welcome may, farewell april 2021

The last week’s unexpected and devastating loss of Pelle aside (not that that itself will ever be a thing to look aside or past of course), I think April was a rather good month overall.

One year and one month living with a pandemic later. In a terribly restricted small world, without new impressions and real life interaction with old and new people. And with that the feeling of a constantly shrinking, shrivelling brain due to that lack of growth and possibilities. That too aside. April was good.

Little Mum got her second Covid shot. 

Phase 4, of which I and most of us not in risk groups belong to, were suppose to get the opportunity in mid May. Definitely too good to be true I thought, and right I was, it won’t be happening until September as things look now. 

So anticipating another lost summer alas, confined to the limits of these suburbs just like last year. Walking, reading, weekly vegan thai take away, vegan fika once a week, library visits and grocery shopping, waiting ad finitum and repeat. 

The weather has been your typical capricious April weather - rather cold and windy, but quite a lot of sun. Snow occasionally, and hail, a bit of rain but yes mostly sun but crispy air. 

May/June is when nature in Sweden truly wakes up and usually show its green, lush and benevolent face. I’m looking forward to visiting the cherry blossom trees soon, that were planted here last year. Crocuses, scillas, Easter lilies have been and left, now is the time of pussyfoot, wood anemones, hepatica and cowslips.

April 2021 was also the month I discovered the satisfaction of doing great second hand bargains via Tradera (the Swedish ebay of sorts). I’m not sure I wrote about an amazing Marimekko vintage blouse I missed out on there in March? Because I was an amateur bidder and underestimated the competition. But no more. I’m a pretty fab pro bidder now, and I’ve won 90% of the bidding done. Strategy is everything.

Most things have been in great, or brand new even, condition. The only thing I wasn’t impressed by was a buy from the second hand resale site Sellpy (I have no idea why they sell via Tradera since they have their own site, but they’re doing a swell job blocking small, private sellers. The quality, of well-known brands, isn’t very good, often dirty and overpriced. So once bought from them, never again).

I’m only looking at Marimekko stuff and Maria Lang books (building my collection after re-discovering her books in my bookshelf last summer, remember?) basically. Oh, and I got a heap of old/new miniature cake tins the other day, been meaning to have a go of those recipes from Veganska bakboken. But no such tins in this house, until soon now, hooray. 

My selling on Tradera hasn’t gone so well, so far though. I firmly believe you can make a bargain without paying offensively low prices. Thus I’m not setting my starting prices super-low, for high quality clothes and shoes in outstanding condition. My username is piaktw on Tradera, go have a look if you find something. Sizes M-XL and shoes size 39-41.

I have sold several Marimekko pieces in a Facebook-group instead. Because we are all aware of the high second hand standard of the brand and its value, so it’s fairly easy to sell there and there are often queues of eager buyers. Unlike many Facebook-groups it has a good and positive ambiance overall.

I’m absolutely chuffed about my finds, they totally deserve a happy bonanza post of their own, to come.

Amongst all the fiction read I’ve also begun working with this book - The Career Stories Method by Kerri Twigg. I follow her on LinkedIn and I think she’s inspiring and have some great insights on finding your dream job. 

As things haven’t exactly gone smoothly on my quest so far - and I really don’t understand why - I’m thinking I need to look for and package myself and the value I bring in a new and improved way. I think this book is a good start. Chapter 1 was full of hallelujah moments. Loved it. Got stuck in chapter 4. It didn’t flow as easily for me, so I’m taking my time there.

As I’ve mentioned I’ve been working with an old client in April. And the current needs will be ongoing until June, as things look now. 

I’m also involved in other processes, which I keep my fingers firmly crossed for. 

And I’m thinking of taking some new courses, not sure in exactly what yet. But it’s good to find ways to stretch and expand the brain in these limiting times.

Not only Ågot, Prunella and Pelle had their birthdays in April, but little mum too. We went for coffee and cake at the cafe in the morning, then I cooked and baked a vegan raspberry pear cake, and gifted her some nice things. I do believe she enjoyed the extensive Pelle cuddle the most though. 

This is apparently what a cat in very poor condition and badly cared for look (she wrote sarcastically).

I attended the annual sustainability forum at my alma mater, Stockholm university. This year digital of course. It was pretty good, but for the sound disappearing during the afternoon sessions. Though of course nothing like the real deal amidst real life people in Aula Magna at the university. Hopefully next year.

The day after I lost Pelle, I went grocery shopping and picked up a parcel I was pretty excited about, at least prior to the Pelle-ordeal. When I got home I put the delicious leftover chili on the stove and sat down in the sun in the garden with the furries.

Lost in thoughts I forgot about the pot on the stove, so when I decided to go back in I felt a smell that made me think the neighbours had heated up the barbecue... The kitchen was full of sticky smoke. Luckily no fire, and the smoke/fire alarms didn’t go off until I had begun airing out the smoke and smell (it’s still quite distinctly around though, especially in the kitchen).

The cats didn’t care a bit, they basically just yawned and went back to sleep. Myself I had a sore throat from the coughing and sticky smoke the rest of the day. Obviously I totally ruined my only big pot and that big stirring spoon (whatever was I thinking letting a plastic spoon remain in the pot...). But I’m so grateful nothing much much worse happened. 

I have never done anything this stupid. It’s quite embarassing. I blame a rough year, mind shrivelling and not least the unexpected loss of darling Pelle, the day before.

Oh, and I just remembered I wrote about this smoky incident already, in the previous post about the loss. Well, there’s a proof of the mind shrivelling life in the time of corona, for ya’.

Thank you April, you’ve been full of lessons and growth, small miracles and tiny sparkling moments of happiness and hope. Your pink moon, the supermoon, was just amazing. I am so sorry and sad you saw fit to end your time with a devastating loss of a precious furry family member. 

Hello, beautiful May, please bring positive change, true momentum and new sparkling beginnings to treasure. You are very much welcome.

the organic cotton cat dress

Granted the days for wearing flimsy, pretty dresses currently seem awfully far away -

it has been so cold for the past week, heaps of snow and freezing winds and there doesn't seem to be an end to it anytime soon. Apparently we haven't *enjoyed* this type of snow and weather since 1987... -

but I've missed out on the fabulastic PeopleTree cat dresses for so many years I felt I had to snatch one up asap, being the not so crazy cat lady I am.



It's darling! Organic jersey cotton. Not as roomy as the lovely owl dress, ideally I would have liked it to be given we aren't all flat chested. And it lacks pockets alas. But still really cute. Have many comfy, colourful cardigans to add to the outfit. Looking forward to gentler weather lots, not least for feline dress reasons.





If I team the dress with colourful stockings I might even chose a less colourful cardigan. Like the one I happened to thrift in my own wardrobe recently. I got this grey Gaeltarra Ireland cardigan in Dublin 2003/04, wore it lots back then but have lost sight of it for years. Thought I had given it away to charity by mistake, but I found it when I did that big cleansing a couple of years ago. Wasn't until recently I was reminded that it would be nice to wear it again too. With it's quirky design of holes, not created by moths.



My February begun with me losing my old cosy, faux fur favourite mittens on the train. And I haven't been able to find them despite visiting the lost and found office several times. It makes me really sad, like no other mittens they've been such reliable friends when winter days are freezing. But the month ended with welcoming a fantastic cat dress.

Much of the professional month has been about the issue of my clouded heart, it has been a tough learning lesson, both professionally and on a personal level. But I do believe it ended on a light and hopeful note professionally. Did what I'd realised I must do to try and salvage the situation, followed by a good phone call. And now welcoming a new month in a better mood than I had thought I would only a few days ago.

Plus I have a fabulastic cat dress. And super soft hair.

Thank you, February, 
you have been a tough teacher, 
but with glimmers of sweetness.
Oh, March, you are much welcome 
to bring kindness and awesomeness galore!

the diy book chair

One of the cutest, most brilliant armchairs I've ever seen! Spotted in a bookstore and such a great inspiration for a DIY, wouldn't you agree?

Discarded and thrifted books, and wood, together they get a new life as a chair, table or some other furniture. And if you haven't decided on the perfect Christmas gift yet, well it's high time to get building!

the impawtance of a breadcutter machine

When I grew up we had a nifty breadcutter machine. It may seem like a superfluous gadget to have really, surely a good knife is as good as any clumpsy machine? 

No, in my not so humble opinion it is not. The breads and loafs I carve with a knife most always get to be to thick. And the further down the loaf I go the more uneven the slices. The sandwich experience just isn't as satisfying.

Sure, it's a luxuary problem, still I've thought a lot about that ol' bread machine... Seen similar ones at fleemarkets and thrift stores but yet never gotten around to buying one.

But last week M declared he had a surprise thing he found on Blocket (Swedish buy and sale site). It turned out to be an electric breadcutter machine. And it is brilliant. No more too thick and skewed slices of bread. Re-use at its best. 

The bread slices and therefore the cutter has (obviously) been paw approved.

meet the magical recycling wardrobe

The thrifted wardrobe which purpose is to hold all the recycling bags - glass, tin, cardboard, paper, plastic - is now fully assembled and my hall is transformed. And there's no room for cats to jump up and inspect anymore.

I adore its new airy, quirky look - totally bobbaloo approved as you can see - and when I've put together the happy lights for the mirror it will be basically done, but for a few finishing touches.

It was sad to see the old thrifted, wooden sofa I bought and transformed when I moved to my second apartment in 1991 finally being demolished. But it was really beyond repair now - for which I blame the cats - and it had served me well for over 20 years. 

The hallway does look so much fresher and bigger without it - and a bit magical given the wardrobe's design. And to have all those recycling paper bags stored away is such a great relief.

Wardrobe from IKEA Mammut-series.

second hand thrift in your own wardrobe

Upon beginning the quest of feng shuing the bedroom (and long term a good part of my life will be treated in the same way) I also discovered gems in the wardrobes I haven't worn for years. Or possibly not at all (hrm). Like these tank-tops.

Bought in Barcelona an embarassing amount of years ago, namely 11, not worn. But I've decided that this summer is the summer they will be worn. By yours truly. Even the Adam and Eve "shut up & eat" one.

They're all fun and sweet, but my favourite is the one with the Gaudí lizard print. 11 years ago I loved the work of Gaudí (well before that of course), but I know I didn't appreciate all the possibilities of seeing and learning more about it close up when we were in Barcelona then.

I'm just a very different version of me than I was then. To engulf oneself in different experiences is just so immensely enriching. I didn't grasp that fully back then. I do now. As good a reason as any to return to different destinations and places.

Until that travel possibility appears, I can at least enjoy three quirky tank tops.

And one of these days I need to do a proper closet cleaning again, what to keep, what to give away, what to sell. What does fit, what does not and what's really not my style. Garments that will not be cleansed are the ones that hold good memories and meanings. Like three silly tank tops.

Reading tip of the topic du jour - this article with good advice for being stylish on a budget is well worth a read (even if you don't live in London).

What's the most delightful thing you've found in your closet that you'd *forgotten* about?
And what do you think about the concept of thrifting in your own wardrobe?

a mess of necklaces

A couple of years ago I thrifted a (white) bureau with the intention of repainting and upcycling. In the end I went with changing the 10 knobs into pretty porcelain ones only, since the bureau was in good condition and white is such an easy-goes-with-everything colour.

In this bureau I decided to keep my jewellery, accessories and hair thingies for easy storage and reach. Easy storage yes, but to be honest I've ended up using less and less jewellery because - just as in life in general - "if it isn't visible it doesn't exist".

Today however I rememembered an old necklace I hadn't used for ages and decided to rummage through the bureau for it. Which to my surprise was easier said than done. I know I put all those necklaces down in the drawer very carefully so it wouldn't get tangled, but today it was just a big mess when I tried to liberate this one necklace.

Clearly there's (at least) one mischiveous house elf in this household. And no I don't mean the fourlegged, furry herd.



I managed to detangle the necklace mess and get my heart out. All was in the end well. And it got even better when the juice was juiced of course. Cheers!

a wall of books

Adore this wallpaper I spotted at a thrift shop/café the other week. Awesome in every little detail and very uplifting.


PS Yes, yesterday's wordless post was about me trying pottery, at my friend's studio, when I returned the pots with knobs. It was great fun and I wasn't too shabby at it (yes the three little things incl the bowl was my work) but as it is rather hard on your hands I don't think I'll be a great fan of it. Although I would love making amalgamation of photography and pottery, there are som many fun ways of doing it these days! DS

on consumerism

I know, I know, I do buy new stuff, less than I used to, but most likely more than I should. Although, as usual, I shy away from cheap, massproduced things and I do thrift a lot too. And of course create a lot myself. But I could do better, much better. Less shopping, less consumerism for most of us on this planet would be beneficial. And more inspiration and encourage to create ourselves, like with the peace scarf.

We live in a world with finite recources, it's about high darn time we take personal responsability for our choices, whether it be eating habits or shopping. If we are completely honest, we all know that, right? Right.

Doing a spot of shopping to soothe a troubled mind or treat oneself, it's so easy, I know too well. "Because I'm worth it." On the other hand I know both money and time could be much better spent, most of the time. Thrifting and charity shops are great in that way, they don't tear and wear on the planet's resources and the money spent go to good causes. And you always know where to leave the things you have no use for anymore, someone else might find use and joy in them. For an affordable price. Such a simply thing really, that can make such a great impact on so many levels.

So when I headed to the department store to get one of those button stools - to sit on in the hall while putting boots on, I usually do that on the toilet seat, but that moo toilet seat from less than a year ago has slowly broken in to smaller pieces and is now beyond repair. Which makes a perfect example of massproduced, cute, cheap, too cheap = bad quality of course. My old toilet seat, which also could be recycled in to the system, didn't broke until after 20 years. Higher price, cheaper in the long run and better for the planet. - I saw these colourful candlesticks.

Very cute idea, massproduced with really bad quality, finish and wobbly. For that they wanted 169 sek (~26 usd). I'm constantly amazed that there are people who buy stuff like this and that noone along the production line say no. Which of course is down to the world we've built, where money, the holy financial growth, the paycheck, the threadmill, work as we know it is opium for the people.

It's just so heartbreaking that the specie with the brain who can think, create, feel and make so many fantastic things has so little compassion, so little grasp of everything being connected, makes so many mad choices, is so very stupid and has bought in to so many crazy notions and ideas.

My Weltschmerz is constant, my soul is forever misanthrophic, I'm glad I can still find joy and inspiration in some humans. But overall, I just do not get humans. More often than not, it feels like socializing with beings from a whole other planet, we do not speak the same language. I smile, nod, move on, because when I speak my heart most people don't seem to get it. I'm that tiresome one who always take things so seriously, who is uncomfortable to hang with when life should be simple like "I enjoy meat I eat meat, I want to shop til' I drop, wear and tear, cheap rules, f--ck organic and fairtrade, compassion and slow living".

Someone gave me the advice to stop watching and reading the news and newspapers, I actually have and even if Weltschmerz is my companion I feel more than a tad bit calmer. And try and live my life, on my terms, do good things, even if they're seemingly small they're so much better than no kind deeds at all.

I'm in no need of a new candlestick, but if you are, I think the above ones, if nothing else, at least hold a great DIY idea; if you have old, boring ones or find some at the thrift shop, spruce them up with a splash of new colour/pattern. So much better, on so many levels.

This kind of blog post certainly is a good way to remind myself I still need to scrutinize my own shopping patterns. I should make a BIG mental not in reading it before I get myself another pair of shoes. Which reminds me, just last week I just had to, since it was a big sale on models going out of stock... See, sometimes (quite often actually) I just don't get myself either.

And of course, instead of getting a button stool, I could have gone to the charity shop and looked for something. That constant battle of being kind to oneself, treat oneself and making good choices in a greater scheme of things.

What do you do to step off the threadmill, 
battle against consumerism, 
fight the good fight for a kinder planet?
I would love to get new, kind ideas!

little miss bookcrossing helper

i was pretty good at leaving bookcrossing books here and there during all of 2012, in helsinki, gdansk and budapest too.

but for this last month, when i've been rubbish at it, all out of registered/labelled books. not too keen on that bit. though i do have a big bag of second hand books that need just that, when that's done (asap) i'm sure 2013 will be a nice bookcrossing year too.

how can it not be, with such a little miss bookcrossing helper with a paw?

edit - noticed that there wasn't a single comment to my first bookcrossing post two years ago, thus i still would love to know your views on it, like i did then;

are you a member of bookcrossing?
for how long? 
do you enjoy it? 
do you just leave books or do you pick some up too, to read?
have you found a travelling bookcrossing book? 
was it a good read? 

books and cats

still on the involuntary reading hiatus - over two years now, but i'm doing better, i've finished a few these past few months - thus i basically do not but any new books. but who can resist 'old' ones? thrifting for the win!

i think there are many gems in these heaps. the one i'm most happy about is of course the nuala o'faolain's self biography, it has been on my wishlist for years. imagine to just stumble over it at a charity shop in sweden!



and finally, one of those universal thruths of life 'man kann im leben auf vieles verzichten, aber nicht auf katzen und literatur!' -

happy reading, 
happy week to come!

random sunday musings

Life is a lot about thinking right now - and kittens plus blue boots, oh how I adore them all in their own ways - so here goes another post on this and that ~

:: Enjoyed reading your different views on blogging and blogetiquette the other day very much. And yes, to put it plainly, as someone clever said, "do what is right for you, blogging isn't an obligation".


:: I find it mind-baffling that someone I know reasonably well refuses to text or call me on my *new* mobile phone number, contact me at home or via email, or Facebook for that matter. Instead she keeps using my old mobile phone number, the one that noone I care about uses anymore.

I've had the iPhone for nearly two years now, I've repeatedly told her to use that number. When I on the very odd occasion check it I find strange sms:s she left there months ago. We've known eachother for, let's see... 16 years now. At times a friend, others an acquaintance and for longer periods we haven't had any contact at all. She is, shall we say, a peculiar kind of person, caring and kind, creative and fun, but also at times showing other not nearly as nice features if you rub her the wrong way. Well, at least she suddenly insists it to be the wrong way.

The last time we had any real contact was rather awkward and her acting like this doesn't really make me want to revitalize our ... acquaintanceship. I don't need any more weirdness in my life. Not the energy absorbing kind that this would be. And once again, I ponder the thing about friends for different occasions.


:: Today I overcame a great hurdle, something I've been dreading for months now - I finally went and got my picture taken in a photo machine (I emptied my piggy bank for it, but hey, photo machines of today apparently only takes credit cards. Wow, it really is modern days of our lives).

And despite me really, really hating this, having my picture taken, as I mentioned before, and having braced myself for having to take loads of x4 photos, it turned out the very first one was good. Quite good, and I'm really super-critical and annoyed about pictures of me so if I deem them quiet good I think they're alright. I was so surprised about that when I spotted it in pre-view mode I inadvertently made a weird face in the second pic, but the latter two were also alright. The dotty spectacles helped a lot.

So tomorrow I'll head to the bank and get a new ID-card. If they deem the pictures ID-card-worthy (size, shadows, visible pupils etc) that is.

And this I have dreaded for months. The utter silliness.


:: The first really job-related meeting I had last week was a really good one. No it wasn't the dream-client I mentioned - that'll hopefully be next month, touch wood and all that - but an old job contact, which will hopefully lead to new good contacts and contracts. Yes it really was a good meeting, over a cup of tea and scones in a pretty tea room. My kind of job meeting indeed.


:: I'm thinking that photogenique cats and kittens ought to be concidered a work-related, deductible stock-in-trade. I'm thinking sister Almost White and sister Dotty Red are perfect photographical stock-in-trades. The more I think about it the more sense it makes, wouldn't you agree? I really have the best of opportunities to work with their abilities and temperament right from the start, I always have, but still, now I'm thinking about it from a slightly different angle.

It would be a relief not having to even think about the selling of li'l ms Dotty Red, since she then already has her future set as a Prosit representative. Not having to separate the two peas in a pod, one red, one almost white.

I mean, creative, intellectual people do enjoy the company of cats, they are inspirational as well as soul soothing when needed. Wouldn't it be perfect somehow, that the company of Prosit would have two tiny furbabies as spokecatpersons, groomed the part right from the start? Not that I would go all crazy-cat-lady of course, but I find the sheer idea of spokekittens rather exhilarating and amusing.

And actually, I am thinking of a logotype that would be a good symbol for Prosit, what I am and what I'll bring to a client - not a cat, silly - but the things that a cat stands for. Ah, this could be a neat idea me thinks. Brought to blog under the influence by Ztina and Zigne, or Ord and Bild if you will.


:: Yesterday I bought three cans of spray paint, three shades of pink. My plan is to A) paint this case shelf - I know that wasn't my original intention, but its not an antique piece, I'll use it in my office, dark furnitures have no room in there and it really needs to be transformed into something happy looking. It has waited for its new purposes for plus two years. It is time.

B) to paint this curvaceous lamp-stand. It was my original intention to do so when I charity shop bought it plus one year ago. And make a new shade for it. I still haven't gotten around to it, the shade kind of grew on me - after all it's pink - and it's been standing beside the TV awaiting its destiny.

The idea was to find a similar lamp-stand for the pink office, to repaint it and make a new shade. And have it as a reading lamp by the armchair (which will also enjoy the company of the granny square footstool). Finding the right kind of lamp-stand is however trickier than you might think, they're probably quite sought after these days.

So, I'll spraypaint this one, better late than never, and use it as an office-stand-in-lamp-stand - or maybe it'll be more comfortable in there, who knows. A new shade it'll get too, I've had a few fabulastic ideas cooking for a while now, one of them it will be. (But I'll save this current pink shade for special occasions or the living room life.)

Since snow fell in an abundance today - I can't help but thinking that these soft, supersized snowflakes that create a silent, winter wonderland with reasonable temperatures only around zero are really really beautiful. I may not think so if it gets colder, icier, creates a public transportation mess and give me hellish electrical bills for months, but for now, for a while, let me declare winter bliss - I won't be doing any spraypainting outdoors until temperatures and weather allow. But as soon as it does, hello pink caste, hello pink lamp-stand.


:: Pretty much the rest of the office is now painted in pink also. Tomorrow I'll do a second coat. A few odd corners and holes that need more extensive plastering will hopefully be done next weekend. Then all the walls are finished!

Oh, then someone (not so) clever once upon a time thought it was a fantastic idea to wallpaper the outside of the closet door. Thus it looks the same rubbish as the walls used to and need painting. I would love to go all applegreen on it, but I think a pale lavender hue would emit a more tranquil and seamless feeling with the pink walls. So that it will be.

And then there's the tired, worn ol' marble window sill in dark grey. It needs either a few coats of paint or a plastic cover film. Since I'm in painting mood the paint idea seems nicer, though a cover film in a cute pattern would be rather pleasing.


:: Doing all this painting and refurbishing has made me thinking about other projects I've been pondering for years. Home improvement projects I can perform myself for a reasonable sum of money. With Rutger moving to my mum - yes he's doing fine, although he probably needs time to adjust to the fact that he is not a fertile mister anymore, but a neuter consultant and calm down with his plucky behaviour towards his brother and mother - there's another room liberated. A room I've been thinking of repainting ever since we moved here 10 years ago (last December 19). Now-ish is finally the time.

I was thinking green, but with the pink paint leftovers from the office space I'll probably use that. But only for three walls, the fourth will be wallpapered. I'm thinking this birdie and flower one would be wonderful, but I 'm not interested in splurging the money it'll probably cost. This butterfly wallpaper is gorgeous too - but probably also a costly alternative. So I'm looking for more affordable alternatives.


:: I need to be a more demanding boss this week. January is almost over, time to stop semi-slacking.

the orange armchair

Just a little show and a little tell of the fantastic looking orange armchair I found at Refurn in December. Admittedly it immediately became the cats favourite hang and is usually covered in a slipcover (cats apparently have claws, even when trimmed, who knew...).

Yes it is leather, it has been well loved and obviously well cared for. I would never ever EVER buy leather furniture as new, -

I have been known to buy leather handbags, no more, and of course, shoes, I'm thinking it would be very very nice if the leather could be of the recycled kind on them too, not only soles... -

but I have bought a few leather armchairs over the years, from charity, thrift and antique shops. They have been loved and clawed to pieces.

I'm thinking that if a poor soul have been killed a long time ago, turned into leather pieces one should at least use and reuse those pieces as much as possible, showing respect to that long time killed soul. Thus they did not die in vain, in a way. Leather pieces are not wear and tear commodities, they should be well cared for and used for many many many years. (In ways that it may not be possible to do with fabrics furniture.)

The seat is attached to a wooden frame, it's of a snazzy 1970ies lounge style and oozes good wellmadeness. Brandless such, but quality just the same.

Yes, I think it's safe to say that we all really enjoy it, whether indoors or outdoors, sleeping or playing.