A Few Philosophy Quotes.

 Others say it better.

" I think I am, therefore, I am...I think. "

George Carlin

" Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! 

That is the only reality in this world, all else is folly. 

It is the only thing we are interested in here. "

Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

" Until we have begun to go without them, we fail to realize how unnecessary many things are. 

We have been using them not because we needed them but because we had them. "

Lucius Annaeus  Seneca, Letters from a Stoic

" Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy. "

Issac Newton

" I am my world. "

Ludwig Wittgenstein

" Madness is something rare in individuals - 

but in groups, parties, people, and ages, it is the rule. "

Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

" If you place your head in a lion's mouth, 

then you cannot complain one day if he happens to bite it off. "

Agatha Christie

" Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it. "

Epictetus

" Things do not change; we change. "

Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Biggi

Another Solution To Combat Climate Change?

 A vegetable solution?

Bob and I were in town today and stopped at the local Hofer. Yes, it was beyond packed as it was a long weekend and month end too. But, what to do when one needs to stock up...we both were masked to the hilt and got going.

Well, what a good choice today proved to be. It turns out that Hofer had slashed fruit and vegetable prices by up to 50 % and then still had some of them marked down a further 50 % due to it being a long weekend. Gosh, for us vegans it was like an early Christmas and my lunch was a lovely concoction of diverse fruits and vegetables. Yummy.

I know what benefits fruit and vegetables have. Be they from the health angle or the environmental one. If only I had known about the vegan way of life back in my twenties I would have saved myself endless tears over the inability to shed weight as well as setting a road map to a healthy long life. Better late than never!

Anyway, as I was working my way around the produce display I couldn't help but notice how many others were doing the same and really taking oodles of produce. Believe me, unheard of here, apart from fellow vegans. People of all ages were stocking up on those cheap fruits and vegetables.

That got me thinking. What if the governments the world over subsidize produce instead of animal agriculture? Instead of a piece of meat costing less than a head of cauliflower, lets reverse it. By now most of us know that animal agriculture is one of the main culprits of climate change. Rain forests being cut down in order to plant soy for animal feed. I wish they would think about that when they eat Schnitzel, steak and co. Even here in our area there are huge maize and soy fields subsidized by the EU, not for us humans but for animal feed. 

If the price of meat would reflect its true cost, a cost that isn't subsidized by us taxpayers ( twice actually as eating an animal based diet could caused diabetes, heart problems and cancers for which the treatments cost a fortune and is indirectly borne by all of us ). As well as the price of fresh produce going down due to it being subsidized, than more, not all of course, would switch to a more plant based diet. A plant based diet which is one of the best ways to fight climate change.

Honestly, all those talks by the big environmental players ( Greenpeace, Peta & Greta ) are all well and good but so far I have yet to hear them push the idea of a plant based way of life in order to achieve a reversal in greenhouse gases. This should be shouted out from the rooftops as it is something that each and every one of us can do. Be it a plant based meal a week, a day or all the way. The time for small talk has passed, it is time to step up to the plate...

Biggi 

Making The Art Of Cooking Mainstream.

 Changing perceptions, changing curriculums.

This will give my age away but there, I'll say it; when I was in school it was mandatory to take a Home-Economics class. In other words learning how to manage a household and more importantly, how to cook.

At the time it seemed a bit sexist assuming that we girls had to grow up to take care of house and home regardless of what profession we would learn. Granted, seeing that I was in an all girls school there was no way of knowing whether the boys school did the same. Somehow I doubt it!

We learnt many things but what I remember the most was how to throw together ingredients in order to make meals. Easy stuff.  My mum had already shown me how to cook by letting me watch her cook and of course I was always a lover of food and thus had taken the effort to take out cookbooks from the local library. 

This skill, absorbed from home and learnt partly at school, has come in handy throughout my adult life. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that it was the best skill learnt only equaled by the ability to handle money. How to budget it, how to save it and how to earn it. Contrary to current popular belief, money doesn't come from those little square cards in our wallets.

The climate; we all have seen those mountains of used packaging being pushed around in a rubbish dump. Have you ever wondered how much of it is purely from food packaging, ie, take-a-ways, convenience and processed food? All of it uses up a lot of packaging, not to mention the oodles of plastic everything is wrapped in.

Imagine if everyone knows how to cook a basic meal and thus wouldn't have to pay someone else to cook for them, be it take-a-away or supermarket microwave food? If we learnt to keep an adequate supply of food at home. Onions, rice, pastas, potatoes, tomatoes, flour, sugar and fruit, to name but a few. Not saying that everyone will cook for themselves, but at least the main reason for buying those packaging intensive take-a-away's will be sorted. Money could be saved and family meals around the table had.

Schools should make Home Economics a main subject which everyone has to take. Perhaps it shouldn't be taught by strict teachers but rather by ordinary mothers or grandmothers who can convey the fun and joy of throwing together a nice meal using what one has at home, thereby reducing food waste, increasing personal satisfaction and obviously reducing packaging and thus helping to stop climate change.

Biggi

The Boy Feels At Home.

 His new life.

Maxi has adjusted. Maxi has conquered and Maxi has accomplished. It wasn't easy for him to lose his mother and in a way his sister, not to mention his old life. But adjusted he has.

I notice how he takes little meanders around the house, sniffing and smelling his new fiefdom. Remember that he can't see a lot so it must be a daring adventure to investigate his new home. He looks forward to his daily walks ( two long ones morning and afternoon, intermingled with three short pippi brakes ) and once back home dances around as if it were Christmas. Well, in a way it is as either breakfast or a nice treat awaits.

We take the same route every day so that he feels comfortable and can mark his territory. Oh, and also leave his special kind of love with the neighbours. He delights in meeting people and getting a cuddle or two and predictably, they love giving it.  He knows when we have to move along and does so with a happy nod and bark to say goodbye. Too precious.

Lately he has taken to letting off a series of barks once we go outside for our walk and it is almost as if he wants everyone to be aware that he, Maxi, is doing his rounds, inspecting his areal. Absolutely fabulous. Now and again he deigns too cuddle with the more than eager tomcat waiting for us at the door, and other times he lets him toddle along with only a small glance now and then. Keeping him eager!

When we encounter people we don't know on our walk ( rather seldom! ) he turns into a protective lion giving the performance of his life. Protecting me, showing his teeth and in a way marking his territory. Funny how a small dog can elicit such huge respect and caution. As for us, we love having him and his little brave character has added another layer of goodness to our lives...

Biggi

A Tree, A Chapel And Some Sunflowers.

 A stunning morning in Burgenland.

The magical tree standing tall and protective over a local chapel. Magnificent and awe inspiring. A village in Hungary in the background.

A set of sunflowers defying the trend of fading away after summer. This lot is just down the road and this morning while I took these photos a local resident, a little fox terrier, came running out in vociferal glory, trying to find out what I was doing...

It almost feels as if the colours for the chapel were chosen in autumn. A beautiful bit of blending and coordinating...

A cheeky lot, aren't they?

The chapel facing Eisenberg. Always divine in nature and exterior...

These sunflowers lifted my spirits this morning and one can understand why...a ray of sunshine that all of us need now and again...

Biggi

The Last Tendrils Of Autumn Beauty.

 An exquisite start to the cold season.

The stunning combination of Burgenland's autumn colours.

A visual feast...the leaves are on magnificent display.

A carpet of autumn softness beneath this proud tree and many others.

A more rusty bunch of leaves hanging on for dear life.

Speckled yellow, stunning to behold and another mystery of nature. From a shoot, to green and now yellow. A marvel and a pleasure to follow throughout the year. Three cheers to autumn, nature and life.

Biggi

The Lure Of A Public Holiday.

 Monday, the same but not quite.

Thank goodness Bob told me last night that tomorrow, Tuesday, is a public holiday. National Day, a celebration of Austria and its independence. The flags will be out everywhere, mostly hanging out of windows and from balconies. 

The nice bit about a public holiday in Austria is that all shops are closed. Pure and simple, no exception. Forget about shopping centers luring bored customers to graze through their offerings. Gosh, how much madness used to ensue in South Africa on public holidays. Shopping centers were full and for some odd reason people used to spend more money than they would have on any other day. Never mind that shopping centers there are open 7 days per week.

Well, as it dawned on me that Tuesday wouldn't be a day to get stuff, I had to go today. It was only a few bits and pieces I needed, foremost bread and lunch stuff. Luckily I had another four of those 25% off stickers and used them all this morning. As one could foresee, the supermarket was hectically busy.

The bit about needing bread got me thinking about making our own again. I used to be so good at making it every other day, but for some reason stopped baking it. Well, today is the day and as I write to you magical aromas of bread baking in the oven are wafting all over the house. 

As I made the dough, I again realized how darn easy it is to make a loaf of bread, not to mention cheaper. So, when Bob comes home later on he will be greeted by the smell of freshly baked bread and I have made sure that we have enough of that nice vegan butter, because let's face it, freshly baked bread tasted exponentially better with generous dollops of butter garnishing it.

Will it survive this public holiday? Who knows  but just in case I bought enough flour and yeast to make another loaf...

Biggi

A Few Quotes About Life.

 Love those insightful quotes.

" To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. "

Oscar Wilde

" It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. "

Andre Gide, Autumn Leaves

" Everything you can imagine is real. "

Pablo Picasso

" Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; 

and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad. "

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

" If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. "

George Harrison

" Of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ' It might have been. ' "

John Greenleaf Whittier,  Maud Muller

" Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect. "

Margaret Mitchell

" Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. 

Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality. 

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. "

Lao Tzu

" Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. "

Guillaume Apollinaire

Biggi

An Ordinary Saturday, Yet So Much More.

Bits and pieces make a day special.

Bob needed to go into Grosspetersdorf to fetch a few things for work and I went along with him. In the big car. The grown up car! Driving in his work van does feel nice. High above the rest. The reason I tagged along was to look at what the second hand shop there had to offer. Bob kindly agreed to go along.

Well, I knew today would be extra special. Yes, I finally found a nice jacket for winter. My one, almost like my security blanket-a hand me down of almost ten years, has started to fray and disintegrate. Stitched up one pocket already but a new one was needed. I was lucky in that someone had donated a whole lot of stuff in my size. Good stuff, expensive stuff and stuff that will last. Ergo my joy at finding a jacket. A nice dark brown and warm as toast. Another item saved from the landfill and yet another item not having to be made.  A good environmental day.

Saturdays are perfect for chilling. An afternoon snooze for Bob and a lazy one on the couch for me. Thankfully I took the time to look at the television because otherwise I almost would have missed it. Yes, the alpine skiing season opened with a race in Switzerland today. Wow, how time flies.

Bob moaned and groaned when he saw that skiing was on, knowing full and well that I would try and watch most races yet, surprisingly enough he knew most of the names of the ladies skiing. Yes, he likes skiing too.

It is almost time to take the boy out for his afternoon walk and hopefully it will be a good one. This morning he had to endure a walk at the crack of dawn, in the semi-darkness, as I had to get ready earlier. Strange to walk through our neighbourhood while most are still asleep. Kind of eerie and I tell you what, I was hoping and praying that Maxi wouldn't suddenly break into his barking routine. Now and again he does announce his presence and joyfully so...

Biggi 

Saving Our Planet One Meal At A Time.

 Salmon & shrimp of the vegan kind.

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning. There I was perusing the aisles of Spar, especially the frozen section as I was looking to see whether I could find Bob's favourite vegan pizza. There is a method employed by me which ensures I notice any new product offerings. I go from one end of the standing freezers to the other, looking up and down in each one. 

For some reason they tend to hide vegan products at the bottom, also know as no-man's land in the parlance of sales reps. What are they trying to do to us vegans? Honestly, as if that would stop us...

So, third freezer along, almost at the bottom of it I espy  vegan salmon and  vegan deep-fried prawns! Goodness me, I nearly fell over. I have read about them in the overseas vegan magazines but never in a million years did I expect to find them in a supermarket in Rechnitz, the hinterland of Austria ( by the by, Austrians themselves tend to view Burgenland as such ). Veganism is real and has arrived.

Naturally I won't buy these imitation fish products because firstly they are still processed and secondly they are exorbitantly expensive. For some reason they make a habit out of over-pricing vegan processed products and I suspect because they assume that vegans have more and are prepared to spend more money on food. Some we can't do without-Sunday grilled cheese, vegan bratwurst and the occasional ( ! ) vegan ice cream- but until they are more affordable, I won't get them....I think.

Most people make the mistake of assuming that we only eat these substitutes of animal products, but realistically they only feature occasionally. Our taste buds have changed and making most meals from scratch ourselves ( including burgers ) is so much more tasty. These substitutes are good when one first starts out on the road to veganism or as a day off from eating meat. On top of it they do leave a much smaller carbon footprint as animal products do, thus they are a good alternative.

Anyway, I am very happy  about the prolific expansion of vegan products in such a short space of time. Saving our planet one meal at a time.

Biggi

The Harvest, It Is Done.

Back to normal.

Bob is my hero. The amount of work he has done in the past five or so weeks is unbelievable and amazing. Working 16 hour days, days on end with only the occasional Sunday off.  Yes, the grapes have to be harvested but still, a herculean task, thus a hero!

The household, aka Maxi, Mausi and I, have become accustomed to traversing the days on our own. We ate alone, we took to task alone ( cats and dogs aren't always as well behaved at home as when visiting others ) and organized life alone. Well, thankfully not anymore now that Bob's back to normal times. 

Maxi is pleased as punch despite getting confused with the new times that Bob's at home. Still each and every time he hears Bob's truck idling up the driveway, he awakens from the deepest slumber and rushes to the door, waiting for me to open it for him. A rush and a crush that is heartwarming. It doesn't matter how tired Bob is, he picks up the boy and chats to him about life and the like!

Harvest has been completed all over our wine area and it feels rather odd to walk past rows of vines, vines devoid of those succulent bunches of grapes. Everyone is exhausted but happy. Another leaf torn off the calendar of wine, another year done. I once read that a typical vintner only gets about 30 chances to make a good impression with his liquid creations and now that makes sense. 

Earlier today I went to collect some medicine at the doctor's and I couldn't believe how busy they were. The queue was out the front door. Well ordered and masked but still, a wait of twenty minutes just for collecting the medicine. It turns out that they were doing covid vaccinations and I suspect by the age of those present, the third round. May it be the final one although by the increasing number of new corona cases, I seriously doubt that we are done with this pandemic.

The weather is dutifully adhering to schedule and signalling the colder time to come. The oven will be switched on tonight for sure, and with that, our own winter season starts...

Biggi

Our Feral Tomcat Has Taken A Shine To Maxi.

 An interesting friendship?

Maxi has been with us for well on four months already and in that time he has yet to take notice of Miss Mausi, a delightful and pretty feline who lives with him in our house. They sleep only meters apart, they see each other being fed and more importantly, cuddled by us. But no, not an inch of wanting to get to know her.

Once we go outside for a walk, interests change. Suddenly a cat takes on importance. Well, he can't but fail to take an interest as they are habitually stationed within a meter of our front door. All three of them, although only two ( the new grey female cat and my feline admirer ) are ardent front door watchers. All feral of course.

Not a move goes unnoticed and often when it is dark I have to be careful of my footing as my feline admirer lives to cruise and lean into my calves. Well, until a few days ago because now he has shifted most of his affection to Mr Maxi.

Once Maxi hops down our two front steps, he is met at the bottom by a friendly cat cuddling its nose into his face and fur. Gosh, they appear to be kissing, and Maxi shows no fear. Remember, he can't really see the cat and mostly goes by feel or smell. It is too cute to see them cuddling. They are both about the same size and possibly weight too. This cat is massively built, slender but powerful.

As the cat is an outside camper, I am a bit worried about fleas jumping ship and setting up house in Maxi's fur. ( To be on the safe side I bought some flea muti today and shall apply it later on. ) 

Seeing this budding friendship is so precious. There is this cat who until he came here has not had human interaction but from watching my interactions with the grey run-a-way, he has become bold enough to seek human contact. Now he can't get enough of it. Little does he know of how obsessive humans can get with cats. Our pandering over and to Mausi, being a case in point!!!

Each morning, early morning when we go for our first pippi outing, the cat comes along for the walk and after the last few days of taking note, has perfected the signals of our walk. Maxi is a creature of habit and said habit is on the first neighbour's lawn. Whilst he is busy doing his business, not wanting to be disturbed, the cat sits and waits patiently for him to finish and only then will continue to walk next to him.

Maxi doesn't like every animal, be it cat or dog. Some he barks and bares teeth at, some he cuddles with and others he  ignores. Well, I am jolly glad that he has found a new friend. Life with pets is fabulous, never boring and oh so educational...

Biggi

Autumn Notes.

 A sunflower, sheep and more...

The other morning I had the pleasure of encountering the few last reminders of sun and summer. A perfect sunflower starting her morning accolades to her namesake.

The vines are bare, and the roses blooming. A lovely autumn morning.

A trilogy of roses reflected upon by the sun. A clean slate, a clear signal of a good day ahead.

The back road leading into Eisenberg covered in a layer of haze, a haze that I fear has more to do with the lingering layers of smoke collected from a night's worth of heating. Yes, it has been cold and the chimneys have been signaling.

A multicoloured sheep watching me warily but in a friendly manner nonetheless. 

As they are heralded betwixt and between the various fields, I wonder if they actually recognize me? I do encounter them again and again during my morning excursions. Who knows...

The lingering of beige, yellow and rust coloured leaves is a sure sign of autumn in full swing. The crescendo of the leaves crunching under my feet had its own special magic.

Biggi

The First E-Car In Our Street?

 Eisenberg goes electric.

I wouldn't have noticed unless my neighbour had told me about it the other day. Did I know that  H.  had bought herself an electric car? No, I didn't but now I do.

Electric is kind of futuristic, modern, eclectic and avant-garde, isn't it? Mainstream perhaps in the metropolises of this world, but here in the hinterland of Austria, driving an electric car is still a brave novelty, one that gets talked about. Very impressed that she is doing her bit for the environment.

Is an electric car better  for the environment than our current fossil fuel ones? Who knows what sort of environmental damage occurs in order to build an electric car? Rare metals which because of its rarity might spark unrest and wars. Who gets those rare metals first? Smartphones or cars? On the opposite side is of course the disaster of fossil fuel. Hard to choose the right side and perhaps the only solution plausible is to use public transport, pedal power or foot power instead.

Now that I am aware of this newsworthy happenstance down the road, I can't help but look into her yard each time I go past it. So far I've either seen her new chariot parked under a garage or standing next to the side of her house with a long electric cable hanging out its side. Today's top up took at least three hours and for all I know is still going. Yes, the car needs electricity, another commodity that seems to be on the rare side these days.

Only yesterday our national Sunday paper had a big two page spread about the possibility of a national blackout and how to prepare for one. Gosh, been there done that but still, it gave me pause for thought when  they recommended that every household has enough food for 14 days, enough cash, medication, camping stove and candles. Yikes, two weeks seems quite a lot.

Certainly electric cars will stand idle, but then again so will our fossil fuel ones, because let's face it, without electricity nothing works. Not petrol pumps nor anything else for that matter. The best way to handle a potential blackout is to view it as a chance to have a two week camping holiday at home.

Biggi

The Sunday News.

 A day interspersed with embarrassment.

Sundays, a day we have a lovely breakfast. Together yet still apart...slight computer junkies both of us, eating in front of it. Slightly worse than eating in front of the telly, but we can work on that. Still, it is the thought that counts and every now and again I lay the table which signals to Bob that a hasty retreat isn't possible.

Usually I do an extra long walk before breakfast and once it is ready to serve, I am hungry. Very hungry with the need to eat ( sad impulse control here ) while my husband is more than happy to defer mealtimes to slot in with certain computer activities. Somehow he can banish any thought of hunger for a while. That bit of time where I am jumping at the bit, almost salivating at the thought of eating.

This more or less happened this morning although Bob wasn't doing computer stuff but was instead going outside for a quick smoke. Fair enough, he usually is pretty fast but for some reason he refused to come back inside. After two loudly stated requests for him to come inside-to no avail- I took it upon myself to go to the front door, open it in the manner that wives have perfected through eons of time and audibly vociferated three slightly annoyed words:

                    " Breakfast. Is. Ready. "

As he didn't reply I ventured out a bit further and to my charging saw Bob talking to one of our neighbours across our front gate. They both turned to look at me. One slightly annoyed and one slightly amused. Yes, our neighbour was amused and I suppose happy to find out that Bob too was on the receiving end of a tetchy comment from his other half. Usually one can only imagine how others are but hearing it firsthand, kind of gives a bit of comfort that all's well in the world of wives and their at times unfathomable albeit usual ways...

Biggi

We All Need A Little Bit Of Inspiration On Sustainable Living.

 Some quotes.

" You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honourably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist!  The world needs all you can give. "

Edward O. Wilson

" We can sit back, do nothing, and watch our planet be destroyed. Or we can take action, become advocates, and start making lifestyle choices which are kinder to the people and the planet. "

Kira Simpson

" Buy less, choose well, make it last. "

Vivienne Westwood

" I like to envisage the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle...If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying, but if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that's what will give you hope. "

Jane Goodall

" The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. "

Robert Swan

" Going back to a simpler life based on living by sufficiency rather than excess is not a step backwards. "

Yvon Chouinard

" Like all major transitions in human history, the shift from a linear to a circular economy will be a tumultuous one. It will feature heroes and pioneers, naysayers and obstacles, and moments of victory and doubt. If we persevere, however, we will put our economy back on a path of growth and sustainability . "

Frans van Houten

Biggi

Rediscovering The Rubik's Cube.

 A blast from our past.

I think it was in the 80's that we were all enthralled and slightly vexed with this Rubik's cube. The latest rage and obviously quest before all the misguided euphoria of the internet took hold.

Funnily enough it was invented by a Hungarian fellow, literally now only a stone's throw away from us which might be why they were selling this retro-toy at a local furniture emporium.

It is supposed to help relax and perhaps de-stress the user and I thought it would be perfect for Bob, seeing that the last few weeks of harvesting have been extremely stressful. Better than cigarettes. Anything to try and divert him from them.

Bob is brilliant at puzzles, quizzes, crossword puzzles and games. Much better than I could ever be although now and again I baffle him with a nugget of knowledge. Often my husband tries to show me the error of my ways ( not listening in Geography class ) by asking me a ridiculous question relating to it. Bob is a walking Geographical encyclopedia and I admit to not thinking much about it anymore, seeing that he solves all the mysteries surrounding any questions I  ( or anyone else who is aware of his genius ) might have to do with a particular country, town, location or route.

Not that I have ever seen Bob solve this Rubik's cube but I remember him talking about playing with it and I just wanted to see how quickly he would solve it. So far he hasn't had time.

The cube has been sitting atop our kitchen table for the last few days and its lure caught me. I tried it. I remembered it. I haven't got the patience for it and it seems that I won't solve it.

Of course I am going to give it a few more tries and reignite the obviously unused part of my brain in charge of puzzle solving and who knows, I might just get it done before Bob...

The Rubik's cube!

Biggi

Might This Christmas Herald A Return To Sanity?

  The supply problems of developed nations bites into wish-lists.

Imagine the drama....less useless toys under the tree this year! Quelle horror for le kids! What else are they going to focus on for those few days when a new toy is interesting, before it gets put aside, never to be played with again?

News segments are already lamenting the fact that supply problems are going to happen for this festive season. Toys won't be so easily available ( I sense a price increase ) and should you be so silly as to want to purchase the latest smartphones for your offspring, those too might not be available. Imaging having to make do with a smartphone that's a year or two old? Yip, tough times ahead for your young'ns...Why not ban smartphones usage in families over the festive period? Rather spend time together playing Monopoly and co.

Wouldn't it be a great thing if for a change Christmas gifts are less in number but of more quality. Perhaps even more time spent as a family? Already most households are burdened with drawers, boxes and shelves full of toys and stuff which is never used. Gathering dust, taking up space and what is worse, having used up precious natural commodities for a few days or weeks of usage at most. Is it any wonder the world is in the environmental state it is in?

It is high time for this need to have a gazillion presents under Christmas trees to change. Never mind chopping down a fir tree for a three week display. We have lost sight of the forest for the trees.

There are so many second hand shops the world over where one can find good quality toys at reasonable prices and more importantly, prolong their live, for which so many commodities had to be used. Let's return to the good old days, days where Christmas was a chance to be with family, eat delicious food and perhaps sport a new coat, knitted jersey or pair of shoes...

Biggi

Discovering That Lidl Has A Bread-Cutting Machine.

 Another aha moment.

Lately I have been favouring Lidl more than others mainly due to their increasing vegan offerings and vegan labeling. At my age reading the fine print of ingredients isn't fun and jolly difficult. Much better to see the cool vegan label.

Bread, I love it. Bread rolls and bretzen even more. My downfall and guilty pleasure after a shop. Lidl has made the effort and labeled all their freshly baked bread assortments with vegan icons. Well those that are vegan plus they also use real sourdough starters for some of their bread, which makes the little gut bacteria happy and healthier.

The only problem was buying the whole loaf and then having to slice it by hand at home. Very artistically sliced creations for sure! So there I am hovering at the bread counter when I hear a young mother tell her kids to choose a loaf for the bread slicing machine. 

Like a nosy parker I followed her ( of course first telling her that I wanted to see how its done ) and she was happy to explain it to me. Very easy. Once she trollied off with her brood I got a loaf of bread and started the slicing machine. So easy, so addictive. Honestly, I even contemplated buying another loaf of something in order to use that machine. The only thing stopping me was the fact that our freezer is full already. Too much bread to eat, considering that I had already chosen a fair selection of bread rolls and bretzen. Never mind, there is always another day...

The vegan offerings are increasing almost weekly and one needs a whole lot of self control not to buy everything on sight. Would defeat the point, wouldn't it? Although someone put a block of vintage vegan cheddar, vegan Leberkäse and vegan sausage spread into my trolley! 

How dare they.....!

Viva veganism and the fun, health and environmental benefits it brings.

Biggi

A Little Bit Of Buddha & More

 Quotes.

" Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else;

 you are the one that gets burned. "

Buddha ( 563 BC-483 BC )

" Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. "

Buddha ( 563 BC-483 BC )

" Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, 

one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. "

Buddha ( 563 BC-483 BC  )

" We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. "

Dalai Lama ( 1935-         )

" Out of 6 billion humans, the troublemakers are just a handful. "

Dalai Lama ( 1935-       )

" All action results from thought, so it is thought that matters. "

Sai Baba ( 1838-1918 )

" Man seeks to change the foods available in nature to suit his tastes,

 thereby putting an end to the very essence of life contained in them. "

Sai Baba  ( 1838-1918 )

" Man is lost and is wandering in a jungle where real values have no meaning.

 Real values can have meaning to man only when he steps on to the spiritual path,

 a path where negative emotions have no use. "

Sai Baba  ( 1838-1918 )

" There is more to life than increasing its speed. "

Mahatma Gandhi ( 1869-1948 )

Biggi

And There It Is, Monday Yet Again.

 A recurring start.

They sneak up on one. Often in the middle of Saturday Bob bemoans the speed of a spent weekend and a beckoning Monday.  Luckily though, before we can turn around it will be Friday again.

Mondays make us feel as though we have to do a fresh start of something. Be it work, cleaning or diet. Always a Monday and thank goodness there are 52 of them because as much as I like to tell myself that a bout of cleaning might start the week off nicely, so a Tuesday comes in handy as a reserve day. Often not used and hence, fresh starts delayed!

After lunch Maxi was in for a treat. We heard voices outside, mainly a little girl's one followed by a gentle tap on our door. Maxi in his excitement rushed ahead of me and I barely managed to put his collar and leash on before he dashed outside. 

Our neighbour and her little girl had come for a visit. I am under no illusion that I was the main attraction. Can't trump a dog, especially a cute one like him. Gosh, he laid on his special level of cuteness and was rewarded with a few treats and plenty of cuddles. Nice to have a neighbourly get-together and chat.

After they left I took him for his long afternoon walk and as cold as it was to begin with, the sun made an appearance and everything felt so much nicer and warmer. Warm enough for me to  haul out the old lawnmower and give our garden a final haircut before winter. Where our bird feeding station is set up, the grass is miraculously lushious and high, almost like an oasis amid a otherwise rather patchy lawn. All those bird poops must be the best fertilizer there is...

This Monday is nearing its end and at least I have made a fresh start in our garden. Little by little the whole gets done, perhaps one Monday at a time.

Biggi

Hiding From My Feline Admirer.

 My every move is being watched.

From being skittish to the extreme-couldn't even look his way before he ran off-to now being in love with me. Yes, one of our feral housemates has taken a shine to me. A big shine, one so big that he lies in wait for my every move.

He obviously sleeps with one eye open and very close to our front door because the minute I take Maxi for his early morning constitution, he comes bouncing along in order to rub his cheek against my leg. He is a strong feral tomcat and isn't even aware of his own strength. I have to watch my footing lest I trip over him.

It is cute and I am not complaining, well in a way I am, but I think I told you that the other week he twice tried to bite my calf. More of a love bite ( that's how he meant it ) but still a bit sore. Coupled with mum telling me about the perils of cat bites ( she saw a documentary where someone got bitten by their cat and almost had to have half their hand removed ) it isn't any wonder that I am very careful around him.

Since discovering the joys of being cuddled and stroked, he can't get enough. Yesterday Bob watched this whole love procedure and asked me to step back as he wanted to try and give the cat a cuddle. Ha, no success as it seems that he is only fixated on me.

A moment ago I got back from somewhere and there he was, greeting me the minute I stepped out of the car. As he is constantly doing figure eights around my ankles while I am walking, I am doubly careful that one of those eights doesn't turn into a quick nip at my heel. For him it is just a declaration of love and also of wanting to have all of my attention -just like a man!

Somehow I am going to have to find a way to placate him without being in danger of his extreme show of affection and I am sure that I will figure out a working solution since he hardly leaves our property ( in the past he only showed up for his dinners ) at all during the day and I suppose night as well.

Of course I am jolly pleased that he has taken a shine to me, as it is so heartwarming to witness his realization that people aren't all bad and at what he has missed out on all those years....life, isn't it nice?

Waiting for me...

Biggi

The Reds Are In The Cellar.

 Grape harvest finished.

We whizzed through the vineyard this morning harvesting rows of red grapes at what seemed like the speed of light. Gosh, this year we put foot or rather the grapes were so fabulous that all we needed to do was snip them off the vines. Easy peasy! Of course the vines and grapes have been expertly tended and pruned by mum all year round.

Bob took a day's leave to help us with the harvest and I think that might be another major reason we finished so quickly. He had his back-pack ( fits about four buckets worth of grapes ) and loaded it with the various buckets of harvested grapes from us. Saved us a long, long walk. Absolutely brilliant and also having him be there. Nice. 

Lately we've started a tradition, well I have, that after harvest I fetch Maxi and take him to my parent's home in order for him to hang out with us while we have vittles and wine. Gosh, he loves it. Today was the third time and it was rather funny how we got there. Bob was driving, Maxi was in the passenger seat and I in the back. Yes, Bob was driving us but as nobody could see the dog on the seat, it looked as though Bob had banished me to the back!!!

These outings are wonderful for Maxi's soul as he gets lavished with treats and love. It doesn't hurt that he looks so darn cute because once the ladies see him, they can't help but cuddle him and feed him treats. I might have to  take him for another walk this evening because he really got given a lot of edible treats. Little charmer...

The weekend is halfway through, the harvest is done, Bob's already home and the kids ( all our animals ) are fed. Life, isn't it grande?

Biggi

A Little Bit Of Friday Funnies.

 Quotes, what else...

" Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone. "

Anthony Burgess

" I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her. "

Rodney Dangerfield

" I don't exercise. If  God wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor. "

Joan Rivers

" Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. "

Abraham Lincoln

" What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? "

W. Clement Stone

" An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out. "

George Jean Nathan

" The best way to get rid of kitchen odors: Eat out. "

Phyllis Diller

" Whatever you may look like, marry a man your own age - 

as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight. "

Phyllis Diller

" You know you're old when someone compliments you on your alligator shoes,

 and you're barefoot. "

Phyllis Diller

" I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol. "

Steven Wright

" My wife dresses to kill. She cooks the same way. "

Henny Youngman

Biggi

The Woes Of Navigation The Emotions Of An Old Dog.

 Or more his foibles?

Maxi, the darling that he is, has his own brand of difficult. Being difficult. Being different. Being himself. All allowed but as a dog parent I have to make sure that he gets his daily exercise and that he has ample opportunity to do his business, outside and only there.

Normally not a problem until the weather gods decide to drop copious drops of rain. Honestly, even a few drops make him go into a difficult state. He refuses to take one step further and this morning, once he realized that it was raining, he quickly did his thing before putting on his breaks. Nada, no movement and a time where I had to make a decision.

Not knowing whether he equates rain with snow, I had to show discipline and continue our walk. His not walking on an extremely rainy day is okay but after a few times of not walking his age will trump and he will quickly head into a decline. Walking is the be all and end all to a healthy dog.

I decided to force the issue and pull him along. Not in a hurtful way but still a forceful one. Somehow I had to show him that I am the leader of his pack. It was a semi success because we managed to get halfway round the block before I turned around. Amazing how suddenly he could walk at his own leisure!

Once we got home and after drying him off in a fluffy towel I served him his breakfast. A reward for semi-good behaviour. Only, now he is too scared to get out of his basket and so far has refused the offer of a pippi break, one we usually take before lunch.

It is getting close to high time that we go on his afternoon walk and I do so hope I haven't lost his regard of me. Maybe I shouldn't have thought to be able to teach an old dog new tricks but I don't want him to go into physical decline over the winter time. Navigating his likes and dislikes isn't easy, but I have to make sure he can be as healthy as he could be and walking is the major part of that. Wish me luck that this next walk will be without any tantrums....mine or his.

Biggi

The Warmth From Our Kitchen Oven.

 A magical time begins.

Yes, this afternoon I managed to get our kitchen aga-like oven lit the first time. As I write this there is a fire crackling contently in our kitchen, permeating our house with a lovely warmth. Earlier on my parents brought a whole container of end cuts of wood, those that are perfect for lighting a fire. Brilliant and so thankful they did. Nice.

The weather turned cold today and I think that warm days are gone for the next six months. Like it should be. Winter season, different but nice all the same. Maxi has just wandered into our kitchen trying to work out where the  crackling sound and warmth is coming from. Will he lie next to it? Time will tell.

Earlier on I took him for his afternoon walk and noticed quite a few of the chimneys along the route emitting plumes of smoke. A reminder that it was cold!

During summer I use the top of the oven as another surface, one full of fruit bowls and the odd kitchen utensils one can't be bothered to put away or that don't have a place to be put away to. Our kitchen is small and a few extra apples here, spare plates there and a popcorn machine make it look crowded, eclectic and lived in, although I have a sneaking suspicion that it just looks messy! Ah well, so be it... 

It took me less than five minutes to get rid of all that stuff by either putting or throwing them away.  I know, I know, I should do that more often but alas, it is still a skill I am in the process of learning! Time will tell....

Looking for a photo of our aga-like oven I found a few photos of how much we have achieved! This is our kitchen which we had to totally dismantle and dig up. There Attila is helping us for the day, but most of the hard work was done by Bob and I...gosh, I forgot about all those days of feeling overwhelmed at the task ahead.

Our first few months out of Africa we were doing all the manual labour needed to renovate our house. Memories....

Once we had dug, filled in and plastered our kitchen we had to try and get the moisture out of the walls. There is Bob tending to our oven. This little oven helped dry out the house. Old is good.

Our kitchen turned out nice. This is a photo from 2013, when we hadn't collected so much stuff yet. Must try and declutter our kitchen as soon as possible.

Biggi

An Even Faster Internet Connectivity Is Coming To Eisenberg.

 Digging us into the 21st Century.

Honestly, we think that our internet is pretty fast already especially when we compared to South Africa. Before we left there, our internet was sort of fast enough and of course expensive enough...until we got to Austria. The nirvana of paying only a set price for the usage of the extremely fast broadband was a new experience, one that we both got used to very quickly. Surfing, watching TV and being on Skype all at the same time.

But, as fast as the internet appears to us, it is going to get even faster. All over our district the digging and laying of fiber optic cables is in full swing. When one thinks about it, having a fast connectivity is necessary in today's times, times where we do most of our living online. Shopping, medical consultations, online learning, schooling and leisure to name but a few. Oh, and work of course.

There might be a connection between the infrastructure update and the dearth of available housing. Houses are being snapped up at the rate of knots as well as new ones being built. The lure of a more relaxed rural lifestyle is capturing plenty of city folk and why not. Corona and its many lockdowns have made it abundantly clear that a lot of work can be done from home. Home-office anywhere and everywhere as long as the connectivity is there.

It will be interesting to see what other changes might occur on the periphery. With so many more people moving to our area, the least we will see is an expansion of the groceries on offer at our local shop, an increase in vegan options at local Buschenschanks and an end to the divine quietude of our smallish  village...

Biggi

Morning In Eisenberg.

Nature awakens...

 The fog seems permanent although it portends another magical and sunny day ahead. Much needed for vines and souls.

Standing tall and proud, guarding the entrance to Eisenberg Weinberg.

A main attraction in the middle of a local field. A hidden gem.

Walking into sunshine and opportunities.

Sunlight illuminates the wonders of nature, chlorophyll of leaves...

The local church in monotones; three shades of grey....!

Biggi

Bits And Pieces Garnered From My Walks.

The normal side to life.

 At the start of one of our walks we got waylaid by a friendly feline...the new addition to our family. We haven't named her yet and tend to call her grey cat.

A bit of friendly banter between Maxi and her.

When you see her like this she looks rather too well fed but when you see her standing up, her extreme slenderness emerges. A most loving soul.

The fog this morning was tremendous and all inclusive. Deutsch Schützen was submerged in a thick layer of fog and couldn't be seen from a distance.

The sun was helping to dissipate the fog. A nostalgic Kellerstock sets the scene.

A field of sunflowers living up to their name by cheering up all and sundry who passed by.

A look behind the sunworshippers! The same flower from the photo before seen from behind. Surreal to see such a vast change by merely looking to my right.

The sun chose to grace us all day long and a nice Sunday was had.

Biggi

The Bait & Switch Of Electric Cars.

Electricity, where art thou...?

Today all the fire departments across Austria will do a five minutes test of how to behave in a general blackout. A blackout which really means no electricity. Yes, electricity is becoming a rarity.

Bits and drabs have trickled through the various morning shows, news programs and newspapers about what we should do in the event of an electricity shortage. Plain and simple, they are expecting that the power supply doesn't cover the power demand, especially now that we are heading into the cold winter season.

Consider how much more electricity most of us are using in our daily lives which we didn't use a decade or two ago. We plug in our phones, computers and also pride ourselves in having the latest technological kitchen equipment. A fridge that talks to us, a blender which gives our biceps a chance to dwindle and a robot hoover in our house, a robot lawnmower outside all directed by  Alexa, Siri & co. To name but a few and is it any wonder that we all need so much more electricity? Never mind the resulting state of our collective waistlines, blood pressure and general malaise! 

Top it off with the latest trend of pseudo climate friendly electric cars, which everyone thinks are the panecea for us to patch up this climate destruction. Honestly, a clever conjuring trick if I ever saw one. 

With so many more electric cars being bought to console the old conscious, it isn't any wonder that power-cut-drills are being instigated across the world. What I would like to know is what will happen to all those ' old petrol or diesel engine ' cars that are perfectly fine to drive another decade were it not for the lack of a electrical docking station. Are they destined for the ever growing rubbish dumps of the world?

Electric cars or rather the engine themselves are laden with climate crimes. Where do people think the elements of a electrical battery strong enough to drive a car come from? And at what costs to the environment?

That's where the old bait & switch of the car industry has come in. Trying to make us buy new cars yet again despite us knowing that our old ones are still going great guns, all gift wrapped in the argument that it stops climate destruction.

What I want to know is why hardly anyone mentions the real issue at hand:

             We drive too much.

             We walk or cycle too little.

             We want too much.

             And we want it all now.

Time to recondition our collective expectations of life and coincidentally, also a chance to be more happy with our lives. Do less, have more.

Biggi

     

A Friday, Ordinary But Nice.

 And the sun is here again.

Winter is definitely close by although this morning the weather gods were kind enough to order a bit of sunshine for us. Not without leaving a chilly reminder of what is in store for us. 4 degrees this morning was so chilly that I changed into long johns and extra sweater. Yikes, I forgot all about that part of winter.

The sun is out and the skies are blue yet again. Magic and perfect to lead us into the weekend. Well, Bob is working through it as the grapes don't differentiate between workday and weekends. When they have to come off, they have to come off. Sunday he will be at home though and I aim to make his day as easy and lazy as possible. Reading, eating, sleeping.

The last few nights when Bob came home late, Maxi has been besides himself with happiness as opposed to Miss Mausi who is still giving us a bit of the jealous cold shoulder. Understandably, as Maxi does get a lion's share of all our attention. How to explain to her that because he is old and almost totally blind he needs the extra TLC? So, Bob keeps on dropping hints that Maxi needs to have a hair cut. Woolly sheep is what I think he called him.

Both of us know that I will be the one doing the fur styling. Pure and simple. Fair enough, I don't mind and mum did buy me a pair of sturdy gloves for those occasions where Mr. Maxi might show me the sharpness of his little teeth.

This morning I asked him to step into the bathroom ( a.k.a. the room where all his hateful grooming takes place ) by gently picking him up and carrying him through! He was surprisingly calm and after I let him sniff the scissors he let me snip away. Difficult with one hand as the other had a constant check on his head. First a bit off the fringe around his head, then one paw followed by all his others seeing that he didn't complain. A snip at his behind's fluffy bits and the odd dread-lock and then all done.

Well, all done in the sense that he had enough. A few jerky head movements along with the odd grumble helped convince me that it was time to wrap things up with a nice tasty treat for him. All good despite the mismatched haircut. But you know, he actually looks cute and spiffy, a bit like a hippie...perfect for us. Will Bob notice when he gets home later tonight?

Biggi