Sunday, 27 September 2009

Pictures from today


So much to tell you,
So much to show you.
It's difficult to know where to begin.
My cold at last is on the way out,
but my head's still a bit woolly
(nothing new there then!).
As can be seen that I didn't check where these last few photos were positioning themselves!
So as most of the other photos are all on the other computer,
despite Mike trying to write them onto disc so that I could use them here.
(There is a problem with the disc writer).
I thought I would try and keep things simple
and just use photos from today.

Today, like all the others since Mike
returned from the UK
has been sunny and hot.
So for our lunchtime walk
with the Pups
we stayed very local
and took a walk around the allotments
which are a stones throw from the
house.
Everything is just so very fruitful
and rich.
We enjoyed the walk so much
that when we got back to the
house,
I collected the camera
and rewalked the route
just to get some pics.

We call them allotments
and they have the feel of allotments
back in the North East of England
where Mike originates from.
But these fruit and veg
are growing in amongst the vineyards!



These are walnuts.
We usually walk along the river and pass a number of these trees
both in the village itself
but also growing down by the river
again in more 'allotments'.
It seems a common thing here for people to pick the windfalls
up off the ground.
We've seen quite a few people now with bags
hunting on the ground underneath the trees.
The other evening some young boys with their father
were collecting something that looked like conkers.
But when we asked what they were collecting
it turned out they were chestnuts,
and they invited us to take some to try.

We're not sure what the function of the kettle is,
but it's always there.


A lovely show of Dahlias.
One of my favorite flowers.
There's also some Sunflowers here too.
They are a very popular flower here and can be seen everywhere!


On my way back to the house now.



Apples, just waiting to be picked.
I had a photo of some peaches growing on a tree.
But I took that last week so it's on the other computer
and they've all been picked now.



A view of the vineyards up the hill behind the house.



The house is on the edge of the village and as I return to it
I can't resist taking some photos of some of the window boxes
that I pass.

When we took the Pups for their teatime walk,
the camera came too.
We were still in our shorts as it was very warm.
We found a new track to walk along.
Skirting the vineyards.

These birds caught our eye,
perched above a gateway to someones house.


Then next to the house
in the vineyards,
this collared dove caught my eye.

All through the vineyards there are shrines.
I didn't get to take a proper picture of this one
as someone else was there.
I'll call back another day for one.
An almost hidden gate.
In this photo you can see the other side of the river.
The sun is still shining brightly.
We admired some fine looking horses.
I said I would take a photo for my niece.

And as it was through the fence,
Mike took one over the fence.
My sister was interested in what the horses looked like
when we chatted on the phone earlier.
She was also asking if my blog was up and running again.
So I said I would put these photos on so she could see them.

A short while after that we turned round and retraced our steps.

This village is across the river.
It nestles so prettily in the hillside
that I am always taking photos of it,
trying to capture it just right.
I haven't managed yet.

You can just see the moon peeking over this vine.
We have just come back from our nightime walk with the Pups
and the moon is on the other side of the valley
across the river.
Very bright it is.


The last photo.
A cross in the vineyards
on the slopes across the river.
So have you guessed where I am posting from?
Well the river I have refered to is the Mosel.
The country is Germany.
And I will share more with you another time,
soon.





Thursday, 24 September 2009

A Quick Update


Well at last!
Hello to everyone.
And thank you all for your thoughts and comments.
Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you.

We travelled approximately 1200 miles,
crossing one of the longest bridges in Europe,
(must just check the details on that again),
and after travelling for 4 days, (we were travelling slowly),
we finally arrived at our destination.
Surprisingly without a hitch!
Once here though we had to wait a long time to get connected to the internet!

We have been very busy unpacking
and cleaning of course.
The house that we are in hasn't been lived in for well over a year at least.
Mike went back to the UK for a week
so that left me and the Pups on our own for a bit.
But that was fine too.
We just set ourselves a new routine while he was gone,
as where we are now is very different to where we came from!

I've already taken quite a few pics
but a lot of them are on the other computer.
So I either will have to get them over to this new computer
that Mike brought back with him.
Or I will have to get out and about taking some more.

Unfortunately, I have had a cold now for 4 days,
again, something that Mike brought back from the UK with him.
I haven't had a cold for a long time.
We never used to get them living in Sweden,
even travelling back and to on aeroplanes we seemed to escape them.
But this one has left me feeling lethargic.
I haven't even been out with Mike and the Pups today
so he has been discovering walks without me!
But fortunately,
my head feels a little less as though it's filled with cotton wool.
So I will have more information,
and more pics
when I next post.
Which I hope will be very soon.
I'm also very keen to see what you've all been up to.
So till then...........