Tag: Colours

Bye Bye Malta

Published on by Anita36 Comments

Bye Bye Malta – Hello Cyprus!
We’ve arrived, we’ve been here for exactly a week now and it feels great! We rent a house by the sea in Latchi and we’ll stay here for at least three months while exploring the area around the Paphos district.

  • In Malta I found the power of flowers and colors.
  • My brave beloved basenji dog Fanny gave birth
    to six puppies in September last year.
  • This is what the buses looked like when we moved
    to Malta in 2000. Today, they are a tourist attraction.

All photos in this post are from my archive. Every single picture I’ve taken during my years on the small island in the Mediterranean will be unvaluable memories from a time I’ve now left behind.

Bye Bye Valletta, the capital of Malta and a World Heritage site.

The island of Filfla, a small islet in the most southerly point of the Maltese Archipelago. Symbolically, it could be Malta seen from Cyprus, where the Paphos district is only slightly larger than the island we just left.

A new chapter in life has just begun…

CoLor ColoUr…

Published on by Anita19 Comments

I love color, color makes me happy!
Being surrounded by colors affects how we feel, even though we don’t always know about it.

“We live in a rainbow of chaos”
– Paul Cezanne

“Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it”
– Danny Kaye

Pre-Moving Checklist:
Today all our belongings were packed and are now stored in a container here in Malta. Everything, except what is to be packed in our suitcases. We don’t know when the container will be shipped to Cyprus, first we have to find where on the island we are going to live…

Three days left…

Luzzu – Malta

Published on by Anita16 Comments

It’s been a while now since I showed some of the colorful boats which are so typical for Malta, the luzzu’s.

A luzzu is a traditional fishing boat and often considered as a symbol of Malta.
They are usually painted in bright colours while the bow often has a pair of eyes.

“The Eye of Horus”
These eyes are a symbol of protection and good health and are believed to protect the fishermen from any harm while they are out at sea.

Pre-Moving Checklist:
Most of our winter clothes are now packed in boxes to be stored in the container and shipped to Cyprus.
Who knows for how long….?

Fifteen days left…

Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita15 Comments

Greater Snapdragon.

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Pre-Moving Checklist:
Has found out what requirements apply to bring our dogs into Cyprus from Malta.
Passport / Rabies vaccination date / Microchip Number etc.

Sixteen days left…

Malta Doors

Published on by Anita30 Comments

Have you ever thought about how many doors there are?
Doors can really look different depending on where in the world you are.

I’m from Sweden, live in Malta and will soon move to Cyprus after twenty years on this small Mediterranean island. Here I have chosen to show a selection of traditional Maltese doors.
Hope you enjoy!
  • Colorful red and a small extra door.
  • Here you also see one of the typical Maltese balconies.
  • A garage door.
  • Pillars can look magnificent,
    at least as long they are well maintained.
  • Yes, here we put our garbage bags outside the door for collection. Some days for plastic and paper and some days for organic.
  • Both the wooden door and the stone wall are old and worn.
    Someone has left food and water for the cats.
  • I guess someone from Sweden lives here.
    They have named their house “Blå Dörren”
    which means the blue door.
  • Blue doors are quite common.
    Of course, the shutters have the same color.

This post was inspired by a challenge hosted by Dan.
Thursday Doors Challenge

Pre-Moving Checklist:
All our belongings (almost) are now packed and stored in one of the bedrooms in our rental apartment here in Rabat. The date for loading in a 20 foot container, shipping and storage is now booked.

Seventeen days left…

A Rose is a Rose is a…

Published on by Anita15 Comments

Someone has planted roses along the path where I usually walk with my dogs here in Rabat. Every time i walk by the flowers have changed, sometimes there are no flowers at all but there are always new buds coming up.

  • “A single rose can be my garden…
    a single friend, my world.”
    – Leo Buscaglia
  • “I don’t know whether nice people tend to grow roses
    or growing roses makes people nice”
    -Roland A Browne

  • “My life is part humor, part roses, part thorns”
    – Bret Michaels
  • “Just remember, during the winter, far beneath the bitter snow,
    that there’s a seed that with the sun’s love
    in the spring becomes a rose.”
    – Bette Midler

The meaning of “A rose is a rose is a rose” is often attributed to the notion that when all is said and done, a thing is what it is.

“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
― Mark Twain

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Green & Blue

Published on by Anita34 Comments

A lush green Malta just before the summer drought takes over while the sky and sea remain equally blue all year round. Will this be my last summer in Malta? After twenty yrs on this tiny island in the Mediterranean, it’s time to move on.

  • Blue scarlet pimpernel flowers.
  • Ghajn Tuffieha, Riviera Bay
  • Blooms from December to May.
  • Wild Borage…
  • Greenery, a blue sea and the blue sky.
    Enjoy it while you can!
  • Its leaves, flowers and stalks are edible
    and taste a little like cucumber.

The one way ticket to Cyprus is booked, we have rented a house by the sea in Neo Chorio, a serene, secluded small Cypriot coastal village. We have no idea what it’s like to live in Cyprus, an exciting challenge awaits.

The countdown has begun, only.………………………………………… days left!!

“If life was easy where would all the adventures be”?

Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita12 Comments

With reference to yesterday’s green plant and the question, “What are you looking at?”. It wasn’t as simple as I thought but it’s certainly a kind of onion-plant. Onion is a vegetable cultivated species of the genus Allium, Allium is Latin for Garlic.

But the Allium family includes more than just onions so I had to seach by image of the flower. It took me some time to find out that it’s a garlic flower while Mr. Ohh.. was the only one who guessed garlic, without even having seen the flower!

Thanks for giving me a clue Mr. Ohh..!

In my next post I’ll show you some images of what is considered to be one of Malta’s most beautiful flowers.
The question is whether it’s edible or not..?

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Miġra l-Ferħa

Published on by Anita22 Comments

Last weekend we went to Miġra l-Ferħa which is just a few kilometers from Rabat where we live. As you can see in the image above, the cliffs are high and plunge vertically down to the sea while people and cars look like miniatures.

  • There are plenty of paths to walk along the high cliffs,
    where you can walk for hours.
  • A plant is a plant, there are plenty of these
    but I’v no idea what it is.
    The color fits well into the slightly pale surroundings.
  • Felicia, on the edge.
  • They may not understand how close they are,
    but I trust them and I know them. Otherwise,
    I would never leave Felicia or Fanny without a leash up here.
  • It’s a quite barren area but I saw at least a few colorful flowers
  • Sky and sea merge on the horizon, the Mediterranean is calm,
    the boats are few, it’s a bit hazy and it feels very harmonious.
  • Felicia senses the smell of something.
  • Wonder who came up with the idea to build a window here!

Miġra l-Ferħa, Malta – May 2021

Lovely Spring!

Published on by Anita28 Comments

It feels wonderful to be able to go out and find nature just around the corner. I’ll never regret moving from Sliema to Rabat. Even if it’s temporary, this is how I want to live in the future, close to nature along with my lovely dogs.

  • Lovely Poppies
  • Grains
  • The grapes will ripen in autumn
  • Lavendel?
  • Within a few months, the figs are ripe to eat
  • Bituminaria bituminosa
  • Borago officinalis
  • Prickly Pear
  • Felicia, always curious…

A selection of images taken while walking my dogs in the surroundings of Rabat.

Malta 25 April 2021

Different Views

Published on by Anita18 Comments

Next to Rabat, where we just moved, is Mdina. The ancient city dates back 4,000 years, is older than Valletta and was the capital of Malta from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Mdina is today also referred to as the ‘Silent City’.

This view was taken just a few steps from where we live.
From a distance you can see where we used to live, in Sliema, closer to the sea but far from the countryside.

From Fanny’s and Felica’s point of view, they are much better off here.
And so am I…

Rabat, Malta 23 April 2021.

Yellow Mellow

Published on by Anita24 Comments

  • “How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”
    – Vincent Van Gogh
  • English name(s):
    Crown Daisy, Garland, Chop Suey Greens
  • Indigenous.
    Present on the Maltese islands before man.
  • “Silence isn’t golden. It’s yellow”
    – Zell Miller
  • Species name: Glebionis coroniaria  
  • “Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot,
    others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”
    – Pablo Picasso
  • “Yellow usually means it’s not that serious.”
    – Bobby Unser

Above are some trifling knowledge, a couple of quotes and some flowers from yesterday’s walk with my doggies. I chose the yellow ones, there are plenty of them now. Don’t forget to click on an image to enlarge.

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

By the way, we’ve moved from Sliema to Rabat! Nature around the corner, the dogs can run freely and it feels great! Here we’ll live temporarily, finally on our way to “who knows where” to our new home in Cyprus. Meanwhile, now that the first move is complete, I’ll get more time for the blog and to visit you and others out there, in this amazing bloggosphere.

Morning walk in Rabat
Malta 19 April 2020

Poppy- Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita23 Comments

Yesterday I saw the first poppies of the year, one of my favorites when it comes to wildflowers.
“The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson”

The purple is not as common as the red ones. Sure, they’re all beautiful!
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
– Buddha

This look a bit like a butterfly.
“Butterflies are self propelled flowers.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

With this post, I wish you all a Happy Easter Holiday!
Now I’m takinga short break and I’ll be back in a week or so.
And don’t forget…

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Gladiolus – Wild plants of Malta

Published on by Anita25 Comments

This is one of many colorful wild flowers that can be seen here on the island right now.

The beautiful gladioli are sometimes called the sword lily because of the sword-shaped leaves of the plants in this genus but the most widely-used English common name for these plants is simply gladiolus.

This lovely flower appear between March and May and is quite common throughout the Maltese countryside.

Feel free to click on an image in the collage and it becomes even more colorful.

Malta March 2021

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Almond trees, Flowers & Nuts

Published on by Anita24 Comments

Species name: Prunus dulcis

Maltese name: Siġra tal-Lewż

English name: Almond

Status for Malta:
Non-native species, but introduced in Malta before 1492 when Columbus discovered the New World.

Flowering Time: Dec-Feb.
But they are still in bloom here in Malta, even though we are in the middle of March.

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Flower & Color of The Day

Published on by Anita19 Comments

I still have some pictures left from the bouquet of tulips that I bought in early February.

In a previous post, I showed the pink ones while these have shades of orange, red and yellow with hints of green.
Please click on one of the images above to enlarge, then it will be more colorful!

“With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft.”
~Henri Matisse

“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form,
can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways”.
~Oscar Wilde

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”
~Wassily Kandinsky

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Life is good…

Published on by Anita21 Comments

The pandemic cannot be ignored, it is here and we are all affected in one way or another. Therefore, it’s so important to try to pick out the positive parts of our everyday lives. Even the smallest things can mean a lot.

I really enjoy the beautiful flowers and colors of Spring.

Being surrounded by greenery in the middle of nowhere can bring pure joy for most creatures.

I’m grateful and very happy about having my beloved dogs Fanny and Felicia.
After all, Life is good.

Gerbera – Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita23 Comments

Gerberas are believed to symbolize Beauty, Innocence, and Purity.

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions”
– Pablo Picasso

“Whether the flower or the color is the focus I do not know. I do know the flower is painted large to convey my experience with the flower – and what is my experience if it is not the color?”
– Georgia O’Keeffe

“We are all called upon to do small things with great love”
– Mother Teresa

Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this?
No. Just as one can never learn how to paint.”
– Pablo Picasso

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Tulips – Flower of The Day

Published on by Anita31 Comments

I bought a bouquet of tulips, in two different colors, three pink and four red. That was then, now they have begun to fade. But my images do not wither, they remain as long as I choose to keep them, I can keep them alive.

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”
– Walter Hagen

“I’d rather wear flowers in my hair, than diamonds around my neck.”
– Unknown

Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

Basenji & Great Dane – Play with me!

Published on by Anita28 Comments

Felicia met a new friend in Ta Qali the other day, his name is Logan..

Logan is a three-year-old sixty-kilo Great Dane while Felicia is a four-month-old seven-kilo Basenj.
Felicia was a little hesitant at first and so was Logan.

But soon she becomes braver and wants to play!

  • At first, Logan was a bit reserved.
  • Oops!
  • Felicia’s mother Fanny watches
  • Not the best picture but it shows who is chasing whom.
  • It seemed like they both had a lot of fun.
  • Let’s take another round!!
  • Full speed!!

And they played!!!

💚“The size doesn’t matter, all about the size of the heart’s matter.” 💚
― Mohammed Tariq

January Wildflowers

Published on by Anita27 Comments

Ja, alla dessa vilda blommor växer och frodas här på ön just nu.
Som vanligt lägger jag upp lite för många bilder men det är så svårt att välja.

Dessutom är det av olika skäl lite långt mellan inläggen just nu, tid har jag men känner ofta att jag inte vet vad jag vill med mina bilder. Fotograferar mycket och kan sitta i timmar och sortera och redigera, men sen blir det oftast inget mer.

Min finaste lilla Felicia, hon får alltid vara med på ett hörn.
Trots att hon inte är en blomma, är hon ändå en slags blomma, för mig.

Liksom hennes mamma, ett riktig guldkorn i tillvaron. På den här på bilden är Fanny bara något äldre än vad Felicia är idag. Då, i november 2017 var hon drygt fyra månader gammal. Time flies..

Malta 11 January 2021.

Welcome Year 2021

Published on by Anita25 Comments

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
-Albert Einstein

“The past is our lesson. The present is our gift. The future is our motivation.”
– Anonymous

I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.
– Benjamin Disraeli

Among wild flowers, colors, thoughts and happy-go-lucky dogs.
Life is a challenge, Life is good, after all.

Close Your Eyes & Make a Wish.

Trust the Magic of a New Beginning.
Malta 01 January 2021

Pembroke Part 2

Published on by Anita44 Comments

Here are some more pictures from Pembroke Heritage Trail.
This time I show you some plants and a cute little lizard that I guess is a kind of chameleon.

These are some of the plants that are now found in the Pembroke area.

  • This is the same lizard as seen above.
    This is the same lizard as seen above.
  • A cute little creature!
    A cute little creature!
  • Typically, my macro lens was at home but I think my small Panasonic Lumix did an excellent job.
    Typically, my macro lens was at home but I think my small Panasonic Lumix did an excellent job.
Click on an image to enlarge.

Pembroke, Malta, November 2020

By the way…

This is the puppy that we are going to keep, she’s absolutely gorgeous❣️ The only thing I’ve not found out yet is her name. I’ve thought of too many and I feel confused. Honey is too close to Fanny but maybe Sapphire or Lady or Felicia. What do you think?

Pembroke Heritage Trail

Published on by Anita38 Comments

Mom often takes me to Pembroke, which is closer to where we live than Ta’ Qali Park.
It’s a large barren natural area along the Mediterranean Sea. If you look closely you’ll see me in the image above.

Freedom and Joy!

The weather is still more than great here on the island. 20-23 degrees and no wind even though we are already in November. I have no idea from where the water comes in the images above, it hasn’t rained for a while now.

  • Our way up to the tower means good Exercise!
    Our way up to the tower means good Exercise!
  • Now we are very close.
    Now we are very close.
  • For those who are interested to read some history.
    For those who are interested to read some history.
  • It's a great view from here!
    It’s a great view from here!

Feel free to click on an image to enlarge.

Back so sea level. Work is in progress, though not right now!
There are more to find in this area and in my next post I will show some plants and a cute little creature I meet recently. So, more to come…

❤️ In the meantime, here you can see my beautiful litter of puppies, already six weeks old❤️

More from Ta’ Qali

Published on by Anita31 Comments

Here are some more images from Ta’ Qali Nature Park.

The weather here on the island is fantastic considering that we are already in November.

It’s the first time this year that I see a ladybug and the berries of the olive trees are ready to be harvested.

Now that the first rains have fallen after the summer drought, it’s easy to get a sense of spring.

I don’t feel I have succeeded so very well in photographing insects this year and now the dragonflies are fewer.
There are many yellow butterflies in the park right now but they are not easily caught.

I end the post with Fanny, an amazing mother who will now slowly but surely spend less time with the puppies so that at the age of eight weeks they are no longer dependent on their mom.

Hello! I’m five weeks old now and still need my mom. I guess I’m the one who’s going to live with my mother while my five siblings move to their new homes. Although she who decides seems to have a hard time choosing ❤️

Ta’ Qali in October

Published on by Anita23 Comments

Här är några bilder från Ta’ Qali Nature Park dit jag åker med Fanny nästan varje dag nu när hon sakta men säkert börjar vänja sig vid att vara ifrån valparna under längre stunder.

Höstfärger.

Färgstarkt och vitt, två av en mångfald av de blommor som växer här just nu.

Ett av många små hus med dess invånare som bor i parken.

Valparna är nu drygt fyra veckor gamla och stunderna i parken blir inte så mycket längre än en timme.
Sen vill Fanny hem för att se över sina småttingar. Hon är en helt fantastisk mamma.

  • Så fort hon kommer in i valparnas rum samlas de runt henne. För att dia mjölk och för att busa.
    Så fort hon kommer in i valparnas rum samlas de runt henne. För att dia mjölk och för att busa.
  • Matdags
    Matdags

På promenad…

Published on by Anita30 Comments

Tänkte att jag skulle visa några bilder från området där jag bor, där jag ofta går mina promenader utmed havet tillsammans med Fanny. Här har vi gått otaliga gånger och det är inte alltid som vädret är så här fint.

Man kan gå hela sträckan på cirka tre km utmed havet från Tigne i Sliema till Spinola Bay i St. Julian’s men vi går sällan hela vägen utan vänder efter en halvtimme, speciellt nu när Fanny har valpar som väntar därhemma.

Går vi inte på klipporna så går vi på den breda strandpromenaden, här sedd ur Fanny’s perpektiv.

Den här skylten har sett sina bättre dagar och är knappast bildskön
men då jag ser den så ofta när jag är på väg hem får den också vara med.

  • Idag har det gått 18 dagar sen valparna föddes.
  • Fanny tar det med ro
  • Hon är en fantastisk mamma, inte alltid så lätt när sex hungriga valpar skriker efter mat.

Avslutningsvis några bilder på vovvarna. Valparna har precis öppnat sina ögon och snart är det slut med att bara äta och sova. Nu är det lugnet före stormen då de strax ska ut på upptäcksfärd med allt vad det innebär. Ska bli jättekul och snart kan vi också ana var och ens unika utstrålning och karisma.

Vill passa på att tacka Anki som varit behjälplig när jag skulle försöka lära mig den nya blockredigeraren. Tack vare henne lyckades jag bland annat att få in den vita texen i bilderna och göra dem klickbara.
Haha.. det tog faktiskt flera timmar att skapa vad ni ser här ovanför.

Make Life Beautiful

Published on by Anita39 Comments

“A good life is a collection of happy moments”
-Denis Waitley“Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived.
Live in the present and make it beautiful”
– Unknown
Cee’s Photo Challenge Flower of The Day

And for those who may be curious about Fanny’s pregnancy.

Fanny is always curious about what’s in the bag when dad comes home from the store.
She is curious about everything.

She gave birth to six puppies last Sunday night.
Everyone’s fine, more to come…🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

Sun Flower

Published on by Anita23 Comments

 “Sunflowers end up facing the sun, but they go through a lot of dirt to find their way there.”
― J.R. Rim.

“Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.”
– Old French Proverb.“...and are we not all just wilting flowers in a crowded garden
waiting for someone who will appreciate the beauty of our petals
While it still exists”
– G.M

Lens-Artists Challenge – Negative Space

Published on by Anita48 Comments

This week’s theme, Negative Space chosen by Amy feels both challenging and fun. Although at least one of the images I’ve chosen may not fit the theme completely, they all have something in common. The blue color.“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
— Ansel Adams“Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future.”
– Sally Mann.“When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes.”
— Anonymous“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…
I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
— Elliott Erwitt

Lens-Artists Challenge #114 – Negative Space

Sunset

Published on by Anita26 Comments

“Every sunset is also a sunrise. It all depends on where you stand.”
– Karl Schmidt

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.”
– John Ruskin“Life does not come with instructions on how to live,
but it does come with trees, sunsets, smiles and laughter,
so enjoy your day.”
– Debbie Shapiro

Xwejni Salt Pans – Part 2

Published on by Anita23 Comments

Here I’m again, among the Salt Pans in Gozo. Now much later in the afternoon and it’s a bit cooler.
As you can see in the first picture, the dried salt has now been collected in white bags.I wonder how big these caves really are and what might be inside, I guess tools and more sacks.Needless to say, someone taking a bike ride just before dusk.Others choose to fish.I’m curious about the salt, it looks like it hasn’t dried properly yet.
It looks like snow, wet snow.But it’s not snow, it’s too hot for that on this small island in the Mediterranean.
Now the sunset awaits…
🐕
In case you missed part one, you’ll find it here

Greenery

Published on by Anita39 Comments

“Green is a label for a certain attitude to life, a certain kind of respect
that one might have for the very source of things that we take for granted.”
– Annie LennoxVespa crabro, a Hornet attracted by some green leafs on our Hibiscus.

“Greenery is the best scenery”
– Arti Sharma“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider,
every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”
–Martin Luther

The lines seen in the last image are the human impact on nature, but it’s usually worse than that.
It’s a sad fact that more than half of Earth’s rainforests have already been destroyed.
The photo was taken in Sarawak, last year, where there’s still plenty of greenery.

Anything to Do with Boats

Published on by Anita20 Comments

This week’s CFFC topic is “Anything to do with boats” and since I’ve been to Marsaxlokk recently I show some pictures from this small, traditional fishing village located in the South Eastern Region of Malta.For the sake of the colors and for Horus’ eye which is said to protect the fishermen when they are at sea.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.“There are a lot of mysterious things about boats, such as why anyone would get on one voluntarily.”
–P. J. O’Rourke“The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats.”
– Ernest Hemingway.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge.