On a Dark and Rainy Day

Where I live we got twice as much rain this autumn as usual. Everywhere the brooks, lakes and rivers are flooded. The farmers could not bring in their crops, and they have not been able to sow new ones. The farmland has been transformed into vast lakes. The ocean rises and takes down houses close to the water.

No sun. Only rain. And darkness. They say this is the way it will continue as climate changes increase. Nowadays spring arrives two – three weeks earlier than it did 50 years ago….so, migrating birds come too late to feed their young. I have seen it in my own garden. Our mountains will be covered in forests less than 100 years from now. For several years, the reindeer have had great trouble to reach their food through the icy snow. They starve through winter.

In Sweden, climate changes are here and now – there is no ”later”.

And still we are lucky here, up north. We will survive – many island peoples will not.

Travel theme: Love

Travel theme: Love

What is Love?

Well, there are so many ways of showing it…

…and we all want it…

…mmm, and sometimes it is so obviously shining and true!

I guess the one thing in common is – we ALL need it!

WPC: Serene

Ben asks us for a photo of Serene

Serene, calm and quiet. So valuable and so rare. So precious in this busy world.

My most precious – the sea and the sky at our summer house. Early morning, no wind, silence, blue sky, welcoming the new day.

Then – the Icelandic landscape, sunset on the south coast in winter. Earthy, low sky, settling the day.

Serenity

Still Flowing Free…

The stone fence is as stone cold as it looks, dividing the larch fields that now have lost their soft needles.

But, it is not yet cold enough to stop the flowing water, and turning it into ice –

We are Waiting…

More Christmas!

More, more…of coziness – this time at Harastorp! Still rain, but at least warm by the fire…

This little friend I was terribly tempted to take with me home…

Isn’t he just adorable?

 

Thursday Thoughts – Being Grateful

Thursday again. The days and weeks and years rush by – and I am still here. I am very grateful for that.  Today is Thanksgiving in the US – and we have much to be thankful and grateful for, even if we do not celebrate this special day in Sweden.

I am grateful for so many wonders in the world.

Being able to walk in the forest, in Nature, which means so much to me.

Being able to see and enjoy our world. From the great panoramas down to spiders’ webs.

 

I can feel, I can write, I can speak…I can even take pictures of the wonders that surround us…just to keep them with me a little bit longer.

And I can share some of them with great blogging friends, readers and followers – I am so grateful to all of you!

I still have my family, loving parents, and many of my best friends from my childhood…

…even if I know the path is narrowing.

So, Thank you for letting me be born in a free country, with loving parents and good friends. Surrounded by deep forests and open meadows.

I will try my best to be an open-minded,  loving and caring person – always.

An Ordinary Tuesday…in Another Voice

…in autumn, winter light. Some days the light is so special that the landscape speaks to you in another voice.

I was driving home, and when turning left over the familiar meadow landscape, the light changed. I stopped the car and went out to enjoy the short play of light. Intensity, softness, strong brown and orange.

The familiar houses, trees, barns, animals – everything seem to lift from the ground and soar towards you.

Looking back from where I came, the view included one of the oldest churches in the Nordic countries, Gumlösa Church, from the 12th century.

Maybe you think it is all very ordinary, but to me it is not. Living close to an open landscape is almost like living by the sea. The light changes every hour, and so does your view and interpretation of the landscape.

Soon the frost will cover these rich brown meadows, and give me another interpretation…but today I enjoy just This magic light.

In the header picture, I feel the sky almost mirrors the ground and the grass. I waited some ten minutes, silent and quiet, in the middle of the landscape.

The Blue Glass Bar – And The Brasserie

Welcome to the Glass Bar at Kosta Boda Art Hotel – care for a cool drink?

The designer is Kjell Engman, and the colour is – Blue –

After a relaxing chat over a drink in the bar, admiring the architecture as well as the atmosphere, we had to see the brasserie as well before dinner.

Totally different, with a laid back and cozy atmosphere. Fly me to the moon…in a glass balloon…

A delicious dinner was waiting, so we reluctantly had to leave. In fact, I went down to the bar once more, before leaving next day. To me, this was the ultimate feast for the eye –

– the only drink needed. We will be back.