Somewhere over the hills, behind the clouds.....

...lies a small town called Graefenberg.

Last weekend the market place of this town turned into a medieval village with a stage. 

Before I could go to that place I attended the school leaving celebration at the school of our youngest daughter. She wanted to celebrate that day with her friends rather than her old parents, so I went to the station and travelled south towards sunny Nuremberg. From there a local train took me straight into a heavy thunder storm and when I reached my destination a water fall fell from heaven. Although I had a rain coat and umbrella, it was far too much water to walk anywhere. I took shelter at a bus stop and luckily a bus arrived and took me up the steep hill near the market place.

There my friends of the band Dunkelschoen were waiting with the other bands in the room of a driving school until the rain would stop. Right then the lighting was on top of us and we heard it strike somewhere near by. Later we learned, that the lightning had gone into an electricity line and melted two cash register at two shops not far from the venue. I suppose the guardian angels did their best to save the festival!

Finally the rain stopped and I could set up all the things I like to sell at the concerts of Dunkelschoen and decorate my "shop" with lights, candles and ivy.

The headliner of that day had their stuff already on display, but the first band came last, as the don't have a help to sell their stuff. The drummer set up the CDs and some small things, like button. As he was needed on stage during the concert, I offered to keep an eye on his stuff and try to sell some of it.

When Dunkelschoen went on stage, a friend offered to keep an eye on my goodies, so I could take some photos and enjoy a few songs in front of the stage. It's amazing, but I still feel the magic of these special musicians and their music - after more than 30 concerts. They make me feel completely happy and content.

For one song they ask for help from the audience and they keep everyone clapping to one of the songs getting faster and faster. The rest of the programm I send my friend to the stage and listened to the music from my stall. 

Unfortunately most of the inhabitants of Graefenberg had gone to bed or fled during the thunder storm and there were rather few people at the festival, which was extremely sad for the organiser, but also for the bands playing until midnight.

While the last band was on stage, we packed our stuff and travelled for 3,5 hours at night to a hotel at the place of the next concert on Saturday.

Homepage Dunkelschoen

Forest of Gnomes

Not very far from us two castles on one hill look over the river. The story goes that in this mountain used to be a cave where gnomes were living. Sadly I can't tell you more about them, but when you walk from the lower castle to the castle on the top of the hill, you'll meet many little gnoms - fixed up in the trees. I hope, I found them all.

Perfect summer sunday

This year summer doesn't really feel like summer. There are summer like days - but then it cools down and we need socks and jumpers again.

Yesterday was a real summer's day and I ignored all chores. My husband and I made a cycle trip across the country, cycling up some hills to get fit for our holiday around the lake of Constance.

Then we stayed in our garden, getting some sun and finally relaxing in the shade of our terrace. It's great to have meals outside and play harp outside again. The past summers I did that every day - this year only 3 times so far. 

In the evening wild geese were flying around our house and were having dinner on the neightbour field. 

Just a perfect day.

Alive and trying to catch up....

The past 8 weeks have been spinning along like a summer storm. My work-mate is still on sick-leave but hopes to come back soon. My boss was back from holiday and went again today. Time to catch up with the happy moments of the past weeks - there have been many!

Right before my last blog post I had been to a cosy medieval market with two very well known bands of the area. Due to working I was a bit late, but got the last parking lot near the castle ruins of Vlotho. Thanks to a friend who has a friend that had a shop in a medieval tent there, I could leave my warm clothes there (badly needed at night) and enjoy a very peaceful afternoon/evening/night.

Of course I was in front of the stage when first Oropher and later Sonor Teutonicus were playing. Between the concerts I had a close look at all the goods offered for sale, had some food and drink and talked to old and new acquaintances. Knights were having fights, women did their needlework and the view over the river was really nice.

 Oropher with belly dancer

 Sonor Teutonicus

 Breakdance to medieval music.

Fireshow at night.

After midnight it was time to go home with many lovely memories.

Playing harp in Church

Yesterday was called "Sunday Cantate" in German protestant churches. For this occasion I was asked to let my harp "sing" during the church service. I'm not really a church goer and can't remember the last time I went to a regular service without any special event like wedding, christening or konfirmation and it was also the first time with our new pastor. 

We got the best spot in the church - the centre in front of the altar where everyone could see me playing. Although I didn't see the audience I was a bit nervous and made a couple of mistakes. With a violin it might have sounded queer, but a harp sounds always wonderful and everyone was delighted about the unusual sounds and asked me to bring the harp again.

Listen to Planxty Kelly played in church

Busy times on my own

These days speed far too fast to find time to blog. When my boss went on holiday I started to work more hours. Today my work-mate had to go into hospital unexpectedly. Now I'm on my own to keep the shop going. That's no problem, but I'd love an house-elf at home.

Luckily I can see the evening sky from our kitchen window while doing the dishes late in the evening.

Asparagus & Wine Celebration

The past weekend was very busy at work: all the preparations for our spring event: #Asparagus & Wine Celebration. Visitors could taste many kinds of wine from Germany and France and also eat different dishes with asparagus - and drink wine with it, of course! 

There was a lot to prepare at the mall to make everything run smoothly on Saturday. It worked out nicely, although more visitors could have been served. Later in the afternoon everything had to be cleared away as the party room at the mall was used for a family celebration on Sunday.  It was a long day that ended with a relaxed glass of wine.

On Sunday all helping persons were invited to eat and drink the left overs. As I brought my harp, I didn't drink any wine that day as I had to drive it home with our car. I got my share of wine to take home - but being surrounded by wine all weekend, I don't fancy drinking it right now.

Tasting tables:

Foods: Fried asparagus with either ham or salmon

 Asparagus Quiche

 Asparagus soup or asparagus with potatoes and ham

 

Dining room

 Wine bar

Asparagus skinning machine: