The magic of midsummer
Celebrating the miracle of light – after so many months of winter darkness – culminates in the biggest festival of all: midsummer.
This is a time of dancing around the maypole dressed in traditional costumes, accompanied by live fiddle music and song.
Although the tradition of dressing a pole in flowers and leaves came from Germany about 700 years ago, the idea of celebrating summer goes back much further than that. Summer is so short and sweet that it has to be enjoyed to the fullest!
As always, these traditions are about family, friends and food. Pickled herring (if you like that sort of thing), fresh new potatoes and, of course, strawberries: glowing red jewels that taste of sunshine.
Midsummer falls on the Friday just after the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. The white nights, or long summer evenings, are gloriously light – making sleeping difficult – and the sun is still blazing long into the night and then again in the very early morning.
10.30 at night… a pastel pink midsummer sky graces the silhouette of the old church across the lake.
I’ll sleep again come winter.. but right now, I have to enjoy the light!
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Frog, dreaming
One day…
Yes, one day…
My princess will come!
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Pringles sunset
A warm apricot glow finds its way through the trees and into the kitchen window. It catches my eye as I trail upstairs to bed.
I veer into the study, grab my camera and rush out into the warm, light evening – trailing kids behind.
Excited voices and laughter. The kids love leaping out of bed when they hear me running outside on a photographic adventure.
This time they are prepared. They have made a telescope out of an empty Pringles container to see the sunset more clearly.
It’s a good one, our Pringles sunset.
So good – that one is never enough and we just can’t stop (taking photos)!
For more great views, pop over to: Skywatch!
Golden tones
Last week saw the end of term, the end of the school year. Our school always celebrates this milestone in our local church, which is 800 years old.
Was it the joy of the occasion – or just the light that made the violins glow?
Daughter with her violin
The soaring voices of angels singing made
Warm wood – the colour of honey – luminous against the backdrop of wet leaves on old glass.
And now, at last, the restraints of church are cast off
As children, tasting freedom and scraped knees and sun and ice cream,
Let their voices tumble out in golden laughter.
Bottoms up!
There was an expectant hush over the crowd
As the competitors took their place.
Going for gold
In the synchronized diving Olympics!
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Stormy sky, overlooked
It’s all too easy to overlook everyday beauty, don’t you think?
You look out of the window and sigh, “Grey skies again!” Well, at least I do.
But now and then those grey skies are suddenly transformed into a dramatic and breathtaking oil painting, with large clouds balled up in a sky that seems to go on forever.
(You can always click the photos to see them even better!)
As you look, you see that the colours are not really grey, but a glorious range of pastels, silver and pearly coloured, splashes of dark purple and – there – can you see it in the photo below? – a lovely blue breaking free from the horizon like a shy smile lighting up a small child’s face.
I’m going to scoop up the next grey skies in my hands and drink deeply from them.
Will you?
For more great heavens, please visit: Skywatch!
Song, dance, life!
We spent two nights away last weekend as my birthday present to Sir Pe. Where? Out near the archipelago south of Stockholm at an African song and dance camp.
We slept in some rather hard bunk beds, but the pretty view (from our bedroom window) over the summer meadows made up for the stiffness in our limbs. And the anklebiters were in heaven spending two nights on the dizzying heights of the top bunk!
There was beautiful song, new friends and old were enjoyed, food was served and the washing up done for us – and, of course, there was lots of rhythm and groove and dancing.
The dance was strenuous but so full of joy. And it came naturally…
Stick out your bottom.
Jiggle jiggle.
(But in my case, no extra effort needed to get the jiggle effect.)
Let’s celebrate!
It was Sweden’s National Day last week.
The Norwegians celebrate their day with parades and joy and noise on the streets and the Irish have beer and hats and shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day …
… while the Swedes aren’t quite sure what it is they are celebrating.
There is singing and dancing in traditional clothes.
Look! I spied this woman gearing up the day before and snapped this shot from a restaurant window.
There is the embracing of other cultures and traditions. We were lucky enough to see this dance group from Lithuania. Such pretty costumes and just look at the delightful expression on the face of the girl on the right! (No, not my right – your right!)
The flags in the breeze seem to be celebrating a new kind of ‘Swedishness’ – something that goes beyond being proud of your country to the opening up of attitudes towards others, to something that breathes tolerance and acceptance for all.
And I guess that is something worth celebrating – or, at least, striving for.
For more slices of life, please visit: My World!
The wonder of clouds
The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn’t it be? It is the same the angels breathe.
– Mark Twain
Click the photo for a bigger and better version…
For more delicious skies, please visit: Skywatch!
I’m away this weekend, dipping toes into chilly water, singing, dancing and cloud watching – so please forgive me if it takes me a while to pop round and visit you.
And yes – I was actually wearing clothes (as opposed to nightwear) when I took this shot!
Angel at the window
Dog wags tail in anticipation of another day.
I open the door, not knowing what wonders this walk will unearth.
Fresh earth smell, luscious fragrance of summer blossoms
And a light that uplifts the spirits.
I look up — and spy an angel at the window.
Just then, the world is laid out at my feet
Full of possibilities.
Today I learned that angels paint with sound…and sing with colour.
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Just about to take the plunge
To modify Oscar Wilde…
“I can resist anything except temptation … and water!”
Oscar (my dog) stood and stared at the water, but in the end, the joy of jumping in was too great!
Can you think of a better way to start off your day?
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Oh no – not again!
It happens far too many times to count on two hands now and then. I just can’t help myself.
It’s all Nature’s fault.
There I am, ready for bed in nightie and dressing gown; kids dressed in pajamas.
A ruby in the sky beckons; calls my name and tells me to hurry.
Nature is putting on a show and I just can’t miss it.
“Oh no – not again!” sighs Sir Pe as I rush outside in dressing gown, clutching onto camera, two excited kids and a few strands of straggled dignity.
People pretend not to notice us in our nightclothes.
But there is no alternative, is there?
After all, who would want to miss out on moments like these?
For more glorious photos, please visit: Skywatch!
Feet on the ground
I love gazing at the stars
And floating up high with my head in the clouds.
But sometimes, it can be worth looking down
Just in case…
You know what? I’m sure I asked for a pair of angel wings… not an extra leg!
Happiness is a butterfly
As you know, we visited the Butterfly House in a large park in Stockholm last week.
The humid air was twinkling with bite-sized dancing blue waves that turned out to be butterflies in action. They never stopped to rest – or so it seemed – and I spent the best part of an hour, running around after these twinkling creatures trying to capture them with my camera.
Without much success.
Other butterflies waited patiently for me to snap them as they sat on ruby hibiscuses. But those blue butterflies remained elusive.
The lizards taunted me with their tongues and the parrots laughed at my efforts!
I hid behind bushes, lurked behind the foliage… waiting for one of those blue butterflies to open its wings.
In my mad desire to photograph them, I missed the delicate red jewels on their wings; the long elegant stripes on their bodies.
Just as I gave up the chase, this butterfly helped me slow down and see its beauty. As a farewell gift, it opened its wings just a tantalizing fraction to show me the blue within.
It came when I wasn’t looking for it anymore.
Just like happiness – or hope – can do.
For more happy slices of life, please visit: My World!
Who says what?