Snippets from my life in Germany…
It has been a short while since I added anything to this page (I have just realised to be honest) and it is time to remedy that! I have been busy. Beautifully busy creating a life for us and then living it. In between all that, I have written another two books which will be out next year (2022) and a whole lotta bag patterns but in the mean time, these things have happened….
We had a family walk on the heath with the dogs just recently and we saw some of the beautiful indigenous sheep in the distance. I remember looking at their tiny shapes wistfully and wishing that they were closer. We are not allowed to walk on the heath so we cannot go to them. Then suddenly they were right beside us. Thank you shepherd and your excellent dog!
The garden has been steadily getting better and better but we have decided to add bed sides after all because our naughty blackbirds have been scruffing all of the good compost onto the paths and wasting it. It is great to have the added neatness! I put some purple kale in for the winter and the compost has all stayed put. Me: 1, blackbirds: 0.
One of my lockdown activities was to learn watercolour. I did that and I was pleased with the results. Then I became fascinated with what might be possible with coloured pencils. This is what I came up with and I am a bit pleased with him. Love painting Kookaburras (about the only thing that I miss about Australia I am sorry to say!).
I went out for my walk this morning (we have a lovely little forest at the end of our road) and this was the sight that greeted me in the driveway. How gorgeous! The autumn colours are just beginning and the light is awesome. Mind you, that driveway wants weeding badly!
Because autumn is upon us now, we are taking ever little opportunity to eat outside while we can. One of my lockdown activities was to learn to make a proper pan pizza. this one even has grilled Padron Chillis from our garden (never guessed that I could grow THEM in Germany!).
Every time I get a rainy Sunday, I take to my art materials and draw something else. I am so addicted to birds and this little guy is an Australian Blue Wren. We used to get a lot of them on the farm. I also made some pencil pots out of washed out food cans which I covered with scrapbooking paper offcuts in the colours of the pencils that they would house.
The heath around our area has been blooming and it is awesome to look at. This is what makes our home here a national park and the heath is a protected species. We are not allowed to pick it thank goodness and there are some stiff fines for anyone who thinks that they can get away with it.
More crafty business but this time, Halloween cards which is not far off now. I am seriously thinking about opening another Etsy shop to sell them. I adore making them (and other cards for other occasions too) but there are only so many people to give them too. It would give me a reason for making. What do you think?
I thought that it was time I drew a European bird so I started off with this little Kingfisher. Comfort zone stuff because I love drawing and painting Kookaburras so a cousin seemed to be the best choice.
Well what a busy week it has been! The weather is amazing and the garden looks wonderful. We have been tipped to reach 35°C here in North Germany.
We had our first harvest from the garden this week! I am ridiculously proud and we ate the best tasting potatoes with good butter and mint from the herb bed.
Right alongside the mint, the Edelweiss is blooming. I love this little flower. There is so much symbolism and sentiment in those delicate little blossoms.
The watercolour learning thanks to You Tube and some great books from my library is coming along. I love painting kookaburras. I will post a better lit pic when he is finished!
Sun is out and that means Mediterranean food on the terrace!
We are playing host to family of five Mistle Thrush. They are nesting in our rose arch and do not seem to mind us sitting about five metres away at the table. I love that.
My lockdown activity #455892 was to teach myself watercolour. I have done a lot of drawing and also acrylic painting but I have always been afraid of watercolour- it is so different to acrylic! This little bird is my first ever attempt. I put him far too low down on the page but otherwise, I can live with this!
We have an old cherry tree in our garden (inherited from the previous owners) and we actually got a harvest this year! I picked them green and allowed them to ripen inside and they were quite nice. Not the ones I would have chosen but sweet and tasted of summer.
I visited a garden centre with my friend on Wednesday. These hydrangeas!! My pudgy hand gives you some idea of the size of them!
Well if there is one thing that I can grow it is sage! My herb garden is flourishing and the sage is doing best of all.
We have had some rain and the veggie patch is getting going. The pigeons have set the Brassicas back a bit by deciding to harvest them early but I have covered them in bird netting now and they are bouncing back.