!

The Most Beautiful City

Over seven years ago I left Salzburg on a plane and remember tearing up as I said goodbye to the beautiful city I had grown to love. Just four days ago Julie and I arrived back into this amazing city for another week long visit! Just as it always was before, Salzburg is still beautiful and such a magnificent city!

Julie and I are able to stay with my host family that hosted me for the entire 8 months while I was a student at Salzburg College. They are as wonderful as they've ever been! They have unfailingly been so welcoming and generous towards me over the years! They are a very special family that I am so proud to know and love!

With the children a lot older now, I can actually speak to them in English and they can easily teach me or correct me with German! It's great to have chats with them! Julie is loving playing with the younger two children and is quickly learning more and more German words from them as well! 'Ich weiß es nicht' is one of her best responses now!! It translates to 'I don't know!'

Julie and I are so happy to be here and to be able to visit with old friends and meet new ones! We have already met some new folks at the Salzburg International Christian Church we attended on Sunday. It's the same congregation that was so welcoming to me all those years ago!

Yesterday we were able to meet up with a very dear friend who helped direct and manage the students at Salzburg College when I attended. It was so great to catch up with her and enjoy some tea and juice together!  We also went to a historical open air museum outside of the city with my oldest host brother. It was so much fun!

Throughout the rest of our week in the amazing city of Salzburg, Julie and I hope to visit some more friends. We also plan to meet some new ones at the current Salzburg College. We hope the weather keeps some of the rain at bay and we can enjoy more of the sights that this city has to offer!

This city will always be in my heart. It's beautiful, friendly and smells so sweet wherever you go! I love all the old paths I remember so well in addition to the new trails we find ourselves upon! We will continue to enjoy and live to the fullest each of our days here in Salzburg!

A Day in the Life

Some of you may have been concerned that Dana and I took a break from blogging. Believe me, we had good reason! We were busy working on the farm in Austria. Check out what kept us so busy!

We would wake up at 7 and after being ready, we would head downstairs for breakfast. We would eat delicious homemade bread, butter, and jam. And tea, of course!

Next stop, the barn! When we first arrived to the farm, the cows stayed in the barn and we scraped behind them. As the weather warmed up, the cows went out to pasture during the day. This made cleaning easier as the cows seemed to always poop as soon as we put fresh saw dust down. We also pushed up the feed for the cows and heifers. Our time in the barn always brought back memories of cleaning the barn at home as we were growing up!

The cheese house was where we headed next! Dana spent a lot of time washing the dishes while I took cheese out of the cups I filled the day before, salted the cheese and added herbs. I would next take the fresh cheese from the cheese cloth that we prepared the day before to refill the cups. If needed, Dana stirred the cow milk cheese to keep the curds at the perfect size. We finished the tasks and cleaned up!

After we finished in the cheese house, we usually worked in the garden. We accomplished many things including weeding, tilling and transplanting Johannes berre (red currant) plants. It was nice to feel the soil on our hands!

If there wasn't work in the garden or if it was too wet, we might help with dinner. We helped make Austrian potato salad, buchteln, and other amazing Austrian dishes.

Around 12:30, we sat down to dinner. This is traditionally the big meal of the day. Typically we had soup or salad, a dish with meat, potatoes or noodles, followed by something sweet and coffee. We enjoyed Dana's favorite treat, topfen knudeln!

After filling our bellies Dana and I had a break from chores. We loved going on walks in the mountains, reading while playing with the baby goats, or yes, sometimes we took a nap. We also did a puzzle while we were on the farm!

Around 16:45, it was chore time. We put the little goats back in, scraped the barn if the cows were inside, and loaded up the wheel barrow with hay for the mama goats. This was always an adventure, especially if we had help and if we couldn't get the "hay hammock" (unofficial name) just so. After washing our hands, we went to milk the goats! Usually with our host mom, we milked 17 goats!

Once chores were finished we would often play fetch with Bella and Dana would attack Black Knight (the cat whom we named).

The evening ended with traditional Austrian supper - bread, butter, and cheese. It was awesome to eat some of the cheese that we helped make. We enjoyed talking with our host family and sharing stories around the table. After our day, Dana and I relaxed with a book and prepared for the next day!

Just like at home, days vary from one another a little and sometimes there are special events. On one of our last days, the closest city had a festival along with the weekly market. Our hosts sold their cheese at the market each week. We got the chance to attend the fest and take in music and visit with people from the community. We blended in well, one person not believing that we were from the U.S. Another day, our host mom rang the dinner bell before we thought it would be ready. We arrived downstairs just in time to see the most vibrant rainbow we had ever seen!

We loved our stay in the mountains and would like to thank our hosts for the wonderful experience! We hope to return one day as well as share with others the amazing hospitality outer family provided and the super cheese and coffee they have for sale! Danke schön!