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!
A few days ago, we had minus 4 degrees in the morning, and a short time later the temperatures climbed to almost 28 degrees. Those rapid changes are quite strenuous for the body, and I try to do my best to adapt. The lilacs have started to delight us with their scent, and the first elderflowers have begun to bloom. We cut our huge hedge, so our weekends have been quite busy, and in between I try to catch up on other garden tasks. It hasn’t rained for a very long time, farmers are concerned, and birds, as well as mice and insects, are busy visiting our watering station. The weather in our area is really intense in many ways.
Apart from everything that’s happening in the garden right now, I’ve made a few small attempts to pick up my brushes again and started painting after a break of almost a year. I’m not sure where it’s leading yet, but it feels like a big step for me. Let's see what else May brings. As they say, May makes everything new, and that wouldn't be so bad, I think.
{Music: Glimpse of the past – James Quinn + Journey of Life – James Quinn + Daisy Chains – Amy May Ellis}
Collecting birch leaves,
berry breakfasts in the sun,
observing clouds &
making tree resin balm.
Tree resin balm – Basic Recipe
(In the video I only made a quarter of the recipe
because I didn't have enough resin yet)
200 g olive oil
80 g resin from coniferous trees
40 g beeswax
Note: Be careful when collecting resin. Take only as much as you need and do not damage the bark of the trees!
Place a cotton cloth over an enamel pot or a heatproof glass beaker. Add the olive oil and resin, then heat slowly (ideally only up to 70°C / 158°F so the essential oils are not boiled off) and let it infuse for about 30 minutes. Afterward, remove the cotton cloth along with the resin residues (and discard them), then add the beeswax. Once the wax has completely melted, pour the salve into well-cleaned glass jars. Only close the jars once the mixture has fully cooled.
Effects of the resin and the resin balm made from it:
Close-ups of the kitty bonnet I finished earlier this month. The pattern is again from @rhirhi.knits and was really fun to knit! At the moment, I'm working on another one for a dear friend.
My pen friend Silke shared this free pattern for a quirky crochet halibut with me, so I thought I'd surprise her by making one for her! It was a lovely side project!
Those photos from early March already feel so far away, considering how all the trees are now bursting with their freshest colors. Back then, it felt anything but like spring – only a pair of swans in the distance broke the gloom.
The past few days have been warm and gentle. I’ve spent most of my time in the garden, kneeling with dirty hands in the heart of nature, soaking up the sun, the hum of bees, and the many different birdsong melodies. When I went to put away the withered Easter bush, I had the idea to make a little wattle structure for the birds. I’ll share pictures of it later. Enjoy your weekend!
Close-ups of the second elephant I knitted last month. Every time I finish a new knitting project, I immediately start wondering what it would look like in a different color and feel like trying out every possible combination. Do you feel the same?
{The pattern is designed by Svitlana Kondratova (@im_strickfieber) and you can find it for free on her ravelry page.}
We finally had some very welcome rain after the long dry period. I’ve started pre-growing the first little seedlings, and they are already bravely sprouting up from the soil. Yesterday, I prepared the garden beds for adding fresh compost and pruned the last berry bushes. The birds are very happy about the rain and are singing nonstop. It’s that time of year again when there’s so much to do all at once that you don’t know where to start. But I try not to let myself get too stressed and take things step by step as best I can, before falling into bed exhausted in the evening.
