*Little mountain trip

{Music: Loveland (Milky Chance cover) – Ocie Elliott}

We have been on a little mountain trip last weekend to have a change of air and a calm time. Our last time in the mountains is already two years ago and Sunny was with us. He loved such trips and I miss him every day! Time is flying so fast! Weather was still quite cool, but the view was stunning and we saw wild ibexes again.

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*watercolor update

At least once a year I’m painting a tower that is surrounded by giant flowers. It is a comfort motif to which I love to return artwise. Same with animals with fruits and birds. 

May has started with a bit of very welcome rain, but now the sun is out and I spent the most time in the garden and resowed flowers that had not survived the strong late spring frosts. My little rabbit (the one from my last video) was sitting in my rucola patch and has observed me all day while working. He did not even escape when Ronald mowed the lawn. I enjoy his presence very much.

I also planted my new sorts of dahlias and overall I can't wait until all the flowers start to bloom!

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*Through the April weather

{Music: I'm looking through you – Oak Studios + Summer – Oak Studios}

We had it all this April:

Summer temperatures,

frost & snow,

rain & hail

and a lot of wind!

It's never boring with all the wildlife in and around our garden.

Now I'm happy to welcome one of my favorite months of the year, the merry month of May!

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*winter roses

Forecasts were right, it's snowing!

The winter roses started to bloom in early January this year and still did not stop. I wanted to prick my tiny tomato seedlings today in the greenhouse, but I think I will skip this due to the weather situation. I better make some more tea now and keep the kitchen fire going :)

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*Starting the garden year

{Music: Andromeda – Jacopo Croci}

A new garden year has finally started –

I have missed having my hands in the soil!

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*heralds of spring

The typical April weather has arrived.

After the short warm period, we had some rain.

Sun and clouds are alternating and we have frost again.

Even snow is predicted.

A mix of everything.

I started reading "The ten thousand doors" by Alix E. Harrow and so far I really enjoy it. My favorite morning drink is tumeric tea at the moment, maybe because it has a stimulating effect to the blood flow and is warming the body from inside. Ever since I was so sick in winter I have issues with blood circulation and I lost half of my hair. I never had so little hair in my whole life, but since some days I feel the hair loss goes back a bit and I'm hopeful that they will start to grow back in summer. It was just a too big strain for the body. But the body is really a miracle! It always thrives towards balance again.

Further I started reading & working with the book "The artists way" by Julian Cameron. I was still a teenager when I first read it and I only remember the "morning pages" and I think I did not finish all exercises, so I thought I start with it again. I'm sure most of you know this book already. If so, what have been your experiences with it, did it help you in any way?

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*the endless joy of a flower garden

April is all about the garden so far.

I started seeds, prepared the garden beds, welcomed the first Roman snails and pruned the berries. We had the first 28 degrees and the apple trees are already in full bloom and even the lilacs are blooming already, they usually open their first flowers in May here. It seems all is blooming at once this year and not gradually as usual. Every year is so different and all we can do is to observe and trying to adapt to it.

I'm looking forward to try some new flowers this year, I have seeds of a light pink summer aster and a few new dahlia bulbs and I want to grow straw flowers again. Marie sent me some seeds of her pink filled hollyhocks last year and I hope I get the first seedlings through the year, so they will eventually bloom next year! Yes, patience is indicated!

Do you have special garden plans for this year?

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*March moments & Easter preparations

{Music: The Heart Harmonicon – Colleen}

Just some little moments, collected in the month of March. 

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*Easter hedgehog

Happy Easter Sunday!

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*rising in spring

March is coming to an end already. I feel like feeling the taste of food in my mouth for the fist time again after a long period of starvation regarding my creativity and general vital force. I'm coming slowly back to life like nature and I could not be any more grateful. Still there is so much going on, so many worries all around and inside, but after a time of beneficial self isolation, I feel more stable inside of me again.

Early in the morning, when the moon was resting over the village, Rudi (the pheasant that sits under the quince tree in our garden each day) and I got startled by the ratchet boys. They are coming with their bikes to make a short stop and scream. An Easter rite of that I'm not really fond of. Silence is precious and rare.

The apricot bloom was followed by the wonderful vibrant pink bloom of the peach trees and right now the cherry trees are opening their first blossoms and yesterday I saw the first open tulips! I got used to the slower spring pace here. I almost did not film at all this month, last recordings have been of the little deer in our garden. After it died, I felt opposed to take up my camera. But yesterday when I decorated the Easter bush, I started to take up filming again and I hope it will bring me some joy again.

In any case I wish you a wonderful Easter weekend!

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