About Me

My photo
Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Barn Charm - Farmland Scenes from Southern Sweden

Being a new participant in Barn Charm--and not having a chance to get out looking for barn photo ops lately--I've resorted to trolling through travel photos. This week I'm sharing farm scenes from one perfect day driving through southern Sweden last September. Most of these photos were taken through a tour bus window so you may see the occasional shadow, but the day was so clear it was hard to go wrong. Just for a bit of orientation, we left Stockholm early in the morning, traveling south toward Malmo where we crossed to Denmark on the Oresund Bridge-Tunnel:
Here you see a closeup of the red barns of southern Sweden. This red paint has been used in Sweden since the 17th century. At that time not many people had houses built of brick so this red paint was used to imitate brick. It is called "Falu red" because the paint is made from the tailings (refuse) from the copper mines of Falun--iron oxide, copper, zinc--combined with water, rye flour(yes!), linseed oil. And in earlier time ox blood was also used so you can see its agricultural origins:
This farm, and many others, was on one of Sweden's largest southern lakes, Lake Vattern. In this photo you see brilliant layers: the sky, clouds, distant islands, water, dark tree line, crops being harvested, grasses. It reminds me of a delicious pastry or veggie napoleon with layer after layer of wonderful things to eat--only this was a feast for the eyes:
Here you have a grain field ready to be harvested:
Even before we reached Lake Vattern in the afternoon, scenes of the countryside and farms were just magical. Huge clouds hovered in a brilliant blue sky and I was struck by the different colors of the soil in the plowed fields from grey, to pale gold, to rich red. Notice that all the barns and out buildings were Falu red:
Here you see Swedish farmers very smartly taking advantage of wind energy:
And finally, a closeup of a barn in a small village. Look closely in some of these photos and you can see that the barns were accented with white paint--designs or just along the roof lines. Don't know the purpose for that:

So, I hope I haven't totally over-estimated your interest in Swedish farmland photos. It was hard to show any restraint in my selections because each scene was so different.

 If you'd like to participate in the Barn Charm meme, click here: Bluff Area Daily

25 comments:

Amy Burzese said...

Bus window or not . . . These are beautiful and great barn charm submissions!

Beth said...

This was wonderful. I felt like I was on the bus with you! You have terrific photos, but you also painted us pictures with your words--such a gift that is!
I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating look at Sweden's barns and farmland.

Lois Evensen said...

What beautiful scenes. Beautiful BIG barns! :)

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Beautiful photos. Besides the barns, I love the deep blue sky and the clouds.

Charade said...

Those are great travel photos. Thanks for taking us along with you - and for the lessons built right into the tour.

Linda said...

For those of us who like barns, it isn't possible to overestimate our interest! What great barns! And wonderful, interesting history lesson! Thank you for the trip!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow---what gorgeous barns... So neat!!!! Quite different from many of the Tennessee barns!!!! ha..

Hope you have had a great Memorial Day and weekend. We certainly have.. George grilled us some steaks tonight...YUM.

Hugs,
Betsy

EG CameraGirl said...

They look as neat as neat can be, just the way I'd expect Swedish farms to be.

Bev said...

Wonderful! Hubby's roots are Swedish...so I totally enjoyed this!!

Mari said...

Beautiful place and beautiful barns too!

Linnea said...

Wow! These photographic scenes are stunning! What a picturesque area. Prettiest farmland I've seen! Maybe I'm partial because I'm part Swedish... :)

TexWisGirl said...

really beautiful! even if you had to go international for them. :)

Tanya Breese said...

beautiful photos! i enjoy seeing barns from lands-a-far!

Jan n Jer said...

Simply gorgeous photos n country Faye! Everything looks so neat n tidy!

Anonymous said...

My goodness, what beautiful views & scenery in each one of these images! You're right about the barns & the skies... so very beautiful!

Thank you so much for thinking of Barn Charm for these captures in Sweden! =)

A Colorful World said...

This was GREAT post! I enjoyed reading about the red barn paint so much and seeing all the gorgeous photos of Sweden. I really learned something. I love blogging! :-)

By the way, I had such a chuckle over your "child abuse" comment! :-)

Anonymous said...

So very nice to meet you through Barn Charm. These photos are amazing. Such pretty scenery. Hope you have a nice week.

Brian King said...

These are gorgeous photos, Faye! The scenery is fantastic! Really nice!

Debbie said...

what beautiful landscape and gorgeous barns.

stunning skys!!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, what great shots. love the clouds. gorgeous. (:

Latane Barton said...

Nope, no overkill on the photos. I am like you, they all are different and beautiful.

Patti said...

Beautiful scenery, thanks for taking us along for the ride!

Ramona said...

Wow, You've been to some spectacular places. I too love travelling with my blogging friends. Have you been to Oz yet?? Let me know if the plan arises!

Kranky Granny said...

Sorry to be so slow returning your visits to my spotted barn.

I enjoyed everything about this post. If it were not for people like yourself providing great travel logs in blogland I would never get to see anything outside of my own state.

This farm was so neat looking and that sky was amazing as well. Thanks for sharing.

Surelia Dev said...

Bali is a Countryside nature-friendly and cultural retreat, Known for its scenic beauty, liberation, awakening perfection and contentment. Land in Hyderabad Bali spread Across 240 acres, comprising of 'Bali Village' (Plots & Villas) and 'Bali Bamboo Farms',
http://www.incrediblelands.com/bali-farms.html