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A Weekend of Yard Work

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Honesty, until I owned 20 of them I didn't even know what Roses of Sharon where. The previous owners certainly did, though. They planted Roses of Sharon along the fence lines. Then, during a bitterly cold winter a few years ago some of them died leaving holes in shrubbery. After watching them grow wild and boom for two years I decided to clean them up.

So, last weekend Christy and I spend a day pruning and transplanting the Roses of Sharon. Some of the bushes where over 6 ft. tall and full, while others where haggard looking and leaning over. We decided to cut them back to a uniform size and give them a bit of shape. We also transplanted six bushes in order to fill the holes get them away from the new apple tree. Man, that was a big job. We filled seven 30 lb garbage bags with cuttings and dug...and dug...dug. The reward will com in August when brilliant red flowers blanket the side of the yard.

Roses of Sharon last summer

If you don't know what Roses of Sharon are, they a shrub that comes from China and blooms in late summer. They don't bloom for very long, but when the do it is glorious. Each bush will be covered with hundreds a bright red flowers similar to a rose (but not quite). They are very hardy and do well in the Midwest with little attention, which works well for me.

All in all, I have to say it was worth the work. The look is so much better and I am eager for them to bloom.

Breaking News!! Apfelbaum Cottage now has internet!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:50:00 GMT

This just in. The Apfelbaum Cottage has added DSL to its list of amenities. Eric and Christy Jolliff, the owners, say that Mediacom made them a "suck-em-in" discount offer that they couldn't refuse. The owners were heard to say, "This new service should enhance our guests' stay". If the new amenity is well received by guest Eric expects to continue it even after the deal expires. Guest should be advised that as of right now, It is not wireless. An upgrade to wireless is planned for the near future. Until then guests can just plug into the modem. For more information check out www.apfelbaumcottage.com.

Valentines Day Special

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:12:00 GMT

Two people, three nights: $250 + tax.

I just realized that the Monday after Valentine's Day is President's Day, making it a three day weekend and what better place to spend a romantic three day weekend than Hermann. So, I decided to include Sunday Night at no charge. Come Friday, hit the wineries Saturday, relax Sunday and head on home Monday.

A cold but beautiful spell in Hermann

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:52:00 GMT

We were in Hermann this past weekend and I took a lot of pictures. The river was an ice flow , the trees were sparkling and air was crisp.

We walked from the cottage to the Kit Bond Bridge over the Missouri River (stopping at Rick's Chocolate Box for a treat, of course) where I took the shots of the river and train. After that we headed up to the courthouse for an view of the river and town. Next we worked our way along the riverfront to Gutenberg St. where we threw rocks at the ice and Frene Creek and peeked in the windows of the soon to be Hermann Farms Stable. After walking back to the cottage via 4th St. the girls went sledding while I headed up to the Cemetery to take a couple of panoramic shots.

Here are a few of the pics and you can see them all on my Flickr page or the Flickr group For The Love of Hermann. If you have any pictures you would like to share of Hermann I suggest posting the to the For The Love of Hermann group.

The Apfelbaum Cottage sits just below the steeple off in the distance.

Chocolate and fresh bread, MMMMM.

There has to be some folk song to describe this scene.

The Apfelbaum Cottage enveloped in snow, how picturesque.

An Apple Tree Grows In Hermann

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:25:00 GMT

If you speak German or have paid any attention to our website you know that "Apfelbaum" Translates to "Apple Tree" in English. Sadly, for the last two years the Apfelbaum Cottage has not had apple trees. Well that wrong has been corrected. Last week we planted two small apple trees at the cottage. One is a Gala, which is great for eating and the other is a yellow multi-purpose, which I forgot the name of, but is supposed to be good for eating or baking. The woman at the nursery told me that they are bearing small fruit already, but is will be a couple of years before we get good apples. I'm already excited for next year. I can't wait to take a bite out of my first apple.

Oktoberfest Is Going Strong

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Halfway through October and lots of wonderful stories about the Oktoberfest. Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time with great Autumn weather. Now Fall is really here and the leaf color is hitting its peak, so thing will only get better. The best part is that our weekend is coming up and I am looking forward to it. I will post pictures and stories afterward so check back after October 26th.

I built new rails for the side porch

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:57:00 GMT

Last Tuesday and friend and I went out to the cottage and built new railings for the side porch. It was a big job for a couple of novice handymen, but I am please with the outcome.

If you have been to the house before you know how bad they were. The side porch was the most embarrassing thing about the house, but not any more! We had to jack up the porch, remove part of the fascia, pull out the old posts before putting in the new posts. then we rebuilt the fascia and installed rail and balusters.

Next week I will have to go back and prime and paint it, then I move on to rebuilding the cellar door.

I will post pictures of the new porch as soon I have them.

I can't believe we are still vacant for BBQ & brats festival!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:37:00 GMT

We are only two blocks from the park that hosts the festival and 75% of the rooms in Hermann are booked, yet we still sit unbooked. I guess we right guests just haven't come along. What ever the reason I hate to see it go empty on such a great weekend. We have a wedding in Indiana or we'd be there ourselves. If you want call me!

Off topic, but close to my heart

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:31:00 GMT

In May 2008 my 9 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1, AKA Juvenile, Diabetes. For those who don't know, Type 1 is a chronic condition affecting children and adults alike. The cause of Type 1 Diabetes is unknown but the effect is the auto immune system attacks the Pancreas and kills the Beta Cells that create insulin which converts glucose to energy. There is no cure today, but many studies are underway that could bring a cure in the next few years.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is a key partner in the search for a cure and The Walk For a Cure is the biggest fund raising event of the year, The annual Walk For a Cure. Alex, my daughter, has set a fund raising goal of $1,100 and is making great progress. She could really use your help, as could all of the rest Type 1 Diabetics. Please help by donating to Alex's walk.

Summer is leaving and Autumn is creeping in

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:57:00 GMT

I can't believe that summer is over! It was great, though. The weather was unseasonably cool and my family and I took advantage of it. We had a did some traveling, biking, hiking and playing. We even made it to Hermann about 4 times taking in the pool, Katy Trail, movies in the park and various events around town.

To kick off the Summer we rode the length of the Katy Trail from Clinton to St. Charles. Man, was that wonderful! The weather was good, no major issues and a two day rest-stop in Hermann. In late June we went camping at Mammoth Cave State Park in Kentucky. It was fun but, damn was it HOT! July brought the 4th, Alex's summer camp, Christy and my birthdays and the Berries and BBQ Wine Trail. The Wine Trail was cool, sampling various local wines paired up with different types of BBQ. (The kid stayed home for this one.) In August we came to Hermann for one final pre-school starting get-a-way. with biking, walking and general relaxing.

So, now we begin thinking about fall and Hermann has a lot to offer in the Fall. Of course, everyone thinks about Oktoberfest. That is the peak time for Hermann and has been booked since May. But don't let that stop you. There are still rooms available other places and plenty of other great weekends to come. September offers a number of fun events including a cyclocross race (9/19) and the BBQ & Brats Festival (9/35-9/36). If you want to experience a small town Halloween with costumed kiddies knocking at your door come the weekend of 10/30-10/31.

November is actually my favorite time of year in Hermann. The weather is cool and the trees (and grapevines) are beautiful. You can get out on the Katy Trail and crunch your feet in the fallen leaves. You also will be free from attack by mosquitoes or cooking in the blazing sun. Some events happening in November include Grapes to Glass at Stone Hill Winery (11/7) and the Holiday Fare Wine Trail (11/21-11/22).

So, come to Hermann for a mid-western fall get-a-way, sip some wine and relax. Check out the for more info.

Have your riden the train?

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Amtak runs through Hermann between Kansas City and St. Louis four times a day and it is a great way to travel. For about $20 you can relax and watch the scenery go by as the locomotive rolls on to Hermann. It will drop you off right down town near riverfront. From there you can walk to just about anywhere in Hermann, including your favorite cottage (about 10 blocks).

In the future things will be better, thanks to all that stimulus money. Missouri has approved 11 upgrades for the railways including a number between K.C and STL. Check out the following link for more info (Transportation Commission approves rail projects).

For Amtrak time and prices check out Amtrak.com.

Happy rails to you!...Get it, happy rails!

What a great weekend we had!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:31:00 GMT

This weekend my wife and I sent our daughter to G'ma and headed for Hermann for the BBQ and Berries Wine Trail and it was fantastic! After all, that is why we bought the cottage in the first place. We live in STL and love to go to Hermann and the wineries and when the opportunity presents itself for us to get out there and enjoy an event like this we take it.

The weather was perfect, the people were fun, and the wine was flowing. We arrived Friday night just in time to go to the Cottage Restaurant for dinner. I had the Southwestern Chicken Lasagna, while Christy had the Brisket and we enjoyed a nice bottle of Hermannhoff Chambourcin with the dinner. Both dished were delicious and huge, but that didn't stop us from sharing a Vanilla Custard with a raspberry topping....mmmm.

After dinner we went to one of the newest drinking establishments, The Bank. It is located in the old People's Bank building on Schiller St. and was remodeled into an upscale bar catering to people my age and temperament (old and calm). The Blufftones were playing my kind of music, 70's & 80's classic rock, and weren't half bad. They are a bunch of local business people, including a city executive and a winery owner, who just play for the fun of it. They love it so much that they play only for tips, which they donate to the Hermann Food Bank! If you are in Hermann and see the Blufftones, relax, enjoy, and tip well.

Saturday brought us the BBQ and Berries Wine Trail. We started at Robller Vineyards, where they paired their Seyval with a Grilled Chicken, greens and Blackberries. It didn't knock my socks off, but I've always been a bigger fan of Robller's events than their wine. Next we move on to Bias Winery in Berger at which we had BBQ Porksteaks with Blueberry Medley and Strawberries and Strawberry Weisser Fieder. Not the wine I would have chosen, but I could enjoy it in the right circumstances. Be sure to watch Bias' calendar of events, they do some fun stuff.

On to Oak Glenn. Wow, what a view! They paired a Chardonel with Smoked Pork Lion in a Cranberry BBQ Sauce. At Oak Glenn, we purchased a bottle of White Port to go with a Blackberry Cobbler I'm making this week. Hermannhof, was next and is always one of my favorites. The Pork Medallions they grilled and topped with a Mixed Berry Chipotle Sauce was wonderful and the pairing with a 2007 Vidal Blanc was perfect. From Hermannhof we went to Stone Hill for Smoked Mettwurst (I'm not sure what Mettwurst is.) in Bluberry Sauce and Dry Rose, which was pretty good. They produce predictably good wines. They last stop was Adam Puchta Winery. Quickly growing to be one of my favorite local wineries, with good wines and a comfortable setting. Puchta brought in Pappys Smokehouse BBQ Ribs from St. Louis and paired it with your choice of Hunter's Red or Vignoles. What a great way to finish off the wine trial.

We were exhausted after five hours of driving and sampling wines, so we headed back to the cottage and napped before throwing some brats on the grill and eating dinner at the picnic table. After dinner we decided to head back to The Bank to hear The Blufftones again, before moving to the Barrel Concert Hall for some Homemade Onion Rings as a late night snack.

Sadly, Sunday came next, meaning we had to head home. We took our beagle, Buddy, for a walk and left to pick up Alex from grandma's house.

As, you can tell, we ate and drank well. But, we also relaxed and rejuvenated for the weeks to come. I am already trying to figure out the next time we can get to Hermann. There has got to be a free weekend before school starts, right?

What happening in August?

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:25:00 GMT

August in Missouri can be really hot, but don't let that scare you. Hermann has lots of cool thing going on every weekend. Some are bigger than others, but all of them are fun. Even if an event isn't your "thing" you can just visit wineries, shop, and relax in the cottage. Remember, wine cellars are 62 degrees!

Here is a brief list of August events, check out visithermann.com for a more details.

Every Saturday - Oak Glenn Winery has concerts outside every Saturday night. The view is worth the trip!

August 1st - 4th - Bias Winery Meadow Muffin Tournament. I don't know, it's some kind of crazy golf tournament.

Saturday August 8th - Stone Hill Winery Grape Stomp. You will feel the spirit of Lucy Arnes rush through you.

Friday August 15th - Stone Hill Winery Grape to Glass. This is a new event that including an exclusive tour and tasting.

August 15th - August 16th - Robbler Winery Reggae Sun Splash. It ain't Jamaica, but what do you want for $3?

Friday August 20th - Brett Family at Showboat Theatre. Branson regulars come to Hermann.

Saturday August 22nd - Big Band Concert at Stone Hill Winery. Who doesn't love big band music?

Saturday August 29th - Live music at Adam Puchta Winery. Nuff said!

Pick a weekend, relax, and enjoy!

The pool is open

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:18:00 GMT

I know that summer is half over, but don't forget about the pool. The Hermann community pool is located in the Hermann City Park only a few blocks away from the cottage and open to visitors as well as residence. The entry fee is only $3 a person and includes a baby pool, a diving board and a 3 ft section for general frolicking. At certain times the pool is available for adult lap swim, too.

For more information on the pool contact The City of Hermann at 573-486-5400.

The Roses of Sharon are blooming!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:51:00 GMT

I went out to the cottage yesterday, July 2nd, and was pleased to see Roses of Sharon that line the East and West fences were beginning to bloom. They are so beautiful and will continue to bloom all the way into late August.

Interesting blog about Missouri Wines

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Here is an interesting article I found about MO wines, especially the norton. Be sure to read the comments Rodies has some great insight.

http://www.goodcheapwineguide.com/2008/09/17/diddy-boppin-missouris-wineries/

Independence Day is small town America

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:24:00 GMT

If you’ve never experience a true small town 4^th of July, you should. It is a real treat! You will feel as though you have stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting with kids running with sparklers, frozen lemonade stands and quaint fireworks displays that go off over your head. There is no need to fight traffic, pay to park and battle drunks for a place to sit. In a small town 4^th of July celebration you can typically walk to where ever you want to go and relax with family in a local park.

Hermann’s Independence Day celebration is the epitome of small town celebrations. The fireworks will be shot over the Missouri River, booths will be set up in Riverfront Park and music will be playing at local venues.

For more detailed information contact the Hermann Tourism division at www.hermannmo.info or 800-932-8687.

NEW - One Night Stay On Weeknights!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Due to the requests of travelers and cyclists, we have decided to reduce the required stay for weeknights to one night. When riding the Katy or traveling across the country people can not afford the time to stay for more than one night, so we have loosened our stay requirements. This will allow a new niche of people to enjoy the comfort and peacefulness of the Apfelbaum Cottage while on long and stressful journeys. Check out our website www.apfelbaumcottage.com for more details.

My family and I rode the length of the Katy Trail last week

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:00:23 GMT

June 6th we left Clinton MO on our bikes with only 225 miles between us and St. Charles MO. Being less then champion riders we chose to spend 6 days riding with a rest day in Hermann. With an average of 40 miles a day we spent about 4 hours a day on the seat and the rest sightseeing, resting, and eating. All in all we had fun and little issues.

Day 1: Clinton to Sedalia - No issue on the first day as we passed through farm country and tiny towns offering little more than a convenience store or two. We arrived in Sedalia around 4pm, where the Scott Joplin Ragtime Music Festival was taking place. Evidentially Ragtimers go to be early, because all of the events ended at 5pm. We stayed at an sweet Non-B&B called Maxine's Rooms For Rent. Maxine and her husband have a small farm where they have 4 horses, a cat and a dog. The dog, Chigger, was a wonderful, sweet and charming Australian Cattle Dog who loved to play fetch.

Day 2: Sedalia to Rocheport - This was our longest day with just under 50 miles logged. When you ride this leg you will notice the long slow hills the seem to drag on for miles. They aren't that steep by they seem endless. Rocheport is a wonderful quaint little town, but don't thing you are going to find food or anything on a Sunday evening, because it shuts down. Here we stayed at the Schoolhouse B&B Dormitory. It met was very clean, well maintained and met all our needs. It was a bit small for three people but we spent most of the evening on the patio and really only slept in the room.

Day 3: Rocheport to Jefferson City (slept in Holts Summit) - I really like this stretch of the trail. It follows the Missouri River closely with beautiful bluffs to your left. This day was fairly short but became stressful when Alex's insulin pump (she has Juvenile Diabetes) failed and we had to give her a manual injection and have the manufacturer overnight another pump meter to our next hotel. The Best Value Inn was our next accommodations. The best two things I can say about the Best Value Inn is the price and the shuttle service they offer to and from the trail head.

Day 4: Jefferson City to Hermann - We got a late start because we had to wait for the Fed Ex delivery of the insulin meter. We finally got on the trail about 1:00 pm and it started raining about 2:00 pm. It rained for about 3 hours but we had to keep moving because of our late start. It really wasn't that bad though. It was a slow steady warm rain. It really only became an issue when the trail became soupy. We made it to Hermann about 6:30. Of course, we stayed at the Apfelbaum Cottage in Hermann. It is the best place in town, you know! We ate dinner at the newly re-opened Barrel Bar. it doesn't have a link yet, so you'll have to see it for yourself when you visit.

Day 5: Rest Day in Hermann - Why not?

Day 6: Hermann to Augusta - This was an interesting leg. We have ridden every piece of it at one time or another, but never in one trip. Storms the night before had knocked down trees and made the trail very soft. As the day went along the sun dried out the trail and we made good time. As we approached Augusta I began to feel very timed and the riding became constantly harder, but I pushed through. The last 5 miles were Hell! After recovering at the trailhead I realized I had two, yes two, flat tires! I had only brought one spare innertube. The leaks where very slow, so I changed one and pumped up to ride to our cabin in Klondike Park. Since we got into town early we decided to walk around and on our way to dinner at the Augusta Brewing Company a tiny kitten befriended us and followed us to dinner. The kitten stuck to my daughter's feet and slowly pulled on our heart strings. Needless to say, we now have a new kitten named Katy. When we made our reservation at Klondike Park we failed to realize that they don't supply pillow or linens, so we didn't get much sleep.

Day 7: Augusta to St. Charles - The final day was our shortest. I rode to Defiance with the leaking tire where I got a new innertube at Katy Trail Bike Rentals and Alex carried Katy in her handle bar bag all the way home. We were so glad to see the St. Charles trailhead. During our ride we saw some interesting place, met wonderful people, and accomplished a long time goal. I recommend it to everyone.

Great Weather Expected For Memorial Day Weeked!

eric@apfelbaumcottage.com (Eric Jolliff-Apfelbaum Cottage) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:16:00 GMT

The weatherman says it should be a great weekend, with highs in the 80's and no rain. OK, a slight chance of rain late in the weekend. But really, can they tell that far in advance? the bottom line is get out, bike, sample some wines and relax. It's the unofficial start of summer!

Besides the fun that always exists in around Hermann, there are some concerts going. Kevin Schriewer and the Century Quartet will be performing at the hofgarten on May 23rd from 6-9. The Showboat Theater has Peoples of the World International Music & Dance Concert at 2pm on the 23rd. While the Hermann City Band will perform at Messmer Amphitheater on the 25th at 7:30. For more details visit http://www.hermannmo.info/calendar-of-events/.

No matter what your love is, you can find it in Hermann!