*Arkady the elephant

Close-ups of the little crochet elephant I made. I've already started making him a friend in a different color. It was really a fun and easy project! I found the pattern here ➔ {click}

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*Letting the soul unwind in the heart of summer & a little crochet project

{Music: Pulme – Matteo de Grandis + Morning Dance – Amine Ayad + Dreamlike Ride – Nicholas Bamberger}

Finally, I managed to turn the dress that had been hanging unused in my closet for the past two years because it was too big for me into a skirt, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I also started a new needlework journal to save all my new projects for the coming months.

One project had been on my list for a long time, and it was nice to take up my crochet hook again and crochet along.

I made three tentative attempts to leave the house. The first one was unsuccessful. On the second, I walked a few hundred meters to visit a small sunflower field, and on the third, I went to the swing beneath the large willow tree, where I spent some time just sitting and letting my soul unwind. It may not seem like much, but for me, it was a big thing, and it felt so good.

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*summery paintings

More summery watercolor paintings from the past few months.

I do not feel very communicative these days, but there is always something visual to share from my little world.

Yesterday, after another difficult day with so much pressure in my head and nerve pain, I sat on the terrace with a hedgehog before bed, and for a while we simply shared the quiet.

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*July happy list

Things that made me happy lately:

• your solace & your gentle hands

• finding a zebrina detrita (Märzenschnecke)

• starting a little crochet project

• finding a lovely meadow with a beautiful walnut tree

• eating lots of watermelon

• reading in the warm summer wind

• wonderful news from a dear friend

• loading my camera with a black & white film

(it is two years ago since last time)

• surprise mail

• glowworms

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*Calm summer days, painting shells & making jam

{Music: Neverending fields – Gideon Matthew + Nocturne – Gideon Matthew}

Due to my health condition, my freedom of movement has been very limited again in recent weeks. The heatwave certainly hasn't helped. Nevertheless, I've managed to pick up a paintbrush now and then and soak up the joys of the garden and nature. When I have trouble leaving the house, I at least take a few steps to the wild grasses in the little field behind our house. I'm so grateful for this place. I sit for a while and watch the butterflies, the swaying golden grasses and wildflowers, and the swallows flying just overhead.

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*summer

Summer 

Wide fields embroidered with wild chamomile and cornflowers,

gathering herbs in the heart of the evening sun,

giant white poppies fluttering in the hot winds,

my shadow, a sign that I am still here.

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*snails and other happy creatures

I just realized that I haven't shared another batch of paintings with you here yet. I'm totally in love with the little snail painting I made. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile. It reminds me how the smallest, simplest things can have such a big impact on one's mood. I hope you're enjoying your summer days. Over here, I'm trying to save most of my energy for watering the plants, and whenever I'm feeling a little better, I try to do things that fill my heart with joy. It helps me cope with the situation a little better. Take good care of yourself & until soon again!

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*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

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*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!

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*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}

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