Midsummer
Swedish midsummer is all about dancing around the maypole to live music.
This year, we arrived at the local farm a little too late —
We could hear music in the distance;
But when we arrived at the maypole —
Slender against the cloudy sky —
The musicians were already putting away
Their instruments for the day.
We stopped to admire each ring of the maypole
Bedecked in flowers (woven there by hand).
The day did not go as planned,
But it’s how you roll with life that counts.
For more midsummer stories, please visit: Our World.
Golden nights
The long light evenings in Scandinavia
Are called white nights because it never really gets dark.
But for me, they will always be
Dazzling, honey’d golden nights,
Where the setting sun
Matches the red fur of my dogs.
For more dazzling stories, please go to: Skywatch.
Golden joy
It’s almost impossible to photograph a summer sunset
As the sun goes down so very late.
Even at 9.30 or 10 in the evening,
The sun is blazing golden and serene.
The evening light is liquid honey —
And when Simmie shakes after his swim,
He creates golden fireworks of water.
For more joy, please visit: Our World.
A surprise visitor
This weekend, I went down to the lake
To enjoy yet another golden sunset with the dogs.
This time – we were joined by a surprise visitor: a beaver.
The beavers have been very active further around the lake,
But now they have felled trees near the beach too.
Which might explain why the beaver was so eager to visit.
The beaver swam up towards Ruby – before realizing she was a dog….
With a huge splash of its tail, it disappeared under the water.
Simmie decided he had to guard Ruby – and the floating pontoon!
The sun was still blazing in the sky at about 9.30 pm
As we watched the beaver swim away in a lake of molten gold.
For more surprises, please visit: Our World.
And Skywatch!
New kid on the block
The setting sun threw out a white arc
Of cloud as we walked down to the lake
To welcome the new jetty.
It is a good place to sit
And watch the coloured ribbons in the sky.
For more sunsets, please visit: Skywatch.
Tangerine dream
Down by the lake,
The sun goes down in a burst of orange.
Simmie gets a burst of energy from the view —
And a swim in the cold water. He’s a happy boy!
Ruby prefers to sit and gaze
At the tangerine dream of another beautiful sunset.
For more peachy moments, please visit: Skywatch.
Hollywood calling
Ruby turned 8 last week. As many of you long-time followers know, she is very good at posing for photos.
Perhaps Hollywood is calling her name…
Here she is as the Snow Queen:
She makes a good character
in Dame of Thrones, don’t you think?
And, of course, her ears flapping in a storm
Make her a great favourite to play Yoda.
“So, Ruby – what do you think of your mum always taking photos of you?”
No, surely that’s not you sticking your tongue out at me!
For more un-retrievable jokes, please visit: Our World.
Colour me violet
Sometimes a sunset doesn’t put on
A fiery show as the sun goes down;
All you have to do is take your best girl, some dogs
And wait for the lilac and violet tints to paint the sky.
For more hue-tiful posts, please visit: Skywatch.
Beautiful brevity
The sakura, or Japanese cherry blossoms,
Remind us that life is short and beautiful.
Buds and blossoms thrive
On the same branch –Â and so can we if we really try.
The pink froth of the petals
Reminds us that time and blossoms are fleeting, fragile and fabulous.
For more insights into life, please visit: Our World.
Dog with a view
Going down to the lake with the dogs
Is my evening pleasure:
Nature provides the best entertainment
As clouds and setting sun
Turn the waters of the lake pink.
For more great views, please go to: Skywatch.
Who says what?