tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814006157617194112024-03-08T17:59:29.814+01:00Tales from Apple Blossom HouseUnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-49725306979048515942013-04-09T01:27:00.000+02:002013-04-09T01:27:20.469+02:00Spring's in the air at last!!!For about a week we had no new snow and slowly the sun is getting warmer and warmer over the day. Our poor garden has taking a severe beating during that long winter and the lawn resembles more of a mud hole than a meadow with grass and flowers :s
But our little zoo is out and about and enjoying the sun :)<br><br>
Balu<br>
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Sammy
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Careto<br>
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Chandini<br>
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Gothic hen<br>
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Punk hen<br>
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our wild birds<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/DarkScape/chica/2013_03_25_1596_800_zps8b58f25e.jpg" width=600>Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-27484633034810436152013-02-16T08:42:00.001+01:002013-02-16T08:42:42.894+01:00Oh there is green beneath all that snowAfter so much snow, it is wonderful to see that there is actually grass on the ground :)
Lir is back home after three weeks of holiday with us and he was really happy to see his owners again. But he enjoyed being ehre in a big dog pack, I guess he sees his stay here as his little adventure holiday :) Or his boy scout camp LOL
We have a new foster dog. From Moscov. His name is Balu and he is over 8 years old. A very quiet big guy who is so gentle and just wants to be petted and hugged in a very quiet and unobtrusive way.
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<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2013/2013-02-10-Balu/IMG_3211_800_zpsadcf30b5.jpg" width=600>Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-59635098242558605192013-01-07T07:15:00.000+01:002013-01-07T07:16:56.856+01:00our kuma-chan ツAs you know, Lir is back on holidays with us and His Hubbiness™ took photos of him. It feels as if he never went away. He definitely is a luxury dog with two wonderful families who love and adore him tots :)
The 'hero' pose
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Looking like a pirate :)
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holding court :)
<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-12-16-Lir/IMG_2465_800.jpg" width="600">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-37816313454649831742012-12-16T11:30:00.000+01:002013-01-07T07:14:12.527+01:00Back for the holidaysWe have our very own special Christmas BEAR this year - Lir is back!!! He will be vacationing with us till the beginning of January :)
He was really happy to see us and cuddled with us straight away. It is so wonderful when you see one of your foster dogs again after such a long time and they still remember you as fondly as you do them. It's wonderful to have my Kuma-chan back :)
Of course, Careto is not amused LOL
And of course as soon as he got inside, he lay down on the very spot he always slept on while he was still a foster dog :)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/DarkScape/chica/65135_389697327784826_736885775_n.jpg" width="600">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-84162885838611920762012-07-14T07:11:00.000+02:002013-01-07T07:12:42.804+01:00A new house guestSince Thursday we have a new house guest ... Mihal, a 4 yrs. old rough coated Podengo Portugues. All his life he was chained and neglected. He is shy, gentle and a beautiful soul. I cannot understand how anyone would be so cruel to chain him and then forget to feed him.
He is painfully under weight, even for a Spanish hunting dog, and he doesn't know anything other than the things he has learned until now since he has been released from the chain. He is a such a sweet boy.
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<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-07-12-Mihal/IMG_9195_800.jpg" width="600">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-45211521573293326562012-06-21T08:30:00.000+02:002012-06-23T15:03:09.239+02:00Happy Midsummer . Solstice<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-06-21-Lir-Feld/IMG_8661_800.jpg" width="640">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-52787775041660429112012-06-14T20:30:00.000+02:002012-06-23T15:02:52.669+02:00The most amazing thingRemember Sammy, our zombie dog?
Well after she had to be sheared completely due to demodex, her coat slowly but surely came back and better than ever. Usually in the evening we go for a walk with the rest of the pack and Sammy has to stay in the garden where she howls and whines like something awful is happening to her. Yesterday was the same and we were halfway on our tour when suddenly there was this little brown-black dog running full speed after us.
I said, Oh no this is Sammy, and His Hubbiness™ said, no way ... but yes it was Sammy. What now? She doesn't wear either harness or collar and we cannot touch her (even if we would catch her).
She surprised and amazed us by coming up to us, licking Careto's snout and taking the walk with us.
So after a less than peaceful night where we discussed how to commence now, we decided that we will take her on walks with us from now on when we go out at the back of the garden. If she wanted to run away, she would have yesterday; so today, we went out on the fields and she amazed us with running along with us and returning with us safely after almost an hour.
moment of truth ... she gets out of our garden gate
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<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-06-14-Sammys_zweites_Gassi/IMG_8219_800.jpg" width="640">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-11082864185235727352012-05-29T19:13:00.000+02:002012-05-29T19:14:18.915+02:00Paradise aheadThis past long weekend (it was Whitsun after all) we had the most amazing weather ... blue skies, fluffy white clouds and sun the whole weekend long. Plants, animals and men had a good time.
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The wheat fields are wonderful and while the rapeseed fields have already lost their golden yellow flowers, the fields and meadows around here still look amazing. I can't wait till the wheat fields turn golden from all the good crops.
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The garden is also in full bloom ...<br>
wild camomille<br>
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The newly pruned brambleberry hedge<br>
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Evening sun over our village<br>
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Sunday we went to a nearby castle where I encountered this!!!<br>
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An Aston Morris Minor Traveller!!!! Oh I love thos cars and once we have enough money we will buy one like this as my very own little country runner ... this or a Volvo Amazone :D
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Afterwards our dogs chilled out and we spent the rest of the day in our back garden<br>
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Only to call it a day with a small turn around the fields in the evening<br>
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On Monday as I still had to prepare some stuff for the time I'm away in the hospital (like sewing pyjama bottoms for me), we spent at home and we took turns taking photographs of our flowers LOL<br>
Our rambling rose which still needs to find the right spot to grow<br>
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last year this lupine was massacred by the chickens but this year it came out beautifully<br>
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close-up<br>
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The puffy wild roses in our yard<br>
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And of course the first peony which incidentally is called Whitsun Rose here in Germany<br>
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and last but not least ... sewing!<br>
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<font size=1>Photo taken by hubby</font>
And to wrap it all up it was wonderful to talk to little_witch27 again over the phone. Thank you for being such a good friend, sis :)Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-24000807060099255642012-05-14T12:25:00.001+02:002012-06-23T15:03:22.556+02:00House guestsHumpelchen is our house guest again ... she resides in the hall in a big saw dust filled plastic bowl :)
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Another wonderful surprise is that Lir's owners asked if he can spend holiday times with us. They will be in the South of France for two weeks and don't want him to endure the long car ride (Lir now Sasha hates car driving). So my little bear will be here for two weeks and can run around with our dog pack.<br />
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In other good news, my vegetable garden is growing and growing .. we already harvested the first red radishes and apart from the wild garlic everything is growing extremely well. Pictures will follow :)Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-38098464893847661022012-04-17T12:16:00.000+02:002012-05-14T12:42:36.842+02:00Sad and happy timesLir is gone. His new family just picked him up and he is already half way to his new home in the Netherlands. This bear-like dog charmer really broke my heart, so much so that I don't want to have any foster dogs for the forseeable future. I just need a break from fostering.
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Good luck, Lir, your new family is wonderful and now you can be Dog #1 without pesky little girls like Chandi and Lulu!! :D<br />
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<br />Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-76645338477877854762012-04-10T13:52:00.000+02:002012-05-14T12:10:54.988+02:00Happy belated Easter every one.Even though I do not participate in the whole religious shebang that surrounds Easter (I was born Roman-Catholic, enough said), this Easter was fully packed with cooking, visiting, entertaining, being entertained and cooling my right hand because of burns.
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But first things first. On Thursday night, when I was preparing dinner I burnt my right hand with hot burning oil. Instant vesicles :( But I got some good salve at home and during the night the pain also subsided. Then on Good Friday we were invited, so no serious cooking for me though I had volunteered for dessert. Saturday my mom in law came to visit us and I baked a cake and in the evening a whole chicken for four (a friend came by and was instantly invited as well). Sunday we had brunch at our home and I had to bake bread, make a potatoe salad and other stuff. Monday ... a little brunch for two friends with kosher cooking.
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Soooo .. even though I didn't do the family thing, we had a fully packed Easter and right now, this very minute, is the first time I sit in front of the computer and have some time to myself all alone (well, alone being relative as three dogs surround my computer in various states of reclining, dozing and sleeping). I think I will take a nap after I have stored away the grocery stuff. I need a break from the past few days :)Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-34553671134905146312012-03-28T18:45:00.001+02:002012-03-29T01:37:09.178+02:00You are my sunshine ...We had wonderful spring weather the last couple of days and the dogs held siesta in the sun and Sammy found a new favourite spot ... His Hubbiness™' lounger.<br />
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<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-03-24-Fruehling/IMG_5517_1400.jpg" width="640">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-11772025026689980422012-03-22T00:35:00.002+01:002012-05-14T12:11:43.169+02:00Happy belated Spring Equinox!!!Have been working in the garden yesterday all day that I forgot it's Spring Equinox already!! We have the most amazing (and most welcomed) sunshine for the last two days and it looks like we will have some more today. The ground is still wet and cold but working in the sun already works up a wee bit of sweat and it is just wonderful to feel the sun on one's back and neck while weeding and getting the hedge cuttings. My strawberry seedlings have grown so strong that I think they can go into the ground now - I just need to remind myself to cover them up during the night.Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-82716519359613102082012-03-07T17:32:00.000+01:002012-03-29T01:33:46.479+02:005 dogs and a duckIt is amazing how peaceful and quiet life with so many different animals is. Five dogs and none has reacted to Humpelchen (our duck) other than a feathery friend. Other dogs would have seen it as prey, but not our five idiots LOL<br />
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<img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2012/2012-03-06-Ente/IMG_5331_800.jpg" width="640">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-30063948391700829982012-03-06T11:31:00.001+01:002012-03-29T01:32:35.748+02:00Duck surpriseOne of our ducks is sick and we have yet another feathered guest living with us in the house again.<br />
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And our dogs are so cool with it, they even ignore her (most of the time, but for Lulu stealing the lettuce).<br />
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Venetia Stanley-Smith<br />
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His Hubbiness™ took some photographs at the Christmas Eve caroling. It was one of those rare moments where I didn't look like an old fat hag but like a young one LOL<br />
I thought I'd share the two pics, His Hubbiness™ took :)<br />
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</lj-cut>Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-86289746526103937662012-01-01T10:01:00.000+01:002012-01-03T18:32:17.006+01:00Happy New Year :)I hope you all had a Merry CHristmas and a Happy New Year!!!<br /><br />We spent our New Year (and Christmas) with new good friends and our dogs were really relaxed and even Chandini didn't panic when the fireworks went off.<br /><br />We spent the whole evening and night eating Raclette! YUM!!<br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-12-31-Silvester/IMG_4259_800.jpg">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-77945952895983863632011-12-23T20:29:00.001+01:002012-01-03T18:40:44.909+01:00Stop turning the damn world ...Gosh the last two days (including today) have been busy as I had this mad dash of inspiration and wanted to wrap up all the *you didn't finish them up in time so you can leave them till the new year* projects or at least get them off to a good start. But it was worth it :) The only thing I missed/forgot is to trim the tree LOL<br /><br />But - all the walls in my sewing room are now white washed, the beams are a glistening dark brown and the dark awful looking doors to the built-in closet are now white and show off the wallpaper I put on two of the three doors to perfection. I was not too sure if my colour palette of grey, white and dusty pink would work, but it does. It looks fabulous and I'm so keen on putting up the rest of the shelves as well as the frames and my old Baroque mirror (which still needs fixing). <br /><br />The whole house has been cleaned, dusted and cared for from top to bottom, even though I still need to wash the upstairs windows and I think I'm seeing the proverbial light at the end of a very deep, dark, and self-confessed tunnel. YAY!<br /><br />Yesterday His Hubbiness ™ got a pre-birthday present (how very Sheldonesque) in form of a fleece sweater, then today, he got some camera gadgets and a board game. He also got a pre-Christmassy pressie today LOLbut I needed to move some stuff out of the way and instead of wrapping up some I gave it to him instead which he is now wearing with pride so everyone is happy. Just don't tell the Christkind or Santa LOL<br /><br />I wish you all a Merry Christmas - eat, drink and be happy :)<br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-12-23-Samara_Lir/IMG_3805_1024.jpg" width="800"><br />4/5 of our idiot children :DUnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-36948594683615647582011-12-08T18:26:00.000+01:002012-01-03T18:29:31.161+01:00Advent ... the time for breathingEven though I try to move slowly and somewhat gracefully (HA!) through this hectic part of the year, it is a good thing that our afternoons and evenings are returning to cozy nights at home instead of either entertaining or being entertained by new-found friends. While I love that we have now started to weave all the intricate knots of friendship, at this time of the year it is essential to stay home and just breathe. And pause ... and wonder ... and soaking up all the holiday goodness. <br /><br />All the moments that make me happy <br />- hunting for little holiday gifts on Christmas Markets.<br />- it's Christmas time!!!!!<br />- walks in the woods with the dogs.<br />- did I mention it's Christmas Time?????!!!!!!! :DUnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-50207548250450623052011-12-03T16:25:00.002+01:002012-01-03T18:42:14.234+01:00Sunsets and other stuffOur internet connection is working so I need to use this to the fullest LOL<br /><br />November has been an amazing month, lots of sun shine, lots of mellow golden days and cold clear star-lit nights. And the sunsets ... and sunrises ... gosh it was all so amazing. I just love November, heck I just love autumn and winter. While most folks get winter depression I seem to get winter passion :) I love to sit and relax in the garden surrounded by my dogs and watch the passing of light, the one hour between day and night when everything turns blue and then the sky is ablaze (well, on a clear day). And this particularly soothing golden light through the autumn foliage .. I love it!!!<br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-09-Waldspaziergang/IMG_2609_800.jpg" width="800"><br /> While I write this the Eastern horizon is very gently turning from black to these amazing touches of magenta and I hope I can catch another wonderful sunrise on camera later on. <br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-13-Sonnenuntergang/IMG_3010_800.jpg" width="800"><br />Anyway, life has been fabulous, even though it is strenuous and busy and most of the time I only remember which day it is when the garbage folks come (we have three days a week where all sorts of garbage is picked up ... Wednesdays is for bio/green garbage; Thursdays for either plastic/metal or paper and Fridays is for all the rest that doesn't fit the first two and you know what? Our trash can is tiny ... yes, TINY! It is bucket sized, well a big bucket, but still .. bucket sized. It is really amazing how much plastic and metal, but especially plastic stuff we are buying with our food. Plastic packages for sausages, meats, even vegetables and fruits. What happened to the good old newspaper or brown paper wraps? <br />As we are changing our way of living and especially eating, I have started to take empty tupperware with me when I go grocery shopping. First the supermarkets were a bit put off but as we are buying less and less there (during summer we got all of our fruits and vegetables from the garden and we've never eaten so healthily nor so fresh in all our lives) and go to the extra length to buy ecologically sustainable and free range dairy products and meats now. Yes, it is costlier, but then again we do not eat so much meat anymore anyway, so it doesn't affect our purses too much. <br />Luckily we have a couple of bio/eco farms around here so I can phone them up, ask what they have some particular offers that week and then I go there with my tupperware. And the butcher can portion all off already so you just need to label your boxes and chuck them into the freezer for further use. It's wonderful. <br />A couple of women here are already thinking of buying a pig or two next year and feed it for a year before having them slaughtered.I guess we have all seen the River Cottage DVDs one too many times LOL But the RC team would be proud of us. I have already asked the farmer down the road and he would offer us stabling free of charge for half a pig (no matter how many pigs we will eventually get). Another woman has re-activated her goat herd with a male goat and we have been experimenting with making goat's cheese already. Could be that we will have a couple of mini-goat's in the new year as well ... we will see. <br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-13-Sonnenuntergang/IMG_3005_800.jpg" width="800"><br />Our dogs are striving and are still as cheeky as ever. Our two foster dogs are slowly but gradually, especially Sammy, learning to enjoy their new lives and I'm particularly proud of Lir who gave the impression to never learn how to walk on a leash, as he was so afraid of the harness and the leash itself. But he has now mastered like he had never done anything else in his life. We even can now walk through the village without me having to drag a 30 kg dog along. He even walks without a leash now when we are on the fields and the woods. <br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-09-Waldspaziergang/IMG_2608_640.jpg" width="800"><br />It is still very painful and frustrating to watch any progress with Sammy. At least she now walks within two feet of us and doesn't take flight immediately. Still ... she doesn't like to be touched, doesn't like any kind of harness or collar but there is progress. She now knows she is called Sammy or Sam Sam by us. If I call her she slowly approaches and waits what I have in store for her. We feed her by hand and she slowly, very slowly allows us to treat her like one of our dogs. But I don't see her moving into her forever family just yet. She will need at least another year if progress continues to be as it is up till now. <br /><br />And the rest of the pack are all happy and healthy and fully demand our attention :)<br /><br />Chandini looking like a miniature bobtail :) <br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-09-Waldspaziergang/IMG_2655_800.jpg" width="800"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-09-Waldspaziergang/IMG_2629_800.jpg" width="800"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-11-09-Waldspaziergang/IMG_2624_800.jpg" width="800">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-41469083855845217312011-12-02T17:23:00.000+01:002011-12-06T17:25:03.328+01:00An update ... sort of :)... sort off ... somehow ...<br /><br />Life has been hectic and stressful around here ... we have been busy harvesting and making ready for winter. Living in a little village seems to be the epitome of peace and quiet while in reality it is far from it. There are private parties, community parties, community bazaars, more parties and bake offs and what not. I haven't been so busy in all my life LOL<br />Autumn has been wonderful, lots of blue skies, sunny days and November even holds the record of first November in 100 years with less than a cup of rain falling. A tea cup mind you. <br />Anyway, while we had some splendid weather, we had also a lot of festivals and fetes and merriment was all around. And now we have December already and the first advent has passed and gone and the second Advent Sunday is just around the corner and I still have just one wreaths and one garland of Christmas decorations out. I need more time ... like 48 hours in just one day lol. I hope to get the rest of the Christmas decorations done by tomorrow and then I can start appreciating and enjoying this time of year IF ... yeah if our internet connection gets its act together and WORK for a change.<br /><br />So to the birthday kids and all the others I have missed ... Happy belated birthday and Happy belated Turkey Day :) I hope life will get back to normal after the holidays :)Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-72218354547978627092011-10-19T11:22:00.000+02:002011-12-06T17:23:42.474+01:00Golden OctoberNothing is better than standing in the garden, all around you is a crisp frosty day with a brilliant blue sky and you are eating raspberries warmed from the sun fresh from a shrub.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-16-Fish/IMG_1359_800.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-16-Fish/IMG_1384_800.jpg">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-43755144546648385452011-10-19T10:15:00.001+02:002011-12-06T17:18:40.220+01:00Passages and set backsYesterday one of the original chickens we bought with the house last year died during the night. When we brought the chickens in for the night, they were alright but during the night one of them (one of the black ones) was eggbound (in German Legenot where birds want to lay an egg and push and push but as they are too old to still produce an egg they push out their cloaca :s It's messy, enough said).<br />She is now at rest with the rest of our pets on our little cemetary.<br />Sammy is shier than ever. We needed to give her some medicine and she was so afraid and angsty that now she is actually crying when we come near her. *sigh* I don't know what to do .. we need to give her the medicine as she still has open patches on her back. And she still needs a good claw clip but that is out of the question so far, she doesn't want to get touched .. let alone being captured and held. I doubt she will ever be a normal family dog. which is really sad. So now we are back to square one and I have to find a way where I can touch her without her taking flight.<br />Lir on the other hand is getting more and more comfortable with us every day. He is a big clown with a boyish attitude and you can actually feel that he loves his home and us. It will be so heart breaking when he finds his forever home. But then again ... so far only two ppl were interested in him but when they heard he was only using three legs, they didn't want him anymore. Jeesh, he is not disabled. His right hind leg is just shorter, but he uses it for getting up and down the stairs and all.<br />With the days now getting much colder, we are still trying to find our indoors pace compared to our outdoor pace of the summer. While the door to our court yard and garden was open 24/7 now it is closed as we try to keep the warmth in and the cold outside.<br />All have adjusted so far though it gets increasingly more difficult to persuade Careto and the two little girls to go outside LOL They are sooo typically Southern dogs, as soon as it gets cold, they rather stay indoors in the warmth. Lir on the other hand with his big fur loves to lie in the courtyard (while my Southern terrors sit on the coconut mats in front of the door and look as if they are dying of frost bite LOLUnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-80221608087105129662011-10-15T22:52:00.000+02:002011-12-06T17:15:30.984+01:00Plans and projectsLife has slowed down, most vegetable beds are bare now and ready for winter but my aubergines are still striving. This is the second time we experience harvest season now here in our little abode and I have to say it is even more fun than last year. We still have lots and lots of apples but with giving away a lot of them this year (opening up our garden for the public) we haven't had the sinking feeling of drowning in apples. We made apple juice (which has already been drunk!!!) and baked and cooked and it all has been fun. <br /><br />However, I still have the feeling as if I'm mere dabbling in the way of homesteading. Probably because when I read blogs whose owners have been harvesting like mad and conserving full time this season I feel so incompetent. LOL IOh well, next year .. next year with the fence now sturdily in place and no way that the marauding chickens can eat up my budding cucumbers and courgettes etc. we will have a smashing good time. Over the winter I want to fix the greenhouse as well. Ever since Careto has ripped it apart I need to sew it again and hopefully it will be fixed easily. <br /><br />I also want to do some sewing and crafting again ... there is a new quilt in the works as well as a crafting project for the bedroom (which still isn't painted btw) and I need to put up the finishing touches in the sewing room. *sigh* So much to do and so little time but with this coming winter hopefully being a cold long one again with lots of snow I hope to fin the time to finish up all my projects :)Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-881400615761719411.post-70654134966227865252011-10-11T00:03:00.001+02:002012-01-03T18:44:13.036+01:00The last of the summer wine ...Though we had a not so nice summer, the end of September/beginning of October was warm and sunny ... everyone flocked to the garden ... and I mean everyone :) <br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_0791_800.jpg"><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_0808_800.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_0841_800.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_0910_640.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_1074_800.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_1110_800.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-10-01-03-Letzte_Sonne/IMG_1171_800.jpg"><br /><br />The vegetable garden is now better secured than Fort Knox<br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-09-30-10-02-Gartenzaun/IMG_1058_800.jpg"><br />My aubergines<br /><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i344/Cenour11/2011/2011-09-30-10-02-Gartenzaun/IMG_1039_800.jpg">Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727175858583900193noreply@blogger.com0