Yellow rose

 

 

Encouraging collage

Yesterday, while I was making this collage, my Japanese friend Sumire “called” me via Skypechat, writing this short message; “Earthquake.”
Once again everything around her was shaking, – her cat went under the sofa, but she herself kept on chat-writing with me. Skype chat makes it possible to do other things, while waiting for answers, so I used the waiting time to finish the collage and send her a copy, thinking about how different conditions we have to adjust to. There have been many earthquakes around us lately, but the people in New Zealand and Japan seems to have a strong mind and forces to overcome the disaster in a very calm way.  I surely would have been  under the sofa before the cat.
Sumire found that the collage was encouraging, which I was very glad to hear, and it immediately motivated me to post it at my blog. Perhaps encourage others who might need it because of a long winter or a boring day. Or something else, – hopefully less serious than in Japan and New Zealand.

Would you like a banana?

During the second WW, we had no bananas. I say we, but actually I wasn´t born back then, and so I never learn how it feels to miss bananas. Of course one can learn some by listening to  ”Yes,-we have no bananas”, and the Danish song “Når der kommer en båd med bananer” (When the boat with bananas will arrive, then…), but the fact that the feeling of missing something can stay in one´s mind for ever, even when the “problem” isn´t there anymore, was an experience that came to me, when my great grand mother  in 1989 turned 90 years. Her old friends and cousins were gathered in her little cosy flat, for the occation decorated with flowers and flags. Royal porcelain bowls were filled with delicate chocolates for the guests, and the finest crystal glasses had been taken out from dark cabinets, to be filled with sherry or liqueur. Everything was as  fine and special as we – her family – thought she would like. When the guests were nicely seated my great grandmother, (who btw was totally fresh)  asked them “Would you like a banana”? No doubt that this question surprised me, but I was even more surprised about the reaction from the guests, whom apparently found this offer absolutely relevant. Great grandmother knew best what would mark a day as special for her guests, and for herself. This was a good lesson for me.

I will leave you with the same question as my great grandmother, though this time not with  reference to privations, only to the joy of shapes and light.

Would you like a banana?

The first bananas -after the war – came to Denmark in may 1952.

Late summer collage

Solstice

I went out to the garden a moment ago, to catch a last glimps of the longest day. 10:30 pm. it was.

Lunchtime with Norton

   

My computer is realy slow now, after having installed a new version of Norton. I can´t help thinking, that this protection is very effective, because it is almost impossible to use the computer.  Just too bad I had to pay for not using it, but I must be glad that it is safe.

Luckily I had something in the DRAFT box. I made this last summer, I wanted to show you an old lunch-box,  a  “Tejne” . My mother gave it to me years ago. She had it as a present from her grandmother, who used it as her lunchbox, when she was young. She was born in 1869. These lunch boxes were ordinary at that time. I don´t know how common they were in other countries?

To make this photo session authentic, I made myself a lunch, wrapped it in paper, and placed it in the tejne, ready to be eaten…in the warm sun…with birds and bees flying around……and the green grass a bit to high as usual.

I suppose I have to say Thank you Norton for this glimpse of summer…

Water

My contribution to Scott Thomas assignment “WATER “  will be this photo, taken today on our drive along the coast line of Zealand. This water, Øresund / Østersøen (the Easten lake – even it is not a lake), seperate Denmark from Sweden, -our hereditary enemy when it comes to football.  There has of course been many wars between our two countries, land and jewellery has changed hands,  and stories of the enemies brutality has provided stories that can be told forever.

The “Eternal peace” between our countries was signed in 1658, after the Swedish army had been able to march directly to Denmark, because of very hard frost.  Thick enough to carry an army.  As the winner of the war, Sweden got these areas : Skåne  Halland and Blekinge, -a fact that surprisingly still seems to annoy some.
All this happened 350 years ago, and have been celebrated with exibitions made by Swedish and Danish museums.

We do like the swedes a lot now days, and respect their well-developed society. Actually we have made a bridge to Sweden.  Apparently we can´t stop them anyway.

Scott Thomas invite everyone to join the assignment, you are welcome, too.

Graphic autumn

This is not the result of a distracted gardener at work, but a common way to prune some sort of trees.

Light