Tuesday 7 June 2016

After the Rain

After the rain had stopped early Saturday afternoon, it did not return that day. Since it was the first time this year that I had come to the allotment, of course I had to go and check on "my" Grassy Path. I can't even tell you what exactly it is that makes this one of my favourite places, it just holds a special attraction for me.

So, off I went, armed with my Mum's camera, as the batteries in my own camera were flat and I had stupidly not brought along the replacement ones.

The first two pictures are from another allotment near my parents':


As soon as I left the allotment area, I noticed the building crane. It is at the site of a venue for courses and seminars related to business studies. The site was deliberately chosen so remotely - far from all distractions, in order for those who go there to teach and learn to fully concentrate on their courses. It has 50 single rooms for the students, a large dining area, auditoriums and class rooms of various sizes and is run by what I can roughly translate as "Educational Institution for the Economy of Baden-Wuerttemberg" (B-W being the federal state of Germany I live in).


I've always found it curiously attractive (although not a beautiful building in the way I usually find buildings beautiful) and now wanted to have a closer look. And look I did! Seems like the venue is being extended substantially:


There was nobody around; it was not even fenced and gated off, and I went inside a few steps. You can tell it had been raining quite a lot!


After that, I walked further on and up the hill to reach my favourite spot. You've seen very similar photos on my blog many times already, because I keep going back there and always find it worth taking pictures.
Something was different this time: For the first time since I made this a "must visit" whenever I come to my parents' allotment, I met other people on the path!
Two young ladies on horses came riding along. I stepped aside to let them pass and admired the beautiful horses with their shiny coats, one black and one chestnut. The ladies politely greeted and thanked me, and we exchanged a few words about the weather and how good it was to be out here on a day like this.

Again, I wish I could transmit the scents of elderflower and dog rose around me!


On my way back, I took only a few more pictures - you've seen this village before, too:



I joined my parents again at the allotment about 1 1/2 hours later. We sat and chatted for another while on the patio before packing up and driving back to Ludwigsburg.
Later, I went running with a friend (my hometown's City Run is only 4 1/2 weeks away!). After a shower and something to eat, I was so pleasantly tired from all that exercise and having been outdoors nearly all day, I went to bed nearly two hours before my usual bedtime :-)

The next day was going to be Sunday, with O.K. visiting and the Horse Market procession to watch. But that will of course be the subject of another post.

10 comments:

  1. What a lovely place your home is, Meike! I just looked it up on a map of Germany to see how close it is to Berlin, which is where my friend Alexander will be next month. It's not close at all, I see. Too bad. But I think he's going to be so busy while he's there that he won't have any time for fun--his wife isn't even going this time. I'll have to ask him if he's ever visited your area of the country in one of his previous visits.



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    1. We're practically at the other end of Germany from Berlin, as you have seen by checking it out on a map :-)
      I've been there only once in my life, in 2005, for a few days with my husband shortly after our wedding. We had a good time and were duly impressed with the huge city, but I've never felt inclined to go back.
      I hope your friend Alexander will still have at least a little bit of fun - only work and no play is not healthy!
      Glad you like the area I call home, Jennifer. I think it is really a good part of the world to live in.

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  2. I always love your allotment visits and of course your walks. The lookout tower is a good landmark in that it registers a spot in my brain...again.

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    1. I found it hard to believe that this was indeed my first visit this year, but I checked my diary twice and could not find any reference to the allotment until now. Well, it was cold and wet for much of March, April and May, and many of my weekends now being spent either at O.K.'s or he at my place have also meant a change in activities.

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  3. I love the allotment! And this was from the earlier post, but it was so sweet of your Dad to try and come and pick you both up in the car! The food on the table waiting for you, was it a pretzel? It looked wonderful! :-)

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    1. It really was sweet of my Dad to not only prepare everything so nicely for us, but also trying to rescue us from the rain.
      Yes, the food were Brezeln (as pretzels are called in German). We each had a Brezel with butter first, and later strawberry pastry.

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  4. That other allotment looks charming, too. :)

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    1. I love it, covered in so many flowers, and it looks beautiful no matter the season.

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  5. And so, as you are a librarian, you will understand that I look at your photos and read about your experience, and imagine it all as a fairy tale!

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    1. There certainly have been some magic moments in my life, and I know of some magic places, too :-)
      I believe this is your first comment on my blog - welcome to My Mental Library, and thank you for reading and commenting!

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