On Exhibition: Carl Larsson, Our National Painter

25 mars, 201725 mars, 2017 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

Our little town is right now the lucky host of the only exhibition of Carl Larsson’s art outside Dalarna and Sundborn. A visit to this tiny, but exquisite, exhibition was on the menue today. Our 39th wedding anniversary.

Carl Larsson (28 May 1853 – 22 January 1919) was a Swedish painter representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolours, and frescoes. But, when we think of Carl Larsson – we first of all think of his watercolours of his wife, children and home at Little Hyttnäs, Dalarna.

He considered his finest work to be Midvinterblot (Midwinter Sacrifice), a large (6-by-14-metre oil painting completed in 1915) painting now displayed inside the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts.However, this great work was at first rejected by the board of the museum, and later sold to Japan. The fresco depicts the blót of King Domalde at the Temple of Uppsala. Decades later, the painting was purchased and placed in the National Museum, on the wall it once was intended for.

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Carl Larsson was born on 28 May 1853 in the old town of Stockholm, at 78 Prästgatan. His parents were extremely poor, and his childhood was not happy. His father told the young boy that he ”cursed the day he was born”. A younger brother of Carls´ was the much loved son, but he died at an early age. Throughout his life, CL could never forget his father’s words…and…

…with him was forever the wish for being loved. Much loved.

For some years he and Strinberg were great friends…

…but Strindberg misunderstood the painters wish for love and recognition..

…and terribly let him down

And he found his great love in another young artist, Karin Bergöö, whom he soon married. Together they worked in perfect harmony – he painting and she designing and working mostly with textiles. She bore him 8 children.

Carl and Karin

Self portraits…

…were popular with CL

A beautifully written Love for Japan and Japanese Art

My favourite CL painting. This window is what I dreamt of having in my own home when I grew up!

Through their paintings and books, Little Hyttnäs has become one of the most famous artist’s homes in the world. The artistic taste and harmony of its creators made it a major line in Swedish interior design. Despite its controversialness to the style of the time. The descendants of Carl and Karin Larsson now keep the house open for tourists each summer from May until October.

WPC: Atop

15 mars, 201715 mars, 2017 / Leya / 8 kommentarer

From Cheri this week’s challenge – Atop

…I really felt I was, and my daughter too – in New Zealand and in Norway

WPC: Against All Odds

17 februari, 201717 februari, 2017 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Against the odds – my very special and wonderful friend, Mille, survived his severe illness and lived his last two years thanks to my daughter’s loving care. He was so close to death several times, but she managed to save him through natural medicine from the Japanese sea, and through loving care. No veterinary has managed to explain how this really worked – but it did. He was strong and lively throughout his life. And we are so very grateful to have known him. I have had some dogs in my life, but no one like him. I called him Iron Man.

Mille died in May 2014. This is the last picture of him, standing in his beloved water, the sea at our summer house. He had just turned 12.

Happy Anniversary to Lagottocattleya – Leya!

9 januari, 20179 januari, 2017 / Leya / 45 kommentarer

So, I have an Anniversary to celebrate! I started this blog 6 years ago today. All in Swedish from the beginning. Thank you all in the blogging community who decided to tag along…and many of you are still there! I am very, very grateful to have ”met” you, and this summer I will have the opportunity to meet another English lady – in the real world – so looking forward to seeing you, Sue!

In my first post, the photo is from Norway, and the text says that a new planet had been found, ”Very important”, the scientists said… But what then…? Then… we would have a new planet to destroy, new life to kill…Again. Nothing in the history of mankind can convince me that we really have learned from previous mistakes. Nothing would make me happier than if someone could convince me that we have…learned…and will not repeat the same story.

Bilradion släpper ut ljudkombinationer som tränger in i mitt påväghemkörningsmedvetande. En ny planet är funnen. Igen. Den här gången är den i storlek med Vår Jord. ”Betydelsefullt”. ”Viktigt”. Säger man där borta i USA. Men den är för nära sin stjärna, den nya planeten – och således alldeles för het. Ytterst vill man finna liv – naturligtvis. Och sen? Om vi finner liv? Vi har en ny värld att förstöra, nytt liv att döda, nytt. Om igen. Ingenting hos mänskligheten i mänsklighetens historia kan övertyga mig om att vi skulle ha lärt oss av gamla misstag. Lycklig skulle jag bli – om Du kunde övertyga mig om motsatsen.

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Ground

6 januari, 20176 januari, 2017 / Leya / 9 kommentarer

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Ground

Beach, Galápagos.

Amazonas – Goodbye and Happy New Year!

31 december, 201631 december, 2016 / 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!

Travel theme: Forest

27 november, 201627 november, 2016 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Travel theme: Forest

Oh, Ailsa…where to begin…? My favourite motif and my major love – the Forest. Of course I love my own forest best…and in spring when the wild apple trees and cherries greet me when I walk across the meadows to where the forest starts. But…

Tane Mahuta

Te Matua Ngahere

Te Matua Ngahere – full view

…the Kauri forest on the North Island, New Zealand, is so impressive, dense and full of giants when you least expect it…I have never seen anything like it and I just never wanted to leave.

On the South Island, we met another type of mystical forest on our way to Milford Sound – The Enchanted Forest.

Being Grateful

10 oktober, 2016 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

It is raining here in Skane, and the winds are not kind. On the news they show Haiti and Florida with strong winds and disaster in its steps.

With all wars and other terrors you can easily lose faith in the human race as well. I am very grateful to live in a peaceful part of the world. Grateful every day. My heart goes out to all in war and turmoil. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

WPC: Nostalgia

4 oktober, 20164 oktober, 2016 / 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.

CFFC: Smiles

5 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

Some of all the lovely people I have met on my travels. In the header two sweet girls at a Scottish country boule club, and below, the most wonderful ladies celebrating Saint Carmen in hotel Amadora on the north coast of Spain. Two of the three ladies were called Carmen, the mother and her daughter standing on her right side (left for you). Their friend was called Ana. My compliments on the eldest lady who was 86, and still a beauty.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Smiles