How I love thee in summer..

The sun is out finally. It had begun to feel that winter would never end. I had given up hope and was honestly thinking that I would see sunshine only in my home country on return. 

There's a spring to ones step and warmth all around when the skies are blue and the sun shines gloriously. I had missed pulling up the shutters to amazing sunrises. So when we woke up to one on Monday, I knew that it's gonna be a great week.

Last evening, I took a break from the routine of sorting and packing up boxes and walked around the Stadt. Truly, this is the best time of year. The window boxes filled with summer flowers, everybody in bright summer clothes walking around with a cone in hand. And some others relaxing in outdoor cafes with either a beer or fruit punches. 

I have to admit, Lohr am Main, how much I love thee in sommer!!

P.S: Thanks to all of you who left your comments on the previous post. The water levels are receding quickly and am hoping and praying that the banks of the Main dry up soon so that I can spend the remainder of our days in my favourite spot.

Lavender, from the plant to a pouch.

Today, I decided to cut the dried stalks of lavender from the garden. I wanted to make a little bag of the dry flowers.

Ms A came to my rescue. She had just the pouch which she had made in her art class. A pretty pouch with purple polka dots, PERFECT!!!

We trimmed the stalks together and dropped the flowers in.

Once done, I added a personal touch. 

I drew some purple lavender flowers and LOVED how it looked.

There are some more flowers blooming. I hope they are enough to make a second pouch.

For now, this one hangs just above my bed with the heady scent of lavender wafting through the room.

Baby's day out(Part 2)

I wish there was a continuity in my posts, but I will save both myself and you my rant. Let's just say, I am fed up of waiting for the kids to get their summer holidays. Honestly, the academic year in Deutschland seems to drag, and the sudden surge in heat is not helping at all. Just a few days ago we were kind of shivering cause it felt like a mild winter instead of summer and now, all we want to do is take refuge in our cool cellars.

So back to today's post, part 2 of my beautiful day out at Würzburg. If you read part 1, you will know that I made the trip alone without family. My intention was to walk the vineyards of the Marienberg fortress. 

After reaching the top of the fortress, I was lost!! Yes, completely. Have you seen the boards which tell you "You are here" and give directions to go about a tourist spot. Well, I could figure out where was I, but for the life of me couldn't figure out how to get out of the huge walls and into the vineyards. After pondering for a while as to whether to give up and go back the way I came or head on over to the ticket counter and ask for directions, I chose the latter. Only that I wanted the directions in English. The poor guy fumbled and managed to give me a long set of lefts and rights and tunnels!!! No wonder I couldn't figure it out.

Once I reached the entrance, all I wanted to do was a little jig. The arched rugged stone entry with the breath taking views, took me a long time to recover.

Then on, it was a slow steady walk of 40 minutes downhill(photography, pausing and sighing with happiness and short breaks on the benches provided are not taken into account). I witnessed men at work in the vineyards. The fruit looked like it needed more time to grow. Maybe the harvest is in autumn? Just wondering.

The descent provided breathtaking views over the city wit the brightly coloured roof tops, church steeples and blue skies.

If you looked upwards, you could see the fortress looking beautiful as ever.

I didn't keep track of how long I took to walk through the green vines. I was in no rush. I wanted to take in the sights slowly without a soul around to disturb me. Occasionally there was a tourist panting and climbing uphill, one asked me how far was the entrance. There's no fun walking uphill with all the beauty behind you. 

Now if I tell you that on reaching the foothills of the vineyards, I was treated to a heavy downpour, would you believe me?? :D

P.S: The Lohrer Beer festival begins today. Do not forget to drop by my facebook page where I will be posting all the action.

Klein Venedig

While I thought I would squeeze in all the sights we saw in Bamberg into one post, I thought it would be a shame not to share pictures of the Little Venice(Klein Venedig). The entire day, sunshine and rain were playing a little game of hide and seek. So when we were by the banks of the river Regnitz to view the row of 19th century fishermen's houses, the blue skies popped out just for a while so that I could get these gorgeous shots..:D

It is not possible to walk through these row of 30 wooden houses. You have to be on the opposite side of the river bank to actually view this little delight. Each house has a tiny front yard filled with flowers, patio furniture and an occasional boat tied to the dock.

Notice the two young lads crooning on a guitar on this warm summer's day.

Do you know that there are vacation homes on the klein Venedig. I would have loved to live in one of them.

I spent time watching this lady garden. Did she mind? I wonder... Or she must be used to a bunch of tourists like me trying to catch a glimpse of normal life on the Vendig.

So, which was your favorite picture?

I have been doing a lot of thinking, pondering, wondering....

Next year around this time, our bags should be packed, our belongings beginning their journey back to our homeland..

And we shall bid adieu to Deutschland.

Though we have a whole year, I know it will just fly by...

As I walk around with my iPhone in hand, I stop, I notice, I capture...

I have way too many pictures of Lohr and yet, I want to take more..

Every time, it looks different.

The moods, colors..... always changing..

There are narrow lanes unexplored..

Many window shops to be admired....

cobbled streets to be walked on..

so much more..

Our countdown has begun.

Summer is....

a time...

to spend outdoors as much as possible.

Get that bike out, go on a long ride through the countryside...

through fields with the heavy scent of very ripe strawberries wafting through the air..

Or walk amongst the green and look out for wild flowers and poppies..

or watch a family of ducks swimming across the ponds.

Or better still, grab that swimsuit and splish splash in the pool or the Main..:-)

a time...

to GRILL...

gorge on german wurst, salad and brötchen..

at the same time have a good time with loved ones.

a time.....

to sow and reap, enjoy the fruit of labor coupled with warmth and sunshine....

be it on a small patch of land, a teeny tiny balcony or sprawling fields.

a time...

for festivals...

both big and small, beer or wine...

you have it all.

Get out the barrels, beat the drums, blow the trumpets, get the ball rolling..

you can down it all..:-)

a time...

to enjoy the german towns and villages in all their color and splendor..

With the geraniums spilling out of every window, and the summer weather changing moods ..

With bier gartens and Eis parlors open....

GOSH, this is my favorite season of all!!!

A beautiful evening..

For the past week we had been battered by rain. Why I say had is because I assume the worst is over. It so much felt like the Indian monsoon. Always wet, grey downpours. No respite at all. Unlike India where the monsoon makes you wanna go out and play in the rain without feeling cold, here it is not the same. Temperatures plummeted quite low making us want to switch on heating and reach out for the winter wear.

This evening when the skies slowly turned blue and white clouds seems to have replaced the grey ones, I put my chores on hold, grabbed the kids along with their bikes and headed out with the camera.

Everything was a beautiful lush green, thanks to the rains. Even the wild flowers never looked prettier. The fields were filled with crops growing steadily. I spotted corn and potato fields. The farmers too must be happy with the rain gods.

And amidst all the green, we spotted color...:-)

It was a beautiful time spent. Nature and us, became one.