Tuesday, April 14, 2009


My yellow Christmas rose has finally opened its buds :-) But it´s not as yellow as it use to, wonder why it has become lime green?


It´s not often any town or village in my neighbourhood hits the world news, but Varnhem did that almost thirty years ago (May 21, 1979). It was a day much like this day, sunny and rather windy and the lokal firedepartement had got a job to burn down an old barn, a way to get some extra money for the firemen involved (3 firememen and the chief was there). For some reson no one thought it was a stupid idea to do that when the wind was as hard as it was.


It´s a haze in the air today. Can be smoke from burning hay, they burn a lot of that now.

So they started to put fire to the old barn and after a while they understood that the fire had spread to a house not far away and suddenly a lot of houses was on fire. Twenty one buildings ( a big part of the village) burned down that day, no persons got killed but some hundred pigs died. Most probaly there were some insurance frauds too, because some buildings next to the one burning were totally unharmed and I think that one not even was in the direction of the wind. But in those days they got paid anyway unlike today when insurance companies don´t pay even if they should. It was a tradgedi for all involved, not only those who lost their homes but for the firemen too. Rumors says that the chief couldn´t live with the shame of being responsible to this.



Outhervise Skaraborg (as this place is called) seldom hits the world news, well we have the cranes of course :-) and speaking about cranes. When I went to my car this morning three cranes lifted from the field just beside my cottage. My camera was still indoors so no pictures unfortunally. When I came to work three pheasant hens, loads of chickens and a pheasant rooster walked in front of me when I went outside to check the things I painted on easter eve. I got a picture of the rooster with my mobile phone camera, but it´s hard to see what it is :-) :-) One has to know that it´s a pheasant rooster to actully have a chanse to see what it is :-) So I spare you from that pictre :-) But they walk there every day so one day You´ll se one here. Perhaps I´ll take my camera with me this weekend.


The water is slowly sinking in the bog. Soon this moss woun´t be an underwater plant any more :-)


It´s almost seven pm and the farmers are still spreading manure over the fields. They probably want to finish that before the rain is comming. Me? I´m going to make some tea and just enjoy the evening :-)
Be good!

I sowed this Rhododendron dauricum six years ago and now comes its first flower :-) As they say: The one who waits for something good usually has to wait a long time :-)

10 comments:

Visiting Voyeur said...

Interesting story. We just had quite a few fires here in Oklahoma. They say something like 90 houses destroyed. In one town they believe it to be arson but in the others it seems to be from being to dry and not enough moisture.

Lovely pictures again. The cows near me are also out. I think I know it is spring when I can smell it in the air. So does any of your flowers send off a nice fragrance? Honeysuckle hasn't come out yet but it smells nice as well as our roses.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to read about the fire chief. He was probably told to do what he did. I bet he regrets it though. I've experienced things on a smaller scale like that getting out of hand. It's a terrible feeling. So did he move out of town? And you are soo right when you say " The one who waits for something good, usually has to wait a long time". Good post today Christer. Have a fun evening.

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Chelle!
Sad then these things happens, especially if it happens just because they don´t think one step ahead.

Only the snowdrops have scent yet, but I´m also waiting for the honeysuckles :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Z&M!
If I understand things correctly he mowed out of town, but that couldn´t help him, so he ended his life. But I´m not totally sure of that last bit.

This is the time of year when people burn of old grass and that often goes out of hand, but mostly the worst thing that happens then is that they have nightmares for a couple of years :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

Valerie said...

Hi Christer. Fascinating story as I am married to a 3rd generation fire fighter. Both my husband's father and grandfather were fire fighters as well. Grandpa Kueter worked for the MacGregor, IA Volunteer Fire Dept. and Gary, my father-in-law was a fire fighter and then Chief for the Urbandale, Iowa (suburb of Des Moines) Volunteer Fire Dept. My husband is the first in his family to actually work for a paid department and just recently got promoted to Lieutenant. He also just celebrated his 21st Anniversary with the Dept! Sort of like how long you worked for Volvo!

I have mixed feelings about Benjamin (my 2-year old) becoming a fire fighter. On the one hand, it is such a noble calling, but on the other, it is a hard-labor job. Firemen can and do lose their lives or, as you told, make mistakes and have to live with the aftermath (I'm thinking about 9/11). I can see Ben wanting to carry on the tradition, but mommy was thinking of starting a new one...doctor, lawyer, accountant, teacher?

Anyway, you post also had some lovely photos. Do you think that the acidity of the earth/dirt has anything to do with your Christmas rose (sort of like hydrangeas)? Just a thought. The bogs absolutely fascinate me!

Thanks as always for dropping by and leaving your kind comments!

Valerie

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Valerie!
In some places one just get stuck :-) I loved to work at Volvo, but when the chance came to chanfe ones life I took it :-)

To be a fireman is hard work and as Ypu say, the afterwork can be a terrible one. I never wanted to become a fireman myself, to afraid of fire I think. Don´t even have candles here. If I could start over I probably would have become a teacher, but teenagers can be as scary as fire sometimes :-) :-)


When it comes to Christmasroses the acidity has no inpact on its colour. Some flowers do as You say. Perfect if You need another colour when decorating. Not one of my strong sides though :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

I do love Rhododendrons...I have none planted in this yard yet..but perhaps one day. How great it is watching your seasons go from snow to a lovely Springtime! Wonderful!
Thanks for your sweet visit, Christer..as always...and my offer is good!! :)

woody said...

wow nice blog today a little history a few pictures perhaps you would have been a great teacher for I have learnd much following your blog.Maybe in your second life:>)

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Mona!
This one is a bit special just because I aewed it my self. To be honest the little bush is rather uggly othervise :-) It´s one of those that keeps just a few leafs during winter, so it´s not even pretty then, but the flowers are as beautiful as all rhododendrons (but very small).

I have to thank no to Your offer this time. I´m gaining weight faster then a seal pup at the moment :-) My left hip is getting rather bad so I have some troubles moving around. But if I can get it fixed this autumn as I hope, it might come an e-mail to You begging for those cookies :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Woody!
If I could go back in time and start it all over (knowing what I know now) I probably would have become a teacher. I think that I would have liked that a lot.

Your busy in the second life I guess. My computor is so old and slow (it already has problems with its virtual memory and tells that to me quite often nowdays :-) ), so I don´t think I can do that. But it´s fun to read about it in Your blg.
Have a great day now!
Christer.