Sunday Selections - Summer Holidays

This Sunday I will as usual look back on the past week.

We visited Hundested with the sand sculptures, a recurring event. This year the theme is Time Travels. The sculptures are as usual fabulous, but I had a hard time seeing how some of them fit in with the theme.

Giant hens greeting their great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent

This guy is a survivor. He has been there from the start, I think.

This one too is old.

I like the painting skills  here - only the sign is real.

Then some soaping happened. I had a botched batch of Woodruff soap ready for a re-batching

Bees' wax

Sweet  woodruff tea

NaOH

Fats, oils, bees' wax and honey, melting

The botched batch, grated.

And the new soap in the moulds

Now for a visit to my wild garden. It's always harbouring some  surprises

The flax is coming along nicely, standing their ground from the weeds surrounding it, and even about to flower.

Eggs in a pattern.

Elderberry flowers

Blueberries, as yet unripe

Duckweed

Unripe walnuts

My patch of Stinging nettles for fibre.

And that's all for today

Poetry Monday :: Ice Cream

If you want to read some better  poetry,  Diane - who has taken over the hosting of  this challenge - and Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings - who also supplies us with topics - are writing wonderful, funny, thought-provoking, ingenious and honestly well written verse. Go and read.

  Karen of Baking in a Tornado has joined us in this crazy pursuit, and promises us at least a poem a month - may  we hope for more!
  SpikesBestMate often publishes a nice verse in the comments.

  Jenny at Procrastinating Donkey who has been a faithful participant, is slowly returning to blogging after her husband's passing from this world. Let's continue to send warm thoughts, good energy, and lots of prayers her way. And dare we hope that she will join Poetry Monday again.

- - 🍨 - -

Ice Cream? What a topic :) Today is Saint Lucy's day. (Santa Lucia) Today we celebrate with hot saffron buns, hot tea or cocoa, singing and candles. Ice cream is a thing very far from my mind in the deep of winter.

Ice cream is a thing of summer

Ice cream is a thing of fun
We enjoy it at the sea side
When from lapping waves we run.

Strawberry or mint or puffo
- that one tastes like bubble gum.
Oh we like them all and eat them
to the very lastest crumb.

Well, now winter's winds are blowing
Ice creams are but in my mind.
But when summer comes to us, then,
Time for ice cream we will find!

- - - - -

Coming up:

Music (December 20)
Fruitcake (December 27)
Sleep (January 3)
Peculiar People (January 10)
Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions
(January 17)
Opposite Day (January 24)
Typo Day (January 31) Celebrate those funny (autocorrect) mistakes.

Poetry Monday :: Light - Samarkand

  Diane of On the Border and Jenny of Procrastinating Donkey are taking turns hosting Poetry Monday, supplying us with a theme and crafty poems, they are open for suggestions. 
  This Mondays theme is Light! Thanks to Jenny. 
  Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings also writes a poem for us to enjoy.

  Light. Nothing talks to me of light as Swedish or Danish songs from the long summer's days and short nights, where the sun barely sets and it is never totally dark. 
  In my Enigmatic  post about children not being enigmatic, but grown ups are, I cite a song called The Enigmatic People. In this song a boy finds a new Samarkand - which in my English translation was rendered Xanadu, because as far as I could see, Samarkand did not have any connotations in English. 
  Samarkand is a place of unfulfilled longings, of unobtainable dreams and maybe even wild goose hunts, after a song by Thorstein Bergman, sung by Lena Andersson (YouTube link - if you leave it playing the author and composer gives his version afterwards). I have translated mostly from the Danish version, which was the one I heard growing up. It does not rhyme as does the original, but you can still sing it to the tune.

Samarkand

I woke up with smells of summer all around me,
Through the window I could feel the gentle breeze
In the sunlit morning everything did greet me
And the pillow wore impressions of your cheek.

And I knew at once - for lies are never helpful -
It has happened, that of which we sometimes spoke,
And I hope that you will find all you're seeking
If you ever find your way to Samarkand.


All around me tunes of life were gently playing,
Though I never more will share them with my friend.
Though my heart called out for you, I kept my silence,
for I knew that you will never come back home.

And I cried a bit, the nights were long and lonely,
But I hope for you you'll find your promised land.
And that someone else can be what I could never,
If you ever find your way to Samarkand.


Where I walk the world around me speaks about you
All the sunshine, winds and summer are like you
Oh I miss you now, but I've got something from you
What you gave me no-one ever takes away.

If your common sense in stranger places tells you
that we parted, it is not the simple truth. 
For my thoughts, my hopes, my longings all escort you,
If you ever find your way to Samarkand.

If you ever find your way to Samarkand.

Text and music: Thorstein Bergman 1972
Translation Charlotte (MotherOwl), 2020. 

YouTube  Danish version. 
  I first wrote another poem, but it was no good, then in the sleepless hours of an early, rainfilled morning I translated Samarkand instead.  
  For next Monday's endeavours Diane has given us Our Favourite Teacher. 

Min cykel - My Bike

Countdown: Summer vacation begins in 1 day.


     For snart mange år siden var der en sang, der hed "Jeg er så glad for min cykel" og det var Uglemor enig i. Men de seneste år har cyklen og uglemor ikke været så gode venner. Bakkerne er bare vokset og vokset. Hun har kunnet cykle til stationen, i cirkus, på indkøb, kort sagt til alt det nødvendige, men det var bare ikke sjovt.

     Så her sidst i maj, den 28. for at være præcis, blev det Uglemor for meget. En måneds total inaktivitet, mestendels tilbragt i sengen på grund af bivirkninger efter en af de mange undersøgelse, havde sat for mange spor på uglekroppen. Nu skulle det være. Frem med cyklen, cykle 1½ km ud af landevejen og hjem igen, næste dag 2 km hver vej og så videre, indtil Uglemor en uge senere cyklede på indkøb igen. Og det blev hun stædigt ved med. Ikke hver dag, men næsten. Godt 5 kilometer ud og lige så langt hjem. Vejen til byen og alt muligt andet går gennem skoven, så der kan ikke køres rigtig stærkt, som på landevejen, ikke mindst fordi folk rider, lufter hunde, går ture og leger i skoven, så man må være i det mindste lidt forsigtig.
    Ved siden af har Uglemor så - meget lidt - deltaget i et online træningsprogram.
det har været sejt, men pludselig, i søndags var det ikke så hårdt at cykle. Uglemor måtte ikke enten skifte ned i 1. gear eller stå af, hvis hun ikke ramte bakken med præcis en rigtige hastighed og vinkel, det betød bare lidt ekstra arbejde. Der var tid til at kigge ordentligt på blomsterne, høre fuglesangen og beundre folks heste. Det skete ikke gradvist, men BUM, fra den ene dag til den anden.

 -- 🚲 --

Many years ago MotherOwl heard a song called: "I am so happy with my bike" and MotherOwl agreed. But in recent years the bike and MotherOwl  have not been such good friends. The hills have just grown and grown. She has been able to bike to the station, to the circus, shopping, in short for everything needed, but it just wasn't fun.

This past May, the 28th to be exact, it became too much for MotherOwl. One month's total inactivity, mostly spent in bed due to side effects after one of the many examinations, had left too many traces on the Owl body. Now was the time! She dusted off her trusty old bike,rode 1½ km down the road and back again, next day 2 km, and so on until a week later MotherOwl once again went shopping by bike. And she persisted. Not every day, but almost. A bit over 5 kilometres out and just as far back home again. It was still not fun! The road to town  and to almost everywhere else goes through the forest, so that MotherOwl can not go as fast as on the roads, not least because people ride, walk their dogs, stroll, do Nordic walking, picnic, and play in the forest - MotherOwl has to be at least a little careful.

Alongside this, MotherOwl has - very indigently - been participating in an online training program.

It's been tough! But suddenly, last Sunday, it wasn't that hard to ride a bike. MotherOwl didn't have to either shift into 1st gear or get off if she didn't hit the hill at exactly the right speed and angle, it just meant a little extra work. It didn't happen gradually, but BAM from one day to the next.

     Denne graf viser minutter pr. kilometer. De meget høje (under linjen - aksen er er vendt om) værdier skyldes at Uglemor har haft en bakke jordbær i den ene hånd, en æske flødeskumskager i rygsækken eller taget bare mange små stop for at plukke farveplanter.
     De seneste dage har Uglemor ikke følt, at hun anstrengte sig, og alligevel har tiden,  modvind, varme og last uanset, været under den magiske grænse på 20 minutter hver vej, der giver Uglemor en respektabel gennemsnitsfart på over 16 km/timen. Husk på skovveje, heste osv. På asfaltvej svarer det til lidt over 20. 

 -- 🚲 --

 
This graph shows the minutes per kilometre for June. The very low (or rather high, I turned around the axis) values are due to the fact that MotherOwl - homewards bound - was transporting a crate of strawberries in one hand, a box of cakes in her backpack or just due to many small stops to pick plants for dye.

The last couple of days (each day is at least two dots - one out, one home), MotherOwl has not felt taxed, and yet, every time, despite headwind, heat or cargo, she has been below the magical limit of 20 minutes each way, which gives her a respectable average speed of over 16 km/h. Keep in mind forest roads, horses, etc. On tarmac road it equals over just 20.

Sommerferie -- Summer Holidays

Uglemor har ikke lyst til at sidde foran computeren, når der er Ugleunger der har sommerferie, blomster og bær i haven og lunt vand og is på stranden. 

Derfor holder Ugleboet sommerferie indtil videre. 

Måske kommer der et enlet indlæg eller to på en regnvejrsdag eller en sen aften. 

Men Uglemor vil kun love, at hun vender tilbage. 

Hav en god sommer indtil da.

MotherOwl do not want to sit in front of her montor when the Owlets are home from school, the garden (and surroundings) abounds in flowers, herbs and fruits, and the beach is calling with wonderful water and ice cream cones. 

Maybe I'll post now and then on a rainy day, or a late night, but I make no promises other than: I'll be back! 

Have a nice summer until then.

 

Sommerdage -- Summer Days

     Lige som de forrige år har alle Ugleboets beboere været i sommerhus. Og lige som de forrige år kunne Uglemor bare skrive den samme tekst. Bortset fra en ting. I år skinnede solen, vandet var varmt, og vi svømmede alle sammen.

- 🌞 -

As the previous years all the habitants of the Owlery have been to "our" summerhouse. MotherOwl could copy-paste the texts from previous years with one exception: The sun has been shining, the water was  ... tepid (?) ... not warm but good enough for swimming, and we swam every day.

Uglemors nye sommerhus-dagbogsformat - Stranden i aftenlys - Træmonsteret vækker Uglemor - En varde til sort humør*)
MotherOwl's new diary for the summerhouse  - The beach in evening sunlight - The tree-monster waking up MotherOwl - A cairn for bad temper*)

   I baggrunden årets drivglasfund. På trods af et rigtigt stormvejr fandt Uglemor ikke noget rav i år.

- 🌞 -

As a background this years sea glass. In spite of a storm, we found no amber at all this year.

Uglemor ved det befriede skilt - En kæmpekrabbe - Et søuhyre - årets bedste is.
MotherOwl at the now freed roadsign - A giant crab - A sea monster - The best icecream.

*) Varden er der fordi vi har dette gruk hængende på en skabslåge:
Man skal stable sit sorte humør i en varde
Det er altid bekvemt at man ved, hvor man har det.
Det er den slags humør som man senere hen
kan få brug for at undgå at finde igen.


*) The cairn because we have this grook on a visible place at home:
Please build a cairn with your black moods,
It is always good to know where they lay.
It's the kind of mood that later you may
Feel a need to avoid to be finding again.

Gruk - Piet Hein - 1956 (Uglemors oversættelse - Translated by MotherOwl)

Sommerminder -- Summer Memories

     Efter en herlig, lang sommerperiode, hvor Uglemor hver dag var ude i haven og nød det skønne solskin, er den danske normalsommer med skyer og køligt blæsevejr tilbage ige. Her er nogle billeder fra de skønne, forgangne dage.

- 🌬 -

     After a wonderful sunshiney period the Danish standard Summer has returned with cloudy skies and windy, cool weather. MotherOwl is reminiscing and missing the sunshine.

 Frøer nyder vandet - Frogs frolicking. 

Det første, tidlige jordbær - Our very first strawberry.

Skønhedsøjerne blomstrer  -  Flowering coreopsis. 

Valfarten til Aasebakken  - Pilgrimage to Aasebakken.

 Sommer

     Og så var der én dag med regn i hele perioden, men der var vi så fyldte med glæde og helligånd, at vi ikke rigtig bemærkede det.

- 🕊 -

Well we had one day with rain, but it was so filled with happiness and the Holy Spirit, that we did not care. 

Idas sommervise

Uglemor har åbenbart fået Idas sommervise på hjernen. Da hun kom hjem fra turen til busstoppestedet i morges, satte hun sig med papir og blyant og ville ikke forstyrres. Her er så resultatet. En sangbar, sød og enkel dansk udgave af Idas sommervise.

A Danish, sweet and simple rendition of Ida's Summersong.

Idas sommervise

Du må ikke tro det bli'r sommer
hvis nog'n ikke sætter lidt fart
i som'ren, og gør det lidt sommerligt,
for så kommer blomsterne snart.
Og jeg lader blomsterne blomstre,
jeg gør hele kohaven grøn
For nu har jeg smeltet al sneen bort
så nu bliver sommeren skøn.

Og vandet skal risle i bækken
og hvirvle afsted i en fart.
Så fylder jeg himlen med svalepar
og småmyg, som svalerne ta'r.
Jeg gi'r alle træer deres grønne løv
og reder til fuglene små.
Jeg gør himlen dejlig om aftenen
for jeg gør den lysende blå.

Og skovjordbær gror der til børnene,
for det synes jeg de må få.
Og andre små dejlige sager
som passer til dem, der er små.
Jeg finder de morsomme steder,
Hvor bør'ne kan løbe omkring
Så bør'ne bli'r fulde af sommer
og benene fulde af spring


Tekst: Astrid Lindgren. Oversættelse: Uglemor, oktober 2017
Musik: Georg Riedel

Rejse -- A journey

     I dag har vi været Uge og rejse. Uglemormor havde fødselsdag, og det skulle fejres.

Her er Piraten på vej hjem i sommerskumringen


Today we travelled there and back again to celebrate GrannyOwl's birthday.
Here's Pirate waiting for the bus home in the dusk of a Danish summernight.

Dagens billede 20. juli

Today's Photos

Endnu en mosaik, men denne gang kommer billederne enkeltvis med tekst længere nede. 

- o 0 o -

Once again a composite photo. But today alle the pictures wiht subtitles are under the big one.

Og så med tekster -- And with subtitles.

Hegnet om bistaderne (nu uden bier) efter at det gamle rustne
hegn var fjernet, stenene flyttet og der var luget og sat blomster op.
The fence around our beehives (Now without bees) after the stones were moved, the old iron fence
and the weeds were removed, and some flower pots put in the hanger.

Og før. Minimax og jeg lugede en hel del i går, blandt andet genfandt vi en efeu og en kaprifolie.
And before. Minimax and I did a bit yesterday, weeding and excavating an ivy and a honeysuckle.

Naboens smukke stokroser.
Beautiful hollyhocks over the hedge.

En humlebi i vores brombær. De blev også beskåret i dag,
og bagefter klippede Skribenten hækken ved siden af.
A bumblebee in our brambles. They too were cut back today,
and afterwards the Writer cut the hedge next to them.

En mjødurt. For første gang nogen sinde har den ikke meldug.
A meadowsweeet, for the first time ever without mildew.

Løfter om en yppig høst. Brombærsyltetøj smager godt.
A promising harvest Blackberry jam is good.

Stokroser langs huset. Skribenten har indfanget dem.
Hollyhocks along our house. The Writer improsoned them.

En af vore havegange. Nu kan man altså se den.
One of our garden paths. Now it can be seen.

Endnu en stokrose --  Yet another hollyhock.

Skovjordbær bliver ved med at give frugter længe efter at de store jordbær er holdt op.
Woodland strawberries continue giveng their small sweet fruits long after the bigger garden varieties stopped.

Og lige et bonusbillede. -- And an extra bonus.

Det store jordbærbed er færdigt for i år, Skribenten har luget.
Snart kommer Uglemor med leen og en trillebørfuld kompost.
The big strawberry plants are done for this year. The Writer has been weeding.
Soon MotherOwl will bring a scythe and a wheelbarrel of manure to them.

Rag Rug 4

     Endelig er de fem stykker færdige, De skal sys sammen, og jeg har allerede taget de første sting.  Jeg håber at blive færdig i den kommende uge.
     Og så er sommerferien jo begyndt. I fredags sang Ugleungerne "Ferie, ferie,ferie" så taget på skolen var ved at lette. Vejret har ganske vist ikke rigtigt opdaget det endnu, regn blæst og køligt er det. Lad os håbe at vi går mod varmere dage.

- o 0 o -

Finally I'm done weaving thse five rag rugs. Now there's sewing  ahead of me. The first few stitches have been taken. I'm hoping to get this done in the week to come.

We have begun our summer holidays - the weather has not realised its summer yet, windy, rainy and cool. We hope for higher tempertures soon.