the swarm

I had some visitors today. Right outside our apartment, 2nd floor, city centre, 4pm. The swarm of bees.
They came from miles away I suppose and decided to settle right on my balcony. The cat loved the idea. So I got them all in: kids and cat, locked the door & window, borrowed the watering can, cardboard box, towel and skiing gloves and off I went.
I called some swarm emergency rescue and as directed by them I started spraying them with water and collecting into the box. (Did you know that Polish fireman kills bees if they are called for emergency like that?) Apparently that's not easy, as they were all a bit upset about their long journey. As I later found out, bees carry enough honey with them to keep them going for 3 days.
When the beekeeper arrived we were all relieved: me because the fireman won't get them, Flo: because the beekeeper was a nice fella, kids: because they were allowed outside & they could wear hats. And we got a big jar of honey :)
That's a little photo story shot with my phone - hence poor quality. Apologies for that.

snow in June

Poplars are really tough on our noses this year.

car boot sale - paradise rediscovered

Renovating the house is exhausting. So many decision in such a short time, and such a huge responsibility.
A car boot sale is the right place to go for your furniture and stuff once you spend all the money on builders, pipes, wiring and lime. Now. Who's going with me again on Sunday? :)

I wish I bought these.

I am glad I didn't get that.

6 white timber chairs: a win. And they all fitted in the car, no problem.

It is exhausting.

Wi-Ma morn

Last night I cooked cauliflower curry for 50 people... feeding the crowd at II Polish Food Coop Convention.

Turned out amazing.

In return we got a bag of veg peels for our brand new compost heap.



I finally figured out how to makes gif animation Marta :-)

speaking languages

Olaf never tells much about what happened at school. I've never managed to squeeze out of him what he had for dinner or what has he learned that day. Until last night, when information spilled out of him like a river of words. For about a month he had Chinese classes, however mysterious it sounds, and it seems he enjoys it AND he is really good at it.

So first there was a song:



Followed by some random vocabulary:



then he broaden the spectrum and went into counting in Japanese:



...Polish, English and the time loop:



...and then he had enough:

full steam

Last weekend we did some work around the house preparing floors for the last finishing layer of concrete. It was dusty, sweaty and there were minor injuries involved. We are not good with following health and safety procedures.

neighbourhood

This is the place where I grew up, Shire of central Poland. It was always magical place for me as a child, but as I grew it didn't lost its charm at all. I am looking forward to moving back soon...

Paths & plants:

 Front garden with roof improvements and a new gas pipe:

 Local shop, dead closed and a very tempting puddle:

 Old fruit trees:

 View from the bedroom window:

Back garden:

into May we go

 At last! The best season of the year is here. We love it: seeing changes around, but also finding constant reccurring events like this scilla blossom, year by year. Just when you think everything is different, check, nature is always there for you.
And yes I know you are not supposed to walk on flowers in the park, but kids just went bananas seeing the sea of them. And so did I :)