Kätzchen

The German word "Kätzchen" translates as both "Catkins" and "Kittens". These are the male flowers of a hazel shrub, of course, flowering unusually early, after the mild temperatures in the last weeks. 

My mother's paperwork kept me busy all morning, but later I went for an hour's walk through the vineyards. The sun only came out when I was almost back at home. It was quite cold at 3° C, but still lovely to get out on a day without wind and rain.