Lens-Artists Challenge # 364 – Quiet Moment

6 september, 20256 september, 2025 / Leya / 52 kommentarer

Ritva wants us to share a quiet moment. ”Where is your serene sanctuary?”, she asks. Is it the warm comfort of sipping your morning coffee or tea – alone in the silence? Or, maybe the peaceful moments engaging in your favourite hobbies? This week’s challenge is encouraging us to connect with our inner emotions and experiences.

You who follow me, or often read my blog, will know how much I need and love those quiet moments. I think we all crave them to have harmony in our lives.

I so envy cats. They seem to effortlessly land in those moments every day. And I, I quietly look at them and would love to know their secret…

Once I had an otherworldly experience, one that I know I might never have again. This is the tiny island of Corvo in the Azores archipelago. We were only allowed to stay for half an hour, and those soundless 30 minutes passed all too fast. We sat looking down in the hydrangea filled volcano crater – that was all the island consisted of – floating in the skies around us. Everything was blue and green – no borders, nothing.

And the white and black dots you see deep down there – are cows.

Summerhouse sunset, and my two children growing… too fast. I remember this moment, maybe 16-17 years ago, standing there looking at them, tears burning, loving them with all my heart.

These last photos are from an early morning, same place, no dog, only my camera. A quiet walk, contemplating the last days of a beautiful summer.

As I reached the path, I stopped breathing when the delicate deer stepped out of the forest and into the light.

At the end of the path, is the sea. In the smooth water sailed silent birds and boats.

This beautiful family was sailing while eating, teaching their young how to dip down and dive for food. In quiet moments, details become more clear to us, we can watch, enjoy and learn.

Thank you Ritva for this wonderful challenge. I warmly recommend a visit to Ritva’s beautiful post and be inspired by her thoughtful photos and words. Remember to link back to her original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

Last week we had so much fun with Anne’s challenge. I loved to see how differently we can interpret a theme! Next week it is Egídio’s turn to host, Saturday 13^th September. Until then, take care and be kind.

If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Lens-Artists Challenge #345 – My Go-To Places

22 april, 2025 / Leya / 65 kommentarer

This week John asks us to show our Go-To Places – where you go or what you do to help lift those spirits when you are feeling low? So, here are some places close to my heart that helps me rest and reload.

People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable!

The forest fills my heart and soul with everything I need.

Every season it brings harmony and helps me shut out the troubles of the world.

My dog(s) are a constant source of happiness and energy. They are my best companions, and they never fail in their efforts to make me smile.

My garden is right at my doorstep…and its inhabitants, big or small, are a joy to follow in their daily life. Every morning and evening I walk slowly through the garden to see who’s in, what’s growing and what or who needs me.

Right now, I need to fill the drinking places for birds and hedgehogs twice a day – it is very dry in Skane, and in the whole country.

Summertime, the old cottage lifts me up to manage life when it is too warm outside and I think too much. Early mornings and late evenings bring solace and time for contemplation.

Last week, Anne brought us the “Abandoned” challenge – and we got loads of wonderful responses. Many of us do love abandoned things to photograph! Next week, Sofia will be our host. Be sure to follow her here so you don’t miss her post, which will go live next Saturday at noon Eastern time. If you’d like to join in with your own challenge responses, but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

Thursday Thoughts – Ronneby Brunn

24 juni, 202124 juni, 2021 / Leya / 43 kommentarer

Midsummer is here, and we are leaving for the celebration – to stay at our summer house for the weekend. But, on the road…as always, a walk in Ronneby Brunnspark. A must every summer, every week.

It might still be – at least to me …

Wishing you all a Happy Midsummer!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #153 – It’s a Wonderful World

22 juni, 202122 juni, 2021 / Leya / 92 kommentarer

Amy has found a wonderful challenge for us – because even if we all struggle some days, we can clearly see the world is still Full of Wonders, which is the essense of the word wonderful. Amy beautifully used Louis Armstrong’s world famous lyrics in her post – so please, visit Amy and get inspired!

My choice is some Midsummer Magic in the tiny worlds around us – because they are literally wonders in every sense. They also feel more safe to visit in this chaotic world…

We stayed at our summer house for a couple of days to prepare for the Midsummer celebrations next weekend. As you know, the longest day and the shortest night are very important to us in the Nordic countries. However, because of the heat, I find it difficult to sleep well, so I am usually awake around 4 every morning. This particular morning, I went for a barefoot stroll in the early garden dew.

The world is so full of wonderful things we should all, if we were taught how to apprediate it, be far richer than kings.

Ashley Montagu

This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used.

Henry David Thoreau

The World is full of wonders, but they become more Wonderful, not less Wonderful when Science looks at them.

Sir David Attenborough

The European hornet and their master gallery deserves a gallery of their own. And my faithful company this morning was Milo – patiently waiting in the grass…until he got too tired of me and eagerly wanted his morning meal.

We are the inheritors of a wonderful world, a beautiful world, full of life and mystery, goodness and pain. But likewise are we the children of an indifferent universe. We break our own hearts imposing our moral order on what is, by nature, a wide web of chaos.

Colin Meloy

Thank you all for your creative and fun entries for my Shades and Shadows last week! I learned many new things from you, and was very surprised to find that not many, if any language except English, has got two words for the concept.

Thanks to Amy for her interesting challenge – we look forward to seeing your perspectives – and please remember to use the Lens-Artists Tag and to link to Amy’s original here. Finally, until next week, when Tina will be leading the challenge, please stay safe, be kind, and enjoy this wonderful world.