Travel theme: Winter

20 december, 201320 december, 2013 / Leya / 27 kommentarer

So far this year, there is no real winter here in Skane, Sweden – there is no snow. There is not even frost and it’s not remotely close to zero degrees C. Last year is another story…winter was upon us in early December and lasted for several months, in fact it was one of the ”worst ”winters ever when it comes to snow, cold and endurance…

I will have to use those lovely memories from last year, Ailsa, to really show Winter.

My garden

Across the street – winter certainly came unexpected…

…but we had much sunshine

Varför vinner Pilfinken? – Eurasian Tree Sparrows – why are they the winners?

15 december, 2013 / Leya / 27 kommentarer

I min trädgård finns nästan inga gråsparvar längre. Inte på flera år har jag sett dem – men istället finns det gott om pilfinkar. Båda hör till samma släkte och är väl utbredda i Europa. Gråsparven dras till städer och människor, medan pilfinken vill ha mera ängar och öppen mark. Eller, så har det hetat i alla fall. När man åker söderut i Europa ser man många gråsparvar vid uteserveringar och andra ställen där människor vistas. Det skulle vara intressant att veta varför sparvarna har minskat här hos oss – för mina kollegor håller med mig. Gråsparvarna har mer eller mindre försvunnit och pilfinkarna har tagit över.

In my garden the House Sparrows are more or less gone – instead the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is increasing in numbers. These are both common birds in Europe, but I would like to see some research on why the House Sparrow is disappearing more and more up here in the Northern countries. If you travel south in Europe, they are still numerous. Strangely enough it is the House Sparrow that wants to live close to humans, so they are the ones who (with simple logic) should have been the winners.

Väntar – waiting

Spanar – on the lookout…

Slåss – fighting

Vinnaren – the winner

Väntar – waiting

Delar! – Sharing!

Winter solstice ahead – take a dogwalk with me!

14 december, 201314 december, 2013 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

The days in the Northern Hemisphere will soon be at their shortest. That turning point is always something to look forward to – The winter solstice. This is the time at which the sun appears at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon. This year, 2013, it is on the 21 of December – one week left.

Today there was a thin rift in the gloomy skies and a pale ray of sun shone through. It lasted for about five minutes. They were precious. I will show you…

I only had my phone today, because I wasn’t in the mood for photography in this fog and darkness.

Anyway, we finished our day in a little town nearby, buying Christmas presents. On a shelf, these two gentlemen resided (together with three more) Which made NZ and the charming Lonely Dog in Auckland pop up again! https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/lonely-dog/ ‎ Sweet memories!

On our return, 3-4 p.m. it was pit black.

Weekly travel theme: Still

13 december, 201313 december, 2013 / Leya / 17 kommentarer

In the still of the night…Midsummer’s Eve 2013.

Still waiting for something Still? Go to Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack? for more of it.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Alone

10 december, 201310 december, 2013 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

Alone is for me never a synonym to being lonely. A young man who goes away to sit alone and reflect upon his choice – during the days of introduction to a new school – and a beautiful rowan tree standing alone on the beach of a distant island. Both are beautiful in their wise thinking, contemplating their experiences.

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Silence

1 december, 20131 december, 2013 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Silence is a favourite sound of mine. And, Ese gives us the chance of showing what this essentially means to us. To me, it can be hiking an early morning alone in the mountains, and then enjoying the first rays of sun in silent awe of Mother Nature.

True silence is the rest of mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.

William Penn

Travel theme: Sky

29 november, 201329 november, 2013 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

Ailsa has given us a new brilliant task – to show Sky. The sky is the limit and the inspiration. Constantly changing and enigmatic.

Passing by

26 november, 2013 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

Ese’s Weekly Shoot & Quote Callenge: Direction

24 november, 201324 november, 2013 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

Direction is what Ese points out to us this week…as usual a delightful challenge – why don’t you join in?

Trees go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!

John Muir

Ese’s weekly Shoot & Quote Challenge: Intangible

17 november, 201318 november, 2013 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

Ese gave us another beautiful task this week – Intangible. The best things in our lives are indeed intangible, love, for example. Or, a morning rainbow over my old appletree.