2009

Hot air balloons prepare for take off

Spectacular firework displays along the Enz valley and numerous small hot air balloons start 2009. After rain and days of freezing temperatures the ground was like an ice rink on New Years Eve making walking anywhere particularly difficult. Anyway best wishes for 2009 to anyone who takes the time to follow this blog and hopefully we will have something of interest to add to the blog in the coming year.

Misty morning

A sea of mog hangs over the Enz valley this morning. Black Forest trees line the horizon and above the sky is a clear dark blue. Its pretty warm too and a perfect day for a walk. Congratulations to BO.

First snow

After the sunny weekend the weather turns cold and today the first snow has arrived. Not a lot admittedly but then it is still October, just.

Autumn

The weather is glorious over the weekend making it ideal for a trek to Gruenehuette. In fact the autumn weather seems to be an improvement on the summer. By mid morning Sunday the sun was strong enough to give a bit of a tan despite some wispy clouds. The warm weather may have just come too late however for edible mushrooms as they seemed to be very thin on the ground.

Oktoberfest

Beer and music the hallmark of the Octoberfest arrives on Sommerberg over the weekend along with displays of chainsaw sculpting courtesey of Michael Tamoszus. Michael has produced a variety of impressive work much of it in the form of wild animals and birds so his website is well worth looking at:

www.motorsaegen-skulpturen.de

Bergbahn illuminations

I must admit the idea of floodlights pointed at my windows throughout the night had me somewhat concerned. As it turns out the lights are soft and not too strong so that the lighting up of the Bergbahn building turns out to be quite attractive. Last year a floodlight positioned at the rear of the building and pointed towards the kitchen window completely destroyed the wonderful view of the Enztal that I had at night and I had visions of more of the same. Thankfully it was not the case this time.

Horizons

Kinetic sculptures in the sky

Neues Logo bei Nacht - Ferienwohnungen ab 35,- €

Unser neues Logo (danke Jan!) wirbt für unsere zwei neuen Ferienwohnungen.

Wandbild - artscreen II

Artscreen II nears completion and hopefully will soon be installed. For the record each 9m x 4m screen uses about 15 litres of acrylic paint and several rolls of kitchen tissue paper. The thin layer of tissue paper is impregnated with acrylic paint on both sides to ensure that it has a good grip on the material and this creates the silhouette effect that is best seen at night when it is back lit. Other than that it is a relatively simple process that only requires a bit of time and patience.

Talblick

This spacious holiday apartment in Sommerberg village can now be rented. It is located not far from the well-known Ski-Hutte restaurant where there is a ski lift servicing a short downhill piste. Cross-country skiing is also big up here at 750 meters altitude with plenty of well-marked routes. We just need a bit of snow and the present temperatures suggest we will not have to wait too long this year. This unique apartment is fully furnished with satellite TV and many unusual features including a garden that drops down into the Enz valley. Apart from central heating the large lounge has an open fire which makes it very cosy as the nights draw in. Down the road is the Sommerberg bergbahn funicular, which takes you on a spectacular 6-minute ride down into Bad Wildbad Spa town where there are all manner of health facilities.

For more information contact the Sommerberg-Hotel. (contact info soon)

Frischer Zwiebelkuchen und Federweißer

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Der goldene Herbst erreicht den Sommerberg. Die Nächte werden länger, das Wetter wird rauher, die Blätter färben sich bunt und verwandeln den Schwarzwald in ein Farbenmeer. Warmer Zwiebelkuchen und neuer Wein laden zum Verweilen ein!

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täglich von 11:00 bis 18:00 geöffnet

For the English speaking, Zweibelkuchen can be translated as onion pie or cake and is traditionally served in this region in autumn with new wine. Zweibelkuchen is similar to Quiche but made mainly from onions. New wine is sweet and has more in common with fruit juice than wine but beware there is still plenty of alcohol in it. Come and try it here in the Sommerberg Hotel.

Open daily from 11:00 to 18:00

Speisekarte einmal anders

Die letzten Wochen hatte das Restaurant 'Gute Laune' auf der Karte. Der Berg wird immer lebendiger.

www.copyshop-pforzheim.de

Dank unseren Großflächen Druckprofis Nadine, Heinrich und Eugen nimmt unser neues Beschilderungssystem immer mehr Form an. Hier wird gerade unser erstes Schild für die Infohütte aufgezogen.

Sculptures - Skulpturen

Apart from pottery and ceramics it is also planned to display sculptures in and around the Sommerberg Hotel such as the one shown above. The GaleriaVista project which was originally housed in the old Halter institute building will eventually be moving into the hotel in a new exhibition space of approximately 300sqm where there will also be a café and reading room.

Sonnenuntergang am Kaltenbronn

Auf über 1000 m Höhe gibt es einen wunderbaren Sonnenuntergang über dem Rheintal und den Vogesen im Elsaß. Durch den Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte-Nord wandert man am Wildsee Moor vorbei ca. 12 km zum Sommerberg

Historisches Teinacher Mineralwasser

Im Restaurant schenken wir natürlich unsere Nordschwarzwälder Spezialitäten Teinacher und Hirschquelle (wie meine 99igjährige Tante Mina aus Bad Herrenalb schon sagte, mit der wird man 100 Jahre alt!) Nun habe ich im Fundus 3 mindestens 30 Jahre alte, original abgefüllte und versiegelte (!!) Flaschen Teinacher gefunden! Das läßt das Sammlerherz höher schlagen!

Jodelseminar

Bayrisches Brauchtum hält durch Josef Ecker Einzug auf dem Sommerberg.
www.jodelseminar.de
21 begeisterte Hobbyjodler wurden in die Geheimnisse des Gipfeljodlers, Almjodlers und des Gstanzl'n eingeführt.

Bergmarkt

The Töpferhaus Hasenmühle have just finished putting up their market stall on the forecourt of the Sommerberg Hotel. The stall will be there over the next few weeks so anyone interested in traditional ceramic crockery, Rommertopfs or decoration pottery should take a look. There are plenty of interesting items to be found and lots of special offers too. Not interested in ceramics?? Then just come up for a cup of coffee and admire the breathtaking view of the Enz valley from 730 meters altitude. We look forward to seeing you.

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Töpfermarkt vor dem Sommerberg Hotel

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Das Töpferhaus Hasenmühle hat für die nächsten sechs Wochen seine Zelte auf dem Sommerberg aufgeschlagen. Es wird Steingut- & Steinzeugkeramik, sowie Hochleistungskeramik CERAM2000 aus den verschiedensten Flecken Deutschlands bis hin aus dem wunderschönen Elsass angeboten. Ein Besuch wird zum Erlebniseinkauf - und mit einem gemütlichen Aufenthalt und einmaliger Aussichtslage auf unserer 730 Meter hohen Terrasse zu einem unvergesslichen Tag! Wir freuen uns auf Sie!

Inoffizielle Logopräsentation

Das neue Sommerberg-Hotel Logo schleicht sich ganz leise auf dem Berg ein.
Unsere Gäste parken gratis (die öffentlichen Parkplätze kosten 3,- € am Tag) auf unseren neu beschilderten Stellplätzen an der Auffahrt zum Sommerberg.

Wandbild - Artscreen II

The second version of the Artscreen gets underway and will feature the old Sommerberg Hotel and outdoor activities typical to Sommerberg. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of September and will be hung in the recess to the right of the first Artscreen. Painting the screen is a slow process because the silhouettes are created by impregnating tissue paper with black acrylic paint. This ensures that when the semi-transparent screen is backlit the silhouettes are clearly visible.

Fungus

After a poor mushroom season last year up on the hill it looks like being a bumper one this year. There are already plenty to be found in various shapes and sizes and if you know where to look edible ones too. The image shows two different types found on the zigzag path yesterday between Sommerberg and Bad Wildbad.

LogoArt

Menu ideas

Although still in development the new Sommerberg-Hotel logo nears completion along with various graphics for menus, signs and letterheads. The logo depicts, depending on your interpretation, the sun rising over the Black Forest horizon or over a sleeping figure, a sunflower in full bloom, a scenic view symbol or compass bearings. Take your pick or create your own.

"Kleine Aussicht"

Die neue Terrasse ist fast fertig! Dank Thommy's Sonderschicht und der tollen Pflanzen vom Bodensee haben wir heute die ersten Gäste empfangen! Jeder Schritt bringt uns weiter.

Terrasse - Kleine Aussicht

Endlich wird die Terrasse 'Zur kleinen Aussicht' mit Platten belegt. Ab dem Wochenende werden wir die ersten Gäste unseren neuen Treppenaufgang benutzen lassen. Schneller Durchgang zum Blick ins Tal.

Kurz nach Halb 5 im Urwald

Dank Thomas hat eine super Pflanzensammlung ihren Weg auf den Berg gefunden!