September

My next before last post covers Monday, the 1st of September; therefore, this post about the first week of September begins on Tuesday.

There was some rain on Tuesday (2 September), but the sun came out later, and it was very pleasant at 20C/68F. I try to get a massage for my back and shoulders once a week at the nearby day spa, and managed to have an appointment around lunch time. After work, a walk to Benningen was a good opportunity to take in the beautiful late afternoon / early evening light - and I spotted the first autumn crocus along the way! 

Checking back on my blog, that first sighting in 2024 happened only a few days later.

Wednesday and Thursday (3 and 4 September) were office days, and especially the Wednesday was quite warm at 24C/75F after a chilly morning at 16C/60F.

My boss brought plums from his garden for me and other colleagues; this is how he left his delivery in my office:

I walked from Zuffenhausen to Ludwigsburg on my way back, but didn't go straight home. 

On the fields between Schwieberdingen and Ludwigsburg

Instead, my sister and I were at our Mum's; she had prepared a very nice meal for us, and I put a small item of furniture together for her (it still needs some work with three of the screws, where I simply couldn't fit them together properly - not for lack of understanding how it was supposed to work, which was simple and straightforward).

A thunderstorm in the very early hours of Thursday brought more rain and high winds, but as far as I am aware, nothing was damaged in my neighbourhood. I didn't go for a walk after work but went straight home, feeling very tired; more than what was justified by the work day, which really had not been stressful, but the thunderstorm had woken me up way too early and I didn't get enough sleep that night.

On Friday (5 September), I was working from home and went for a nice walk to Lake Monrepos late afternoon. 

A bit after sunrise, seen from my kitchen last Friday.

The stillness of the lake and the prematurely turning of the leaves of some of the horse chestnuts (not really a good sign; the trees probably didn't get enough water in spring and summer) made for a beautiful early autumn atmosphere, while it was still warm enough not to need a coat.

Because of a committment with the village band, O.K. and I spent the weekend each at our own place. I spent Saturday (6 September) partly with my sister; we visited the secondhand book sale by the church in the middle of town (and of course did not leave empty handed), had a very nice breakfast at a cosy bakery café, and strolled across the farmer's market on the square.

Later, I cleaned my windows (finally!! They really were a disgrace, especially when the sun was trying to shine through.) and eventually went for a walk to Pattonville, where I had not been in a while. For my evening meal, I fried slices of zucchini with diced onion and chestnuts - maybe not the first combination that comes to mind, but trust me, it was good.

Sunday (6 September) was the third time this year that I set off on my Steinheim walk (or rather hike, pf about 18.5 km). Click here for my previous visit in May, which in turn links to the February one.

That particular walk for me is as nostalgic (a few tears flow nearly every time I am on this route) as it is important to mark the seasons, and the changes from late summer to early autumn were visible everywhere. The vineyards are about to be harvested, the grass has been cut for the last time this year so that the summerly scent of hay is still in the air; atumn crocus adorn the meadows and apples are ripe on the trees.

I stopped on a favourite bench of mine for my sandwich and a drink of water. 

The view I had from the bench. By then, sitting in the shade was quite welcome.

Next was "my" grassy path - and only for the second time in all the many years I have been walking there did I encounter someone there! It was a lone man with a camera around his neck. 

We greeted each other, and he said what I had just been thinking, that it was very rare to meet someone on this particular path. We exchanged a few friendly words - and then he started talking and didn't stop... It was all interesting and good, about his hobby (photography) and his work (he's a joiner), his family (he has a wife and a 25-year-old daughter and small granddaughter) and local history etc., but I really wanted to continue my walk, especially since I'd only just been sitting on that bench and didn't need another break just yet.

The start of the grassy path; just a bit further on I met the talkative hobby photographer.

Eventually, I managed to politely extricate myself from the conversation and walked on.

That tree was still upright last time I walked here.

This one is for my sister.

Steinheim church

It was warm at 25C/77F now, and I was glad for my sunglasses, bermuda shorts and t-shirt, and that I still had water in my flask. 

I reached Marbach train station with the train already there, and it left a minute after I boarded - just in time! Had I missed it, a half hour wait wouldn't have been a problem, but it was still nice to be on my way home after the long, beautiful walk.