the week through the lens

it has been on the back burner, i have not been taking a lot of photos for a while now, and that should change. so i put the "hand made" lens back on the camera body and got started this week. it touched me in a special way, as i wander and have the camera ready be it in the kitchen, or living room table... this enables me to see with new eyes and i like it. we will see if it sticks, it is a start to a new friday review of what caught my eye. there is to be said, that i was inspired by erin boyle and her blog "reading my tea leaves". she does a wonderful job and it is so inspirational to have a look at her photos...

:: 1. burger and beet salad

:: 2. apple blossom and anemone

:: 3. new handles and sharpened hatchets

:: 4. poplar blossom

:: 5. the cheese order arrived from the mountains of eastern switzerland "tschlin"

the "tool" sleeve

there is a big boy in the house and he got himself a new tool...

of course it's a fancy thing this new tool and he want's to keep it safe while carrying it around. he decided, that i, his mama, would be capable to sew a sleeve for this new machine! well, i thought, of course i would like to help him with my skills and the closet was holding some pretty "manly" fabrics. to my surprise elias liked that black fabric right away and the especially sturdy "rice bag", he felt, was a strong and sleek "fabric" to add to the design.
for padding i used a slim batting as well as a super stiff, leather like interlining. this made it easy for the computer to slip in and out without any "crumpling up" of the sleeve. it also is a sturdy kind of case for traveling in a young adults duffel...

a few outside compartments for the mouse and the "stylo" as well as some other little things.
it all turned out fine and to the young man's likeing.

burger dinner

once in a while, there is the meat craving getting the better of myself...
it just so happened over the past days and there were some wonderful gras fed beef patties "smiling at me". i could not resist and get dozen of them to feed not just me, but the whole gang (we are usually 10-14 people for dinner). some of us prefere grilled vegetables or grilled cheese over meat, but if i get such wonderful juicy patties, there is really not one person (at least not that night), letting the opportunity pass. some fresh spring onions and pickels, coleslaw and red beet on vinegar dressing.
it all delighted my heart, the best of all i even remembered to put some beer in the fridge early enough for it to be nice and cool.

spring is here and we love fires even better grilling after the big fire has left us with a wonderful coal.

and thank you joel and thea for making a fire, for grilling and loving it all!

black briar

and it is so strongly spring right now, that i had to bring it indoors!
it's all over and i want it all over, not just when i'm running and out there in the woods. i long and yearn for the bloom to join me at my kitchen table, at my workplace. and i can have it...

this little twig of "black briar" made it into my house and as we are in the technological world after edison, the little flowers are to be looked at even after dark.
i know this is not a vera natural setting, but i have to say, it does lift me up and brings joy to me.
there is an other run planned this afternoon, lots of spring "invades" my daily routine. a wonderful time of year, especially when rain is in the forecast and it does rain, yes, we need it. but at the time i have to go into the city with thea it's sunny and pleasant, so we ride our bikes along the woods into town.

o such much joy!

eggs and more of them

our chickens are laying eggs and we love them. in many different ways, just plain and simple as well as some fancy deviled eggs. there were egg benedict two days ago, served on a freshly home baked slice of farmers bread. soft boiled eggs are a favorit with thea. we also have some "old" cabbage and roots from last fall, those are now made into coleslaw and red beet salad. they are not really anymore among the favorite dishes, but still make for a good variety, besides the new spring greens.

i was running this morning and did a bit a different route, well it worked out to be perfect, as i came along a wonderful patch of ramson. and as i have the habit of carrying a little bag with me at all times, it was perfect for collecting and carrying the fresh ramson home. the plan beeing to make into a spring-pesto over pasta for wednesdays dinner.

the week through the lens

it has been on the back burner, i have not been taking a lot of photos for a while now, and that should change. so i put the "hand made" lens back on the camera body and got started this week. it touched me in a special way, as i wander and have the camera ready be it in the kitchen, or living room table... this enables me to see with new eyes and i like it. we will see if it sticks, it is a start to a new friday review of what caught my eye. there is to be said, that i was inspired by erin boyle and her blog "reading my tea leaves". she does a wonderful job and it is so inspirational to have a look at her photos...

:: 1. my tomato seedlings are doing just fine.

:: 2. prepared for tomorrow's catechism class of 4th graders.

:: 3. the monster in the kitchen, just above the sink...

:: 4. the wild cherrie in our garden is in full bloom.

:: 5. the sick brambles, what to do with our old black raspberrie plant!

back home

looking up into the trees and far above into the sky, it is wonderous and so special. i'm glad i took the 20 hours to be gone. just away from all the work and the things waiting to be done. away from people wanting one or the other thing.
as i mentioned yesterday, time out!

and so it seemed, as if spring is springing with all it's strengths, after a long winters time out.
not wanting to add to those thoughts.

being home again, having done a bit of laundry, cooked dinner and enjoying the violin practice of our oldest son. he is getting ready for a recital in 10 days and is practicing like i don't no when it was...
yes and i do absolute love standing at my laptop and having him in my ears, going on and on and being a loud player, i'm absolutely not able to tune him out. and i don't mind it at all.

it's good to be back home!

time out...

it is already wednesday afternoon!
the days are flying by so fast. there is barely time to take photos, barely time to stop and sit down for a cup of tea. and then yesterday i sat in a meeting (in my backyard, right) and it got colder by the minute. for some reason we were so focused on coordinating the lessons for saturday, i absolutely didn't feel how cold i got. but after 90 minutes, having finished up the discussions and planning, said good by, i was so cold and a headache has gotten hold of me.
it was a down hill from then on, i was in bed by 8:30pm and had a warming pillow at my feet as well as around my neck. all dark and kind of still (as a house with three teenager can be...) it didn't stop, all the pounding and pulsing in my head, i got nauseous but could not through up.

five hours later, in and out of sleep after running to the bathroom a few times of fals alarm, i was finally able to let go and have it all come up. take some ibuprofen and 30 minutes later was asleep. until the morning dawned and i woke up to the birds singing, the buses starting to run, the bakery across the street getting some customers...

it's now much better and i'm on a time out day at my parents, just with thea coming along. i'm planning to go home tomorrow, but thea will stay for two more days. her school has a two day teacher conference, and that is great, as the weather is perfect and there is so much spring to discover and spend time running outside!

the week :: through the lens

it has been on the back burner, i have not been taking a lot of photos for a while now, and that should change. so i put the "hand made" lens back on the camera body and got started this week. it touched me in a special way, as i wander and have the camera ready be it in the kitchen, or living room table... this enables me to see with new eyes and i like it. we will see if it sticks, it is a start to a new friday review of what caught my eye. there is to be said, that i was inspired by erin boyle and her blog "reading my tea leaves". she does a wonderful job and it is so inspirational to have a look at her photos...

:: 1. working in the garden...

:: 2. with the best of spring right there

:: 3. keeping the chickens in

:: 4. watching the rhubarb grow

:: 5. hearing easter still ring

green and more

as i'm still keep the easter celebration going within, i'm astonished of all the strong green growing around me. sitting in the garden, soaking up all the sun there is and watching the chickens. these are some of the best moments right now.
hanging laundry is now an outdoor activity again, one of my favorites. it is a bit like gardening...
there must be a fence put together within the next few days and some pondering of what and how to plant in a little garden plot at my neighbors garden (as they ask me for advice and help :)

o i so, very  much welcome these warm spring days!

easter fire and all

we celebrated the resurection of christ on sunday morning. we got up before sun rise, joel and naomi made a good fire and together with friends we gathered around.
it was unexpectedly good weather, no rain no cold winds and breakfast was very special. grilling saucages and "hunting" for chocolate bunnies and colored eggs, sharing a rich meal with our brothers and sisters, singing joyful and in awe.

Christ is risen, Halleluja!

spring is arriving with this start of april, on this easter morning.
in the early afternoon we headed out to visit my parents, sharing the easter joy with our extended family. it was good to have a little time just for ourselfs. staying over night, going for a run today and enjoying the still and calm of easter monday. no nothing had to get done, no work, no homework, just be and gather the calm of today.