RED CLOVERS FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL WITH 90 YEARS

Last Saturday, a thunder stormy night, under a summerhouse ceiling listening to pine tree cones drumming the beat of the thunder. Viiru meowing on the ladders outdoor with wet paws, the next moment sleeping next to my legs. On Sunday, 90th birthday of my grandmother, it became sunny and surprise guests brought laughter, delicious food with bonfire and swimming.

On Monday I traveled to the strawberry fields of childhood through the most hidden curvy roads filled with small wooden houses, villas and swimming pond landscapes. Today one liter of raspberries, 5 liters of strawberry juice to be kept for the winter´s white blankets. An outdoor theater by an old mill and a lake (with reflections of birch trees) in sunset and now some pink clouds greeting you with the last rays of the sun.

Good night, sleep tight with the summer greetings of mine!

WHILE CLOUDS ARE DRIFTING CLOSER

Salty face, splashes of the sea in the wind. Sandwiches filled with pecan nuts, green bell pepper, onion, olives and sweetest cucumber in a small grey backpack. Mind is still on this small island (and ears still hear the wind and the roars of the sea), hands painting on a satin cotton paper.

Have a pleasant weekend with a strawberry cake!

WIND WAS STRONG, BUT WE FOUND NESTS TO HIDE

Bare feet walking on white sand and shallow waves, wind blowing. Lighthouses appearing from behind mountains or top of them. Walking over a half desert peninsula to find on the other side the highest solitary waves, playing in them. Jumping and being thrown down to the sea bottom, feeling the power of the turquoise sea.

Jasmin was the scent of the air on our walks, the taste of the sweetest mangos in our mouths. A new magical island.

Yesterday I returned home to another kind of hot summer evenings. Everything is old, familiar and dear, but it feels also very new the same time. Trips could still last forever. Moments to breath, hold memories and remember new thoughts that they won´t disappear.

It looks like thunder here, but the weather might be just tricking me. The sky could be soon again filled with the tickling whiskers of the sun. I am settling down slowly, but the shop is again open. Thank you to everyone who has wrote me during these weeks, I will answer you very soon.

Hello dear all of you, how is your season? How are you? So happy to meet you here again.

(First image taken by S.)

EARLY RENDEZVOUS, A FAREWELL FOR A WHILE

Hello dear all of you,

Early morning of the Midsummer Eve and a walk while everyone else were still asleep. All silent, but the summer wind and Mr. Bunny, who I met many times on different paths. He was certainly having the most fresh breakfast of dandelions and a bit of the flowers of the allotment garden. Then we met on a meadow and I was already sure that he had marked the same route to his unplanned morning walk map.

Vanya won the give-away, congratulations! I will send it to you after my holiday as I still did not reach you. Thank you to everyone for writing your messages and wishes, every one of them I read carefully and keep in my mind, being so happy about them.

A bag is filled with a summer book and small provisions, in the afternoon I will travel 1937 kilometers away. Then on Monday some 4016 km more. We will meet in August again!

Bonfires, summer lake waves, warm forests with wood-sorrels and meadows of green to you,

Please be well,

Anna Emilia

RUSTLING EMERALD GREEN

Last summer I was visiting my brother for one week. While he was working, I was building his birthday gift, an evergreen tree, on his wall. Some days it was hot and I had my tea breaks on his balcony. Some days were very cold and I wore his huge woolen socks while painting.

Even it is hot today, I am wearing woolen socks, the best socks ever, knitted by my grandmother. She called me yesterday and told me that she had seen good looking strawberries by the square market. "Me too", I said. She had passed them, as she thought that the best ones come from my parent´s fields. "Me too", I said. Then she had seen some peas. "Me too!" She could not pass them. "Me neither," I said.

It is wonderful to read all your comments, thank you for saying hello and playing the game of give away! It is still open for one day, so is the shop.

Evening greetings,

see you tomorrow!

(The first two pictures taken by my brother.)

BRITTLE RAIN, A GIVEAWAY

Good morning dear all of you,

A brittle rain shower woke this town up on my small morning walk. A blackbird is humming while tea water boils, it will be plain green for the first cups today. Radio host is telling about the sea weather forecast in the islands in Archipelago Sea. Wind speeds from different directions and many rain showers ahead. Here a new rain shower just started to drum the grass outside with a loud sound.

Mid Summer Meadow is a small painting I painted two days ago. It is my giveaway as a gift for your kindness. It is framed in a small wooden frame. If you want to be part of the game, please leave a comment and I will pick up a winner on Thursday evening at 19.00 EEST. Everyone is welcome!

A new morning, a new day, it will pass quickly, so let´s catch this moment (for me a breakfast with a berry smoothie and then painting).

Have a pleasant weekend!

P.s. The shop is still open for six days.

Edit: Vanya won the give-away, congratulations! (Please email me your address!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISSING YOU

Happy birthday Iceland!

Gleðileg hátíð, gleðileg 17. júni!

Just sending my best greetings to the land of winds and surprises. These pictures were taken during the summer nights in 2005, when the sun never set. Yesterday I remembered how I worked with the elderly and silver-haired people there. One of the ladies was very known palm reader, people traveled to meet her. Once when we were in the kitchen all alone with her, her cup of coffee and milk already cold, she told me: "Hey you, come here!" (Heyrðu! Komdu!). I sat next to her glancing her newspaper, we used to read the news together, she teaching me Icelandic or we talking about her childhood in Denmark or of her known painter father. It was one of those days, when the sky and the sea are the same color and the horizon is difficult to recognize.

Suddenly she took my hand in hers and watched it for a second and started to read my palms. Telling the truth and forecasting the future. I was amazed and happy and even this lady maybe never remembered it afterwards, I knew that we shared a secret. Next year I was there working again. The same happened. "Hey you, come here! But your palm lines have changed from the last time!" she said and told me a few new things, but the deepest ones still remained the same. I am not sure if to believe them or not, but at least it is one of the nicest memories I have to feel a smile on my face.

Thank you once again for your orders in my shop, Apple Blossom Meadow -print is almost sold out, I am in awe!

See you very soon again, have a good Thursday and see all the blue and red and white things around!