The strawberries are ripe.

 

Every spring, I look forward to going to the nearby strawberry fields and picking berries...

We are all looking forward most to the strawberry cake, and the jam is also very popular.

 We are currently experiencing the "Schafskälte" (a cold spell in June) with plenty of rain and cool temperatures, but there has also been a lot of sunshine, which we’ve made the most of for hikes and bike rides...

my homemade bread

Elbe Sandstone Mountains

- Barbarine - Sächsische Schweiz

It’s wonderful in the woods; I could do that every day :-) ... though I did spend the recent rainy days sewing—making this clutch, for instance ... I’m going to the ballet in early July and will use it then.

I’m sending you very warm greetings with this beautiful poppy.

Hug Viola

My weaving project is finished 

I had the opportunity to visit Großschönau—the very cradle of damask, dating back as far as 1660. Furthermore, Germany's first handloom for weaving terry cloth also rolled off the line in this textile village—back in 1856. Today, one can admire one of these looms at the town's German Damask and Terry Cloth Museum. However, I would like to present the piece I wove myself at the "old" weaving school...

I love working on looms like these. Unfortunately, I rarely get the chance.

I wove in twill weave and also wove some plain weave as a small introductory sample... I was able to develop some beautiful patterns.

Removing the woven piece from the loom is called unbuckling/Abbäumen.

Joy

Weaving is done in socks!

We had all kinds of weather - hailstones, lots of rain but also sunshine.

We also took a trip to Freiberg in the Ore Mountains—a region that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.

Our main objective was to head underground—into the "Reiche Zeche" mine. We descended the shaft in a hoisting cage suspended by a cable—hence the term "Seilfahrt" (cable ride); the cage accommodates up to six people, and we traveled 150 meters down in 80 seconds.

Under expert guidance, the work underground was explained to us, and we covered several kilometers through various tunnels... we were outfitted with overalls, rubber boots, helmets, and mining lamps!

Volunteers step forward—here we were allowed to venture into a narrow, historic tunnel—and I actually went ahead and did it! :-))

Guided tours cover a distance of up to approximately 2 km; however, the entire mine network extends to 2,000 km and today forms part of the Research and Teaching Mine of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, which was founded as early as 1765. 

It makes perfect sense to head to the "Terra Mineralia" mineral exhibition—hosted by the TU Bergakademie Freiberg—after my mine tour... it is truly magnificent... enjoy it!

Calcit

Rhodochrosit

Malachit

Calcit in Quarzdruse

Pyromorphit

Krokoit

Azurit

Bergkristall

Calcit auf Amethyst

I bought myself a pair of silver stud earrings with rubies—after all, we had just visited the historic silver mine (mining operations ceased in 1969).

With the old miners' greeting "Glück auf!" (Good luck!), I send everyone warm greetings and a happy Pentecost to all those celebrating... we're having fantastic summer weather.

Thanks. 

Viola