Fraulein Lorelei's Oktoberfest

Fraulein Lorelei (left) with Fraulein McKenna at Oktoberfest.

To say we’re pooped would be quite an understatement. This past weekend, we celebrated Oktoberfest in honor of Lorelei turning one. We called it “Frauelein Lorelei’s Oktoberfest.”

About 75 people made it, so this  . . . this was a big party. We rented a large, 15 x 15 bounce house for the kiddos, bought 6 cases of beer, countless bottles of wine, even more bottles of water and juice boxes, 48 bratwursts, and 3 packages of hot dogs for kids. Chris made an enormous batch of his mom’s German potato salad, and I made a double batch of cooked red cabbage. We were still up at midnight on Friday night before the party, peeling, peeling, peeling potatoes. Now I know why we only to German potato salad at Easter.

For sweets and mustards (yes, mustards—plural), we made a big trip to the Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe in Virginia, an authentic German bakery.

There we obtained 3 kinds of German mustards and a oodles and oodles of German pastries. Oh, and LOTS of large, soft pretzels, which took Chris straight back to his youthful days in Germany. Me, I wouldn't know an authentic German pretzel from a Wetzel's Pretzel in the mall, so it was good I had him along, plus his stamp of approval.

I baked what were supposed to be Black Forest cupcakes, but I ran out of time and had to make just plain old chocolate cupcakes. I think they were better that way. The little Bavarian flags sticking out of them helped.

I decked out the deck (there’s a fun sentence!) with Oktoberfest flags and tablecloths. Oompah music and German drinking songs, mixed with many renditions of “Die Lorelei,” played through the outdoor (and indoor, for that matter) speakers.

We kept the fruit tarts, cupcakes, and wine indoors, so as to not . . . well, ruin them in the sun.

Dessert table, a few hours in.

Bratwurst, red cabbage, pretzel, and German potato salad table, before the party.

Deck set up. Lots of space.

Finally, it was time for Fraulein Lorelei’s Oktoberfest, and by 3:00 on Saturday, I was MORE than ready to open an Oktoberfest brew and have a good time.

Fortunately, no rain ruined our party, but it was quite toasty—pushing 90 degrees. A breeze showed us mercy and the sun lowered enough to not directly blast our guests after a short while, so it worked out. The kids—all very red-faced in the bounce house—stayed out of their parents’ hair, which was its purpose. It was a big hit.

Steps provided more seating.

Bounce house glee.

Rickey and Charlotte in the bounce house. Her bright red face here cracks me up.

Fraulein Charlotte, enjoying some Bienenstich.

The deck held up well—it’s fabulously designed for entertaining, with lots of room for sitting, standing, and mingling. It just worked.

We were so glad so many people took the time to come to Oktoberfest, have a beer, and wish our little fraulein well. At one point, I managed to steal away from my hostess duties to the back corner of the deck and told myself to LOOK UP and LOOK AROUND—folks were laughing and smiling and seeming to have a good time, and I told myself to REMEMBER THIS, not the fact I forgot to put out the pumpkin pie until 6:00 or Charlotte’s (temporary) reluctance to enter the crazy bounce house.

Even a couple days later, Oktoberfest music is still oompahing in my head.

Happy birthday, Fraulein Lorelei.