They say that every snowflake is unique. Makes me wonder who’s been checking them all? True or not, King Frost has an amazing ability to create fantastic displays. Together with the low standing suns amazing light, this was on display yesterday.
Stop, you will see beauty around you, ha de Gött!
Outside the small town Grebbestad lays the Greby grave field. Even if it’s unique for this area there is not much known. There are around 200 graves that dates back to Iron age, year 200 – 600. Many of the burial mounds have large stones at the top. Very few excavations has been done but in 1873 historian Oscar Montelius examined ten of the burial mounds.
He found in almost all graves an urn with burned bones often with some small objects like a bone comb or glas beads. Ceramic vessels with an ear and a glass bead molded in the bottom. This type of pottery has been found in England and Germany. This suggest that this burial site was connected to a trading place.
There is an interesting legend that was told to one of the disciples of Carl von Linné, Pehr Kalm who visited in 1742. According to this fishermen from Scotland visited the area during the herring periods. Legend has that a Scottish army invaded and raided all the way to Bullaren 25 kilometres inland. A local army defeated them in two battles where the final one stod at Greby. None of the Scotts made it home and their remains was buried here. There is however no evidence found for this.
Come in peace, get home in one piece, ha de Gött!
Snow and buds, ha de Gött!
Christmas is about community. With the Covid-19 lock-downs and restrictions it’s hard to meet family and friends.
Don’t forget the lonely ones. Those without family and friends, whatever the reason.
Sometimes it’s enough with a smile and meeting the eyes of that stranger in the street. A nod or even a hello, it half the face is covered by a mask.
You can be that twinkling star, ha de Gött!
Hold tight, ha de Gött!
Christmas is upon us with all its traditions. Even if we think it’s the same every year there is change. Maybe not so fast but it’s there. In English it’s called Christmas referring to the celebration of the birth of Gods son. Makes sense but I wonder if Christmas has been taken hostage by the commercial forces and if that is not the new religion. It is not the first time a new religion builds on, and take over old traditions.
Thousand years ago the pagan Viking’s celebrated Yule blot to honor Odin, the All Father. There is som debate among the historians if this twelve day festival was celebrated at the same time as Christmas or in mid January. It is also referred to as ‘midwinter blot’. Some say that it was first celebrated in mid January and moved in the mid 900 by King Håkon I of Norway to fit the Christian celebration. This was done as an effort to convert the Vikings to Christianity by the already converted Håkon.
In Swedish we say ‘Jul’ for Christmas and in old Norse language it was the name for Odin. Odin being the most important God in Nordic mythology. The word ‘blot’ means sacrificing to the Gods. The ceremonies and ritual killings of animals was a blood dripping event. Drinking of fresh raw blood and splashing over the crowd must have been quite a scene. Luckily it was all washed down with lots and lots of mead.
Be traditional, create new traditions, ha de Gött!
The low standing winter sun and night frost creates this exiting light. Tomorrow is winter solstice when sun rises 09:06, barely makes it over the horizon before it sets again 15:21. Then the light starts to come back again. Still the sun wins over Jack Frost and creates a mist over the fields.
Where there is darkness there is light, decide which you want to be. Ha de Gött!
Water is faschinating but frozen it’s amazing. King Frost swept in during the night and created this lovely work of art.
I could not decide if it came out best in color or in monochrome. What do you think?
Stay cool, ha de Gött!
Want it, got to have it!
That young hot wife to drive off with, in that shiny red sports car. Hair flying in the speed wind.
That brand new phone, backside covered in camera lenses. Join the click party of the happy fit people.
That endless holiday, far stretched tropical white sand beach. Beer served by minimalistic dressed waitresses.
That top management job, private jet to close those big deals. Bank account flooding over by the minute.
That stare from the nightclub queue, sweeping passed. Arms wrapped around curves.
Need, not much.
To live, love and be loved, a family to hug.
Friends, beer, a laugh. Music and a bite to eat.
Don’t cross the stream to get water, ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 