A sonambulistic saturday, full of dreamy moments that were actually a part of reality. Yet another beautiful day, high 30's on the veranda, that gave way in the late afternoon to that relaxing haze covered sun that is pleasant to be under without being overbearingly hot.
Spring is quite definitely here! All the signs are quite clear. Pansies, Petunias and Geraniums were all placed into their respective window boxes and pots, after having been purchased in the local town, by my wife...whose delight it is each Spring to carry out this ritual. It's a ritual that harbours innumerable blessings throughout the rest of the spring, into the summer and through to late autumn. For all of this time, each year, we have a home festooned with continuingly blossoming flowers.
Not all was quite wonderful today, however. Whilst out for a little walk I came across the not-too-old corpse of a Squirrel. I am hoping that this is not my friendly little fellow from the Hazel tree.
Even in this Paradise there are reminders of the transient nature of this reality. All, all is in a state of change, a condition of re-creation: reforming, reconstituting. An endless pattern of molecular mysteries that assault the senses and calibrate new concepts,
diseminate old traditions, evolve new experiences...and never one the same as another. Even two people apparently watching the same things experience it differently.
Amazing, huh?
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Saturday, May 12, 2001
Friday, May 11, 2001
Another wonderful day (Friday 11th) here in this Swedish Paradise. Absolutely incredible sunny weather.
The spring is now advancing quite rapidly with leaves perfectly discernible and that strong fresh
almost fluorescent 'blotching effect' appearing across the forest and the lakeside. Even the grass is starting to show
noticeable activity. A profound sense of 'impressionism rules, OK?' dominates the landscape.
The brilliance of the sunlight has given way to a tranquil haze during the early evening and a tiredness has settled on the...........hmmm...that is not an objective observation as the tiredness has simply settled on me, not on everything else.
It's not exactly easy to remain highly energised on such hot days in such beautiful surroundings. This kind of living has a
rhythm of it's own that is somewhat different from the often high-stress, high nervous energy scenario of city life
There goes that E=Mc2 thing again, it's always a question of where you stand as to what you see, huh?
I haven't seen the 'forest accountant' again today, he'll be back I'm sure, but did see one of the many Red Deer that
come around this area. A solitary male looking as though his wife had kicked him out! Such magnificently graceful creatures.
Must keep an eye open for the Swedish Navy's miniature sub, codenamed Beaver, that I haven't yet seen this year. Haven't seen him, but have seen his 'business card' in the form of felled trees or trees he's somehow dragged into the lake where he's stripped the bark and smaller branches from them.
Having talked about Dalsland Dinosaurs yesterday I was going to tell you about 'Swedish Elephants', but I'm too tired for tonight. Tell ya another time, huh?
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The spring is now advancing quite rapidly with leaves perfectly discernible and that strong fresh
almost fluorescent 'blotching effect' appearing across the forest and the lakeside. Even the grass is starting to show
noticeable activity. A profound sense of 'impressionism rules, OK?' dominates the landscape.
The brilliance of the sunlight has given way to a tranquil haze during the early evening and a tiredness has settled on the...........hmmm...that is not an objective observation as the tiredness has simply settled on me, not on everything else.
It's not exactly easy to remain highly energised on such hot days in such beautiful surroundings. This kind of living has a
rhythm of it's own that is somewhat different from the often high-stress, high nervous energy scenario of city life
There goes that E=Mc2 thing again, it's always a question of where you stand as to what you see, huh?
I haven't seen the 'forest accountant' again today, he'll be back I'm sure, but did see one of the many Red Deer that
come around this area. A solitary male looking as though his wife had kicked him out! Such magnificently graceful creatures.
Must keep an eye open for the Swedish Navy's miniature sub, codenamed Beaver, that I haven't yet seen this year. Haven't seen him, but have seen his 'business card' in the form of felled trees or trees he's somehow dragged into the lake where he's stripped the bark and smaller branches from them.
Having talked about Dalsland Dinosaurs yesterday I was going to tell you about 'Swedish Elephants', but I'm too tired for tonight. Tell ya another time, huh?
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This blog for 10th May.
It was warm again today, not as warm as yesterday but that was probably because the morning
was fairly overcast. The clouds passed away by mid afternoon and then competed a little over the next few hours with the sun. It was still a very nice day.
One of the 'forest accountants' came around again today. He (is you'll pardon me being sexist about it) visited quite a lot last year, in the Hazel tree that stands about 4 metres from the house.
I was surprised - and delighted - however to see his return as he busied himself in the skeletal form of the Hazel tree which has not yet joined the present referendum campaign to any great degree. After some hectic activity the 'forest accountant' a.k.a. Squirrel, settled down in the late afternoon to some serious sunbathing completely oblivious, or so it seemed, to my presence and my camera. He allowed me to come within 2 metres of him!!!
Oblivious also he appeared to remain in respect of the referendum which, as predicted, has given way to masses of small green pendants exploding all over the forest. It would appear that the lack of a high level of heat this morning permitted hectic acticity to take place in the bud and leaf ( a.k.a. media battle) areas of the campaign. The Birch Party was making a very strong show of it...well, what's left of them in our area after the Beaver attack of last year oh, and the 'Swedish Woodpecker' otherwise known as the chain saw!!!
The previous winter, as you may have experienced in other areas of Europe and the world, was a winter of high winded storms. This, I understand, did much damage within the forests and whilst much work was done last year before the Spring in removing damaged or poorly rooted trees, much still remained to be done. There has been a lot of 'thinning out' of the forest this year by the 'Swedish woodpecker' and the even bigger , horrendously bigger, 'Dalsland Dinosaur'. The latter is a kind of mobile timber factory, felling, trimming and sectioning large trees in barely a minute or so.
Amazing material wood, isn't it? All the things we re-create from it's felled form.
Oh, if you want to see the 'forest accountant', check page 7 on the website...it's easy to find as there is a thumbnail index at the bottom of every page.
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It was warm again today, not as warm as yesterday but that was probably because the morning
was fairly overcast. The clouds passed away by mid afternoon and then competed a little over the next few hours with the sun. It was still a very nice day.
One of the 'forest accountants' came around again today. He (is you'll pardon me being sexist about it) visited quite a lot last year, in the Hazel tree that stands about 4 metres from the house.
I was surprised - and delighted - however to see his return as he busied himself in the skeletal form of the Hazel tree which has not yet joined the present referendum campaign to any great degree. After some hectic activity the 'forest accountant' a.k.a. Squirrel, settled down in the late afternoon to some serious sunbathing completely oblivious, or so it seemed, to my presence and my camera. He allowed me to come within 2 metres of him!!!
Oblivious also he appeared to remain in respect of the referendum which, as predicted, has given way to masses of small green pendants exploding all over the forest. It would appear that the lack of a high level of heat this morning permitted hectic acticity to take place in the bud and leaf ( a.k.a. media battle) areas of the campaign. The Birch Party was making a very strong show of it...well, what's left of them in our area after the Beaver attack of last year oh, and the 'Swedish Woodpecker' otherwise known as the chain saw!!!
The previous winter, as you may have experienced in other areas of Europe and the world, was a winter of high winded storms. This, I understand, did much damage within the forests and whilst much work was done last year before the Spring in removing damaged or poorly rooted trees, much still remained to be done. There has been a lot of 'thinning out' of the forest this year by the 'Swedish woodpecker' and the even bigger , horrendously bigger, 'Dalsland Dinosaur'. The latter is a kind of mobile timber factory, felling, trimming and sectioning large trees in barely a minute or so.
Amazing material wood, isn't it? All the things we re-create from it's felled form.
Oh, if you want to see the 'forest accountant', check page 7 on the website...it's easy to find as there is a thumbnail index at the bottom of every page.
.........................................................return to homepage
Wednesday, May 09, 2001
Today in the forest 'forsamlingshus' (that's a meeting, assembly place where discussions and debates occur) there were heated debates between the Birch Party and the Pine Party. At regular intervals a 'referendum/election' occurs between all the species of the forest...and that's a lot of individual and corporate views.....concerning which species has most benefited the forest during the period of Spring. As discussed in previous blogs, the Spring is late this year and this was the cause of the heated debates as the referendum has been re-dated to a later time than had been previously thought despite current circumstances being at the optimum.
The assembly house was not the only place where much heat was generated, indeed, the whole area benefited from a miniature heat wave today that surpassed even yesterday's high temperatures.
The Pine Party, though probably by far the largest grouping, came under attack from the Birch Party (still a large party - but rapidly losing members under the Beaver onslaught ) whose flamboyance is far more noticeable, especially in the spring when they don their party colours of green for the bed, sorry, Deb season. Meanwhile fringe parties like the Oak Party and the Cherry party continued their normal meditative (almost like sleeping) activities on the back benches, oblivious to the row.
The Lilac Party moved around wearing complacent grins - of course they would, they 'peak' at around the first week of June (or will do this year) and so stand to benefit from their highly noticeable and colourful exposure. Frankly speaking, however, though well liked there are simply not enough of them to stand a chance of winning.
It is almost unbelievable how rapidly the reports of the meeting spread during the day and all over the forest party members of the differing groups were seen to be flying their, as yet, small pendants and flags . As the 'election fever' increases we will start to see whole establishments covered in the party colours. This will, on present pundit's forecasts, be sometime by the last week of May.
All in all it has been a brilliant and exciting day here by the lakeside, hehehehehe :)
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The assembly house was not the only place where much heat was generated, indeed, the whole area benefited from a miniature heat wave today that surpassed even yesterday's high temperatures.
The Pine Party, though probably by far the largest grouping, came under attack from the Birch Party (still a large party - but rapidly losing members under the Beaver onslaught ) whose flamboyance is far more noticeable, especially in the spring when they don their party colours of green for the bed, sorry, Deb season. Meanwhile fringe parties like the Oak Party and the Cherry party continued their normal meditative (almost like sleeping) activities on the back benches, oblivious to the row.
The Lilac Party moved around wearing complacent grins - of course they would, they 'peak' at around the first week of June (or will do this year) and so stand to benefit from their highly noticeable and colourful exposure. Frankly speaking, however, though well liked there are simply not enough of them to stand a chance of winning.
It is almost unbelievable how rapidly the reports of the meeting spread during the day and all over the forest party members of the differing groups were seen to be flying their, as yet, small pendants and flags . As the 'election fever' increases we will start to see whole establishments covered in the party colours. This will, on present pundit's forecasts, be sometime by the last week of May.
All in all it has been a brilliant and exciting day here by the lakeside, hehehehehe :)
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Tuesday, May 08, 2001
Today has been the (this) idealist's conceptualisation of a perfect day in respect of the weather. One is entitled to say this after last year's heavy and prolonged 'rainy and flood season' that merged into the winter. The winter seemed to be a year long! The 'culture shock' of a day of unninterrupted sunshine, clear blue skies and heat - heat! At 11-00 am the sensor for our electronic thermometer (which is mostly shaded on a window ledge above the rear veranda where it overlooks the lake and the sentinel suggestive forms of the Birch Trees) showed 35.6 C.
The max/min reading during the day showed 37.5 C. It was enough to dissolve that chillness which had still been careering recklessly around upon whatever breeze took it's fancy without any thoughts of holiday or migration.
It's been quite a wait for such a day. The summery suggestiveness of a true spring day is late this year, about 10-14 days at least according to my photo library from the previous two years. Speaking with my brother in England I was also amazed to learn that it is late there also. 8th May and no sign of any leaves on the Horse Chestnut tree across the road from him. Meanwhile, across the road (for road read valley) from us the whispered gossip of Spring I spoke about the other day shows every manifestation of becoming a rowdy political meeting (topical comment due to the announcement of election day in the UK).
There are defineable signs of a mass gathering of greens threatening to chain react into the usual explosion of Spring that has held me in awe of it's rapidity ever since I came to Scandinavia and especially to this house. It's kind of 'one week it isn't, then next week it is'. A veritable blitzkreig of bud bedecked, blade bestowed,blossom bountied beauty.
The Sweden Experience has so many, many highlights but somehow the outbreak of Spring splendour is about the finest in my mind. I cannot imagine to live in a place without a tree that speaks, each year, to me of the sheer magnificence, the incredible wonder of the variety of this life's experiences. Of the miracle of rebirth and re-creation.
This life is a truly amazing realisation of conceptualities in all their forms.
Oh, and just in case anyone wanted to know....I was up before sunrise again today...and have the pictures to prove it :):)
I sincerely hope your day was as beautiful as mine has been today :):)
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The max/min reading during the day showed 37.5 C. It was enough to dissolve that chillness which had still been careering recklessly around upon whatever breeze took it's fancy without any thoughts of holiday or migration.
It's been quite a wait for such a day. The summery suggestiveness of a true spring day is late this year, about 10-14 days at least according to my photo library from the previous two years. Speaking with my brother in England I was also amazed to learn that it is late there also. 8th May and no sign of any leaves on the Horse Chestnut tree across the road from him. Meanwhile, across the road (for road read valley) from us the whispered gossip of Spring I spoke about the other day shows every manifestation of becoming a rowdy political meeting (topical comment due to the announcement of election day in the UK).
There are defineable signs of a mass gathering of greens threatening to chain react into the usual explosion of Spring that has held me in awe of it's rapidity ever since I came to Scandinavia and especially to this house. It's kind of 'one week it isn't, then next week it is'. A veritable blitzkreig of bud bedecked, blade bestowed,blossom bountied beauty.
The Sweden Experience has so many, many highlights but somehow the outbreak of Spring splendour is about the finest in my mind. I cannot imagine to live in a place without a tree that speaks, each year, to me of the sheer magnificence, the incredible wonder of the variety of this life's experiences. Of the miracle of rebirth and re-creation.
This life is a truly amazing realisation of conceptualities in all their forms.
Oh, and just in case anyone wanted to know....I was up before sunrise again today...and have the pictures to prove it :):)
I sincerely hope your day was as beautiful as mine has been today :):)
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Monday, May 07, 2001
Amazing how important the small words are in life, huh? The problems I made for myself updating (ftp-ing) my website today just because I messed up a very small word on the ftp instruction. It kind of makes me think of the old saying 'manners maketh man' and just how pleasant, perhaps even important, it is to say things like 'please' and 'thankyou'.
The reason for updating was that I decided to let folks see what I was talking about in yesterday's blog...the sun. So there's now some pics from yesterday and from today showing the sun departing, the moon departing this morning and a pic just before the sun rose.I was up that early!!!! (take note family members - they never believe I get up before midday, heheheheeh)
Also on the updated website there's a link to the local town's webcam, operated by the Kommune (council) and showing the car park and streets, plus a bit of the lake (yet another lake!) in front of the combined library/school/tourist centre. Tourism? Absolutely, we get innundated in the summer with canoists and campers touring the lakes, forests,and all that. They come from all over Europe, a bit like the migratory birds :) It's a very pleasant little town, nicely laid out and one can usually get most of anything there. If not in stock, shopkeeper's are excellent at ordering and getting it fast.
I've been coming here for over 12 years now and even now my Swedish is not so good, (I'm not so hot with languages even though I try)so it's very nice of most of them to tolerate me speaking English. In fact, many like me to do so as they like to practice their's, hehehehehehe.
Nice place. Nice people. Nice life, huh?
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The reason for updating was that I decided to let folks see what I was talking about in yesterday's blog...the sun. So there's now some pics from yesterday and from today showing the sun departing, the moon departing this morning and a pic just before the sun rose.I was up that early!!!! (take note family members - they never believe I get up before midday, heheheheeh)
Also on the updated website there's a link to the local town's webcam, operated by the Kommune (council) and showing the car park and streets, plus a bit of the lake (yet another lake!) in front of the combined library/school/tourist centre. Tourism? Absolutely, we get innundated in the summer with canoists and campers touring the lakes, forests,and all that. They come from all over Europe, a bit like the migratory birds :) It's a very pleasant little town, nicely laid out and one can usually get most of anything there. If not in stock, shopkeeper's are excellent at ordering and getting it fast.
I've been coming here for over 12 years now and even now my Swedish is not so good, (I'm not so hot with languages even though I try)so it's very nice of most of them to tolerate me speaking English. In fact, many like me to do so as they like to practice their's, hehehehehehe.
Nice place. Nice people. Nice life, huh?
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Sunday, May 06, 2001
Sunday 6th May. I am writing this just minutes after the sun has diasppeared over the forest treeline across the dale. It's 20.44 as
I start writing. The sun has been here all day and it has been a splendid day with the weather. The sun is now rising a little North of dur East, and setting a little North of due West. Maybe you would care to follow this blog and find out where the sun is on Midsummer's Day, huh?
I've been working with the construction project again today, treating softwood panel with a treatment called 'Softwood Lye' which is a Caustic Soda based solution. Once wood panel has been treated with this...and duly washed with a soap solution .... it will not discolour and darken. It needs careful handling though, waterproof overalls and gloves and a visor to protect the eyes. I did almost 60 square metres yesterday and today...and my arms ache, hehehehehehe.
Not seen any Red Deer or Elk for a few days. Nor have I yet seen our local Beaver. Canada Geese are, however, in abundant supply. They fly in (not from Canada though I think) for the Spring and Summer, even staying until quite late in the Autumn. When they leave, winter's here!!
Guess that's about all for today :)
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I start writing. The sun has been here all day and it has been a splendid day with the weather. The sun is now rising a little North of dur East, and setting a little North of due West. Maybe you would care to follow this blog and find out where the sun is on Midsummer's Day, huh?
I've been working with the construction project again today, treating softwood panel with a treatment called 'Softwood Lye' which is a Caustic Soda based solution. Once wood panel has been treated with this...and duly washed with a soap solution .... it will not discolour and darken. It needs careful handling though, waterproof overalls and gloves and a visor to protect the eyes. I did almost 60 square metres yesterday and today...and my arms ache, hehehehehehe.
Not seen any Red Deer or Elk for a few days. Nor have I yet seen our local Beaver. Canada Geese are, however, in abundant supply. They fly in (not from Canada though I think) for the Spring and Summer, even staying until quite late in the Autumn. When they leave, winter's here!!
Guess that's about all for today :)
........................................................return to homepage
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