A Week With Rain!!

Last week we finally had some very welcome rain and cooler temperatures. I was looking after my neighbours' cat and two rabbits before work as well as in the evenings, and we had the third of four birthdays to celebrate this month.

I worked from home on Monday (17 August), doing an errand for my Mum in between as well as taking care of my furry charges before and after work. 

Also, for the first time in two months I went to have a much needed back & shoulders massage at the nearby day spa. It was lovely to see the lady who usually treats me, but sad to hear the news that the day spa is closing down at the end of September. It's been around for decades, changed hands a few years ago when the founders retired, and I have been a regular for around 20 years. It is unclear what will happen; new owners? Current staff able to continue? Permanent closure? In any case, I will miss this very conenvient opportunity to have my aches and pains taken care of, as well as the conversations with the ladies there.

The day was very pleasant at 19 to 24C/66 to 75F, sun and clouds.

Tuesday (18 August) brought some lovely, gentle rain and was even cooler at 17-23C/62-73F. 

I found Neo the cat playing with a small mouse in the garden, which I quickly caught when he let it go. It seemed completely unharmed, just scared, and I carried it to what I consider a safe spot at the end of the garden where Neo can't get to properly, and released it. In the meantime Neo was still looking for the mouse at the spot where he'd last seen it, but he willingly came indoors with me for some food to distract him.

After work, I intended to walk to Benningen but changed plans when reaching Freiberg (the town between Ludwigsburg and Benningen). The rain was becoming more intense and there was thunder; the next part of my walk would have lead across wide open fields, which I thought unwise, and instead took a local train back home from there.

Later I spent about half an hour with Neo on the settee at his house, reading from my kindle while he was purring next to me.

It was hot again on Wednesday (19 August) at 31C/88F but not unbearably so. I worked at the office in Weilimdorf, got off the train one stop after my usual one and walked to Benningen from there - no rain this time.

Sunrise that morning, as seen from my kitchen.

Many fields around here are in such a sorry state this year. Farmers speak of up to 70% loss of harvest for lack of rain.

This could just as well be somewhere in Africa - not on the fields between Freiberg and Benningen!

Neo wasn't home when I came for my evening turn, but he had been eating and so I refilled his dish and took care of the rabbits and went home.

Thursday (20 August) wasn't too warm at 26C/79F, but it was humid and everything felt sticky. Showery rain in the afternoon made little difference but of course the water was welcome. 

My sister and I met at our Mum's and went for a walk on the fields together as part of our extended way home. 

I had another reading/purring session with Neo in the evening.

Sunset that evening, as seen from my study...

...and from my living room.

It was chilly at 15C/59F on Friday (21 August) morning; a definite hint of late summer/early autumn in the air.

Sunrise on Friday

I worked from home until lunch time and then did my usual cleaning. The rabbit hut got a more thorough cleaning, and I had the by now established half hour with Neo on the settee.

It rained in the afternoon, evening and during the night. Together with sunset being much earlier than two months ago and the chilly temperature (a max of 20C/68F), I enjoyed a cosy couple of hours in front of the TV with a blanket and even had a mug of hot vegetable broth.

On Saturday (22 August) was my sister-in-law's birthday (O.K.'s sister). I took three different trains to arrive in Offenburg at around 2:00 pm, where my husband picked me up. We had a quick late lunch on the balcony; the weather was dry and pleasant at 21C/70F and went for a walk around the village later.

In the evening, the five of us (O.K.'s sister and her husband, his Mum, O.K. and I) drove to the nearby town of Lahr, where my sister-in-law had booked a table for us at a nice restaurant to celebrate. We were outside in the garden near a large old tree and enjoyed very good food, friendly service and of course the company.

Sunday (23 August) warmed up to 24C/75F after a chilly start at 9C/48F. We had breakfast on the balcony and "for lunch" went to have ice cream in town before driving to Ortenberg where we walked a favourite walk of ours, starting at Ortenberg castle which you have seen several times on my blog, taking in the views from the vineyards with part of the way leading through woodland.

Schloss Ortenberg (Ortenberg Castle)

Another view of the castle, about half way into the walk

Like every year, some vineyards have been faring better than others.

The woods have an autumnal look already.

The Vosges Mountains (France) on the horizon.

We had arranged to meet a couple of friends at a restaurant in the vineyards; the meal was their wedding gift for us. Again, the food was nice, service friendly and we enjoyed catching up with our friends. They offered to drive us back to where we had parked the car, but we preferred to walk, and it really was very nice in the golden evening light and then the sunset.