Friday Street Food

One of the most famous German Sausages or Bratwurst is the Thuringian Rostbratwurst, which is brought to you in this German Street Food in Berlin Episode.  According to the Purity Law, this Bratwurst may only be processed with high-quality meat.  This meat comes with spices that vary greatly depending on the region within Thuringia.  In addition to the classic Thuringian Bratwurst, there are also Currywurst, the delicious Merguez sausages made from Beef and small Thuringian Sausages in a fresh bun. 

Up to 15 different types of Mustard are offered, which are made by the Weber Senf Manufaktur from Austria using traditional craftsmanship and the best ingredients.  Both the Sauerkraut, the Potato Salad, the Thyme Grilled Potatoes and the Ketchup as well as the Curry Sauce are made in-house.

The Tannenwalder Sausage Roastery Team, serve everything in Berlin from their mobile snack bar. 

Every Thursday, 12pm to 7pm, Organic Market at Kollwitzplatz, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin 

Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Weekly Market at Kollwitzplatz, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

If memory serves, it's possible we visited the farmers market there in Berlin last March.  May by not.  I'd have to find the photos from that day to see if there is any evidence of this set-up.... 

Snow Falling On Cedars

The title of this post is after a 1994 novel by David Guterson; winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the American Booksellers' Book of the Year Award, among others.  For reasons of sexual content and profanity this title is frequently banned in the United States.  It's a good book - I might even have a copy on my bookshelf if you care to borrow it.  But I digress.

The snow falling on the cedars in my woods triggered the trail camera.  It's maddening if you're downloading fifteen second silent video vignettes.

But it is pretty..... 

February Night Sky

New moon tomorrow.  Our moon will rise and set with the sun which means dark skies for viewing heavenly bodies.

If you reside or are traveling somewhere in the southern hemisphere there is a minor meteor shower for the month of February.  The Alpha Centaurids are active from January 28 to February 21 every year.  It peak is usually around February 8 producing up to six shooting stars per hour.  If you're stuck north of the equator like me - tough luck.

Fingers-crossed for clear conditions.

Talking Turkey

Three photos from a tail camera burst shot.  Gobblers in the snow.....

Blue Lightening

Getting used to driving features on the Mustang Mach E.

On a freeway the Intelligent Automated Cruise Control keeps the vehicle between the lines - fog line on the right and center line on the left.  It is a variation on the self driving technology; but scolds you if you take a hand off the wheel.  

Ford's BlueCruise is activated when you hit the far left button on the steering wheel.  Immediately you are in Autonomous mode.

Lane Change Assist can help drivers move thru traffic on the freeway with more confidence while using BlueCruise.  The system will perform a hands-free lane change when requested by the driver tapping the turn signal.  And it can even suggest if a lane change would be beneficial when following slow-moving traffic. 

Predictive Speed Assist automatically and adjusts the speed as drivers approach a sharp curve and helps signal the driver ahead of time when a speed change is about to occur so they understand why the vehicle is slowing.

In-Lane Repositioning makes the hands-free driving experience feel more natural, keeping the vehicle in its lane while subtly shifting the vehicle's position away from the vehicles in adjacent lanes.  This is especially welcome when driving next to a big semi.

On a round trip to Green Bay it handled a cluster of vehicles.  Six passenger cars passing on the left, slowing for semi ahead followed by a lane change and return to speed.

Huge learning curve and taking some time to get used-to..... 

 

Tattoo

 

 

Found on the web.

Quite possibly be the best tattoo evah!

 

Furbearer

Meet Mustela vision - the American mink.

For purposes of scale here is a photo taken from the same camera of garden variety cat.

The American mink is a semi-aquatic species of mustelid (weasels, badgers, otters, martens and wolverines) native to North America.  I have found this critter's tracks in the snow over the years and trail camera photos only a couple of times in the last ten years. 

A strict carnivore, mink feed on mice, voles, rabbits, muskrats, frogs, fish and crayfish.  They also prey-upon birds and their eggs.  As a strong and agile swimmer much of their food is obtained closer to the shoreline habitat.

With the exception of the mating season this is a solitary critter.  Polygamous both sexes will mate with multiple partners but it is the females that raise the young.  Breeding around here  begins in March.  Litter sizes range from two to eight  (typically four) and the young become independent at six months of age.

Unlike some weasels this critter does not turn white with winter.  The pelt (fur) of this animals is quite valuable; as a consequence, domestic farming of mink provides the majority of the fur that is brought to market. 

This species' conservation status is of least concern.