Monday, December 22, 2014

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Playing in the Snow and Cold

Today is the shortest day of the year. It's -20°C. The sky is clear and the landscape is covered with a thick layer of snow. It's beautiful!





This is how we like Christmas time. Happy 4th advent everyone!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Polar Night Delight

Have you been to Lapland at this time of the year? Too cold or dark? Actually, polar nights aren't all that bad! On the contrary. They are magical! At least here at the Arctic Circle where it isn't dark the entire day. The light is just fascinating and I wouldn't wanna miss this time of the year!

Although, we are approaching the shortest day with least daylight we still got a few hours of daylight here at the Arctic Circle. The best time to go out is around noon as it's the time of the day with most light.

Today is a clear day and we saw the sun at the horizon for the first time in many days... the pictures below were taken at noon.


Temperature -3°C

We went for a walk on the lake behind our house where they have drawn a track for cross-country skiing and there was plenty of space to walk beside the track. As often there was noone on the lake except us.


 Just lean back and relax...


Friday, November 28, 2014

Morning Walk in Lapland

This morning when walking the dog the sky was coloured in different shades of purple and pink...

...and although it looks kind of cold it was just a fair temperature of -8°C.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

More Snow, A Happy Child & Snowman

Yesterday, we reported about our Snow Clearing Upgrade. Today was another day of a lot of snow. More snowfall last night means more work for our quad!


Happy man working!

We usually don't like wet snow but it has its advantages, too!

We are building a snowman! :o)

Look, I have a new friend!

There is nothing better than a happy child!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Snow Clearing Upgrade

One of our favorite "hobbies" during winter time is transporting snow to a place in the yard where it bothers least. In our first and second year in Lapland we were crazy (or rather fit) enough to do the shoveling by hand. We still do that a bit but more for clearing in front of our porch.
During the last years Jan used our dear friend, the walking tractor with plow. We still love our friend and haven't completely given up on him as he serves us during the summer for our potatoe land.
So, this winter we have upgraded to using our quad for snow clearing. Jan built a suspension for the plow, installed a winch and we were ready to go!


It was wet snow today that came down, thus very heavy snow. No problem for our King Quad though...


And as it is tradition up here...even the smallest (youngest) have to be there, too!

Who knows... we might become more and more Swedish or norrländsk as people would say here. After all, we have been living here for quite a while now!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

November Days

November is the beginning of winter in Lapland. Although, we get the first snow in October (sometimes even in September) it's a month of melting and freezing taking turns. Almost like autumn doesn't want to let go completely just yet and winter is trying to settle anyway.
From mid November the dark time of the year begins meaning the sun will not come over the horizon until mid January. It doesn't mean that it is completely dark during that time of the year, at least not at the Arctic Circle. We get approx. 5-6hrs of daylight during that time. It's like endless sunrise or sunset feeling. Also, when we have snow it never gets completely dark as the snow reflects every bit of light from the atmosphere and the moon becomes our sun, too! It's a bit like magic really but without the snow it would be pitch dark.

This year we have very little snow so far. Not quite enough for driving snowmobile (although some people cannot wait and drive over the frozen lakes) but enough for sledding!


 Getting tired from pulling the sled...


Sleeping time!


Mommy and daddy enjoying the walk and wintry views...


The E45 covered with snow and ice




Sunday, October 12, 2014

First Sled Ride

Today, Finnja went for a her first sled ride ever and she enjoyed it very much!


Saturday, October 11, 2014

More Snow Than Forecasted

It is not unusual to get snow at this time of the year. We had our first snow in September this year. Neither is it unusual that we get more snow than forecasted. Regarding Swedish weather forecast we were supposed to get 4 mm precipitation, the reality is 19 mm!



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Big Trout

Jan and a friend were out today to check the fishing nets. They had three nets in a row. And they were lucky! A few perch and a small pike (not on the photos), whitefish and - the highlight - two big trouts. The larger one of the two was 60cm. I say was as half of it is already in our stomachs. :o)





Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Low Water Level

Water levels are unusual low in all lakes and rivers at the moment as it has rained very little during the entire summer and autumn. Today, we had a quick stop at Piteälven (The Pite River) right by the E45. Never seen so many stones in the river! A little less water and you could cross the river on foot.


The Pite River is our favorite river in this area and we have been at the river in different places many times before. You can read about it in our blog by using the search function or picking the word "pite river" or "piteälven" in our word cloud.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

The First Snow This Year

...came early! With the beginning of autumn we got our first snow this season. In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday snowflakes touched the ground and when we woke up in the morning, sun was shining and all was covered with a thin layer of snow!





Tuesday, September 23, 2014

You Can Tell What She's Up To, Right?!

Our trip to Finnish Lapland was short but sweet! We enjoyed the company of friends, good food & last mild temperatures. Back in Swedish Lapland temps this morning are as low as -7°C.

Last flower standing...not for long... :o)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Dragonfly

Beautiful creature. Flying artist. Seen on the road. Attacked by ants. The time for dragonflies this season is nearly over. Only few flying around these days.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Lingonberries

Now is the time for lingonberries. Every year we pick many kilos to prepare jam or juice or just eat them raw.


First picking, then cleaning.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Karljohan

Karljohan is here. Karl...who?

It's the Swedish name for boletus.

Lots of boletus growing in Lapland this year. Probably because of the fairly mild weather we enjoy for September. It's the best autumn we have had in many years with almost summer-like temperatures.


Unfortunately, worms like them just as much as we do!

Friday, September 5, 2014

Berries - Fruits of the North

We don't have apples, pears or plums... but we have berries! Lapland is the land of berries. Ripe between July & September. Cloudberries, strawberriesraspberries, red currants, black currants, bilberries, lingonberries... and more!

 red currants

bilberries



 lingonberries

Saturday, August 30, 2014

First Time Canoeing With Toddler

We haven't been canoeing for about two years. Last time was during pregnancy and last year we didn't find the time with an 8 months year old infant. But we did a few smaller hiking tours last summer.

The lake area in Moskosel is beautiful and due to shallow waters ideal for canoeing. Finnja enjoyed our tour very much and all went smoothly. I'm sure she'll have a good night's sleep tonight! :o)

Here are some photos of our canoeing tour today. Enjoy!






Have you seen our photos on Canoeing on Hornavan, yet?


Monday, August 25, 2014

A Stream, Sausages and A Happy Child

Yesterday, we went to Trollforsen, a stream in the Pite River. 


We have been here at least once every year since we moved to Lapland in 2006.


We made a little fire by the river, fried some sausages and picked some bilberries & lingonberries as desert.


Finnja enjoys our excursion and the picnic.


Last time we were here was snowshoeing in spring winter.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Fly-Fishing is Art

...to me it really is! I'm dreaming of fly-fishing myself one day. But I couldn't do it without a guide. I wonder how to handle all this line... it really looks amazing though if someone throws the line back and forth... in my eyes this is art.

This guy surely knows his job!




These photos were taken at the Kalix River (Kalixälven). A popular destination for salmon fishing.

Jockfall

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Stora Sjöfallets Nationalpark

Bumpy roads and only few parking possibilities on the way to Vietas/Ritsem but stunning views once in Stora Sjöfallets Nationalpark. The famous Kungsleden passes through these mountains as well.




 Stora Sjöfallet


Copyright

Important Copyright Notice: The photos, text and videos of this blog remain the copyright of the Author Anne Wolter. Under no circumstances should the photos, text or videos be used without my express written permission. Please contact me if you wish to use or publish photos, videos or text from this blog.