PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE
Signs of Spring
Week 86 of the photographic documentary of my daily life
Life is busy whenever I’m back in Germany. There is just always something to celebrate, always something to fix and clean up. My family is big and many family members come over for a visit or invite us for a day at their house.
I’ve been back for over a week and haven’t met up with any of my friends yet. There simply wasn’t the time for it.
While my husband is every day in the garden working on the greenhouse together with my dad, I clean the house, go through all my clothes, search the attic for stuff we’ll need this season, and do paperwork.
Yes, a world traveler like me also doesn’t get around doing paperwork. When moving between Germany and somewhere abroad or back, I have to cancel the travel insurance and get back on my insurance in Germany. Lots of emails, calls, and other stuff to do.
And then there’s the tax thing. Don’t even get me started…
Let’s rather talk about happy things in life. Like this tiny daisy plant that pushed through the bricks leading up to our house. I was actually surprised it was growing there. Usually, all kinds of greens get removed.
But this one is a real survivor.
Just like the king of the skies that was circling above our garden plot today. I walked down to the plots to bring my dad and husband lunch. And to get some exercise. That was when I spotted this “Rotmilan” (red kite).
No, it’s not an eagle but to me appeared like the king of the skies. My mom corrected me otherwise and specified the name of the bird.
It’s Friday and my dad decided we’ll have fish for lunch. But not any fish. A fish we had to catch ourselves first.
Together with my husband and dad, I drove a few kilometers to the mountains where a fish farm is located. They grow lots of trout here next to other fish but you can’t just buy the fish from them.
You can catch your own meal. I know, it’s not like fishing in the wild but you still need some skill to get that fish out of the water.
And while I am used to fishing that takes a day and we get maybe a fish or two out of it, I was busy capturing the surroundings with my camera when my husband had the first big salmon trout on his fishing rod.
Unfortunately, I was too slow with getting the net, so he lost the fish (there are strict rules at this pond and you have to use their gear and get the fish out with the net.)
But it didn’t take long and my husband had the next one on the line. This time I was waiting with the net in my hand and got the fish. Within the next half an hour I was standing between my dad and husband waiting for the next bite. I was busy.
In total, they got 6 fish (every fish you catch, you have to take out and buy) which was more than enough for our lunch.
We drove back home and about an hour later the fish was being grilled in our garden plot. Mom came down after work as well and we all enjoyed the delicious pieces of salmon trout.
Another day of lots of work but I didn’t hesitate to do my daily walk through nature. When I was in the garden my mom kept on talking about three grey herons at the edge of the forest.
Eventually, I decided to get up and check them out. They were far, but my mom said I could go closer and they would stay there. Apparently, a farm tractor passed them half an hour ago and they did not move.
So, off I went. Along the dirt track, step by step, I got a little closer. They flew off when I got too close for their comfort but I got some nice shots.
Sometimes it is better not to ask. Things just clear up by themselves.
When we got to Germany and first entered the flat I was wondering what my mom was drying in the kitchen and why. But there were more important topics to discuss, so I never bothered asking.
One day I wanted to make myself tea and opened the cupboard. I didn’t find a single tea bag but lots of bags filled with dried leaves, herbs, and fruits. On one of the Tupperware boxes was a sticker saying “orange and apple”.
And all of a sudden, it all made sense.
My mom was drying pieces of orange on the window sill to make tea from it.
Spring is in full swing here and I’m loving the temperatures and sunny days.
The forest floor is covered in “Buschwindröschen” (English: windflower, I think) and this flower will always remind me of a children’s book. There’s a cow who sees these flowers for the first time and shouts aloud “es hat geschneit, Schnee am Stengel” (it snowed, there’s snow on the stem”. Yes, cows can talk in a beautiful fantasy world and memories like those are what we cherish.
This beauty won’t last long because as soon as the trees get leaves and the light disappears on the forest floor, so will these flowers. They will vanish for another year.
Another beauty that might vanish soon is these cherry blossoms. I’m not sure, but they said frost will come. They even predicted snow. But the cherry trees in our village responded quickly to the warm weather of March.
They are in full bloom.
It’s a sea of pink.
I was staying in today since it was raining a bit and kind of cold. I had lots to do anyway, so I didn’t mind the weather.
My mom was in the neighboring room doing some knitting when I wanted to ask her something. She was counting the lines she had done so far and I waited patiently not to interrupt her. That was when I took the picture below.
This has been my week in photographs. 7 days. 7 photographs. Anyone can join. Once. Or weekly. It doesn’t matter. We welcome everyone! Dennett was the one starting this photography challenge in summer 2020 and many have participated ever since.
Erika / Eileen / K. Barrett / Juan / David / Mia / Susan / LensAfield / Kim / Barbara / Diana / Barb / Sandra / Shruthi / Ellie / Pene / Olive / Gustavo / Jane / Penny / Jillian
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