An Afternoon at my Brother's

Instead of last weekend, we were invited for a little extra birthday coffee. The garden was beautiful as ever. My sister-in-law, a teacher, was very busy writing schoolyear closing reports for her class. In Germany, the very young ones don't get notes like A, B, C or 1,2,3 - 6, as we have them, but they get a report in words.
We had cherry cake and fresh strawberries, had a long talk and a little walk through the garden. These clay sculptures called "tree spirits" were made by my niece (the one who owns my mother's cook book now). She's an artist! She also made these little sculptures. Not by her, but in my brother's possession for a long time: A ceramic troll, now guardian of the fountain.
Here is the back view of the house, a 19th century farm house.




It is tremendously romantic, isn't it? And then, there are the veggie beds in the back of the garden and a little glass house.


As my brother doesn't have a steady job any more, he takes care of the garden and does all the renovation work. He is a specialist for clay walls and finish. And he plants rare sorts of tomatoes and apples.


It was almost nine when I took this picture on the way home. The bright nights are here, and this is the shortest of them, the beginning of summer. Let's celebrate!