Life goes on while America figures out how to count the ballots cast in Tuesday’s presidential election. I think I’ll have some observations on that tomorrow, whether they have finished by then or not.

There is beauty in nature, whether you are looking for it or not. In this case I wish I had had my camera with me, not just my phone, but I wasn’t expecting it.

With the approach of winter, the sun is setting earlier these days – just after 5 p.m. this week. Monday was a warm day (21 C) and we had an impromptu barbecue with some neighbors.

We had been trying to get together for months for some Afghani barbecue, but the municipal grilling area was closed all summer due to extremely dry conditions. Monday, thanks to some recent rains, it was open. We knew it would be dark by the time we ate, but thought it might be a last chance.

The chicken and lamb had been marinated in something that I think was yoghurt based. We brought the salad and some drinks and snacks. The food was ready just as darkness fell.

It can be pretty dark in the Black Forest. Our neighbor said he had never eaten outside in the dark before. His wife was worried about wild animals.

Nevertheless it was a beautiful scene, with the lights of Laufen twinkling in the distance. A tasty meal in special circumstances.

I took these photos while the meat was on the grill and darkness was approaching. The mountain range in the background is in France, Les Vosges, in case you are trying to figure out the geography.