'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Monday 8 October 2018

Kåseberga, Sweden

Walking back to the car through the pretty village of Kåseberga I was once again really taken with the bright contrast between all the lovely flowers, the white walls and the brilliant blue sky.  I'll let you just enjoy the walk too.





The hollyhock on the left was so dark red it was almost black!  A stunning colour.


This was the one that was so dark.  



See the butterfly?

I think this is sweet Mockorange (Philadelphus). 
As much for my benefit as your possible interest, I have made this map of the places we went so far.

 Next stop: Sandhammerans - where there's SAND!

Saturday 6 October 2018

Fish!

At lunchtime on day one of my Andersen South Sweden Tour I again encountered Swedish Fish.  I have capitalised that because although there was an amazing selection at the Fish Church in Gothenburg, the fish shop and cafe at Kåseberga (Kåseberga Fisk AB) had a very good selection too.  Although my memory was indubitably influenced by my appetite (the fried herring was wonderful) and the fact that I have more photos of this shop.  Whichsoever, feast your eyes on this!


The bank to the right where I saw only a few poppies, is usually smothered in them!
It's just too hot and dry this year so they have finished flowering.


Welcome to the Fisk Shop! 









The staff were very friendly and patient even when very busy.




Upstairs to the cafe

The view of Kåseberga from our cafe table

The other place to eat... must have been good too judging by the queue.  


Wait!  What's that on the roof!!!?  

It turned out the snake was rubber and did a very good albeit passive job of being a cafe-fish-meal-scavenging-gull deterrent.

Friday 5 October 2018

Inktober

It is that time of year when some people post (usually on social media like Instagram and Facebook) a quick ink sketch or drawing each day, rising to the challenge of "INKTOBER".
I have begun, but as I am very busy with botanical painting too, I may or may not adhere rigidly to the one 'every single day' thing.
I thought you might like to see the ones I have done so far.  They will eventually be available as printed cards with envelopes once I've given them some colour. And got my Etsy shop up and running.

New Zealand Bittern hides in the reeds.

Hips and Pods

NZ bush robin 



Thursday 4 October 2018

Ales Stenar (Ale's Stones), South Sweden

You climb the hill from the small harbour and there they are:  A collection of ancient stones in a rough ellipse or boat-shape, most higher than a human, and of course much broader.  They sit on top of the hill, on a wonderful site overlooking the sea on two sides.  A great place for a fort, or a nice expensive house.  The people wander between them, taking photos, the kids run around with all that energy somehow revived from the hot walk up the track, and I try and imagine what happened here so many thousands of years ago.  There is a flat stone embedded in the ground, near the prow or bow.  Was it a place of sacrifice?  Homage?  Or maybe the whole was just a nice meeting place for a picnic, as some people are using it today.  Was it once covered with beams and roof?  It would be rather windy and cold up here sometimes. Did they sing?  Chant? Wear special clothes?









Roy and I wander down to the edge overlooking the sea. The sky is so wonderfully blue it almost hurts. 

I'm getting lunchtime-ish however, and thirsty so we walk back down the hill to the wee harbour and instead of reading the information board, I just photograph it.  I want to have my own ideas of Ale's Stones for a little while longer yet before I find out what others have discovered.  They feel more like my special personal archeological discovery, that way.  
There are some poppies growing on a bank.  I love them against the grass and blue sky.  
We are coming back to the present now and there's a smell of fish cooking and the chatter of people drinking beer and eating under umbrellas. 





Tuesday 2 October 2018

Roy Andersen

Roy Andersen.  From this article: https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2017-10-25/fotografen-som-gillar-exotiska-kryp
It's time to introduce my friend and guide in South Sweden.
Roy Andersen, as I mentioned in an earlier post, is also an insect photographer but his work takes him frequently on amazing adventures to countries like the Amazon basin and other parts of South America.  In the last two years since I met him in the jungle of Costa Rica, he has been to Jordon, and twice to Cambodia.
He thinks it's a good trip if he can add one or two more images to his collection.  Although he may take thousands to get even one he is happy with.
You can see some of his lovely captures at this link HERE
And his website is here.

Galleri Fagel 
Our next stop was to see some of his photographs in an art gallery called Galleri Fagel (Gallery Bird).
They looked very interesting and exciting and I was very impressed with them and, indeed the whole gallery.

Roy's work at another exhibition. The clarity of the photos is excellent. To get a close-up look of Roy Andersen's work, please check out the links above.











And then we were back on the road again.  
Next stop: The wonderful Ales Stones 'stone ship' at Löderup.