Wind gusts are blowing today here in Malta and the rain is pouring.
Some stay fragile, some remain strong.
The farmers are grateful as are all the inhabitants of nature. 
My funny Fanny doesn’t want to go out and I’m happy to be alive, while life goes on…
Take care 💗
Understandably, the pictures above are selected from my huge archive.
I’d be lying if I said I’m not worried.
The worlds ecosystem is at risk over a timescale of no more than a few decades.
“We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to”
– Terri Swearingen –
The Amazon rainforest is nearing a threshold and the Caribbean coral reefs are threatened to die off within a very few years while the world’s warming climate has resulted in sustained glacial mass loss.
“We can help the world live without fear. It is our only hope and without hope we are lost”
– Michael Jackson –
Humanity is affected by COVID-19. WHO has declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, acknowledging — the virus will likely spread to all countries on the globe.
I trust humanity’s willingness to cooperate, what else can we do…
Here are some more images from last weekend’s Colorful Carnival in Valletta.
Same same but… A smile makes it all!
Feel free to click on an image to enlarge. 
Hope you enjoyed these amazing creations made by enthusiasts as much as I did since…
…more to come!
💖 My lovely, curious and playful basenji dog Fanny!
Thank you for being a part of my life.💖
“All animals are born with innocence, curiosity and love”
– A.D. Williams –
Here are a few images from this weekend’s Colorful Carnival in Valletta.
The participants wore amazing creations and colorful costumes.
It was a lovely atmosphere filled with fun and joy in the city of Valletta.
More to come…
I have no idea what kind of plant this is. It can be quite large and it is growing wild now here in Malta.
I tried to search the images through google but got some strange suggestions. I know it’s not a broccoli and for sure it’s not a kind of fowl! For me it’s not a beauty but an interesting common plant. Maybe it’s eatable.
“Plants are like people:
they’re all different…
…and a little strange”
– John Kehoe –
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson –
“To put everything in balance is good… 
...to put everything in harmony is better”
– Viktor Hugo –
Sematan Beach, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
This is the ninth time I join Susie’s fun photo black and white challenge.
In the past I have mostly photographed people, this time I choose pets, dogs and cats.
“When I look into the eyes of an animal I don’t see an animal I see a living being, I see a friend, I feel a soul”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –
“ If cats could talk they wouldn’t”
– Nan Porter –
“Dogs eat – Cats dine”
– Ann Taylor –
“Having a dog or a cat will open your heart. Reading a book will open your mind.
Having both a pet and a book… absolute heaven.
– Mark Rubenstein –
“You can keep a dog but it is the Cat how keeps People because Cats find Humans useful domestic Animals”
– George Mikes –
“Look at animals kindly, and they will see. Talk to animals gently, and they will listen”
– AD Williams – 
“All animals are born with innocence, curiosity and love”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –
Below are the images also in color for those who like to compare. And as always when it comes to quotes, we mustn’t take them too seriously, although some may be worth considering.
Feeling Blue.
Red for Love – Red for Fire.
Snow White
Yellow Solar heat.
Pink – Passion.
Wherever life plants you…
Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
I just realized that my Swedish driving license needs to be renewed. Since I live in Malta I have applied for a Maltese driver’s license. While I wait for it to be ready, I wonder what it’s like to ride a motorcycle. Lol.. Haha…
This is just for fun, don’t think I’m riding a Harley-Davidson here in Malta in a couple of weeks.
And for the sake of unusualness, there are only two pictures this time. Happily!
Yesterday I saw an almond tree that was already blooming, although it was mostly buds.
It’s a lovely flower.
It feels like spring though it’s still winter here on the island.
“Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the Spring days soon will reach us”
– Edwin Arnold –
The above pictures are from the square along Sarawak River in Kuching. Every afternoon, both young and old can be seen playing with each other, many of them blowing soap bubbles, just for fun.
This skilled lady I saw in Valletta here in Malta the other day. Guess why she’s looking down.
Concentration! She really knew how to handle her little puppet on a string.
Back to the square in Kuching. This little girl seems to be looking for someone.
Finally, Fanny and I at home yesterday evening. Fanny did not like to wear a Santa hat, I can understand that. It’s much more fun to try to bite it into small pieces and so she did. It was cheap and it was Christmas Eve.
As usual, I also show my pictures in color. This time, I prefer to see all these images in color, except one. Guess which one..
…back to my daily life here in Malta after a couple of weeks in Sarawak, Malaysia. Today’s images are from yesterday’s visit to Ta Qali Park. Nature has changed, in some way, it feels more subdued. 
It’s winter now, not so many colorful flowers, besides the yellow ones that bloom all year round.
These special plants are now seen growing in abundance among the green grass in the park.
They are small and resembles a kind of pitcher plant.
I really like being in Sarawak, I wouldn’t mind living there year around. It’s a very special part of the world. But I know it doesn’t work to take my dog to the other side of the earth.
It feels good to be with Fanny again…
It feels like my last post was a bit too depressing so I decided to add some happy color in a new post instead. My colorful bougainvillea is still blooming on our terrace…
…and the color splash that is barely visible in the top image is the color of Fanny’s new coat.
If dogs could smile she would do it and if dogs could talk she would tell that she is a happy one.
A sunset like so many others..
…and some wise words from Singita, Miracle Beach.
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower, designed by architect Vincenzo Maculaniwas, is a small watchtower built in 1637.
The tower was built on the site of a medieval watch post and was originally armed with a ½-pounder gun. Its garrison consisted of a captain and three men, who were paid by the Università of Mdina…read more
The view from here is amazing.
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Malta – November 2019
This feels almost a bit scary. I’m not good at all when it comes to edit my images to black and white.
In September I visited an exhibition of old motorbikes at the Aviation Museum in Ta ‘Qali. 
The Historical Motorcycles Club exhibited both classic…
…and military motorbikes.
…as well as some old cars.
Engine and a wheel.
As I wrote, I’m not used to this at all, but, as long as it’s fun, I will continue to challenge myself.
As last time, I show my images also in color, for those who like to compare.
Your comment or advice for improvement would as always be greatly appreciated.For some unknown reason, it’s not possible to comment on this post.
Thanks anyway for visiting my site!
Same tree taken from different angle and different seasons.
The one in the middle was taken in the beginning of February this year. The others are from last weekend.
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Malta.
Susan’s Photo Challenge Trees on Tuesdays.
Yes, the picture in the middle has been shown here before.
Didn’t have much imagination today.
This little creature suddenly landed on my sweater and looked deep into my eyes. So I did the same…
Yesterday we went to Ta Qali Park. Usually we never go there on the weekends when the summer is over because there are too many people and you can’t have your dog without leash. But we were all alone.
I haven’t been here for a while and was really surprised. It felt like spring even though we are in November! This beauty has a very special expression, perhaps it was also surprised that it felt like spring in the air.
The sky was blue, the grass was green and there were lots of small yellow flowers.
Fanny was more than happy to run around in the greenery without a leash. 
At first I didn’t notice that there were two butterflies on the leaf! 
A spider with its catch of the day.
I saw lots of different kinds of butterflies, dragonflies and other kinds of insects. But as usual, they are very active and difficult to capture with the camera. I’m glad I got this one.
Ta’ Qali National Park, Malta
Typically November, the sky is gray, it’s thundering and it’s raining again.
Days like these we need both color and flowers and not to forget, a happy mind. 
Susan’s Flowers on Fridays # 13.
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
It continues to rain here on the island. 
These are still blooming on our terrace, although it’s soon November.
Life goes on, sometimes a bit too fast. For the future, I have a wish…
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
Today the weather is so bad here on the island that not even my dog wants to go out.
It’s raining and getting dark outside already at five o’clock.
Bad weather doesn’t mean you can’t shoot. But in case you aren’t in the mood for that, it can be fun to look through all the pictures stored in your huge archive and try to pick only ONE, just for fun! 
There are so many different ways to stay positive when a day feels gray.
Like thinking about old bright and happy memories, and not to forget…
“Do not blame the thistle that you can see no beauty”
– Jonathan Lookwood Huie – 
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”
– Albert Einstein – 
“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes.
But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls”
– Ted Grant –
I’m not sure if I agree with Ted Grant.
These images were taken when I sat in my car waiting while a religious procession passes by along the road. 
Nowadays it is not so common for me to photograph people.
What’s more unusual is that I edit them to black and white, so these are an exception.
But I enjoy trying something new and would love to learn more.
What do you think about my black and white photos, how could they have been improved?
Here the images are also shown in color, for those who want to compare.
Your comment is much appreciated. Thanks!
We spent another Sunday among pomegranates and prickly pears in Majjistral Nature Park. This time I had brought gloves so I could pick some of the prickly fruits. They taste pretty good, not too sweet.
The pomegranate kernels are not sweet at all but taste good mixed with yogurt and some honey.
I found a small nest full of life…
…and a butterfly. There were plenty of them but I only managed to capture this one.
Fanny was with us, as always. Here she rests after running around in the amazing surroundings of the park.
And here she waits patiently between the rocks as we make our way up the last hill on the way up to the plateau where we have parked our car. The weather was fine, 25 degrees and another day of life is gone.
20 October 2019 Il-Majjistral Nature & History Park
