Thursday Thoughts – Fryksås Winters…

Suddenly I remembered all those years we every winter went to Fryksås in Dalarna,  and stayed at the Fäbodvall in a typical old cottage from the 19th century – or older. When I look up Fäbod in English, it says shieling/sheeling – small huts were farmers used to spend their summers in the mountain pastures, looking after their cattle.

We used to go skiing in the hills and the dogs had great fun. The children were not that old, so they went skiing with us, but also used the hills for other ways of sliding down on the snow…

And I miss those days. No TV or radio, no electric lights – only the sun and candle light. The long evenings after skiing and playing in the snow, we played card games or board games, and read books together. The beds for the children were still like in the old days, called skåpsängar – in English box-beds or closed beds.

We all loved it. We kept going there until 2010. And do you know – the children  never missed their electric gadgets, and neither did my husband or I.

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Gentle

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Gentle

The birds are here every day – so gentle, so lovely to have and help through the winter.

Thursday Thoughts – A Winning Combination: Spa and Glorious Glass

Back again for relaxing days at Kosta Boda – the glorious glass and spa hotel. Some more treasures for you! Find my earlier posts on this our favorite hotel here:

Two relaxing days

Classy glass tour

The blue glass bar

 

The skilled Kjell Engman

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Challenge

Frank at Dutch Goes the Photo gives us the challenge: Challenge.

Well, this young man is my great challenge every day…and Totti’s…

…but now he is 7 months old and I believe he is coming along nicely. We train every day, and his school teachers tell him he is a smart and talented student. Next week will be the last meeting before Christmas, and then we will see if he shall pass the exam…

CB&W Photo Challenge: Rocks, Boulders, Stones

https://ceenphotography.com/2018/12/13/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-rocks-boulders-stones/

Photo for the Week – 21 – Trees

https://ryanphotography.uk/2018/12/10/photo-for-the-week-21-trees/

Bren, at Ryan photography, invites us to a tree treat this week – cannot miss out on that… Trees are so close to my heart.

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – The Forest is Down

Today was going to be a lovely hiking day – sun promised and no wind. I decided for the Bockeboda forest – looking forward to a bright winter’s day. I told Totti and Milo where we were heading, and they knew what to expect already in the early morning.

10 minutes into our walk, we found these tracks…and soon, the sound of forest machines reached our ears. Then we heard a huge tree falling. Some minutes later, I realized the forest ahead was gone.

We had great difficulties in finding the track – if you ever have walked in familiar forests, you follow the paths and know exactly what trees will be standing where. I guess it is the same in cities – if they tear down your familiar buildings and streets, you are lost.

This photo was taken some weeks ago – who would have guessed it was to be the last one from this beautiful forest?

Milo is standing in exactly the same place as in the previous photo – maybe thinking…Where did my forest go? My playground, my hiking favorite? Well, today every tree was down, piled up, waiting to be transported away from where they were raised for as long as I have lived – around 60-65 years.

The path back home again seemed a bit bleak, or maybe it was because of my tears.

Macro Monday – Frosty Colours

When frost is a visitor in my garden, winter is close

Even if it only lasts for a day or two – we wait for the sun to colour our frozen world!

I wait patiently –

– and finally the cold rays transforms the crystals into diamonds.

It is a wonder each time, each year…

…to see them come alive again!