Blommor

WPC: Wish

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

Wish, a challenge from Jen. I have just watched the TV news – I often wish I never had. 20 years ago we stopped buying and reading evening papers, and I still avoid much of the catastrophy-, war- and news media. Not my body nor my soul was made for it. I believe nobody’s body or soul is. Still, once a day I listen to the radio news, that way I avoid the pictures.

Tonight, this  thin, starving man, came running towards me with his little daughter in his arms. Running through the ruined city of Mosul, tears streaming down his cheeks, his daughter in his arms, lifeless. His open face in the camera. Next, a woman in the camera…crying. Next, her four children in hospital beds, badly wounded from bomb shells and poison gas.

I try to surround myself with beauty. I cannot exist without it. I wish some of this beauty also might bring something good to other people than me…to my family, to my friends…pieces of harmony in a disastrous world. Good things start with yourself…You have to be the change you want to see in the world. Gandhi talked about that. And, I believe that is the way. If we all try, in our own little ways…the waves will grow and reach distant shores. Let Love and Harmony win.

 

 

Amazonas – Goodbye and Happy New Year!

/ Leya / 43 kommentarer

The very last shimmering hours at Sacha Lodge, we spent canoeing again – and finally, for the sunset over the Amazon, in a high tree tower up in a giant kapok tree.

Let us start with the canoe ride – full up with fresh food and ready for the last adventure!

Into the forest again, on silent waterways
And the beauty of the dense rainforest

Finally we reached the last path, hiking to the old kapok tree.

Breathtaking views..
…in every direction
Do you hear a loud, cartoonish water-droplet noise? A Russet backed Oropendola! (The oriole family)
Tucans – this one as striped as a bumble bee
Orchids on the heavy branches

Slowly the sun was fading and the light smoothened out both the landscape and the minds of us six friends sitting in the kapok tree. Each one in his own world…knowing this was the last day, the last hours of our great adventure. The Amazon saying its goodbyes…and us contemplating life’s beauty, in this moment in time

No words needed – only the sounds of the rainforest. A sadness and a joy, a thankfulness and a hope for this wonder to survive, to be given to our children and grandchildren.

In the early morning, we left this Paradise. Of course it showed its most glorious face this day – for us to treasure and to keep in our hearts.

Sacha Lodge will go on helping the locals with free water taxi, school supplies and a medical assistance program – and ecotourism to positively influence the course of land management in the area.

On reaching the Napo River again – a tiny, but clear rainbow appeared in the sky –

I want to thank you all, readers, followers, everyone who finds joy in my posts – it is you who make me tick…I hope to see you again next year – 2017. All the best!

What Is Going On Indoors?

/ Leya / 20 kommentarer

Outdoors everything is heavily frozen – beautiful, but my hands and feet are complaining. So, what is happening in my flower rooms now? If you, like me,  love flowers, let us go and see! Click to read their names and to enlarge.

Easter Cactus – in flower now, very intense
Tillandsia
Hoya linearis – Himalaya
Hoya retusa – India
Begonia Rex
Geranium of 2016 – Caliente Pink

Some of the orchids are always in flower – especially the Phalaenopsis’.

But, right now most of them are over, leaving the scene to some other beauties.

vinter-och-blomning-inomhus-184_copy

I have many phalaenopsis’ in different colours – this one is abundant right now.

This brown and yellow orchid is the same as the one in the header. A fragrant Cambria.

A 50 centimetre high, impressive Brassia – resembling my old Brassia Rex –

– although this one is not as much ”spidery”as the Rex.

Lastly, a rose – not one of my own potplants. But still – elegantly living its short life here in my rooms.

WPC: Nostalgia

/ Leya / 20 kommentarer

Nostalgia

My Islands in the World – Azores. And this little Island, Corvo. Blue Hydrangeas in the blue ocean. My daughter as a young girl…Someday I hope we will return.

Thursday Thoughts

/ Leya / 48 kommentarer

Tonight I got a message on my phone. I had submitted these two photos to The Nordic Photo Club some weeks ago. It is The Princess of The Night (Selenicereus pteranthus) flowering for some short night hours, 27th of  August – the magical scent filling the whole house. The flower itself is about 20 cm. This year I was better prepared and could set the light right.

Last year it developed one flower, and this year it gave two. My post from last year is here.

The message on my phone was, that one of these pictures had won Medal of Excellence and will be published in the book Photos of the Year for 2016. Am I happy? I Am!

Vilnius – Lace Curtains and Glass Giants

/ Leya / 6 kommentarer

Why do many of us love things with history, crafted things with ”life” inside – more than the newest of new? We know that we cannot stop development and the growing cities, but my heart aches when everything old is falling apart and being replaced with – what? Soulless machine made things, gigantic glass houses …and more.

As I was walking north, out of the restored Old Town Vilnius, the typical wooden houses appeared again – and I had been waiting for them. In Uzupis we saw some, but now their full glory hit me. Planted in lush gardens, they were also home to several cats and dogs.

All animals seemed well kept
I bet someone put food in this box every day – to help the cat
Chained dogs – they all were, but tail wagging and well fed. This one had a tin roofed cottage and a thick blanket inside
City dog – do you see the difference…?
All gardens were soaked in flowers…

The houses may be dilapidated, but the owners’ love of fruit and berries, flowers and details like colours and lace curtains…

…bring gracefulness and beauty to any worn down house. This is what life was in the old days. Now they are all living in the shadows of glass giants and heavy traffic. And, soon they will all be gone, the houses and their inhabitants, and all that is left will be some photos and maybe glimpses in old people’s memories.

Travel theme: Weather

/ Leya / 15 kommentarer

Travel theme: Weather

You cannot catch them all…can you? But in the header – a sunny, clear winter’s day.

Ailsa’s theme this week is Weather. Something to talk about. Always.

It is snowing

Frost and colours a cloudy day

Bäcken lever. The brook comes alive when the ice is gone.

Ice melting…letting spring run free

Fog softly rolling in a late summer night

Thin autumn drizzle

Abandoned

/ Leya / 27 kommentarer

We passed the tiny village Castro in our search for the hidden monastery. After the visit there, the decision was easy –  to park the car and walk up the main street of Castro.

At first sight it looked abandoned, but …electricity and a TV antenna told another story.

Maybe food storage
Number three…
…and the Marguerites

And all those doors…most of them belonging to abandoned houses or houses torn down – the door opening onto endless meadows behind… every door having its own secret story.

And, somebody is caring for the lonely rose.