Bernkastel Christmas Market

With the beginning of the Christmas season Christmas Markets are springing up all over Europe. This market opened in the town of Bernkastel, about 30 minutes from our house, on the Mosel River. The old town was covered in decorations, including the massive Christmas tree in the main town square and one half-timbered building turned into one big Advent calendar. Spiced hot wine (Gluhwein) is for sale in mugs as well as all manner of Christmas ornaments and crafts. Traditional Christmas carols were being played throughout the town- in German of course.

A man, his love. . . and his wife

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we got to go out and take some family pictures with the Vipers. The jets are parked in bomb-proof shelters called HAS's (Hardened Aircraft Shelters)- proof that this base was once on the front line of the cold war. The weather has turned colder but getting to take a few photos out by the jet is too good to pass up. In addition to the family pictures all the wives in the squadron brought appetizers and desserts (as well as all the kids) and we had a little pre-Thanksgiving Day celebration.