Haze
In the old open-pit mining area near Meuselwitz a coal fire has been smoldering underground since the end of June, complete with an official smoke warning for the area. The smoke carries a good ten kilometres into our village, the air smells burnt, it scratches the throat and hazes over the floodplain.
Lights
Nadine put up new lights in the garden. Until midnight they turn our bedroom bright as day, but they do look welcoming, like a little beer garden.
Leipzig
Before work we went to town for a walk. Nadine was after a hat, and is now more convinced than ever that she does not have a head for hats. I was after a new frame for my glasses, and she is now more convinced than ever that I should get my eyes lasered.
Watercolors
Nadine has taken up painting with watercolors.
Farewell
I hate funerals. I hate all what is leading to it. I hate how time is working against one while it is so convenient just to live along until you are confronted with the absolute outcome of death. I am scared for what lies ahead. I do not know how to deal with the losses to come.
Together
It was the evening before my grandfather’s funeral. My younger sisters came to visit, the older of the two stayed the night with her husband and daughter, and the kids spent the day playing in the garden and the new sandbox.
They are eating the bees!
The Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 is here, and what should have been a boring walk to test the lens turned into a stroke of luck: a swarm of bee-eaters was grazing the field, it must have been thirty of them, Tilian and I settled down in wait and watched the show. These are by far not the best pictures, either blurry or the chromatic aberration is visible. But again, bee-eaters!
Slabs
Finally the slab edging around the remodelled sandbox is done, I dug a small trench, compacted the sand and set the slabs in.
Same Again
Repeated Sunday’s ride, same kilometres, same completion time and 32°C.
Eight Hours
Back to work, eight hours back to back, and the only breaks I got I spent outside in the remodelled garden, enjoying the results. Earlier, on the morning tour with Aika, I spotted a juvenile female red-backed shrike sitting on a fence post. I love how carefree it looks, but I bet a bird’s life is not easy either!