Lens-Artists Challenge # 364 – Quiet Moment

/ Leya / 52 kommentarer

Ritva wants us to share a quiet moment. ”Where is your serene sanctuary?”, she asks. Is it the warm comfort of sipping your morning coffee or tea – alone in the silence? Or, maybe the peaceful moments engaging in your favourite hobbies? This week’s challenge is encouraging us to connect with our inner emotions and experiences.

You who follow me, or often read my blog, will know how much I need and love those quiet moments. I think we all crave them to have harmony in our lives.

I so envy cats. They seem to effortlessly land in those moments every day. And I, I quietly look at them and would love to know their secret…

Once I had an otherworldly experience, one that I know I might never have again. This is the tiny island of Corvo in the Azores archipelago. We were only allowed to stay for half an hour, and those soundless 30 minutes passed all too fast. We sat looking down in the hydrangea filled volcano crater – that was all the island consisted of – floating in the skies around us. Everything was blue and green – no borders, nothing.

And the white and black dots you see deep down there – are cows.

Summerhouse sunset, and my two children growing… too fast. I remember this moment, maybe 16-17 years ago, standing there looking at them, tears burning, loving them with all my heart.

These last photos are from an early morning, same place, no dog, only my camera. A quiet walk, contemplating the last days of a beautiful summer.

As I reached the path, I stopped breathing when the delicate deer stepped out of the forest and into the light.

At the end of the path, is the sea. In the smooth water sailed silent birds and boats.

This beautiful family was sailing while eating, teaching their young how to dip down and dive for food. In quiet moments, details become more clear to us, we can watch, enjoy and learn.

Thank you Ritva for this wonderful challenge. I warmly recommend a visit to Ritva’s beautiful post and be inspired by her thoughtful photos and words. Remember to link back to her original post and to tag Lens-Artists so we can easily find you.

Last week we had so much fun with Anne’s challenge. I loved to see how differently we can interpret a theme! Next week it is Egídio’s turn to host, Saturday 13th September. Until then, take care and be kind.

If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.

Thursday Thoughts – Late Summer Garden

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

September is the first Autumn month, and a long warm Summer is drawing to its close. We’ve had a glorious time – a bit too hot for me, but bright, cooler mornings and evenings.

We have spent extra much time at our summer house with children and grandchildren. Precious days to remember as cold and darkness is arriving.

We haven’t had any rain for two months, so my garden is dry and most flowers are gone. These are some that still were here a couple of weeks ago, but most of them have now given in.

I have been waiting for the lovely hummingbird hawkmoth – and yesterday it arrived! No pictures though – but I hope to see it again another day this week. Have a great day!

Lens-Artists Challenge #363 – Virtual Scavenger Hunt

/ Leya / 41 kommentarer

This week Anne is taking us for a scavenger hunt – some great fun to be had! Visit Anne’s post for more about rules and inspiration. I searched my archives and these are some of her guidelines that I used:

Wheel, cirkular, some cool morning jewellery,

and some very green eyes…

Something glass – behind glass too (Chihuly), and something with water in it – Water Library (Roni Horn) in Iceland.

The coolest shadow I have ever caught was in Segovia.

Art supplies in Beijing and in a studio in Sweden.

Something with a design and something with a pattern.



Be creative and bold, Anne says, but most of all, have fun! She urges us to find at least five images, but no more than ten! Please be sure to link back to Anne’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag. This will be a fun challege to see what you have scavenged!


Many thanks to Beth, for getting us in a sports mood last week. Next week Ritva will be back so
be sure to visit her site for inspiration. In the meantime, stay safe and be kind.

Thursday Thoughts – A Boa Vista Adventure

/ Leya / 19 kommentarer

Quinta da Boa Vista Orchid Garden –

The best orchid collection on show all year round

The historic quinta ‘estate’ and orchid garden has been in the Garton family for over a century and is now run by Patrick Garton in Funchal, Madeira, and is open to the public and groups all year round. It was a must to visit there again. Last time was at least 30 years ago.

On our many Madeira travels we used to visit several orchid gardens, but this time we could not find any of those. We learned from a bus driver that at least one of them was burned down in the fires some years ago. And no one could answer to the question if Boa Vista was still open.

The road up to the Quinta displayed abandoned houses and gardens, and when the road finally turned into a gravel path, we began to fear the worst. Maybe the orchid garden wasn’t there at all anymore?

The BOA VISTA ORCHID GARDEN was founded in the 1960s by the late Group Captain Cecil Garton, O.B.E., in the grounds of Quinta da Boa Vista, which had been in his family for the past 100 years or so. After 30 years in the Royal Air Force, latterly spent as Air Attache in Lisbon and Madrid, he retired to Madeira where he devoted himself to developing the Quinta garden and to growing orchids. Cecil Garton’s widow, Betty (Elizabeth Hera Garton), is the daughter of Sir William Cooke, one of the pioneers of orchid breeding, particularly of Cymbidiums, besides being a collector of rare and beautiful natural species. (Madeira Web)

After some mistakes of direction, two phone calls and a lost husband – I finally reached the Quinta. It had been a looong walk uphill. I didn’t recognize the place at all – it felt a bit neglected and not many orchids blooming. The season had peaked, I knew, but still. Patrick met me in the yard, and before I could say anything at all, he delivered a litany of complaints about the status of things. Both his business and things in general.

After some 10 minutes, I almost regretted coming there. Then my husband called and wondered if I had found the place – and I described the path to him. Five long minutes later he arrived – and saved me.

We tried to remind Patrick why we were there, and could finally enter the greenhouses. I did not take many photos, since he kept me spellbound about the orchid breeding and his interesting life and work. He was very knowledgeable and scientific (Oxford degree) – a real gem. There was no question that he could not answer. After an hour or so, I understood the magnitude of his problems with the business and why he was so upset. His father had died many years ago, and in 2017 his mother – the pillar of the Quinta’s business – died. Taking care of hundreds (or thousands…) of orchids was now more or less up to Patrick alone. He was short of helping hands and had recently lost his main gardener too. ”People don’t want to work this hard anymore”, he said. And ”their education and horticultural training is of poor quality.”

I felt so sorry for him being in such a desperate situation. But, I was happy to hear he had the two Laeliocattleya orchids I wanted (they can no longer be found in Sweden). Unfortunately they were in the nursery so I could not buy them. I bought another Laeliocattleya instead – to have at least one of my favourite orchids in my own house is a must. (Also in my blog name ”Lagottocattleya”.)

Back home again I realised we had arrived at the back of the mansion and gone directly to the shop and nursery. No wonder I didn’t recognize it! I also found Patrick’s request for volunteers on the internet. Hopefully he will get help to keep up this renowned old Quinta. Had I been younger…I would have offered my help on the spot! Do you know of anyone interested?

Boa Vista Orchids welcomes volunteers; please see the contact information below.

Quinta da Boa Vista
Rua Lombo da Boa Vista
9050-126 Funchal
Telephone: (+351) 291 220 468
Fax: (+351) 291 230 309
E-mail: patrickgarton@hotmail.com

Lens-Artists Challenge #362 – Sports, Sporting Events and Fun Games

/ Leya / 40 kommentarer

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

– Henry David Thoreau

I feared this would be a difficult challenge for me – I don’t do sports anymore even if I enjoy watching some of them. My daughter was in a gymnastic team and my son an avid skater. My husband a handballer and myself, I was a swimmer, runner and a horse girl. I definitely never (?) photograph sports. Fortunately I have my archives and hoped to find some pictures anyway. Beth´s challenge gives you many possibilities!

Well, searching my memory and archives paid off – here are some different sports and games:

Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they’ve taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences.

– Kobe Bryant

In Bhutan, the national sport is archery. We went to see some teams compete at a sports arena – and their long shooting bows were incredibly sharp.


I’m a competitive person and I love the challenge of mastering new things.

– Sasha Cohen

Some of my son´s happiest moments were in the big bowls of Malmoe skate park. And still are.
(Photo by David P.) The skateboard was with him on all vacations for several years – at Figueres as well. I wonder what Dalí would have made out of it…

Sports involving both animals and humans are the most difficult ones. Cooperation is essential. One of my old students is a Swedish champion in jousting.

The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.

– Ernie Banks

A spectacular racing event was the famous reindeer race in Jokkmokk, Lapland. Reindeer are very tough to train – they are not like our pets. To handle them, you have to keep your tongue steady in your mouth too!


It’s a crazy world, so sports and athletics and music can be a form of escapism.

– Eddie Vedder

Finally some competitions/sports for dogs. I never really liked that, but if we wanted to buy our dogs it was necessary to let the breeder have his certificates. Good memories though – Totti won Swedish and Danish Champion titles.

Totti at Hovdala championships
Hamar, Norway for a dog show. This is Totti’s son.
More competitions…Me and Totti to the right

– In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.

 – Edward Hoagland

And Totti held a boxing title too…shared with Mille of course. Those were the days – daily entertainment in our garden!

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.

– Michael Jordan

In the header, debating monks at the Sera Monastery in Tibet. A popular sport where the ”performers” loved to show off both their versatility and knowledge. I wish I knew their language so I could follow their intelligent arguments!

A massive thank you to Beth for this challenge that got me hard working and showed me I need to take more photos of sporting events. When you join us, (I know you will find something in the end, even if you despair like I did…) remember to tag Lens-Artists and to link back to Beth’s original post.

Last week meant so many beautiful doors raining over us! A big thank you to Sofia, and to all of you for sharing your doors and doorways with us.

Next week it is Anne’s turn to lead us, Saturday 30th August. Until then, take care and be kind.