A day in the garden

We had a beautiful summer here in Northern Germany. Sunshine and warmth over weeks! So went spend the days in our small garden in the backyard.

Enough space to sit and play, a bit of shade, so it didn't go too hot. Of course Toivo took his beloved tractor with him, Inkeri had her Dollie with her.

"Dollie has to sleep now."

"I'll sing you a lullaby." Humming she stroke Dollie's head until she was asleep.

"Look, flowers in just my size!"

All girl like to pluck flowers.

 "For you, Mom!"

While Toivo played with his tractor and the wooden cow...

...Inkeri watched the small clouds. And then she looked up into the pear tree.
"I want to sit up there!"

"What did you say?" - "I said, I want to sit up there. In the tree."

"It's pretty high. We would have to climb." - "I love climbing, you know."

"Let's go."
So they went over to the tree for to climb it.

They tried very hard.

"That doesn't work." - "The first branch is totally out of reach."

I left them discussing the matter. When I returned I found Inkeri in a very unexpected place.

Dangling on the drier. That was dangerous. But Inkeri didn't think twice. She is such a tomboy...

I had to talk seriously with them. And for the rest of the afternoon I kept them on the table by my side.

They got cookies anyway.

North Friesland once again

Once again we drove to North Friesland, early in the morning. Just for having breakfast behind the dike. Wonderful!

Inkeri followed with us, she wanted to see, where Toivo already has been. So, up on the dike we went, looking for those famous North Frisians - the sheep.

That in the back is my daughter, btw. It was nice weather and the sight was good.

"Mom, where is the water?" "It's beginning to go away. You know, the water comes and goes twice a day. That is called tides."

"That's why there are no ships, right?" "Yes."

"But there are sheep over there. Do they go swimming, when the water is back?" "No, they don't. They are kept closer to the dike by fences. And I believe they do not like swimming so much."

"Come up! We want to go up here!"

"The sun is quite warm here." "It's just as warm as at home."

"Let me see, if I can snuggle with a sheep. They are quite big, aren't they?"

"They won't come to me. Not even when I'm on this side of the fence." "Well, they are hungry and want to eat in peace."

"Mom, look! They look a bit like the sheep but they are bigger and have much less wool." "Those are cows, my dear, they don't have such thick woll as sheep do. But you are right, cows and sheep belonge to the same family of animals."

"They are even more shy than the sheep. Where do we got to next?"

The next stop was at the seaside where there is a long bridge into the tide land.

That was interesting as small and big crabs crawled over the mud. And children played in it, getting black legs, catching said crabs, looking for mussles.

Of course we spend some time in Husum, too.

 "Let me help you write this card!" But my daughter was so tired, that it was no use.

"What is this? Can I take a sipp?" "Sweetheart, no, that is beer. Nothing for little dolls."
Then the day was leaning to its end...

At my mother's

We spend a week in Hannover, at my mother's home. Malin wanted to visit the aquarium and she had an invitation to the Dino-Park in Münchehagen.
Inkeri was not invited to follow but she took her pillow, and blanket, and her dollie, and smuggled herself into my suitcase. I think it was not quite what she expected but I was glad to have her with me as I was homesick to my utterly surprise.

Inkeri admired the duck portraits my mother has drawn.

And then there was a tea party with the old porcelain.

Lightning, thunder and rain

After a day with much sun and warmth clouds came in the evening.

We had lightning behind the houses of our neighbourhood, following by rolling thunder.

"I want to catch a lightning! They look so wonderful!"

"They are so far away. Why don't they come nearer?"

"Mom, look at this weather! It's so exciting!"

"Why are lightnings gone so fast? Why is the thunder so loud? And the rain feels warm!"

Toivo had to explain all about lightning and thunder and how you can tell how far a thunderstorm is away and what to do in a thunderstorm, when out in the free.
Inkeri admires her smart brother.