A Chocolate Ganache Birthday

I've always loved having my birthday in the month of May,

on the fifteenth of this beautiful month to be exact.

Very often, we go through a colder period just before mid-May

which is known as Blackthorn Winter or the Ice Saints.

Very often, my birthday catches the tail-end of these colder days.

So be it

it's just a matter of adapting!

This is the first birthday that I spent completely on my own

because of the Covid-19 and the need for social distancing.

I made my own cake and froze some of the slices to share when I can finally have a social life again!

The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day here in Switzerland

So it's lovely to have two celebrations really close together!

These beautiful flowers and the lovely rose petal card were sent to be by my son.

Such a beautiful choice of my favourite pastel-coloured flowers

and very much appreciated.

Then it was my birthday with beautiful peonies and some cards.

Many lovely phone calls, facetime and e-cards and messages.

Peonies, with Lily of the Valley, are my favourite flowers in May

They are beautiful even when their petals start to drop.

For my birthday, I received a charming Swarovski crystal Blue Jay ornament

from my daughter.

My balcony has been a real joy during this period of confinement.

I purchased new plants and have filled my life with colour

and the buzz of bees collecting pollen.

This little corner is right opposite my kitchen

and this is where I sit to eat and to read.

I made the small blanket on the back of the chair way back in January

when I was inspired by the colours in a January sunrise.

See here: January Sunrise Blanket

My strawberry plants are doing so well.

This morning, I counted over fifty tiny strawberries developing!

I have twelve new geranium plants and this coral colour is my favourite.

Besides having eight window boxes along the railings of my balcony,

I have several pots of different shapes and sizes

and one of them contains three beautiful dahlia plants. 

This is one of them.

I do love the perfect symmetry of their petals and they come in such wonderful colours.

Another pot contains African Daisies

(Botanical name: Osteospermum)

Yellow and Pink live together in harmony.

There is a big pot of Campanula and these little flowers have been coming back

year after year.

Frequent and daily walks have kept my spirits up during these days of self-isolation.

After three weeks of total lockdown in March,

I started to go out for very early morning walks when virtually nobody else was out and about.

Now I walk twice a day, once in the mornings and then again in the early evenings

after shops close, around 7 pm.

The lighting is so pretty at that time of the day.

I passed by this colourful red house one evening this week

and I loved the play of sunlight and shadows and complementary green leaves.

An early morning walk took me past a beautiful Dogwood Tree in full bloom

Up some steps lined with a Beauty Bush

also called Kolkwitzia Amabilis

Here are the lovely flowers close up.

Closer to home, growing by the small allottments next to my building,

I saw these Starflowers (Borage) in the morning dew.

Reconnecting to Nature

This morning, Sunday, I walked down to the big park which is about 25 minutes away on foot.

I felt the need to be among trees and greenery

and to my joy, the Rhododendrons were still in bloom.

This colour took my breath away.

We can do so much to keep our spirits up when going through 

a difficult period.

It's helpful to live in the moment

to seek out beauty

to connect with Nature

and not project any fears concerning the future

which actually only exists in our imagination!

My Spring Garden crochet project is moving forward.

I'm planning on making a cover for the chest at the end of my bed,

but who knows, it may want to grow bigger!

How are you doing?

Are you discovering new and lovely things in your life?

The present situation helps us recognize the essential.

Getting Out and About

A pink sunrise sky reflected in the windows of a passing house. 

The walls were bathed in a lovely shade of pale purple.

Three weeks into confinement and being  enclosed within the four walls of my apartment,

I started to go for pre-dawn walks.

It was wonderful to leave home under a still-dark sky, listen to the birds singing

and gradually watch the sky lighten.

One morning, I captured a sweet crescent moon above the roofs and chimneys near my home.

The sky showed me all its prettiest shades of blue and purple.

One morning, I saw a solitary worker at his computer around 6.30 in the morning.

This was in the Radio Building in the neighbourhood just above mine.

Lilac and pink and tree silhouettes.

Mountain peaks from further up the hill and a hazy sky.

I stopped in my tracks to listen to a blackbird singing on a chimney top.

As the days got longer and the mornings lighter, I was able to capture flowers too.

My walks were any time from 5.45 am and I was always home by 7 am.

There are extremely few people out and about at this early hour, maybe a dog walker or two

or a jogger, sometimes an early-morning worker, like the young man above.

Lockdown meant that only people holding jobs that were absolutely necessary

were out and travelling by bike or bus.

Discovering sweet smelling lilac towards the end of my outing

was pure joy!

Pink blossom and white lilac were so refreshing

and I lingered awhile to take in the wonderful perfume.

Apple Blossom full of promises of autumn apples.

Pink blossom and colour coordinated shutters which I can now see

in the lightening sky.

On Sunday morning, I left home a little later to capture the spring colours.

Pretty fluttering birch leaves and smudges of blue muscari flowers in the grass.

I only met early-morning dog walkers and we all respected the 2-metre social distancing.

More lilac!

What a wonderful flowering bush.

From April 27th, Switzerland started to ease lockdown and a few changes were made:

Doctor's surgeries opened

Physiotherapists and Osteopaths could work again

Hairdressers and podiatrists were allowed to open

and crèches for pre-school children.

Garden centres opened too and were immediately flooded with enthusiastic gardeners!

Face masks are recommended when we go out into public places

but especially on public transport.

Hand gel is also something useful to have in a pocket or bag.

Mine is really lovely

and made with 71,9% alcohol with added AloeVera

and these essential oils: Teatree, Lavender and Lemon.

Frequent and thorough handwashing is an essential hygiene measure

every time we return home after going out.

The brightest and most cheerful violas on my balcony.

One last pre-dawn sky taken around 6 am.

My crocheted temperature blanket with a few warmer colours coming in!

I have more crochet work to show, but that will be for next time!

Such strange times indeed, but times in which we can discover new values,

read interesting books, 

watch uplifting films,

go for walks in nature

and consider ourselves extremely lucky, compared to so many.

Films I have enjoyed since my last blog entry in April:

The Bucket List with Jack Nicolson and Morgan Freeman (laughter and tears)

Forrest Gump: with Tom Hanks (touching and lovely)

You've Got Mail: Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (happy ending)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on the true story of Malawian 13-year-old William Kamkwamba , who saved his town from famine by building windmills that would provide water and electricity.
(It's dramatic, inspiring and reminds us how fortunate we all are...)

Lily of the the Valley for the month of May.

One Day at a Time

I wanted to greet you with something happy and colourful today!

This is my new front door decoration:

A rainbow wreath with a happy sunshine 

and a heart  to bring joy to anyone passing my front door,

but also to thank all those people continuing to work for us

 to deliver food and all the medical staff

working so hard to help us during this Covid-19 virus

which has been raging across the world for several months now.

Reading time on my balcony after lunch in the sunshine.

For almost three weeks, I stayed in solitary confinement within my home

as was told to us by the Swiss Confederation.

The big phrase everywhere was, and still is,

"STAY AT HOME"

first of all to keep ourselves safe,

but also to avoid spreading the virus, which is very contagious,

and therefore not adding to the already heavy load of work asd doctors and medical staff

work long, tiring hours to help very sick people in intensive care.

I was so happy to have planted three window boxes of colourful viola plants

just before Lockdown in Switzerland was announced on Monday 16 March

until March 19.

It has since been prolonged for another week until April 26.

The first tiny Campanula flower opened up yesterday in a big terracotta pot

next to the kitchen.

Looking to the right from my balcony, I can see a small park 

and was thrilled to see the Forsythia in bloom.

On the other end of my balcony, I could see some blossom in someone's garden.

I watched our postlady come every day to bring us our post.

She was wearing a mask and gloves.

I left her a message on the seat of her Vespa to thank her for delivering our mail every day.

I am thankful for the people delivering our food and I have a standing order

once a week for fresh farm produce.

Then I thought of the dustbin workers who come to collect our dustbins twice a week.

I taped this thank you message on the dustbin container this week.

It's good that they know how much we appreciate them during this time.

I heard from a friend that some doctors were recommending that we go out for 30 minutes exercise

every day, but to avoid being in contact with other people and practice social distancing

of keeping of two metres apart.

I decided that I would like to leave the confines of my apartment for a short period each day.

So I thought that going out very early between 5.30 and 6.30 am would be perfect.

I'm a very earlybird, so this is not a hardship for me.

The above picture was taken on my first outing when the sky was still very dark.

The tree is in my street.

Another morning took me a little higher up in my neighbourhood to capture the first sun

on the mountain tips.

The daffodils were out and only five minutes away from where I live!

Just to make sure that I wasn't taking any risks by going out every early morning,

I phoned the Coronavirus Hotline to ask advice.

I told them my age and that I was in good general health

and asked, to double-check, if they considered it alright for me

 to go out on my early morning outings.

I was happy to get a positive answer

and was reminded about the social distancing if I encountered other people

when I was out.

I am very careful and meet very few people indeed so early in the morning.

One morning, the sky was an amazing shade of lavender blue with hues of pink

near the horizon.

Then there was the full moon in a moody and dramatic sky

This is what it looked like when I left home before 6 am

Then like this as I returned home in a lightening sky.

The clouds soon disappeared and we've been enjoying very warm and sunny days.

I love to see the shadows of the bare trees on the path when I set out.

and hear the blackbird sing against the pale blue sky.

The morning chorus is glorious!

This morning, I did a second short walk just to capture blossom.

I knew exactly where to go to see this one!

This white cherry blossom is just at the top of my street and reminds me 

of the first verse of a poem:

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide."

A.E. Housman

Beautiful Magnolia growing nearby.

My pre-dawn walks have transformed my days.

Otherwise, I read and crochet, sometimes watch Netflix,

Keep my home in order and cook tasty meals.

I am never bored, but I do miss the contact and interaction with other human beings!

I consider myself fortunate in many ways

and however things evolve with this pandemic,

it's really good to just take one day at a time!

I hope you are feeling well

and finding a way to take what we are currently living with philosophy. 

Stay safe!

My daughter dropped by with the cutest Easter Bunny in my favourite dark chocolate!