Last week was a mix of sun and clouds, some rain, and snow on the weekend. It was also the week we learned that our current lockdown - including the curfew and limiting the number of people outside our own household we are allowed to meet in private to ONE (yes, 1) - will be kept up longer, at least until mid-February. And it was the week that saw a big old tree gone from my view, and yours:
I mean this one, the highest tree I can see when I look out of my kitchen window. It has "always" been there, always part of my view in that direction. And now it is gone. The above picture was taken on Saturday morning at 8:26.
We were just getting up and heard the sound of a chainsaw. There are many gardens in my immediate neigbhourhood, and the noise could have come from almost anywhere, but O.K. spotted someone wearing a bright neon safety vest and hard hat in that tree, cutting off the lower branches.
We were wondering whether they would just be thinning the tree so that light could get to the ground in that garden. But by the time we returned from a snowy walk at around half two in the afternoon, only part of the trunk was left:
And by 5:00 pm, around sunset, it looked as if that tree never existed:
At the start of our walk, we briefly detoured to the street where we knew the working man (or men) would have to be to access the garden. We spoke to one of the men, and he told us that the tree had to come down because it was too large, and the risk of it hitting a person (there are three little boys in one of the houses next to it) or damaging a roof was too high.
I understand all this, but still find it a shame that the beautiful big old tree is now gone. The many birds and probably squirrels that lived or at least rested on it need to find another place. Of course, when one plants a garden, one should always keep in mind that trees do - surprise, surprise! - grow, and grow really large, if we let them and they are healthy. So it probably wasn't the best idea in the first place to plant it there, so close to houses and other gardens.
Anyway, our walk was across snowy fields, and as you can see, in the sun:
For dinner, I made a typical winter meal of boar goulash, roast spuds and sprouts with bacon. The red wine went very well with it. Dessert (cookies & cream ice cream topped with a swig of Bailey's) was taken in front of the telly; we watched "The Incredibles" - quite funny in bits, and relaxingly entertaining.
Going back to Friday of that week, it was the busiest day of the week for me in terms of work. I have now started to use my client's notebook/laptop (still can't tell the difference) for everything I do for them; I can access my virtual desktop with this client from my own company's computer, too, but for online conferences, sound and video quality is better through their computer. That means I have now two computers on the desk, switching between them depending on what I am doing. To make it look even more "impressive", we put O.K.'s macbook on my desk as well, just for fun - doesn't it make me look really important? ;-D
We went for a walk on Sunday, too; the strong wind was bitingly cold in parts, and by the time we arrived home, the headache I had been nursing all day came back with a vengeance. Again, O.K. had to leave at 6:00 in order to be home before curfew, and I went to bed only an hour later.
By Monday morning, I felt better, but it was another long and busy day at work - with eyes like mine, one should not spend 10 hours looking at computer screens. Hardly surprising, the headache came back.
But after a good night's sleep, I feel fine today - and am determined not to work quite so many hours. I have an online interview with our local paper at 5:00 and plan to finish work by 4:00, so that I have an hour in between to rest my eyes.
It has been snowing almost all day yesterday. These pictures were taken before 7:00 in the morning. I would have loved a snowy walk during the day, but couldn't make it. Never mind, there will be many more days for many more walks!
Sad about the tree. Old trees that one has known for years become like old friends and it is always sad to see then go
ReplyDeleteExactly, Pat. Also, this particular tree looked very healthy to me and in no immediate danger of falling or breaking, but of course I am not an expert.
DeleteI hate to hear about the tree. Falling on a person or a house sounds very unlikely to me, but what do I know. That would make me sad. I'm sorry!
ReplyDeleteYour dinner, as always, looks delicious. Your snow is beautiful.
Rest as you can and take care of your eyes! It's important! ❤
I know, Jennier - thank you! Today, I have accomplished a lot and yet managed to finish work at 4:00, and only now - 10 minutes before the online interview starts - have I returned to the computer.
DeleteStaring at those small screens all day cannot be good for your eyes. When I was working from home, I bought a larger monitor and regular size keyboard and linked them to my laptop. Helped.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the tree. We have frequent falling trees around here especially during windy weather--lots of poplar trees with insubstantial roots for their height. They can do significant damage. Back some years ago, a neighbor's very large tree fall lengthwise across one my youngest son's house during a tropical storm. Completely totaled it. Luckily, he was not home at the time.
Stay safe!
That sounds scary about the tree destroying your son's house! We do get strong winds here and the occasional storm, but it is rare that they do much damage here in town.
DeleteYes, the bigger screen etc. makes sense, but so far I have managed - always thinking I will return to the client's office soon-ish anyway...
It’s always sad when a tree has to go. I’ve lost two giants in my garden, both were old and sick. There may yet be another one to fell.
ReplyDeleteIt’s looks like it’s very cold in Germany; we had a bit of snow for about three days and now it’s raining again. I find snow and ice difficult now, because I live in a hilly area and there are slopes everywhere.
Can you just go into a butcher’s and buy wild boar? Wonderful.
The wild boar was shot by a friend of a friend, a hunter in O.K.'s area (Black Forest). Our friends asked if we wanted to share, and so we bought several parts to store in O.K.'s freezer. Most of it we have eaten now, there are only two pieces of filet left.
DeleteIt is not quite as cold as it looks, temperatures hover around freezing point, and by Thursday or Friday, 9 to 11 Celsius is forecast!
At least there are other trees still there. You'd miss them if they all went. A beautiful but enormous deciduous tree went from a garden near us recently. I used to use it as a wind monitor. But these things are often better in other people's gardens than our own.
ReplyDeleteAs I do not really have my own garden (technically, yes, but not using "my third" of it), I largely enjoy what I see from my windows or when I'm out walking. I would indeed hate for those big old gardens to be built up! Land is of course very precious here in town, but so far, the owners of the houses around here have not started to sell.
DeleteSo sorry about the tree. My trees are pinon and juniper. There are larger pines and aspens a little higher up on the mountain. I hate to even have limbs cut from our trees, some of which live to be 100 years old if left alone.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter works from home now and has a couple of monitors on her desk too. I would suggest a larger monitor for your eyes. I have a large one for my old, very old, eyes and I like it.
Yes, losing a tree for whatever reason is sad.
DeleteA large monitor is certainly an option. So far, I have been thinking I may go back to the client's office in a few months anyway, and there I have two large monitors.
It is often sad to see a tree, or indeed even a bush, cut down but the reality is that many coniferous trees have very shallow roots and a severe gale van quite easily bring them down. That can be serious near houses of course. In 1987 hundreds of trees were destroyed in the Stornoway Castle Grounds in a severe gale many of them having stood over a century. Many were past the end of their 'natural' life but what astonished me was how many of the trees had unbelievably shallow roots but had still stood all that time.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you manage to give your eyes sufficient rest.
Thank you, Graham - as you can see, I am not exactly resting my eyes right now...
DeleteWhat you say about trees is of course true; that particular tree looked perfectly alright to me from the perspective and distance of my kitchen window. It may have been a very different matter close-up.
I am always saddened at the loss of a tree even though I know there are sometimes good reasons. We trim our trees as needed in hopes of not losing them but there are no guarantees.
ReplyDeleteYou are an important person in your job and I'm sure you must do a lot of multi-tasking. My son does work similar to yours and he also has to work with multiple computers and monitors. At my age I could not keep up with all that!
I do hope you are feeling better and your headache is completely gone. How interesting that you have an interview with your paper. See - you are an important person!
It is not so much multi-tasking in my job as very often a series of phonecalls and conferences that keep me from working on whatever task my clients have for me. Some of these calls and conferences are useful, but admittedly, I guess a lot of them could be done without - if only people would do what is required from them :-D
DeleteThank you, Bonnie, I felt fine yesterday, and this morning have woken up again without a headache. But after I was cooped up all day indoors for two days now, I really need a walk today, no matter what!
I'm missing that tree in your photos too!!! However, like the big oak we just had removed, safety issues are most important as much as we love trees sometimes they have to go. Our big surprise was the rather large hole in the middle of the trunk visible once cut off low down - that was not a good sign.
ReplyDeleteTake care of those precious eyes please - stay off the screens as much as possible, says she sitting here most of today trying to catch up with computer stuff!!!
Hugs Meike - enjoy the snow scenes.
Thank you, Mary!
DeleteI was thinking of you and your tree cutting when I was putting this post together. Yes, a tree can look perfectly alright for us but we can't see inside until it is cut.
Old trees are friends as The Weaver and others have said.
ReplyDeleteA snowy walk, followed by goulash, and ice cream with Bailey's: Perfect!
And those steep-roofed houses, from your window. White dusk. Curtains open.
A snowy walk is twice as enjoyable when we know we will have a good substantial meal afterwards.
DeleteNot sure what you mean by "curtains open".
On a dark wet night I always draw my curtains. But sometimes on a snowy night I keep them open for a short time. The scene is quite magical, especially if there is a moon. Your photos makes me think of a Walter de la Mare poem.
DeleteOh, I see. Yes, the light on a snowy evening, night or early morning can be very special; sometimes it is blue, sometimes golden. I don't have curtains anywhere in my flat, that's why I was puzzled by your comment.
DeleteSlowly, silently, now the moon
DeleteWalks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees -
De La Mare's moonlight (a shoon is a nightdress) is matched by Robert Frost's snowylight:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Silver fruit upon silver trees - that reminds me of the moonlit garden at night under a full moon in the summer, bright and dark at the same time, almost otherworldly.
DeleteSomehow I see a silver pear tree, in a moonlit garden.
DeleteIn German, the moon is male. Mond and luna (Latin) sound quite different.
As for the Frost poem, the poet is falling asleep, hence the repetition of the last lines as he nods off. He is dreaming the snowy woodland. Critics have speculated on the meaning of *I have promises to keep*.
Is there a German phrase for nodding off?
Insomniacs in English say, *I finally nodded off.*
The closest to "nodding off" I can think of in German is "einnicken", or to make it a complete sentence "Ich bin endlich eingenickt".
DeleteThanks. I'm thinking, it is not too late to learn conversational German.
DeleteIt is so sad to lose a tree that you know and love. Believe me, I understand! Atlanta was once called "The city in the trees" but with all the people flocking to this state, I doubt it is called that now. Some forwars thinking builders will leave trees when they build houses but for the most part, the land is completely cleared and with all nature Controlled and lawns installed with strong chemicals. Now, on a lighter note, The Incredibles...I think the mother's voice is by Holly Hunter, have I told you she is from Conyers, Georgia? We went to the same high school. Yep, she was in the year just behind me! Take care, Meike, hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, it's Holly Hunter :-) I'm afraid, though, that we watched it on German TV - dubbed with the voices of German actors... not too bad, but certainly not the original.
DeleteYou too take care, dear Kay!
Sorry about the tree. A friend of mine (we were only little) cried over Alexandra's (the singer): "Mein Freund der Baum ist tot, er starb im fruehen Morgenrot." And don't mention my apple tree, shadowing my first vegetable and flower bed (I was about ten years old) being axed by a storm as only Schleswig Holstein's can blow.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit surprised at your use of time. Surely, as far as I am aware, 0400 is for in the morning not 1600 hrs (sechzehn Uhr) in the afternoon (vier Uhr nachmittags). Maybe, of course, you conduct all your business at night. Even the English, may they be forgiven, will say 4 am or 4 pm just so you know they aren't sleep walking.
U
When we were little, we listened to Alexandra's songs, too; "Mein Freund der Baum" was a favourite, as was "Zigeunerjunge".
DeleteI trust my readers to grasp from the context whether I mean am or pm - if not otherwise stated - when I mention a certain time. The paragraph in question is short; it begins with "But after a good night's sleep..." and then ends with "I have an online interview with our local paper at 5:00 and plan to finish work by 4:00, so that I have an hour in between to rest my eyes." You don't seriously believe any one would interpret these times to mean 5:00 and 4:00 in the morning, do you ;-)
Yes, my inner pedant clearly at its most pedantic. Having said that people do get up (literally) at four in the morning and do things (say, paint their front door) that normal people wouldn't associate with the night.
DeleteI suppose what occasionally irks me, not least in England, that people don't seem to get the twenty four hour clock. So 1600 hrs (16 Uhr) is four in the afternoon. 1200 hrs is midday and 2400 hrs is midnight. Saves on all the am/pm hassle.
When I first arrived in England, and you might find this vaguely amusing, I was confused. So, when someone said "see you at half three" I thought they meant "halb drei" 1430 hrs. Not so, half three is halb vier. Pity they missed out the "past".
Morning greetings, Meike, zwanzig vor neun (GMT),
U
You should hear our Swabian particularities when it comes to naming the Uhrzeit, Ursula :-D
DeleteCan you guess what "Viertel Sechse" is?
I probably wouldn't have known the "half three" bit without my English husband.
It is indeed a strange feeling every time a huge tree you've been used to suddenly disappears from your view. From the window in my study I used to see a huge birch tree in front of another building, but that was taken down a couple of years ago. I'm sure that was for safety reasons too, and as I'm allergic in spring I should probably be grateful as well (as quite a lot of its pollen probably used to land on my balcony and from there into my flat). I still kind of miss it when I sit at my writing desk and look out of the window, though. (Luckily I still see other threes from my other windows.) My computer table is against the wall though. Speaking of which, like one or two others above I also have my laptop connected to a bigger monitor + separate keyboard. Even so, I would not be able to spend a whole day at the computer. This past year, with so many people working from home, I keep thinking how difficult that must be in the long run, especially for those who don't even have a proper workplace at home.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you've heard about the "20-20-20 rule" for the eyes? : After 20 minutes at a computer screen (or tablet, or phone), look up and take 20 seconds to stare at something 20 feet (6 m) away. Like - look out of the window... :) (And to stand up and take a few seconds extra to go up to a window to do the staring is not a bad idea, either.)
The 20-20-20 rule is new to me, but of course it is not new to me that our eyes need breaks from staring at screens. The shortest my regular meetings are scheduled for though is 30 minutes, and most meetings last an hour or more; I guess my clients would be surprised if after 20 minutes I told them I'd go away for a minute :-)
DeleteAny chance I get, though, I do get up from my desk, walk to the kitchen or the bathroom or living room and look out of the windows.