Thursday Thoughts – Life Patterns

11 januari, 201811 januari, 2018 / Leya / 26 kommentarer

Tylösand, maybe the most famous beach area in the southern part of Sweden. Two hours away from me – as usual, click the pictures to enlarge.

We spent two glorious days there this week, in the low, winter sun. Walking two early hours on the beach, I realized how many possible patterns there are in a lifetime.

To See a World in a Grain of Sand…

Maybe you, for a long time, follow a straight road, a pattern cut out for you…

… there may be waves on your path – but they can be waves of beauty and learning

Many times Life gets more complicated, but you can still feel the pattern…it has not left you unattended…

Troubles will come your way, but you will sort them out in the end – you have to…

New paths and patterns will open up, and the skies above will again be crispy blue

Sometimes you can trace your footprints back to harmony – but then again, you might even discover bright new paths and find new, wonderful Life Patterns.

Safe Travels!

On Contemplating

29 december, 2017 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

This is maybe many people’s dream of a relaxing vacation – but luckily we are all different. We are all sailors on this vast ocean – but we are all different vessels and we all sail according to what we have learned, so far.

Also I dream of light and warm winds – especially during the Swedish winter. But I can more relate to these guys, who seek a space of their own with enough room and silence to let their thoughts run free. Reading a book…

…fishing the blue waves…

…or just contemplating life, sitting at the edge of the ocean.

All different vessels, but sailing together. Let us take good care of each other while we are here – Life is a wonderful gift.

Thursday Thoughts – The Magic of One Photo

28 december, 2017 / Leya / 29 kommentarer

”Have you ever tried to sum up your blogging year

in a photo?” says my dear friend Gallivanta, at silkannthreades.

If I could find one picture, one picture only, that would be a symbol of my 2017?

I know what, and who, has been on my mind every day this year. We walk together every day and we talk every day. But many things she no longer remembers. When I talk about the old days, her childhood and when her grandchildren were small – she smiles. Glimpses. For a short moment there is that old shine in her eyes. My Mother.

She is in my thoughts every hour of the day.

To sum up my blogging year is more difficult. Travel, colorful places, family, good friends, nature, animals…and photography. The inner journey. Despite all my travels and meetings with lovely people and lovely places – a day alone with my thoughts has always been my best day.

When I think back, there are so many wonderful people who left us this year, both famous legends and close friends. The frailty of life. In so many countries and places on Earth, things have changed for the worse. Our planet, our world, is suffering.

True, there has been much light, but maybe more of darkness in the world this year, 2017. Still, I always search for the Magic…in everything. I try to see the beauty in every grain of sand, and I hope I can convey at least some of it to you as well. I need this magic – to look away from the darkness, to survive. I guess there might be more people than me who feel the same.

So. The header photo is my choice, dear Amanda.

Thursday Thoughts – Being Grateful

23 november, 2017 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

Thursday again. The days and weeks and years rush by – and I am still here. I am very grateful for that. Today is Thanksgiving in the US – and we have much to be thankful and grateful for, even if we do not celebrate this special day in Sweden.

I am grateful for so many wonders in the world.

Being able to walk in the forest, in Nature, which means so much to me.

Being able to see and enjoy our world. From the great panoramas down to spiders’ webs.

I can feel, I can write, I can speak…I can even take pictures of the wonders that surround us…just to keep them with me a little bit longer.

And I can share some of them with great blogging friends, readers and followers – I am so grateful to all of you!

I still have my family, loving parents, and many of my best friends from my childhood…

…even if I know the path is narrowing.

So, Thank you for letting me be born in a free country, with loving parents and good friends. Surrounded by deep forests and open meadows.

I will try my best to be an open-minded, loving and caring person – always.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

4 november, 2017 / 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 Thoughts – Childhood Dreams

27 juli, 201727 juli, 2017 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Children. Sometimes I wish I was a child again – maybe not all of you do, but maybe some of you …?

Freedom. I was fortunate – I had the best childhood I could dream of. Loving parents and grandparents…and not more human friends than I wanted. Animals were my best friends. Strolling in the forest, feeling totally secure. Quietness. Simplicity.

When walking the paths at Wanås, there were some children skipping in front of us – with their parents of course. I could not help but studying them. A girl and a boy – siblings – who quietly climbed the installations allowed. The girl exploring first…and then the boy took the lead. A bit more daring now…

Later in the day, I saw them merrily running and jumping over a little bridge in the fading sunshine. The boy in the lead. So…first the girl, leading the boy into this new, unknown world…and when he felt safe and secure enough, he took over.

Detta bildspel kräver JavaScript.

And, the very little girl in the header, trudging away…how did she manage?

I so recognized myself in her. She was a loner, a little philosopher…

…until her mother called her name, waking her up from her reveries and reminding her she had to hurry up and join the rest of the little family.

Thursday Thoughts – Easter Rain

13 april, 201713 april, 2017 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Rain, rain…Easter Rain. But inside, indoors – there is much to be seen and contemplated this week of exhibitions and art work. And good food, and good thoughts. I will be spending this week with my children and plan to visit some nice exhibitions as well. In fact, some of my photos will be up too. Exciting…

More reportings from the exhibitions later…

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

On Exhibition: Carl Larsson, Our National Painter

25 mars, 201725 mars, 2017 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

Our little town is right now the lucky host of the only exhibition of Carl Larsson’s art outside Dalarna and Sundborn. A visit to this tiny, but exquisite, exhibition was on the menue today. Our 39th wedding anniversary.

Carl Larsson (28 May 1853 – 22 January 1919) was a Swedish painter representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolours, and frescoes. But, when we think of Carl Larsson – we first of all think of his watercolours of his wife, children and home at Little Hyttnäs, Dalarna.

He considered his finest work to be Midvinterblot (Midwinter Sacrifice), a large (6-by-14-metre oil painting completed in 1915) painting now displayed inside the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts.However, this great work was at first rejected by the board of the museum, and later sold to Japan. The fresco depicts the blót of King Domalde at the Temple of Uppsala. Decades later, the painting was purchased and placed in the National Museum, on the wall it once was intended for.

Detta bildspel kräver JavaScript.

Carl Larsson was born on 28 May 1853 in the old town of Stockholm, at 78 Prästgatan. His parents were extremely poor, and his childhood was not happy. His father told the young boy that he ”cursed the day he was born”. A younger brother of Carls´ was the much loved son, but he died at an early age. Throughout his life, CL could never forget his father’s words…and…

…with him was forever the wish for being loved. Much loved.

For some years he and Strinberg were great friends…

…but Strindberg misunderstood the painters wish for love and recognition..

…and terribly let him down

And he found his great love in another young artist, Karin Bergöö, whom he soon married. Together they worked in perfect harmony – he painting and she designing and working mostly with textiles. She bore him 8 children.

Carl and Karin

Self portraits…

…were popular with CL

A beautifully written Love for Japan and Japanese Art

My favourite CL painting. This window is what I dreamt of having in my own home when I grew up!

Through their paintings and books, Little Hyttnäs has become one of the most famous artist’s homes in the world. The artistic taste and harmony of its creators made it a major line in Swedish interior design. Despite its controversialness to the style of the time. The descendants of Carl and Karin Larsson now keep the house open for tourists each summer from May until October.

Thursday Thoughts

23 mars, 201723 mars, 2017 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Spring is finally here. I am so grateful. Today we had a great 10 kilometre hike, me, my mother and Totti. We were out the whole afternoon, and brought food and coffee as well. The first day this year for eating outdoors, which is something we highly treasure here in Sweden. A short gallery of the day – we were all very happy and enjoying every second!

Travelling Again…

27 november, 2016 / Leya / 29 kommentarer

So, I will have to say goodbye for a while, again. Hopefully I will be back before Christmas. I want to thank you all so very much, readers, followers and friends who come visiting, liking, remarking, discussing – keeping me alive!

This trip will take me far away to a country I have never visited before. I am very excited about it, and I hope to tell you – and show you – more when I come back. Until then – have a great and joyous December!