A Smoke Filled Sunday.

 The plot or rather the air thickens.

I was on video call with my dad when out of the corner of my eye I noticed the air getting hazy. The oven had just started its session and the odd smell of smoke often tags along but yesterday was a lot more. Bob hadn't noticed yet as he was immersed into his video game but got a huge fright when I screeched that we had smoke in the lounge.

Yesterday was a stormy day. It was windy, so much so that the walls were shaking and the windows quivering at odd moments. Never mind the eery howling noise a strong wind can make. There was our culprit. The wind had forced a downward pressure into the chimney and smoke would have to fight hard to counter it. Up until now we never had that problem so we were worried.

Both of us were running around like crazy trying to sort it out. Windows were opened, shouting done! I hastened outside to try and find the used tube of heat sealant in order to reseal the area around the kitchen stove's pipe. Naturally I found nothing!

In the meantime Bob was warding stations inside the kitchen and when I came back inside he told me not to worry, as he had found the cause.

The oven door was open. Our little old aga has one small door, the one that could be used for putting cakes and roasts in which of course the two of us use for storage of forbidden goods...chips, chocolates etc! And there was the problem. Earlier on Bob had taken a bag of chips out of this door and had forgotten to close it again. The smoke happily escaped this way as opposed to fighting its way up the chimney.

The door got closed and worries  soothed. Windows had to still be open to air our house which wasn't much fun in these cold times. At the end of the day we were both extremely happy that it wasn't any major problem. I tell you what, this episode again made me realize how important a good oven is and what a privilege it is to have a warm house.

Biggi

Finally Enjoying My Kindle.

 A good book helps.

I have always wanted a kindle and finally got one several months ago. Under the premise that I could make use of the Amazon Kindle Library, but sadly that didn't work out. Amazon insists on a credit card despite us having deposited the money into their account, they won't budge. Neither will I. So, no library and the kindle sat sadly on the sidelines of old fashioned paper and ink invasion in our house, waiting. Books, can't get enough of them.

So, the other day I happened upon a review of a thriller that seemed to take the world by storm. Alex Michaelides-The Silent Patient. Upon perusing the online portal I saw that the kindle version was extremely cheap and then and there downloaded it unto the kindle.

Well, I have been reading almost non-stop. The book is fabulous, thrilling and un-put-downable. Holding the kindle feels good and the writing is clear and highly readable. The infamous middle age eye adjustment has landed on my shore too and often reading a paper book, means extending arms or squinting lids. Not always comfortable.

An added bonus, although to be honest that was the main reason of purchasing this reading device, is that it lights up perfectly in a dark room. Reading in bed last night was easy. No light bothering my dear hubby, no page turning keeping him from slumber and no heavy weight of a book threatening to drop onto my face. The kindle is light as a feather and even Mausi was pleased to not be blinded by the reading lamp.

The only negative is of course the lack of a physical book to display on our bookshelf, to be taken out whenever the mood strikes. But, may that be the worst of my problems...

Kindle, thank you for a fantastic way to read during a sleepless night.

Biggi

Who Tread The Road Before?

Wandering through time and history.

Walking the forest route this afternoon made me wonder how many others had walked it before. Not just this year, last year or the year before but last decade, last century and last millennia. 

The path next to the forest's edge has been well shaped by many a foot placed upon it. This particular forest is a natural one, one with slight hills and dales not like the modern soldier like forests. Row upon neat row they grow until their grim reaper happens upon them. Boring but I suppose necessary else we wouldn't have any forests left.

Some of the older villagers often told me stories about how hard life was during and after the second world war. How the forest had become their refuge when the Russian soldiers passed through on their return home. Horror stories of girls of all ages having to hide in and underneath stable manure, in wells and quite a lot of them in the forest. Yes, war is not a good thing.

The forest and its secrets. Good and bad. There must be many gold trinkets, rings and coins buried in it but sadly along with still to be detonated war ammunition forgotten or left there on purpose. One never knows what one would dig up so better not to dig up at all.

We tend to think that our problems and circumstances are the be all and end all yet, each generation before us has grappled with their load going about normal life, even perhaps along the forest's path.

To know that history was shaped beneath my feet is priceless and somehow it extends a connection to it. History gleaned from the dusty pages of a book is not the same as history absorbed from the places it was formed in. Let's hope that we can learn from history this time around...

Biggi

A Few More Quotes.

 Good thoughts...

" The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. "

Dolly Parton

" If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. "

Eleanor Roosevelt

" Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. "

Soren Kierkegaard

" Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. "

Lao-Tze

" Keep calm and carry on. "

Winston Churchill

" Every moment is a fresh beginning. "

T.S. Eliot

" I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, 

rather than attempting to satisfy them. "

John Stuart Mill

" The more a man meditates upon good thoughts,

 the better will be his world and the world at large. "

Confucius

" Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder. "

Henry David Thoreau

Biggi

Crazy Thursday!

Almost weekend though.

The weather is still cold bordering on freezing, the boy refuses to go for a #2, the cats are cute and cuddly and the corona infections are going through the roof. Although that doesn't seem to bother the powers that be.

I suspect that the populace is being led towards ' herd-immunity ' and if it works, why not. Let's get this corona thing done and dusted so we can return to life as normal.

Normal life, what is it and what did it used to be? In these last two years many of us have learned, grown and expanded our horizons. We have come to realize that less is more, less is okay. Why go crazy on new clothes when nobody gets to see them? The penny has dropped; clothes don't maketh the man and we are perfect however we are dressed.

Earlier on I stumbled upon a YouTube clip of a Californian woman who is 83, a raw vegan and looks amazingly young. Suddenly there is another reason to eat and enjoy being vegan. Can't hurt to look younger while growing older.

Yesterday I was at my folks for a Birthday get-together ( three other people apart from us, who are all fully vaccinated, and I did a corona test before going there ) and mum served mostly vegan snacks. A few egg mini sandwiches for the one die hard anti-vegan ( once he knows something is vegan he won't touch it ). That's okay, each to his own.

The other two, to my surprise, tucked into the vegan offerings and without a second thought. Nice. Even the chocolate muffin got a praise. Great, even a morsel of vegan food makes a difference. 

Not everyone can or wants to go vegan but if most people now and again eat a vegan alternative, the world could be a safer place to grow old on...

Biggi

The Generation Which Notices The Small Details Of Life.

 One before mine.

I came back from my walk feeling refreshed and ready for breakfast. The last few meters are the best because the lure of a hot shower and breakfast is unbeatable. Usually the last few meters are also those where I run into people.

           " Jeez, but you got here fast! "

A new father, or rather the father of our new neighbours-to-be was just parking his car on the side of the road. Being such a small place I can memorize most cars and who they belong to. His particular car had passed me on the main road about two kilometer back. Well, it was a black station wagon which I realized was his when I saw him here.

I  was still a few meters away and tried to judge if he wanted more than a mere greeting. One gets a feel for those who like to shoot the breeze and those who don't. He wanted to talk and after his opening gambit we had a nice few minutes of conversation about this and that and the younger ' computer 'generation and their lack of  life skills. 

He expressed his concern about this younger generation who mostly had their face stuck to a computer ( I owned up that I too have those tendencies ) thus not noticing important things. Like a drain being put in wrong for example. Like a slope having a possibility of being treacherous for a newly built house and the road that needed to be fixed. Am with him on that one. Our stretch of the road is a nightmare especially when it is iced over.

Of course he is of an age where regaling others with details is top of the list. Gory details. Yikes he told me of a chain saw accident  ( a case of the younger lot knowing computers but not how to handle a chainsaw and the appropriate protective gear ) in minute detail that I only got saved from when the other neighbour's father approached ready for work. 

Noticing things is priceless. His generation doesn't miss a trick and that is good so. So much to learn from that and so much old fashioned common sense. A common sense that is slowly disappearing from society.

Biggi

An Icy Start To The Day.

 Actually, a couple of icy days...

It is winter so I am not complaining, just explaining my slight winter malaise. The air is chilled and filled with icy atoms. Heating around the clock is not our thing firstly due to to the cost of it and secondly because we don't like the dryness of around the clock heating.

Yesterday the roads were stuck with remelted snow that had frozen again overnight. Yes, didn't bode well and the first few meters Maxi and I took affirmed this. His little paws made crunching sounds with each step and after his business was done he refused to go one step further. Honestly, it was so cold that I was glad of his decision. No argument from me. Ditto for his evening walk!

This morning was a similar situation with crunchiness underfoot. We ventured outside before my first cup of coffee and long before sunup. The road was even icier and poor Maxi had a slight mishap whilst doing his business. His little back foot slipped out from under him whilst he was eh, crouching and I have to say as funny as it was, I felt sorry for the little lamb. Naturally our outside sidekick, Parsley-the former feral, was with us and did a double take.

The boy hadn't exercised for two days and I tried to walk with him around the block but gave up after a couple of slippery mishaps on my side. Not worth a broken bone. He was quite keen to go back inside and who would blame him. Nice and warm abode with breakfast awaiting.

It is absolutely beautiful so early in the morning when it is still dark with the only lighting either provided by the moon, stars or street lamps. Coupled with the white snow covering mostly everything it has a touch of magic. As we turned around I first heard then saw a buck jumping across the road outside our neighbour's gate. Where else could one live this close to and with nature...

Biggi

A Bit Of Spirituality.

 ...some quotes.

" You will be calm the day you learn to sit alone and do nothing. "

Maxime Lagace

" When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive,

 to think, to enjoy, to love. "

Marcus Aurelius 

" Awakening is not changing who you are, but discarding who you are not. "

Deepak Chopra

" I close my eyes in order to see. "

Paul Gauguin

" The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love. "

Marianne Williamson

" Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. "

Hermann Hesse

" When you realize there is no lacking, the whole world belongs to you. "

Lao Tzu

" Who looks outside dreams, who look inside, awakens. "

Carl Jung

" Nothing is, unless our thinking makes it so. "

William Shakespeare

" We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.

 We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Biggi

Another Snowy Start To The Day.

 The snowflakes keep on falling.

The first chance I had to take some photos this morning. Walking was rather treacherous but invigorating. Nothing nicer than to feel the coolness of snowflakes melting on one's cheek not to mention the lovely solitude it evokes, being one with the elements and self.

Suddenly the effort of these orange wooden stakes make sense. They get put next to the main roads as winter starts and get removed after. It marks the edge of a road, and the end of a curve...

My way home fraught with potential hazards. Walking on newly fallen snow is fine unless there happens to be a frozen patch of moisture underneath. Walking morphs into skating.

The green information boards provide a nice touch of colour in an otherwise monotone morning.

My favourite bench at the pond seems a tad bit too cold today! 

The snow kept on falling for most of the morning and covered rooftops, meadows and roads reminding us that winter is winter after all.

Biggi

Veganuary Bigger And Better.

An avalanche of vegan offerings.

We had to go to town today in order to fetch Bob's new glasses. Finally a pair that he was thrilled about and as we were driving away from the optometrist he commented;

                    " Oh my god, I can't believe how sharp and clear everything suddenly is.

                        Amazing how detailed everything is. "

                " Whatever you do, don't look at me!!!! "

Doesn't help being married to a young buck!

Anyway, we partook in a sampling of supermarkets mainly because certain vegan staples can only be had here there and not everywhere. I have developed a system of shopping selectively in order to get the best bargains. It also helps that mum gave me her loyalty card ( one that can be used in most shops ) and with it the discounts had from various shops.

Well, I walked around three different supermarkets  ( discounters actually ) and each one had a prolific choice of vegan offerings. From pastas to sweets via fresh bread and cereals. That big yellow V is now on so many products. Not all healthy of course but still, the vegan wave is not only surfed by tree huggers, nutters or aged hippies. No, we are mainstream.

The prolific choices available makes me hope and wish that the exaggerated prices of anything vegan will calm down soon. It doesn't seem fair that plant based milks are almost a euro more expensive and only because oat farmers don't get subsidized as the dairy farmers are. Despite the difference in greenhouse gases produced.

                       The production of oat milk leads to 80% less greenhouse gas emissions

                        and 60% less energy compared to cow milk.

Makes one think, doesn't it?

Biggi

Waking Up To A Dusting Of Snow.

 A beautiful winter morning.

An almost pristine road to walk on. Thankfully the snow plow hadn't reached here yet because once the roads get plowed they become very slippery. I could hear the plow some way behind me though!

How perfect is this snow? Untouched by the grimes of automobiles, smog and dirt. A pleasure to walk on it.

As you can see some of the trees have been felled but the road still has an inherent  touch of winter magic.

 The sun as bright as can be illuminating the untouched snow with a soul-warming energy.

A nice floral collage....or rather a nice bit of pot pourrie...

An ingenious way of nature to water to its plants...

Biggi

The Nocturnal Shenanigans Of Our Feline Child.

 Miss Mausi tops herself.

Usually she strikes at the same time. A time when I have finally immersed myself in the adventures of a dream, climbing mountains, visiting places or floating through space...until she decides to pull me back to her reality.

When we do fall asleep, a certain routine has been established. First she cuddles for a few minutes with Bob and once he turns over to sleep she jumps ship and settles on my stomach. Every time, without fail. The last thing I am aware of is her warm little body breathing in unison with mine...until she decides to have some fun.

She must have found a more exciting adventure chasing a mouse or fly or ant because suddenly I get made aware that she is no longer next to me. Last night she filed her claws acoustically on our door frame before jumping gaily back on to the bed and me. Ouch, she ain't a lightweight no more! Stupidly I opened my eyes to see and that was that. The clever minx can see in the dark and without a moment's hesitation she came up to my nose.

The purring, as cute as it sometimes is, was annoying and very loud at that time of the night. Shooshing her doesn't work and in any case, she had a different agenda. First she stretched out her front paw to try and pull back my duvet. She deemed it cold enough to come underneath it but even that little manoever takes several tries until she decides where and how to settle down.

Resistance is futile. If she wants something, she gets it. By the time she finally crawled under my blanket I could feel Bob almost surfacing from his dreams. But, gloating over her win Mausi started to  purr loudly under the blanket coupled with sharpening her claws on the bed sheet! No, what a rascal.

So, nothing for it but to get up and migrate to the lounge. A move she had in mind all along because before my feet even hit the floor she was already running through to the lounge, jumping on the window sill waiting for me to settle in. I can hear a few of you ( those without cats ) tell me to just ignore the gal or shut her out of the bedroom. Yes, not a bad idea until you hear the miserable meowing outside the door coupled with energetic door scratching.

Is she spoilt? Of course, immensely so but then again, she is our little darling and part of our family and we all know that family isn't always perfect! Love this little feline madam...

Biggi

The Price Of Electricity.

 We have to give credence to our parents and grandparents.

When you are right, you are right! How often did we roll our eyes when we were reminded as children to please turn off the light? Going from one room into the next without a care in the world about who payed the electricity bills. It was just one of those annoying reminders our parents threw our way. In some cases more than others!

Bob told me about his dad telling his brother and him to;

                " Lights boys! Turn off the lights! "

Both of us jokingly revert to this phrase when and if we forget to switch off the lights. Before it was more of a way to save the planet but now, it turns out that it is a way to save money. Yes, electricity has become expensive.

Coming from South Africa, we were used to expensive electricity and often black outs, thus we were quite well versed in living with less electricity and often without. Not nice but doable. Living in Europe-until now-has been an electricity paradise. Cheap and always there. Until this winter. 

The costs have skyrocketed. From higher demand ( darn those smartphones, electrical devices and electrical cars ) and bottle necks in supply. Case in point the current geopolitical tensions brewing along the Russian border. The winter is still long and many households rely on electricity for their heating.

One would have never thought it nor given it credence but our grandparents were right. Saving for a rainy day was and is vital, making do with what one has essential and throwing things needlessly away a sin. The generation that was confronted with the effects of a world war, either during or the scarcity after, knew what they were talking about. 

Times are very precarious at the moment. Corona has and is reminding us that the good times aren't a given and that again, our parents and grandparents were spot on when they ( thankfully ) told us:

                        only buy what you can afford and save for that rainy day.

Biggi

The Pulchritude Of A Full Moon.

 A gorgeous light is shone.

Early on this morning when I took the dog ( yes, he is in the dog-house at the moment having tried to nip me ) for a walk, all was well with the world. All ills and disasters forgotten under the romantic torch of a full moon.

Well, it seemed full to me although it could have been the day before. Seeing the darkness of an early morning lit up by the sporadic clearing of the clouds moving past the full-ish moon was absolutely magical. 

Houses previously normal and ordinary had a breath of romance brought to them by the glow of this moon. The war memorial's statue almost seemed lit up from inside, so much so that I had to do a double take when we meandered past.

The odd dog gave a ghoulish moon-time inspired howl, enough to set off our little canine terror! No, don't fear, he is safe with us but honestly, at times he does try my patience with his insistence of showing his might through the power of his sharp teeth. Still am faster than he is...

Full moon tends to interrupt sleep patterns and I don't know whether it be from the phase of the planetary orbit or by the brilliant light bursting through windows.  There are worse ills than not sleeping through a night and just for good measure scary horror movies are shown on most tv channels. Yes, I watched one last night- The Snow Man by Jo Nesbo, and it was a nice way to while the night away. Of course the real horror had to do with how old the actor Val Kilmer had become, he who was an idol of my youth....

Full moon, a special time abundantly seen throughout the year.

Biggi

A Cold And Grey Winter's Morning.

 Still very beautiful.

The leaves have dropped and the branches correctly depict the time of the year. The leaves are so dry that even a lightweight touch of a bird's foot makes a sound as though a giant is walking past.

The various Kellerstöckels lining the scenic edge of the Deutsch Schützen forest. More and more Kellerstöckels are being converted into year round homes and sadly the authentic feel is being lost, one rebuild at a time.

The forest and its refreshing spots of colour. Moss is abundant and enhances any winter's walk.

The hunter's lookout or as I like to call it, Burgenland's tiny house, stands between the forest and vineyard, surveying its realm.

Some more moss among the rustling leaves.

A great collage of both vineyards...Deutsch Schützen in the foreground and Eisenberg lording it high and mighty in the background....

Biggi

Some More Quotes.

A slow Sunday....!

" Never make a defense or apology before you be accused. "

Charles I ( 1600-1649 )

" Remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts and everything as you see me;

 otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it. "

Oliver Cromwell ( 1599-1658 ) on the painting of his portrait, commonly quote as ' warts & all '

" The limits of my language mean the limits of my world. "

Ludwig Wittgenstein ( 1889-1951 )

" What can be said at all can be said clearly;

 and whereof one cannot speak thereof  one must be silent. "

Ludwig Wittgenstein ( 1889-1951 )

" Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man. "

Leon Trotsky ( 1879-1940 )

" In war, whichever side may call itself victor, there are not winners, but all are losers. "

Neville Chamberlain ( 1869-1940 )

" Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed. "

Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976 )

" History is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. "

Voltaire ( 1694-1778 )

" History is past politics, and politics is present history. "

E.K. Freeman ( 1823-1892 )

" the absent are always in the wrong. "

Philippe Nericault Destouches ( 1680-1754 )

" Beauty is no quality in things themselves.

It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them. "

David Hume ( 1711-1776 )

Biggi

Coming Home To Our 'Kids' After Shopping.

 Memories of my youth.

It was quite nice this morning, going to town with Bob to do our weekly shop. Actually it has been over 9 days since the last one and because I make an effort to stretch the time between shops, I was rather proud to make it to 9 days. Could have gone another few days but seeing that Bob needed to go for his eye test, we went this morning.

As for Bob's eye test; rather nice and amusing. After doing the test, they told him that his prescription had improved and that the glasses he is currently wearing, are too strong. He was puzzled and I was chuffed beyond words. Plant based eating even improved his eye sight!

So, we finally returned home after about three hours and of course laden with stuff. It all adds up if one lives away from town. Those bits and pieces one used to get daily on the way home, are now shopped for once a week. Often I scare myself at how much stuff we get but somehow week after week it gets eaten!

Once we are home, I close the garden gates and let Maxi out into our garden for his midday #1. He loves greeting us and seeing us but after doing his business he heads indoor all by himself. His home!! I ( or today we )  take all the bags into the vestibule one at a time while trying to keep Mausi inside. 

Well, she does the second best thing...she inspects each and every bag of groceries we bought. Her nose and often half her body disappear into the various shopping bags and I have to make doubly sure that the fresh bread and rolls are securely fastened within their paper bags. She loves bread and the aroma of it drives her crazy. 

Of course she knows that some of the goodies are for her and Maxi and thus sits awaiting her treat. Usually she gets one and even Maxi has taken to demand a treat. Gosh, today he barked at Bob, telling him to get a move on and give over the treat. Cheeky monkey!

On my last trip to the car boot I couldn't help but smile to myself when I noticed both our outside feline contingent lining up as though waiting for their treat. How do they know that lately a lot of our shopping is for them...and yes, I make sure to only buy what they love. Else the food is left for prosperity even if they keel over from hunger. As I say, there is always the field mice menu on offer.

As for memories of my youth; I vividly recall inspecting each and every bag when mum came home from a shop and hoping for a treat!

Biggi

Humor...

 A few more quotes.

" Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes. "

Jim Carrey

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

Anthony Burgess

" Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. "

Steven Wright

" Laughter is an instant vacation. "

Milton Berle

" Humor is the first of the gifts to perish in a foreign tongue. "

Virginia Woolf

" Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is. "

Horace Walpole

" Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals. "

Agnes Repplier

" Humor is the truth; wit is an exaggeration of the truth. "

Stan Laurel

" That is the saving grace of humor, if you fail no one is laughing at you. "

A. Whitney Brown

Biggi

Can't Please Them All!

 Never happy, are they?

Maxi and I went for our afternoon sojourn around the block and happened upon some Eisenbergers who hadn't seen us since he had his spiffy haircut. Yes, short back and sides in the true manner of a young buck. Honestly, very fetching if a tad bit on the short side.

So, Maxi in his exuberance couldn't wait to show off his new do by boisterously running toward them ( we meet them now and again ) and greeting them with much happiness. Aren't dogs just the best at being happy?

Well, truth be told, I myself am rather proud of the old boy and was hoping for a nod of ' well done, he looks much better '...should have known better. First thing they mentioned was how short his hair was and how could I do this to him in winter! Yikes, don't they know that I constantly run after him with either his new jersey or to make sure that he is covered by the little blanket I knitted for him? Low blow, considering that I do worry about him being cold and thus dress him up with two outdoor coats when walking.

Why is it that we tend to feel the need to justify ourselves instead of merely acknowledging their opinion and thanking them for it? Gosh, then one of the ladies commented on how awful his eyes looked which made me bristle like any mother would. Hey, he is mostly blind and fourteen years old, what does she expect? Clearly a person who sees the glass half empty and properly the first character to be sleuthed about in an Agatha Christie novel.

This afternoon's interlude has taught me once again that I have a lot of work to do on myself. Learning to let silly comments be just that; silly comments. Can't please them all and I suppose that is what makes life interesting and exciting.

Biggi

A Bit Of Happiness.

Voices of the past.

" Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy;

 they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. "

Marcel Proust 

" The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. "

Thich Nhat Hanh

" The secret to happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does. "

James Matthew Barrie

" The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. The wise grows it under his feet. "

James Oppenheim

" The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was,

 the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be. "

Marcel Pagnol

" It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, 

or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. 

It is what you think about. "

Dale Carnegie

" Why should we build our happiness on the opinions of others,

 when we can find it in our own hearts? "

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

" Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for. "

Immanuel Kant

" Nothing is miserable unless you think it so; and on the other hand, 

nothing brings happiness unless you are content with it. "

Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

" Even in Siberia there is happiness. "

Anton Chekhov

Biggi

Cold, But Not Really In Comparison.

 Feeling grateful.

The boy and I went out for his early walk this morning. It was still dark and miserably cold. Really cold, so cold that after a few minutes I couldn't feel the tips of my fingers. As crazy as it sounds, it is easier for me to wear cut-off gloves than proper gloves. Speed is of the essence when one has to pick up poop while holding the leash to a boisterous pup and not having to take off gloves makes all the difference.

It was so cold that I put on a coat over his jersey. An overcoat that after his recent haircut tends to envelope him. But at least he has a bit of warmth. Still not sure if dogs feel the cold the same way we do, but I am sure that two layers help him adjust to the cold after his warm bed.

I make sure to keep him running along because it helps exercise his muscles, helps with the cold and most importantly, keeps him young. Don't worry, when he wants to stop he puts on brakes, brakes that not even I can undo. So far he loves both his daily walks.

So, there I was complaining to myself about how cold my fingers felt when I remembered a segment I saw on the news earlier on. The people of Afghanistan have so little, be it food or warmth this winter. Children are having to deal with the double pack of evil; hunger and cold. How do you explain to a small child the ills of the world which its shoulders have to bear? 

We have got so much. We are blessed beyond belief if we have enough to eat, a roof over our head and enough money to pay for heating during winter. That is what it's all about. Forget about feeling unhappy because you can't keep up with your Jones's, or because you don't have a similar car to those that your friends sport on social media, or because you can't go away on holiday ( by the by, why are so many people unhappy in their own home to such an extent that they have to seek foreign climes several times per year? ). 

If we have food, warmth, health and family then we are blessed beyond belief and imagination. I do hope that the international community of nations finds a way to help those poor people in Afghanistan, because if so many countries can spend trillions on their arms budget, than surely a few billions can be found to help those in need? Makes one wonder if those arm manufactures had ceased to operate a year, a decade or longer ago would there be so much hardship around the world....

Biggi 

Loving My Wash-Egg!

 Saving our planet one wash at a time.

It must be close to a month now that I have started using this wash-egg. In fact, I think it might be longer but never mind. At least I started using it. Thank you YouTube for letting me watch a BBC program to do with saving our planet. Shop well for the planet, the program that made me aware of this wash option.

So, at first I was skeptic but I thought that seeing the lady on the program enthused so much about it, it wouldn't harm to order one. Sadly the only place to get one was the mighty online giant, but what can one do? At least I ordered the wash-egg that is made in Germany and not one of the prolific selection available that are made in China. Would be besides the point, wouldn't it?

Anyway, the first time I used it I didn't expect much but boy, was I surprised. The washing has never come out this clean. Bearing in mind that I only washed on a 30 degree cycle and in an old washing machine. Of course, the old machines are the best as they last and last. When they were manufactured, it was made to last and just to be sure, I don't overtax the machine with different cycles. One wash cycle for all. It was a generous hand-me-down from mum and by now must be about twenty years old. 

So since owning this wash-egg I have not used any washing powder. The only extra is a vial of lemon grass essential oils for the perfumed aromas we all expect from clean clothes. The other day I rediscovered an old wool cardigan that I purchased in the early 90's and that always gave me hassles when washing it. Hand wash is all very well, but making sure the item dries well and in shape is jolly difficult. Easier not to wear stuff and with that in mind I was about to put it into the recycling bin when I thought it wouldn't hurt to put it in the wash...

This cardigan came out perfect and like new in texture, smell and shape! Absolutely fabulous. Bob's work pants which tend to be heavily soiled with mud, wine and dust, keep coming out perfectly clean. Really amazing to think that there was no washing powder involved. Doing laundry is fun again.

Apart from me loving the wash-egg are the wonderful implications for the planet. Even lone little me has made a difference by not polluting water with the chemicals entailed in washing powder while saving money at the same time. 

Imagine if ten people discover this wash nirvana, like it and spread the word of it, then perhaps another ten or more will do the same. That alone would be a whole lot of chemicals that won't be polluting rivers, oceans and our planet.

My wash-ball-egg!

Biggi 

Some Chaucer And More.

 Voices from the past.

" Time and tide wait for no man. "

Geoffrey Chaucer ( 1343-1400 )

" And she was fair as is the rose in May. "

Geoffrey Chaucer ( 1343-1400 )

" Forbid us something, and that thing we desire. "

Geoffrey Chaucer ( 1343-1400 )

" Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule. "

Friedrich Nietzsche ( 1844-1900 )

" A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. "

Groucho Marx ( 1890-1977 )

" Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse. "

Groucho Marx ( 1890-1977 )

" Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. "

Confucius ( 551 BC-479 BC )

" If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; 

if in terms of a hundred years, teach the people. "

Confucius ( 551 BC-479 BC )

" The more man meditates upon good thoughts, 

the better will be his world and the world at large. "

Confucius ( 551 BC-479 BC )

" The cautious seldom err. "

Confucius ( 551 BC-479 BC )

Biggi

A Cold Day In January.

 A busy morning set for this Saturday.

Of all the Saturdays to have to go to Höll! Honestly, it was minus 8 degrees this morning and even stepping outside with Maxi was an effort. He thought so too because as soon as his business was accomplished, the brakes came on and reverse gear engaged.

The coffee tasted that much better because of this cold but the thought of getting ready early was slightly daunting. But we did get going by eight o'clock. All the old wires that Bob took out of the vineyard had to be thrown away. Everything has to be orderly done and that meant a trip to Höll. Luckily it was their first Saturday of the month and we could throw out these wheels of old wires free of charge.

My fingers were frozen and burning at the same time. Awful feeling but thankfully it didn't last long. Driving to Höll brought back many memories. Gosh when we first came here, we drove their once a month for two years straight. Always disposing all the building rubble, general rubbish and odd things one can't throw out with the ordinary. The previous owner's old stuff was most of it. But that is how it goes when one moves into a house. Nothing wrong with that. Par for the course.

On the way back from Höll we drove to the Lagerhaus in order to purchase a second pallet of pellets. We had the trailer and needed pellets. Our second pallet for the winter season and hopefully our last. All in all it took us two hours to get everything done this morning. Once we were done, the temperature climbed a little bit towards a warm minus 2 and we could revert to our weekend routine.

Saturdays and Sundays have created their own routine with us. We love watching the sport of the season, be it skiing in winter or Formula 1 in summer. Life needs routine and structure to give us the safety harness needed for unwelcome and turbulent times. Routine lets us find that first step, you know the step that is synonymous with mastering any situation, good or bad. And it is great to have something to look forward too every day.

Biggi

The Humble Yet Yummy Potato.

Versatile and inexpensive.

Who doesn't also have potatoes in their larder and not an idea how to use them? Often it is too tempting to buy the 5 kg bag of tats as it is much cheaper than the 2 kg one yet, is it really a good deal? Most of the time there are at least a handful of potatoes in my vegetable basket whiling their fate away. Be it the heat of a pot or the shrivelling of the skin.

So, today was the perfect day to make amends. It was bitterly cold this morning and while I did a round of deliveries, Bob decided to work in the vineyard. Yikes, it was cold but he loves working among vines and who am I to say no to a guaranteed supply of vino?

After my deliveries I headed to the vineyard to pick him up and all the while I thought of lunches to make in order to warm him up. A soup had to be it but I didn't have the usual soup suspects in the larder. But, suddenly it hit me, there were oodles of odd potatoes lounging about and they would be perfect for a soup.

And indeed they were. I chopped up an onion, a glove of garlic, four of the potatoes, a lone carrot and a cup full of recently cooked chickpeas along with half of their cooking water. Mum told me that this chickpea stock has a lot of protein in it. Well, I tried it and the whole ensemble was delicious. Bob loved it. To season I added salt, pepper and chilly and to stretch it a glass of soy milk. The soup was absolutely divine. Smooth and morish.

There are so many ways of cooking on the cheap. So many ways of saving the food from being thrown away unused and so many ways to eat vegan. A potato soup doesn't sound like much but actually it is. There is just something special about potatoes and their creamy taste and texture and the way it makes us forget our woes for a few moments. Why else is half the world addicted to chips and french fries?

Biggi 

A Visit To The Hairdresser Is In Store.

 Tomorrow is the big day, chopping day.

We had planned on getting some pet clippers and a muzzle in order to give Maxi a proper haircut. Those odd pieces I have been cutting off don't really make a difference and unfortunately he won't allow me to cut more, hence the muzzle.

Well, we stood in the petshop looking at these muzzles and couldn't believe the price of them, never mind that they didn't have his size. Thankfully so. Somehow the thought of putting these on my poor Maxi was terrible. What would he think of me?

The two of us must have stood there for at least ten minutes going over the pro's and con's of doing Maxi's hair on our own and finally settled on finding a professional to do it. As luck would have it, the sales assistant heard us and told Bob about the various leaflets from pet groomers that were next to the check-out.

Bob found that special one. A grooming salon in Oberwart who are much less expensive than we thought and who, upon phoning for an appointment, were extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, we made an appointment and it is tomorrow afternoon. When I told her that our dog tends to be a bit cranky she just told us that she'll take extra care to put him at ease. Oh, how divine.

So, now that the appointment has been made the two of us are like giddy children who can't wait for a present. So excited at how much better our boy will feel with shorter and neater hair. Especially his fringe which is far too long but which entails the possibility of my fingers being injured if I come to close.

Gosh, today I caught myself thinking about pre-washing and grooming him for his appointment so that the lady doesn't think badly of us! How silly, because that is what a dog groomer is there for. To do her magic from beginning to end. Repeatedly throughout the day both of us have told Maxi that soon he will be an even more handsome boy. Ja, ja, I know; dog and cat parents take the biscuit. I wonder if Maxi will come back with a blue bow tied around his head?

Biggi

Veganuary In Full Swing.

 An abundance of vegan offerings.

January is used by many as a month of  being or becoming vegan. A chance to try this lifestyle without the pressure of permanence. Of course after a month of vegan life many switch permanently, seeing how easy it is to adopt and how great they feel.

This idea of Veganuary started in Britain but has taken ahold in many parts of the world, Austria included. Today I saw adverts from Lidl & Hofer praising this month of vegan try-out and making sure that a lot of vegan products are on their shelves. Brilliant.

Bob and I were headed into town this morning and did the usual suspects in the line of groceries. Lidl was stacked full with vegan foods, ranging from cheeses, joghurts, schnitzels, chocolates, muffins and fresh ravioli.

Thank goodness I had Bob at my side because I would have bought everything. I couldn't believe it when Bob told me that all of it was processed and not that healthy.( Normally I am the one who tends to veto many shopping trolley residents ) I had a packet of chocolate muffins in one hand and oreo  cookies in the other. Deep down I knew how bad they are but it still would have been nice to try. But still, nicely done Bob. Keep us healthy!

The fact that there is such a variety and abundance of vegan foods ( albeit the processed kind ) stems me happy as it means that more and more people are changing the way they eat and thus helping stop climate change, cruelty to animals and improve their health.

January is also the month where gazillions of people go on a diet, again! If only they realized that eating a vegan diet ( not so much the processed stuff but the fresh and homemade meals ) is the best diet there is, and a permanent one. Weight comes off and stays off. Veganuary would kill two birds with one stone...

Biggi

This Spurt Of Warm Weather Is Lulling Us Into A Modest Winter.

Could the coldest part of winter be over?

Granted, it is still a bit on the chilly side but once the sun gets high enough to work its magic while moving the barometer up to a lovely 15 degrees, one might be forgiven to think about spring.

Bob and I finished stringing the rest of the wires this morning and I couldn't help but notice the apricot tree's branches sporting buds. Buds that usually appear around spring time. When I mentioned rather euphorically that I believe the end of winter is nigh, Bob burst out laughing and counted out the rest of the three months of cold left over. Spoil sport although he could be right. Tomorrow a cold front seems to be on the radar.

I tend to count winter time by how many bags of pellets we use to keep our house nice and cozy during these colder months. On Friday we have to go to Lagerhaus to purchase our second pallet of pellets. Had to wait until almost the last packet is used because otherwise we don't have the space to store the bags. Finicky lot they are; can't let any moisture get to them and the contents because a swollen wood pellet would clog up the delicate firing device in our oven. Ah well, another three months and this winter is behind us.

Early on while we were in the vineyards we spotted or rather heard a couple of older men walking up the hill. I think they walk together a few times a week and it was great to hear them chatting the whole way. So, it isn't just us women who chat for the fun of it!  I have a notion that both these men grew up in the village and have been friends for ever thus having endless topics for conversations on hand. Everything from schooldays, via wives to grandchildren. Nice.

Our outside rascals, a.k.a. Parsley, Grey and Trouble are enjoying winter as well. Can't help but enjoy it when we feed them delightful morsels being well aware that catching mice is that much harder at the moment. It feels as though Parsley has put on a few pounds and has lost his sleek physique...

The life of a well fed cat! Isn't he gorgeous? Parsley follows me everywhere and even comes along when I walk Maxi. Who would have guessed that this feral who wouldn't let us touch him six months ago, is now glued to our side and house?

Biggi

 

Back To Normal.

 The festive season subsides into normality.

At least it wasn't as cold as one could have expected. A balmy 2 degrees this morning made the end of sleep-ins bearable. School's out and workers are about.

Bob, mum and I were working in the vineyard all morning attending to the re-stringing of wires. Well, Bob did most of the work and we did the bits in between. Gosh, Bob is amazing at how precise, sure and exact he does the work. Absolutely fabulous.

Part of my job was to stand at the side of the road and watch that the wire didn't cross over as Bob walked to the end of the row of vines. A lot of standing about and that is when I noticed how life had reverted to normal.

Cars were speeding up and down the road past us, a mum pushed her pram past and friends, who had spotted our red car, took a few minutes to shoot the breeze with us. The woman with her pram made sure to go past quickly as the little one had fallen asleep. On her way past she whispered; ' tedious teething last night ' 

Enough said.

All around us in the various vineyards the sound of working could be heard. Wires being pulled and gossip being exchanged. No, just caught the odd word so I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Wasn't meant for my ears in any case although, often the most interesting tidbits can be garnered by stint of gossip!

Without a lot of fanfare this new year has descended upon us and somehow it doesn't feel strange to say or write 2022. Almost rolls of the tip of the pen and tongue, doesn't it?

Mum and Bob concentrating on the work at hand.

Bob stringing the wires.

Biggi

A Bit Of Edith Wharton.

 A wonderful author. Edith Wharton ( 1862-1937 )

" If we'd only stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time. "

" Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less easy to break than a stiff one. "

" The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend! "

" There are only two ways of spreading the light: to be The Candle or the mirror that reflects it. "

" She had no tolerance for scenes that were not of her own making. "

" Genius is of small use to a woman who does not know how to do her hair. "

" They are all alike you know. They hold their tongues for years and you think you are safe, but when the opportunity comes they remember everything. "

" ...in the summer New York was the only place in which one could escape from New Yorkers..."

" It seems so stupid to have discovered America only to make it into a copy of another country. "

" I discovered early on that crying makes my nose red, and the knowledge has helped me through several painful episodes. "

" She sat silent, and the world lay like a sunlit valley at her feet. "

Biggi

And Just Like That It Is 2022.

An early start to the new year.

Life with a dog has so many special moments attached but also a duty or two. Like taking him for a walk early morning. No if, when or buts. When the need strikes there is no time to turn over in bed for another round of sleep.

Last night I made sure to have both of our indoor pets near me because the insanity of fireworks didn't stop here. On the contrary, it felt louder than ever and nearer to us too, Suffice to say I didn't sleep more than a wink, what with Mausi trying to cuddle as close to me as possible all night long. The boy varied between loud snores and frantic climbing in and out of his basket. 

So, both of us stepped outside at half past six to do our ablution round. Gosh it was quiet today. Most shutters were closed testifying to the fact that people had stayed up way into this new year. Where and how do they manage it? Both Bob and I were in bed before nine!!!

Thankfully I didn't encounter any stray dog that had been so scared as to run away during the night but I did notice a lot of spent fireworks and bits and pieces of little rockets littering lawns and street. So much for the banning of fireworks due to corona. Never mind that everyone should have been home by ten o'clock! 

The weather has shown itself from its best side and the temperature was in the teens along with sunshine and a blue sky. Perfect to do a turn about the vineyard. Working alongside Bob, pulling out old and shoddy wires. It didn't take us very long, about an hour and a half, but while we were busy we noticed quite a few locals congregating at a well known watering hole, more likely than not carrying on where they left off earlier this morning. Ah well, each to their own.

So, the new year has been christened and so far portends only good things. Life, isn't it marvelous?

Biggi