To rise lika a Phoenix?

I KNOW, it’s been ages since the last post….

I had the best intentions to make several blog posts during the summer about our exhibiting artists at Körsbärsgården and excursions on Gotland… but that was before the work hit me! We’ve literally been working like maniacs, with numbers far over “before Covid” and two persons less in the staff… That plus two 3-years olds to take care of, well you can imagine….

And then, in the middle of the high season, THE THING happened, the thing you think only happens to others and not to yourself. We lost our home, a big deal of our yearly income, and all our plans and efforts for the future in a big wildfire. And there we were sooo far away and not able to stop even for a day to let it sink in and mourn. I can easily say they were the worst days of my life.

Zia Mura, my little stone house and olive grow in the slope of Cuglieri, with a view over the Montiferru mountain and the Mediterranian sea, it meant EVERYTHING for me. You know, every time I entered the property gate I was filled with immense love. Every morning when I opened the curtains, I lost my breath for the beauty outside. When I, during the night of the 24’th of July, saw a video of the flames devouring Zia Mura it felt like someone was tearing my heart out.

Now we’re back in our village Cuglieri and settled in our extra apartment that we usually rent out, trying to understand how to go on, where to start, and in which direction to go… and trying to create a “normal” and safe ambient, be good parents for our twins, without them feeling too much of our grief and sadness.
Because sadness there is, a lot. And anger, and desperation. Not only ours but the whole village. 20.000 hectares of olive grows, forests, farms, and animals have burnt up, the village economy is run down, and most of the citizens have suffered immense losses. The mood is very low and the hope for future prospects is almost nonexistent… it will take generations to recreate our world-known olive oil production, and the ongoing climate problems make you wonder if it’s worth it.

Back to Zia Mura. The last years we’ve put all our extra money and efforts into creating our perfect paradise for self-sufficient living, we’ve been working so hard to get there, and this spring we said, that this was going to be our last working season out, when we would come back we would have reached our goal! Instead, we’re back at zero.

Where do you find the energy to restart?? I honestly do not know. I just know you’ll have to keep going. Right now with very small and tired steps, but I really hope they will get longer and stronger soon.

One thing that is for sure is that this blog will change direction completely. From “live-your-dream” to “how-to-cope-and-go-on”….

Many have been asking what it looks like here now…
Take a deep breath and step into the sorrow.