Blooms growing despite cool temps...

The plants on our balcony are thriving in the constant rain and cooler temps...

Today, June 1st we had a high of 12 degrees celcius-54 degrees Farenheit!!!! OMG!! Where is the summer???

My new bike!

It's been in the works for quite some time, but finally I have a new bike to cycle around the green city of Munich! An early birthday present from my husband, which I love! Yay!

I will exchange the brown basket/bag on the front with a wire basket as on the back, so it can get wet. :)

Blossoms on our balcony

Just a few shots from our balcony...where all the flowers I planted this spring are really taking root and growing nicely. I just love the little ones (Stiefmuetterchen) for which I don't know the english name. They have so many different colors and look like they've been decorated by hand.
Also, a few weeks ago I purchased a lounge chair, foldable (!), which will allow us to enjoy our balcony even more. The orange circular sunumbrella makes for such a nice contrast to the blue sky. I will have to post a picture next time we have it open.

The new lounge chair...

The phlox has come to life in a miraculous way, as it looked dead all winter!

So pretty! I love the slightly purple flowers!


The purple daisies have always done well in the german climate. They bloomed way into October last year.

These are really special as they combine purple, white and orange all in one..

Some climbing peas, which are supposed to bloom in pink red and white... I can't wait!


Nursery with chilli plants and various other climbing vines we raised from seeds.

The lavender is blooming!

A giant wasp has found a liking to our bamboo, banister covering. They chew off the outside and probably use the paste for constructing their hive. So far, I hope that they are not building it anywhere close...

Verona, Italy

Due to the ash cloud, Carlo was stuck in Milan. We met in Verona and spent 24 enchanted hours in this beautiful city!

Original frescoes on a house at the main piazza.

Statue of Dante..

The weather wasn't the best, but even then you just gotta love Italy!



Arena from the outside..

The famous roman "arena" which is used for many musical and theatrical events.


There was a wonderful market on the piazza with hundreds of little booths offering many local culinary delights.

A day at Faro, in the garden...

We spent a few really nice afternoons in the garden at Faro. We helped with the weeding, transported over twelve wheelbarrows of twigs, leaves and weeds to the dump and enjoyed some fresh cut lemons once the work was done! :)

Mandarin tree in full bloom...

Carlo and Antonio picking beans.

Voila! Cleared part of the garden from the day before!

Hard at work..


Lemons from the neigbor's tree. Soooo good!



Carlo trying himself at cutting banana trees..



ALL DONE!!!


Going home....

Sicily, Easter 2010 - sun and sea!

Sicily in the spring is beautiful... we took a quick drive to Faro with Carlo's father as it was such a wonderful day. Very windy, but fresh and sunny....


We stopped to pick up some oranges on the way. A very abundant fruit at this time of the year!

Fishing boats by the beach...I just love these colorful wooden vessels!

Carlo in his element...

A few years ago they started constructing these anti-erosion fences in order to keep the sand from blowing away. So far so good. the square of bamboo sheltered many native grasses and wildflowers.

The coast of Calabria, mainland Italy


Father and son...two men who love the sea.

The sea and the sky were competing for the deepest blue!

Scirocco winds from Africa flatten the water and make for great swimming-in the summer. :)