The Reflections reminded me of Lupinchen

Lupinchen is a delightful childrens book written by Binette Schroeder. I read it to my children when they were small - we spoke and read German at home in those days. There is an english translation because I came across it earlier this year on the internet. Anyway, I digress. The story starts with a little girl called Lupinchen feeling sad and planting her willow saplings upside down and her friends try to cheer her up but things keep going wrong and at the end of the story she is saved by a big bird. The illustrations are also delightful and you can see some of them if you look at this link. Here is a related link. I suppose I was feeling a bit like Lupinchen as I was running along and noticed the hedgerow and trees being reflected in the ditch water. Is there a big bird about?
Some more pictures of the allotments. The sun was shining and the sky was blue although it was very cold. I took it as a good omen.

I was filling in time because this morning my mother was having an operation to replace a large section of her ascending aorta due to a huge aneurism. She was first on the table at 7am and I wasn't to call until 15.30. Running helped a bit, and I do enjoy looking at the various allotments even at this time of year. You always notice different things.

I also went into town to do a bit of Christmas shopping but it was a bit difficult to keep my mind focussed.

Then at 14.30 I couldn't wait anymore and rang - the operation had been a success, she had come round and had been talking already. What a relief! So then I went up to the top of her house and took a picture of her garden which she remodelled earlier this year (aged 77!) here it is.

I'm not allowed to visit while she is in intensive care but she will be back in her room in the morning where I am allowed to visit so I shall look forward to that - where I can see with my own eyes that everything is okay.

I want to take this oportunity to thank all of you who have been tracking this and giving me your support.