13.01.2021
It happened for the very first time since I moved to Germany 18 months ago – our lake is frozen. I took a few photos of it because in today’s times it is a rarity. Because of the cold I feed birds, enormous amounts of them. About hundred of sparrows and some tinies who overwinter here. These seasonal visitors are much braver to our local ones. Is it because they are from Scandinavia and there are less hunters there than around here? Or maybe they are from heavily forested areas where they don’t see many people, so don’t worry about them too much? Each time I look up at cranes or swans flying above my head they quickly change their route to be away from me, the potential bird murderer. I don’t even want to think about their experiences which made them so cautious. The same story with sparrows. As soon as I come closer to the window in the kitchen they are gone. They are also very aware and scared about any changes in the garden. As soon as I move something bigger they sit in the hedge, observing for a long time, to make sure it is safe to come back to bird feeders. Today was the day of big stuff moving. I had to move the old entrance door which was taken out to replace it with the new about a month ago. I had the oil delivered for my boiler for central heating and the old door was standing in the front of pipe entry, which directs diesel from a big track to my cellar. I really dislike this outdated awful system. It stinks, is very expensive and not eco friendly. I am hoping to change it in summer if my finances will allow it. I will get an air or ground heat pump or a wood pellet boiler. All today’s commotion is my problem, I forgot to top up the oil so am without central heating or hot water for a week now and discovered this morning that the boiler is stuck because there is air in the burner, the result of not being topped up on time. I have three wood burners and lots of wood left over by the previous owner, which are enough to heat the downstairs of my house, but would love to have a proper hot bath or shower.
Back to sparrows. They looked today suspiciously at the empty space where the old door was and it took them about 45 minutes to come back to their sunflower seeds and crushed peanuts.
Need to explain the title of this post. I live very close to the small lake; it almost sits at the bottom of my garden and that is why I bought the old, unloved house. For the lake and lake life. I have a kayak for two my friend bought me, which I used only once because it is very heavy to handle by one person. I also love taking photos of the lake. It usually is very peaceful, except in summer. Summer of 2020 was especially busy because of pandemic. Germans were suddenly not holidaying abroad and many villages and lakes like ours had plentitude of visitors.
Lakehaus Lebehn 