*Garden days in June & making St. John's wort oil

{Music: Between – Gideon Matthew  + Flying – Gideon Matthew}

Collecting flowers,

making St. John's wort oil,

tending the garden beds,

lots of poppies,

tea time &

the first blooming zinnias.

St. John’s Wort Oil

Collect fresh blossoms on a sunny day and let them wilt slightly for half a day. Place the flowers into a clean glass jar and press them down with a wooden spoon. Then pour a good-quality oil (olive oil or almond oil) over them until fully covered. Cover the jar with a light cloth and let it “breathe” for 3 to 4 days. After that, seal the jar properly and let it sit for 4 to 6 weeks in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. Shake it regularly. After 4 to 6 weeks, strain the oil and pour it into a bottle.

The most important areas of application of St. John’s wort oil:

• dry and sensitive skin

• neurodermatitis and skin inflammation

• mood enhancement

• acne and acne scars

• wounds and scars

• insect bites

• burns

• soothes the skin after sunburn

• joint pain, muscle soreness, and muscle tension

☙

*slow days in June

Because of a new reactivation of borreliosis, June turned out to be another slow and rather difficult month. But with us being in the middle of a heat wave, things would have slowed down away. So all we can do is to cope with the 37°C temperatures in the shade and make the best of it.

Before I got sick again, I managed to preserve a lot of cherries and berries. We had so many strawberries from our garden this year that I was even able to make strawberry jam. It has been years since I last made strawberry jam and back then it wasn't even with strawberries from our garden. That makes this year's jam feel like an extra special treat.

Due to the circumstances, I took a month-long break from filming, but the little patch of St. John's wort behind the greenhouse made me pick up my camera again and film a little. I hope you are able to cope with this intense summer heat and manage to get out to a lovely river to wade barefoot in the water! I'm daydreaming about this right now!

☙

*the sun

The sun breaks through the dense foliage.

I catch a glimpse of the mountains

while I hold your hand in pain.

Summer has not even started,

yet it already weighs heavy on my chest.

Like a snail crossing a street,

I have to trust

that I will safely reach the other side.

{Claudia Voglhuber}

☙

*Into early summer with all senses

{Music: Hullabaloo – Emy May Ellis + Lull – Matteo de Grandis}

Early summer light,

collecting fresh herbs,

tending the garden,

nature sounds

and bare feet.

☙

*Kitty bonnet #2

Here is the second kitty bonnet I knitted last month using some leftover wool I still had in my yarn stash. At first, I was a little unsure about the color combination, but the longer I look at it, the more I like it. The pattern is once again from @rhirhi.knits.

☙

*watercolor paintings

So happy to finally share the first

watercolor painting update of the year!

I hope you enjoy them!

☙

*from spring to summer

Some analogues from last month. 

Meanwhile, spring seems to be turning into summer very quickly.

Temperatures are climbing to 31 degrees, and all I do is work in the garden or sit at my desk painting, taking breaks in between. Almost all plants have found their spot in the garden beds by now, only a few are still waiting in the greenhouse. 

In one of our neighboring villages, there is a little stream where ducks are always swimming around, mostly Indian Runner ducks. Because of this, they call it the “Bacherlebnisdorf” (“stream experience village”). Drivers have to be careful because the ducks stay very close to the roadside and regularly cross the road, but it’s always a bit of a highlight to watch them. They are truly natural traffic controllers.

☙

*Spring gardening & peaceful home moments

{Music: Lavender Fields – James Quinn + Breathe – Gideon Matthew + Float – Gideon Matthew}

Early May days –

a home filled with the scent of lilac, incense, and tree resin,

caring for the vegetable plants I grew from seed,

observing snails and birds in the garden,

and finishing another handmade kitty bonnet.

☙ 

*visit from the ice saints

The Ice Saints have been intense this year. The tomato, paprika, and squash plants are still patiently waiting in the greenhouse before being planted into the garden beds. But the cucumber plants are already starting to show their first blossoms, and I’m harvesting fresh salads and spinach every day. On our Sunday walk by the river, we saw two black storks up close. Such impressive birds! I also started painting again and can't wait to share the result with you. I wish time wouldn't pass so quickly!

☙

*cherry blossom

Sadly, I got sick again right after I took up painting, and I am still trying to recover, but in the meantime I wanted to leave some analogue pictures from the beginning of April here.

Since it finally rained a little, some beautiful bee-eaters are circling in front of my window. Their sounds are unmistakable, and their feathery splendor is so exotic! I would be so happy to find one of their feathers someday!

☙