Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Dog share

As I child I always dreamed of owning a dog, but there was never time and space for an animal that couldn't be eaten. My granddad had rabbits and some sheep - both were fed to land on our plates. :(

Once I moved into my own flat I could have had a dog - but I didn't know anything about dogs and would have to leave it alone all day. Later I learned to treasure my sleep in the morning and pitied the dog owners who have to get out in every weather at times when we cuddle up cosily at home. 

So when our youngest daughter wanted a dog, my husband and I were sure to say no......7 years ago one of our daughter's friends got a dog - that day we kind of lost our child. They are always at her friend's place. Well, I can understand....

Last year we got new neighbours and now they have the most adorable young doggy. Only heaven knows how many races are mixed in Mimi, but she's the best dog ever! All children in our tiny street love to care for Mimi and even most of the adult give her a hug, when she's on her own outside. This summer our daughter had the best holiday ever: a dog next door, eager to go for far bicycle rides, walks and playing ball and frisby. We don't need to go for a walk with her at 6 am or in the rain at 10 pm, but can enjoy all her good sides.

Ok, she loves barking at cyclists (not taking her along), but once we shout out of our windows to be quiet, she listens to us. 




Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Homemade

When our girls were small, they loved to help in the kitchen. Usually it took much longer to get everything done, but they learned a lot. Their favorite kitchen work was baking - and still is. By now there's almost a competition who is allowed to make a cake for the family, although even more often they make cakes, biscuits and muffins for their friends, work-mates and parties.

As there are still school holidays and only one daughter is at home, she was overwhelmed by her longing for fresh wafers today. So when I came home with my weekly shopping, I was welcomed by the smell of baking - and wafers.

In our family it's not only a question of saving money but also of pride of being able to make lovely cakes to spoil our family and guests.



Sunday, 28 July 2013

Stormy nights

Last night we were fortunate to have only a tame thunder storm moving fast through our valley. For a long time there was lots of lightning and distance growls with 2 thunders near us and some soft and welcome rain.

Other areas were less lucky - they had heavy rains flooding basements and hail storms with huge ice cubes destroing cars, windows and crops.

After another hot and sticky day more thunderstorms might be brewing right now and we might have more sleepless hours tonight. Laying awake, I try to count my blessings of staying in a firm house - not sleeping in a tent (although I love camping), having a garage for our car and an insurance if nature is hitting us. These thoughts make is easy to go back to sleep, once the groweling stops.



Saturday, 27 July 2013

Summer - time for Barbeques

One of the things I like about summertime are BBQs - because I don't need to cook. :)

Today we had invited friends and friendly neighbours for a cosy evening in our garden. Just when we had everything nicely prepared outside, the sun disappeared and growling black clouds came threatening....Luckily the thunderstorm and rain went to other places and by the time the guests arrived we had a balmy summer evening. 

Yes, there was meat and sausages on the grill - but we also had vegetables and cheese there for those who rather play with animals.


It still is a balmy night outside, but the mosquitos made us go inside. It's no fun playing a harp while one is eaten alive. ;)

Friday, 26 July 2013

Saving petrol

Petrolprices are rising constantly over here - they might drop on one day, only to rise again the next. Of course, we don't like it - but we usually just see the prices while cycling past the petrol station. Not only during our holidays, but every day.

We're a family of 4 and have 3 driving licences, but our one car still spends more time in the garage instead of driving around. All 4 of us are working/going to school not further than 5 km /3 miles from home and usually all cycle to work/school - unless it's really bad weather (rain without storm isn't bad).

Today was perfect cycle weather, but our daughter refused to cycle into to town where she had to get a photo for her health card. She didn't want to look sweaty - well, she would have looked sweaty if we had gone by car, as we have no air condition. So she went by bus and arrived much later than I did. At least she has a holiday travel ticket for the whole county and can travel as far as Hamburg by bus and train with it. Cycling on to my work place I did again become sweaty and I had to get there for a photo as well. Luckily we have water at work and I brought a towel to look sparkling for the newspaper photo.


My daily transport.

Thursday, 25 July 2013

Perfect work day

On Thursday I usually work "long" hours as we already open at 12 instead of 3 in the afternoon. Today I was lucky as I got a huge pile of wine boxes to unpack - and once I am busy, the customers suddenly remember they need wine for garden parties, as presents and for relaxing evenings. Nobody had to wait long and I really enjoyed the day.

When I put sparkling wine called "Asti" on the shelf, I had to think of my Granddad who always had a bottle of Asti beside his bed! I don't think, he drank much - but this sweet drink was his favorite and we children rather had a little bit from him than of any other alcoholic drink. ;) He seldom had to buy it himself as he usually got a huge amount for his birthday in June and another pile for Xmas. Maybe Asti was one of the reasons he lived as long as 98 - if he had got a bottle now and then in the nursery home, he might have made the 100 - who knows?



Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Thunder and Lightning

Once the summer gets hot, thunderstorms start brewing. When I was small, my grandma used to tell us, God was angry (with us) and thundering. She hated thunderstorms and usually sat by the window, watching where the lighting went, with a small case with all important papers beside her. I felt save, knowing she was watching for all of us. I still remember the smell of heavy summer rain on the flowers outside in our nursery.

Today it was grumbling in the sky all afternoon and although we saw one or two lightnings, the storm stayed in the distance. We got some welcome summer rain to give nature a rest - and I put my second load of washing on my line in the basement.

Now it's perfect outside for some harp playing. :)



Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Why just now?

Right now it's the best time of the year - but I feel totally off-key. Until now I didn't give the side affects of the menopause much attention - it's just part of our life.  In Winter I even welcomed the hot flashes - but now they give me really nasty feelings with exhaustion and depression on top. Thank you very much, but I don't want it - never and especially not now!

Maybe I should find myself a little island and think of all my blessings....



Monday, 22 July 2013

Perfekt weekend in a different world

Back from a perfekt weekend. Not very far - just about 30 minutes by car - a large medieval/fantasy festival takes place every year in July. More than 150 stalls sell food, drinks and goodies, most adapted to those things we believe nowadays to have been used, eaten and drunk in medieval times. Many visitors dress up in medieval or fantasy costumes, some just add some garments with a medieval touch to their ordinary clothes. (me as well!)



The real fans of those times even have medieval tents and show the visitors medieval life with cooking over open fire, eating from wooden dishes and leaving their tents open to offer a view of wooden beds covered with fur. In the evening many candles give the whole place a romantic feeling.

On 4 stages many bands are playing and jugglers show their tricks. There are play grounds made of bales of straw and a sandy beach for the kids to play. Several times knights make a show, fighting on horse back - and later on children can copy them with wooden horses.

There's simply so much to watch to remember ordinary days - one just slips into medieval times! To make it even more fun the weather was very summer like this year - and although this made thousands of people join the event, the festival is big enough to give space and not feel crowded.

I've already started a photo album, but will add some more during the week - just in case, you're interested....

Medieval phantasy festival

Saturday, 20 July 2013

Summer evening

Right now the weather asks to spend time, especially evening time in the garden - to have nice memories for the cold months.


Now I'm off to a journey in time - going back to medieval times - far away from computers....

Thursday, 18 July 2013

An ordinary workday

Work wasn't really as much entertaining as I would have loved, although I had some nice customers. Most of the time I spent carrying a delivery of 30 boxes of wine into the basement, making presents for customers either in a hurry or who don't care about the wines they are giving away and preparing special offers. Right now it's the perfekt weather for a nicely chilled glas of wine outside in the evening.



Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Busy on my own

With both girls away it already feels a little bit like an empty nest. Cooking only half the usual amount and not caring about the dislikes of one of our daughters. Although they don't need my company very much when they are at home, I feel rather lost, being on my own all day. Of course I can leave to go for company any time - but right now there's too much to do around the house.
At least I have nice memories of my trip to Bavaria last weekend.

Have a look at one of the pretty acient towns of the area "Franken":

Würzburg in Bavaria

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Throwing the dice

Tuesday in summer. The girls are on holidays. Last week I worked extra hours, so I only work one day this week. Plenty of time for chores on my endless list - but chores are boring and make me feel lonely. I'd rather go cycling or play my harp in the garden to my neighbours' delight. 
I better throw a dice to find out with which chore to begin......