Goldfinch at our feeder

...and on the Piano: Tonc Feinig

At Forest's Edge-

I'm told that these are Poppies!

But are Poppies not bright red?

What kind of Poppies are these then?

At Forest's Edge !!!

Tristach and the Lake

Just a short trip to Tristach and "Lake Tristach"
"What a lovely area," Christin said.
"Why has it been such a long time since last we've been here? she asked.
"Because the last time we came here,  was because my good friend Charly played here with a pretty good Combo and we had good reason to visit." I answered.
"Wasn't it in winter?" Christin asked.
"Yes it was. Between Christmas and New Year" I said.
"I'll show you pictures of that time and then those of this year's trip.

In the "Park Hotel Kreuzer"

Just the right spot to spend some relaxing time 

during Winter or Summer.

Mr. Kreuzer, the owner of this lovely spot, welcomes Christin.

Charly, on the Clarinet leads a swinging Quartet.

Charly shines on the golden "Tenor Sax"

This only looks like a competition.

It was "Harmony personified".

Peppi Kreuzer on vocals likes it cool and likes it hot.

Lenny and Mona - a famous pair!!!

The Painter and his hungry Model.

Lenny mixes white and black

while Mona's looking for a snack.

What is this constant cry of hunger?

Lenny asks with look of anger

The painting hasn't started yet

you want already to be fed

I did not bring you cheese and bread.

Come back next week on Wed-nes-day

when I shall cook with much Hurray

„Last Supper“ showing food and drink

a work of art, in just a blink.

The Gap

A little smile ! Yes ! Just like that!

I'd rather paint you with no hat.

Close your lips! Your teeth, don't show them

the gap in front could be a problem

Thus spake Lenny in Verona

to his model called just „Mona“.

Why is Mona Lisa smiling?

Leonardo da Vinci and Mona Lisa !

Some time ago during a little get-together the conversation rolled around the above mentioned artist and his model.

The same old tiresome question was raised and discussed: Why is Mona Lisa smiling so enigmatically ?

Quite frankly I am getting tired of such useless debates. Who really cares why she smiles ?

Maybe Leonardo and Lisa had just had some good sex.

She just smiles ! That should be enough.

Shortly after this little party, which was held bilingually ( English and German ) I sat down and wrote the ditties below:

The Painter and his Model:

Smile ! For heaven's sake

don't always frown.

Your angry looks

they get me down!

Don't laugh, don't grin

just smile a bit !

But also, do not stiffly sit !

You look as if you're in a coma!

So Lenny said to Mona.

*****

And since much of the conversation was held in German, I wrote the next two rhymes:

(English-only speakers must bear with me)

I proposed that maybe Mona had a front tooth missing.

Die Scharte.

Ein kleines Schmunzeln wäre gut.

Ach, ich mal dich lieber ohne Hut.

Zeig nur die Zaehne nicht beim Lachen

Die Lücke könnt' uns Sorge machen.

So sprach Lenny in Verona

Zur Bürgersfrau mit Namen “Mona”

und zu guter Letzt:

Der Maler und das hungrige Model.

Lenny beugt sich über die Palette

und Mona gern ein Sandwich hätte.

“Was ist's mit Dir und Hungerschrei?

Kaum fängt sie an, die Malerei,

und schon verlangst du was zum Essen

und ich hab Wurst und Brot vergessen.

Du must hier sein, Mittwoch nächster Woche,

weil dann, mit vielem Drum und Dran,

das “Letzte Abendmahl” ich koche.

some of Bleiburg for John

This is Bleiburg

 and this is my Backyard

The "Apotheke" ( not to be confused with a "Drugstore")

City Hall and Post Office

Main Street  (10th Oktober Platz )

10. Oktober Platz #3

Christin

At Lake Simcoe - at better times

On the South shore of Lake Simcoe

during better times!

Two Birds,

one better looking than the other.

A Beach party in the "good old times"

Happy Independence Day

To all of my American Friends!
May you have a great 4th July 2020!
and may all of your problems vanish with your next election.
Hang tough!
Your Country has overcome worse problems than the current one.
You have overcome Slavery, Civil War, War of Independence, 

WW I, Perl Harbor, WW II Cold War... 

and you have emerged victorious and stronger each time.

ALL THE BEST WISHES !!!

Bertstravels.

Auf der Weinstraße

Last Sunday, we just went for a car ride without a plan.
We ended up in the Province of Styria, on the famed "Wine Road".
Vineyard after Vineyard.
We stopped at one of them, which also specialized in great food.
Naturally I took some pictures.