In yesterday’s rain, dressed for the wet we wandered to our secret spot and gathered enough to make a batch or two of Bärlauch pesto for that evenings dinner and a bit to pop in the freezer.  As an compliment to our smoked Sock-eye Salmon and steamed local green asparagus we roasted some potatoes with the richly aromatic wild garlic delight and the whole house filled with its heavenly scent.

On tonight’s menu….Roasted Chicken on a bed of Bärlauch….Ahhhh….Springtime!

Enjoy the images and iPhone Movie of my secret haul.

It was a fantastic learning experience for me and I now know for me to continue working with this process I definitely need a dark box or mobile darkroom.  It also showed me in greater detail the limitations this process creates…I have started my list of accessible locations and also my mind is spinning as to how to make getting the dark box to certain locations possible.  Very exciting.

Seeing these beautiful ruins captured in this Historic Technique was breathtaking.  These images Quinn captured on this day will be exhibited in London at the Frederick Scott Archer Ceremony

Please take a moment to view the small slideshow of images from the day and also take some time to look through Quinn’s amazing site and his many on going projects.

Happy Easter to you all!

I find this a fascinating season. Symbolism is everywhere. no matter your beliefs. We have been blessed to live in many different areas of Germany and as different the landscape so diverse are their customs.

We once took an apartment in a sleepy little village in the Franconian region near Würzburg. One morning we woke to an incredible racket. We raced to the windows to find groups of young children with large wooden box like rattles strapped to their chests, chanting and rattling their “instruments”. My husband and are were flummoxed. Later that day we just HAD to ask…first of all…how long would this be going on and WHAT THE HECK was this all about??!!

It was explained to us first of all…”Did you not know you took an apartment in a Catholic village?”. Apparently, at this time of year, Easter, the bells of all the churches go back, (theoretically) to the Vatican and are blessed. So, it is the job of the village children to “recreate” the bells. These children also go do to do asking for donations for various charities.

Currently I live in a town along the Neckar River in Baden Württemburg, near Mannheim. We are at the foot of the Odenwald forest. In this region they are keeping alive the tradition of the Osterbrunnen or Easter Wells. Easter is a holiday where you can see the obvious mix of Pagan and Christian symbolism most clearly and these Wells remind us all of an earlier time. All town wells are decorated ornately with colored eggs, greens and Spring blooms. Some can be as large as 15 feet tall and are quite impressive. For me this year, the most touching display of Springs rebirth, I found on a wander in the Odenwald.

While taking a friend to see a location for some photography, we passed by some remote fountains where people still take water daily. There on this stone fountain head, thickly carpeted with moss, were small tokens of thankfulness to the one who provides all our Earthly bounties. Small posies in colorful bowls and hand painted jars, were secretly left by pilgrims on their way into the forest. Whatever your beliefs…these cultural differences are fascinating.

I am attempting to do some iPhone Videos, to help share my world with you. Let me know what you think about their addition to the blogs. Thanks so much!

Suddenly I saw a large blue colored bird flit down and land in his hand.  The whole thing happened so fast and I was so perplexed by the action that I never even lifted my camera.  Of course I was a twitter with excitement as well as the dog that I thought the bird would just fly away.

There he sat, just a bit out of reach in a bush so my husband handed me a dog treat to see if he would repeat his visit.  Instantly this large, and rather heavy bird I might add, landed in my hand.  Fearing I would chase him off, I slowly and carefully lifted the camera with my free arm and started to shoot.  He really seemed to enjoy the attention.

He stayed with us till the dog cookies ran out which was but a few minutes but that moment will stay with us forever.  His simple visit lifted our hearts and made for one of the best Christmas gifts we received this year.

I now carry a few suet and bird seed balls in one of my many pockets in my coat to hang about the forest when I am out on my walks…just to return the kind gesture.

For some more images of this amazing experience please click and enlarge the flickr slideshow at this link:

Once many years ago I tripped over a log on a hike and fell face first on the ground in front of one of these beauties and I have held onto the memory of that discovery since that day.  So much so that each year during the Christmas season I try to buy a new Christmas ornament in the shape of this vibrantly colored fungus for my Christmas tree.  In many of the German folk stories and Fairy tales these red caps dot their illustrations.  Thought of as a good luck bringer in many European cultures.

Today, my husbands keen eye caught a ring of them just off the path we were traveling on.  I can not even express my joy in finding this Fairy Ring.  They were even more beautiful than in my imagination.

If you are interested in reading more about the Red Fly mushroom here are some great links:

http://www.superiorconcept.org/Firstnight/germany.htm

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5517~source~gallerychooserresult.asp

Here is a collection of images taken in the famous Partnachklamm gorge.  I hope you enjoy images and it’s release is in plenty of time for this up and coming holiday season.   Please stop by and let us know what you think of the latest calendars.

Thanks!

2010 Calendar Partnachklamm at Red Bubble

To my great surprise, coming towards us, bumbling along on the rugged path are two older women pushing a baby carriage.  Along side I make out the shape of a small dog.  Out of courtesy I put Clover, my own dog back on his leash and  together we continue our way along the dark path, all the while squinting to make out further the approaching fellow wanderers.

Squinting and clearing my eyes, I can not believe what it is I am seeing.  There, reclining gracefully in the baby carriage is a small black poodle, greying about the face due to age.  My face breaks into a huge smile and I hold my camera in the air, (international code for “can I take your photo”).

With friendly faces the women return my excitement.  I rapidly snap images in awe of what I am seeing, with equal speed I fire off hundreds of questions at the ladies.  “How old, Is it blind, can it walk…” to my surprise the dog lazily slides out of the stroller and stiffly stands beside it on trembling legs.

The one friendly woman starts telling me the story.  The little dog is called Bibi and yes, she is blind in one eye and the other eye is completely missing.  She is 16 years old and has had major back surgery, but is now very happy with her daily rides through the forest in her baby stroller.  She can hop out when she wishes but mostly she just likes to go along for the ride.

Amazing, I say to them and we continue along, with me surrendering my walk plans and falling into pace with this little group.   From time to time they take turns who pushes the stroller, these two best friends.  While Clover flitted and chased their other little female who provides lead on their walks.

In the parking lot,  I gave them my card and offered them copies of the photos.  I let them know I was going to write about them and show off their wonderful gift to this precious creature.  Their faces lit up at the thought.  Such a simple gesture for all the years of friendship this little creature has provided.  Some may think this story is sad or in that fact the images, but it honestly isn’t, these ladies and their precious cargo are all tremendously happy together…living out their days on friendly chat filled walks in the forest…with their favorite companions.

We returned to Germany from a few years living in Belgium when Clover was about 2 years old. We lived a quiet rural life in Belgium and other than Clover’s big city brother, Bosco who lives in Brussels, he had little contact with other creatures of his own kind. Being a cat person I never knew how great the importance of socializing with other dogs was in the canine world. I always thought…wasn’t I enough?

Quickly we started to see the error of our ways and Clover began to have aggression issues. At one point we actually asked ourselves did we just get a bum dog or a bad breed. We read all the books, we watched the Dog Whisperer….why wasn’t anything we were doing reaching him.

Luckily I met a woman who had a similar issue with her dog and she recommended a local trainer and dog group. CLF,Canis lupus familiaris is a mobile dog school in the Rhine Neckar area of Germany and their Leader or Alpha is a woman named Helga. Her ability to read dogs is just amazing and she and her partner, the soft spoken and obeyed by all canine is Dirk. Together they have created this group and started a monthly Hundewanderung or dog wander.

When Helga suggested to me that I lighten up on the leash and perhaps introduce my aggressive Terrier to her “pack”, my stomach dropped. Would he ever come back to me if I let him off the leash…wouldn’t he attack the other dogs out of fear? She explained to me how my fears were creating a serious issue with my best friend and I needed to get them under control, so I could help Clover have a better life.

Once a month her pack meets on a Sunday morning for a long walk in the forest and then a nice meal together in a restaurant. She calls ahead to let the place know there will be a large group plus dogs. It is all organized beautifully.

On that first Sunday of the month, we arrived at the meeting point deep in the Odenwald national forest on a bitter winter’s day. I think you could smell our nervousness and fear in the car….I am sure Clover could. What must he have been thinking when he looked out the back of the car on that morning at a pack of dogs milling about and people sipping warm spiced apple juice. HOW would I ever let him out of the car….is this even possible for my “Special needs” dog?

Helga approached us and said it is fine let him out on his leash….as all the other dogs were on their leashes still. In this situation it is important that if one is on leash they all are as it is the leash that creates the aggression. Part of the fight or flight response. Everyone gathered and Helga climbed up on a rock to see over the crowd. It was a small group she said on this day…only 40 plus dogs. They can get upwards of 60 on a nice weekend and then double that with people. She then explained the rules to us, that if we see a walker or runner all dogs must go to the right side of the path and sit and wait to be released again.

Then it was time, she signaled for me to release Clover…I tried to breath normal but I remember looking into my husbands face with a look of “ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING?”. With a breath I released the clasp and off he went. He ran in a perfect circle around me like he was in orbit. Slowly a few dogs joined him in this race, Clover speeding up thinking they were chasing him…I didn’t know what to think. Helga said to me…”What is he doing?”..then I realized. The poor fella had been on a retractable leash for the first 2.5 years of his life, he only knew to run in it’s allotted circumference.

Quickly Clover’s canine senses kicked in and he realized he had created a game. They other dogs were just joining in, he stopped turned and faced the first and biggest dog. Again my heart stopped…and then it happened, Clover bent his front legs and arched his back similar to a cat….with his tail happily wagging in the air, the international dog play sign! Success!! He knew all along what to do, he just never had the chance to meet fellow dogs on neutral territory.

I would love to say Clover has never had an issue since starting with this group, for him it is a daily struggle. He has a great opportunity here in Ladenburg and each day he meets new challenges and grows….and so do I as a Dog Person.

If you live in the Rhine Neckar Area and are interested in this group here is their link:

http://www.clf-mobile-hundeschule.de

CLOVER HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THEM!

In Germany, if you loose something, there is a great chance of recovering the item.  The important thing is not to panic and to make sure you look up and NOT at the ground.  When a German person finds a lost object, say a glove or a scarf on the street, they will pick it up and hang on the nearest available tall structure at eye level.   The cultural difference in this case, an American looking for a lost item will always look at the ground in search of this forlorn particle of clothing.  I have to remind myself constantly, “LOOK UP LAURA, LOOK UP Your in Germany!!” My neighbors in this village have been known to go so far as photograph or sketch the found item and create poster with details and contact information!!

With regularity I see gloves, scarves and even eye glasses dangling in trees and bushes, waiting to be found once more.  I have actually been the recipient of this considerate gesture when I lost my signature floppy knit hat and stumbled upon it on hanging in a tree…on a trail I hadn’t even remembered taking before.  Amazing…I certainly was happy but I fear my husband, not so much…he is not a fan of my “signature” hat.

In the Winter months, when berries are scarce, another common sight dotted about the bare tree limbs are small suet and seed balls suspended in little mesh bags.  Presented as gifts to the birds, during a time when foraging is difficult for them.  These little happy adornments never fail to bring a smile to my face while I am out walking.  Deep in a dark wood, these thoughtful gifts to nature’s winged creatures and the mind that thought to bring along the little offering.

Nothing thrilling but just some of my observations…that make me smile.

“Baby it’s cold outside”, it sure is….seems like the world is feeling the big chill.  For many, it is a great excuse to stay inside, but not for me and my intrepid Terrier.  We greet each blustery Winter daybreak  with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning.

As I layer on my many protective pieces of clothing…like a soft suit of armor…my dog paces.  From pack, to camera, to keys to door.  It seems though, no matter how early I wake, I am never the first foot steps in the new fallen snow.  It is this wanderlust feeling that I share with the German people…or perhaps it is they who have given this gift to me.   Even on the most darkly lit of mornings, I am rarely really alone on my wander.

Clover, my dog and I have enjoyed the arctic temperatures and the mystical affect they have had on the world around us.  It is fun to see how the simplest things change when touched by Winter’s kiss.  The babbling brook we love to soak our feet in during the warmer months, now it’s waters frozen in shapes one would only imagine seeing at the very edge of the world.

People ask me why do I love to bundle up and get out in what most would call, “worst weather” so I posed the question to myself.  What I decided the answer to be is simply…you have to embrace what life gives you, there is no way to change it, so why fight it.  EMBRACE change and find something that inspires you in the worst situations…and they quickly become the best situations.

So, I will close here…as Clover has begun his dance…pack…camera…keys

May your day be filled with light…and if not…make your own light!