Glad Midsommor to you all!
A day when the heart can fly with joy, the spirits soaring with life and energy!
Where both the body is nourished by good wholesome food, and the soul is rejuvenated through stillness and sharing.
Where the mind flows between the present and the past; the two often seeming to merge. When the memories offer contentment and happiness, the present likewise a source of comfort and joy.
Whether celebrating this Midsummer, the longest day of the year, or not – I wish you all a wonderful day filled with love, compassion and adventures!
To end this brief post I’d like to share a quote I came across recently – the words like a thunderbolt of wisdom!
‘Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply give you courage.’ Lao-Tzu
May we all find such courage … experience such strength.
Photos courtesy of Pixaby
Annika Perry 
Midsummer in Scandinavia is always an experience You cannot miss. Thank You for these wonderful photos. Happy new Week.
I agree, Misummer is especially wonderful in Sweden … and doesn’t it already seem a long since then! Many thanks for reading and your lovely comment, Sartenada!
Those strawberries are perfect! 🙂
Absolutely and as my grandfather always used to say, the Swedish ones are always the best!!
Lovely words and photos, Annika, and sorry to have arrived late! So much going on in life to interrupt blogging. This post is both beautiful and inspirational, though, and I loved your quote at the end, too. Wishing you a lovely summer, my friend…❤🌼🌷🌻🌸
Lauren, thank you so much for your lovely comment and I am so happy you had a chance to read this – no worries about being late! Anytime is the right time!😀The quote was like a flash of pure truth, I felt myself deeply touched. Hope you’re having a good summer and things slow down a bit for you so you have a chance to enjoy. love & hugs xxx🌺❤️
Love these pics! Our midsummer (not nearly as fun or celebrated as it is in Sweden) was rainy, if I remember right. And love the quote! May your summer be filled with sun, fun, and gotta have some writing time in there as well 😀
Thank you so much, Julie! 😀 Too bad about the rain … here it is so hot and sunny we could do with rain for the gardens! Still, I’m loving the summer warmth and hope you’re having a lovely start to the new season! xx
Hope you had a great midsummer Annika. Lovely photos which conveyed to me what it must be like in Sweden this time of year.
One slight worry though – doesn’t the heat melt all that snow?
Mike
Thank you and yes, it was a wonderful evening of celebration! 😀 Funny how it already seems like a long distant memory! I hope you have a great start to the Summer. Haha … the snow has the habit of melting in thirty plus degrees – which I’m told is the amazing summer weather they are experience … long may it last … well, at least until I arrive and for the weeks whilst I’m there! 😀
Lovely prose and photos, Annika. Thank you for sharing. Happy Solstice to you too. Hugs xx
Janice, warmest thanks and hope you’re having a wonderful start to summer! 😀
Thank you, you too, Annika. 😘🤗
I am madly jealous, Annika. I would love to be in England for mid-summer. Not next year but we are likely to be in permanently resident in the UK by 2020.
Happy belated midsummer to you too, Annika!
And to you too, Helen! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful Summer … I wonder if Sweden is still hotter than Florida?! Beautiful heatwave in England for the present.
No..Sweden has cooled off considerably…around 20-25 C now. Ideal for me coming from FL 🙂
Happy Midsummer to you Annika, if a little late, I hope you had a wonderful celebration 🙂
Lovely to see you here, Andrea and thank you — yes I had a most wonderful and speical evening of celebrations! Wishing you well and hope the sun is shining for you too! 😃🌻
A belated happy Midsummer to you Annika 🙂 Loved the quote.
Thank you so much, Davy! Summer has truly arrived here now and enjoying the warm sunny weather! A treat to write and work outside in the shade! 😀
I know it is great. I am getting the writing done this morning so I can have some time reading in the shade later 🙂
A very sweet and thoughtful post, Annika! Happy Midsummer to you, too!
Clare, warmest thanks for your lovely comment … it felt like a very special day and one I wanted to share here. Hope you’re enjoying the wonderful summer days! A lot of tlc needed for the gardens! 🌺🌻
Oh, I know! 😀 Half the garden looks dead and the other half is a jungle! I’m loving the warmth and sunshine but we do need some rain.
Excellent pics and words that flow smoothly, alongside them as well… Happy Summer dear Annika. Love & best wishes ❤ 🙂
Ahh…thank you so much, Acqu … I wanted to ‘weave’ the words around the pictures. Beautiful hot summer weather here, a real treat. Is it winter for you? I think so? Warmest wishes & hugs ❤️🌺. PS. Thank you ever so much for all your support and shares on Twitter … it means a lot. Xx
Yes, we have just entered Winter a days ago (June 21st)— ❄️ a pleasure to drop by. Thanks so much for your support as well, dear Annika. Xx 😘
Beautiful words and pictures – even on a rainy morning here, I know there will be many days like this ahead!
Barbara, for us it’s been the warmest spring on record and now a hot sunny start to summer … heavenly. So glad you liked the post. Hope you’re doing okay…hugs xx
What beautiful photos and words. You just made my day. It feels as if I have been on another planet, one filled with simply music and choristers who loved it equally as much in Baltimore. It looks as if my husband and I will sing in Prague next August with BCI. I love to connect with you and your lovely posts. You inspire me. Have a great music-filled weekend with your composer son too!
Ahh…Mary Ann, thank you so much for your kind sweet words. It felt like a magical day from the moment I woke and I was inspired to write a little about it, to share my joy.
We had a wonderful weekend but this time with some Victorian music at Europe’s largest grass amphitheater as we visited friends and had a picnic by a lake at some special gardens for a Victorian event. Amazing, dreamy and surreal. Old time music to the beautiful backdrop but then huge jets every minute close overhead from Heathrow!
I am so happy for your wonderful musical life, the setting, the people you meet and of course the music sounds amazing, enriching and fulfilling. I can well understand you feel like you’re on another planet! Soft gentle landings before setting off for your next adventures! Have a great time in Prague next year, you’ve probably been before and it is one of my favourite capital cities.
My son recently released his latest song but playing and composing slightly less for a few weeks as in the middle of exams! Just two more weeks then he can’t wait to concentrate on the music again!
You have made my day with your wonderful words. The Victorian music and setting must have been great. Dreamy is an excellent description. I think sometimes I am indeed on another planet. To think in and feel the music is beyond description sometimes. Glad to hear your son continues his musical journey. Even with jets overhead, your picnic sounds like so much fun and especially with friends. You understand the magic of nature, music, family and friends. Now our practice CDs play Dvorak’s Stabat Mater in preparation for Prague. Yes, I have been there before. This time we will sing in the castle which should also be magical. Have a good week and enjoy the magic of music, Annika. 🙂
Wow!! I can’t believe you’re singing in the castle!!! It is the most wondrous location. Please let me know in good time and I will see if I can come over and hear you all sing… it’s been far too long since my last visit and I would love to go again and to maybe meet up! Xx
Let me see if I can find a link to send you so you can plan. It would be super to meet up. http://www.berkshirechoral.org/sing-with-us/sing-in-prague Usually the concert is on a Saturday evening, so my guess is Aug. 10, 2019. How wonderful it would be to meet and see one another after years of blogging comments and social media Tweets. The actual dates are Aug. 4-11, 2019. The 11th would be the day to wrap it up and leave. After the concert, there will be time to meet up. During the week, we have little to no free time with two daily rehearsals of about five hours of singing.
Mary Ann, I’ve saved the link and noted down the dates. Usually I am in Sweden that time of year but I will see what I can do. Next year will be different anyway as my son finishes school and the holidays start much earlier in June! It would be amazing to meet up after all this time and to listen to such wonderful music in this glorious setting.
It’s a date then! Hope it works out for us too. How wonderful that would be. The concert will be Sat. Aug. 10, 2019 in the evening.
Uplifting and beautiful post Annika. Happy summer solstice! ❤
Thank you so much, Debby and hope you’re having a lovely start to the summer! 🤗
It’s been good so far Annika, save for today when we discard the bathing suits and back to jackets, lol. Welcome to Canada. 🙂
The Midsommer Grinch: Well I hope you are enjoying youselves in all that mid-summery-ness. Your longest is my shortest day … and, sniff, cough, wheeze … the day is only going to get longer this side of the fence anyhow. ☕️💐😎
I used to keep The Tao te Ching in my knapsack .. even though I didn’t understand back then just the sound of The words were so pleasant and soothing. Beautiful thoughts.
This is lovely, Annika. It reminds me that long ago, these festivals were the highlight of their days. I love all the excitement.
Slightly tangential, I’m bingeing on Midsomer Murders on Netflix. Good little show!
Jacqui, I’m smiling at you in your hisotrical mode! I hadn’t quite thought of it as such but realise you’re right – with no other entertainment / distraction I can jimagine the gathering of absolutely everyone. It is still huge in Sweden and so many other countries; the one’s not marking the day are very much in the minority.
Enjoy Midsomer Murders – a gentle and engaging show. Not having really seen the series I always wondered about the title and now see that Midsomer is a fictional town set in Oxfordshire. I might give this series a go myself! Enjoy and wishing you a great weekend! It’s been a hectic time for you these last few weeks. Are you coming up for air soon?Hope it’s gone well! xx
Love the way you have wished Annika…your poetic prose is merrily dancing with the beautiful pictures you have shared, they depict happy times. Wishing you too love and adventures this summer. Happy Midsummer dear friend.
Ahh…thank you so much for your lovely comment, Balroop and the image of my writing ‘merrily dancing’ along! 😀 I did want to try and weave in between the pictures and writing! Happy times indeed and may we all have many of those this summer. A beautiful quiet warm and sunny day here – bliss! Have a wonderful weekend! hugs xx❤️
Hear hear!
Thank you, Jennie! 😀🌻
You’re welcome, Annika. 😀
Beautiful post, Annika. So inspiring… To be loved makes one happy. To love makes one whole ❤️
Thank you so much, Tina! 😀 I love your quote – to reach that wholeness is a lifelong epiphany. ❤️
Happy Summer Solstice, Annika. A gorgeous post and selection of pictures, and I love that quote too. 🙂
Jennifer, hoping you’ve had a very special Midsummer and are enjoying the start to summer!😀 So happy you enjoyed all the elements of the post – one of those that ‘wrote’ itself; the words seamlessly appearing on the screen!
Happy Midsummer to you too, Annika! ❤ Blessings and love… xo
Warmest thanks, Bette … hope you had a chance to celebrate too. hugs xx ❤️
Happy beautiful Midsummer! It’s a lovely time. What fantastic photos and thoughts to celebrate with, Annika. Wishing you an awesome solstice!
Mae, thank you so much for your warm and exhuberant comment – we had a wonderful celebration – in the end toasting three happy events! I woke in the morning, full of the goodness of the day to come and wanted to share a flavour of midsummer here!😀
Happy Solstice, Annika. Wonderful images and a beautiful message of joy, peace, and compassion. ❤
A very Happy Midsummer (&birthday to your grandson)! Wishing you all a wonderful and no doubt action packed day! 😀 so glad the images and message touched you ..Midsummer always feels special.
Thanks! You remembered that… and to be honest, I forgot. Ha ha. We’re celebrating officially on Sunday. I have wrapping to do today. Thanks for the smile, my friend. ❤
A fabulous post. Thank you and Happy Midsummer to you as well. xo
Thank you so much, Darlene and hope you’re having a special day! 😀
Happy summer Solstice Annika. Thank you for a lovely uplifting post.
Ahh…thank you so much, Brigid! I was in the moment this morning, reflective and excited about the day and wanted to capture that here! Happy Midsummer to you too! 😀🌺
A beautiful post, Annika! Happy Summer Solstice!
Jan, thank you so much and hope you’re having a lovely day! 😀 I can’t quite believe that the days will start to become shorter now!
A cheery and inspiring post, Annika. Happy Summer! 😃
Iris, that’s lovely… just how I’m feeling all day and I wanted to share that on my blog! Happy Summer, indeed! A beautiful start here in the U.K. 😀
What a profound quote Annika. I am pinning this one on my soft board👍
Radhika, very profound and as I mentioned this quote struck me when I came across it. It definitely deserves to be on a board! I wonder what other quotes you have on there?!
Absolutely profound Annika. Your comment just gave me an idea. Maybe I’ll do a post on all the quotes that i have there ,one day.
You have one keen reader already for such a post .. make sure to let me know in case I miss it! Happy Weekend, Radhika! 😀🌺
👍🙂
Oh, Annika. I love that quote so much and understand it even more. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post on this first day of summer. There is so much to celebrate, and so much beauty around us as you have so eloquently pointed out here. How do I get my hands on those strawberries? They look perfectly delicious! I hope you are having a lovely day and are feeling the warmth of the sun. Lots of love and a big hug! xo
Haha! I’m smiling at your comment about the strawberries as this brings to mind my morfar – maternal grandfather. When we went out food shopping he’d always write strawberries on the list but then tell us strictly that only Swedish ones – as they were the best! So true…they always taste divine. Oh yes, the weather is beautiful, warm and sunny with the past muggy humid air of last week finally gone.
Tanya, I am so happy you enjoyed the post – the beauty of the day and occasion was one that called out to be shared. The quote is new to me but wow, it is astonishing and so profound. Incredible that it was written 6th century BC! Enjoy the weekend and summer, my friend. Wishing you much happiness. love & hugs xx
Glad Midsommar to you Annika and thank you for this beautiful share of this big Swedish tradition. Your poetic words and brilliant photos have captured the day with such beauty.
I even spotted one of my favourite flowers – Cornflower – ( Blåklint ).
Think I will bake a cake with cream and strawberries 🍓.
Congrats also to your husband’s birthday and new job.
~ Miriam
Yeah, Miriam I’m so happy your favourite flower made it on my post – it just looks wonderful and we used to have quite a few of these in the meadows but they seem to have disappeared these last few years. It is a wonderful celebration and I wanted to capture its magic in a brief post, giving a flavour of the day. Oh yes, a cake to go with the strawberries sounds perfect … Happy Baking, my friend!
Thank you for the congratulations as well … there were a lot of toasts and much happiness all round! hugs! xxx🌼🌺🌸🌹
Happy Summer Solstice! Love the photos. Love the quote at the end, too.
Have a great Longest Day of the Year!
Thank you so much, Staci and wishing you a very special Midsummer Day! 😀 So glad enjoyed the post!
🌞
Beautiful quote! and I love those strawberries.
Thanks for sharing, Annika and all the best.
I know, the strawberries look delicious and I must admit to an addiction of these berries this year, they’re so tasty! So glad you liked the quote … this went straight into my notebook! Have a wonderful day!
Lovely words and lovely pictures to accompany them.
Thank you so much, Carrie! 🌺 Wishing you a lovely day. 🌻
Thank you for making this day seem so special! I like the contrasts you described- And through my window I see the joy of a sunny day and colorful flowers, and the calmness of the water that is smooth and like glass.
Jena, I love your lyrical description of your view from the window … a perfect blend of flowers, water all in sunshine! Your words resonate with calm and peace … thank you so much for your lovely comment and wishing you a very special day. 🌺🌻
What a lovely quote to end your joyous post Annika. Enjoy your summer. Here in Melbourne it’s the winter solstice and it’s very cold. Hugs xx ❤️
I hadn’t thought that it is the winter solstice for you … warmer and longer days gradually coming your way! After many weeks of very warm and humid weather is it cool and breezy today – a refreshing change! Glad you liked the quote and one I came across when looking for something special to write in my husband’s birthday card. I’m popping over to your post later, Miriam but I read it early this morning and want to say congratulations to you! So happy for your writing gig … just perfect for you and an excuse of much more travel! 😀❤️
Oh, absolutely Annika, in fact we’re heading off tomorrow morning for another weekend of ‘research’. The cold won’t put us off!!
Enjoy that refreshing change in the weather Annika. xx 💕
Beautiful post.
Thank you so much, Joseph! 😀 One of those ‘inspired’ ones!
🙂
Happy summer solstice to you Annika. May your day be as magical as your words. (Today is my youngest child’s birthday. So it is doubly meaningful for me.)
Thank you so much, Bernadette! 🤗 An extra special day for you and I wish your daughter a very happy birthday…hoping you can all be together to celebrate. (It’s my husband’s birthday too today … also he just had some brilliant news about his job so triple celebration later today!) warm hugs xx
Such beautiful words and pictures. Happy Summer!
Thank you so much … I woke with a happy heart and a beautiful day ahead and wanted to share here! Wishing you a magical summer too! 😀🌺
💜🌹
Glad midsommar! ❤️❤️ Great post
Thank you, Ray … wishing you a wonderful Midsummer too! Tusen tack! 😀
✌️💙☀️☕️🍾🎈 dåligt väder bara…som alltid 😂
A beautiful collection of photos and thoughts to celebrate the middle of the year and remind us of all that is possible. Thanks for this uplifting post, Annika.
A pleasure and delight to share the photos and thoughts, Shari and one of those spontaneous posts which came about this morning whilst thinking about the day ahead … and of my past midsummers. My planned post was of a serious rather depressing matter which I felt had no place on such a special day! May your day be filled with joy and peace! 🤗
To you as well, Annika.
Cheer!
Ahh… thank you so much, Jina! 😀 Have a wonderful day and rest of the week.
Beautiful post, Annika! Happy Midsummer to you, too! Thanks for sharing one of my favorite quotes. Enjoy your day! ❤
Thank you so much, Jill and hoping you have a wonderful day too! Yeah … glad you had a chance to read one of your favourite quotes. I nearly feel ashamed that I didn’t know this one -it’s incredible!
What a beautiful celebration and such a lovely time of the year. Janet 🙂
This day always feels special and the timing is just ideal! Many thanks, Janet! 😀🌺
happy solstice
A very Happy Midsummer to you, Simon! 😀