Clear Skies

 Zilele tot mai scurte si mirosul de ploaie din aer vestesc toamna si o data cu ea un ritm mai lent.

Dar pana sa ne cunprinda melancolia, ne-am hotarat sa profitam de soare si cer senin si am facut o excursie spre Poarta Tarinii, un loc mirific din Taramul magic al Bucovinei.

 O ora de urcus prin padurea verde, insotiti doar de ciripitul pasarilor si mirosul de rasina, ne-a dus in varf de deal, deasupra Pojoratei.

 Ne-am potolit setea la umbra unui brad, dintr-o fantana cu apa vie, facuta din trunchiul unui arbore pe care trecerea timpului l-a pietrificat.

 Si am servit un pranz cu priveliste, leganati de talangile lenese ale vacilor norocoase care pasc sumedenia de flori si plante salbatice, respirand aer curat si liniste.

Magic Morning

 O dimineata calda si lenesa...primele raze de soare dau reflexe aurii pe linia apei, gazele isi desfac aripile, roua picura proaspata de pe frunzele fragede, iar florile se deschid lent si coloreaza aerul.
Sacosa cu dor de vara, natura si liniste, buna de plimbat cartile despre plantele medicinale sau"Aventurile lui Habarnam":)

 O toamna cu soare e vis, pur si simplu si profitam de zilele frumoase ca sa ne plimbam cat mai mult prin natura. Din fericire, Sibiul e un oras verde, cu imprejurimi superbe populate de paduri, munti si parauri, asa ca in timp scurt ajungem usor afara ca sa exploram.
Ne-am bucurat de brandusele de toamna si de parfumul lor placut, iar in timp ce adunam un buchet pentru bunica, am gasit multe nuci (am ajuns la momentul perfect, cand tocmai se scutura si nucul de roadele gustoase. Probabil mistretii care, dupa urme, fusesera acolo in noaptea dinainte, o sa se intoarca si vor fi putin dezamagiti:))

 "Monstrul"- Clathrus archeri sau "caracatita", ciuperca ciudata intalnita in padurea de foioase. Mirosul de carne putreda atrage mustele, care ajuta la raspandirea sporilor.

Drumetia prin padure a fost exact ce aveam nevoie: ne-am incarcat de aerul curat si ne-am intors plini de inspiratie.

Blessed

 Daca ajungeti in Apuseni, sa va faceti drum spre Detunate, o zona minunata de rezervatie salbatica, munti si vai si paduri cat vezi cu ochii, izvoare reci, pesteri si liniste vindecatoare.
Drumul o sa vi-l arate un cuplu simpatic de oameni buni, care va asteapta la popasul Fefeleaga cu bauturi reci, placinte si ciorba cu taitei de casa, gatite cu drag de doamna Elena.

EN: If you go to the Apuseni mountains, visit "Detunatele", a wild natural rezervation, with mountains as far as you can see, covered with green forests, cold water springs, caves and deep silence. If you need guidance, you will find it at "Fefeleaga", where lady Elena will offer you tasty home made soup, pie and cold drinks.

Locul l-am descoperit prin prietenii care au organizat festivalul Sunshine, care a fost, cum s-a promis din titlu, o uniune a inimilor insorite.
Ne-am simtit minunat, inconjurati de oameni frumosi, copii crescuti cu drag de natura si libertate, seri in jurul focului, jam sessions, cantece la chitara, mese gatite si savurate in comun, ateliere si dicutii cu folos si cel mai important sentimentul de impreuna.
EN: We discovered this magical place thanks to our friends from  Sunshine festival.
We felt wonderful surrounded by beautiful people, children who grow free, loving the nature, evenings around the fire, jam sessions, guitar songs, meals cooked and eaten together, workshops and useful talks and most important we were all a comunity.

Si inspirata de natura si legatura noastra stransa cu plantele, am creat sacosa "Medicine woman", pentru a celebra puterea creatoare si vindecatoare pe care noi toate o primim de la nastere si suntem datoare si norocoase sa invatam sa o punem in slujba celorlalti.
EN: And inspired by nature and our tight connection with the plants world, I created the "Medicine woman" bag, to celebrate the power of creation and healing that we, women are gifted with at birth and we are lucky and we hae the duty to learn about it and use it for everyone's good.

Layers

Una dintre cartile mele preferate din copilarie e cea in care sunt istorisite "Aventurile lui Habarnam", un prichindut din Orasul Florilor. Lumea minunata povestita si ilustrata cu atata dragalesenie, personajele simpatice, casutele mititele construite in ciuperci, plaja printre pepenii uriasi  si toate pataniile au ramas si azi cu mine si ma inspira. Asa s-a nascut sacosa, ca o alta poveste din carte, cu un zbor fantastic peste campurile de papadii ce pentru ochii de copil pot fi vehicule care poarta zanele si spiridusii spre taramuri fantastice.
EN: One of my all time favorite children's books is "The adventures of Habarnam (translated, the name means "I Have No Idea"), which tells the story of the little people from the Flowers City. this is how the bag came to life, as another chapter, with a magical flight above the dandelion fields, which through the eyes of a child my look like some vehicles for the fairies.

 Weekendul trecut am ajuns ia, si noi pe taramuri vrajite (nu dusi cu papadia, ci cu batrana duba), in Muntii Rarau, chiar langa Pietrele Doameni. Minunat loc, care ma incarca de fiecare data cu energie pozitiva si curata, iar prin padurile de acolo chiar te astepti sa gasesti tot soiul de fiinte de basm. Aici ne-am intalnit dintr-o intamplare din aceea parca faurita dinainte cu Daniela, o femeie care mi-a demonstrat ca viata e lunga si frumoasa, iar spiritul ei tanar care se reflecta in trupul atragator si care nu-i tradeaza varsta mi-a dat incredere ca am tot timpul pentru orice mi-as dori sa fac. Si intalnirea cu ea a venit intr-un moment in care simt ca nu-mi mai apartin si ca viata de mama m-a acaparat si asa va fi pentru mult timp. Dar timpul trece, copiii cresc si aventura continua:)

EN: Last weekend we also visited an enchanted place, in the Rarau mountains, right across the Lady's Rocks. Wonderful place, that always fills me with a clean and powerful energy and the mystic forests there are the perfect place to search for fairy-tale beings. Here we met Daniela, in that sort of "happenings" that seem to have been planned ahead and her young spirit that is mirroring in her body which doesn't let her age show, gave me the confidence that I have all the time to do anything I wish. She came in a moment when I feel somehow trapped by being a mother and that I don't belong to myself anymore and this will be forever. But she is the evidence that children will grow up and have their own bussiness and I will still have plenty of years to go on with my adventure:)

 Pe pajiste am gasit coada-soricelului mov, despre care citisem acum ceva vreme si chiar imi doream sa o vad de aproape. Vara muntele e presarat cu vegetatie bogata si am gasit aromatul cimbrisor de munte, macrisul iepurelui, garofite si multe altele.

EN: On the meadows we found purple yarrow, a plant I've read about and was looking for. In the summer the mountain thrives with vegetation and we also found the beautifully scented wild thyme, oxalis acetosella and many other medicinal and edible plants.

Si pentru momentele in care stau locului, de cele mai multe ori cand Carol se joaca pe paturica, la umbra, am cu mine cartile lui Axel Munthe ("Cartea de la San Michele), care m-a cucerit prin stilul nepretentios si varietatea de lumi pe care le surprinde. Si citind realizez cat de complexa e viata si cat de multe straturi o alcatuiesc.

EN: And for the moments when I stop, especially when Carol plays naked in the shade, I have with me Axel Munthe's books ("The San Michelle book"), which I really enjoy because of its unfancy style and the variety of worlds he unveils. And reading them I realize how complex life is and how many layers build it.

Dream

Ne pregatim cu spor si voie buna pentru un festival deosebit, ceva diferit ce de cele la care am mai fost si pe care il asteptam cu nerabdare:
Magia baloanelor cu aer cald
Asa ca saptamana trecuta light-motivul au fost baloanele cu aer cald, de la cele clasice, la cele moderne si la unele imaginate si posibile poate intr-o alta realitate:)

We are preparing for a special festival, something a little diffrent than the ones we've attended in the past:
Hot air balloons festivals
So, last week was all about hot air balloons, classical ones, modern ones and imaginary dream land ones:)

Miau

Azi a fost despre pisici. Multe pisci, colorate si jucause, care se catara peste tot, se agata de perdele, isi ascut gherutele pe mobila, se lasa iubite cand sunt in toane bune si ti se strecoara sub patura si pe sub piele, torcand:)
EN: Today has been about cats. Many cats, colorful and playful, that climb on everything, hang on the curtains, sharpen their claws on the furniture, accept your love when they are in a good mood and get under your blanket and under your skin, purring:)

A Midsummer's Night Dream

Vara, soare, bucurie si culoare! Cam asa se rezuma ultimele zile si starea de "il dolce far niente" pe care au adus-o:) Nebunia de flori in nuante pastelate, pasarile de tot soiul cu penajul stralucitor si fluturii in dansul lor elegant sunt o sursa perfecta de inspiratie, asa ca tot ce am pictat in ultimul timp a fost incarcat de culoare si veselie.

EN: Summer, sunshine, happiness and color! This would be the short description of the last days, all topped with a sweet feeling of "il dolce far niente". The crazyness of flowers in pastel shades, all the birds with their shinny feathers and the butterflies elegantly dancing in the sky, these were all my inspiration, so everything I've painted lately has been colorful and cheerful.

Si cum bucuria noastra de vara sunt plimbarile si festivalurile, weekendul trecut ne-am distrat de minune "Pe coclauri", la evenimentul "Masive Gathering", unde Primitiv Entertainment a tinut ateliere.

EN: And as our greatest joy when summer comes are trips and festivals, last weekend we had great fun at the "Pe coclauri, Massive Gathering" event, where Primitiv Entertainment held workshops.

 Valentin a facut masaj la umbra stejarilor, cu muzica pe fundal si o vreme superba. Cadrul perfect, trebuie sa recunoastem:)
EN: Valentin took out his massage table and helped people relax. He had the help of perfect conditions: a beautiful, sunny weather, the big oak trees keeping us cool at their shade and music on the background!

 Am tras si cu arcul...
EN: We learned archery...

Si oamenii frumosi si-au eliberat creativitatea la atelierul de pirogravura si pictura pe lemn.
EN: And the beautiful people released their creativity at the woodburning and wood painting workshops.

Ne-a placut tare mult atmosfera festivalului, care, desi la a doua editie, ne-a lasat o senzatie faina de buna organizare, de grija pentru participanti si de mai vrem:)
EN: We really enjoyed the festival, which, although only at the second edition, left us with a feeling of well done, care for the participants and we want to go back:)

Playlist

Dolly Parton "Jolene"

The Color of Nostalgy

Pe dealuri si creste culorile au inceput sa bata spre auriu si aerul miroase a fum, a rece. Adie vantul si pamantul isi pregateste asternutul de frunze vestede. Nu se mai aud asa multe triluri, nici greieri, iar gazele si-au oprit peripluul si s-au culcusit prin crapaturi, scorburi si locusoare calde. "A venit toamna" se aude si se citeste pe chipurile tuturor. E un anotimp incarcat de culoare si roade bogate, dar frumusetea vine si cu neajunsuri : aerul crocant de dimineata, lumina tot mai putina a zilelor care scad si scad si ritmul naturii care incetineste.
Ne grabim sa lasam in ordine livada, gradina, curtea, pentru ca in curand ne vom petrece mai mult timp in casa. E aproape un an de cand locuim "la tara" si ne-am bucurat sa constientizam toate schimbarile naturii, sa observam ciclurile ei si tranzitia anotimpurilor, cu plantele specifice fiecarei perioade, cu provocari, cu bucurii.
Mi-am dat seama cat de binefacator e (cel putin pentru noi), un mediu care sa ne permita sa fugim in padure oricand, sa ne petrecem timp afara, sa culegem roade, sa stam seara la foc...
Noi, oamenii, suntem construiti sa fim liberi, sa exploram, sa stam la soare pe iarba, sa adunam ciuperci si fructe din padure, sa meditam in susurul izvoarelor, sa ne adoarma cantecul pasarilor si fosnetul copacilor.

EN: On the hills and mountains the colors are turning golden and the air smells of smoke and cold. The wind blows and the land prepares its cover of dried leaves. We don't hear so many bird songs, nor crickets and the bugs stopped their fuss and found a warm place to sleep the winter through. "Autumn is here" you can read on everybody's face. It's a season bursting with colors and rich fruits, but all the beauty comes with some costs: the crispy morning air, the fading light of the days decreasing and the slowing rhythm of nature.
We are in a hurry to leave everything in order: the orchard, the garden, the winter, because soon we'll spend more time indoors. It's been almost an year of "country living" and we've enjoyed all the nature's changes, observing it's cycles and the seasons transition, with plants, challenges and joys.
I've come to realize how good it is for us an environment that allows us to run in the forest at anytime, to spend time outside, to pick up fruits, to sit at the fire in the evenings...
Us, humans, are built to be free, to explore, to sit in the sun on the grass, to pick up mushrooms and berries, to meditate in the sound of springs, to fall asleep by the wind over the trees and the song of the birds.

Am gasit in biblioteca o carte cumparat acum vreo cativa ani si mi s-a parut momentul potrivit sa o citesc: "Shaman-Spiritul plantelor", scrisa de Ross Heaven si Howard G. Charing vorbeste despre legatura ancestrala a omului cu plantele si metode prin care acestea il pot ajuta pe drumul descoperirii si al Vietii.

EN: I found in my library a book I've bought some years ago and it felt the right time to read it: "Shaman-The spirit of plants", written by Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing speaks about the ancestral binding between humans and plants and the way these can help him on the way of discovering and Life.

DreamLand

Ce dar minunat avem noi oamenii, care ne poarta seara de seara prin tot soiul de lumi, fantastice sau cat se poate de reale! Visam si calatorim in adancul subconstientului, ca si cum am primi sute de noi vieti si identitati si posibilitati...Visele sunt de multe ori muze pentru viata de zi cu zi si catalizatori pentru idei geniale.
Sacosa aceasta de bumbac e pictata pentru un suflet minunat ale carei vise sunt convinsa ca sunt colorate si parfumate:) Eu cred ca daca am acorda mai multa atentie viselor, am putea seara de seara sa avem parte de aventuri fantastice si viata noastra de zi cu zi s-ar imbogati.

EN: What a wonderful gift we were given, one that carries us every night along fantasy worlds! We dream and we travel deep inside our subconscious, as if we are given hundreds of new lives and ideas and possibilities...Dreams are often the muses for every day life and the catalysator for brilliant ideas.
I've painted this handmade tote-bag for a wonderful soul whose dreams I'm sure are colorful and perfumed:) I believe that if we gave more attention to dreams, we could have great adventures each night and our lives would be richer.

Si ca tot veni vorba de vise, noi ni le-am alimentat cu o super-excursie la vanatoare de ciuperci. Dupa un traseu spectaculos, de-a lungul unei creste de cativa km, cu vedere spre sate si vai si munti, am ajuns intr-o poienita insorita, unde parea ca n-a mai pus nimeni piciorul de mult. Bonus la soarele de amiaza, ciripitul pasarelelor si un parau cristalin, am gasit multi, multi rascovi ascunsi prin iarba.

EN: And while we're talking about dreaming, we fueled ours with a super mushroom hunting. After a spectacular trail, along a ridge of a few km long, with a beautiful view over villages, valleys and mountains, we arrived in a sunny meadow, which seemed untouchd by humans. As a bonus to the afternoon warm sun, the birds' twitter and a clear stream, we found lots and lots of Lactarius volemus hidden in the grass.

 Pe drumul de intoarcere ne-au iesit in cale: hribi, creasta-cocosului, ghebe, galbiori pe care i-am strans entuziasmati.

EN: On our way back we came across: porcini, clustered corals, honey fungus, chantarelles, Lactarius volemus, which we gathered with enthusiasm.

Asa ca dupa o zi de stat prin padure, de incarcat cu soare, ne-am intors si cu roadele padurii si multa voie buna!
EN: So, after a day of walking through the woods, of charging our batteries with sun, we came back home with gifts from the forest and lots of energy!

Hop(P)er

Iarba a fost cosita de ceva vreme in livada, iar firisoarele proaspete, verzi, ascund forfota mare: furnicute harnicute, cosasi, gandacei, greieri, cicade, soparle, naparci, paianjeni, fluturi, un intreg ecosistem de pus sub lupa. Seara, cand rasare luna, cicadele pun stapanire pe aerul noptii si parca ar fi un imens difuzor care vibreaza pe frecvente inalte.

EN: The grass in the orchard has been cut since awhile now and the fresh, green, small grains of grass hide a great fuss: ants, grass-hoppers, bugs, crickets, cicadas, lizards, spiders, glass snakes, butterflies, an entire ecosystem to watch under the magnifying glass. In the evenings, when the moon comes out, the cicadas are taking over the night air and it becomes like a giant amplifier that vibrates under high frequencies.

In weekend a fost ziua Marinei Romaniei si ce prilej mai bun puteam avea s testam caiacul pe care l-am cumparat acum doi ani? (!)

EN: Last weekend it was the Romanian Navy Day and we thought it would be a good pretext to test the caiac we bought two years ago (!)

Bineinteles, eu am fost mai putin curajasa si m-am oferit sa documentez foto aventura, pentru a ma convinge ca pot apoi sa ma urc fara stres in "ambarcatiune".

EN: Of course, I was less courageous  and I signed in to take photos of the adventure, from the shore, just to convince myself I can afterwards jump aboard.

Am avut parte de o zi superba de vara, iar canalul raului Moldova s-a dovedit perfect pentru teste si foarte potrivit pentru barca.

EN: We enjoyed a beautiful summer day and the Moldova river canal proved perfect for the tests and suitable for the boat.

Dupa ce m-am convins ca e sigur si distractiv, am facut si eu o tura (in primele minute stand intepenita, pentru ca aveam o senzatie prea ciudata de plutire si iminenta rasturnare:) si a meritat cu siguranta (nu m-am incumetat sa iau si aparatul foto si bine am facut: am iesit buna de stors din poveste).

EN: After I was well convinced that it's safe and fun, I took a round too (in the first minutes I stood perfectly still, while getting the feeling I'm hovering and nearly sinking) ad it was worthy, for sure (I didn't take the camera in and it was a wise decision: I got out of this soaky).