*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.

☙

 

*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}

☙

*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.

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*watercolor paintings

So happy to finally share the first

watercolor painting update of the year!

I hope you enjoy them!

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*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.

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*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!

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*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!

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*May makes everything new

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.

☙