avatarDiana Lotti

Summary

The website content is a personal narrative detailing the author's daily observations and reflections while living in Germany, focusing on the beauty of nature as seen through daily walks with her dog.

Abstract

The author shares a glimpse into her life in Germany, highlighting the simple yet profound joys of noticing the small details in her environment, such as bumblebees, snails, and the growth of trees. Through her daily walks with her dog, Mona Lisa, she has come to appreciate the changing seasons and the vibrant life that often goes unnoticed. The narrative emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and being present in the moment, as well as the unexpected pace of nature, challenging her previous assumptions about creatures like snails. The article is part of a series documenting her experiences and observations in Germany.

Opinions

  • The author feels fortunate to be greeted by a beautiful view every day and acknowledges the changing weather patterns as a part of her daily life.
  • She expresses a deep connection with her dog, Mona Lisa, who has been a constant companion for ten years.
  • The author enjoys the sounds of nature, particularly the buzzing of bumblebees, which she finds harmonious and indicative of life's vibrancy.
  • She challenges the common belief that snails are always slow, suggesting that her observations have led her to a new understanding of their behavior.
  • The author values the presence of trees along her path, noting their transformation from winter to summer and how they provide a sense of growth and change in her surroundings.
  • She advocates for the importance of mindfulness, encouraging readers to slow down and appreciate the nature around them.
  • The author is grateful for the lessons learned from her surroundings and expresses a desire for readers to have a lovely week ahead, indicating a positive and appreciative outlook on life.
View — Photo Credit: Diana Lotti

Photo-a-day Challenge

The Bumblebee, the Snail, and the Trees

Chronicles of living in Germany — Week 2

The view above greets me every single day. I know I’m lucky for it. Some days it’s foggy, some days rainy or snowy, and some days sunny and bright. The first week of June brought some summer heat to my little corner of the world. At last. I see this view every day as I walk my lovely, playful, and going grey Mona Lisa.

Mona Lisa is the name of my Jack Russell Terrier. She became a member of the family when she was six weeks old, ten years ago. It was the first time I was responsible to keep a life, well, alive. Since our arrival in Germany, I always walk her around our neighborhood a few times a day.

Mona Lisa the Jack Russell Terrier keeping me company at the foot of my desk— Photo Credit: Diana Lotti

I am so used to making sure to walk her daily that it appears I haven’t been paying much attention to the changes in our normal route. I paid better attention this past week and through rain and shine, I started to notice the details. Like the bumblebees.

What I like about bumblebees is that I never see them at first. But I always hear them. The quick vibrations of their wings give them away, and I listen to their buzzing as I walk by the blooming flowers. They like to keep busy hopping from flower to flower. This one didn’t even notice me standing a foot away from it.

The Bumblebee — Photo Credit: Diana Lotti

I welcomed the rain this past week too, it made the heat bearable as it refreshed the air. It also made the snails come out of hiding.

The Snail — Photo Credit: Diana Lotti

For some reason, I always believed snails were slow. Maybe this particular one is an exception. Maybe I’m wrong. It probably had a place it needed to be. It was heading towards the trees.

Trees — Photo Credit: Diana Lotti

The path between these trees serves as a shortcut to my apartment. Mona Lisa loves it, and she always leads me here. During the winter, it’s dry and dead, but I swear the leaves grew overnight. I haven’t noticed how much these grew until I realized the lack of sunshine seeping through.

Sometimes life gets busy, and as I move from task to task, I tend to stop paying attention to my surroundings. This past week taught me to stop and appreciate the nature around me. To be mindful and present at the moment. Not to rush back home.

© Diana Lotti 2021

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a lovely week ahead. Below are more photo stories from life in Germany.

Nature
Outdoors
Photography
Photo A Day Challenge
Travel
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