Monday 8 June 2009

Anna Croft on the island



The life on a croft not being used since 1942 are like a journey of discovery every day. I told You before about my kayak project, To tell You the truth, I am far from being there! I am still in the process of organising my every-day life according to not having any electricity. And a lot of my spare-time goes to fixing up the place and the interior. I have recently found a lovely stone garden underneath 60 years of old wilderness of free growing grass and trees, as well as a lovely pond in the garden.

This island in the archipelago of the coast of West-Sweden, are mostly mountains and forest, and my croft is at the very top of one of this heights (ohhh I am a highlander! The picture above is taken from the seaside) This croft and its farm is built into the nature in a very creative way, as they don't do any more. I have my own well with fresh water from the very deep springs in the mountain. But, the old building for cows and sheep are gone long time ago, only the stones from the ground it stood on are left. The beautiful and large root cellar I have to repar, because a tree liked to grow inside and through the stone roof, but it is beautiful.

In the harbour I have access to two small boats, havn't had time for fishing, yet. The two most important projects right now is to set up the sun cell system and and combine it with water turbines for the rainy days :-D

It is about 2 kilometer to the closest neighbour, where I have access to as much horse-back riding as I want, and have time for. I am working full time at the uni in the big city, imagine to come home each day to this silent paradise!

Of course here is lots of wild animals around me, both small and huge, the other nightfall I had a huge elk in the garden, he stood there for a long time and I was sitting in the window amazed over my new way of living, close to the nature, only using the natures resources.


Until next time,

(( LOVE ))

Anna Croft


63 comments:

ANNA-LYS said...

The only thing I miss besides YOU, is my Shotokan Karate lessons, but You might see me exercising it early in the mornings on the heights of the island ;-

ANNA-LYS said...

"Croft" = Torp på svenska.

Torp betydde ursprungligen under medeltiden en avskilt belägen gård i motsats till gårdar i en by
(Wikipedia)

Anonymous said...

The picture is beautiful. Sounds very idyllic.

CJ xx

Rune Eide said...

Det må være bedre enn Huleboeren Anna. Det der ser direkte koselig ut. Fint med et så fint område nær Gøteborg (som jeg går ut fra det er). Så kan du analysere litt samtidig. Det har jeg nå sluttet med, så du får gjøre det for begge :-)

Toma said...

This place looks amazing, far from civilization!

Lily said...

I think every Danes still has that understanding for the word "torp"! but for some reason they're all going to malmö now... never understood that!

I love the Swedish coastline, both west and east and of course the north! (You might have guessed that one!)

Lovely post on your new location. Havend't looked up the island yet. how is it positioned, in relation to Marstrand?

nice that you are concerned about the environment.
I have to tell you, we didn't vote at all, amongst other things because we are only allowed to vote on the behalf of countries we don't live in and I have no idea, who is worse than bad there. Because I don't think, taht there is anyone I would have felt happy to vote for...

oh back to your new home:
we've only seen a mouse (Elge) a few times. they're not like reindeer - everywhere and not very shy. mind you once a mouse had posed for me, for quite a while, but the light was so bad... it just wouldn't work out and all the pictures sucked anyway. Sad - because he really had been very patient!

I have done, what diane and Foam did as well:

http://ahealthierwayofliving.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-things-about-myself.html

perhaps you wanna do the same? Once you have some time... I know what it feels like! we are still renovating and guests and and and...

have fun in what I imagine to be some absolutely breathatking beauty! have always loved island s and the sea!

http://livinginscandinavia.blogspot.com/2009/06/quick-trip-abroad.html

well, that ended up being very political afterall - a bit like you EU-post...

imac said...

Wonderful photo, Have a great time when you have finished all the hard work getting ready.
Might sound silly - but take a Jigsaw with you.(piecing the bits together is very soul searching and pleasing on the mind)
God Luck - my very good friend.

Charles Gramlich said...

Sounds like a labor of love, though. I love the thought of uncovering an old stone walkway.

laughingwolf said...

love the outdoors, wooden boats, fishing, and more... but need electricity to use most of my 'tools', like my macs, printer, scanner, wacom tablet, and to recharge batteries for cameras, etc.

Stacey said...

Good evening Anna-Lys,
It sounds beautiful, how lovely to wake up every morning to such wonderful sights...
make sure you take care and keep that HAT on... ;D

Stacey said...

OOPS....
silly me....
I forgot my hat (:D

(((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))

darkfoam said...

what a beautiful place to be living at!!!
practicing your shotokan katas early in the morning sounds like a great thing to do on a beautiful island ..

candoor said...

wonderful, truly wonderful... in my mind you are describing a paradise... an adventure... peaceful excitement...

a friend here has been trying to get me to buy a kayak for a while now... she goes out on to the middle of tampa bay before sunrise just to be out there at first light with the dolphins and manatees... one of these days i am going to remember how to slow life down and enjoy the stillness more again :)

thank you for the smile you are inspiring :)

The Phosgene Kid said...

Neighbors far a way, how nice. We leave cheek-to-jowl here, packed in like lab rats.

Steve Malley said...

I am so jealous right now...

;)

boneman said...

That is one cool boat!
WOW!
Makes me want to go out to my shop and make one now!

Of course, I'll probably have to make the shop, first...
and well, get the tools together.

some material...

You seem to be carving in a niche in Heaven? Is that it?

dianne said...

Looks and sounds idyllic to me, you have the best of both worlds but I wouldnt want to stay forever, I like my creature comforts... like hot showers. :) ♡

K. said...

oh, I'm jealous! That sounds like great fun!

ANNA-LYS said...

Good Morning,

Jealous??
I thought You all did make plans for vacation in the archipelago of West Sweden and Gothenburg, next year ;-)

The elk was here twice yesterday, again. This time he looked right at me. I hadn't brushed my hair, so he got scared. I also has a huge aeroplane, sorry eagle or hawk, circling above the trees. Forgot, the name, will be back on that. Lots of dear deers here, so when You arrive, drive, or bicycle car-e-fully.

// Croft Anna

:-D

Unknown said...

It seems you're insulated. If the elk returns (they usually do), could you please make an image of it? Is it like a high horse or something?
tata
/NB

Bettina said...

WOW! I have been gone from bloggosphere for a little while and when I come back here, you life on a deserted island somewhere wild and romantic, with boats and goats and floats... it sounds amazing. I can't wait to hear more.

Missed you! Lots of love.

Linda S. Socha said...

Wonderful pot! Love you blog. I feel on a venture wih you!
Stop by and say hello at Psyche Connections if y find that you are in the neihborhoog

evelina said...

sounds lovely... =)

all the best / evelina

Quint said...

My dear, so here you are hidden from us ... had a rough time finding you ...
Reading you I guess you are having a great time, and that's all what matters.
Miss you.

Middle Ditch said...

Wow, this sounds all so great! Green with envy of course

Anonymous said...

paradise!

and i am happy
to hear you kayaking
continues to progress <3

¤ ¤ ¤

/t.

darkfoam said...

XO

Lily said...

Forgot to tell you that i have an award for you:

http://ahealthierwayofliving.blogspot.com/2009/06/piece-of-sky.html

Anonymous said...

Hej Anna-Lys
Jag ramlade på ditt namn hos jenny tror jag det var. Var tvungen att skriva till dig o berätta om mina konstfilmer jag gjorde för några år sedan, några många år sen. i allafall, där agerar jag en figur som jag kallar Anna Lüs. Hon har visats upp på diverse happenings, festivaler bl.a Vi föll för nästan samma namn:-)
kolla min myspace: www.myspace/djufmary
Mvh Marie

Zee said...

Hei på deg Anna!
Det høres ut at du har det riktig bra. Son skal det være!!!
I have been distracted lately, work and such, hence very little communication from my side.
My son is in Norway right now, and I am very jealous. Yes, I would be even jealous if he was going to Sweden. Haven't been there for a while. Your place and project sounds great, now I am jealous of you!!!!
But alas, we can share.
Best wishes and greetings, Lukas.

ANNA-LYS said...

Thank You all!!!

Hope You had a great Midsummer Festival. I hope I sound will be able to publish some photos :-D

Life is wonderful,
and wild life in nature even better!

(( LOVE ))

A little Minx said...

Happy Midsummer :)
You have a great blogg :)

Å®t Øf £övë said...

Anna,
Is this island a paradise???

Kiss.

Quint said...

HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anonymous said...

viking kayak
for anna-lys

codepo.blogspot.com/2009/06/viking-kayak.html

i wish you a wonderful & adventure filled summer

¤ ¤ ¤

/t.

zé lérias (?) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Irene said...

Det låter som ett litet paradis med ett så naturnära liv ;-)

dianne said...

Hi Anna-Lys when next you get back from Paradise, you will find an award waiting for you at my blog. ♡

Rick said...

Hello, Anna-Lys! What an idyllic life you seem to be living! I wish you the very best summer filled with wonder and wistulness.

goatman said...

Very nice; but is the water very cold to swim in?
And what would power the turbines? Wind, water.
I have always suspected that much power could be derived from the up and down motion of the sea. A floating donut-shape with a center piece which would move up and down relative to the donut. There you have instant setup for inducing current in a stationary winding (the donut) from the movement of the windings around the center piece.
Havent worked out the details yet, but it is a feasible way to create power.
Storage . . . now that is another story!

Helene said...

Anna-lysssssssss!!!!! Hello!

How wonderful it all sounds! Like Henry Thoreau living on Walden Pond! (I actually lived about 4 blocks from his cabin many years ago... its an amazing spot, but still wasnt THAT far from a town!!)

Are you keeping a journal? I hope so as I forsee a book in your future outlining your experiences! Its a so close (to civilization) yet so far (from modern comforts) story!

I am envious and cant wait to hear more! Have your kids visited? Do you have other visitors there? Whats your commute time like daily and how will that change when its winter there?? Ohhh so many questions... sorry!!


xoxo H

Little Lamb said...

That's very pretty. I like to catch fish.

darkfoam said...

good afternoon! :)

Cynthia said...

Holy Mother Nature! No electricity,
drawing water from a well - Wow.
You are truly living a natural
lifestyle - brava to you Anna.
I admire your courage.

Unknown said...

Hallo! I don't remember mentioning that you may receive contribution from the government to install solar cells. If you like electricity, that is.
;-)

The Phosgene Kid said...

How is the kayak coming along?

Anonymous said...

Herr Lundell kommer till trädgår'n senare i sommar. Då hoppas jag att jag också är där.

hugs

Jeannette StG said...

Hi, sorry haven't been on your blog for a while (because I'm buying a small condo and selling our bigger house).
Wow, you are in extremely tranquil surroundings! I'm jealous, LOL. What an opportunity to recover/restore a root cellar, etc.
Hope you'll make "before" and "after" pics to show us!

Quint said...

Heeellloooooooooooooooo ... is anybody out there? It's me .... pufff, puffff ... I'm tired, miss ... oh, come on ... nobody gonna give a hand to this tired swimmer? And the water is cold ... brrrrrrr!!
Now how come you got me swimming from Portugal to Sweden just to visit you, beats me!
Heeellllooooooooooooooo you pretty one!

Escapist said...

Lovely !
XOXXXX




Jooliieesss!!!!

dianne said...

Hi dear Anna-Lys, I was looking back through my blog last night for a poem I had written and started reading some of the comments my friends have left me...I feel very blessed to have such lovely friends, you included.
I found a comment you had left me some time after you had deleted your blog, it was at the post I wrote asking why you had left us.
It was lovely to read your comment and you spoke of a new love in your life, I hope that remains the same for you now, as you sounded so happy. ♡

Helene said...

hi there! I was just thinking of you and wondering how you were doing!! Hope you are enjoying your summer!

goatman said...

To supplement my last comment, I came across this:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Catching-a-Wave.html?c=y&page=5

Pulses of energy from the sea!

Bradpetehoops said...

Your blog is so wonderful.

boneman said...

my little Gni Gni has gone to play with Bigga.

Heartbreaking though it is, I hope they both have laughs.

darkfoam said...

hey annalys!!
thanks for visiting ..
i've been thinking about you off and on during this summer. miss you .. but hey, you are out in a beautiful place ..
XO

Ruela said...

very beautiful your boat!

ANNA-LYS said...

Hey all You lovely people!
Why don't You come and help me
and create an everyday eco-living?

;-))

Kisses

Middle Ditch said...

I'm sure I have read this post before

Lauralee said...

Hello. New follower. I think your blog is really interesting and unique. Feel free to come check out mine if you'd like.

Unknown said...

Excellent question! It would be a real challange. Do you know if I am allowed to bring my bicycle on the train? Otherwise I will walk.
huga!

Fernando Pagán said...

Look very peaceful.Great image!

Anonymous said...

lart mycket