A Sunny Week

Not a single drop of rain fell all of last week. In fact, the last time it rained here was on the 24th of February. Nights and mornings are still cold to the point of frost, but the days have been warming up nicely, most days reaching about 14 to 15C (57-59F) with Saturday being the warmest at 18C/64F.

On Monday (2nd of March), I went exploring: My usual walk to Benningen can be done on different paths, and I felt like trying one that I had not followed before. Quite unexpectedly, I came across a small hollow that looked like it might have been a quarry at one time, but it is possible that it is a natural feature. That was quite a treat for me.

A new path!

Not been here before - it's just on the other side of the rail tracks where I walk about once a week.

Man-made or natural? The pond is of course man-made, but I am not sure about the rocky walls.

It was very quiet there with only birdsong to hear, and of course the occasional train.

On more familiar ground again, with Benningen on the horizon.

I worked at the office in Weilimdorf both Tuesday and Wednesday (3rd and 4th of March). On the Tuesday, I got off the train in Kornwestheim and walked the rest; on Wednesday, my sister and I met at our Mum's for a chat, a meal and helping with a few things (mainly stow away the very last of her Christmas things).

On the fields between Kornwestheim and Ludwigsburg on Tuesday late afternoon.

Sunset, just before I reached Ludwigsburg on the Tuesday.

What you see here is not the sun, but the moon rising a bit before 8:00 pm on Wednesday.

Thursday (5th of March) I took part at an all day online course for work. Originally, it was meant to take place in Ulm; I already had my hotel room and train ticket booked, but the week before, it was announced that the course was now exclusively online with no possibility to attend "in person". That was a shame, but I was able to cancel both the room and the train ticket.

The course was interesting and helpful for some questions I have to deal with at work, but oh my was it intense! There were only five of us plus the trainer. One of the participants was the type who love hearing themselves speak, and apart from asking some valuable questions the answers to which were interesting to all of us, he commented everything else at length... and when I say "at length", I mean it! He kept explaining what they did in his company back in 2013 (not at all relevant to what we were learning now!), and just wouldn't stop talking... I was a little disappointed that the trainer didn't stop him. Instead, she rushed through the last two items on the agenda, and one of these was of particular interest to me.

When we finished about 20 minutes later than scheduled, I shut my computer, grabbed my shoes and jacket and practically fled the scene - I HAD to get out, preferably before sunset! I managed my Asperg-Eglosheim round, walking off some of the tension, but mentally feeling really exhausted.

It was my turn to host an online meeting that lasted until lunch time on Friday (6th of March). Apart from a few technical hiccups (we are all used to them by now, but that doesn't make them any better), it went very well. 

I did most of my cleaning in the afternoon, and early evening walked into town. We have many clothes shops but very few left that you could call "house of fashion", where you get good quality items and the staff is qualified to advise you and often goes the extra length for you. They have been around for decades and still enjoy very good standing in my town.

A couple of times a year they host a fashion show, and my Mum, her friend and I love attending. This time, I went with my upcoming wedding in mind. The show was good, and we had a lot of fun; however, none of the outfits presented by the models was what I could see myself wearing to the registry office. But after the show (the shop was closed to the general public by then), we were allowed to browse, try on - and of course buy - until 10:00 pm, and I ended up buying a pretty dress which will serve me well not only on the 8th of May. At about 9:00 pm, the three of us left, tired but happy.

Some more household stuff needed doing on Saturday (7th of March), but at about 1:00 pm, I left for the train station and took a train to Marbach. I walked my usual Steinheim walk; the previous time was in December and you can see the pictures of that beautiful day here.

Early March looks and feels different to December, and I was happy to spot the first anemonae in the woods, among other things. This time, I did a wider loop and walked almost 19 km altogether. I had brought a sandwich and my water flask, and stopped for short breaks on sunny benches when I felt like it, making it a very enjoyable afternoon.

First anemonae!

The pictures have loaded in the wrong order, I'm afraid - this is actually the start of the walk, looking back just after leaving Marbach.

The river Murr

Historic house in Steinheim

Church spire in Steinheim

Abandoned vineyard

This was a perfect spot for my (late) lunch - it was 2:00 pm.

The village of Lehrhof

On Sunday (8th of March), my federal state of Germany (Baden-Württemberg) held a General Election. For a few years now, my sister and I have been volunteering at one of the polling stations in our town; the last time was in February 2025. This time, we were at a different location, at an elementary school closer to home - it takes only about ten minutes to walk there from where I live.

Don't I look all serious and official?

Two regular booths for voters to make their crosses on the list, and the lower one on the teacher's desk at the right height for wheelchairs.

That way, we knew quite a few of the people who came voting, including our Mum and her friend. We worked the morning shift, starting at 7:15 and leaving at about 12:45 for a few hours to rest and do other things (I spoke to O.K. on the phone as well as to Mary, my mother-in-law in Yorkshire, who turned 92 that day) before returning at 5:45 pm.

The election officially ended at 6:00 pm, and that's when the job of counting the votes began. It wasn't overly complicated this time but still took our team of seven about two hours - everything is done VERY carefully and double-checked to make sure no mistakes are made and nothing happens that should not happen. We all signed at the end to confirm that we were reporting the correct numbers of votes, then we put the class room back in order, and at 9:00 pm I was home.

My sister and I find this good work, and we enjoy it - doing our bit for democracy in our country. The right to vote is important and not to be taken for granted, and to live in a country where you can go to a polling station and cast your vote without fear of pressure or violence is something to be grateful for.

Record-breaking Week

Last week started off chilly and wet, but by mid-week things started to feel very spring-like, and Friday held the record of high temperature for a February day in Germany.

Monday (23 February) was uneventful. I worked from home, and from 2:00 pm onwards I spent all afternoon in a video conference organised by my professional association. By the time we finished, it looked like rain and was not long enough from sunset to allow for an enjoyable walk. 

Unlike most weeks, I went to the office not only on Wednesday but also on Tuesday (24 February). It was another wet and chilly day, and I didn't do any walking other than the under ten minutes it takes me to get from my house to the train station and less than five between the stop in Weilimdorf and the office.

We had an important meeting to attend; more about that at a later stage, since what we were talking about has not yet been finalised.

Wednesday (25 February) brought about the turn to (early) spring: After a foggy morning, the sun was out for the rest of the day, and it got as mild as 15C/59F! Leaving work at 5:00 pm in full daylight felt good, and when I reached Ludwigsburg and walked from the station to my Mum's, it was still light.

My sister was also there, and the three of us had a nice meal and good chat.

It was even warmer on Thursday (26 February) at a max of 17C/62F. After two days at the office, it was good to work from home again. 

View from my kitchen at about 6:30 that morning...

...and less than half an hour later.

In the morning, I met my friend and former running buddy for an hour of walking, and after work, I went to Benningen (on my own, as nearly always). These two walks in one day made up for the lack of walking at the start of the week, and with the sunny and mild weather, it felt really good to be outdoors.

On the fields between Ludwigsburg and Freiberg

On the way to Benningen, looking back towards Freiberg. It wasn't as dark as it looks!

On my way back from the station in Ludwigsburg, I came across the black cat I showed you in my next-to-last post. This time, young Neo's curiosity got the better of him, and he allowed me to pet him. He's very sweet and would have liked me to stay out for some play time, but by then I was getting hungry (and needed the toilet). I am sure it wasn't our last encounter!

Friday (27 February) was here, and with it the record-breaking day I have mentioned in the introduction of this post. In Ludwigsburg, it got as warm as 20C/68F - not a record, but still amazingly warm for February. 

Only a short drive from O.K.'s village is the village of Ohlsbach. There, a "scorching" 23C/73F were registered, the warmest temperature known in February in Germany since records began!

I worked, spent my lunch break having a massage, cleaned and late afternoon went on a 2-hour walk, which I greatly enjoyed. That time of day, birds of prey are often very active, and I heard and saw quite a few buzzards and a kestrel.

Click to enlarge to see the moon.

You've seen this particular spot many times on my blog.

Sunset behind one of the farms out there.

O.K. arrived in the early afternoon on Saturday (28 February), still a mild day at 14C/57F but not quite as warm as Friday. This day marked the 10th anniversaroy of our very first meeting, and for the evening, I had booked us a table at a posh-ish restaurant.

My main course was a slice of tender pork covered in fried mushrooms, diced bacon and grapes, a dumpling and a heap of Spätzle, of which I managed less than half, with a generous pouring of gravy.

Before it was time for that, we went to the jewellery shop where we'd been looking at wedding rings a few weeks ago, finalised our choice and placed the order.

By Sunday (1st of March), it had cooled another two degrees to a max of around 12C/53F, and the blustery wind kept blowing grey clouds across the otherwise blue sky. But it remained dry, and when we set off for a walk across the fields to Kornwestheim after our late and leisurely breakfast, I wore my sunglasses for the first time in months.

On the way back, we stopped at the Torhaus (gatehouse; click here and scroll to the bottom of the post to learn more about this particular building). 

The small volunteer-run museum is open every 1st Sunday of the month, and volunteers serve coffee and cake. It was my sister's turn that day, and we decided to pay her a visit. My Mum arrived only minutes after us (although we had not made arrangements), and so the whole family ended up sharing a table and enjoying the delicious cake my sister had made (chocolate and orange).

For the evening, I prepared a leafy salad with yellow pepper followed by pasta with pesto and grated cheese. We ate relatively early so that O.K. would not arrive home very late at night.

Read in 2026 - 8: Two Little Women on a Holiday

Two Little Women on a Holiday

Carolyn Wells

Not my picture, but it suits my impression.

It’s been a while since I last read a book over a 100 years old, and aimed at a young readership… 

It took a bit of getting used to, and to the modern reader a lot of it would seem quite outdated and predictable, but it’s not a total waste of time.

The “two little women” here are two girls, neighbours and best friends, practically inseparable.

They live in a small country town with their families; not rich, but not poor either - both families have a telephone, which certainly was not something a poor household would have had in 1917, when the book was published.

 

Dotty and Dolly spend nearly all their time together, and when one day they receive an invitation to spend a week in New York, they are over the moon.

A wealthy friend of theirs has a rich uncle in the big city, and since the uncle has explicitly asked his niece to bring along friends and talked to the girls’ parents, it is settled that they may accept the invitation.

 

From the way the girls talked and behaved, at first I thought they were maybe around 8 to 10 years old – but to my surprise, their age is then given as 15!

Their slightly older friend whose uncle is to be their host is about 16, and her cousin, another girl of almost 17, joins them.

 

The four have a great time in the rich uncle’s house, with a maid, a housekeeper and a driver at their disposition.

They are allowed to do largely as they please, and their days are filled with sightseeing, shopping and rides in the uncle’s car.

After they meet other young people of their age, invitations to parties and outings to cafés and to go skating follow.

 

It’s all completely innocent and wholesome, but then a shadow falls upon the small group when a valuable piece of antique jewellery disappears from the uncle’s collection.

Nobody but the girls, the uncle himself and his trusted secretary had access to the earring.

Has any of the four taken it?

 

I don’t think any of you can’t wait to read the book for yourselves, which is why I can reveal that – unsurprisingly – all ends well, and at the end of their stay, the four girls part as friends for life with a promise to visit again.

 

A relatively quick and totally unexciting read, the book made for relaxing company over several train trips to work and back.

 

Wikipedia says about the author that she wrote more than 170 books; her detective mysteries (for adults) were very popular in her day, as were her children’s books. She also wrote poetry and non-fiction.

Unusual for a woman of her time, she was already 55 when she married, and her husband died only a year into the marriage, followed two weeks later by her mother. One can only imagine how hard it must have been to deal with the death of two loved ones in such a short space of time.

She herself lived to the age of 79.

A Rainy Week

There wasn't a day last week when we didn't have at least some rain. Several days saw a quick succession of sun, clouds, rain, sun again and then some more rain, and by the weekend, we had much milder temperatures than at the start.

Monday (16 February) was one of those April-like days; the weather changed from one minute to the next, and I didn't go for a walk but went only outside for a quick food shop at the ALDI a few minutes from my house.

Shortly before finishing work - the light was beautiful but I did not trust those fast-moving clouds!

It wasn't much different on Tuesday (17 February), but I felt the need for some leg-stretching and mind-airing and managed a bit more than an hour, although most of it was with my hood up and rain being blown in my face.

It looked great for a walk at lunch time...

...but not quite as sunny by late afternoon.

I was under thick grey clouds, but further afield there was some blue left.

Returning home, as I stood by the front door fumbling for my key, I heard meowing from the shrubs behind the cherry tree. I bent down to have a look, and a black cat was staring back at me, still meowing. 

A few times over the last two weeks or so I had spotted an unknown black cat crossing my neighbour's back garden, and I was pretty sure that this was the very same one. Because it was now yowling (responding to me talking to him or her), I was worried that something might be wrong with the cat, and moved away from the shrubs, hoping it would follow me so that I could see it better. It did, and it was obviously a young-ish, slim cat in good condition, no injury or anything visibly wrong.

We "talked" some more, but it would not come near enough to be touched, and eventually disappeared through the hedge into the next garden.

I had managed to take a photo with my mobile phone, and that same evening posted the photo and the description of our encounter on the neighbourhood platform where people can offer or ask for all sorts of neighbourly services, lend and borrow or donate anything from clothes to croissants and much more.

After less than half an hour, the owner got in touch: The cat has not been with them for very long and has only been allowed outdoors since the end of January, which explains why I didn't know him yet. His name is Neo, and on that day, for the first time he was on his own all day, with the mother and children being away for a brief holiday and the father working at the office instead of from home. Neo probably felt a bit at a loss with nobody around to play with, and when he spotted me, made himself noticed for a bit of a "chat" :-D

We have now arranged that I am going to go over for coffee some time soon to meet Neo properly, and I have offered - if it fits my schedule - to occasionally cover for them when they are away and need someone to feed the cat. Their house is really just across the garden from my house, but with a fence in between, so that to reach each other's front doors we need to walk around the corner into the next street.

Wednesday (18 February) was uneventful; I worked at the office and afterwards went to my Mum's. We ate together and pleasantly chatted about this and that.

Thursday (19 February) was a thoroughly unpleasant day in terms of weather:  Cold, wet, grey and windy. No walk; I only left the house to have my customary weekly massage around lunch time.

It was still rather cold but not quite as bad on Friday (20 February). On the fields where I often walk is a dairy farm; the family have been farmers for 12 generations. Some years ago, they have added a small farm shop to the front of their farm, but although I have only heard good things about their products and pass there often enough, I have never bought anything there. 

Now they offer home delivery, and my Mum had placed a test order with them to see how good and reliable they are. She invited my sister and me to order along with her, and the delivery arrived Friday morning as scheduled.

I quickly walked to my Mum's in between work and picked up my small order of two different cheeses, a half pound of their own butter and a tub of their own crème fraîche.

After work, I went about my usual weekly household tasks and then packed my little red suitcase. Two weeks ago, my train to Offenburg had been four minutes early - this time, it arrived there SIX minutes early! O.K. picked me up as usual, and we were joking that if this keeps happening with two minutes earlier every time, I'll end up arriving mid-afternoon instead of the evening.

On Saturday (21 February), we cleared out a few things from the attic of O.K.'s Mum's house and took them to the recycling yard. Back home, we had a quick bowl of hot soup and then drove into town. I wanted a new pair of jeans, and found one that I am really looking forward to wearing. Very soft, with a wide leg as opposed to the stretchy tight ones I have come so used to, and in a lighter blue that looks better for spring and summer. 

In the evening, we were invited to a gathering of four couples; we all live within a radius of maybe 150 m in the village and form an informal group who gets together on a more or less regular basis. There was plenty of food and drink, and of course much talking and laughing, and before we knew it, it was midnight. Our hostess complained that we should have all eaten more - they had some leftover, but it wasn't for lack of trying; there simply was too much, and all eight of us are now at an age where we're watching more or less carefully what and how much we eat and drink... At our age, our bodies don't forgive us as easily as it does when you're in your twenties.

Sunday (22 February) was grey and windy, looking like rain but only producing the odd sprinkle at a mild 12C/53F. After a late breakfast, O.K. and I went for a good long walk of about 14 km, seeing and hearing many signs of spring approaching. It was most enjoyable, and I could have photographed snowdrops left, right and centre!

Diersburg, one of the neighbouring villages. The hills at the horizon are the Vosges mountains in France.

Still Diersburg, looking the other way with the Black Forest rising behind the village.

We ended the week with a delicious meal and relatively early bedtime in view of Monday's early start.