Thursday Thoughts – Nice again!

7 mars, 20247 mars, 2024 / Leya / 29 kommentarer

Do you love dragons?

Warning – I do and always have…So, the night light carnival was absolutely mezmerising. Ever since I first read about dragons, I have loved them. My daughter played with dragons and built dragons instead of dolls or cars. I still love animated movies with dragons in them. Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki on Japanese myths of old) and How to Train your Dragon (charming and clever), both have much to teach us. Fun, inspiration and wisdom in one. I hope to see them again with little Myra.

Time for the Light festival then. Promenade des Anglais looked wonderful in the sunset. But now – let’s get started!

The Carnival King arrived in confetti showers. At least 10-15 meters tall. Impressive.

Then another king came along – you all know who he is!

This car was obviously every year in the parade. I don’t recognise the animals or drivers. Do you?

Now – my dragons! Some skilled building here and I don’t want to know how many hours’ work. Look at the details. He walked, moved his body parts separately, sent flames and smoke, and juggled artists from his neck and head.

We climbed down the stairs to see him from ground level too. What a treat! My little grandchild looked at the movie clip I sent, and was at first a bit scared, then fascinated. I hope she will love dragons too. My fascination still burns. It is good to keep the child in you even as a grown up.

Thursday Thoughts – Carnaval de Nice

29 februari, 202429 februari, 2024 / Leya / 36 kommentarer

For the first time we were there – and we went four different carnival days. All thanks to Viveka of Myguiltypleasures, who is a true ambassador of this carnival. If you want to see more from Nice – please visit her fantastic blog.

Enjoy a gallery from the Opening Parade, with the theme: Roi de la Pop Culture. Starting and ending with some great stars!

More to come next week…

Thursday Thoughts – Van Gogh Alive

15 februari, 202414 februari, 2024 / Leya / 38 kommentarer

If you haven’t seen this exhibition, I do recommend you to go! I guess it has been shown in a great many countries by now – and finally here in Malmoe too.

Vincent Van Gogh has always fascinated me, his paintings as well as his grim fate. This digital exhibition is a wonder in both pictures and music. We stayed for hours, walking, sitting, being totally soaked up in his world. I also liked very much the concept of people getting portrayed as silhouettes against his works. An inspirational evening indeed.

If you happen to have this exhibition in your city, please go and see it – being immersed in beautiful images to enchanting music – what more can you ask for?

Thursday Thoughts – Winter Birds

8 februari, 20247 februari, 2024 / Leya / 38 kommentarer

Some of my winter guests every year, photographed through my window. Of course Robin is my absolute favourite – and I have two of them. They eat on different sides of the house, this one outside my room and the other one outside my kitchen window. Fighters they are, so better stay apart…

Every year in January there is a national bird count, and everyone who has a feeder or a garden can participate and count their birds during three days and then report the results. For the last ten years the birds have been declining and some species are not here anymore. This is a fact all over the world. But, it is interesting to participate and follow your own reports as well as from the whole country over the years. Some years there is an invasion of a certain species, and this year we had a massive invasion of the Common Redpoll all over the Sweden.

Thursday Thoughts – It’s that Time Again…

1 februari, 2024 / Leya / 36 kommentarer

A lovely week to revitalise my plants – just finished tonight, happy and tired! I will count them tomorrow…

Thursday Thoughts – Seen in Seattle

25 januari, 202424 januari, 2024 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

I had some fun double exposing in Seattle too. With Chihuly, colours cannot go wrong!

I loved the long walk with chandeliers leading out to

the pavillion, where preparations for a big party had just started.

But, the floor was mine for a short minute. I was truly grateful.

Thursday Thoughts – The Many Colours of Winter

18 januari, 202417 januari, 2024 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

Winter deserves its name this year – Winter in its real meaning that is. We had -20 degrees C for several days and these images show something of how cold that was.

Still, grasses and plants in this garden offers warmer winter colours.

Back to the real thing – I cannot help loving it!

Today we had another snow storm and another 10 cm snow. In fact I cannot remember when we had so many weeks of winter without thaw and rain in between. But, I admit that I prefer temperatures closer to -10 instead of -20…

Thursday Thoughts – By the Sea

11 januari, 202410 januari, 2024 / Leya / 30 kommentarer

Yesterday we decided to drive to the sea, as the cold has kept us mostly indoors for some days, -20 at home. When we approached the sea, the snow had almost disappeared. But not the cold …

Then the sun came out! Not the warming kind of course – but the cheering up kind.

We went for a short walk in the icy wind. There were not many birds to be seen, a couple of ducks and a lonely swan in the silent seascape.

Cold puffs rising from the water, gratefully breathing in the first rays of sun.

The next morning offered a glorious start of the day. Clear, pink skies and a windless scenery, land and sea in harmony.

We are so fortunate, that winter time we don’t have to rise early for the colours…because the sun will not be up until late. Around 8.30 now. Time well spent.

Thursday Thoughts – Abandoned

14 december, 2023 / Leya / 28 kommentarer

As so many times before, we walked this road of abandoned houses and homesteads. This time in the most lovely of winter weather.

And they were still standing, the houses, just like the year before. And I guess my photos are almost the same too.

Somehow I have to see them again, secretely dreaming that someday, someone will repair, build new and move in…

There is a strange feeling…as if the farmers had only walked away from their chores and left everything standing.

And let the cattle out without closing the gate. Left everything to the wild, and for nature to reclaim its ground.

Thursday Thoughts – Winter Colours

7 december, 202329 december, 2023 / Leya / 37 kommentarer

Tree of Life. It is wonderful to notice the many wildlife footprints – the snow reveals that we still have a strong population of both deer, foxes, hares and rabbits.