A-Z Monday, Letter I

I is for Internet.

Now how difficult was that especially considering I spent most of today INDOORS using it?

I think I was waiting for INSPIRATION.

Yes the internet is a wonderful place.

Today I have been using the internet to try and understand German grammar.

In preparation for my class tonight.

Over the weekend I used the internet to learn about art journalling.

It is also keeping me in touch with Mike while he is in the UK.

It makes it easier for me to add to his shopping list!

I think I first started blogging when I was in Sweden with none of my patchwork and quilting books and magazines.

I needed some inspiration to get started with some project or other,

rather than finishing off something I had started!

I must have googled 'patchwork and quilting'and that was my introduction into the world of blogging.

I suspect I didn't even get my project started.

Last week I received my first ATC from Joyce who doesn't appear to have a blog.

Throughout the year I have been making ATC's to send out to people taking part in a swap.

Everyone in the swap sends out an ATC to anyone whose birthday falls in the month that we are in.

All mine are sent out now, phew!

But I received my first one!

It's my birthday next month.

So Joyce is early, unlike me!

I also received a lovely little bag in September from Christine who like me is part of a bigger blog.

The Great Hexagon Quilt Along invited members to make hexagons and then all participants were put into a draw and one lucky winner won all the hexagons to sew them up however they chose.

Christine was the first winner of this 'Pot Luck' and entered the names of everyone who sent her some hexagons into a draw. And I was one of the winners.

My first blog win!

And even better, it was the first post to arrive for me at our house in Germany!!

Yes I love the internet.

I love the way that it connects people together

and keeps people in touch.

The first photo?
The weather today.

Sunday Morning Walk

This morning was lovely and sunny as I walked the Hounds.



Can you just see the moon in the photo below?

View across the river, showing one of the many shrines.

The Hounds waited patiently while I took the photos.

Jewel lay down amongst the leaves.

It was one of the things that attracted me to her when we walked her at the kennels.

Whenever we stopped to talk to anyone she would lie down just where she was.

I have been putting their muzzles on them whilst walking them.

People will often be wary when they see them with muzzles.

But it didn't stop a Rumanian man talking to me as I came back from the walk.

He had a bunch of parsley he said his wife was going to make a soup.

He told me they travel, not staying in one place to live.

They are in Germany for work as there is no work in Rumania.

It's amazing the converations I've had whilst being here,

with people who speak little or in most cases no English,

and meeting them for the first time.

Just Me and the Hounds

'November,

Month of the drowned dog.

Fields like hammered lead.'

So Mike quoted to me yesterday as we gave the Hounds their first walk of the day.
A poem by Ted Hughes he said.

It was a bit windy and looked like it was going to rain,

having already been raining though the night.

So the lines above seemed appropriate.

Also, I think the fact that in a couple of hours time he would be getting on his motorcycle and travelling nearly 400 km was probably on his mind.
But he made it to the ferry and is now in the north east of England staying with his sons for a week. He emailed me earlier and said that the crossing was a bit rough!

So, it's just me and the Hounds keeping each other company.

This is Mike's 3rd trip away since we arrived in Germany.

Although one of the trips was only 2 nights away camping in Germany.

I took the next two photos this morning whilst holding onto the Hounds.

Just hoping they didn't spot a cat!

Otherwise I would have found myself flat on the floor.

Not for the first time!

They are quite powerful dogs.

The weather felt a bit warmer today and not windy!

Typical, Mike would say.

I wanted to get some photos whilst there are still some leaves on the trees
and showing their lovely colours.
Some of the trees are leafless now.

The next two photos were taken earlier in the week and show how the colours are changing in the vineyards.

It helps when the sun shines!

Usually when Mike is away I get my sewing out to keep me company.

When we were in Sweden, I used to bring some of my sewing stuff over from my workshop and take over the dining room.

But the dining room/lounge is already taken over with my sewing stuff.
As I have already been doing some sewing.
And Mike is acting as postman
by taking this to pass on to my son to deliver.

And some of these to post.

As they are bound for England.

The rest of which I posted today!

I'll show you what I have been busy with once the recipients have received them.

Meanwhile, back to the Hounds.

Here they are after this mornings walk waiting for me at the top of the stairs.
How nice is that?

Well they can't actually get to their beds until I open the door!

I would like to get a photo of Paddy in his Sphinx position that he usually adopts.

Have a happy weekend.

A-Z Monday, J is for......

J is for Jewel our female greyhound.
Any idea what her favourite pastime might be?

Join Jen for more A-Z Mondays.

Orange and Yellow and Pink and White

I was going to welcome in November with a photo taken today of the trees seen from our balcony. But I left it too late, and when I remembered, the light had gone and the photo I took was no different to the one I took a month ago. Whereas in reality, there is far more colour in them. So I will save that for another day and instead look back on some colour from October. Which was a very colourful month.

Yet another window box.

Aren't they delicious?

Pink dahlias.

White dahlias.

Yellow dahlias.

And orange dahlias.

They've been a riot of colour in the nearby allotments.

They are one of my favourite flowers.

Not only because of their cheerful disposition,

but because dad used to grow them.

Then there are the doorstop treats.

And of course pumpkins.

These were for sale.

But most houses have at least one or more on their steps.

But there was no trick or treating last night.

I was asking a neighbour about it, (one who speaks some English).

She said the children celebrate Halloween but they don't go round the houses.

But some of the houses in our road do have lighted pumpkins outside.

They were lit again tonight which was nice.

Jewel had to have a closer look

she hadn't seen one before.

It was extremely mild as we walked the dogs tonight

unbelievably so.

Blogtoberfest-Last Day, Push Me Pull You

So what was Paddy looking at in yesterdays post?

Jewel was looking too.

Llamas!

3 in a field

amongst the vineyards.
Remember we saw one being walked along the road?
Well this is where it must have been from.

Aren't they lovely?

They were very interested in the Hounds.

Jewel got a bit excited and started barking.
But the llamas just watched her.

The one below looks a bit spooked by her though.

Mike was walking the Hounds up by the llamas last week

when a young lady called him over.
'Sprechen Sie Deutsch?' she said.

She obviously knew of us to say that,
knowing that we are English.
Her and her friend look after the llamas it appears
and wanted to meet the Hounds.

One of them had had a Spanish Greyhound,

and she made such a fuss of our Hounds Mike said.

It's not something you expect to see in the vineyards,

a trio of llamas!
Nor a 'Push me Pull you!'

Well it's the last day of October.

And I've enjoyed taking part in Tinniegirl's Blogtoberfest.

It has helped me get back into regular blogging.

Now how good is that.

Blogtoberfest Day 30, Walks and Weather

Random photos taken this week.

The weather has been changeable.

Misty mornings.

Brightening up later if we were lucky.

These first 4 photos were taken from our usual walk

alongside the river.

The trees are looking lovely,

breathtaking sometimes.

We have been taking a different route at lunchtimes.

Through the allotments I showed you here

and along the edge of the vineyards on this side of the river.
The photo below is the same village shown in the first photograph.

We passed this shrine, which I have shown you a glimpse of before (in the allotment post).

In between the walks I've been doing a bit of sewing.
I'll show you that another time.

But tomorrow I will show you what we saw on our walk

and what Paddy is eyeing up!

Blogtoberfest-Day 29, Pink Thoughts

Pink thoughts for International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Take a look over at Christina's for more Pink Thoughts.
I took this photo a couple of weeks back in one of the villages along the river.
Mike and I were having a quiet stroll,
me taking photos as we walked.
Just enjoying the afternoon in each others company.
These bright pink plastic tablecloths brought a smile to my face.
They contrasted nicely with the greyness of the day.

Blogtoberfest- A Walk Around our Village Part 2

Let's continue our walk from yesterday through part of our village.
The house above may be a bit faded, but I think it has a certain charm.
Whilst the fellow below has a cheeky sort of charm.
There seems to be a tradition in the valley,
it may be confined to this area,
or may be throughout Germany,
of life sized figures sitting or standing outside premises.
They are usually business premises.
Last week as I was gardening a passer by called to me for instructions.
She wanted to find the artist who makes these figures.
Apparently she lives/or lived in the village.
We had a very nice chat.
Fortunately she spoke English!

This house is quite different from it's neighbours!

There is a lot of greenery outside this building considering there is little or no garden.

An attractive courtyard.

We are now heading back home.
The trees are looking particularly fine.

There are a few hotels, bars and eating places along this road.
In the warmer months they are popular with cyclists stopping for lunch and refreshments.

We stopped to admire this white dog.

Unfortunately Rufus started barking at it.

He thought it was real.
It does look rather fine though
don't you think?

Blogtoberfest Day 27, A Walk around our Village

As it was a lovely afternoon, Mike suggested a walk around our village.
Here are some of the photos I took.
There are always water features to be found in the villages and towns.
Maybe I should do a post dedicated to them sometime.
This is a simple one in a small open area where I saw men playing boules a month or so back.

Can't have a walk around the village without taking a snap of some window boxes!

This looks to be quite an old house which is being renovated.

Mike commented that there is a wide variety of architecture in the village.

The outside of a walled garden.

A closer look.

The last three are all the same property.

In the picture below you can see the vineyards across the river.

A lovely display of flowers.

I took more photos which I can post another time.

As I'm often doing these days, I am posting this late at night

and the photos take ages to upload.

So until next time......