Thursday, August 27, 2009

Time to move south!



Many birds have started their long journeys south and it is time for me to do the same. It has been an unusual summer with the new road as the most dramatic change. My eyes are still not used to it and I have not completely accepted it but a few new bushes, a bit of grass around it and it will, probably, look OK next spring.

The wild fire that ravaged part of the deep forest not far away from Svångemåla was so expensive for the local community that the administration has decided to cancel its annual Christmas party.

From a wild life point of view, it has not been as exciting as last year when I met the two moose calves but I am happy that the rare wood pecker has found a home on my plot. The fox has not shown up but I have seen its droppings in many places so it is still around. The wild pigs are becoming a real nuisance and my neighbor has had to put up a small electric fence around his house. As always this time of the year, I have noted that there are a few mice who have moved into my cellar to get away from the cold in the nights and my answer is a new electronic device that sends out some sort of pulses through the electric wires / cables as well as ultra sonic sounds. Both are supposedly painful for the rodents and will make them go somewhere else. I am not so optimistic but it is still better than to feed them with poison and make the house a mice mausoleum.

It has been a good year for pears but not so great for apples although I have enough of them to bring back home for some pies. A unique and very old fruit is damson (krikon) (Prunus domestica ssp. insititia). It looks like a prune but is not as sweet and needs a serious frost bite before you can eat it. The core if its wood is red and very nice for carvings and other forms of wood work.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Road III

This is what it used to look like when you approached my house. The road made a gentle turn to the left after which it went around my house and garden / plot.



The new road turns right and then comes a long curve to the left before it joins the old road. The turns are not at sharp as they used to be and it is farther away from my house but it runs between my house and "The field" and it will take some time before it melts into the environment as well as the old does. The traffic will not increase from the five to ten cars that pass every day so the big question is if it was really necessary to make this "improvement" ?

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

European Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)


I have hardly ever seen Rowan as red as this year. The trees are full of the red berries and one might wonder what the winter will be like since the old saying is that a lot of Rowan berries forebode a severe winter.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Road II

The road is almost finished and it looks better than expected BUT it is still like a scar in what used to be my untouched backyard. All involved have been very accommodating and shown sincere concerns regarding all concerns I have had but still ... it is not what it used to be and it will take a while before I feel totally comfortable. On top of everything, the hunters have realized that “the field” is a prime area for moose, deer and other wildlife and have erected a small tower from which they can scan the area for possible game. I do understand that the moose population has grown far too fast and needs to be reduced and the wild pigs is of equally growing concern, BUT was it really necessary to build the tower just 98 meters away from my plot? The recommendation is 200 meters but on the other hand, their firing will now be away from my house which is much better than the other way around!

All in all, I have very mixed feelings about the developments and that is the main reason why I have not added anything to the blog recently. Next time I will add some pictures to give you a better understanding of what is going on in Svångemåla.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thanks!



Many thanks to all of you how have shared my concern regarding the new road and what I have to go through while it is being built. This flower is just for you!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Noise



The usual silence in Svångemåla has temporarily been broken by the roars from big machines cutting down trees and moving earth and stones. The new road is taking shape and my main wish now is that it is all over soon!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Before and after....I think

Before...


(As always,click on the picture to enlarge!)


After..I think but which one? If you know, please let me know!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Tree killing machine


The tree killing machine or "harvester" did not come last Thursday but it is now parked a few hundred meters away from my house and is ready to attack. It is amazing how similar it is to a Dinosaurus Rex. I am very glad I am not an innocent tree waiting to be slaughtered.