Sweden

A Classy Glass Tour – Kosta Boda Art Hotel

/ Leya / 20 kommentarer

How about waking up in the middle of an art exhibition…This text meets you in the suite’s book about Kosta Boda Art Hotel. So, let us go!

Along the corridors and in the lounge, the wall art is astonishingly beautiful. The magnificent lamp and the interior of the reception lounge is designed by Bertil Wallien.

The violin and the lady walking along the road with baobab trees is artwork made by Kjell Engman.

Just keep on walking – you are surrounded by exquisite artwork – and you are allowed to buy most of them…

This piece shows you a different face from every direction, walk around it and marvel at the skills with which it was made!

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Our restaurant, Linnea, and the stairway down to the spa area.

Some of my favorites…

Thank you for walking with me tonight – tomorrow, let us cool down in the brasserie and the otherworldly, blue glass bar – the only one of its kind in the world.

 

Kosta Boda Art Hotel – Two Relaxing Days

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

Kosta Boda Art Hotel opened in June 27, 2009 but really started already in 1742 when two of Charles XII generals, Anders Koskull and Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein, founded Kosta …

…and laid the foundation for what today is the Orrefors Kosta Boda, one of Sweden’s most famous glass work brands. 

We had kept an eye on this hotel for a year or two, and my cousin was very impressed by her stay at Kosta Boda Art Hotel some months ago.

Inside the hotel, most things are made of glass… manufactured in the glass works nearby, and designed by world famous designers from Kosta Boda. Kjell Engman, Anna Ehrner, Göran Wärff, Bertil Vallien, Ulrica Hydman Vallien, Åsa Jungnelius and Ludvig Löfgren.

 

The first glimpse of our suite, when we opened the door
Even the legs are made of glass!
The spa-kit waiting for us
You could buy all the things in the room – if you wanted to , and could afford it…
My favourite was the fat lady ”Dancing on the rainbow”

Many people come here for the history, art and glass, but also for their award-winning spa. Others come for inspiring meetings…and in fact our lucky day arrived just here and now. We had booked an ordinary room, but because of so many companies having their employees staying here – all rooms were booked. We ended up with an upgrading to a gorgeous suite, designed and decorated by Kjell Engman.

Our bathroom – immediately I opened the door, I thought: We should have stayed another night…

The food is excellent, made from local ingredients here in Småland. We had a marvelous  three course dinner, where the dessert was prepared by the 2017 world winning confectioner – Anders Oskarsson. And, the next morning we were treated to a grand breakfast buffet.

I will leave you here for tonight…tomorrow, let’s have a walk through the fabulous hotel interior!

 

Monday Morning…

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

…woke me up to a glorious, frosty day.

The tulip showed off her hair frost…

 

…the Lady’s mantle unfolded her hidden gems…

and the old roses were still asleep, in golden, pink dreams.

A crispy, delightful day – who would think that of a Monday?

 

When Is A House Abandoned?

/ Leya / 18 kommentarer

What if you found an old house, seemingly abandoned – but…

The main building with the old pond
the door looked rather well kept
The back side veranda with yellow(!) dogs watching

…how do you really know if it is? I walked in to this old farmyard, with houses built  around it on every side. I remember the place from when I was young, it was really beautifully painted and the garden roses were well kept – I always admired it from the roadside. Unfortunately,  nobody remembers the old owner’s name.

For many years it was the home of an artist, named Thomas, who worked pottery and was rather famous in the southern part of Sweden. I think I still have some of his cups and mugs at home. When he sold the house, nobody lived there for some years. We always thought it was a pity to let go of such a lovely place.

In later years it was used by a theater group for outdoor performances during summertime. The building to the left is only a  backdrop, while the right one is a real house. As you can see…someone is still keeping the grass at bay, even mowing the lawns.

When is a house really abandoned? When nobody lives there, or when nobody even bothers to keep it ”alive”? Inside the yellow, main building, I could see (through the windows…) that there was a rather modern kitchen, carpets on the floor and even a bowl of walnuts on the table.

And, someone has stored a whole winter supply of firewood in the dilapidated shed.

So – somehow I do not think the house is totally abandoned, but I haven’t seen a living soul here for the last 15 years. Maybe I should keep an eye on it from now on – just because I am curious about its history. What do you think about abandoned houses?

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Weather

/ Leya / 16 kommentarer

Weather –  very much talked about in Sweden… Maybe our favorite subject!

Still summer night

Forest – drizzle

 

 

 

WPC: Temporary

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

Everything in life is temporary. I know. But sometimes, we would just give anything to keep that precious moment alive… and we know that we cannot… make it stay. No photos, no written words…nothing is in our power to hold on to it. In our hearts we can keep this moment, maybe, but soon time will change our memories of it… until we do not know what truly happened or what we truly felt.

Ben asks us for a photo that says temporary. Of course our children are the ones who make us feel this ”temporary” the hardest way. But also the seasons do. I go to the forest to make the best of my days, and yesterday, I went just before sunset. A beautiful autumn day had come to an end, and the leaves will all soon fall to the ground, adorning the forest floor. All the beauty made a sadness come over me, and I lay down beneath the thin canopy to think, and to take a photo – this photo. A futile try to make the moment stay, but I believe we both felt the same, my best friend, Totti, and I. Everything is temporary – enjoy every day if you can.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

Yesterday morning I went with Totti for our daily morning walk – but soon realized that this morning would be something special. Frosty, no wind, sun from a clear blue sky. This grey autumn, there has not been many opportunities for the two of us to really enjoy the early mornings… so, I went back after three minutes, grabbed my camera and the car keys – and off we went.

The path starts 5 minutes from my home, up in the forest. No cows today, they have been taken to the barn for the winter. Silence, but for some small birds chirping happily in the first rays of sun. Follow the path down and turn right at the bend, and you will soon see…

…your own shadow on the left side of the path, in the golden morning light.

In the corner, down to the right, the shadow of Totti is sitting down, waiting patiently for me to go on walking. And not only his shadow…himself as well…

On turning right, the sun is peeping through the old trees in the east, gently providing long shadows and turning the frost into shiny green.

Totti is enjoying the fresh air and some good rolls in the leaves. Breathing is easy – and I feel so grateful for being alive on a day like this.

As we walk down the path, I look right – and a wall of glorious trees is looking back at me. This is indeed my country.

This morning, I will remember during the long and rainy winter days to come. But now, both Totti and me are getting hungry for breakfast… having spent some refreshing, silent hours in our favorite landscape.

I hope you are returning with me – or else you will not have any breakfast!

(As usual, click for a larger view.)

Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in November -Y2 – Fun-loving

/ Leya / 28 kommentarer

 

My pick for Paula, at Lost in Translation, is Fun-loving. I had an early morning walk in the forest today, and after a frosty night, the sun promised some lovely hours in the last autumn leaves. Who is having most fun? Totti or me?