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. :)

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....

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

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....

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.

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

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......