More Ralle Walks

A few days ago we left the house to go for our morning walk with Ralle.  That morning there were hundreds of geese flying south for the winter.  A beautiful sight and the sound of their honking sent us on our walk in style.

We often go for our walk in the nature reserve of Svedberga behind our house beyond a few farmers fields.  It is a great place to walk and Ralle likes it because there is a lot of news to read.

As we follow the footpaths we often come across people on horseback and other nature lovers.  There is also a hawk that we often see in a particular spot in the forest.  There is always something new to see.

Here is Agneta walking through the autumn forest.  It is often also very quiet with no one around because we take our walks early in the morning.  We become so aware of our surroundings and try to see, hear, and feel everything around us.

The changing seasons, the early sunlight, the clouds, and the wind paint new pictures of the same trees hourly.  The forest is a living creature.

Later that afternoon, as we often do, we went for another walk this time to Sofiero Slott about a 10 minute drive.  As we went through the front entrance we saw this young couple leaning against the building looking towards the setting sun and taking in the warmth of its rays.  This vision of love and togetherness warmed our hearts.

Sofiero is a wonderful place to walk and enjoy the wonderful gardens.  There is such beauty here.

On our way home we drove to Höganäs to pick up a few things at the store for dinner.  We went for another little walk by the harbor.

All Saints Day and The Day Of The Dead

Honoring the dead is done with such care here.  The church yards with the orderly graves are tended with meticulous care in Sweden.  Flowers changed depending on the season, and during winter there is often a blanket of evergreen branches along with Christmas roses and wreaths of varying kinds.

All Saints Day is the weekend just past, a week end when family members and friends traditionally visit the graves bringing candles to place by the individual gravestones or to the area called "The Memorial Garden".  How I would love to be able to view Sweden from above on this night.  The entire country must glow from all the candles lit.

When we have visitors we often "show off" a church yard and do so with great pride.  A lot is said about the people who live here when you see this love for those who have proceeded us in death.
An example of a very special grave yard is Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm.  It is a relatively new cemetery (considering how old many of the churches are here) created between 1917 and 1920 - it has had a profound influence in many countries in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Center today.

Many choose to not be buried in a traditional grave today, but rather in these memorial gardens that are unmarked.  With the thought of eliminating the responsibility for the care of the grave to those left behind. Everyones life is full enough of all the things that must be done, must be cared for.....   and true it is, that those who past before us are not in the cemetery itself, yet I am moved by the age old tradition.  The caring, the planting, the candles..

Those that I miss in my life, those that are out there beyond the horizon some where,  remain in my heart, forever and ever!

These beautiful spaces are created for contemplation, reflection and solace....... where never a plastic plant will be found. 

Can't Have too Many Fall Photos

We had the pleasure of company at dinner Wednesday night, a bit of a "united nations" evening we said! Nationalities a mix of pure natives with some Danish, Greek and of course Mexican orientation sharing food from a menu of Indian inspired food, prepared by a now "not so Swedish" person living in the Russmill (Ryssmöllan) on the Kullabygdens Utmarker.  Menu included Cinnamon Chicken, Golden Pilaf and Raita, with Apple Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream as a not so Indian "finish".  A pleasant evening in the company of nice people.  Fun!

Found a collage of "Fall Pictures From Around The World" forwarded to us from a friend and  coworker at Hewlett Packard this morning and yes how I / we delight in this time of year.  It is my absolute favorite season!  Wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I was born in this season ?

The beauty here is amazing!  Walking the dog is something I / we  could do ALL day, everyday.... in this vividly, colorful countryside and not ever get tired of the scenery.  It is always changing.  Rain, sunshine, haze, mist or thick fog it is always beautiful in all it's variations.
So, I might suggest that pictures of fall...... if you want to see some wonderful examples of exceptional beauty, you can  find it  here, in our backyard.

Oh, simple pleasures!  How I love feeding the ducks!
I the former "Chicken Mama" is still in love with the feathered friends.  We used to live with upward of seventy chickens.  Beautiful birds producing eggs of various colors and about  thirty peafowl and many guinea fowl so for me feeding the ducks is one of those really special things I truly enjoy.  Could be that my delight for the feathered ones might have its origin in those Sundays when I was a little girl and my Uncle Gunnar would take us kids to Svan Dammen in Uppsala to feed the swans and the ducks.  The enjoyment persists!

In any event, Fall or Autumn in the northern region of the world is a colorful spectacle.  Every single changing day........... Soon the color will be gone.  Replaced by fields in black and skies of gray, yet another variation of a beautiful landscape.  Never boring, never the same.

This last October was the warmest since they started keeping track of temperatures here, I read in the paper yesterday.  The warmest October in 250 years!  Wow, thats a long time tracking.  The morning temps have been in the fifties, with fog hanging like gossamer veils.  Sort of wafting, very magical.  This morning it was cooler.  Hundreds of geese gathering up high chattering and squawking.  Seemingly trying to find their bearings.  Heading south.  Hmm?  Wonder if they know the end of this balmy fall weather is coming?

The candle supply is full.  Have done the IKEA visit to stock up.  Not dreading the dark!  Nope, looking forward to lighting many candles, curling up and enjoying  the glow.... and NO, one can NOT  have too many Fall Photos, no we  can't.

HMS Helsingborg / corvette class

We happened to be in Helsingborg when we saw this stealth small fighting ship.  We stopped to investigate.  They were giving tours so we got on board.  Here is a short video.

While we were there the police who were on board touring the ship were called out on an emergency call.  Interesting day.

The Case of the Squirrel

Photo: Ray Eye / Wiki (file) "The Local"

This is a story that says so much about some aspects of life here.  It is funny and can start endless discussions from animal rights, laws, psychology, and on and on.  The comments are interesting too.  The power of a squirrel.

Here is the story.

Tried to Catch the Sun

After a more than delightful and more than delicious dinner with friends.... Pasta with Crayfish-tails in a delectable sauce with fragrance of garlic, home made Pesto, wonderful cheese and fabulous red wine, all of this highlighted with great conversation............ This morning we're up and at it at the crack of dawn.

Up and out of bed, gulped a cup of joe, jumped into jeans.  Jacket on.  In to the car with dog and tripod. Down the road in the dark.  To wait for the sun to rise!  No sun appeared.  Too much soup.  Maybe next time.

Before returning home a walk in Viken by the sea, a visit to Conditori Öresund where tösabiten (the young dedicated owner) has baked her treasures.  Home ........ a cup of steaming tea and treats.

Today I started SFI - Svenska för invandrare

SFI is a government organization that teaches swedish to foreigners.  They also try to help guide the immigrants to prepare for and find jobs.  It is a difficult task.

I decided that if I was to look for a job, or start my own business, and to better cope with swedish society, I must get serious and learn the language.  I officially became an immigrant again today.

Wading through swedish society with all its different nooks and crannies is difficult at best and depressing at worst for newcomers here.  It is not specific to Sweden.  It is the age old culture X meets culture Y clash.

Agneta and I,  even with our many advantages, find it extremely difficult assimilating into society.  Maybe that is not the right word to us since it implies a long term blending of cultures.  But,  rather learning to live with all the differences that are foreign to us is a better description.

Moving to a different country is like walking out a long pier and taking a leap of faith.  You may think you are prepared but it is not until you are neck high in the culture that you begin to tread water and then hopefully begin to swim.

I realize looking around the classroom and talking with some of the students that Neta and I have it so much easier.  My classmates include people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania, Vietnam, Philippines, Holland, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Jordan, Kosovo Eritrea, and Poland.  They range in age from 21 to 52.  I am the oldest there and I am from the USA.  These people will have it much harder than Agneta and I ever will.  It also has a lot to do with expectations as to how easy a person can accept the new culture.  One of the students in class was complaining about not having free coffee.  Another student was just happy to be out of a war zone.  Expectations.