The Shire and the Sloe

Posted on by Hanna

I have been on a walk in The Shire. That is what I have dubbed this beautiful landscape. God has let a piece of Paradise break off so it may please us mortals. Gates of sloe and secret paths are everywhere.

This beautiful place never fails to surprise me.

The Travelling Song
…Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower, leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!…

Tolkien

_DSC2897

_DSC2980

19 thoughts on “The Shire and the Sloe”

    • Thank you, Alexander. It was a joyful event visiting that area again. I have had so many great experiences of nature there. Birds of prey standing still in thermals from the coastal cliff, a quiet cold, clear October evening where everything was completely enthralled in the sunset, and now a spring day in May, when all the leaves are fresh and where the flower-covered meadow can compete with those in the Alps 🙂
      All the best,
      Hanna

  3. That took me back – a bit of Tolkien. And your flowery pictures are really beautiful, Hanna.
    Cheers, Alen

    • Thanks, Alen. I read Tolkien on an off and love to see Lord of the Rings. It is a lovely universe.
      The flowers are quite unique and at a close hold they look like a tightly woven carpet. Never seen anything like it ❤ 🙂
      All the best,
      Hanna

    • Hi Isabel. Thank you so much.
      Wish you a happy week with many wildlife experience 🙂
      All the best,
      Hanna

  5. Reading these words and looking at these pictures had me feeling tingles or goosebumps! Yes, indeed, there do seem to be little pieces of paradise for us to enjoy on earth. This post is bursting with happiness and light! I love it. X

    • I think if we went on a hike together we would have some difficulties finding our way home 🙂
      Some years ago I met a woman there. I’m feeling ‘high’ when I walk in these hills she exclaimed and that is exactly how I felt that day.
      The place is always windy and all the little flowers bob and dance as if they want to bid you a joyful welcome….and it is a joy.
      Thank you for your lovely words, Jane ❤
      All the best,
      Hanna

  6. The pictures and the green nature are so beautiful, and I love the text to it ❤

    • Thank you so much. When Paradise reveals itself on earth it deserves the text by Tolkien ❤ 🙂
      All the best,
      Hanna

  8. Tilsyneladende ingen æbletræer, måske godt nok, det siges at det altid går galt med paradisæbler – ‘hahaha’ – faktisk havde vi et paradisæbletræ i haven de år i min barndom vi boede i Schleswig – nåh lad os komme til kerne(huset) – det er dejlige billeder ren idyl… 🙂

    • Kære Drake. Slåenbuske er der nok af, og engang når de blåsorte bær har fået frost, bidrager de med en enestående smag til kryddersnaps 🙂
      Paradisæbletræer!!! Du er opfindsom 🙂 🙂
      Tak for din veloplagte kommentar ❤

      • Paradisæbler (der findes vist nok flere sorter) er perfekte til æblegele og syltede æbler – de er ikke så store… 😀

        Helt enig – slåen er perfekt til kryddersnaps, det med at lave sin egen kryddersnaps “fiflede jeg en del med før i tiden… 🙂

      • Indvolverer ‘fifler’ en prøvesmagning 🙂 🙂 Den mest vellykkede kryddersnaps jeg har smagt, var pæresnaps. En 20 år gammel pære der lejlighedsvis har fået lidt snaps hældt oveni.
        Eller valnøddesnaps, meget delikat ⭐ 🙂

Comments are closed.