As we prepare to leave for Kosovo in a week, we are stuck in the house a lot, sorting and cleaning. I was going stir-crazy a bit yesterday, so I dragged the (protesting) kids out of the house to walk across the fields in search for some of the giant hayballs that are everywhere right now. I had a special image in mind that I wanted to try out.

Harvest time is beautiful in the Rhön -- combine harvesters everywhere, yellow stubbled fields, warm golden light. It's a striking time of the year, bittersweet with the promise of an early autumn and cooler weather around the corner, the beginning of school and the end of carefree days. For now, though, we are enjoying these late summer days. And after a few minutes of bitter crying, even the girl skipped and ran across the fields with a smile on her face.