Saturday, 25 April 2009
On Our Own?
No matter where you are you're never on your own. There may not be a single other person or signs of human civilization for miles, but all you have to do is look up and it won't be long before you see jets tearing across the sky.
More Spring
Spring is in the air: The snow is almost gone, we ate lunch on the veranda and Tasse the cat caught this season's first mouse! He devoured the whole thing before I got the camera out.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Ghost of a Tree
Unfortunately I don't know who wrote this:
Let us pause for the taking of inventory,
To measure the debt we owe the tree.
For the searching root that knits the soil,
The cooling shade for those who toil,
The air we breathe, nature's greatest gift,
And the leaf that heralds each season's shift.
Forget the not the fruit that feeds man and beast,
The branch that burns to prepare the feast.
That sturdy frame that builds our home,
And the paper on which you read this poem.
The tree gives all and asks no prize,
Even making the axe that ends it's life.
Take care of our trees.
Let us pause for the taking of inventory,
To measure the debt we owe the tree.
For the searching root that knits the soil,
The cooling shade for those who toil,
The air we breathe, nature's greatest gift,
And the leaf that heralds each season's shift.
Forget the not the fruit that feeds man and beast,
The branch that burns to prepare the feast.
That sturdy frame that builds our home,
And the paper on which you read this poem.
The tree gives all and asks no prize,
Even making the axe that ends it's life.
Take care of our trees.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
No More Winter
For the first time since moving to Sweden I'm actually going to miss the winter. I've really enjoyed skiing this year and since I got rid of my bike, spring is just not as exciting as it used to be while waiting for enough snow to disappear so I could go for the seasons first ride.
We say goodbye to winter for now: So long and thanks for all the snow!
We say goodbye to winter for now: So long and thanks for all the snow!
Friday, 10 April 2009
Spring Sign
First sign of spring is the Flower "Colt's Foot" or Tussilago farfara
Today we saw our first one this season breaking through the roadside.
Today we saw our first one this season breaking through the roadside.
Tuesday, 07 April 2009
COPYRIGHT!
It has come to my attention that some of my images are being printed. While this is flattering, I ask those who wish to have printed versions of my pictures to contact me first. I own the copyright of all the images on this website and even if you print images with the noblest of intentions you are still using my material without permission.
I always reduce the quality of the images to make them unsuitable for print so if you would like a copy then all you need to do is contact me for a more suitable version.
From now on I will also add a copyright logo before uploading images.
I always reduce the quality of the images to make them unsuitable for print so if you would like a copy then all you need to do is contact me for a more suitable version.
From now on I will also add a copyright logo before uploading images.
Monday, 06 April 2009
Storulvån
Skis? Check!
Food? Check!
Warm clothes? Check!
Family? Check!
All the family stuff? Will check again.
A skiing trip in the mountains is quite a project when it involves bringing little children with you. The idea was my impossibly optimistic cousin Kalle's to begin with and we were lucky to have the opportunity to rent a neighbours log cabin in an area called Storulvån.
Besides figuring out how and where to put everything in the cars (we ended up borrowing a huge trailer from another neighbour), you also have to work out how to fit the essentials for dragging children up mountains in World War II toboggans. That is where the real adventure begins. Also where the struggle begins. Snow is slippery and mountains are steep. World War II toboggans are heavy.
Lessons learned on our skiing adventure:
Don't try to save money by not getting proper climbing skins ( furry straps with sticky glue on the back, attaches to the skiis and enables you to ski upwards without slipping, kind of like a nordic spiderman).
Don't use army surplus toboggans from World War II to transport equipment and children up steep mountains. People were tougher back then and were trying not to get shot by germans, ie they had more incentive. I had my optimistic cousin insisting on a view.
Don't drag your kids up (or down) steep mountains, stay in the valleys even if the view is better further up. Kids don't care about views, but they do care (a lot) about crashing face down in snow while stuck in a toboggan.
One gets very sunburned even if it's winter and snowy outside. All it takes is sunny weather. I am a piggy pink as a result of not taking the above in to enough consideration.
Chill out with good food and wine in the evening when you're back at the cabin again. You deserve it.
Storulvån is a magnificent place and I would like to go back again, but I will keep this trip's lessons in my back pocket for the next time we go.
My impossibly optimistic cousin
WWII toboggans
Beware of snowblindness!
I felt a bit like I had the opportunity to play with the big boys on the deep side of the pool which I appreciated.
Saving precious Parma Ham from soggy sandwiches
Hot Cloudberries and icecream, an aquired taste.
Food? Check!
Warm clothes? Check!
Family? Check!
All the family stuff? Will check again.
A skiing trip in the mountains is quite a project when it involves bringing little children with you. The idea was my impossibly optimistic cousin Kalle's to begin with and we were lucky to have the opportunity to rent a neighbours log cabin in an area called Storulvån.
Besides figuring out how and where to put everything in the cars (we ended up borrowing a huge trailer from another neighbour), you also have to work out how to fit the essentials for dragging children up mountains in World War II toboggans. That is where the real adventure begins. Also where the struggle begins. Snow is slippery and mountains are steep. World War II toboggans are heavy.
Lessons learned on our skiing adventure:
Don't try to save money by not getting proper climbing skins ( furry straps with sticky glue on the back, attaches to the skiis and enables you to ski upwards without slipping, kind of like a nordic spiderman).
Don't use army surplus toboggans from World War II to transport equipment and children up steep mountains. People were tougher back then and were trying not to get shot by germans, ie they had more incentive. I had my optimistic cousin insisting on a view.
Don't drag your kids up (or down) steep mountains, stay in the valleys even if the view is better further up. Kids don't care about views, but they do care (a lot) about crashing face down in snow while stuck in a toboggan.
One gets very sunburned even if it's winter and snowy outside. All it takes is sunny weather. I am a piggy pink as a result of not taking the above in to enough consideration.
Chill out with good food and wine in the evening when you're back at the cabin again. You deserve it.
Storulvån is a magnificent place and I would like to go back again, but I will keep this trip's lessons in my back pocket for the next time we go.
My impossibly optimistic cousin
WWII toboggans
Beware of snowblindness!
I felt a bit like I had the opportunity to play with the big boys on the deep side of the pool which I appreciated.
Saving precious Parma Ham from soggy sandwiches
Hot Cloudberries and icecream, an aquired taste.
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