A First Sense of Autumn

 

On my walk yesterday I had a first sense of Autumn/Fall approaching*... Even if summer  here has not been as persistently hot and dry as further south in Europe, it's still been very dry for this area. We've had a few showers lately, but not really a whole lot of rain in total - so the ground is still very dry, and many wild grassy areas have turned brown.

*Meteorological autumn starts on September 1, while astronomical autumn begins with the equinox on September 22, 2026.  

Goldenrod is in bloom now in many places, along roads, or like in the photo above, on the slopes along the railway. There used to be a lot of Goldenrod growing in the "wild corner" of my grandparents'/parents' garden (my dad's childhood home, which then served us as summer cottage for a number of years, before my parents moved there to live in their own retirement years). My mum used to take in some to dry, which she then put in vases for winter decorations - sometimes together with other dried flowers.

In the old cemetery, one can already wade through "fallen leaves" in some places - although I think most of what we see just now is not really leaves, but remnants of tree blooms or seed pods (above, linden trees). After a few windy days, a lot of them just now, though!

 Rowan berries are turning red (even if still more orange than properly red).

And flower beds keep on changing and "maturing"...

 

 

 

The two top flower bed photos are from mid July, the next two from 1st August, the last two from 9th August.

Interlude

 

Finally a day of neither glaringly hot, nor risk of sudden heavy downpours and thunder. As seems to have become the pattern this summer, I needed to take advantage of that for a couple of necessary errands in the city centre (mainly to the pharmacy this time); leaving me very little room for any more exciting excursions. But it did allow me a walk through the city park, and along the river, to get myself there and back. 

 On the way back, along the river, I sat down for a little while on a bench in the shadow on a kind of jetty (or wooden platform) - opposite the apartment blocks below:

In spite of the weather today being quite pleasant compared to last week, being on my feet for a couple of hours in the sun still had me feeling quite hot before getting back home again... So after lunch, I had another one of those afternoons when I just fell asleep, listening to an audio book - and then really not getting much else done...

I'm still using a walking stick, which is both "a blessing and a curse" at the same time. A blessing because it allows me to walk further than I would dare try without it. But a curse because it means I never have both hands free (and have to plan any errands or other activities accordingly - including photo stops!) 

Early Bird

 

I'm not usually an early riser, but this morning it seemed like a good idea to try it. So after an early visit to the bathroom, I did not go back to bed as I usually would. Instead I had an early breakfast, and then went out for a walk already at 07:15. (My working days are so far back in history now that can't even remember when I was last out that early. Once upon a time I used to start work at that time, though, so must have been up and out even earlier!)

The reason today was of course just knowing that it's going to get too hot later (see yesterday's post). And already at this early hour, I found that I preferred to keep in the shadow for the most part.

Luckily, the old cemetery with its huge old trees is only a few minutes away. I did not go any further, but just strolled around there for about 40 minutes before returning home. It was me, the birds - and cemetery staff already busy with hoses and watering cans... 

 

I liked how the morning light fell on this old grave.

 

The little fountain near the funeral chapel adds a refreshing splashing sound - a good place to sit for a while on a hot day (I know since many summers before). 

 Not a cloud in the sky; and the hydrangea climbing on the cemetery wall was buzzing with what must have been hundreds of bumble bees, in the sunny spot next to this gate. (You probably won't be able to see the bees in this photo though - I can't!) 

The last photo, with the water sprinkler (and rainbow!), was taken on another day and at a somewhat later hour. But the sprinklers were on in the same spot when I passed there this morning too.

Casting a glance at the clock on the wall in my study just now, it says 11:15 (summer time). I can hardly believe that. Feels like a lot later in the day for me... Pretending to be an early bird for a change is really messing with my inner sense of time! 

 * * *

"An early bird" is an idiom that refers to a person who wakes up early in the morning, arrives before others, or acts ahead of schedule to gain an advantage.
The term originates from the classic proverb, "The early bird catches the worm".
(AI summary)

 

Summer in the City

 

The heat from further south in Europe is moving north (or north-east). So far, it seems that where I live (Borås), might only be just on the border to the "serious" heat warnings - as in we might get away with only a couple of days with over 30'C (86'F), rather than longer. (Yellow = over 30'C for several days; and orange = over 33'C for several days.) How good they are at predicting remains to be seen, though!

Not comparable to 40+ in areas further south in Europe, of course (and I try to keep that in mind); but 30+ is still too much for my liking. I never coped well with high temperatures, even when younger. So today I called to postpone my appointment with my optician in the city centre tomorrow - until the end of next week, when (according to my weather app) it will hopefully be a bit cooler again.

 

In my flat I've already been keeping curtains and blinds drawn for a few days, trying to keep out the heat. Nights still being cooler has helped a bit but now it will inevitably be getting hotter indoors as well over the next few days.

Today, I received a delivery of groceries from the supermarket. They had even put me first on the list rather than last for a change, so it arrived already at 10 am. So I have plenty of fresh food and drink, and won't have to go out for supplies. 

On Saturday I have the basement laundry room booked for the afternoon. I'm thinking I might refrain from using the hot air drying cabinet for a change... ;) 

 

Seeking Shadow

Nights are still "blissfully cool" here but the days sunny, and temperatures are predicted to keep increasing until and through next weekend. Still, from the latest prognosis it seems likely they may drop a bit again after that, so that we won't have to face the really extreme long-lasting heat that has been reigning further south in Europe. (I for one am keeping my fingers crossed...!)

Today I was up early to open the balcony door and windows to let some cooler air in before it got too warm. I also did my online order from the super/mega market (delivery on Thursday) while my study was still in shadow. Around 10:30 I went for a walk to the same supermarket, though. (About an hour there and back.) One thing they don't include in the online deliveries is flowers; and I wanted to buy two more pelargoniums (geraniums), for my balcony. (And that was my only purchase today - so just "in and out again"...) 

I think the two I got a few weeks ago will stay indoors, and these two new ones will be my only live balcony decoration this summer. I just don't feel I have the energy to "potter about" a lot now. But I have put these two in pots that can easily be moved around to either hang on the railing or just sit on the bench next to the wall. (Or taken indoors in a rainstorm, or if I go away for a few days.)

Entering June

For the month of June in my 2026 photo calendar, I chose this garden gate. It's from my visit last summer (in August) to the childhood home of the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (at Näs, Vimmberby, in the province of Småland). If you'd like to (re)visit that post and look at more photos from there, you can do so here. 

. . .

A lot of my "computer time" is currently spent trouble shooting again. This time it's my printer that's being uncooperative (since a week or two). It still works as copier (showing that it's not "dead") but refuses to print documents from the computer - or scan images. I've tried the "automatic" trouble shooting routines without success, so I'll probably have to get into the more time consuming process of uninstalling and reinstalling etc... Or perhaps even wait for a new app which the old app says is going to be released soon... Just hoping no urgent printing jobs will turn up in the meantime!

Hot (Skywatch Friday)

 

15 July (from my balcony, shortly before sunset)

Even here in Sweden we now seem to be in the grip of the European heat wave, with temperatures up around 29-30'C (85'F) in the afternoon - and even hotter in direct sunlight, of course. (I put a thermometer out on my balcony for a while in the afternoon today and it went up to around 40'C/104'F...) So just now, between noon and sunset, the best alternative is to keep balcony doors and windows shut, and all blinds and curtains drawn - and fans going in every room. (No I don't have A/C. Very few Swedish homes do, and especially not rental apartments. In general, our houses are built to keep heat in, not to let it out.)

I find the heat very tiring, so have had to cut my walks very short the past few days. And my sleeping pattern is even more upside down than usual, as I've also fallen into "siesta" habits (i.e. sleeping in the afternoon). Sometimes for much longer than intended, and even making it hard to recall what day (or time of day) it is when I wake up again! 

 Below are some more evening "skywatch" photos from my own balcony

14 July

The last three were all taken within the same minute last night (18 July), close to sunset.

 Linking to Skywatch Friday

Hot

 

While here in Sweden we haven't had summer temperatures as high as the southern parts of Europe (and are not very likely to end up there either), we have had a few days a bit above my own "comfort zone".  

On Monday morning it was still quite pleasant, though, and I went for an "early-ish" (as in before lunch) walk into town, and bought Swedish strawberries from a stand in the main square.

 

Yesterday was warmer still, but as it was laundry day for me, I didn't really feel it all that much until after 4 pm, when I was done with that and went outside... "Not a cloud was in the sky", and it was beautiful - but I cut my walk short (and did not go out again later, either).

Today I woke up to 26'C indoors (in spite of fans going all night and a window or two slightly ajar); and outdoors feeling clammy, with threat of thunder. I decided to go out before lunch rather than later, and again that was no doubt the right decision. This time I found my strawberries (and a few other things) closer to home - there is a small "corner" grocery shop only 5 minutes away, which I've come to appreciate more and more... They don't have "everything", but they do have a wide assortment of fruit and vegs. This time of year, with a lot of it on display outdoors, it also almost gives me a feeling of being on holiday somewhere exotic, without going through the actual hassle of travelling!

Tonight there are weather warnings for thunder and heavy rain in the southern parts of Sweden, including the area where I live. Not having to be out in it, no serious worries for my own part, though. (Better keep my windows closed, though!)

 If I'm finding it too warm even at 26'C (78.8F), I dare not even think how I'd feel about 46'C (114.8F), like they've been experiencing in southern Spain and Portugal...

 

(Map from one of our major Swedish newspapers, DN, 1 July)

A Summer Walk

Summer weather with sunshine, blue skies and temperatures around 23'C (73'F) or so arrived (as forecasted) on Thursday - just in time for high school graduations and summer holidays. 

One definite sign of summer was that when I went out for a walk, I kept coming across half-naked sunbathing people lying flat on the grass in half-hidden places - desperately trying to update their tan for beach parties and whatnot... (I refrained from taking photos, so you'll just have to use your imagination!)  - I should perhaps point out that on that day, my feet were taking me along some different paths than my usual ones around the cemetery, though.

 Summery view from down by the river.

In the little park by the dam and waterfall, some potted palm trees have been added to create an extra exotic feeling. Our very own Palm Beach! (Bathing in the river not recommended, though. At least not in this spot.) 

Lupin(e)s. Loved by some (me included), regarded as "invasive" by others. I associate them with summers in my grandparents' garden, there were lots of them along the railway bank close by, and quite a few had been allowed to invade their garden too...

A surprise "sculpture exhibition" awaited me in a roped off plot of grass (wasteland?) along my way. As I haven't been going in that direction in a long time (at least not since last summer) I have no idea how long they've been there. 

 

In the background, I also spotted some bird houses on tree trunks.

Nearby, there is an old red wooden house, which now looks abandoned and empty - but the yard also unusually tidy, and the lawn seems to have been mowed! The sign on it reveals that it used to be a glazier's workshop. (Not sure what that light phenomenon to the left is!) 

 

Views from a bridge across the river. 

 

On my way back home, casting a glance up the hill beside the road, the impressive roots of these tall old pine trees caught my eye - doing their best to keep the trees in place in spite of the erosion on the sandy hillside...

Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is a common roadside/grassland wildflower here.  

 

Another young bird (I think possibly a jackdaw rather than a crow this time?) resting on the lawn under some trees near my building - also looking a bit like it just fell from the sky and was contemplating how to get up there again. (I didn't witness the actual fall this time, though, so it may just be my imagination jumping to conclusions...) 

 

Linking to Skywatch Friday and Weekend Reflections

Summer Starts Here

We've suddenly taken a jump from spring to "early summer", which inspired me to get my old plastic carpets up from winter storage in the basement, to once again be laid out on the floor of my balcony. That is a slightly bigger job than it might seem, as they can't just be laid out there, or the first gust of wind would soon turn them into flying carpets. So they have to be fastened in various ways to prevent that from happening. I have come up with a solution involving clothes-pins tied to the railing, plus my green bench parked on top of the inner one, plus a few pieces of duct tape... Every year I wonder how many more times I'll find it all worth while (the acrobatics involved not getting easier with age!) - but the thing is, the balcony floor is metallic, and when the summer sun gets hot, so does the floor (plus it reflects glaring light as well). But with the plastic carpets on top (old ones that my mum used to have in her kitchen), I can walk out there barefoot in summer if I like, and it also reduces both the glare and noises from moving my chair about etc.

I got two new parasols last year, and I have three "holders" for them on the railing that I can shift them between as the sun moves across the sky. (The balcony faces south-west.) I can only use the parasols when there is very little wind though, or else they turn inside out, or might even do a Mary Poppins and fly away...

Most of the time it's really either too hot, too cold or too windy, or too noisy to sit out there much. (18 balconies on the same side of the house, and a frequently used lawn beneath...) However, today I was able to sit there for a little while in the late afternoon and enjoy the "fruits of my labour" - listening to music in my wireless earphones. I decided to sign up for a cheap summer offer from Spotify again (three months for the cost of one), just for the convenience of it this time of year...

Unter den LInden

 Unter den Linden is a famous avenue in Berlin (where I've never been IRL) - but I have one or two streets lined by Linden trees (Tilia) much closer to home. One is the path along the west wall of the old cemetery where I walk almost daily. Just now, walking there, one can hear the big old trees constantly "humming" or "buzzing" over one's head, as they are full of bees and bumble bees collecting nectar from the flowers... I wish I could transfer the sound to the blog as well, but you'll have to make do with my photos and your imagination...

 

 

 

 

I find that humming sound quite comforting, as it proves a lot of bees must have survived the strange long period of heat and drought we had this spring and first part of summer. July has started out cooler, and rainy... This weekend the sun is back, but forecasts predict more rain next week as well. 

 

Yesterday, I also walked into town for a few errands, and took the way through the park.