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At the outdoor patio with checked tablecloths in Kochel Am See, where the chef, who was the only one who spoke a bit of English, came out and told us what he was making.
I selected the salad with warm goat cheese that had a drizzle of honey on it. An excellent choice as you can clearly see.
*Zum Giggerer was the name of the spot. Mark it as a favorite so you don’t miss it when you come to Germany.
This morning, on a walk along the wonderful hiking/biking trail system in Bavaria, I happened upon these horses.
Wearing bells. I don’t know how they feel about it, but it’s a charming sound to encounter while out for a morning stroll.
From the Alpspix viewing platform in the Alpspitze mountains near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Knitting a sock. Resting. Absorbing.
Sleeping in. Eating cake for breakfast if we want to.
Part of the Black Forest ride. Spotted in Mittenwald.
It made me want to watch It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World again.
This fits the bill for a perfect summer read. It includes a cat, a Scottish accent, quirky characters, and a sweet friendship.
You can't ask for more than that from a book. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is highly recommended.
The Benedictine Abbey in Ettal along the Alpenstrasse.
From our balcony in Wallgau, we watched a storm move over the alps.
If you missed this, while rushing about in a hectic pace, over the last few weeks, I present it here. Because it should not be missed. I feel certain you will agree.
SINGULARITY
by Marie Howe (after Stephen Hawking)
Do you sometimes want to wake up to the singularity
we once were?
so compact nobody
needed a bed, or food or money —
nobody hiding in the school bathroom
or home alone
pulling open the drawer
where the pills are kept.
For every atom belonging to me as good
Belongs to you. Remember?
There was no Nature. No
them. No tests
to determine if the elephant
grieves her calf or if
the coral reef feels pain. Trashed
oceans don’t speak English or Farsi or French;
would that we could wake up to what we were
— when we were ocean and before that
to when sky was earth, and animal was energy, and rock was
liquid and stars were space and space was not
at all — nothing
View from bridge at the Leutasch Spirit Gorge in Mittenwald on Tuesday.
For a reader who may not do Facebook or Instagram. Hi from Germany Marti!
This is the first in what I am calling the "While we are in Germany" series. Each time we take a trip, Sister and I say to each other "we are not going to blog on this trip, it takes too much time". Then we do it anyway. Not this year.
There will be too many different angles from which to draw what we will be seeing to take the time to tell stories. Show and tell will come after we return home.
This will mean more time to focus on the travel journal. To write about what we are experiencing. Banking little nuggets that will trigger greater memories for when we enter the years when we won't travel as much. Like when we are in our 90's. Maybe.
The "While we are in Germany" posts, are a few tales I crafted before I left. In case you stop by while I am gone.
Tonight I present photos of purple, green, and orange things. If they don't interest you, go to Instagram. Sister and I will both be posting photos daily of what we are filling our eyes up with. In Bavaria!
On Saturday morning Harvey and I hung out together as I did some much needed weeding, watering, and the like. Leaving your garden for 2 weeks requires some pre-planning.
Chris took careful notes about which plants should only be watered every 3 days and which ones were likely to need a drink everyday. We reviewed when certain flower beds may need a sprinkler for 30 minutes, but NOT if we get rain.
The fountain was cleaned and turned off because I decided that asking him to be sure it didn't run dry might be pushing it.
Sister and I have decided we do NOT enjoy the actual "travel" part of travel. By that I mean the worry about forgetting something important or missing a connection or some other such thing. We just want to wake up and be there! Included in a post when I return will be a report on whether it was 100% genius or 100% foolhardy to pack so little and do all carry on.
I made Chris a flower arrangement before I left. The table just doesn't look right without one.
I also put up the summer banners/garland in the living room. In case he wants to have a party.
In return he bought me a People magazine in case I run out of things to do on the voyage over the ocean to Munich. He's nice like that. If my calculations are correct, when this post publishes, I will be somewhere over Quebec, or maybe the Labrador Sea.
Flavia de Luce has quickly become one of my all time favorite literary characters. We recently concluded a weeklong visit in which she once again was able to assist Inspector Hewitt in untangling who did what to whom and why. In addition, I picked up this bit of wisdom that some of you may also find helpful. "...there's no better way to mask a lie, or at least a glaring omission, than to wrap it in an emotional outpouring of truth". Not that any of us ever have occasion to bend the truth, but it never hurts to be prepared. For example, if you happen to drink all but the last swallow of milk and put the container back in the refrigerator knowing full well that someone will need more than that for their cereal in the morning but you do it anyway. And deny deny deny if questioned about any involvement in the disappearance.
During this entertaining read, I learned a bit more about Flavia's mother Harriet, and of the course the elaborate schemes, designed to irritate and extract revenge on her sisters Daphne and Ophelia continued as in the first two books in the series.
That Alan Bradley does know how to turn a phrase. Why just say "oh crap!" when exasperated, if you can instead say "saints on skates!" Promise me you will try to work this into regular conversation before the month is out.
A Red Herring Without Mustard - Very Highly Recommended.
Never before, in the history of all my traveling, have I been organized and ready to go 3 days ahead of time.
However, when you are taking a teeny, tiny, international carry-on size suitcase for a 2 week trip away from home, careful attention to packing is required.
When Sister sent me a photo of the sketch she did of all the clothes she was bringing you know I had to try it too. Sketching is like anything else. It's more fun if you are kind of good at it, but the only way you can be decent is to practice. Which takes time. So I am getting back at it. Warming up my muscles before I dive into the Bavarian art marathon coming up soon.
Deliberations over which of these soft bags will by my other carry on also continue.
Adding dates to the fabulous travel journal Mary Ann made for me is going to happen before I leave. Maybe.
In 3 days I will be seeing this. No maybe about it.
When you cut the blooms from your new rose bush for your table because you missed the farmers market last Saturday. And because it's smaller than you are used to, you elevate it on a cupcake stand. Then add some white rabbits because they saw what you were doing and wanted to get in on the action.
I'm not one to say "no" to a wabbit.
The Smoky Hill River Festival was this weekend in Salina, Kansas. It's the best art/music event in all of Kansas (according to Chris and I, who are festival experts), and we try to get there every year if we are not out of town.
It's in a great park with lots of trees and plenty of shade.
Everywhere there is someone or something interesting and amazing to look at.
Artists give craft demonstrations, you can buy a hand carved rocker, and cute girl groups provide excellent music.
There is something for everyone at the festival.
This little miss left her chair unattended while she perused the racks for a one of a kind new dress.
There was pottery for multiple uses, indoors or out, for you or your birds.
The Miller clan was there en masse. With matching shirts so no one would get lost.
The festival is always held the first full weekend in June. You might want to schedule your next trip to Kanas to coincide with it.
When you hear the fife and drum corp as you process over the bridge into the park you will know you have arrived. Because sister and I are headed to Germany in a week, I was very careful with my spending at the festival this year. HOWEVER, there was a certain beeswax encaustic artist whose work really caught my eye. I might have written down her name in case Chris wins the lottery while I am gone.
When I went to the bookstore to select a book to take on vacation I had a list with me. To prevent me from becoming distracted by covers. I am quite easily led astray by colors and fonts and a catchy title. Which is perfectly acceptable of course, but not when you only want to carry one book with you on a plane.
I had just picked out these three and sat down to do the "does the first line draw you in" test, when the most marvelous thing happened. A smallish black cat came right over, twined around my legs a few times, looked me straight in the eye, and leapt onto my lap. He turned around exactly three times, found just the right position, and proceeded to settle in. On my lap. Approximately 7 pounds of purring warmth. I melted. Into a pile of goo. Right there in the bookstore.
I bought all three books. Of course.
Despite a late Spring, followed by lower than average rain fall to date, our tomatoes are doing pretty good. So far. Of course, we are growing them in a container, on the deck, that has a water reservoir underneath so we don't over or under water. Theoretically.
This was the day they were planted. May 5th.
Next photo taken on May 19th.
On May 27th the first fruits were spotted.
May 30th - growing over the top of the cage.
Maybe by the time I get home from Germany we will be pretty close to the first home-grown tomato meal of the summer. I am leaving an able-bodied garden supervisor to help Chris with any outdoor chores he may require assistance with. Such as remembering the precise quantity of water each of my potted plants requires.
Luckily, there is nothing Harvey can't handle.
In the summer, in Kansas, it's good to find a spot to walk with lots of BIG trees.
If there are benches around, so much the better.
Views of a lake will definitely kick things up a notch.
If there are lily pads, that's about as good as it can possibly get.
If there are flowers mixed among the lily pads, birds singing, and a nice breeze blowing, you better stop and take stock.
Recognizing nirvana when you experience it is important.
When the bourbon bottle is too pretty to throw away, my recommendation is to cut some of whatever flowering bush or tree is doing it's thing right now and bring it indoors. Three stems is best.
This is called zen decorating that relies on re-cycling to create good feng shui.
It's a theory founded on very solid science. In the Universe of Carol.
Despite the fact that there was a blown-over umbrella out back Saturday morning, and a knocked down tree in the middle of the road on 9th street (that had to be driven around), and a few intermittent rain drops with thunder rumbling in the distance, the farmers market went on.
Rain boots were worn, strings were still strung, bags were still toted.
There were new people to meet,
peonies to select,
decorating to admire,
and produce to acquire.
I am trying the Dino kale this week - it will be combined somehow with purple cauliflower and cabbage. Fashioned into some kind of insanely delicious lunch.
Chris will probably insist that I pack all his lunches this week too. Not.
In full sunshine, after a rain, in the morning, or after work, in the front garden, or on the side, the Shirley poppies are just lovely. In all conditions. Under all circumstances.
Jeannette gave me these seeds about 4 years ago. I sprinkled them like she said and then left them alone. The birds have carried them around to different spots this year. I like where they planted them. I shall continue to leave them alone.
