It´s time again for the wonderful challenge The Changing Seasons, invented by Max from Cardinal Guzman and now hosted by my dear friend Su from Zimmerbitch.
Early this month the fountain season started again – there are about 270 fountains in Berlin!!
So I went to one of my favorite fountains – the Wrangelbrunnen (Brunnen – fountain) named after the Prussian Field Marshal Friedrich von Wrangel and built by the sculptor Hugo Hagen – to take a few pictures.
The putti in the upper shell of this two-shell fountain symbolize the arts, science, trade and industry.
The statues in the lower shell are personifications of the rivers Rhein (Rhine), Weichsel (Vistula), Elbe and Oder, with Rhein being the only male personification in this group.
And I really love how the water turned the feet of the statues a beautiful verdigris green…
… which is taken up now by the trees and bushes surrounding a little lawn.
Spring Flowers
And the month of April also brought some lovely flowers, some of which I tried to sketch and paint whilst setting myself a time limit of only 15 minutes!
Quick painting is supposed to make you focus on the main parts of the subject you´re painting and concentrate on keeping it simple.
And some of the flowers I simply took a picture of, and plan to paint them too as soon as time allows. 😉
I planted these tulip bulbs in November and this month they showed up, welcoming Spring and bringing with them a riot of beautiful colors!
New Stuff
This month I also brought new stuff since I had to get a new pair of glasses…
I´m really not a big fan of getting new glasses and I´m still feeling a bit dizzy wearing these.
And the month of April brought even more new stuff!
A new dental night guard to safe my teeth from the destructing effects of grinding them at night…
I really hate biting into this pink stuff at the dentist´s, it always makes me gag and leaves me in terror that the dentist waits too long to remove it so that my teeth will be stuck in it forever or he simply rips them out of my gum!!
I know, I know, my friends also accuse me of overdramatizing this and of being a bit Stephen Kingish. 😉
Do you also need a night guard? And even more important: Do you share my panic??? 😉
And here are the guidelines for The Changing Season if you’re interested in participating:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to Su´s original monthly post, she can update it with links to yours.
Hope you had a lovely April and wish you all an even better May! 🙂
Art Expedition 
You’ve had a fab April Sarah, I would love to see all 270 fountains, one day maybe! lol your pics of the flowers are awesome and can’t wait to see your drawings. I can’t believe you drew that in 15 minutes! It would take me 15 mins to plan where I would put the first pencil mark! haha. Your drawing is fantastic. Oh god! I hate the dentist, I go every 3 months for root scaling and it’s the worst 30 minutes! I feel your pain!! Have a fab weekend 🙂 xx
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Thanks so much, Gill! I myself haven´t visited all those fountains yet but think it would be a nice project do someday when I have more time.
I would never go every 3 months to the dentist´s – poor you!! It´s enough to have to go every year! 😀
Have an awesome weekend and maybe you´ll find the time for some quick painting – it´s actually easier than one might think! xx
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I’m planning this week! Have a fab one 🙂 xx
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I feel so bad about being late to the party here (especially as I’m the host 🙂 ).
First of all: I am blown away by your daffodil painting. It is beautiful and amazing that you painted it so quickly.
Does Berlin really have that many fountains? How wonderful. I can only think of about 20 in Auckland, and while we have fewer people, the city does occupy a huge area. Your photos are so enticing, I feel I should go and discover the fountains here.
I hope you are getting used to your new glasses. They are really stylish, and I bet they look great on you. The last prescription glasses I had made me so dizzy I gave up on them and bought some cheap pharmacy ones. I spent a couple of years feeling guilty about that, but finally went to a new optometrist who said that my eyesight was ok with the cheap ones. Then I felt bad about spending so much money on the first pair 😦
Thank you so much for being part of the Changing Seasons project. I love seeing each month through your eyes. xxxxxx
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There´s really no need to feel bad, Su – don´t you remember: it´s the cool guys who always show up late. 😉
And thank you so much for your wonderful comment! I also never knew Berlin had so many fountains, only when I did some research for this post I found out. I will if I can work some more in into coming posts during the summer.
My mum says I look incredibly intelligent with my new glasses! 😉 It´s still a bit dizzy though and I begin to think that maybe they didn’t center them right… could be a lot of things I guess and millimeters count! But I plan on getting spare ones too, just in case something happens to these and then I will know if it´s normal or not. No problems with my new shades though…
I think as long as you only need reading glasses those from the chemist´s work fine, my mum also uses them and never complains. Wish it would be as easy for shortsighted people! Lol!
Wish you a perfect day! xxxxxxxxxxx
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I love these change of seasons posts. They always make me feel good! Beautiful fountain, Sarah. You’re lucky to have so many as well as such beautiful ones. And gorgeous painting and photos. Flowers are the best thing about this time of year. Happy Spring!
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Thank you so much, Diane! I really enjoy doing these posts and am glad they make you feel good too! 😄
You’re so right – flowers are the best thing about this time of year!
That and eating ice cream outside without risking frostbite. 😉
Have a Happy Spring too! 💕
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Well, that’s a few fountains to get around to for sure, haha. I love them too. I just bought a small tulip fountain for my back porch, it is so relaxing to sit out there and nature watch (although I don’t have enough time to really enjoy it). We have a few fountains in where I live: I should get out and photograph some of them. I enjoyed your photos, and I particularly liked the tulip photos, they are so artistic and wonderful. I use a mouth guard also, but I purchase it over the counter, boil it a few minutes to shape the fit of my mouth. Gee, that grinding, maybe it is stress. I think many people deal with that issue. Well, here is to a grind-free week, Sarah, hope you have a great one! 😀 xx
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Thank you very much, Lana!
I actually don’t plan to visit all the fountains, I think that would take years since I don’t have enough free time, lol! But I always make sure to have my camera ready just in case. 😉 Your tulip fountain sounds utterly relaxing and I can imagine how you sit on your porch, a cup of tea in your hand and listen to the sound of water. 😊
And I think that grinding is absolutely stress related – I didn’t had those problems as a kid! 😂
Have a magnificent weekend! Hugs! Xxxx
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Sarah: another riveting post … you had me from start to end! Thank you for sharing your month!
Fountains are another favourite thing of mine (I seem to have lots of fave things?!). It started when I was still a toddler – according to my Mom, she often had to put me in the car before bed time, drive me around, visit my favourite fountain (which is no longer there) and then I would fall asleep in the car. I must have been such a pain! Your featured fountain is so lovely – the details of the sculptures are incredible!
Your flower painting and photos are lovely – you have such a great eye for detail!
Nice glasses – I hear you about getting used to them …. it usually takes me 24 hours before the floor stops lurching! And I hear you even louder on the teeth moulds: yuck! yuck! yuck! I always have to warn my dentist to get the vomit pan ready, just in case!
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Thank so much for your wonderful comment, Ju-Lyn, and for sharing those sweet memories from your early childhood days. I’m sure your mother didn’t mind the car rides and enjoyed simply being with her sweet baby girl. 😊
Haha! Yes, those lurching floors are only too familiar! And it seems I’ve got a nerve with many people here about the pink stuff! 😂
Have a very lovely weekend, my friend! 😄💕
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I want to join that statue and splash my feet in the falling water – it looks fun! Lovely photos of the fountain – only 269 left for you to visit and share! Urgh…I had a brace as young and detested the mould as I felt I was suffocating…terrifying. When my dentist recently suggested a night mouthguard it was was an instant ‘no thank you’ from me! Hope the glasses feel steadier for you soon – the dizziness shouldn’t last too long (fingers crossed). hugs xx
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Thanks so much, Annika! I’m not sure I will photograph all these fountains! 😂 Just wanted to give a feel for the abundance of them in just one city.
I also had a brave in my teens and sometimes have nightmares that I still have one – I swear I can feel and taste the metal in my sleep!
Yesterday the glasses felt a bit better already, I’m adding an hour each day. It’s a whole dioptreen more so the dizziness is normal I guess. 😄 Have a lovely weekend! Hugs! xx
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Lovely post, dear Sarah.
In June I will get (finally) my new protheses. It will take 4 appointments during 4 weeks, but I hope I can start eating meat in one piece again, for instance. Use your night guard, to prevent what happened to me; losing most of my teeth 😉
Wishing you a fabulous new week, with lots of time to create beautiful pieces of art again.
Big hug, XxX
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Thank you, Patty! Yes, I will most definitely use my night guard!!
So glad that you’ll soon have your new prothesis and then hopefully be able to take a good bite on a steak again!
Have a lovely week too! Big hug! xxx
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What a great post, Sarah! The fountain is beautiful, along with the location with the grass and trees. The daffodils are stunning and your painting in less than 15 minutes is incredible, but to no surprise of mine. 🙂 We’ve spent all weekend planting new plants and the yard looks so nice. So happy that Ms. Spring has finally arrived. 🌻
I now wear progressive glasses for driving, so I can see distance and read in the car, if needed. They also come in handy for shopping. But they took getting used to and I still don’t wear them on escalators, giving me kind of a vertigo effect. I can still see without them, but for driving, I feel more comfortable with the added clarity. Yes, clarity in life is nice, isn’t it? 🙂
I also love your glasses and I’m sure they look great on you. Mine are a dark brown frame with light blue inside, kinda pretty. We gotta do what we gotta do!
I haven’t needed the night guard, yet, though, but I’m sure that pink stuff is anything but pleasant.
Have a great week ahead, my friend! Sending lots of love of hugs! 💕🌼🌸💐🌱
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Lauren! 😄
Spending the weekend planting new plants sounds heavenly! Isn’t it lovely when everything is green again? I can’t get enough of it and admire every tree and bush I happen to come across. 😊
Your glasses sound great apart from that vertigo effect in the escalator! I’m still adjusting to mine but like you said, clarity is so nice and it feels really great to see all the details again! And you’re so right about needing pretty frames! I bet yours look awesome on you! A two-coloured theme makes for a real looker and brown and light blue fit so well together!
Have a fabulous week, dear friend! Lots of love! 😊💕🌷🌸🌼
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I have worn a night guard for years, and am actually on my third one. The first one wore out (and I almost bit through it), the second one was destroyed by my son’s dog who stole it off my nightstand and chewed it up, and the third is still with me (and heavily guarded from any and all dogs.) The problem was when they made the third one, it took them several tries to get the fit right, so I had to have that pink stuff in my mouth more than once. And it does make me gag, too!
PS: Love your flowers!
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Thank you for your lovely visit and comment, Ann! Poor you for having had to bite into the pink stuff several times in a row to get a perfect fit for your 3rd night guard! My current one actually isn’t as good a fit as usual, it’s a bit loose on one end but since I clamp down on it anyway at night, I think this won’t be too much of a problem. 😉 And it’s far better than the old one that I literally chew to bits!
Have a beautiful week!
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Looks like you are having lovely Spring days again! Gorgeous colours and flowers … nice still life painting, Sarah. Interesting write about your fountains and hope you enjoy the warmer days! Happy Spring! 😃 ☀️
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Thanks so much, Iris! Yes, finally it’s spring again and April was unusually warm and sunny!
Hope your Autumn is equally lovely and brings with it a beautiful display of colours! Love and hugs! 😄💕🐨🌷🌈
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Lovely pictures.
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Thank you!
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Again, I see we have a lot in common. I’m debating a new night guard–grinding teeth. Can I use a store-bought one?Hmmm…. New glasses–hate when that happens. Mine are bifocals, expensive, and how hard is it to find frames I like anymore?
Fountain season in Berlin. What a lovely image.
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Thank you, Jacqui!
Indeed we do! 😄 I can’t recommend the store bought night guard, it kind of irritated my gums because it didn’t fit well.
Oh yeah, I’ve heard that bifocals cause a lot of trouble luckily I’m merely shortsighted. And yes to the frames!! It’s so difficult to find good ones, I nearly tried on every frame in the shop and drove the assistant mad. 😁
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You are absolutely amazing, Sarah. You did this wonderful watercolour in less than 15 minutes?!Your new glasses look great. I’d love to see them on you. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Dina! It was quite a challenge to do this water color with a time limit. Not sure if it’s my preferred style but at least I gave it a try and had fun doing it and that’s all that counts, right? 😉
Have a lovely Sunday! 😄💕
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I like your watercolor and the photos too.
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Thanks so much, Max! 😄
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Loved the post and oh those daffodils! 🙂 xo
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Thanks so much, Bette! Much love to you! xxx 😊❤
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Great post! I love the flowers 🙂 So beautiful. I love the art of the teeth. Very nice glasses!
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Thanks so much, Lisa! I had so much fun playing with the filters to make the teeth look a bit more dramatic than they actually are. 😉
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Really like the photos of the fountain you took! and nice painting! Also I have very similar glasses to those (only mine are blue 😉 )
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Thanks so much! Believe it or not, I was totally undecided whether to take blue or pink!! Think my girly days aren’t over yet. 😉
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I don’t need a night guard and trust my dentist … I am glad Spring is here, congratulations on your flowers, the daffodils you painted and the tulips you planted, they ae gorgeous !! …Have a great Sunday !!
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Thank you very much! Yay! Spring is finally here! Hope you enjoy yours! Have a wonderful weekend!
P. S. I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award in my post before this one. 😉
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ok thank you !! … I will do my ppost the next time I get days off 🙂
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I love your new glasses, Sarah! I bet they look great on you. I’m laughing at the photo of the night guard! Believe it or not, I’ve chewed through two. I need to have a new one made, but I’ll have to wait until I get my dental implant in July. I agree, the pink gunk is gross! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos and your painting…it’s lovely! Enjoy your day! ❤
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Thank you so much, Jill! I’m still not really used to the new look, it always takes a while to adjust and recognize myself when I look into a mirror! 😂
I’ve had several night guards and always bring the old one to my dentist where a look is enough to convince him of the necessity to give me a new one. 😉 They’re a marvellous invention.
Ugh! Dental implant! I don’t envy you and will keep my fingers crossed for you in July.
Have a lovely day! ❤
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What a lovely spring you are having. I love the sound of fountains as well. I stopped at everyone we got to see on our visits in Germany, oh so many years ago. Your painting of the daffodils is very good. And yes, I’m with you on the pink stuff and the gag reflex. Very difficult. I could use an night guard but haven’t been to a dentist in 8 years so I’ll keep grinding away. 🙂 Happy spring.
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Thank you very much, Marlene!
Fountains are truly a must-see in every city I visit as well!
I’ve been biting my way through several night guards in the last 20 years or so and am glad for their invention! Could forgo the visit to the dentist’s though. 😉
Have a lovely spring too!
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Lovely post, Sarah! The fountains are gorgeous.
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Thank you, Jennie! it’s especially lovely to dip your feet into the water on a hot summer’s day. 😉
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I bet it is! 🙂
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This post has many topics. I like them all. It appears you have great Spring season. The fountain and the statures with green legs (they are cool aren’t they?) are gorgeous. I like the details and color of the tulips you captured. They should be good to see your painting version!
I am with you for not liking to change a pair of glasses. I do too. It takes time to get used to. I am also anxious whether I will get used to them or not. I just do not like this period of time. Oh, for the “pink stuff” that dentist puts in your mouth to make an imprint of your mount (for night guard or for making a crown for you tooth), it makes me gag too. I could not bear it long enough at all. I just absolutely hate it! I do not think you are dramatizing this. I am with you!
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Thank you so much! And I’m so glad to be not alone with my panic and terror of the pink stuff!
I know people who have no problems at all changing to new glasses but for me it’s almost always a bit difficult. I’m now trying to wear them a bit longer each day and hope the dizziness will soon cease. I think it’s no surprise when I confess that Spiderman is one of my favourite comics – no more glasses for him after that bite! 😄
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I would like to take that bite too 🙂
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I love the fountain and am deeply jealous that your trees already have the start of leaves. Those dental guards really help from damaging the teeth at night. Cheers!
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Thank you, Chris! Yes, I was amazed at how fast everything´s becoming green around me again!! Normally it takes a few weeks – climate change probably. 😉
I´m totally grateful for these night guards, otherwise I´m sure all that would be left of my teeth were stumps!! LOL!
Cheers!
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Love the details of the tulips.
Kind regards,
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Thanks a lot, Rob! Have a great weekend!
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This is great and I really should take part myself!
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Thanks! And you really should! It´s a lot of fun to recap a month like this. 🙂
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