Samsø is a danish island located in the Kattegat north of Funen.
Spot of the week - Ballen/Samsø Denmark
Samsø is a danish island located in the Kattegat north of Funen.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Samsø is a danish island located in the Kattegat north of Funen.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Imbued by travel IV
Feeling to be a part of nature by experiencing the wind and sun and sand and water. The feeling on the skin, the smelling, listening to the sounds and tasting the salty air.
Anholt - 2013 - Oil on canvas - 100x120 cm $1000 at Saatchi Art Online
Cockchafer (Melolontha)
A couple of weeks ago, actually at the beginning of May, this guy landed on the leg of our son, when we were in the garden. We never saw a cockchafer in real, let alone so close. He was just beautiful and the children carefully observed every detail of his perfectly build body.
Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)
After dropping the children at school this morning I met this cute and shy little fellow in the nearby park. He was hiding in his hole apparently waiting for a quiet moment to cross the path.
Sorry for the somewhat lower quality of the pictures recorded by cellphone.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Btw...what is the Great Loop?
The term Great Loop refers to the circumnavigation of eastern North-America.
 |
| (Actually, this ship we met at the Baltic Sea in 2012.....) |
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Why the Great Loop?
Why do we dream about the Great Loop?!
When the idea of doing a longer journey by boat hit us, we always talked about circumnavigation. We discussed that for quite a while; there were ups and downs: Sometimes Wolfgang was absolutely fond of the idea and I had doubts, sometimes it was just the other way round.
He always dreamed of getting away from regular live, I searched for a project connected with the journey, like writing about it, doing some research, develop some art projects.
And of course we have many worries concerning the children. Although we are sure they would benefit a lot from a long family journey, still we have to consider education issues as well. Another big point is the financial situation.
We did a lot of reading and followed other people living their dreams and reporting about that in the internet.
I always felt that doing the "conventional" route - Canary Islands, Caribbean, South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Suez Canal and back to the starting point - is not what I am dreaming about exactly. Although there are many many places on this route I would love to see, there are other spots I would very much prefer to visit, such as Patagonia, Japan, Kamchatka Peninsula, Alaska, Canada and USA....
Since we are not sure, whether we will be able to do a journey over a couple of years, why not start with a shorter project?
We read before about the Great loop and it seems to be the ideal journey for us. It is manageable within one year. Besides the Atlantic crossing the sailing will be close to the shore or mostly on inland waters, which fits to our "Baltic Sea skils". We more or less speak the language. Taking the children one year out of primary school and teach them aboard should be doable. Plus, for a long time I dreamed about returning to New York City, where I worked in 2001, on our own keel....
That sets it: The Great Loop would be a perfect starting point for a change of life.
Of course there are many many issues which are ambiguous right now.
A big topic still is the financing.
Since we have compulsory schooling in Germany, we will have to get a permit to take the children out of school, which is possible, but depends on the personal approach of different people.
Madita will definitely not be the right kind of boat, to do such a journey and we will have to sell her before the journey. That is kind of heartbreaking to any of us :-(
We have different options: We could find a new boat here, do the equipping and sail across the Atlantic. Or we could sell everything here, fly to USA and buy a boat there. Currently I prefer the first option, because I feel much more comfortable to put everything in place and get used to a new boat before we start.
And I am sure many questions will pop up while preparing...but hey, we know what we are preparing for and that is a good starting point!
Friday, June 6, 2014
Hugo - our family dog
I wanted a dog for years. Wolfgang was strictly against buying one....although he loves dogs or maybe because he loves dogs. His parents had dogs and he perfectly well knows how much work and responsibility it is.
But on the other hand wouldn't it be the most joyful and heart warming thing to have in life?!
At least we figured out at one point what kind of a dog we would like to have, if we ever would get as far as buying one....A flat coated retriever seems to be a good breed for us. The big dog book we have on the shelf says: A flat coated retriever is extraordinary charming, does anything to please, very friendly with children and the tail is constantly wagging.
But still Wolfgang was not fond of the idea. Then, one sunday afternoon just a few weeks before my 40th birthday, he suggested a nearly 2 hour drive to Oldenburg (Oldenburg) to see some puppies....."We will just look at them...."
Some hours later we were driving back home, the sweetest black, furry thing sitting anxiously on my lap. That was the day, Hugo (*12/25/2011) came in our life.
He was really wild in the beginning and not much interested in cuddling. To our surprise we had to get used to each other. But only after a few he became a family member. His training might not be the best, but he is a real family dog, very kind with the children, easy to handle wherever we take him, very friendly with other dogs. The only negative thing I should mention is his weakness for sweet stuff especially cakes and muffins, which he of course would only take if they obviously would have been put on the table for him.....
Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Two years ago a new tree was planted in our street a few houses further down. It is a lime tree (Tilia) and the neighborhood is not too happy about it, since it is one more lime tree in the street spilling its sticky pollen all over the place on windows and cars. But in the soil which came with this tree seem to be seed of many different wild flowers. Last year beautiful mallow was growing all around the trunk. This year poppy established itself. It just started to blossom, but I had to take a picture by now, because I love the texture and color of the blossom and I can not expect the seed capsules to fully appear.
Imbued by travel III
Sometimes you find a place which is enchanted by the light and the colors. The small island Vejrø certainly is such a place to me.
Vejrø - 2013 - Acrylic on canvas - 120x100 cm - $ 700 at Saatchi Art Online
Spot of the week - Vejrø/Denmark
We love the danish islands and Vejrø is on the top of our list.
Vejrø is a little private island of 1.6 km² located in the Smålandsfarvandet. The harbor offers room for 85 ships and is open to leisure boats. There is a ship shuttle service for appointed guests to the island. The only other way to arrive is by privat plane. Vejrø has a little hotel and few guest houses. The restaurant as well as the little shop offer organic products of the island. The harbor fee is rather high, but the facilities on the island like shower, washing machine and dryer, tennis court, bicycles, electricity, water and BBQ with wood or coal are for free. But what we love most on this pearl in the Baltic Sea is the nature. Although the island is cultivated the nature is overwhelming. Deers are looking at you every now and then from behind a tree or the open meadows. Rabitts are running around or sitting quietly in the green. Many birds nesting all over the place. Wildflowers are blossoming everywhere. All this is surrounded by a sea of turquoise color. It is very quiet here. While strolling around we feel completely relaxed and embedded in the bursting nature.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Fossiloid
Over the past few years I literally carried a huge 60kg blue alabaster stone with me. It moved from Berlin to Hamburg with us and I moved it back and forth in the house. For a long time I simply was not sure, what might be in the stone. During the past 3 month I finally figured it out and made this sculpture.
How much is enough?
There is nothing to complain about. We live a good life. Everything is just in place....but somehow that seems not to be what we want. It starts with all the stuff we have in the house. Each piece on it's own might have been a good purchase. But more and more I feel uncomfortable and wonder wether we really need all of it. It is nothing, which can be explained by reason, it is more an emotion leading to the decision, that it has to start with getting rid of at least a good part of the stuff. Which leads to the question, what we really need or want to have. What is really important to us, what has a meaning? With every piece we sold or gave away so far, I feel much better. I don't expect that reducing will lead to absolute minimalism. But in the end I would be happy if anything would fit within one boat ;-)
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Horse Chestnut (Aesculum Hippocastanum)
To me this is the most beautiful horse chestnut tree. It stands in the park of Sønderborg castel. Behind the wall, it is leaning on, lays the baltic sea.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Imbued by travel II
Paintings inspired by our journey last summer.
Nystedt Castle Park - 2013 - Acrylic on canvas - 60x80 cm - prints available at Saatchi Art Online
Monday, June 2, 2014
Rainbows....
Talking about rainbows...On pictures they look easily like kitsch, but seeing one in real is always an enchanting moment...
Once, we visited the peninsula Schleimünde/Germany, a whole rainbow spread over the baltic sea. It lasted for about 45 minutes and was for a while accompanied by a second short piece. It was too large to put it in one photo.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
South Funen Archipelago/Denmark - April/May 2014
At the beginning of May we did a one week trip in the South Funen Archipelago/Denmark.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Rainbow within the sea
While floating at a windless day on the Als-Fjord/Denmark our daughter observed a interesting phenomenon: There was a rainbow on the water surface, apparently showing the reflexion of sunlight scattered within the clouds.
Mjelsvig/Denmark - 05/24/2014
From Sønderborg/Als - Denmark to Mjelsvig/Als, 13 NM, wind 0-1 NE
Last weekend we made a short trip to Mjelsvig. Since we had no wind, it was mostly motoring, passing the Als-Sound and Als-Fjord in northwest direction to the bay of Dyvig/Als.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Spot of the week - Schleimünde/Germany
Schleimünde is a peninsula at the beginning of Germany's one and only fjord Schlei. It can only reached by ship, since the land connection with the mainland is a bird sanctuary.
About 30 ships can be mooring in the habour. Who will not arrive on ones own keel can reach Schleimünde several times a day by excursion boat starting in Kappeln.
There is a little restaurant, "Giftbude", the House of the harbor master and the old pilots house. Schleimünde belongs to the Lighthouse Foundation, which is maintaining it and takes care of the nature reserve. The old pilothouse can be booked for seminars and workshops by groups.
At the beginning of the west bridge is a statue of artist Jonas Kötz who graved the sculpture "Hannes Schlie" from an old pile which stood for about 80 years in the harbor of Hamburg.
To defend the land from erosion the beach at the seaside was filled with gravel originating from a danish gravel-pit. In this till many many fossils can be found.
The children have the best playground at the beach with huge piles of stones which serve for endless games on long warm summer evenings. There is a little beach at the harbor side where they can flounder in shallow water.
The evenings are of special beauty!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Hedgehog
At full daylight we found this cute little guy in the garden....
Just a week ago we saw a hedgehog on the street in front of our house. He looked shaky and somehow not healthy and he was just about to run across the road. Therefore we picked him up and put him under some shrubbery. We anticipated him to die soon, but when we checked on him after a while, he was gone.
We assume that todays hedgehog is the very same. He still looks kind of weak although he is awake and curiously looking at us. We picked him up and put him in a box. After a phone call at the local hedgehog information centre we decided to take care for him. His whole face was covered with ticks. There were some extra ugly ones in his ears.....We removed like dozens of them... We found no other injuries. We weighed him: He has 620g today. It is recommend, that we should feed him until he has 800-900g, then he may be released.....
After the whole procedure he fell asleep. When waking up we fed him with some dog food. (Our dog looked not too sure whether he agrees...). The hedgehog seemed very happy about that, although his table manners are not the best....he was smacking loudly...
So most likely he is just too light weighed after hibernation and in urgent need for food and therefore running around at daylight.
The children called him Kim.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Imbued by travel I
The landscape and architecture of Danmark is of ongoing inspiration:
Årø Fisher's Cabins I - 2011 - Oil on canvas - 80x60 cm - $500 at Saatchi Art Online
Årø Fisher's Cabin II - 2011 - Oil on canvas - 80x60cm - prints available at Saatchi Art Online
Sailor's Cabin, Dyvig - 2011 - Oil on canvas - 80x60cm - $500 at Saatchi Art Online
Aerosköbing Beach Houses - 2011 - Oil on canvas - 100x50cm - not available
Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi)
Beautiful nature architecture.....
Fruit of Physalis alkekengi.
It belongs more in the autumn, but we found it just recently in the garden and I was once more amazed how nicely the texture is woven.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
