Pear blossoms

"The blossom of the pear tree is quite awful. It should be spurned and on no account ever be attatched to a letter. From leaf to bloom, its lack of color reminds one of a plain woman, utterly charmless. Yes, this is what we usually think of the pear blossom. Yet, knowing that the Chinese admire it, I decided to take a close look at one, and found that the edges of the petals were tinged ever so faintly. And I recalled the Chinese poem about the great beauty Yang Guifei, who, from exile, greeted the emperor's messenger in tears. The poet likened her face to a branch of pear blossoms sprinkled with rain. Then I realized that indeed the pear blossom is a splendid flower after all."

Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book



Quoted from: L. Dalby: East Wind melts the Ice, London 2007, 31.

Farewell to Summer and Hello to New Activities!

(Mediterranean Summer Sky)

I have been neglecting my blog in the last weeks due to summer temperatures and the beginning of my second pregnancy which is still slowing down my path noticeably.
But now a new season full of challenges is about to begin and I'd like to celebrate it with a few Mediterranean End-of-Summer pics from the archives.
I wish to everybody a great week and many new things to experience!

(Home cultivated honey and home distilled plum brandy)

(Cornel cherries)

Pictures shot in Cres, Croatia, 09/2006.

Nature's art work

In East Germany we have been suffering the coldest period in the past 22 years these days with up to -20°C (BRRRR) in our little town.
But look at the awesome artwork it has produced! I discovered it while I was taking my daughter to the playschool at sunrise. It made the hoarfrost look pale pink, a wonderful contrast to the blue sky. What a beautiful lace has come out!