"...try to ride waves of activity...in every direction..."

I've gone out to a couple of live shows.  These days I either want the show to be during the day time, or at least not late at night-I truly know how old I am when I think of myself before the age of thirty, always and I mean always willing to go out to see live music.  I have probably forgotten more shows than most people have ever gone too.

I did get to experience 'Kent' a band that is hugely popular but only in this area.  All the songs were sung in Swedish, which usually I only hear if the song is traditional.  I was really happy to see Junip who I had never seen live before. I also got to see Nina Persson solo, without the Cardigans, and I really admire how much she has grown as an artist.  Even her voice has grown and matured.  

Lastly we saw Flogging Molly who called Zok out -which now almost feels like an annual event.  Flogging Molly is about the only band I ever see now with an active mosh pit.

Tomorrow is midsommarafton and city will empty out, but I won't notice, as I no longer live in the city center.  If the weather holds to rain though, I will go out by train to look at some town train stations that are usually too crowded to really get to see the art...or of course I may stay home and marathon some program or another if Zok is tired and not working all day.

 

Västra Skogen Tågstation konst (west forrest train station art)

I had company, a Swedish native to be exact on this excursion to the train station, this meant for the first time I got an idea of what was written about the art and artist.

I am not really doing this at the proper time of year, but I am trying to really get to more stations than I do normally.  This means I am putting up with the crowds.  Okay, maybe you will think "How bad can the crowds be?" well, let me tell you that no one seems to have sympathy for the girl unable (read, too short) to reach the overhead railing which is about the only spot left when everyone is crammed into subway cars-of course the other side of that situation is no one really blinks as I have to grab their clothing/person to steady myself...

What did I learn?

Well, really we put a lot together ourselves, you might notice that the bell shapes, seem to be the whole of the artists face silhouette, there are also pieces that seem to be middle pieces of tile taken out and place elsewhere on the platform.  This is one of the stations that look as if the artist was excited to use every available space, or at least make the whole station comprehensive.  Sometimes there is only a small area devoted to the art.
Another aspect of the art here was that it evokes the forest spirits-we just liked how the shapes were used/repeated/in whole and in parts.

 

"Får jag också vara med och leka? sa han."

 This is some sort of impermanent art exhibit, in Slussen, using boards that normally hold advertising.

This is 'aspudden', not my favorite subway art, however it is now the stop for our neighborhood friends who moved and have gotten a much nicer, larger apartment

We've been in Sweden almost a week, and of course I feel as if I got here yesterday, and at the same time I feel as if I have been here forever.

Swedish summer, is being well- Swedish, a day of bright, warm beauty then a day of gloomy grey, low clouds, cool to cold.  Although those grey days can become misty in the evenings which is lovely.

Our apartment had work done - the whole building had the two (of four) inner panes of window glass replaced.  There have apparently been improvements in the technology.  We don't have a lot in this apartment but what we did have was all pushed to the center of rooms and hallways.  So we arrived after 32 hours of so, into a bit of chaos.

I decided that the front enclosed balcony needed to be touched up- I knew there was paint left here from the last owner.  Of course, until I started painting, I never noticed just how many shades of white are in this apartment.  Basically the apartment is still 'undone'.

But Friday we are having people over for lunch, it is Sverige nationaldag. The rumor is also that there will be sunny weather.  We have based a lot of entertaining around our large deck, but we've had a bit of rain, so I haven't set up the furniture out there yet.  Hopefully the apartment will be put to right for Friday.

I have planted my sweetpea seeds.  I have potted some herbs and vegetables given to us by friends.  I have grand plans- but you'll have to look here to see if they actually happen.

"...I can hear it in the ocean and it's always the same..."

Tasmania has had a week of unusually warm Autumn weather.  This same week has had a bright large moon visible all day by Mt. Wellington, growing brighter as the daylight wanes, to reveal all it's splendor over the ocean.  Each day after Yoga I have been bush walking or swimming.

I have also been reading 'the sound of a wild snail eating' by Elisabeth Bailey, loaned to me by my (bestie) neighbor.

I admire a slow book, a book written about a subject that is small, or slow or very constrained as this one is.

I have felt all the more appreciative - We leave in one week, soon the slow darkness and the sound of the high tides will be replaced by motion, by light, but people, people, people.

There is happiness to be had everywhere, and the mixed sadness of each leaving, and the mixed excitement of each arrival.

 

"...waiting through the summertime...to melt your hearts in wintertime..."

I can't meditate.

I associate the exercise with white noise.  If you don't know what white noise is, then you are probably young, and susceptable or worse looking for parenting tips, so do NOT google this phrase, do not use it to help with 'nap time'.  The only books on meditation I have liked have been books by monks, that read more like a take on positive psychology, a practice that I do believe in.
Often when I am in the ocean- floating I feel as close to perfect happiness as I know.
Of course a key to meditation is comfort and if you go swimming in Autumn you might want to make sure you bring your neoprene socks and flippers because it's cold in there.

But I can't resist the warmer Autumn days- especially when the moon is out as well.

Tinderbox Hill Trail

What do I like about this trail? The distance is good about just a little over 2 miles, and most of the walk is steep.

The trail has been organized- sign posted and cleared, this took away the more bushy aspects-that I really liked, and also the land nearby is now privately owned so the end of the trail is just a 'no trespassing' sign which frankly I find unfriendly.

However I did see a pademelon which always makes me happy.

As you can see my pademelon leaves much to be desired.

Here is one borrowed from the interweb

 

Spot the space station!

I am trying to get in as much of Autumn as possible.

I have been up early and out late (okay the out late part is not true, but it's fall which mean it's dark early so it feels late!)

Zok and I have been going out when it is clear to see the space station go by.  I love doing this, the station looks like a bright planet sailing by- it's cool.

I have been out weeding and planting for volunteer work, and doing my best to get the house ready for our departure, this means chores such as pruning, cleaning out the rain gutters, sweeping the roof (I know, corrugated tin roof with no pitch aka flat). 

Taking time to listen to the crashing waves of high tide, and viewing the milky way from the back deck (newly scrubbed and re-coated for winter).

I've heard rumors of the Southern borealus  but I don't personally know anyone who had seen the lights.

I am sad to be leaving, but Zok says I say this each time we leave anywhere.