I don’t know what has happened to me lately??? I forget things, mix up dates and times … and this challenge, lost out on #104, missed one week again. I blame everything on COVID-19.
Tina, want us to bring Springtime back .. or bring it back sooner. Who doesn’t love Springtime?????!!!
“My weaknesses have always been food and men
— in that order.”
Dolly Parton
I start with one of my favourite spring dishes, my own creation … that I probably have knicked the idea from some restaurant along the way and through the years – that while working over in the UK became one of our most popular starters: Avocado mouse with Parma ham and black olives.
“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air
and sunshine are hard to beat”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Here in Sweden, we are mad about the first spring sun. We just have to sit and soak it up … with so much cloth on as possible. I guess it’s because of all the darkness we have to live through during the winter up here in the North. Up in the Northern part of Sweden, they only have 4 hours daylight in January. Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska has even less. I couldn’t manage to live through that.
“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.”
Josiyah Martin
Springtime is when our roundabouts here in Landskrona comes to life … and we have many, our city’s park team do a fantastic job – our roundabouts and parks are so well looked after and they follow the 4 seasons. We are so spoiled. It’s also when the city brings our fountains to life.
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”
Robin Williams
The first sheer greenery … is there anything more hopeful and welcoming???. When nature wakes up again to give us all that joy. This image is from the Gardens of Schönbrunn in Vienna.
“Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful
change can truly be.”
Unknown
… and of course, all the flowers it brings us and one of the best places on earth (in my book) to enjoy them is of course at Keukenhof outside Amsterdam.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
Lao Tzu
Then we have “my” Swan couple … that for many years has given me so much joy – not least through their cygnets, but this year they didn’t have any … and the last two years before … they had, but somehow they disappeared. So sad, but nobody seems to know what has happened to the small ones.

©clasical fm
The cloud for this post was very easy … I just have to use Vivaldi’s Spring. The Four Seasons (Italian: Le quattro stagioni) is a group of four violins as they are called concerti by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives musical expression to a season of the year. They were written around 1716–1717 and first published in 1725 in Amsterdam.
https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/lens-artists-challenge-105-spring/
Beautiful
Thank you so …. much!!!!
Thanks for sharing spring in your part of the world Viveka, so very different from mine! Your header is actually perfect for the post altho I know it’s a constant. Especially loved your tulips and the fountain image. And I may just steal your breakfast recipe!
Tina, you are welcome to steal what ever you want … I can mail you the recipe if you want to. I thought I had posted it … but I can’t find it.
Yes please!
DONE!!!!
Beautiful images.
Thank you so much … !!!!
I love your creation, Vive! Spring is beautiful in Sweden.
Vivaldi’s spring is one of my favorite musics.
Amy, thank you so much … Yes, the Spring in Scandinavia is wonderful. Beacuse it is colder up here, everything grows slower and last longer … I also think it makes the colours more intense too. Or maybe it’s because we are so longing for it. Vivaldi … mine too. *smile
Aah, Vivi, lovely celebration of Spring! And I longer the idea of Avocado mousse….recipe please!!
Thanks a million, Sue … will mail the recipe to you. *smile
Thank you!
… should be with you now!
I love all your photos and can completely understand running mad once you get more light. However, would you please pass my a helping of your creation and a glass of nice wine to go with it? I’m ready to eat right now!!
janet
Janet, yes … the winter darkness when you have to have the lamps on from breakfast to bedtime … can be tough, but at least down here in the south of the country, we have some daylight. Wine … a nice not too chilled German Gewürztraminer 2014 – enjoy!!!!
The brilliance of Keukenhof! Here it starts to look parched and brown, except for people’s gardens. 🤗🏖️💕
I have seen on the CNN weather that you had a very hot turn for a long time now. It’s sad when nature is suffering. Hopefully, you will not have any bush fires this year again, big risk when it’s so dry. Over here we got some sensible rain the last weeks and the farmers are pleased with the crop – not hug harvest, but good enough they say. Keukenhof is pure magic in my book. Want to go back!!! Have a lovely week and keep that hat on. MondayHUG!
Hiya darlin! 🤗💕 Just travelling back from a couple of days on the cooler west coast. We were actually really cold last night, and no coats! No pleasing some folk. Just had a paddle and it’s 31C 🏖️💕💕
Lovely memories of spring time, Videka!
Miriam, yes … springtime is a very special season because then is when the light comes back and the colours. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, Viveka.😊
Oh, Vivi ! Thank you for the huge laugh – I never ever thought I would have ought in common with Dolly Parton . . . but I do love both food and men !! Do not think your mind has suddenly gone walkabout (Aussie slang!) – methinks the sanest of us are regularly doing so at the moment . . .Absolutely love your spring photos . . . but, y’know, after all the years Down Under when the longest darkness lasts from after 5pm to 7am or shorter . . . and we bitterly complain each year . . . well, I dunno 🙂 ! Love the Vivaldi OF COURSE !!!!
Eha, Dolly has said many fun and sensible quotes. She is a very funny person, what I have seen of her. I like her, now she doesn’t go for those massive wigs anymore. Yes, this with the dark months can really get at times, so glad that COVID-19 didn’t land on us during those months, but nothing tells us that it will be gone before they are back (the dark months). Vivaldi is very hard not to like. *smile – I wish you a pleasant week.
Wonderful spring, Viveka! And forgetting and mixing things up…I know. And I blame COVID19 too of course…
A-C!!!! Forgetting and mixing things up … is my first name!!! So join the club, but one of the great things those days is that we can put a lot of blame on the COVID-19. *smile. I wish you a pleasant weekend. Hug.
True – so much can be blamed on the pandemic…
We have to live with and around it for some time, but it can’t stop us from living. Lots .. of love.
Hugs❤
Beautiful photos. Love the Dolly Parton quote. “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” —Mae West
John, thank so much for the big smile … your comment gave me this morning. Mae West she has left some cracking quotes behind. She were so funny. And so is Dolly. *smile
Beautiful post, Vivi. I love that you included a spring breakfast! Great idea. The tulips are gorgeous! And the Dolly Parton quote is priceless.
Patti, thank you so much … yes, Dolly has delivery many priceless quotes. She is a really fun lady, a bit like Mae West.