ONE FOREST STORY

One day the one that whistled in a tree, early in the morning, was found behind a window in the afternoon.

Forest walk, tummies full of berries after a cold dip in a lake. Sun shined and the moss looked warm and soft. Pillows, I saw, and mattresses, sofas and armchairs. Handfuls of berries to reach, to drink and eat. There would be everything. Dense pine branches as a roof, the hill to see the first sun rays and wave good bye to the last disappearing ones.

Trumpet orchestra of the forest hummed a slow windy song all around. 

Trees, small and tall. Some smaller, but denser ones were tickling curiosity forming a nice beginning of a path. The blue sky would not be visible under those branches.

A tree to hang your beard into. Or a tree to borrow a beard from to dress up for a royal forest dinner.

The waves rushed to the shore, the clouds to the left. Crackling fire was waiting inside with a blueberry pie. Turning bike and bicycling back home on a sunny autumn forest road. Pebbles making a nice rhyme under tires.

Warm cloudy morning greetings!

AUTUMN FOREST WALKS

From dark to light green. All the different colours and their different levels in autumn forests now. Purple, yellow, red, orange are also appearing every day stronger. Wind rattles the leaves in a different melody. Plays them like different instruments. 

Lingonberries so sweet and carpets of moss so soft to sit on and touch. On a small moss covered rock, the last Twinflowers with their gentle scent. Magpies and their songs up in the blue sky.

Starry skied Sunday evening greetings from my balcony, wrapped in a blanket, have a good new week!

THE WIND BROUGHT WARMTH

The wind has changed. Dropping all the snow down from tree branches. Warming the air. I am afraid, but I think to have smelled the spring yesterday even though it snowed all the day heavily. This early. But that is how the spring comes, in steps. In storms. Backwards and forwards with the winter. I think that the winter still wins for some months.

There are two new prints in my shop. Rainy Day in A Nearby Forest and Stollinn:

— Drip drop sounds through leaves as raindrops are landing. Fresh scents of pine, cherries and birch tree leaves. Soft wet grass under bare toes. Gentle summer rain is here.

— Mountain called Stollinn is like a chair for a giant. It frames a small fishing village in North Iceland and holds a small glacier tightly behind its back. Weather keeps Stollinn playing hide and seek game. Sunshine makes it golden, mist and rain makes it to disappear.

How are you?

Here it is nap time of a Saturday evening. Then a long walk to see if the streets are already cleaned after the storm of yesterday. A bit of chocolate. A lot of tea. Lots of love.

SOUNDSCAPE OF YESTERDAY

Rattle of fallen leaves in the wind. Bicycle tire banging into footpath, dark grey asphalt with sand here and there. Traffic lights peeping. Warm hug of a friend and a smile welcoming. Coffee house door opening, closing and opening again with a little sound of a humble bell. Hot drinks outdoors, café owner comes to wrap us to blankets like her own children. Spoons circling around inside the cups. Passer-bys with strong taps or lighter thumps. A boy like dancing with his school bag, a light soul, no homework.

Back to home in wind, meetings of other bicycles, red, black, grey ones on the way. Breaks of the bus number 15 make familiar rhythm in crossroads. Like the game that I played when I was smaller, always going home, eyes closed in a car, guessing in which curve we are.

Home, paper rattles, pencil lines. Water boiling. Knife cutting apples. Evening walk, sun is silent, vegetation is silent, turning yellow red purple pink. Only a few lost bees clattering inside bushes and crows cawing on lamp posts showing their area. Bowing deep, like doormen with fine top hats.

Bows and curtseys, happy morning!

PATHS TO WONDER, TALK, AND SEE, OR TO BE SILENT

Good morning dear all of you,

This morning is very cold. Nose is frozen. Autumn is for walks with a hot cup of coffee or tea in hands. With my dear friend we have done that a lot the last years, in different countries with wonderful views on the way. Cats, birds, trees, ponds, parks, forests, hills, sleeping beaches snoring. Villages, gardens, farms, business streets. Dogs and markets. Always sketchbooks in our bags with some provisions. To walk I could forever.

These pictures are from Reykjavík in 2006. A bright orange coffee house was our living room, hot pots with old men boiling in them like soups in the swimming pools for the evenings or early mornings.

Maybe I am a bit too early with the autumn, it is still August. At least two layers of long sleeves can be finally tried on in the early mornings. The sky is also changing its palette to a bit colder tones.

Have a walk, a long one today!

Hearts,

Anna Emilia

UNDERWOOD AND BIRD GOSSIPS

Spring calls for long walks with provisions in pockets. (Nuts, dried berries and fruits, an apple, strawberry juice. Three small pieces of dark chocolate.) To see who is the most brave to show a hint of green first. Trees or flowers from the ground. Spring also calls to stay home, to paint eagerly while black lover birds whisper their greetings through an open balcony door. Spring calls to realize late in the night that a new day comes and painting and the bird songs can also continue tomorrow. Spring calls as a sound of rain and new wings flying to the roof, I guess it is a big blind date centrum there for birds. Spring also calls just to stay in the moment and watch the light changing.

These pictures are from the year 2007. The spring I stayed in Finland and the summer in Iceland. There were many streets to walk. Many rainy days to read comics under strange light blue NATO-blankets. And a friend tickling my soles.

Happy Thursday! Happy walks!