Modern times

When I was driving back home yesterday in the late afternoon, I was sitting in a coupe with three girls. The train was full of students and pupils going back to Ljubljana. One of the girls was looking into the screen of her laptop, the other two had fingers "glued" on their mobile phones. They haven't looked up for three hours. I was the only one staring through the window. I might be old fashioned but I have no wish to be addicted to any of such modern gadgets. I can easily leave my mobile phone at home, and I wouldn't miss my computer very long. I would probably just miss the Internet with all the information and knowledge available there.

I was away again this weekend. I've joined a group in which we learn to recognize different kinds of bird song, that's why we spend lots of time outside. It is true that I would prefer to stay at home sometimes but some events just never happen again. Besides, more people see/hear more. It is not very common to see a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, though we spotted one yesterday at the tripoint of Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. An educational path leads through the forest and it is well equipped. We just didn't have time to read everything that was written on the boards.

Now, when I am back home it is time to check what kind of seeds we would need for this season, and of course, it is also time to tidy my home. Home, sweet home.

Into the fog

Cookies are eaten. I said hello and also goodbye to friends. Instead of finally being in the sun, I drove into the fog on Saturday in the afternoon. We had such fog for almost a month in Ljubljana: Edible and not edible fruits in autumn: Beaver's tracks in mud: Stones smelling of rotten algae: Floki's farewell: I spent a day outside yesterday, at least it wasn't as chilly as other days in November. And in the evening we went fishing. While standing in a warm (yet chilly) breeze I made plans for the future days. It is a busy month, this December.

Complaining about the weather

The wind started to blow this morning, and in spite the temperature was the same as yesterday (-1 degrees C), the windshield on my car was not frozen. Hooray for the change of weather! I looked through the window this morning and realized that I haven't seen the stars for about two (or is it already three or even four?) weeks. Later, when I was drinking coffee with my colleagues, guys started to complain about the chilly and foggy weather we've been having for absolutely too long here in Ljubljana. Guys complaining over the weather? This doesn't happen often... They too are getting cold.

I left home on Thursday, and drove to the other part of Slovenia only to face another gray landscape and meet more people who complained about the fog. I had no other choice because I had to be there. I promised. I was cold most of the time, all four days in a row. The thought of going home on Sunday made me smile because I knew that it was warm there. It always is. Home sweet home, no matter how chaotic it looks like.

When we came back home Ž said that it was really nice to be in a warm and cozy place. It was good to hear that. And on Monday after work I drove up the nearby hill to see the sun after more than a week. I was getting crazy and depressed from this gray, piercing cold fog blanket over our heads.

I am glad that holidays are approaching. At least something that gives a little bit of light to everyday grayness. I don't like this time of a year, wet and damp and foggy and dark, leafless and soundless. Leafless? Well, not really. I was tripping over the rocks and roots covered by fallen leaves all the time these days...

P.s.: Those white storks on a picture above are made of socks; young girls and boys made them to raise money for their future projects.

Fine misty rain

Clouds covered the blue skies on Saturday, and I realized that I took only seven photos over a weekend. As if there was nothing interesting to show. But the only cause for not taking my camera in the hands was bad light and cloudy skies with fine misty rain falling down from the sky. I spent those two days among people and in the woods. Another grape harvest was on my schedule, this time we were gathering healthy grapes. No pesticides & co. were used on them. Half of the grapes stayed on the vines, other half had been eaten by birds and other animals before we started to pick the rest. But they were, oh, so sweet!

Ž and I went into the woods yesterday to check for mushrooms but there were almost none. Also birds were almost quiet. Later we gathered some chestnuts and beechnuts. Leaves have started to change colors, and in three weeks dull and cold season of a year will start.

While we were driving through the villages I was thinking that lots of people were indoors this weekend, most probably in front of TV screens. In a way they haven't missed much but on the other hand I am not sorry for spending both days outside, although it was cold and dark and damp under the cloudy skies.

Apart from that

It's been cold lately, and it's been quite peaceful here in "my" world. It is pleasant to read other blogs but I can't share much here on mine. My life seems so void compared to others'. Though, I do find comfort in some of your blogs when life becomes rather boring. How boring can the family reunions be? This weekend I met Ž's relatives. Usually I meet so many people at once that I forget their names and who belongs to who. They know my name and who I am but I can hardly remember when and where I had met them before. This time there were mostly older people present, and it was interesting to observe what they achieved in their lives, and how they live from day to day. I spoke to Ž's aunt who has paralysis but is still very creative. I forgot to take a photo of her present but she made a lace silhouette of a hunter, and framed it. Wonderful! Though, most people there didn't notice this masterpiece. They are either too plain to cherish such things or they have other interests that fulfill them.

Well then, it might be so, that rainy days are good for meeting people. :) And I haven't baked those cookies in the photo, I just ate some of them. Delicious, and a masterpiece of its own!

Down the Mura river

It felt like a short holiday, being four days away from home. I spent three of them in a boat on the Mura river. More than 130 km of rowing, 31 hours on the water. Amazing! From Austria down to Croatia through Hungary led our path on the water. Swimming, laughing, being just silent... these were my days in a company of colleagues and friends. So, we started our trip in Austria: Closed, so we had to move on to get our cup of coffee. Invasive plants, though very beautiful: The most popular water mill in Slovenia: 61 more kilometers to go until we reach river Drava: Another team joined us on Saturday: Hungarians catching fish: I wish there were more days like these. Oh, sweet summer, I love you!

Home, sweet home

It felt like I had lost a part of myself while being on holidays in the South. I had to go away this weekend, 200 kilometers from home, to find my soul again. It feels good to be whole once more. I met my friends, I spent time with children. They have so much to give and I admire their imagination. It is also interesting to notice how much they reflect their parents' relationship. A good relationship - happy children, bad relationship - sad children.
Interesting enough that I had played with oracle cards before I left home. I like those cards, the text is written so positively that it is almost impossible to feel bad after reading what each card has to tell you. I especially liked the one saying Give Yourself the Best. I think I did exactly that this past weekend. And while driving back home on train I realized once more that Slovenia is a beautiful country. Home, sweet home.

Preparing for spring

No, I wasn't planting any seeds or something like that, I bought some arrows to have some fun in spring. I wonder if owning bow and arrows is legal in Slovenia, because believe me, these arrows can be fatal for a man... Weekend was nice. We didn't hear or see any jackals on Friday, I spent some nice time strolling through one of the cities in Slovenia, I also spent lots of money on wool, helped with some woodwork, met lots of friends and finally fell very tired into my bed at home.

Home, sweet home.

Rainy days

"You can dance with life," he said. "You can play with it. But you must always hold it lightly. If you squeeze, it rebels. If you get scared, it will hurt you. If you squeeze desperately hard, you'll kill it."

~Win Blevins: Stone song~

It kept raining. I left my camera at home, holding umbrella in my hands instead. This weekend we celebrated First Holy Communion of Ž's niece. I have to admit that these things are not close to me, and at the same time it is interesting that when I was asking people who go to church and are believers about this celebration, they have actually never thought about the meaning of the celebration as such. So, this is what I gave Ž's niece as a gift for this occasion:As most of the kids, she was the happiest when receiving money...

I wanted to work in a garden on Friday, but the soil was soaked with water, so I keep hoping that a week ahead will be drier. There's still some work to be done, I will show you some photos later this month when I have something to show at all. I am a little late, like always. Slugs eat most of what I plant anyway.

Karma for today: Work without complaining. (I wish I could. I'm trying hard. :) If I could live without complaining it would be my life's victory.)

In a good company

I spent last weekend with friends. Not sure whether I was feeling too active or others were tired and without any energy, but at the end of the weekend I had a feeling that both picnics that I was present at were rather dull and boring. Although I enjoyed myself; I didn't have to cook or wash the dishes or tidy up the house or ... I was just walking around and counted the birds and chatted with friends. Nice. I hope there will be more days like these in the next few months. Edible:New hair fashion; a bit smelly but healthy (edible, too) and nice:I love this time of a year! Although it is raining almost every day...Karma for today: Face a limitation and give your very best.

In green

I needed two weeks to start working normally again. It was a peaceful time for me, and I wish there were more days like these. I went running a couple of times, which is a good start of this season. I hope that April weather will permit me to run more often.I spent this weekend among my friends and birds. I started taking photos again, which certainly means that the spring is here. In the SE part of Slovenia trees are getting their green color, while here where I live, the consequences of long winter with lots of snow are quite obvious. You can guess yourselves where the photos I am posting today have been taken. :)My schedule is rather full for the next three weeks, I hope I will have some time to write a few posts and let you know how beautiful is spring this year. I know already that the end of May and whole June will be rather stressful again.

Karma for today: We only have power over our own lives.