Time – we are all moving in it – and through it. And looking back…through what we think is a clear window frame, we realize the blur and the shadows. Time changes everything, and we can never know or be certain about the way everything looked or worked…
Not in Ostia Antica, Rome, and not even yesterday, at home. In our minds we can imagine or remember – but the moment in time is gone.
”This week, share a photo of something vibrant. Vivid colors, a lively portrait, or perhaps a delightfully colorful landscape, if you’re in a warmer climate. Let’s wash the web with a rainbow of colors to keep the winter gloom at bay.”
Naturally from the natural world – vibrant!
Alphabet – our communication depends on it. Printing depended on these…no longer in use, but made into beautiful art – of another kind. For more inspirational alphabets, click here.
Eye spy…well, I know I did not feel very comfortable with these two window blinds spying on me every night when I returned to my hotel in a rather worn down area of Riga, Latvia.
For more inspirational eyes…click here to go to WordPress challenges!
Victory. What does this word make you think of? Most certainly sports, maybe you have stopped smoking or drinking, Maybe you survived a dreadful accident or conquered cancer.
My Victory might seem a small one, but to me, very significant. I belong to those middle aged people who were raised always to do their duty, to work until your task is finished, to stand up for what is right and seldom (never) complain.
Many things change during a lifetime. And that’s life, of course. Today, my parents are getting old, friends are getting incurable diseases – even die. Dear colleagues are leaving due to the work situation and because of retirement. Students are changing – the world is changing.
I am not there yet – not even on the threshold of retirement. But. Many personal things during the last two years have taken its toll. I felt tired and without enthusiasm this spring. Should I really work until the bitter end? No time for my ageing parents? No time for family, friends or myself? Nobody knows their time span – I might get run over by a bus tomorrow…
This thinking began to envelop me, and I checked my financial status as well as consulting my school on the possibility of taking a year off. And I did it. Despite my love for my students, my love for my colleagues and for my work. A hard decision to make, but when I finally had decided, everything felt as it should. Really good. Like a jigsaw puzzle coming together, displaying its flawless pattern. I can compare this to when I decided to stay at home with my children for five years when they were small. I felt I must not die having made too many wrong decisions, I must do as much as I can for my family. And this time also for myself. I needed to find that ”real self” I used to be satisfied with: Nonstressed, calm, energetic and creative. Listening and caretaking. The person I once was.
I am just back from a visit to China, and what could be more suitable than ”ornate” as a challenge? The problem is to chose what picture to post – China is a heaven of things ornate. From details in embroidery to whole buildings.
The cloissonné craft work is lavishly ornate, so this picture is from my factory visit in Beijing. (They also had the big vase from the film Oceans 11 on display)
For more ornate things, click here.
When in Riga, we dined at a unique, medieval restaurant named Rozengrals. Being the oldest in Riga it dates back to the 13th century. The food is genuinely medieval and cooked according to the original recipes. Everyone working there is accordingly dressed and the five big halls are all in candle light from the vaults.
So, from the outside, and the steps down into this cellar, it looked very ordinary – we thought there might be an exhibition or something down there…but it turned out to be something even more special! A restaurant.
Excellent food – the best in Riga – a truly extra(ordinary) place. To be recommended! (Click the link for more history and information, and the first part of the menu.)
Rozengrals heter den unika restaurangen. Det nämndes i skrift redan 1293 som festlokal för Rigas stadsstyre. Miljön är den äldsta i Riga, där rester av den första stadsmuren ingår. Det största rummet var ursprungligen en brunn. Det finns plats för hela 150 gäster samtidigt i fem salar. Allt känns väldigt äkta och genuint.
Rätterna är dokumenterat medeltida och tillagade enligt grundrecept. Jag tog rökt havsöringsfilé med fläder. Rätten serverades redan på 1000-talet vid det franska hovet. Det var absolut en av våra bästa och mest originella måltider.
For more of extraordinary – click here.
Change – few things in this life we can say will be constant, but one of them is change, and a second one is death.
Architecture’s changings are always interesting – not always in a positive way… but, interesting. Here’s an example from Bellinzona in Tessin, Switzerland.
Leya 
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