High Summer

Is this a term actually used in English? In German, we say Hochsommer (high summer) for this period from about mid-July to mid-August, when (normally) summer is at its hottest, at its "highest". Temperatures at the moment are definitely not at the high level we've been getting used to over the past years, and it has not been as bone-dry, either; something I am really grateful for.

But it's been lovely walking weather, and last Sunday, O.K. and I went for a walk that would include both sunny stretches out on the fields and welcome shade in the woods. Remember, the Blackforest starts almost right behind the village, so we're never really far from a woodland walk, beautiful in all seasons.

We started off directly from O.K.'s front door, no car needed.

View towards Niederschopfheim

Wildflower meadow

We skirted the village of Diersburg and tried a slightly different circuit. At one point, we had to retrace our steps, as the path ended at fenced-off private land with no way around or across it. I didn't mind at all; it was still beautiful.

On my way home, I suddenly found myself time-travelling when I looked at the digital sign on the train:

Somehow, I made it out of the time loop and arrived at my own place back in the year of 2020 - I don't think I would want to be stuck in November 2000! Twenty years ago, I was 32 years old, working way too much for way too little. My life then wasn't all bad, of course; Steve had just moved in with me (and ended up in hospital with blood poisoning from an infected tooth the same month), my parents were still working and my grandma was still alive.

Now that I am 20 years older (but not necessarily wiser), a lot has changed, but most of the time, I love my life the way it is.

Oh, and there is reason to celebrate today for my family: It is my parents' 55th wedding anniversary!!!

Two years ago, we weren't even sure whether my Dad would still be around for Christmas. And here they are, still together after so many years. Love you so much, Mama und Papa!

Sunflower Season

For a change, it is a grey morning, and I enjoy hearing the rain outside my open window while I am sitting here with my morning coffee. Perfect for blogging about sunflowers!

Sunflower season is well and truly upon us, and has been so for a while. Last weekend at O.K.'s, we went for a short evening stroll among the orchards, fields and vineyards behind the village, after O.K. had been working away at giving his balcony door and window frames a fresh layer of paint all day.

I took the following set of pictures within 18 minutes, starting just after 9:00 pm on Saturday. They look so similar that I can not decide which ones I like better than others, so I am simply putting them all in front of you.

This post is dedicated to Kay (Georgia Girl with an English Heart) and her wonderful Dad, missed by her and her family, and by those who have been reading her blog long enough to remember her posts about him.

A Bit More...

...of my summer so far, and what has been going on here. 
Also, say good-bye to the longer hair with these last two pictures of me from before yesterday, when I've had it cut short (really short), much better for this season.

The one on my parents' balcony was taken Tuesday of this week. Why am I having an Apérol Spritz on a Tuesday evening, you may ask? It was a mini celebration of sorts: My parents have had a balcony make-over, namely the floor. You'll see in the next series of pictures how the old concrete slabs (the original ones from 1988, when the house was built) have been covered in snazzy new decking.

It does not just look good, it also feels nice underfoot, warm and smooth to the bare sole. This was done Friday last week, and when it rained on Sunday, my Mum assured me that the wooden planks are not slippery when wet.

Then there are of course the obligatory sunsets, taken from the allotment of O.K.'s parents last weekend.

Just before the UFO landed ;-)

And last but not least, for the first time in months I felt like shopping, and splashed out on two pairs of sandals, simply because I could not decide whether I prefer the yellow or the grey ones.
Now I'm afraid something is wrong with them and I'll have to take them back... see for yourselves:

My Summer So Far

The end of June saw me and my sister out on after-work-walks a few times. Restaurants and cafés are open again over here, but we are not keen on sitting indoors just yet, with all the restrictions about distance, masks and disinfecting still in place. Good job then that there are several beer gardens close enough to walk to!

We went to one near our town on June 23, a Tuesday, to have a refreshing shandy and a meal. The food was excellent, mixed salad with a tasty dressing, and the falafel were special: not made of chick peas, but of hokkaido pumpkin! So fluffy and soft inside, crispy on the outside, freshly made and hot - I am definitely going to be back for more there before this summer is over.

Another after-work walk the very next day took me and an old school friend to the palace grounds. I love the late afternoon / early evening light, and the always beautiful park is even more beautiful then. There were relatively few people about.

We don't get to see storks often in this area, whereas it is hard NOT to spot storks in O.K.'s part of the country, unless you deliberately choose to ignore them. This one looked beautiful against the clear blue sky:

The following week, on the 29th of June, I was back at the palace grounds for another after-work stroll, this time with my sister, who took my picture.

The 1st of July was very hot, and it was not only the first of the month - for me, it was also the first time I was NOT working from home since March 17! On that day, I went to work at the Literature Archive in Marbach. Walking from the train station to the archive takes about 15-20 minutes, and it is not a strenuous walk, but I was uncomfortably hot by the time I arrived there just after 10:00 in the morning. 
All went well; everyone walking around in the building was wearing a mask, and the meeting room was so large that the six or eight of us had plenty of distance (masks were taken off for the meeting). There was disinfectant spray provided, and we were all required to disinfect our own tables before leaving the room, and make sure the room was well aired before and after the meeting.
I felt perfectly safe there, and it was nice to actually see my clients face to face again after several months.

It will still be a while before I'll even consider going back to the other office, where I have much less space and many more meetings throughout an average day. So far, that particular client has not yet requested me to work on-site; everything has been done from home without problems. As far as I'm concerned, it can stay that way for as long as possible.

Later that day, I went running with my regular "running buddy". Well - that was our intention, but we ended up walking most of the second half of our circuit; it was simply too hot. The sunset was rather beautiful, first as seen from the street where Ludwigsburg ends and the fields begin, looking west, and then from my kitchen window, looking east:

Pictures of June

A beautiful month with a healthy mix of sun and rain, that was June for me. 
 

After-work walk on June 8, on the fields near Ludwigsburg

Near O.K.'s village, also on June 8

It was also the month when many of the lockdown rules in this country were lifted. For instance, we are now allowed to have private gatherings of up to 20 people, no matter from how many different households they come. As good as all shops and restaurants are open again, and many have returned to their work places after a period of furlough or working from home.
For my part, I have still been working exclusively from home, but tomorrow - July 1st - I have my first on-site appointment with a client since mid-March.

Ludwigsburg palace grounds, June 19

Deer park, Ludwigsburg, the same day

In town, things look and feel almost "normal". 
There are still markings on shop floors to show customers how far away from each other they have to queue at checkout, and wearing masks inside shops and on public transport is still mandatory. But the number of people going about their business in town is as high as "before", and road traffic is completely back to normal, if not more - some of those who were using public transport before prefer their own cars now.

Black Forest, June 20

From some of the blogs I regularly read I learn how different things are in other countries. I am still not sure whether lifting most of the restrictions here has been such a good idea; we have hot spots and massive outbreaks in some parts of the country, and it makes me feel uncomfortable when there are many people around, especially if they carelessly do not wear masks and walk past or stand closer than they should.

But away from the crowded areas, it is beautiful, and I really have enjoyed this month a lot - especially as there was some extra time with two Bank Holidays (on the 1st and on the 11th of this month). It would have also been the month of my annual Yorkshire holiday, but of course, travelling like that was (and still is) completely off the cards. 

After a period of quietness, with walks my only after-work-activity, I have begun meeting friends again; one to one as well as in small groups. Last week, I had some appointment or other every day after work - just like before. I am not sure I want this busy life back; at least not just yet. This week is quieter again, and I try not to allow my diary to fill up with as much "out and about" things as before.

What was June like for you?