Regatta

Today I want to show you the picture I gave to my fiancé as a present for our engagement. It is called 'Regatta' and I used acrylic on a 30 x 30 cm² canvas.
Here ist is:

Writing Exercise 033

This week's writing exercise is special. Since I participated in a contest for the game Spellstone, I didn't want to withhold the 1st prize winning Haiku (Japanese poem consisting of 5-7-5 syllables) I wrote. :D
Here it is:

2016/07/26 – Haiku for Spellstone (Contest)

Ascend Aria,

lead my dragon deck to war!

Ad victoriam!

Aria is one of the heroes you can play in Spellstone, and 'ad victoriam!' is the motto of my guild VictoriousSecret.

I know not if there is a reason...

The past weekend has been very eventful for me.
My fiancé and I went to St. Goarshausen, which is situated at the river Rhine.

As I do Tai Chi the "Tai Chi Forum International" led by Volker Jung was the place to be and learn about the five elements (water, earth, wood/wind, fire and metal) and their influence in the hand form.


On Saturday we went to St. Goar, which is situated on the other bank of the Rhine, and visited the castle ruins of Burg Rheinfels, where there was a medieval fair this particular weekend.

At Burg Rheinfels there were a castle museum, lots of booths, knights' games, bards playing minnelieds and really splendid views over the Rhine.

Isn't it beautiful? This really was a fun day (although I sprained my ankle). :D

On Sunday, before heading home, we also visited the Loreley rocks. Which is a MUST SEE when you are there!
The rocks create a seven times echo which caused lots of ships to crash. According to legend the Loreley was a maiden who sang like a siren to lure sailors against the rocks.

Maybe you have heard about the poem by Heinrich Heine about the Loreley, which was turned into a beautifully melancholic song? Here it is, as translated by A.Z. Foreman:

I know not if there is a reason
Why I am so sad at heart.
A legend of bygone ages
Haunts me and will not depart.

The air is cool under nightfall.
The calm Rhine courses its way.
The peak of the mountain is sparkling
With evening's final ray.

The fairest of maidens is sitting
So marvelous up there,
Her golden jewels are shining,
She's combing her golden hair.

She combs with a comb also golden,
And sings a song as well
Whose melody binds a wondrous
And overpowering spell.

In his little boat, the boatman
Is seized with a savage woe,
He'd rather look up at the mountain
Than down at the rocks below.

I think that the waves will devour
The boatman and boat as one;
And this by her song's sheer power
Fair Lorelei has done.

As you can see, my fiancé and I had a great trip. I wish I could have shared more impressions with you because the landscape is really breathtaking and beautiful. If you ever get the chance to go there, do so! I can highly recommend it. :D

Just a little walk...

Two days ago I hopped on the bandwagon of playing 'Pokémon Go!'. :o
As I used to play Pokémon Red, Yellow and Silver when I was younger I feel a little nostalgic catching Pokémon again. But my main reason for playing 'Pokémon Go!' is that I wanted to go outside more since my Zumba course is on summer break and I lack activity.

So this game seemed the ideal incentive -- and it is! Just yesterday I walked five times the distance I would normally have when I went for a little walk. Wow. :o

Even the hot temperature (34°C!) didn't phaze me. Instead I put on some hotpants, a shirt and my hat and off I went on Pokémon hunt. :D

Surprisingly there are a bunch of Poké Stops in my home village, and a total of two Gyms where to challenge others! As I only reached level 8 today, I'm no match for the gym leaders yet. But it's fun to try. As I caught, hatched and evolved quite a few Pokémon I certainly got to see the landscape and some sights.
Here is my catch of the day:

And no, I didn't run into a lamppost or fall into the lake...yet. :P

Writing Exercise 032

It's time for another writing exercise. :D
As I went for a little walk recently this week's task was quite fitting. And maybe it encites you to go outside and experience it yourselves? So here goes my double-drabble:

2016/07/18 – a walk in the woods (double-drabble)

As you enter the woods a whole new world engulfs you. The noise of the town is replaced by the soft rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds; they are soothing sounds. In a million shades of green, the lush underbush and foliage whisper in the winds.

You breathe deeply and the fresh smells of flowers and wood make you feel so much alive.

As you continue further into the forest the world becomes quiet and calm. Just the light and continuous swooshing of the treetops, just a cry of a jay or the peck of a woodpecker then and there… A butterfly flutters by.

As you tread the path deeper into the forest your senses adjust to the quietness and become keener. You hear bugs buzzing around and a small bubbling brook; you smell the fragrance of firs, beeches and oaks; you see traces of deer and boars.

You realize this is how Earth was supposed to be like: so peaceful, so sublime, so mysterious. The woods feel like a living, breathing entity. And you are part of it. Just for a while.

The sun comes out and leads you out of the forest. You return to civilisation.

Have an Ace up Your Sleeve

I've just realized you haven't seen all of my cards for the character CCG yet. :o
There's still one pair missing. So this time you get to see Toki. I coloured these cards with Chinese ink and Copic markers.

 These are all I have for now. In September I'm going to visit my dear friend, and maybe we get to make more cards. So stay tuned to what else I have up my sleeve! ;)

Writing Exercise 031

Another week, another writing exercise. :D
This time you are going to witness something mysterious, something that could have happened somewhere sometime. As an homage to the Dead Pete Society I named one of the characters the way I did and sealed his fate. Also I challenged myself to write exactly 1k words.
Have fun reading.

2016/07/11 – mystery

It all started a few days ago. The deluge and the hot weather created the ideal breeding ground for the toads. When biologist Lauri Anderson went to check up on the animals and their spawn, however, she found them gone. She waded through the swamped area around the lake and searched for quite some time, but the toads where nowhere to be found.

“This is strange,” Lauri told her colleague Pete Simons on the phone, “they should be hopping around everywhere.”

“Don't worry,” Pete tried to calm her, “they have to be somewhere. Let's come back in a few days and have another look.”

Hesitantly Lauri agreed and returned home. But she worried nonetheless; all evening her thoughts were with the missing toads. Something was wrong, she was certain. Therefore the next day she returned to the lake. For hours she waded through the muddy waters until her trousers were soaking wet and she was exhausted. The toads were still missing; not a croak to be heard. Lauri decided to take samples of the water then flew back to the lab at the mountain top and examined them.

The findings were surprising. The water seemed to have reacted to something and turned into hydrogen peroxide. Shocked, Lauri instantly washed her legs and arms so the acid came off. Luckily she wore Wellingtons, but her skin started to bleach and sting already where the hydrogen peroxide had touched her. “So that's why the toads are gone,” she murmured as she treated her fingers. “But why did the water react? What's happening here?”

She decided to stay at the lab and research some more. Maybe the samples would reveal something.

It was almost sunrise when Lauri heard the noise. A light vibration, the clincking of glass which soon grew louder into an earth-shattering sound as the cupboards and machines began to tremble. Books and vials fell over, crashed to the ground. Lauri almost fell to her knees as everything shook and violently rocked back and forth. She fled the room and hurried outside as cupboards fell and almost buried her under them. As the earth continued to shake she clung to the rocks as if her dear life depended on it. Trees deracinated around her and crashed to the ground, the lab collapsed like a house of cards. Lauri realised, she was not safe here either. Then her glance fell on the helicopter. It was parked at the cliff and it was slowly sliding towards the edge. Lauri didn't hesitate long and started towards it, ripped the door open and got inside. “Come on, come on!” she repeated like a mantra as she flicked the switches. The helicopter shook, neared the edge and was about to fall. Lauri held her breath as panic seeped in. She didn't want to die.

But then the engine roared to life and the rotor blades accelerated. At last it lifted off and ascended into the air. Lauri sighed, relieved and steered around the falling trees.

From a distance the lake seemed to boil and the village houses shook and collapsed. Here and there she could see fires. She could imagine the people scream in fright and anguish. Never had Lauri witnessed such a devastating earthquake.

Steering the helicopter with one hand, she fumbled for her smartphone and dialled Pete's number. She worried for her colleague, knowing he lived at the village. For a long while the phone rang and rang and rang. “Come on, pick up your damn phone!” Finally it clicked, as Pete answered. But before he could say anything, she gushed: “Oh my god, Pete! Are you alright?”

“Lauri!” he exclaimed. She could hear the rumbling of the earthquake and the screaming people through the phone. “I'm ok, I'm ok. Barely made it out of the house. Oh god, what's happening? Where are you?”

“In the chopper. Suddenly the ground started shaking and the lab collapsed,” Lauri cried, relieved that Pete was alive. “I-I'll get you out of there, Pete – what's that?”

She suddenly saw a veil of mist spread from the lake and roll towards the village like a wave. Unstoppable, it crawled over the already ruined village. Lauri could only watch. There was a gasp from the other end, which alerted her to Pete's situation. “Pete? What happened?”

Again she heard a sharp intake of breath. “Can't...breathe...” he rasped and gurgled. Then there was a low thud and a clattering noise.

“Pete? Pete!” she exclaimed, panicked and with tears streaming down her face. No answer. “Pete!” she cried again. Lauri's instinct told her to steer the helicopter towards the village and make sure he was alright. But she remembered the mist from the lake and the hydrogen peroxide in the water. It wasn't safe to go down there. So she circled and circled above the village, calling for Pete. But he wouldn't answer.

Finally it sunk in, that he had to be dead. Lauri wept quietly. But only hours later – when the earth had ceased to tremble and the mist had evaporated – she dared land the helicopter and assess the damage. The houses were in ruins and as she climbed through the rubble she found all the villagers and animals lay dead on the ground. Some might have escaped the falling houses, but the mist had killed those who survived the earthquake. When Lauri found Pete's body just outside his ruined house she broke down. She cried long and hard; ugly tears swept down her cheeks as she sobbed and hiccuped beside his corpse. Finally she let out a shuddering sigh and stood then trudged back to her helicopter.

She flew to the next city, where there was a university, determined, knowing she would soon return with new equipment and people to help. As the only survivor of this disaster she vowed to solve the mystery of the earthquake and the mist. For Pete's sake, for the villagers' sake, but also for her own sake – to find a closure and start anew.

Say Cheese! XD

I found a new recipe in a cooking magazine, and I just had to try it. :o
As I love both cherries and cheese cake, it is the perfect combination. The recipe was pretty easy to follow, almost as easy as pie. ;)
I think I did pretty well. But see for yourself:

 Doesn't it look like a piece of art? ;)

Celebrations :D

My dear writing buddy from the Dead Pete Society -- Jori -- had birthday yesterday. :D
As a present she wished for a picture of the two main characters from her book in the making, and so I did. I'm so glad she loved it. Hopefully you do, too. :o
Say hello to Bella and Roz (left to right) and their lovely pets:

Welcome on board!

Today I have another drawing for you which I drew during my holidays. It shows a cutter at the harbour entrance of Bensersiel.

I used Chinese ink for this one, and today I coloured it with Copic markers. Here is the coloured version:

Writing Exercise 030

This is my thirtieth writing exercise already. Time sure flies by. :D
As you might have noticed, I have uploaded six holiday drabbles to my new German Corner. From now on I will occasionally add content there also -- works in my mother tongue -- and you are very welcome to browse. ;)
But let's get to the point. This week's writing exercise is about a day in July. The very day I picked has a special name in German. Maybe you can find out what day it is?
Oh, and I also challenged myself to write a drabble.

2016/07/04 – a day in July (Drabble)

The weather has been changeable for these past few weeks. You can tell it's summer by the way the rain becomes warmer. Plants grow and thrive, of course, and the splendour of colourfully blooming flowers and alluring scents is just fantastic. Still… you long for the smell of sun on your skin and the holiday feeling; you long for the thunderclouds to disperse and the blue sky to touch the horizon. Instead the temperature plunges. Freshly shorn sheep shudder with cold on the meadows, bleating miserably in the rain. It is the 11^th of July, but tomorrow summer truly begins.