Summer

Lens-Artists Challenge #406 – Summer Daze

/ Leya / 19 kommentarer

First of all – huge thanks for sharing your many interesting adventures last week! I finally found about 15 of them in the spam folder…but I did find them! Loved the variety and that you shared adventures from long ago too. I could recall the feeling of adventure from my own youth – that original feeling doesn’t come easy nowadays… Age and life experience has taken away part of it. We have to take that.

This week Anne has got some really good tips on how to enjoy, or cope with, the summer heat…please visit her lovely site for more daze inspiration!

To me, summer means late nights and early mornings, the only time when it’s not too warm. My absolutely best temperature is 23 degrees C – unbelievable to some, but that’s when my body works the best. When we stay for a longer time at warm places, the body gets gradually used to it after a while.

When evening comes I might go biking in the soft air…

Or walking by the sea to watch the youngsters fishing or swimming.

Early mornings we can take the canoe down to the lake, watching the great herons lift from both sides of the canal.

In the middle of the day, we all stay in the shadow, reading or playing games – or just relaxing with our dog. Except for my husband, who always has loved the sun and can sit in a chair just letting it wash all over him.

The best thing is a short, cooling swim. The water temperature seldom rises above 20 at our summerhouse. This year, I haven’t jumped in the water more than once – 11 degrees is far too cold for me!

A warm thank you to Anne for letting us soak up the summer daze this week – next week it is Patti’s turn to lead – see you then!

Thursday Thoughts – End of Summer

/ Leya / 24 kommentarer

So, it’s the end of a wonderful summer – but also a frightening summer with far too high temperatures.

The little port at the other side of the water, is glowing in the morning sun. It’s September, and temperatures should be falling. Should be…but are not. We swim every day in the warm sea.

I pick up Milo and we walk along the summer houses by the water. The neighbours let their flowers invade the walk, and I love those high, handsome bells.

As we head for the meadows and the canal, one of the big herons sweeps over our heads. It is the last visit to our summer house this year, and I always feel sad to say goodbye to this beloved place. A piece of freedom – a haven of peacefulness it is. And when the summer tourists have left, everything is quiet, and Mother Nature can take it back and have it all to herself.

The car is packed, and we drive back home again. The first thing to do is to water all the plants and flowers. Hardly any rain fell here this summer, and some plants didn’t survive. We don’t have our own well – so – there are choices to be made. Which plants or flowers do I absolutely want to live? Which ones must I let go?

It’s easier indoors, where I can close the blinds and and save all the plants from the scorching sun.

I try not to think about that ominous heat – only to love the beautiful summer we had. But, something is very wrong with the climate. And – with many other things in this world. Still, I am grateful for a wonderful summer with family and friends. They are my hope. I hope you had a lovely summer too. Or the season you are in.

LACP#208 – Summer Vibes – It’s always summer somewhere!

/ Leya / 67 kommentarer

Andre’ of Solander is our guest host, and wants us to show our favorite activity (yes, chilling is also accepted as an activity in this context) in summer. Please visit his blog for more inspiration!

Summer vibes starts in my own garden – where the little yellow flowers make a golden carpet to the tunes of humming bees. We never cut the grass until the flowers are ready to go.

The vacation we often need is freedom from our own mind.
– Jack Adam Weber

And they stay for weeks, I am sure it’s just to make my heart jump with joy!

Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
– William Shakespeare

Early mornings and late evenings are alive with summer vibes – the backlit geraniums’ gracefully dance for my camera eye. Flower photography is a passion with me.

It’s summer and time for wandering…
– Kellie Elmore

June is a lovely month for hiking…another favourite activity. (And I chose this walk by the sea, because we never go to the sea during the dark time of the year.)

I always make sure to choose good company. If I feel I need any company at all…

Swedish ”fika” is a must. And outdoors a summer privilege. My mother and I always had one on our long walks. And the children loved it.

By 4pm, the dark clouds are marching in – but most of us are prepared for a heavy shower.
Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.
– Van Morrison

Spending a quiet moment at the beach when the rain has passed. Silent and refreshing.

But tomorrow may rain, so I’ll follow the sun.
– The Beatles

The lady flowers unfold and shine again with the warming sun…

And the sea – knows how to rest.

Summer vibes in short would be, flowers, photography, hiking, fika – and spending time by the sea.

Many thanks to Andre for guest hosting this week and for giving us the opportunity to share some “summer vibes”. Please link your response to his original here and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you. Thanks also to Jez for last week’s Seeing Double challenge. Your responses included wonderful moments captured forever. We hope you’ll join us again next week when Tracy challenges us with “Surrealism” on “Reflections of an Untidy Mind”. She’ll be followed by the last of our July Guest Hosts, Sarah of “Travel With Me” who will invite us to share three favorite images. Finally, the Lens-Artists team will return in August, when Anne will lead us with her “What’s Your Photography Groove” challenge. Until then, as always please stay safe and be kind.

Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.

Thursday Thoughts – Morning Fields

/ Leya / 27 kommentarer

My grandmother would have been 111 years old today. She loved morning fields just as much as I do.

Driving through the misty morning of Wordless Wednesday to reach these dewy fields. What compares to a summer morning?

– Nothing

Sunday morning will see the last photo of this tour in search of summer silence. I finally reached the river.