The Storks are Back!

 

Well, well, well - NOT the best photo ever taken...one can't even see their long red beaks - but I had (as often) only my cell-phone with me. The storks are back - the little Bavarian town has many of them, building their heavy nests - if possible - on the same place every year.  

People tell that they are very faithful not only to their home but to their partners too - though sadly :-) I discovered a scientific article which hummed "Needles and Pins" and diminished this soothing myth - ah, the world is such a tough place!  

And the storks become a bit lazy (shall I draw a parallel there to us Europeans - no, "Cobbler, stick to your trade!"), - many of them stayed here all winter long, deciding that the grass is not always greener on the other side - a very rare insight.  

Sometimes a herons visits, or, seldom, the oh so beautiful Chinese egret. 

Now follows an early morning photo through my window, just before the sun rises - lots of mists, and when they rise it reveals a beautiful white hoar frosted valley. 

When I tried to find a better photo of storks I found a screenshot from myself, 2016 - staring into the mists of the future after my personal tsunami. 

9 years are long time to test the limits of my resilience -  

well, till now I put up a good fight I believe. 

Sheep and Imbole

 

Twice a year we have the stunning sight of hundreds of sheep grazing in the water meadow. 

The farmers, owner of the meadows, are not as happy as the triplets: sheep squish their ground. 

I read that the Celts celebrated on the first of February  "Imbole": that means "in the belly (abdomen)" and might be   related to the lambing of sheep. 

As February mornings are still very cold it is fascinating to watch them: the sheep look as if they are literally frozen to the ground - not one is moving! For hours - no movement, not even a curl! From my window I cannot see their eyes :-) 

So I have to wait till around 10:30 a.m. - then the dog stirs them up and they hesitatingly chew a few iced blades of grass. 

The shepherd is a big disappointment - nothing romantic about him. He stuffed himself into an old car, he can hardly move because of his corpulence (to put it politely) and out of the open car window hangs a dog leash for the one who does the work for him. 

Woof! 

 

Country Living "Seasons At Seven Gates Farm"

I got it! This beautiful book arrived yesterday. 

My blog-friend "A Super Dilettante" mentioned it in his blog "Thoughts From A Life", in an abundant post about Christmas. Thank you! 

When I stay in my secondary home in Bavaria (which seems to turn more and more into a main residence) I can enjoy nature so much more, and  the long walks through fields and woods are calming. 

As in Berlin I am lucky to have a large balcony, this one is "A Room With A View" - meaning I look into a large valley with a little river, the valley bordered by woods on hills. 

And not to forget the ever changing spectacle of the sky! 

So: I am very much nearer to the seasons of the year than in our capital Berlin. 

I will pick a few of the many beautiful ideas from that book to mirror the seasons on the balcony (inside too, but there is not that much room, and I do not want to overload it). 

My balcony in Berlin - when I lived there full-time - was a really beautiful sight. Now it is still beautiful, but then it was ravishing. That is not longer possible, I already feel guilty that my French neighbour Gabriele kindly waters my roses and wine and other plants - so I will not add more whimsical touches. When she is in France I water her plants. 

 

Loathing perfection, yet adoring beauty.

 

Yesterday I was very happy to be there in my flat in Bavaria when the carollers came along and blessed the house. Glued the blessing over my front door. 

Later I choose a motto for 2025, a quote out of Nabil Fanous book "The Universal Rules of Life":

It is Rule 1:  "Do it now, perfect it later." 

He meant me, I am quite sure. And of cause he is right: "Intentions aren't the same as action." So I spare you my New Year's resolutions. I have them - but if they only exist in my head or my heart I shall keep my mouth shut. (Haha - that's one of my New Year's resolutions: I talk too much - that takes away a lot of energy - mine, and that of others). 

I always admire people in films: taciturn and wise they LISTEN to the other one and only utter one wise half-sentence in 15 minutes. My only excuse: I worked as a councillor - and in my long life I listened 30.000 hours (!) to 30.000 young people. Which I did with high interest, really - but after that I took a deep breath and started to talk more myself - and now I train myself to listen - again). 

I wish all of you a good start in 2025! 

Merry Christmas!

 

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Stay healthy (or become healthy), be happy and content, and I send you my very best wishes for 2025. 

Yours Truly,  and Toodle Pip,      

Britta 

PS: You see our Bavarian village square with the church in the background. 

Hindsight...

 Dear You, 

I fear that I tried to bite off more than I can chew - to write everyday a post is too much for me (especially in the days before Christmas) - and evidently for you too: we all have so many things to do!  

I will return to normal posting and use the time to read and comment yours, to follow my many interests and tasks - in short: have a good time. 

And that is what I wish for you too: a very good time, stay healthy, don't overdo the preparations for Christmas - just enjoy! 

Yours truly,   Britta  

Very sweet "Kitsch"

 

Dear You, 

I love Japan and the relaxing atmosphere of calmness in their houses. 

To create calmness in a room, one needs space and order.  As dear William Morris said "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful", (I love "or believe to be" - so undogmatic!).

Yet sometimes I need a little bit of heartwarming "Kitsch". 

I smile when I see my very kitsch cat-bank - it has two 'golden' bells in its paws which wobble when I put money into the bank. The cat sits fat on a little silk cushion and smiles (in a minimalist's way). 

So: A little bit of kitsch: fine. But one has to beware of too much.