quidnovis61

“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”
                                                                                     - Henry David Thoreau 

7.03a.m. Saturday morning.

 

 

 

The migratory Canadian geese of course made a raucous, bursting into the serenity, honking as they flew overhead in their distinctive V-formation heading towards the warmth...... (smart birds!).

 

 

We went past a beautiful dam by a mansion house from the turn of the last century. The frothy gushing waters was a lovely sight. We know only too well that in four months time it will all freeze - that is beautiful too, "frozen motion" - but as of now, we enjoyed its 'vue et la son' as it was.

 

The fields were, in parts a lovely autumnal green and in parts an earthy russet gold. There was a sudden whirr of many tiny wings as we passed and a host of small birds flew out of the wheat - disturbed by the sound of human steps.

 

There were many fields of late potatoes still "un-harvested" and E wanted some fresh potatoes for breakfast!!! So we let her.... (not to worry, we know the farmer! And also taking nine potatoes from his thousands of acres and many many tons of potatoes I doubt if he would even notice....). E and J "washed" them (and their hands) in the early morning dew and they were clean enough to put in my jacket pocket!

 

 

 

 

 

The forest path was so quiet and serene .... just us and the many forest denizens.... frogs, deer, pheasants, wild boar, grass snakes and I am sure a whole lot of others that we didn't see... foxes, elks and so on. We came upon a clearing and there by a huge farmhouse was a pasture with two friendly horses who did not mind being fed with fresh grass and patted on their noses. We have named them Tina & Ike (after Tina Turner - as the mane looks similar to Tina's - and her ex husband, Ike Turner).

 

 

 

There were mushrooms everywhere but as we have not been on a Mushroom Picking Course (that is held every autumn in every town in Sweden), we did not pick any.... there is barely anything more dangerous than picking the wrong mushroom! The raspberry season is now over but there is an abundance of wild apples. In a few weeks they will ripen and glow reddish-orange and will be really sweet - but right now - E & J tasted them - they were sour and tangy ...but oh, they smelt heavenly!

 

 

 “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”  Thích Nhát Hanh 

We had walked 7 kilometres in a semi circle in the warm sunshine and headed home - this time we didn't have to cross the highway but went in the walking/cycling tunnel underneath it.

Once home, we boiled our potatoes and enjoyed the mini-dish with a knob of butter, some freshly plucked thyme from the herb-pots on my steps, a slice of ham and a mug of hot chai. It was a glorious breakfast to celebrate a glorious morning.

 "I thank God for this most amazing day, for the leaping ,spirits of trees and the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is Yes."      - e.e.cummings

Signing off for now.
C.S!
(Cresat Scientia/ May (my) knowledge grow)

Yes, autumn is certainly on its way....

I love the splendid array of colours in nature - it is breathtaking....the leaves have not yet started turning into all shades of orange and gold but there is certainly a nip in the air - that is the first sign of autumn....

Fragments of lines from Keats' Ode to Autumn run through my mind as I walk -savouring in the autumnal air, the pungent smells, the sights... yes, indeed, Keats was right: 'conspiring with the sun to load and bless'... how apt....

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,

Conspiring with him how to load and bless...." (Ode to Autumn, Keats)

As I walk in the early morning (around 6.40) ... the mist has just lifted and the air is filled with the smell of wild apples and wood burning... the dew wets my shoes... I can hear the deer bark and if I am lucky I can see them on the fringe of the forest - it is a magical time of the day.

Autumn is very different from spring and summer but I love the changing of the seasons that I am blessed with here in Sweden...Autumn brings with it a sense of "slowing down" after the short hectic summer....

"Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too...."  (Ode to Autumn, Keats)

Two weeks ago I was delighted to find wild raspberries growing along my path... they are tiny and juicy and so sweet as to need a glass of water afterwards! So of course I helped myself to a first breakfast during my walk...

Sweden has a law called The Right to Common Access.....

(From the Internet:                                                                                                                        

Common Access: "the Right of Common Access" - in Swedish: "Allemansrätten")                     

Allemansrätten states that we can: move around freely in forest and field; pick berries, mushrooms and unprotected flowers; camp one night without permission from landowner, not, however, too close to a populated area; bathe, row, sail, paddle and drive motorboats on the lakes and rivers and archipelagos; light a fire but only in certain prepared places. In windy or very dry weather the lighting of fires is absolutely forbidden, everywhere.

It also states that we can NOT: damage growing trees or bushes; walk over fields in crop or through newly planted forest areas; take birds’ eggs or birds’ nests.)

...and I took some home for Elizabeth for her morning yoghurt... it was abs delicious!!!

I also had the pleasure of making acquaintance with two tiny grey-brown frogs that hopped hurriedly across my path...

The wild snapdragon-like flowers (I don't know their name unfortunately) were in full bloom and last of the lazy bumble bees were having their breakfast too....!

And ohhhhh..... the beautiful snails were in plentiful

.....and when the sun caught the leaves you could see their trail of silver ......like glitter-glue.

 

 

Parts of the forest also has wild rose-hip...they are beautiful to look at...In the spring and summer they have deep pink-magenta flowers which is rather astonishing as the fruits (the rosehip) is a deep orange - in keeping with the autumnal colours! I love both rosehip tea and rosehip sauce...and it is super high on vitamins A and C I am told....

 

Here are just a few more pictures.....

 

 

Signing off for now!

C.S! (Cresat Scientia/ May (my) knowledge grow)