My most precious visit

 

Scotland – a country of magical history and beauty of nature. But, what I was mostly looking forward to on my trip this summer was the chance to meet Seonaid of breathofgreenair. She is one of the bloggers on WordPress who I first followed. Amazing photography and a mindful poet in soul and words. Her posts speak directly to my heart.

Seonaid’s family consists of two other people, husband and son, and three ladies – bearded collies – and two distinguished cats. I will not reveal their names…as I would like you to visit her blog and find out yourselves…you will not regret it!

This was a magic evening. We met and talked, walked in her evening garden, and she and her husband had cooked a delicious dinner, which we enjoyed at their beautiful home.

Sitting under the parasol in the lovely garden, watching the ladies play and the Bengal sunning himself in the last rays…life was good. As good as it can be when you are happy.

I had to promise the ladies that I would only use photos showing them at their most advantageous angles…and I think I have kept my promise. They were not that easy to photograph – only Seonaid can master that…

Another promise is to come back to Scotland again – soon. I want to thank you again, Seonaid, and your lovely family, for taking the trouble of having us that evening! For me, this will be a precious memory, and my dream is still that we will have the opportunity of a walk together on the beach or in the forest where you usually walk with pleasure. I would love that.

My love to you all, and to the long haired  ladies who all remind me of my Amanda – a beardie I once owned, and who will never be forgotten.

Travel theme: Meeting Places

Ailsa’s Meeting Places is a real treat – now we can find places to meet in reality – and virtually – all over the world!

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer Lovin’

When we go to our summer house, this is the view just before we turn the last corner…we call it ”Hästviken”,. This is truly summer to me. And now, soon, this view means the final piece of summer when we say goodbye and leave for home.

Find some more summer lovin’ here.

Home again

After being totally enchanted by Scotland and the Scots – I hardly know where to begin…so much to catch up on of reading and so much to tell!

First of all, I want to thank my blogging friend Seonaid at breathofgreenair, for having us a whole delightful evening in her lovely home. Unforgettable hospitality and my admiration is neverending. More time – I think both of us wished for that…. Hopefully we will meet again – I still have not experienced the Tattoo either…

If it hadn’t been for Seonaid’s advice – we’d never had seen her beautiful Plockton near the Isle of Skye. A drizzle early in the morning, but the views truly calm and serene. Not a wind.

For some seconds – a little less rain. Light unbelievably…light and soothing.

Not many people were out this early morning. No hurry. A lifetime of Time it seemed…

Scotland II 189-001

Suddenly there were more colours, more life. Flowers everywhere. The rain had stopped.

Post number One thousand

I saw it when I posted Wedding – this post will be my number 1000 on WordPress. I have enjoyed it immensely – the blogging and the photographing. The reading and the friends I have ”met” and – actually – Met. In reality.

Thank you all of you out there who read me, follow me or just drop in to – Leya. I’m so grateful that you enjoy the little things in my world. It’s you who made it all possible and who still are making it possible for me to go on blogging.

What will be suitable for a post number 1000? Maybe some of my favourite photos? Maybe a combination …?

I lost my faithful companion, Mille, this spring. His name, Mille,  he got because he was so special, one in a thousand. Mille. Mille Grazie to him for having him in my life for twelve years, and Mille Grazie to all of you for being part of my life. May we stay together and exchange pictures, thoughts, advice, recipes, book and film tips – and so on – for at least another 1000 posts and many more!

I wish you all a great summer – or winter! See you again in a couple of weeks – I’m off to Scotland to enjoy this beautiful and enigmatic country once more. Hopefully it will not rain all the time…as it did for three weeks in 1978 when we visited last. Never mind the weather…I’m so looking forward to meeting one of my blogging friends there!

Wedding!

At my age, I’m more often attending funerals than weddings… Luckily our children’s friends are coming of age…and on rare occations… we are invited to this great feast of joy – a wedding.

A mix of cultures makes these occations even more interesting. Enjoy a mix of pictures where the bride and groom entertain their hundreds of guests – playing and singing in a band. A lovely wedding for young and old, for musicians and everyone invited! Thank you!

 

Weekly Travel theme: Unexpected

This picture was entered once before, but it still is one of my greatest surprises…totally unexpected. I was shooting the tree and the long cloud, when suddenly, out of nowhere, the plane turned up. Almost touching the snow, and without a sound to reveal it was coming. Quite suitable for Ailsa’a travel theme as well!

 

Weekly Travel theme: Cities

 Cities are maybe not my favourites…but I do like to visit larger cities when I’m abroad – for many reasons. Something of what cities mean to me will hopefully show here:

Weekly Travel theme: Metal

Ailsa’s theme this week is about metal. New Zealand again – Metal things found in the sea, metal for a playground in Auckland, for the Zoo, and works of art for the harbour in Auckland. Mostly impressed I was by the most beautiful dustbins I have ever seen – and for the water in the street …have you ever seen such a marvellous detail?