Faith on trial

In the time of a warming-up globe, one needs some faith to walk on water!

Only four weeks ago, when people still parked their cars on ice, right in the same spot, we walked across the strait to visit the "new" carmelite convent now situated on the nearby Vartiosaari island.

My weekend was filled with spring warmth and choral singing. I have been working quite intensively and need some looseness.

Needless for now

Two weeks ago, my Dutch friend asked me if we still have snow over here. And I thought: what a silly question. Of course we have. For many weeks to come.

Today, I must admit I was wrong. They write about the shortest winter ever being recorded - "winter" referring to days when temperatures average below 0. This "winter" lasted only 40 days while previous ones lasted 120!

So today was the day when this totally needless equipment made its return to the basement, in the hope of new life to come, in due time.

There's no doubt though. New life will certainly come. In fact, it is really enjoyable walking around our island, watching the ice melt, and hearing birds sing. Maybe the bike is already willing wake to up from its hibernation...

Tystnad i Rättvik

Churchyards tend to be my favourite place of interest wherever I travel. So it was also in Rättvik this past weekend.

What made this Sweden visit different was that this time there was a group of 9 friends who came with me to experience a silent retreat in Berget.

Again, I've been to a beautiful, peaceful, silent place... which one can hardly describe with words. Yet I'm trying to convey just some of the atmosphere, hoping that a picture will help. (Which seems to be a recurring pattern in this blog.)