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 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

Blackberries On The Forest's Edge.

 A lovely Sunday morning snack!

Having written about them yesterday, I couldn't believe my luck at stumbling onto a new blackberry spot. There were so many shrubs lining the forest's edge that I must have devoured at least a hundred grams worth.

A look down my blackberry aisle...almost all the way along the left side these shrubs were proliferating in huge proportions and providing easy snacks without too much interference from thorny sentries.

The beauty of leaves...so simple yet so calming which is what we need in our at times hectic world.

Don't you just want to pick blackberries? Ah, the lovely plump ones were sadly too high up but those I could easily reach tasted sweet and lovely.

Walking away from the fruit find I couldn't help but be surprised to see what appears to be a gravestone set among the trees. I wonder what it signifies and if it has anything to do with the horrors of the Second World War. 

An hibiscus shrub almost ready to be picked. 

The brilliant greens today were a salve for the soul and a breath of fresh air...literally!

Let's hope that the current building boom ( or madness! ) doesn't extend to our magical and essential green areas.

Biggii

A Walk On The Wild Side.

A forest excursion on Easter Monday.

It was mum's idea and a good one. A walk through the forest ending up with lunch in one of Czaterberg's Buschenschanks. The weather was better than expected and apart from t-shirts we only took one thin jersey. Bob was euphoric as he wore a pair of shorts. Yes, summer is upon our doorstep.

We set off mid-morning and had a nice walk amid the forest behind our house and found our destination fifty minutes later. Easy peasy and we were rewarded with a great lunch sitting outside in the Easter sunshine. My folks, a friend and the two of us. My folks of course were clever as they had the car there to take them back home but we youngens in high spirits after a couple of glasses wine decline their offer to drive us home. No, we wanted to walk back...the same way we had come.

About twenty minutes after my folks left we three set off back home. Soon after that Bob had the brilliant idea to do a short cut. A short cut he had never been on and a short cut in the local forest. Well, they do say all roads lead to Rome and I had it in my mind that all unknown walks in a forest go around in circles.

Bob, old tech style used the sun for orientation and kept on mentioning for us to walk in such a way that the sunshine touched the right side of our face and as he usually is spot on with directions, I tamely followed. Well, let's just say that we all walked off our lunch and impending supper as it took us close to two hours to get home. After a while all paths look familiar even though they were not.

All is well that ends well and of course we got home safe and sound albeit extremely tired. Just like swimming on a full stomach is eschewed, so should walking with it be. As we turned into our driveway ( almost dropping to our knees to kiss it ) we happened across our new neighbours. A young couple who asked us where we had gone to as they had seen us leave earlier on and also why there were three not four people coming back! Oh well, the neighbourhood watch is alive and well...

Our tour guide is dressed casually for summer!!!

One of the few proper paths we found. A lot of uphill indeed which possibly meant that we did walk in circles. The two of them almost left me in the dust...

Apart from anything else it was a treat to walk among the splendour of trees, ferns and the sheer specter of tall trees clad in greens...what a lovely adventure we had this afternoon.

Biggi

Images Of A Walk.

Birds and more.

To set the scene...today's excursion took place amid the splendorous Deutsch Schützen vineyard. Nature does make some inventive frames.

Part of a flock of birds defying the blowing wind and my footsteps coming toward them.

Budding beauties are awaking from their longish winter rest. Stunning to come upon a blast of yellow amid the grays of winter.

Forbidden fruit high up in a tree. Too pretty to eat or so pretty they have to grow high up in a tree?

The local introvert enjoying a moment's respite from all his twittering pals.

A strong support for birds, bees and leaves. The old man of the forest needs to be treated with respect...

Biggi

A Wonderful Sunday Walk With Bob Through The Forest.

Despite it being a day before Christmas, the weather seemed more fitting to Autumn.

It was as if we were bathed in sunlight. Its beams followed us through the forest and gave us stunning portraits of nature.

Moss clothes just about everything in a seasonable emerald hue.

A giant green foot illuminated by glorious morning sunshine. It was as if a light switch had flipped...

Old trees around our village hold history in their midst. If only they could talk and tell its dwellers' tales.

Not far from our house is this romantic entrance to the forest complete with hunter's lookout and feeding station for the wild animals.

A perfect combination of early morning light, rising mist and natural colours make this a wonderful interpretation of Shangri-la

Biggi

The Allure Of Frozen Leaves.

Fringed by ice.

Each leaf seems to have been embroidered by a thread made of delicate ice.

Colourful suspense...

Even whilst drooping under the added weight of ice crystals do they manage to look graceful.

Could almost be an ensemble for a frozen berry smoothie.

The top of the Deutsch Schützen forest turned white overnight. An avenue of sparkling crystals enhancing the charismatic beauty of those leaves refusing to sever their ties.

The elegant birch tree overseeing the path into Eisenberg has an aptitude to look pleasing in any setting or season.

Biggi

Mushrooms And Nature.

Spots of colour amid the brown bed of the forest.

As much as the forest was devoid of mushrooms, those not edible were a delight to behold.

A tall weed looking ever so pretty.

Funny how so many mushrooms make their home on top of tree stumps. These slender mushrooms almost resemble coral in the sea.

Vine leaves creeping up our barn wall make a soothing portrait.

It is a miracle that this mushroom hasn't been eaten or picked, as its beautiful colouring shines like a beacon in the muted colours of the forest floor.

Biggi

The Many Sides To A Forest.

All about and all ignored...

How many years of local history this tree might have been privy to? Rather sad to see it languishing on the side of a lane, awaiting either eternal damnation or a reprieve as a table or a chair...

This tree has such elegance about it, smooth bark, great height and yet delicate enough to be adorned by a mere leaf.

A different tree overseeing a steep vineyard, stark, skeletal and yet eye-catching

A whole stack of ex forest dwellers giving an extra element to a side lane. Grown for decades, burnt in hours...

I hope that this beautiful tree will stay around for a long time. Can't wait to see it in full foliage bloom. Nature, isn't she great?

Biggi

Who Knew That Eisenberg Was A Leafy Suburb?

An Afternoon's walk brings many treasures...

A sea of yellow, a sea of dreams and a final goodbye for these leaves.

A forest path reminiscent of Red Riding Hood and one I'd only take with either Bob or a bag of breadcrumbs...

One can almost feel the strength and integrity of this tree. Standing in front of it is breathtaking and somehow I feel as if it helps to give one's soul a tune-up...

...The greens have it...

All this beauty is on the banks of the local road. Most will drive passed without taking in its awesomeness.

At the end of my walk, I ran into Willy and got another tray of his chickens' eggs. Next to his house is a derelict old farm house, yet despite the crumbling exterior it has an astonishingly fabulous window display.

Biggi

Our Garden Behind The Barn Get's A Bit Of Attention.

An oasis of beautiful nature filled with a meadow and many fruit trees.

This oasis is rather large and needs attention now and again. It is edged in by a long hedge that has been left to become rather woody, that is until Bob gave it his attention.

An overgrown hedge is not so easy to get the better of and the bits that he couldn't do with the shears, his friend rode to the rescue. Even though I did mumble about the neighbourly eyes descending upon us, the same neighbours are extremely helpful and kind. Yesterday being another example of it.

Bob's friend Herbert phoned to ask if he could help him cut the trees along the hedge and Bob of course agreed straight away secure in the knowledge that hours upon hours of back breaking work had been taken off him.

Herbert has a tractor too and he brought it complete with trailer, chainsaw and a friendly greeting. Just like that, without any asking or pleading. Bob and I value this gem of neighbourliness because it is rare and thus a treasure beyond words.
Especially in a world rife with that Me, myself and I virus...

Our back garden or rather our orchard...many many fruit trees equals many many jams... Imagine not having a trailer there? Pulling all the cut trees by hand is not much fun.

Herbert helping us out with the hedge. Bob is standing on the other side of the hedge and if you look closely, you can spot him through the green.

Our barn as seen from the back. One day Bob and I would like to fix it up into a nice abode.

Looking through the barn, you can see our house to the right of the picture. The barn doors were so huge in order for the tractor to get through it. A barn is really more of a garage for the tractors.

Biggi