Forest

Thursday Thoughts – The Importance of Balance

/ Leya / 16 kommentarer

Magnificent Gran Canaria. Thinking of climate changes and how the tiniest changes in temperature will give massive domino effects. And already do. On everything living. There are examples all around you, if you just take the time to see them. Then imagine…

Just look at, for example, the importance of water – Some simple pictures from an ordinary vacation speak of what small changes in water supply can do to an arid island.

Just take away some water here…

…and this will be the result

Just add some water here…

…and this will be the result

Yes, they are simple examples – but things to consider if you find it difficult to see what is happening to our world. Nature is a Wonder of balance, and we must stop abusing her and disturbing the delicacy in which she is made. Which path do you want to follow – the ”fighting for a better world” or the simple ”adapting to whatever happens” one? Do we really have a choice? I think we have.

CPH jul och Gran Canaria 2017 1301-2

 

 

 

Hiking the Roque Nublo Area

/ Leya / 13 kommentarer

We went for the light – and a week of hiking joy. The Canary Islands still have a lot to offer even if you are not a beach person.

I have been to this volcano island once before, and fell in love with the Roque Nublo area in the middle of Gran Canaria. The highest peak is almost 2000 metres, and sometimes there is even snow here.

Driving through scorched areas on our way up, we wondered how much of the island had been taken by the big fires. Spain’s mainland was also much burnt this year. Much of this particular area was destroyed in September this autumn.

Passing Cruz de Tejeda – the hike started early in the morning. Some hikers already there!
Raging fires have left their mark in many places of Spain this year
The colours are returning – or still there – after the fires…
A diverse landscape with open, sunny parts and then shady pine forests
The light is soothingly bright and lifted our spirits – back home it would have been dark and rainy the whole, short day. The temperature about the same though, 5-7 degrees C…
Turquoise saplings getting healthy sun

Those who never have experienced a Swedish November, cannot imagine the joy of this light and this blue sky!

I love the look of those distant mountains…

… and in the forest – some quiet companions don’t mind you coming close.

Because, we are all hiking here together, aren’t we?

Still Flowing Free…

/ Leya / 13 kommentarer

The stone fence is as stone cold as it looks, dividing the larch fields that now have lost their soft needles.

But, it is not yet cold enough to stop the flowing water, and turning it into ice –

We are Waiting…

Thursday Thoughts – Being Grateful

/ Leya / 34 kommentarer

Thursday again. The days and weeks and years rush by – and I am still here. I am very grateful for that.  Today is Thanksgiving in the US – and we have much to be thankful and grateful for, even if we do not celebrate this special day in Sweden.

I am grateful for so many wonders in the world.

Being able to walk in the forest, in Nature, which means so much to me.

Being able to see and enjoy our world. From the great panoramas down to spiders’ webs.

 

I can feel, I can write, I can speak…I can even take pictures of the wonders that surround us…just to keep them with me a little bit longer.

And I can share some of them with great blogging friends, readers and followers – I am so grateful to all of you!

I still have my family, loving parents, and many of my best friends from my childhood…

…even if I know the path is narrowing.

So, Thank you for letting me be born in a free country, with loving parents and good friends. Surrounded by deep forests and open meadows.

I will try my best to be an open-minded,  loving and caring person – always.

Thursday Thoughts – You Cannot See Everything On the Outside…

/ Leya / 14 kommentarer

We visited the Boyana Church, an important, medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia. In 1979, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Step inside, and you will understand just Why. Due to its tiny size, only 8 people, 8 minutes allowed.

The church stands in a quiet piece of forest in the Vitosha mountains, together with three beautiful Sequoia trees. The east wing of the church was originally constructed in the late 10th or early 11th century, then the central wing was added in the 13th century, and the whole building was finished with a further expansion to the west in the middle of the 19th century. There is a total of 89 scenes with 240 human images depicted on the walls of the church. And every face, every expression is exquisitely made. No photographing of course… but, please watch the short youtube included!

The low door is full of  bullet holes, as during one of the many wars,  intruders believed a treasure was kept inside the church – only to find that the treasure consisted of – old frescoes.

Hello, Totti here…

/ Leya / 18 kommentarer

…just want to say – have a great weekend! Wish you long walks, nice smells, lovely company and good food!

 

 

WPC: Temporary

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

Everything in life is temporary. I know. But sometimes, we would just give anything to keep that precious moment alive… and we know that we cannot… make it stay. No photos, no written words…nothing is in our power to hold on to it. In our hearts we can keep this moment, maybe, but soon time will change our memories of it… until we do not know what truly happened or what we truly felt.

Ben asks us for a photo that says temporary. Of course our children are the ones who make us feel this ”temporary” the hardest way. But also the seasons do. I go to the forest to make the best of my days, and yesterday, I went just before sunset. A beautiful autumn day had come to an end, and the leaves will all soon fall to the ground, adorning the forest floor. All the beauty made a sadness come over me, and I lay down beneath the thin canopy to think, and to take a photo – this photo. A futile try to make the moment stay, but I believe we both felt the same, my best friend, Totti, and I. Everything is temporary – enjoy every day if you can.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

Yesterday morning I went with Totti for our daily morning walk – but soon realized that this morning would be something special. Frosty, no wind, sun from a clear blue sky. This grey autumn, there has not been many opportunities for the two of us to really enjoy the early mornings… so, I went back after three minutes, grabbed my camera and the car keys – and off we went.

The path starts 5 minutes from my home, up in the forest. No cows today, they have been taken to the barn for the winter. Silence, but for some small birds chirping happily in the first rays of sun. Follow the path down and turn right at the bend, and you will soon see…

…your own shadow on the left side of the path, in the golden morning light.

In the corner, down to the right, the shadow of Totti is sitting down, waiting patiently for me to go on walking. And not only his shadow…himself as well…

On turning right, the sun is peeping through the old trees in the east, gently providing long shadows and turning the frost into shiny green.

Totti is enjoying the fresh air and some good rolls in the leaves. Breathing is easy – and I feel so grateful for being alive on a day like this.

As we walk down the path, I look right – and a wall of glorious trees is looking back at me. This is indeed my country.

This morning, I will remember during the long and rainy winter days to come. But now, both Totti and me are getting hungry for breakfast… having spent some refreshing, silent hours in our favorite landscape.

I hope you are returning with me – or else you will not have any breakfast!

(As usual, click for a larger view.)