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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.
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We had cherry cake and fresh strawberries, had a long talk and a little walk through the garden.
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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!
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She also made these little sculptures.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMWSczu9xWxQFWqZe0sCC7gROxHHA5NVL8jhTEoOZmvuYVHHp0lbd1wXHlh7v1hX0TPUCdMug2q5ymvhxcXe2uZnIwsz4fu6z5yfK0jubH09UOwD-lmR9WM9Fk3UXTDVqm-9rDLXLlFox/s320/fountain-guardian-det2.jpg)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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!