Spring Tiredness.

Sometimes called Spring Fever, it is a somewhat strange syndrome, but it does exist. I am feeling a slight onset of it these days. Despite the fact that the light is increasing visibly each passing day, I do not feel energized.
At least not just yet.

Spring Tiredness has not been officially categorized as a illness, however it is very much a subject of discussions here in the North. Very obvious in latitudes where the length of the days and nights varies extensively throughout the year, the Scandinavians are well familiar with this phenomenon initiated by a change in the seasons. With an onset in March, we feel very tired and almost exhausted, moody and irritated. Uninterested and at time even slightly depressed.

The cause to spring tiredness is not completely clear, however hormones might play a role. During winter, when the days are short and nights long, the sleep hormone, melatonin is in charge. As soon as the daylight increases, melatonin levels drop and a new hormone, so called "happy hormone" starts to be produced; serotonine. While the battle between the hormones is ongoing, we feel exhausted. But as soon as serotonine levels stabilizes, so does our mood.

To me it seems that as soon as March ends, so does the fever. As soon as the first true spring day arrives, when we reach the spring equinox and when the snow traces are all gone and when the daffodils display their yellow flowers, my energy will return with the victory of my serotonine.

Significant Sunset.

This past Saturday evening, a significant event could be observed outside my windows.
A true return of the sun.
Once again, for months to come, bright sunny days will end with spectacular light shows, offering views of painted sky and fiery sunsets.

The month of March means that the sun is truly back. I can not stress often enough how much this means to the Scandinavians. Setting now almost four hours later then during the winter solstice, the sun is visibly changing everything around us. The sunsets are no longer fragile and short, but powerful and extended. This comeback is at all times a cause for celebration.

I made my own tribute to commemorate the return of the golden disk by documenting its first visible setting in pictures. It might be of interest to mention that the first picture is taken at 05:44PM while the last at 07:05PM, clearly underscoring the fact, that the time from sun to dark is already in spring largely extended.

Maritime Art.

I love the ocean.
I have mentioned this numerous times in the past and many of my posts are dedicated to this large, enticing body of water.

To gaze across the ever changing surface of the sea is the most liberating sensation. Standing in its proximity, while listening to the sounds of the surf, feasting my eyes on the mixed colours of the rolling waves, tasting the salty air as the ocean kisses my lips and with every breath I take, drawing in the scent of the maritime aerosol mixed with the fragrance of seaweed is in essence an experience for all my senses.

The most intriguing fact about the ocean is that it is never the same. Every time I see it, I am in for a surprise. Not one snapshot I carry in my memory is identical to the next. Even the slightest change in the wind, the presence or absence of clouds above it, not to mention the seasons, make the view of the sea always seem brand new.

Whenever I get the chance, I take walks on one of the many nearby beaches. Last Friday I stopped by the sea on my day off, a day full with sunshine and the first presence of spring in the air.
Only three weeks ago, this beach had a feel of the arctic, with its water front frozen solid. The heavy ice is now all gone, as if it never existed, thus dispersing my fears of the opposite.
The sandy beach was clear and even though the remains of snow could be seen here and there, the beach appeared quite a different place today than in February. The sound of gentle waves hitting the shore felt soothing and comforting.
The sand was littered with small treasures in the form of seaweed and sea shells, creating a beautiful maritime art, using the white sand as a canvas. Some of the shells and stones looked almost as if they belonged in a jewelry piece, shinning with blue luster and pearl essence.

My walk on this early spring beach cleared mind and soul, filing my entire being with optimism. The air was still and the absence of wind made the place serene and tranquil, bringing back the memories of the summer sea.
We are not quiet there just yet, but getting closer by each and every day.

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.)

Flashback Friday: "Oh Sherrie".

I honestly do not recall when I first heard of Steve Perry. I believe it was in late 80's. His songs were played on the radio and I was familiar with some of them. In any case I knew of Steve way before I knew of Journey, even though he became famous as the groups lead singer.

Perry released his solo album "Street Talk" in 1984 and I stumbled upon it once while browsing the music section in a department store in North Carolina in 1992. My favorite single from this album is without a question "Oh Sherrie". It is perfect through and through, with stunning harmonies, showing off the incredible power and the extensive vocal range in Perry's voice. I love the way the song builds up and the catching chorus stays in one's mind long after the song has ended.
And in one's memories forever.

75 Millions And A Tag.

75 million Danish Kroner. That is about 13 million dollars. And some change.
That is how big the jackpot was in yesterday's national Danish lottery draw, the biggest ever apparently.

It got me thinking about money. I have never won any money and most likely never will. I never buy lottery tickets as I will not win and so there is no need to waste some perfectly good money on a loosing ticket. Money is a funny subject and everyone has an opinion.
To me it means two things: freedom and trouble.

Money is of course a necessity. I will not deny that I would happily accept one million Danish Kroner, just to pay off my mortgage. But I am not really interested in the rest. Such large sum would only keep me awake late at night, worrying about how to invest it and who to trust.

No, my dreams and source of happiness have never been tied to money. That is why I will most likely never have enough of it.

On another note, I have also been tagged (ages ago) by the lovely Tina over at Gal Friday by so called "Twos Meme". Basically, it means answering one question by listing two objects (subjects) in the answers. Anyone up for taking on this challenge is welcomed to it.

Two names you go by:
1. Zuzana.
2. Lilly.

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Large earrings.
2. Makeup.

Two things you did last night:
1. Talked to the handsome Man from Ireland.
2. Slept.

Two Pets that you have or have had:
1. Gypsi (a cat).
2. Batcat (a cat).

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Absolutely nothing (while relaxing and daydreaming).
2. Gardening.

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To see my Irishman.
2. To have a long vacation at home.

Last Two things you ate:
1. Boring lunch consisting of steamed vegetables.
2. A piece of Moser Roth chocolate.

Two people you last talked to:
1. A student in the lab.
2. The departmental janitor.

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. Trying to get more firewood.
2. Working.

Two of the longest trips taken:
1. Drove across the US (east to west and back).
2. Flew from Europe to Brazil. I am never doing that again.

Two favorite beverages:
1. A Vodka Martini; shaken, not stirred. One olive.
2. A well poured Guinness.

The Rising Moon.

Driving home from work on Monday evening this week, as I was passing the coast, a magnificent moon was seen rising just above the bay. It was almost full. The evening sky was jet black and absolutely pristine and the image I saw was mesmerizing.

The disc was large and very bright, reflecting in the surf of the "arctic beach", which is still snow covered, but yet once again ice free. Almost as if suspended in the horizon, the nearby lighthouse could be seen underneath the moon as a small light dot, turning on and off with regular intervals. All this created an almost enchanted landscape. I simply had to stop to take a picture.

With my camera at home, all I had in my bag was my iPhone and the pictures I took became unclear, resembling a rather diffused aquarelle, doing no justice to the reality as I recall it on that magical Monday evening.

Determined to capture a better picture on my way back from work at the same time a day later (yesterday), I was equipped and ready with my camera, battery fully loaded. The evening was yet again clear, but to my surprise, no moon was in sight. Bummer! Compared to the sun, which rises and sets with minimal difference from one day to another, the moonrise can differ as much as one and a half hour within a span of 24 hours.

Not that the pictures would have been much different. Not being able to capture adequately the image of the moon has caused my irritation level to rise on many occasions. I love my small "point and shoot" camera, but it has no zoom to speak off and thus my moon pictures continue to look bad.

Just before bedtime yesterday, as I was extinguishing the lantern outside my front door, the white disc was once again visible in the night sky. Smaller then the day before and partly obstructed by clouds. I could not resist taking one more fuzzy shot, this time with my camera.

This natural satellite of Earth holds my everlasting fascination and thus I can not help continuously trying to capture the beauty of this celestial object, no mater the quality of my pictures.

The New 7Wonders.

I have always been very intrigued by the Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World. As a child I used to repeat them in my mind numerous times, in order to remember them and had at one point a news paper clip with pictures of all of the wonders on the wall in my room, just above my desk.

I think mostly I was intrigued by the notion that they are no longer around. All are gone. All except for one. The best one of them all, the Great Pyramid Of Giza. This is the only remaining wonder and so a lifelong dream was born when I was a little girl, to one day be able to visit the pyramids.

Therefore I paid attention and early on joined the new movement, started by Swiss-originated Canadian filmmaker and aviator Bernard Weber in September 1999. He established a project that attempted to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept with a modern list of wonders, that came to be called The New Wonders Of The World.
The project's web site started in 2001 and the associated Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. Of course, I did cast my vote as well in the beginning of last decade.
The final seven wonders were announced on 7th of July 2007 (07/07/07) in Lisbon, Portugal and these are the one that made the winning list:

1. Chichen Itza (Mexico)
2. Christ The Redeemer (Brazil)
3. Colosseum (Italy)
4. Great Wall Of China (China)
5. Machu Picchu (Peru)
6. Petra (Jordan)
7. Taj Mahal (India)
( Giza Pyramid Complex (Egypt) - the remaining wonder of the ancient world)

Interestingly, I have seen two of the new wonders. I visited the Collosseum in Rome as a teenager in 1983 and the memory is everlasting. In 2004 I faced my fear of flying and flew to Rio de Janeiro, where I visited the second wonder, the Christ statue.

But I still have yet to gaze at the pyramids, the wonder of my childhood dreams and imagination.

The First Thaw.

Nature never stops surprising me. What a difference two days can make. As we begin a new month and the first month of spring, I am very happy to announce that when I looked out of my bedroom window yesterday, the large icicle that used to hang there for almost three months was gone.
As if by magic, over night it disappeared. The landscape was foggy and when I opened the window, the sound of dripping and running water could be heard.

This was our first thaw.
It arrived unexpectedly and lasted two days, bringing the first plus degrees of the year - and actually even the first rain since early December. I never remember welcoming rain with such a joy.
It caused some snow to vanish, turning into a brown slush. Most of it is still around though, as the ground is still frozen and it will take more than a couple of days of thaw to make it disappear all together.

I decided to look for spring signs on the few, small uncovered areas around my house. My heart literally skipped a beat when I did find signs of life.
Just next to the house, on a small grassy area below the bushes lining my terrace, a tiny flower was almost in bloom. It is the first early flower to bloom in Scandinavia (besides Snowdrop) and it is called Eranthis. It is yellow, cup-shaped and appears so fragile, yet this is an incredibly resilient plant, so significant of the early spring in my part of the world.
Even the stalks of Crocuses were clearly visible in the vicinity and on my back terrace, on a shielded area under a window, Daffodil stalks were shooting through the ground.
And finally, the long, brown, lonely branches of my Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) displayed visible buds.

I can not describe in words the joy that I felt gazing at these small miracles of nature. It felt as if it was trying to comfort us, telling us that winter will eventually end. Even though the weather has now turned for the worst again, with threat of snow in the air and the temperature has dipped below freezing, this clearly was the first unmistakable sign signifying that spring is imminent.