A Better Year to Come

I hope the world will see a better year, 2016, with peace and love in heart and mind. And I hope for a joyous, Happy New Year to you and yours!

My last post this year, is from my walk in the forest today. Contemplating 2015 and what will come with the new year. The sun spilled its glory from an almost clear sky  – so – what better to do than spending the whole New Year’s Eve outdoors, hiking?

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Freezing cold from the start…

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…with the sun trying to reach over the tree tops.

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Succeeding now and then – here from the south.

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We had not walked here since the last great gale, and several times the path was totally covered in fallen trees.

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The untouched parts were shimmering in the low, golden sun.

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Some parts remained white and slippery, and my boys had to walk slowly not to fall into the mud.

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Some of my favourite ice – in Sweden we call it håris (hair ice) – and if you look closely, you will understand why. (The header picture)

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Heading home again, the sun setting and the real cold returning.

2016, we do not know what lies ahead of us, we can only hope, and work each one of us to make a better world for ourselves and for our fellow passengers on this planet.

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The road may be uneven, slippery, narrow, filled with obstacles…but I want to believe there is a light shining us through. Safe travels!

 

 

4 Days to Go – Thursday Thoughts

Soon the winter solstice will be here. Much longed for, maybe more than ever this year. No snow – except for one single, great day – and many dark and drizzly days.

Here a series from one of the better days, this week in fact. Notice the play of warm and cold this time of the year.  Warm colours if you turn in the direction of the thin rays of the sun – and the cold colours or darkness if you turn towards the sun itself.

One of my favourite spots in ”my” forest, is the passage between two of the grass meadows to the west. Here, Mille used to stand waiting for me by the big oak tree.

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The other spot is on my way back from the open landscape to the forest path. The majestic beech trees all aglow with the last rays of the low sun. 2.30 pm.

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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Faraway

Cee is asking us to present something faraway. Switzerland is rather representative for this in its landscapes. I chose one traditional photo of a glacier for the concept ”faraway” and the other one following Cee’s example with something up front, close, and then the rest faraway.

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SL-WEEK 24: Machine

Machines I’m impressed by are the mountain trains – here in Switzerland. They climb, sometimes very steep, several thousands of metres and they go down the same way. Seemingly undisturbed, effortless. And they are comfortable as well.

For Sylvain Landry. What machines are you impressed by? Join in and let us know!

 

 

Travel theme: Self

Ailsa’s theme this week gives you another chance to reflect on who you really are. What is the very essence of you? Not easily done in only one picture…so I had to choose two.

The loner, hiking in nature – but I am also the photographer and the lover of my job and my students. The results are one picture from a hike at Svartisen, Norway, and the other taken by a student at the final dinner for my class, leaving school, heading out in Life.

Why not take the chance to figure out the very essence of You? Click here for more inspiration.

 

Snow and Mist – Magle Wetlands

I left Hovdala in the best of moods, heading for Magle, the water and the birds. I imagined the strong cold and the water would make some grand mist.

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Driving down the narrow road I saw the sun throwing diamonds my way…

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…so, I stopped to collect them…

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…and I became very rich…

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And, richer I would be, further along the road – at Magle.

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The mist had risen from some parts of the ponds, but at the far end – it hadn’t yet. It took me some time to get there though, as only the footprints of one single person were there before mine.

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I certainly was richly rewarded. As the sun slowly warmed up the air – unveiling the ducks, swans and cormorants. A heron gliding low in the mist.

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The mute swans were showing off their beauty, while the ducks seemed busy just staying warm.

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I was looking for the whooper swans, but they were not there. Following the path further on, I finally found them.

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Three of them were balancing on the thin ice – while finishing their morning toilet.

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The bench where I usually rest, birdwatching,  was not very useful today…

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Looking back a last time, I realized this was the finest winter day this year. Hopefully there will be some more diamonds to collect this winter… I enjoy being rich.