Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Large Subjects
Wonders and peculiarities
More Patterns – Cold and Warm
Silent forest floor patterns in the early morning light
And the forest itself
Frosty pool in my own forest an early morning. In the header, the top of my car!
Anniversary – Again!
Bilradion släpper ut ljudkombinationer som tränger in i mitt påväghemkörningsmedvetande. En ny planet är funnen. Igen. Den här gången är den i storlek med Vår Jord. ”Betydelsefullt”. ”Viktigt”. Säger man där borta i USA. Men den är för nära sin stjärna, den nya planeten – och således alldeles för het. Ytterst vill man finna liv – naturligtvis. Och sen? Om vi finner liv? Vi har en ny värld att förstöra, nytt liv att döda, nytt. Om igen. Ingenting hos mänskligheten i mänsklighetens historia kan övertyga mig om att vi skulle ha lärt oss av gamla misstag. Lycklig skulle jag bli – om Du kunde övertyga mig om motsatsen.
7 years ago I started blogging with WordPress. I hoped for a way to communicate my thoughts and peculiarities – I think I wrote something about that on my About page…Since then I have met so many wonderful people out there, got so many beautiful friends and learned so much, growing with you over the years. Thank you, all!
So…Who was I 7 years ago? In many ways much the same – but then again not…
Today I am sharing my very first post – only in Swedish at that time. The English translation would be something like this:
Driving home I listen to the many sounds seeping out from the radio. A new planet has been discovered. Again. This time, the size of our own Planet Earth. ”Important”, they say over there, in the US. But this new planet is soaring too close to its star, and thus being too hot. Too hot for new Life to be found on its surface. Because that is what the scientists want to find – of course. And then? If we find Life? Then we have a new world to destroy, new living beings to kill. Again. Nothing in mankind or in the history of mankind can convince me that we have learned from history, from previous mistakes.
Nothing would make me happier than – if you could convince me otherwise.
Jardin Canario
Establishing this botanical garden was the life work of the Swedish-Spanish botanist Erik Ragnar Svensson (1910–1973), who searched – and found – the optimal site for this garden, one that could successfully accommodate many of the diverse plant species of the Canary Islands. The garden was layed out in Tafira Alta, near Las Palmas, and the Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo was officially opened in 1959. Svensson (Sventenius) served as its first director. When he died in a traffic accident in 1973, David Bramwell was appointed his successor in 1974.
According to Wikipedia, the garden comprises approximately 27 acres (10 hectares), on which approximately 500 plant species endemic to the Canary Islands are cultivated. Important divisions are the ”Garden of the Islands” (Jardín de las Islas), the ”Garden of Cacti and Succulents” (Jardín de Cactus y Suculentas), where approximately 10,000 cultivars of succulents are on display, the ”Macaronesian Ornamental Garden” (Jardín Macaronésico Ornamental), and the “Hidden Garden” (El Jardín Escondido) with greenhouse. Also worthy of mention are the pinetum (El Pínar) and the ”Laurel-leaved Forests” (Bosque de Laurísílva), featuring trees which once covered most of Macaronesia prior to Spanish settlement. At the ”Fountain of the Wisemen” (La Fuente de Los Sabios), botanists who discovered and described the flora of the Canary Islands are honored.
But we will remain in the impressive garden of cacti and succulents. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did! The last tree in this gallery is a gigantic ficus.
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 –
…tiles and stalaktites…
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.
A Classy Glass Tour – Kosta Boda Art Hotel
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!
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
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!
A Short Visit to Kyrkö Mosse Again…
…on our way to Kosta Boda Art Hotel, we passed by the old cars again. There are quite some posts about them over the years, by me and visiting blogger friends Viveka (myguiltypleasures) and Sue (WordsVisual).
We just stopped for a short walk to see the changes – in fact the cars are deteriorating fast as the heavy rust make them fall apart. The old shed is now an even more dangerous place to visit as another tree has fallen over it.
In fact, as no newer cars are added to the graveyard, I believe its most glorious days will soon be over. Still I will keep an eye on them… maybe once a year, to follow the process anyway. A bit sad – but that’s the passage of time.
Thursday Thoughts – You Cannot See Everything On the Outside…
We visited the Boyana Church, an important, medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia. In 1979, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Step inside, and you will understand just Why. Due to its tiny size, only 8 people, 8 minutes allowed.
The church stands in a quiet piece of forest in the Vitosha mountains, together with three beautiful Sequoia trees. The east wing of the church was originally constructed in the late 10th or early 11th century, then the central wing was added in the 13th century, and the whole building was finished with a further expansion to the west in the middle of the 19th century. There is a total of 89 scenes with 240 human images depicted on the walls of the church. And every face, every expression is exquisitely made. No photographing of course… but, please watch the short youtube included!
The low door is full of bullet holes, as during one of the many wars, intruders believed a treasure was kept inside the church – only to find that the treasure consisted of – old frescoes.
When Is A House Abandoned?
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?
Leya 
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