the bobbaloo gaggle effect

Time has come to tell about the wee woolly ones who saw it fit to migrate to Sweden during the summer that was. Well, some of them did arrive quite recently, but since it's Indian summer still... A proper introduction, so noone feel left outside. And that I'm addicted very fond of bobbaloos we've already established, so no need to point out the obvious, okay? Let's just enjoy their adorableness, personalities and last but not least, their little heinies.

Walter and Sherman, the Berlin boys

When in Berlin I was waiting for the lunch to arrive at department store KaDeWe's top floor Wintergarten restaurant (which I btw highly recommend a visit too) when I casually browsed the iPhone for possible WiFi - if not at a Starbuck's or hotel you rarely get that - so my great surprised it connected and as casually as I browsed for Internet connection I browsed The Shop. There were bobbaloos for sale. Squee. Clearly the settlement lacked ursabobs - poor Rodney with his sweet-tooth being the only one that far - so Sherman was soon on his way to Sweden accompanied by Walter. They sound like the perfect radar couple in a political talk-show - so far they have not really lived up to those names, but I'm okay with that.

Chubs is very happy about someone clearly her li'l brother having arrived                                               

Rodney is educating Sherman about the importance of eating lots of cakes

Needless - or not, pun not initially intended - to say both Walter and Sherman has perfect wee butts

Zanna and Weegurt met Rutger and it wasn't scary at all, or at least not as scary 

as the curious incident with the cat in the daytime...

You can not put a jacabob up for adoption named Weegurt - pink or not - and not think I'd jump for buy/joy. Weegurt was accompanied by a feisty orange friend named Zanna. Zanna has the most amazing mixed orange colour and Weegurt is sweetness bobbaloified.

Wilco and Wilby - with a curious threesome Chubs, Nilla and Walter in the background

A great horned bobbaloo has been on my wishlist, when I spotted Wilco I knew he was the one. He was to travel alone so when I opened the parcel and find him travelling with a wee colourful friend named Wilby I was delighted. *thank you kindly D*

Perfect from every angle of course

Q and Squink

I might, just might, have mentioned to Kit that a Questionable DNA bob was also on my wishlist - no sooner did one appear reserved for me. Q traveled with jacabob Squink - because seriously, they travel best in twos, obviously.

And then, for a while, everything was peaceful and content in the Swedish bobbaloo settlement. Until. Until there were rumours about some tiny and fabulastically named bobbaloos soon to appear in shop. I the bob gaggle sat in front of computer eagerly watching the shop until those two appeared.

Miffwinkle and Wifflesteinborgen - with Kismet in the background

Wifflesteinborgen and Miffwinkle, ah, such names would simply be wasted living anywhere but in the Stockholm, Swedonia bobbaloo settlement. Also called Tinier and Tiniest.

Magnolia with li'l brother Wifflesteinborgen

And then there was Magnolia, purely accidental. But who in their right mind can resist someone pink and green - and the perfect opposite colour match to Wifflesteinborgen? Not an addict someone very very fond of bobbaloos.

So at the moment the gaggle consists of an uneven number. As everyone (bobbaloo or not) needs a special friend I'm looking into solutions to fullfill that need. Until then they take their different turns to tag along on outings and eat lots of cake - for some reason they generally seem to prefer that before other vegetarian options - and seem content with life in this settlement. Although I've heard whispers about them thinking a proper dwelling for bobbaloos, a roof of their own, would be something highly appreciated. Who knew beings so small could be so demanding? It must be the gaggle effect.

grythyttan outing

Had a brilliant little Saturday outing, to small locality Grythyttan (~ 1000 inhabitants) - about half an hour's drive from Nora and 2,5 hours drive north-west from Stockholm. And no I obviously don't drive, I'm crocheting, chatting, tweeting, snapping photos or sleeping. All while being grateful to be able to get away a bit, a welcome distraction to brooding and instead just enjoying the here and now... - where we had lunch.

We also made a quick stop in Nora, it was such a difference from summer and tourist season, quite deserted now and the shops really empty of customers.

I hadn't for some peculiar reason been to Grythyttan before, but found it charming and very picturesque. It must be fantastic to visit in the lushness of summer. The place is famous for

a) Grythyttan Gästgivaregård (est. 1640), a world-renowned inn, comprised of 22 buildings built between 1640-1960.
b) the school of Hospitality, Culinary Arts & Meal Science
c) Grythyttan steel furniture - of which I sold some old chairs a few years ago, they're hip again, we used to have them at our country house when I was a child, not really my type of "furniture thing".

Weather was fantastic, spring in the air and a generous amount of sun. Lunch was lovely, the food was nice, not spectacular, but yes nice

- vegetarian mushroom lasagna for me followed by apple crumble for dessert -,

the service was really great, friendly, unpretentious and knowledgeable, the ambiance so very, very sweet, cosy and quaint. I think these iPhone snaps give you an idea.

Coffee and sweets served in the above lounge. There were visitors with dogs allowed. Great attention to details and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. I really loved it. We're so going there again given the opportunity. Highly recommended indeed (February 2011).

When we had finished lunch there was still light and sunny outside, us sun-starvers felt spoilt indeed. Such a grand day.

outing sweden ~ nora

One of Sweden's three best preserved wooden towns, picturesque small town Nora - a couple of hours drive northwest from Stockholm, situated in the beautiful part of Sweden called Bergslagen - makes for a most delightful day trip. The town, which got its charter in 1643, was originally built around the mining industry.

Nora was awarded the Europa Nostra Award 1993, due to its well-preserved town-centre. Despite some devastating fires over the centuries many of the houses are still originals from the 18th and 19 century and walking the cobblestone streets lined with all the pretty houses is really most enjoyable.

If pretty walks and picturesque view aren't enough, here are a few things one can - and in some cases absolutely must - do when in Nora;

:: Learn about the town's history and the mining industry (I bet you can detect my great interest here)

:: Have an ice cream at Nora Glass (glass = ice cream in Swedish), one of the best ice creams I've ever had. Not to sweet and very moreish. Freshly made each day (only served during summers), just three flavours, always vanilla and hazelnut plus the flavour du jour. Last weekend my cone contained hazelnut and peach. It was de-lovely.

I also love how the streets are lined with ice cream eating, thoroughly enjoying people.

As well as quirky people who currently aren't enjoying ice cream but are up for being caught with camera.

:: One of Sweden's most well known (not sure if she got translated to English) suspense novelist Dagmar Lange (with pen name Maria Lang) - I loved her books as a teenager, she writes cleverly and in the style similar to Agatha Christie - originates from Nora and many of her books takes place there. Thus you can take a murder-walk in her books' paths. With a guide or on your own. Admittedly that's still something on my when-visiting-Nora-list-to-do.

:: Take a stroll by the pretty lake front.

:: Have coffee, cake or light lunch at pretty located by said lake walk summer café Strandstugan ("Beach cottage") - though beware friendly but quite tardy waitresses... - where the birds hardly can't wait to get a beak at your leftovers.

:: Learn more about the local historical railway, visit the old station house and even take trips with steam engine trains or railcars.

:: You can also stay over in an old railway car at the local hostel

:: There are many interesting shops in town, a plethora of antique, curiosity and thrift stores - the prominent one being Nora Diversehandel which is an absolute heaven to walk around in. No matter wallet size you will always find something worth paying for there -

the fine kitchen utensils and such store Leon. Sandberg Bosättningsaffär,

a local pottery which has its own adorable cat in a basket.

:: And last but not least, try and spot "Tre små gummor" (Three little ol' ladies) as in the classic song about the Nora market. I was most successful with that last summer. Aren't they darlin'? Just like the town itself.

If you have the opportunity, do visit Nora. I know you'll enjoy it.