Premature birthday

Today we celebrated Axel's birthday. I know it's a wee premature but this was the only date we could find which worked with Axel's friend Rasmus with whom we had the party. We had rented a shed in the forrest and two weeks ago we were certain to have fine og warm weather. Well, without exaggeration I can tell the promised showers were a bit heavy. But we had fun nonetheless.

We had planned an untraditional treasure hunt where we went geocaching. Axel enjoyed searching for treasures with the GPS.

I know, I should have posted a photo of Axel with his cake, but I really liked this picture of the kids on the treasure hunt in the rain.

Sort sol

At this time of year thousands of starlings gather in the area before migrating to a warmer climate. At evening very large groups of starling search for an area to rest for the night. They swarm around for 10-20 minutes until they find the right place and then they are down. The flock will move almost like the northern light. The phenomenon is called Sort Sol or Black Sun. Ellen and I, like many many other people, went to see it. Unfortunately, it's difficult to predict where the really big groups will go down to rest so we didn't get to experience it right in front of us. But we did see it and we also saw many other groups right around us. It was quite fascinating to hear the rush of the wings and the chirping of the birds.

We weren't able to take a picture which made it justice, but you can find one here.

Interesting enough we had to cross the German border to see it. But that wasn't any hazzle. We just drove through this city. Entered in one country and excited in another. No passport control or whatever. I do realise it is consequence of the Schengen agreement on how to conduct control at EU's external borders. But it puts the current strict immigration laws in perspective.

Wadden Sea

Ellen and I just returned from a weekend in Southern Jutland. Friday I was invited to the annual meeting of the association of public prosecutors so we combined it with a weekend for two. The first day we went to Tønder which is two miles from the German border. The area is known for the Wadden Sea -marsh land and tidal pools. There are lots and lots of birds. One of the most fascinating views was a group of birds which flew over our heads. They looked brown. Then they turned to the left. And now they were white! The color depended on the angle you looked up at the wings.

Partial lunar eclipse

When we left Legoland, Rita remarked how pink and round the moon was. Well as we drove across Funen and Zealand it changed. Gradually the disc got smaller and smaller. It was clear night. It was kind of neat to have something keep you alert while driving after a long fun day.

Checking the anchor

When anchoring you have to check the boat during the night to make sure the boat isn''t drifting. One evening we were on deck talking while watching the sun setting. It was a spectacular view. Axel and I had the pleasure doubled when we at 4.30 AM took care of the our anchor checking duty and saw the sun rise. Sunset and sunrise on the "same" day. It really was something to behold.

Forces of nature

It looks very dramatic. In reality it is a daddy long leg which has just left its cocoon. We came upon it when we went for a walk in Broslätt. As a can see the insect must just have left its shelter. The wings were all soft and it was obviously drying.

The daddy long leg was just one of several insects we came upon that day. It must have been the warm spring weather that brought them out.

I believe the kids most likely will remember the beetle we fished out of the water in the creek. It had two very long strings (10-15 cm) attached to its behind. The strings broke off when the beetle got up on land. And they moved back in to the water!!! We could not decide if it was an intestinal worm, the beetle was laying eggs or perhaps just pooping.

Fall break

We are back home from Sweden. We had a relaxing week in the house in Broslät. It was beautiful fall weather. "The forrest is on fire" was Erik's poetic comment to the color of the forrest - a lot of beach and birch in yellow, orange and light green. It was spectacular!

Ghost

Spectacular! It looks a ghost. It's foam whippen up in a little inlet near a waterfall.

Kobberhättan

We spent the weekend in the summerhouse in Sweden. We took the tour around Kobberhättan which is the top of a steep ravine in the central part of Skåne. It's a national park which is kept preserved as a decidious forrest. The forrest is outstanding. It's in the middle of nowhere though. We were therefore surprised to meet a lot of Asian tourists.

History day

June 3rd was history day in Denmark. We went to an old bog where they used to cut out peat. Erik was very taken with it and wasn't bothered by the 10.000 mosquitoes that swirled around our heads. We were eaten! Erik dug up quite a bit of peat and was allowed to bring home a big chunk so now we are waiting for an opportunity to burn it.

Bird watching

This year Zealand has had more storks visiting and mating than ever before in recent time. In the weekend we went to a bird sanctuary to look at the birds. We saw one stork flying very high up. It is a very graceful bird. Later we found a farm with nesting birds. Exciting!