The Snowman

It was -10C on the morning when I took this photo a few days ago. And enough snow to make a snowman at Villavägen in Västerhaninge. Warmer weather since, so he might not live for very much longer. Happy New Year!

Open-air cafe

Off-season. Malmens konditori in Handen. My favorite cafe, year round, although I sip my coffee indoors this time of the year.

Wintertime

And just like that Winter arrived. It started to snow two days ago. Not much, but enough to make it look like Winter. And then this morning it was -10C so it will probably stick. This is Little lake in Jordbro.

Moon over Tower Blocks

Biking home on one of those few days with a clear blue sky I noticed the moon. It was almost hypnotic so I stopped at Jordbro and took a few photos. It's on such days I wish I had more zoom power.

Winter Count 2015

January, a very happy skier at the Rudan nature reserve. February, sculpture in the snow at the Tungelsta park. March. Met my flickr friend Benke at my favorite cafe. April, walked into a metal ladder in the dark. May, took a walk in a forest that soon will be gone. June. Portrait of the smiling Michelle. July, a juicy berry, one example of the many macro photos I have shot this year. August, a portrait of the beautiful electrician who was also featured in my Winter Count back in 2010. September, a meeting with the Swedish police. October, Autumn visit to the old tree. November. I wrote a petition to save this little house at Malmvägen. December, one of a number of photos I have taken this year on the redesigned water towers in Handen.

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

Part 2. Christmas. No longer stuck in the ice. Part one can be seen here.

Ten Years With The Old Tree

It was on this day ten years ago today that I started the "That Old Tree" project. It was supposed to be a one year project, but people asked me to continue so that is what I did. The tree has changed a bit over the last decade. There was a bad storm during Christmas a few years ago, and the tree took a hit losing a big branch. Lightning has also struck here once (another branch gone), and I was here when that happened and that wasn't much fun! It was a bit calmer today, 7C and windy on this my 451th visit to the Swedish Whitebeam at Välsta.

A day at the beach

A Christmas visit to the beach.

Low-energy Building

New care facility with 54 apartments at Tuvvägen in Handen. It's already open for business which is a bit surprising if you remember a previous post from april of this year. Some more facts in Swedish here. goo.gl/2rFyCB

A Green Christmas

13C on Sunday. A little colder yesterday, but not enough to stop the golfers from playing a Christmas round at the Fors golf course in Västerhaninge. It will be a green Christmas this year. Foooooooore!

Santa

Santa is a busy guy these days I guess, but he does have time for a workout. Spotted him in Handen yesterday working on his arm fat.

Julgran

Swedish word of the season. Julgran. Christmas Tree. Made by Vattenfall, it stands on the roof at the Biofuel Power Plant in Jordbro. Oh, and I tried a new technique here. Reducing noise using median blending. So to get less noise I shot four photos with the silent zoom lens after first consulting with my friend Jim, and reading an article at Peta Pixel. I shot this hand-held at maximum zoom standing on a pedestrian bridge at 1/40 and 400 ISO.

Utility Box Triptych

The Utility Box series again. Found by the side of the Gudöbroleden in Handen.

Abstract Façade

Your logistics partner in Stockholm. Storex at the industrial park in Jordbro. Built a couple of years ago.

Frosty apple

Winter apple.

That Old Tree

A visit to the old tree on a cold December day.

Mind Your Step

A thin layer of frost covering the pier at the semi-frozen Lower Lake Rudan on my visit yesterday. I had to watch my step as one plank was missing. And yes, it was a cold bike ride!

Glow-in-the-dark

A new road opened for traffic in Tungelsta yesterday when the old rail-road crossing closed at Söderbyvägen near the commuter station. The new stretch of road will be called Lillgårdsvägen. The walkway was lit up with tea light candles during the sunset. Both photos shot wiht the nifty fifty.

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

Part 1. December. Stuck in the ice. The box is empty, but I did find a CO2 charger on the wheat field across the road near the old Nödesta farm.

Santa's Accident

Christmas will be delayed this year. Santa has been involved in a fatal accident with a kick sled. It happened just across the road from a popular fast food place in Handen.