A nice day of sunshine allowed for some experimentation with the sunlight. This made for having a haze in the picture and for me, gives me the feeling of just waking up. Maybe this is what heaven is like when you “wake up” on the other side.

A nice sunset with a warmer than normal tone. 

This is one of my favorite pictures. I took this of my daughter when we had our spring bonfires. This is an old tradition that marks the beginning of fresh starts and looking forward to the future. In most cases, that future being summer. After a long winter, everyone is ready for some daylight and everyone hopes for many sunny days.

Summer here is a toss of the coin. Summer could bring some solid, sunny days or it could rain the entire summer. Everyone always hopes for at least something in between but weather is never a guarantee up here. The one thing that is guaranteed for my family and me is there will be some fishing and a lot of time spent outdoors.

One of my daughters is on a soccer team and they recently had their last game of the season. Usually, I don’t appreciate soccer mostly due to the professional playing tactic of faking injuries really gets my blood boiling that those kind of false flags aren’t punished and are tolerated. That leaves the realm of sportsmanship and enters politics in my opinion. However, at the root of the sport and where money and fame aren’t a main driver, where playing for the fun and competition are the focus, I begin to appreciate the actual game. So far and without much research I can say that young kids playing the game is actually fun to watch. At least when they get hurt, they shed a tear or two and actually hop off the field and sit the rest of the game out. It’s also nice to see that whether they win or lose the game ends with mostly smiles and the satisfaction that they had fun.

In this photo, one of the team mates on my daughter’s team is giving it all she’s got with an impressive roundhouse/axe kick. It’s one of my favorite soccer photos that I’ve taken. 100% commitment.

These things sprout up all over my property. I don’t think they’re indigenous here but they sure are nice to look at.

The place I feel happiest is here. In the forest. This environment. 

On my last full day in Cyprus I came across this deadly creature. ;-D

A Praying Mantis out on a stroll over some ice plant. If you’ve never played around with or seen a praying mantis growing up, they’re very harmless. They’re a great asset in a garden because they love eating insects that eat your vegetables. They seem to be highly intelligent for an insect because they can turn their heads and they look at you. This one in particular was moving back and forth as if the wind was moving it. When I approached she stopped and turned her head at me and her two little eyes moved toward me. It’s kind of a creepy feeling because they look so wicked.

I disturbed her just long enough to snap a couple of pictures of her and then I left. Always cool to see one of these, especially one as big as she was.

European Mantis/ Mantis Religiosa, Ayianapa, Cyprus

A mini vacation to Cyprus did a body well.

Long winter months without sunlight either due to earths rotation on the axis or the sky covered in clouds, sometimes it’s necessary to escape to a place where sunshine is guaranteed.

We took a week trip to Cyprus and got that. Swimming in pools and the Mediterranean was good for the soul. It was quiet the shock to the body since I’m acclimated to arctic temperatures so I sweat like a maniac and by the end of the week, I was more than ready to come back to the cooler temps.

We stayed in the tourist city of Ayianapa where there is a water park, boat rides, parasailing, water bikes, souvenir shops, pubs, clubs and restaurants of various cuisines. I wouldn’t recommend taking young kids into the souvenir shops as there are questionable types of souvenirs more appropriate for older teens and adults but the overall vibe was enjoyable.

The night sky was somewhat clear given the light pollution of the city. Both Jupiter and Saturn were clearly visible along with a crescent moon.

This photograph was taken below our hotel where locals and tourists alike took turns jumping off into the water. I didn’t feel the need to test myself nor the desire to climb up and down those sharp cliffs (old age) but I did enjoy watching those people do it.

Ayianapa, Cyprus

The Lady Slipper or “Guckusko” in Swedish, is a wild orchid that is common but not abundant. So when I find them, it’s always a special treat as it is with most people I know.  This is a protected plant so picking them or moving them isn’t an option.

(Cypripedium Calceolus)

A lonely princess on her own to find and build a kingdom of her own.

This picture gives me the feeling of new beginnings and a wonder to the unknowns we all face in our lives. Who knows what ever happened to this little queen to be. Hopefully she was able to find a nice, quiet pine to begin her life and start her colony. This photo was taken was taken on a cloudy day in an open field covered in dandelions and spring flowers,  surrounded by a forest of spruce and pine. There weren’t many birds around during this time so I like to imagine she was successful. This is a Wood Ant (formica polyctena).