Sorrow And Joy In Wood.

As many of you already know, I live in a white house on a hill, overlooking the city below. I love my house and I love my surroundings.
It is a chain house, connected to four other houses, each with one or two small terraces or patios. Additionally, we all share a large front yard and an extensive, secluded, tranquil, almost park-like backyard, covered by multitude of shrubs and beautiful birch or pine trees.

Living in a chain house, very close to other families, has its pros and its cons.
Looking at the bright side, among other things; I do not need to mow the lawn. I do not need to shovel the snow (or very rarely). I do not ever feel lonely or anxious. Houses get painted and things get fixed without me troubling my mind about it. Furthermore, when I travel, Batcat is in good hands, well looked after - and so is my house.

But with this said, living in such close proximity to at least eight other individuals creates situations that can make my irritation level rise. Not always will decisions be made that are to my liking. Still, democracy rules even our little neighborhood and thus at times I have to accept and surrender to the will of the majority.
Therefore, with sad and heavy heart I watched my neighbour trimming down the lush growth in our backyard last weekend, cutting down three magnificent birch trees further down the hill and two beautiful spruce trees right in front of my windows - those that used to adorn my westbound vistas.

It was painful and it was tragic.
It made my heart ache, as the beautiful pines gave my view a certain perspective, which is lacking visibly now.
The beautiful birches that I loved to watch throughout the seasons are now lying in a neat pile on my terrace - cut up in pieces, drying out for next winters fire wood. Mixed with the pine, they look so beautiful, yet gazing at them brings a certain sadness to my perception.

However, this prompted me to contemplate the fact that every winter, my fireplace burns away logs that were once lovely trees somewhere beautiful, growing in beautiful woods, overlooking lakes or meadows. Enjoying the crackling fire for months each year, I should at least consider this fact.
Thus being ever the optimist that I am - trying to find something good in everything bad - I do take solace in the the few positive consequences which arose from this drastic action.

Such as the renewed unrestricted view of the west cardinal direction, where very soon magnificent sunsets will take place, leaving me to enjoy the evening sky. Likewise, my terrace will receive more sun in the summer, no longer hiding in the shade of the spruced branches. Furthermore, to be fair to my otherwise very kind and very good neighbour, he spend a lot of time trimming the trees and shrubs that obstruct our northwesterly view and thus once again, I can see the city lights unfold every evening below. Comes June, this is where the midnight sun will move across the sky, setting the heavens on fire.
Last but not least - I have some firewood for the next winter season.

As I will rejoice in the commencing summer sunsets and in the cosy fires of the new winter, I will remember with great joy and a sting of melancholy those magnificent beauties, which once stood as silent sentinels outside my windows and I will take consolation in the very personal desire that arose from this event - and that is to one day plant a tree.

One day in a far (or near) future, perhaps in a house on another hill.
In any case, a tree that will never be cut down - not in my life time at least.

Bloom Of The Meadows.

My favourite summer flowers are the wild ones, which cover the wide meadows and plains, like precious gems adoring the fields of green. Those that grow unrestricted and free, in need of no care or attention, soaking up the sun, bursting with colours and gentle beauty.

Behind my house, within my views is a grassy, shared but secluded area that we consider our backyard. Park like and tranquil, it offers so much beauty in the different seasons. In autumn, it is painted with fiery shades of the turning foliage of birch trees and ripen berries. In winter, serene, sleeping quietly under the blanket of pristine snow, invoking the sense of rest. And in spring, sprinkled with dandelions and blooming shrubs and trees, it becomes an oases in colour and light.
Finally, during the time of the subtle summer months, it is lush and inviting. Full of wild flowers and sweet summer berries, buzzing with the sound of insects and the elegance of butterflies. Birch trees offer soothing shade away from the sun, while their full crowns sway in the breeze, creating that melodic sound that instigates the feel of content.

I took a short walk with my camera in our backyard yesterday in the late morning, documenting its July splendor, reflected in the bloom of wild flowers and the richness of insect life. The sun was already high in the sky, enveloping the trees in a gentle white light. The neighborhood was quiet and still and occasionally, the sweet singing of the lark, that very significant sound of the Scandinavian summer, played softly in the balmy air above me.

Closing my eyes, I laid down in the warm grass as I tried to capture this moment with all my senses, locking it firmly in my perception. It is mental snapshots such as these that I will revisit in my mind in a few months, when darkness and cold will rule my world.

(Please click image for larger view.)

Change Of Seasons.

This beautiful winter view is taken today in my backyard. It shows an old wooden sun chair, covered with apples and seeds to help the birds get through one of the coldest winters on record.

A winter that is ending.

Although that seems not be the case, judging by the snow covered ground in my photograph. The snow has an icy crust, compliments of the last freeze that has been holding us in its iron grip this past week, bringing cold, dry air and abundant sunshine, however putting an abrupt end to our first thaw. It turned water to ice causing some of my pots to break.

Still, spring is knocking on the door. This is most significantly visible in the sunlight; gone is the orange and golden hue. The rays shine brighter, turning our daylight platinum, as the shadows grow shorter.
The sun causes nature to awaken. Early flower stalks are pushing up through the hard, frozen ground and even through ice. The birch trees have visible buds and it will not be long before the pollen from their flowers fills the air once again, bringing back my progressive photography.

The nature is full of the old and the new. Old withered plants, such as my frozen rose, that is now decaying putrefied on its dry stalk. In such a contrast to the fresh yellow flowers of my Eranthis, finally in bloom, basking in the welcomed spring sunshine. I even spotted a lonely ladybug that was waking up after its winter sleep.

After my short walk, barely feeling my numb fingers, I still gladly retreated to my favourite cosy chair in front of my fireplace, recalling with amusement a rhyme in the Czech language. Each month of the year is described with one sentence, that signifies what the month is all about - the one for the month of March goes something like this; "March - lets crawl closer to the fire".

Even though I still crawl back to the fire, when I look out of my large window, I can sense with unmistakable certainty that the change of seasons is truly in the air.

(Please, click to enlarge.)

Enchanted Winter.

It has been the most beautiful winter week I can ever recall from my years in Denmark. Each morning the landscape outside my windows looked as if taken from a page of a fairytale book.

The temperatures have been below freezing and almost ever day we received fresh snow. Today is a stunning sunny day, bitterly cold but vind-still. The sun is now on its lowest position in the sky, barely reaching above the horizon. I can just about see it out of my windows, as it casts its golden glow across the packed snow, sending us into an unusual daylight.
The day lasts only a few hours, but it's light lifts my spirits in an uncommon way, as it brings back memories of my childhood. The time of cold and clear winters, spend in the mountains, where the air was fresh and the snow ever so present.

This is the winter weather that I love. The enchanted winter that defines this cold season and makes it ever so appealing.

The Days Of Indian Summer.

This past week has been warm and sunny, thus signifying the beginning of the Indian Summer days in Scandinavia. This period will stretch about a month forward, into mid October, bringing a few summer like days; the final taste of this beautiful and fleeting season.

Although the air will grow cold with possible first frost in the early mornings and nights, the days spend in sunny, shielded spots can still offer precious few hours of vital sunshine. Those delightful final rays, before we pass the fall equinox and the sun will slowly start to disappear.

I only have a small front and back terrace, that is my own. However, I share an incredibly beautiful backyard with my neighbors. A park-like area, just in front of my windows, which is pleasing to the eye in every season.
Lined by beautiful birch trees, it is covered by bushes and shrubs, the name of which escapes me. During the course of the year, it either displays flowers or berries, adding colour to the green back drop.

I love this spot, as it is very serene and tranquil. In fact, when I stepped there for the first time ever, I decided to buy my house.