“Mum, I love how excited you get!” my oldest daughter often says when I get genuinely excited about little things that most people wouldn’t even mention. Like this beautiful Victorinox stork embroidery scissors I recently treated myself to after getting frustrated with blunt scissors for what felt like the thousandth time. They’re so wonderfully sharp and precise that they make me smile every time I use them 🤍 #embroidery #dowhatyoulove

Mein Leben ist nicht sorgenfrei und nicht stets schön und leicht. Welches ist das schon? Das wäre nicht das Leben. Aber gemessen an den Schicksalsschlägen, gesundheitlichen Problemen, finanziellen Schwierigkeiten und psychischen Belastungen, die engste Freunde und Familienmitglieder erleben, habe ich zur Zeit ein recht schönes und angenehmes Leben. Und das Gleiche gilt auch für das Große und Ganze, wenn ich sehe, wie viele Menschen gebeutelt werden von Arbeitslosigkeit, Depressionen oder finanziellen Desastern wie dem Coldcard Fall. Und immer wieder frage ich mich, auf welch hohem Niveau „jammern“ eigentlich „erlaubt“ ist. Denn neben all diesen Dingen, sollte ich eigentlich nichts zu klagen haben und mich einfach zurücklehnen und es genießen, dass es das Leben gerade gut mit mir meint. Schließlich gab es auch für mich schon andere Zeiten. Aber auch auf einer Plattform wie hier, frage ich mich, ob es, angesichts der Probleme von so vielen Menschen, nicht oberflächlich oder fast zynisch ist, idyllische #GM Posts, schöne Urlaubseelebnisse und gutes Essen zu zeigen 🤍 #grownostr #nostr

A cosy #GM 🤍

Cidre. The first alcoholic drink I ever had as a teenager 🫣 I still like it just as much 🤍 #drinkstr

Truffade—a traditional dish from the Auvergne. I love discovering and tasting regional specialties wherever I travel 🤍 #foodstr

Dog or pig? 🤍 #dogstr

Hiking up Puy Chavaroche, rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views across the Cantal 🤍 #naturestr #france #family

#GM and bonjour 🤍

Watching an approaching thunderstorm with a glass of red wine in hand 🤍 #GN

„Um großes Entzücken ohne einen kräftigen Körperbau kennenzulernen, bedarf es einer enthusiastischen Seele.“ George Elliot „Middlemarch“ Genau meine Art von Humor 🤍 #literaturestr #bookstr

It was very hot today, so we went hiking through the Jordanne Gorge. The trail follows the river the whole way, winding between towering cliffs and shaded by trees. It was wonderfully cool. The perfect place to escape the heat 🤍 #naturestr #france

#GM habe a blooming day 🤍

Pure childhood memories: flan 🤍 #foodstr

Even though French is my mother tongue in the most literal sense, I wasn’t raised bilingually. My parents had understandable reasons for that, but I still think it’s a shame. As a child, though, I spent many holidays in France and often heard my mother speaking French. The sound of the language became so familiar to me that I did very well in French at school later on. After that, I hardly ever spoke it again and hadn’t been back to France for many years. That makes me all the happier that I’m still able to follow conversations here, understand what’s being said, and manage everyday things like shopping in French 🤍 #france #french

Today we visited the Château d’Anjony, which towers over the village of Tournemire. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed inside. I would have loved to show you the remarkably well-preserved 16th-century wall frescoes. I’d never seen entire rooms covered with paintings like that before. It was truly impressive 🤍 #architecture #castlestr #france

#GM and bonjour 🤍 #foodstr

Salers. Such a beautiful little town in the Auvergne. With its wonderfully preserved medieval architecture, charming cafés, and small shops selling mostly local specialties, handcrafted goods, and souvenirs, it’s definitely worth a visit 🤍 #france #architecture

To finish the evening, we’re enjoying the region’s traditional gentian liqueur as a digestif, of course 🤍 #drinkstr #france

The women of our family - three generations- spent a wonderful afternoon together in the charming little town of Salers. These are the moments that make holidays so special 🤍 #family #france

Of course, there has to be time for embroidery on holiday too. This time, I’m working on a monochrome design with delicate details on an olive-green dress 🤍 #embroidery #handembroidery #flowerstr #bloomstr #grownostr #proofofwork