Canola field

I have been keeping an eye on this canola field, rapsfält in Swedish, over the last week or so. I can see it from two roads I use every week while out on the bike. So, after a July visit to the old tree, I continued down the horse path towards the blooming field. I tried a few different approaches. The first photo is a four photo panorama, snapped with the Canon 77D, using the 70-300mm lens. Next, a close-up of a flower, using the same camera and lens. The next two are both panoramic images. But cropped differently. I stepped down in a ditch for the fifth photo, where I focused on the "blåklint". Next, more focus on the "skogsdunge". We finish with a bonus shot. Josefin riding by at full speed. I had parked my bike next to the path she used, so she must have ridden around Klems kulle, which I have showed you before, and you have also met Josefin here, many years ago.

Goin' for a Ride

A girl out horseback riding during a snowstorm, (sort of), in Tungelsta. In the background houses at Stavshöjden, a community where pretty much every family are in to horses.

Still Winter

A few photos from a morning promenade earlier in the week. I decided to take the boring way as I sometimes call it. Following the railroad south for a kilometer or so past a few houses, a big stable and a few old barns. This path is unofficial and there were no tracks in the snow so I was the first one to walk there that day. The house in the top photo is new. Just a couple of years ago I photographed an abandoned building on that same property so I guess that is progress.

Horsin' Around

Walking past the horse farm at Mulsta a few cold Winter days ago. I often take this road on my way to and from the old tree. There are a few interesting signs here. One says, don't feed the horses they have plenty to eat. Another one explains that two of the horses you might see here have food allergies, but not to worry about it as people of course have done in a local Facebook group.

Winter Horse

Took a couple of Winter promenades over the weekend. Met this horse at the corner of Kvarnvägen and Södertäljevägen in Tungelsta. It looked quite content.

Horseback rider

Young girl out horseback riding on the path near the old tree. They were riding slowly because the horse had been around for a long long time. And also because it was another beautiful Summer day, and no one is in a rush on days like these.

Prins Bus and Sara

This is Prins Bus, (Prince Mischief). He is a Gotland russ, and a work horse. He lives at the dairy farm Björksättra in Huddinge, a neighbouring municipality to Haninge. But in May, June, August and September Prins Bus works a few days every week removing garbage from Brandbergen and Jordbro. The kids love him, but he is not that fond of them as they are a bit too lively for Prins Bus, but it usually works out fine. I met him and his human Sara earlier this week as they were on their way back to the garbage station with a carriage full of garbage. Sara is a dairy farmer. She has 50 cows and a bunch of sheep at the farm. Her farm is an ARLA farm which means that they are open for visitors and they have around 15 000 visitors to the farm every year. One popular event is the annual kosläpp. That's when the cows see the grass for the first time every Spring. Fun Youtube video here from her farm for anyone interested in seeing happy cows jumping for joy

Summer bike ride

We have Summer! Finally. Not Perth Summer though, but the Swedish equivalent. That means that we might get 30C today. This is Småhamra in Österhaninge. Oxeye daisy next to the wheat field. I arrived via a bike-ride through the forest in the national park Tyresta. I had my buddy Jim with me. He is a nerd. Or a geek. So he had to shoot photos of the newly discovered runestone at Småhamra for a 3D-rendering. It was a warmish ride and Jim's bike broke down a little later so he had to walk it home. The tired horse lives at the Hammarby farm.

Headless Horse

Spotted this headless horse at the Mulsta horse farm on a recent promenade.

That Old Tree

Josefine out riding near the old tree today. She's a young jockey, starting to make a name for herself in the sport. Josefine lives at the Mulsta horse farm, and you have met her here before.

Horse Profile

I met a fellow photographer on a winter walk a while back. We discussed photography and what have you while I tried to get a few good shots of this horse at the Mulsta horse farm. The photographer Ulf Andersson, whom you have met here on the blog, a couple of Winters ago, told me that he had done the window renovation on the building in the background. Sounds like an interesting hobby.

A double rainbow

The sky was getting very dark as I made my way to the old tree yesterday. As I took a few photos of the Swedish Whitebeam it started raining, so I put the camera back in the bag, put on my raincoat, jumped on the bike and started pedalling for home. As I reached the road I looked to the right and spotted a double rainbow. Or at least half of it so I continued maybe 30 meters, stopped and reached for the Canon. As I started shooting the horse ran into the frame. Skywatch Friday.

Give Us a Kiss

I always try to find A Moment In Time photos. This is one of them. Two girls from a nearby stable was out horseback riding in Västerhaninge. It was a warm summer day and they really needed an ice-cream so they decided to head for a kiosk at the shopping centre. A couple of years ago the centre got a Systembolaget, the state owned liquor store, so there's always plenty of drunks in the area. Seeing the horses, one of them decided it was time for some animal hugging and kissing.

In The Winner's Circle

Solvalla is the biggest racing track for harness racing in Sweden. This is Naleen Flame. Owned and trained by Peter Strage (in the sulky here), and Jenny Olsson. The horse won a race at Solvalla a couple of days ago. I met them at the old tree on Sunday.

Erika

I have a good memory for faces, (most days). I was shooting some photos of the old tree yesterday when a girl driving a lightweight two-wheeled, single-seat car came racing up the path. She circled the tree and when she came closer and stopped near where I was standing I said hello. She was wearing a helmet and it was hard to see her face, but I recognised her eyes (and eyebrows), and told her that we had met before. That was just over four years ago when I was still shooting for the 100 Strangers Project. Since we last met Erika has a new horse, Ferry at a stable in Tungelsta and it is Ferry you can see on the second photo.

Lunch in the pasture

The Björklund horse farm is situated near the iron Age grave field, and the Gullringskärret nature reserve. The only way to get to the farm is to take the Viking Era gravel road from Västerhaninge. The road ends at the farm and you can only continue on foot or on bicycle. Heading home recently I stopped at the pasture when I noticed a few horses eating dandelions. It was a very peaceful scene and all I could hear was bird song. I think this photo works well for the theme day which is Tranquility. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

That Old Tree

One week ago we suddenly had a spring day with 12C. That was nice. Since then it's been a bit colder. I shot this photo of the old tree yesterday and the temperature was maybe 1C . All the snow is gone from this area, but the broken tree branch is still there. I think I have seen this horseback rider here before.

Out Of My Way!

I decided to head over to the old tree the other day to see if it had started to turn green yet. As I walked down the path this horse came racing towards me so I decided to grab a few shots. In the sulky sat a young guy, we exchanged a few words before he rounded the tree and disappeared down the path. The land here at Välsta is owned by the Andersson family. They have a horse farm nearby and you will often meet sulky riders and horse back riders here.

A Familiar Face

Walking down the snowy path, that leads down to the old tree this afternoon I met the very photogenic Patricia and her horse Raven, who didn't like having it's portrait taken. Last time I met Patricia she had returned home from a lengthy visit to Spain. Now she is saving up for a possible trip to India.

Any Carrots?

I took a 12 km promenade today. A cold day, around -8C but with a clear blue sky. Stopped at Mulsta for a few horse photos, where I also talked to a guy who was taking some snaps of the horses with his iPhone, and I told him about the zoom lens for the iPhone.