Winged ones enjoying autumnal sun!

Tosteberga Hamn

We felt like driving over to TOSTEBERGA HAMN today,

after a hardworking day. :))

The first bird that ran in front of my lens was this Pheasant,

he really wanted to be on my blog! :))

I wish I could post a "package" here for everyone to pick up and open at home, so you could smell the fragance of all the wild flowers on the coast, as well as the scent of the ocean!

The geese didn't wait for me to get a close up shot, but this nice looking bird introduced his offspring to us...

Kiebitz (in german) or Lapwing (english) ... or is it Peewit? Or both?

Isn't that a cutie?!!!

I love thistles! (Midas loves to eat them! )

Those icelandic horses enjoy the fresh air, but not the bugs and gnats...

On the way home we saw a stunning sunset and THIS!!!

This firemouth on the sky looks almost like the outlines of the United States, doesn't it?!!

Somehow...

I will post more pictures of that trip soon.

Good night everyone!

♥

Rain and Colorado, Eagles, Horse and Mule ...

It is still raining...

Well, it has been dry yesterday afternoon and looking out of the window now, I regret that I didn't take the boys for a ride yesterday.

Today it is really nasty outside.

The wind blows the raindrops right into your face... Bäh!

I hope it clears up a little this afternoon, only for an hour or so.

The horses could need a short change of scenery.

*

COLORADO 2006

Our longtime friends MJ and Mr. T (+ all their animals) had just moved to Colorado.

So it was time for a visit!

Well, I had also signed up for a equine massage class that fall, up in Fort Collins...

And so I got to visit MJ, Mr. T, Polly, Rhettly and Maggie before class started in September! After class had finished late October, Hasi flew into Denver as well, and we went back to Mancos for a second visit.

MJ took me for a ride in or near the Mancos State Park, it was so nice!

I got to put my new equine massage skills to work on Polly...

and Rhettly, my dear old friend!

But the most exciting day was, when MJ took us to look for the Bald Eagles in the area...

We were so excited, a huge wish was close to be fulfilled...

Hasi on the look-out...

There they were...!!!

We saw close to 15 Bald Eagles that day.

One remarkable memory!

:))

Wash over your spirit!

I love swallows, I always did.

When I was little we used to have 4, sometimes 5 nests every year in our cowhouse.

I remember it so well, I loved to watch the parents feed the little ones and was always stunned by how fast and precise they navigate through the air.

That is what makes it also almost impossible to get a good picture of them...

The spring day they arrive at the stable

is always a special moment for me,

a moment that lets me just pause for a little while.

There are two or three "couples" here at the farm.

I didn't expect that many really, because there are no animals on the farm... but they are here and I love to listen to their chatter.

:))

We discoverd their first nest today.

It is an "used" one and they're renovating it very carefully.

Fantastic birds!

*

This fella came to "visit" the farm again yesterday.

It is nice to see him hopping around so happy,

but it is also a bit annoying because the dogs have to go on the leash now...

And they don't like that!!!

He's also not easy to shoot (with my camera of course).

He is very alert and moves around quite a lot.

I had to do some adjustments on this photo in Photoshop.

And this is the crop from the photo above... which is surprisingly good.

These are the moments when I wish my lens would be reaching a little "longer"...

But like always in life,

we just can't have it all...

And that is OK!

:))

I had a good ride yesterday.

Midas was behaving well and Indigo followed us as usual.

We didn't see much wildlife,

just couple of geese down at the river.

Going for a trail ride is really one of the best ways to

"wash over your spirit and take all cares away"

as allhorsestuff said in her comment.

And so is going out with the camera,

searching for the perfect motive...

:))

A new morning

What a fantastic morning!

What happend yesterday is not forgotten.

The images seen on TV stayed with me all night.

Not that I couldn't sleep.

It is just the first thing you think of when you wake up...

People say, it will never be the same again.

Of course it won't.

Maybe that is a good thing...

Maybe we should see what happend as a

"Wake up call"?

Not just about this great event each year in Holland and the security around it.

Of course it should be continued.

Of course security has to be optimized.

Of course their should be laughter and joy again!

The "Wake up call" that

I SEE

in yesterdays event

IS

That we have to honor life every day!

That we have to respect others every day!

That we have to laugh with our friends every day!! (Big one!!!)

That it is not fair to "dump" our problems on someone else!

That we should deal with our problems ourselves, and if we can't, we should seek help and never panic!

Panic is growing in our heads only if we allow it!

*

It's time to take the horse for a ride in the woods before it gets too warm.

It's 8:30 and 20˚ C already!

Midas doesn't appreciate the warm weather too much...

:))

Pheasant

We spottet them on a big grassland

next to the road to Åsige.

When they heard the car coming

they tried to hide in the short grass.

But then the male Pheasant decided to

initiate a distruction maneuver

to protect the female...

What a gentleman!

;-)

He took off so fast that I had

a hard time following with my lens,

still sitting in the car.

I took a chance over my shoulder and

was really surprised that about the result

because I was pretty sure I had missed him...

:)

Silly Starlings

Hasi

rescued the first starling

about two weeks ago,

out of the barn.

The windows are open just wide enough fot them to get in,

but apparently not enough to get back out.

He was bumping into the window all the time,

was totally stressed out.

It looked like he had a concussion,

and it took about 5 minutes

until his strength seemed to come back.

Hasi was holding him in her hand all that time,

and as soon as she felt that

it's grip around her fingers got stronger,

she released the bird.

And then, a couple of days ago we

had to rescue a Starling out of the extactor in our kitchen.

Last night, Starling number 3!

Again in the extactor ...

Well, I guess the last one forgot to spread the message..!!!

Grrrr!

I have to talk to our landlord about that terrible bird trap...

That's the bird trap!

*

Tomorrow is a big day.

We'll have THE appointment at the horse farm at 11am.

I am confident that things will work out just fine.

It's all about patience.

I start to grasp what real patience is when I observe nature.

I watch our cat sitting some place,

sometimes waiting for hours for the mouse to come out.

I watch the trees that have been without warmth all winter,

standing tall against wind and cold,

waiting for the sun to get stronger,

so they can "come alive" again

and grow back new leaves.

Everything in Universe has it's time and it's place.

I believe that.

I believe in us humans to

be able to

RECONNECT

with nature,

with the forces and laws of the universe.

It sadens me that life these days is

mostly about

money,

success,

power

and wealth

while

OUR

planet and all living and breathing creatures are being sacrificed

for those things.

We get so attached to things

and the money that we use to pay for them

that we get disconnected with ourselves.

We even buy things that we cannot pay for!

Even in times of a HUGE finacial crisis

commercials on TV still try to

make you believe you still can have anyghing you want...

I digressed, didn't I.

PATIENCE

is

ANT'S medicine

Quote:

If you have Ant medicine,

you eat slowly and deliberabely and

are content in knowing that

"what is yours will come to you".

*

Morning Surprise

Sunday morning, 6:45

Hasi and the dogs got up, I stayed in bed.

Sunday, the perfect day to sleep late.

That was my plan...

But it wasn't supposed to happen like that.

Hasi came back into the bedroom, telling me about a strange noise that came out of the extactor in the kitchen. It sounded like a bird flapping his wings against the walls of the ventiduct.

So I got up and started to investigate.

Hasi and Barry were already over at the barn, feeding the horses.

So it was up to us, Cleo, cat Missy and me, to figure out a way to free the animal in emergency...

I figured out a way to get to the pipe fairly quickly, got a screwdriver to unfasten the clip that holds the tube that is attached to the metal ventiduct which is about 20x20 cm.

I pulled down the plastic tube and there he was, falling down from the prison he got himself into (probably looking for a nesting opportunity)...

The Starling took off immediately, hitting one of the kitchen windows, going for the light.

I managed to pick him (or her??) up. I checked for possible injuries and was glad to find the bird ok. His heart was pounding like hell and he looked very confused. I decided to take two quick pictures (for the blog of course ;-) ). Then it was time to take him outside again.

I told him to look somewhere else for a nest next time, gave him a light "lift" up in the air.

He spread his wings, startet to flap them like crazy!

It was great to see him fly off into the sky... :))

Phu! What a start into this new Sunday!

Time for some coffee!!!

Yesterday we drove down to Höllviken again, a place south of Malmö (south Sweden).

On the way we picked up our friend Carola from the Central Station in Lund.

We went to MacDonalds for a quick lunch

and got to our destination, the Riding School in Höllviken, around 1pm.

Anna, the owner of the stable, was already waiting for us

and the weather was georgeaus!

Carola had asked her if she could ride 2 or 3 of her horses,

while I would take some additional photographs, that we could use for Carola's Book.

3 hours and 3 beautiful horses later we had about 1667!!! photographs on the computer.

AND we DID get some very nice shots!

*happy*

Thank you ANNA,

for such a warm welcome

and especially for the good coffee!!!

:)

Some impressions...

We were back home around 6:45pm,

he horses were already waiting for us.

Midas came trotting into the stable... :

"WHERE IS MY FOOD?"

Shaking his head...like:

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU ARE LATE?!!"

;-)

Back to present time...

WE

(the dogs, Hasi and I)

are sitting on the sofa in the living room.

(The dogs are stretching their legs and are asleep).

We are watching the GP of China (Formula 1).

It is raining there...! Makes the race much more exciting!

But now I am getting kinda hungry, time for BRUNCH!

:))

Have a great Sunday everyone!!!

*

Easy

Franklins Gull (german "Lachmöve") ...thank you Montanagirl! ;-)

So often it seems

EASIER

to

...let someone else take a decision for you

instead of

taking action yourself.

...feeling someone elses pain and sorrow

instead of

feeling your own.

...enjoying the child (-like behavior) in someone else

instead of

loving the child inside yourself.

...giving advice

instead of

listening.

...helping others

instead of

accepting help for yourself.

...judging someone elses opinion

instead of

standing up for your own.

..bury yourself in work

instead of

finding out what life is really about (by taking time for yoursef, your friends/family...)

...following someone elses ideas

instead of

believing the truth that lies within yourself.

...trying to fit in

instead of

being who you really are.

...making sure to satisfy the needs of others

instead of

your own (OR VICE VERSA).

...staying low

instead of

taking the first step towards happiness.

...turn on the radio or tv

instead of

sitting in silence.

...i could go on like that for a long time.

...and I am sure that you could come up with one of those as well.

try it!

for me sometimes it seems easier to

...*blank*

instead of

*blank*

:))

Passing through...

Cranes

We have large fields out the door where we live.

Every now and then Swans or Geese land here to rest and eat before they continue their journey north.

This morning a couple Cranes walked graciously over the fields...

They are so huge!

I tried to sneak up on them with my camera as far as possible and sat there for like 10 minutes in the bush bush.

I took some pictures, looked at them and enjoyed their presence.

I think it was dogs barking or something else that set them off to leave again, too soon...

Hope they will be safe on their journey ahead.

:)

*

Pleasant Day

The day began with a very pleasant ride on Midas.

I love to ride him with the bareback pad!! It lets me feel more connected to him, lets me feel closer to this magical animal. I feel every muscel, every movement, every breath, all this power and energy...

He is such a reliable horse, even though he gets spooked easily.

I know he would carry me everywhere, anytime.

MAGIC

Indigo stays always close.

He is so smart, learning new things every day which are letting him grow in self confidence.

He is a great student, but also a fantastic teacher.

He is a young horse, will be 5 soon.

Sometimes I feel his wisdom which only an old soul can own...

MAGIC

MAGIC all around us...

European Viper (Kreuzotter - german)

Warming up it's body in the sun after a long periode of hybernation.

Snakes are somehow creepy..

But still absolute

MAGIC!

Birds singing, flying around with small twigs in their beaks.

Preparing homes for the next generation.

Beautiful melodies touching my heart.

MAGIC

There is no better "food" for the soul then experiencing the seasonal wonders of nature!

NATURE IS MAGIC

:))