Tankar

Thursday Thoughts –

/ Leya / 19 kommentarer

At the end of our Mediterranean cruize, we were one single day in Slovenia – but that, meant the icing on the cake!

I knew that my blogger friend, Manja of Manja Mexi Moving (Movie) had her home there, and I loved reading about her adventures, her parents and their garden – and of course her beloved Bestia! Unfortunately her blog is not alive anymore.

When I realised I could get to Piran by bus that day at shore, I contacted Manja – just to find she would not be there then, but in Italy! She insisted she would tell her parents and that we should go anyway.

And we did.

Piran was just as beautiful as Manja always pictured it – and her parents, Meta and Branco were just as sweet and wonderful as they came out in every post of hers.

They treated us to a drink and to a very special cake – Piran’s Š’torta – made with sea salt and their own olives. Delicious.

Š’torta is the signature local dessert of Piran, Slovenia, celebrating the region’s culinary heritage.

Key Features

  • Ingredients: Combines delicate olive mousse made from indigenous Piran olives, silky caramel, and a touch of traditional Piran salt.
  • Inspiration: Designed to capture the essence of the Slovenian coast, blending local olive groves, the sea, and salt-making traditions.

And – you should sprinkle olive oil onto it as well (the little capsule on top!)

We spent some unforgettable hours there, chatting and talking about life. Thank you SO much for having us!

Branco proudly showed us their lush garden and the fruits and vegetables. He also connected us on the computer with Manja and Bestia. So wonderful, now that we could not meet properly in person. Hopefully there will be a next time?!

Too short a visit to this pearl of a city! Not only the people were kind and welcoming – and we’d love to see more of the city.

Thank you, Manja, Meta and Branco – see you again!

Lens-Artists #419 – Landmarks and Monuments

/ Leya / 14 kommentarer

John leads us this week, through Landmarks and Monuments.

I have chosen Olympia, Greece, as my main subject. I could have used this visit in Lens-Artists Memories too, because I was there 50 years ago (in sweltering heat). I so wanted to visit this historic place once more – and this time the weather was perfect. Not so many tourists and everything was quiet, silent. Few places make you feel the wings of history like Olympia. At least if you follow the Olympic Games in media (776 BC to 393 AD)and the athletes. Greek history always fascinated me, and as a teacher I used the Greek gods and their captivating (hi)stories in my lessons – it was always a hit.

The first time visit was in fact a disappointment – nothing much left from the glorious past! Not that I had expected it…But this time I strolled around the big, lush area and really savoured everything. I loved the little things as well as the pillar remnants that were called cucumber slices – a very fitting name! I was also lucky to spot a dog sitting close to the archway leading to the stadium. I waited patiently, and then caught him walking straight over. What luck. I think Zeus might have approved of it.

And as you know – the Olympic flame is still lit and carried all the way from here. We located what they believe is the accurate place too. Move slowly through the gallery and feel something of the atmosphere!

I will finish with monuments that have made an everlasting impression on me…stark, but necessary for us all to remember. Hiroshima and the Jewish cemetary in Warszaw.

We look forward to seeing your responses—worldwide or local, featuring one site or several. Please link to John’s original post and tag your entry with “Lens-Artists” so we can find it. Last week, Tina’s challenge took us down memory lane. A great possibility for us all to look back and remember. Next week, Sofia takes the lead. Follow her here so you don’t miss her challenge, which goes live on Saturday, October 31, at noon Eastern Time.

Until then, take care, be kind to all – and to yourself as well!

Lens-Artists Challenge #418 – Memories

/ Leya / 59 kommentarer

Tina makes Memories our challenge this week – and they are very much alive to me and my family in October every year. This year, two of my best friends, and my husband, turned 75 and one dear friend turned 70. My mother’s husband turned 93 and his younger brother turns 90 next Wednesday. So, a lot of celebrations – and many memories of days gone by.

I remember when I started blogging, and I was supposed to name my first blog in 2011. ( 15th anniversary this year!) Lagottocattleya is its full name because of my two great love affairs – the one with the Lagotto breed and the one with Cattleya orchids.

One of the first pictures I used on this blog, was the header one with my first two lovely lagottos, Mille and Totti. So much love and so much fun we had! I even had a weekly post with my dogs writing… I can still see how Totti trotted in Mille’s footsteps, trying to keep up. He wasn’t a grown lad there. Mille didn’t like Totti from the start…but they soon became best friends. My daughter also had a special bond to Mille – she even saved his life once. Searching her contacts for the right medicine – and she found it. In the gallery it’s Totti being cuddled.

Mille was a one of a kind dog – chasing the autumn leaves for hours, bubbles in the water the whole summer. Catching snow balls and pine cones…My husband used to say he had ADHD – never a dull moment and always full speed. In our summer house for the first time, he jumped into the fridge when I opened it for a bottle of milk. Dragged the bottle through the kitchen with the milk running. Then he pulled down a table cloth from a little table, smashing the vase, crushing the flowers and finished it off with tackling grandmothers walking stick. I can tell you I wasn’t happy that day…

He always got into trubble – drank water with algae and ended up in hospital, rolled in a hayfield and got bitten by a viper. He recovered much thanks to Emma and her medicine, but never became fully fit again.

Totti was a laid back lover of life. He always felt like a proper elderly gentleman in no hurry…Viveka (of Myguilty pleasures) loved him, and he loved her back. I have a wonderful series of 5-6 photos when he struggled to climb up in our hammock – and finally succeeded. You can see him smiling, I am sure!

And I have always loved orchids, and grown many of them. After some years, Cattleyas became my favourites – a perfect combination of grace and beauty. Not too rounded and soft, not too spiky. The first two here were my favourites for many years.

Iwanagaara, appleblossom

Cattleya hybrid, Little Prince

Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.

– L.M.Montgomery

All of these precious ones are gone since long, but the memories will last forever. I take care of flowers and animals the same way. With love. With people, I hope, the same.

I hope you enjoyed following my best friends over the years, even if you have seen them many times. We look forward to your sharing your own memories in response to this week’s challenge. Be sure to link to Tina’s original post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.

Many warm thanks to Egidio for last week’s “Where Does It Lead” challenge, and to all of you who shared your paths with us. Hope you’ll join us next week when John leads us once again on his Journeys With Johnbo. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy every day.

Lens-Artists Challenge #417- Where does it Lead?

/ Leya / 54 kommentarer

Egidio asks us where does it lead…an adequate question in today’s world. But the World is not the same anymore, so, the answer is that we don’t know. To feel safe, I will stay with answers I have and know right now.

This first beautiful road leads to a library in the forest – or what once was intended to become a library. The second road is an alley that leads to Hovdala Castle – my favourite castle close to us. The third road, a path only, used to lead to a magnificent lake area – especially in the Autumn. Hammarmölle damm. Last spring it was emptied and made into a trickling flow only. We all miss its beauty, its many birds and its clear water surface.

Milo always knows where a path leads to, at least he seems very sure about it. Clearly he knows his way back home when we are hiking or just strolling in new areas. I can rely on him. I do.

Thanks to everyone who responded so beautifully to Ritva’s challenge last week. I was amazed at how many of you were sincere music lovers and collectors! Remember to tag your entry with Lens-Artists and connect it to Egidio’s original post.

Next week, Tina will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in then to her lovely site and learn more about the challenge. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.

Lens-Artists Challenge #416 – Music

/ Leya / 41 kommentarer

The main thing is to let your creativity loose and capture a moment that really shows the spirit of the music, Ritva says. Well, my music is mostly played in my house – and from an ordinary cd-player. Concerts are very seldom on the agenda. It’s not easy to get a dog- sitter Saturday nights…So, I knew I would have to struggle with this challenge, but I finally came up with these old photos.




Music and concerts offer a great escape to many of us. At least for a moment. This is Camelot and its brilliant singer, Roy Cahn. The group was a favourite with our two younsters for some years, (I liked them too) and we took the car up to Norway to listen to them live.

Lodz Light Move Festival in 2018 – (and a ghost to the left…) was a real treat both visually and orally.

Every Midsummer’s Eve in Sweden, old and young dance around the maypole to traditional music from the violin and the accordion. The youngest are the happiest ones!

Some of the ABBA gold and platina collection in Stockholm at the ABBA museum. Thank you for the Music!

More festivals abroad – they can be quite genuine and lovely. Old musicians are usually the best. I totally love the Edinburgh Tattoo but have no pictures because it was raining too much.

Some music can be hard to really appreciate – Chinese opera is one of those and Bhutanese festival music is another. If you didn’t grow up with this kind of music, it takes time and effort to understand it.

Music can be a passion – and it is – for those musicians who make their livelihood from it.

Happy energy on the Dahlia festival in Holland!

One of the first experiences with making music was by filling glasses of water and playing with my hands – I am still impressed every time I come across it! It can be so easy…my children used to do it too.

Many thanks to Anne for her wonderful theme! I think we all liked it – which was evident in the posts I saw. And for this week’s challenge, please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts so people can find you in the WP Reader.

Next week, Egídio is giving us a new challenge that I am sure you do not want to miss. Check out his site and the WP reader at noon EST in the USA.