Road trip - Nibble Gård

About 70 kilometres northwest of Stockholm, in the middle of the rural countryside and tucked in the forest you'll find Nibble Gård (Farm).

The farm, which has been worked by three generations, offers some very nice own food-products like jams, fruit-juices, jellies - I've written about their lovely rhubarb-cinnamon jam and their fruit-syrups before. But they also sell other farm-products as well as presents in general in a small shop.

And they have a lovely little café situated in a lush garden, which makes for a very nice drive to in the Summers.

The food on offer isn't very fancy, at all, simple sandwiches, coffee and cakes. But it's the whole relaxing experience and not the café-food your after when you drive there, I suppose.

Before, or after, having coffee and cake you can have a little walk in the nearby woods, on a nature-path that offers interesting archaeological, historical as well as natural phenomena sightings.

Not to mention the cage on the lawn with a bunch of delightful bunnies in unusual, cute colours.

Sisyphean Challenges

There are two wearables I really hate shopping for, one is an absolute necessity, the other you can live without - although I bet there are many who don't agree to that. Namely bras and jeans.

The problems with searching and trying on are pretty similar with them both. Too big, too small, wrong colour, wrong model, hefty prices, horrible fitting rooms with brisk clerks cheering on - and in the case of bras, not many of them withstand the dreaded jump-test... Regardless of price I might add.

And when you've found a favourite bra, or jeans for that matter, the model for some reason evaporates after a while. Never to be seen again. And the whole search for the ultimate bra or the ultimate jeans begins again. Really very tiresome Sisyphean tasks indeed. A bit like cleaning out the litter boxes, washing up and doing the laundry - but in the jeans-bra-case you have to do it in public and pay money for it.

Today I found a piece of b that *blimey* pulled through the intricate jump-test. I'm not all that happy with the looks of the b-thing, but at least it makes the clothes on top looking good. Unfortunately they're on the hefty side of the price range, but the jump-test is so very important and with so few contestants living up to it, one perhaps ought to stock up a few of them...

Another thing that really brightens any day, perhaps not meant to be a cherry on the sundae in public, but still, a pink raspberry in the shower isn't too bad either. Let me present my new important investment - it didn't take me too long to make up my mind... - the shower cap extraordinaire! Alas no cat-design, but in my world a bright pink raspberry thing is a great substitute any day.

Someones, somethings...

...are actually quite happy about the rain, growing like never before.

Something to keep in mind when you feel all pale and crumpled, lemon sour lacking sun.

The Red Shoes

What can I say, I just couldn't seem to forget those red shoes... When I went back to the store the red ones were all sold out, and the beige ones were just too bland and boring.

For some reason, and I just don't know why and can't seem to get a proper answer either, the store don't check if the mail order service have any left and get them from there for the customer to pick them up in the store, and thereby not having to pay any p&p...

I did find them in the online shop myself, red, right size, though was kind of annoyed I had to pay a hefty p&p for them. But in the end I didn't have to pay for that, since it was my first - and last - order online...

I picked them up today. They're so pretty! Seem so comfy with a thick sort of bouncy sole. Came in a very nice shoe-bag and a free as well as cute notebook - can't have too many of those can you?

So I guess it turned out all well in the end, even if I didn't buy them the first time I tried them on...

Writing about shoes, I did wear the butter box-ones the other day. They look h u g e when seen from above, and they have the appearance of very looong peaked shoes from a side view. Like the front of them arrives about half an hour earlier than I. Kind of. But. They were also so very comfortable, easy-going to wear.

And they're not Crocs. Go figure.

Recent movies

Since my TV-summer pretty much revolves around English murder mysteries, I haven't been watching all that many movies lately. But here they are, some of them, graded on the Pia-scale of 1-5 (5 being superb, can't get any better);

* Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School - kind of sweet, prosaic story about destany, love and ballroom dancing. 3

* Om jag vänder mig om - If I turn around - a really great Swedish, award winning drama about love and lies, described in a very prosaic and easy to relate to way. I so recommend! 4

* Out of time - yes I like Denzel Washington. A lot. But he doesn't always appear in the best of movies unfortunately. And for me the only enjoyable thing in this movie is sort of the fact that it takes place in Florida... Other than that, boring, ridiculously foreseeable crap. -2

* Alfie - I did see the original version with Michael Caine years ago, don't remember a thing about it. Won't remember a thing about this new version with Jude Law either. Stylish, haphazardly made, non-memorable thing to pass some time. The whole movie I kept waiting, and waiting, for something that would actually grab me. In vain. 2

* Girl next door - seen that kind of plot tooo many times over the years, implemented in far better ways, *yawn* 2

* Rancid - Once upon a time this Swedish director still went by his real name Joakim Ersgård and made a decent horror movie called Besökarna/The Visitors about a haunted house. A movie in which his brother Patrik also played a part.

These brothers have since moved to Hollywood, start making movies together and changed their names to Jack and Patrick Ersgard - only that silly changing of the names is enough to break down in laughter - but the real clinch to the story is the fact that they make such unbelievably lousy, untalented movies they bring a whole new dimension to the genre of turkey movies. One of life's great mystery might be how anyone could possibly want to finance their movies...

The only original thing about this movie Rancid is its name. The rest consists of a crappy story, even worse acting - why do they use Swedish actors, who aren't half bad when playing decent parts in Swedish movies, in annoying supporting roles? Trying to, but to very convincingly, speaking English with an American, tough-guy-accent... The script is theatrical and strained, and the whole thing just makes you shiver in shame. Mark: embarrassingly worthless

* The Ladykillers - saw the original version with Alec Guinness years ago, remember I enjoyed it. Can't say the same about this hotchpotch though. Whatever was that red cat thinking appearing in this shoddy movie? I guess it must have been a question of the right amount of money, or cans of tuna...

The only thing I enjoyed about this movie was the view overlooking the river and the garbage barge scenes - mark: the garbage barge is the only place completely befitting for this movie, 1

* Scenes of the Crime - average, good actors, -3

* A Guy Thing - pretty entertaining for the moment, 3

* Down with Love - thoroughly entertaining, stylish and witty, great actors. I so enjoyed seeing Ewan McGregor like the first time I saw him in the great TV-series Lipstick on Your Collar. 4

* Le pacte des loups - Brotherhood of the Wolf - with a statement of "the best movie I've ever seen" from a well-known movie-critic, it was really interesting to see what kind of movie it would turn out to be. Well, far from being on the top 100 top list in my book, I quite enjoyed it.

It was beautifully filmed, with gorgeous costumes and an absolutely wonderful soundtrack. A different story about good versus evil in 18th century France. But still, a bit too long, affected, kind of scratching on the surface, and way too many wimpish fighting scenes - 3

* Beyond Borders - there were a few really gripping scenes in this otherwise rather skin-deep movie, about a very serious subject. And there is such a thing as too much lips larger than the TV-screen... 2

* Frequency - me liked, a lot! Different, non-foreseeable supernatural thriller/drama with good actors. 4

* Moonlight Mile - Dustin Hoffman shines, in this both sad and fun drama about coping with loss. Susan Sarandon and Jake Gyllenhaal aren't too bad either. But still, amongst all this heartache, my favourite scene is definitely the last one with cat and dog in the car's backseat. The expression on the dog's face is just priceless... 3

* Solaris - dreamy, gloomy, slowly moving forward, or not, I still kind of liked it, the sentiment, the dialogue - and not only because major eye candy George Clooney, which also happens to be a great and versatile actor, played the main role - 3

WCB #111 - On Frog Watch

Last week it was all about beating the heat in different terribly brainy kitty ways - this week it has been mostly about how to avoid the rain but still get a bit of time in the garden.

Prunella has been quite happy sitting under the bench while it rained. And it's also a very strategic place for frog watching - just between you and me, she isn't the brainiest of the bunch, I'm not sure she has figured out the Frog Crossing-sign is a mere garden decoration. No frogs to be seen anywhere in this garden. Nope.

But she seems happy with that avoiding-the-rain-but-still-being-outdoors-arrangement under that bench. So I haven't really bothered telling her the truth about the sign and the never appearing frogs...

This week's catblogging is hosted by the two very distinguished gentlemen Kashim & Othello over at Paulchen's Food - see you there!

The Thing About Statues

I've said it before and I say it again, I do have a bit of a thing with statues, they give me huge creeps in general. Mainly life sized ones or larger than life. I have absolutely no idea when or why this thing begun, I sort of has always had it I think. Probably something to do with a very vivid imagination and too much reading, perhaps...

One of my old aunts had this face above, on her wall when I was a child. I thought it was really scary, even if it was very small in size. I don't find it scary anymore, but rather unattractive and it sure wouldn't end up hanging on my wall under any circumstances.

I'm not sure if it was the same aunt or another relative, but someone had a palm sized terracotta bear hanging on the wall, it sort of climbed up the wall. That tiny thing made me cry and scream every time I looked at it, so they had to take it down when I came to visit.

I actually have got that bear myself now, and it's really very cute, not the least bit scary. Strange how mind works. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what I did find so unbelievably scary about that small clay bear once upon a time.

This fear - I wouldn't really call it a phobia as such - of statues is actually mixed with fascination. I'm amazed how someone can be so talented and make a piece of clay, marble, stone, wood, iron and so on, look so real and alive, those details is amazing. And they look so alive. Too alive.

But the creepy feeling is accompanied by intrigue. And Glyptoteket in Copenhagen is, believe it or not, one of my favourite museums. Even if I find myself looking over my shoulder all the time while sauntering there...

I absolutely had to bring a bust home with me when I was in Crete years ago. It's a young man's head, and sort of in life size. At that time I lived at home with my parents still, and I had the bust in my room, right beside my bed - except at night when I couldn't sleep having that chopped off head staring at me...

The head is still with me, now standing in my kitchen window. Perhaps not the most befitting of places, but at least he won't come frighten me at night. I hope.

And yes I do find the sad Little mermaid in Copenhagen's harbour inlet kind of spooky too. But what won't you do in order to at least try and get a decent picture...

On our little trip to Dalarna some days ago, we visited the estate Hildasholm - once home to Swedish author and medical doctor Axel Munthe and his English wife Hilda. Axel Munthe is also well known for his Villa San Michele in Capri, Italy.

It had a lovely vast garden, and not too many statues *phew*. But there were four of them on the backside veranda. Broken, molded, old and torn, missing of limbs. A sad bunch really. And far from life sized. Still. Taking this picture - which I absolutely felt the urge to do - sent chills down my spine...

The guy is just in desperate need of a moisture facial masque I suppose, but nevertheless he eminated something less pleasant... *I must have read too many books...*

On the other side of the house I found this little chubby cherub boy. Who can possibly find him scary? Or perhaps, who knows what evil lies beneath a pretty, seemingly innocent face. I've seen the odd movie, or two, read some books, can imagine quite a bit for myself... I'm not easily fooled by a baby face like this. Oh no, shouldn't think so.

Mains & Afters

Um, being a bit pensive as where to begin writing, perhaps something from the very recent short trip to Dalarna, or to continue with another entry on South Africa, or some tips on shorter trips in and around Stockholm, or just random thoughts, not to mention WCB, or book reviews, recent seen movies...

I'll just share pictures of some food I've tried making recently - with varied results. If that had something to do with undersigned being a somewhat haphazard cook or the recipes themselves I let be unsaid...

Every dish, except the potatoes salad which derives from a recipe in Nigella's Forever Summer, comes from my very favourite cookbook "Vegetariskt" *of course*. Slight variations here and there, since I'm a bit particular about seasoning and spices, and prefer certain veggies before others... And the reason for the frequent tequila-use in my cooking as lately, the recipes call for optional white wine, I used what I had in my pantry instead...

Veggie pasta with creamy saffron sauce and tequila - turned out really well and nicely different, will definitely do again

Salsifies in creamy sauce with tequila, grilled sweet potatoes, mushrooms and sweet chili roasted hazelnuts - the salsifies were a bit of too much work for the end result, but the rest was delicious and so easy to make, a keeper!

Grilled asparagus with feta cheese and pinenuts, drizzled with raspberry balsamic vinegar - I do like asparagus a lot, but I didn't think it worked well like this. Will probably switch for another veggie next time...

This baked potatoes salad with red onions was absolutely delicious, yum!

I don't like using tins in shapes of animals, when slicing those cakes I get a bit, more than a bit really, uneasy. I have no idea why I use them from time to time, must get rid of them. If it hadn't been for that weird teddybear shape of this sunflower seed & cardamom cake, I would probably have enjoyed it more. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the flavours and texture of it at least...

Absolutely zesty lemon cake - and so simple to make - a keeper indeed!

Scrumptious Tosca-pie - another keeper for special occasions!

All Pink & Blue...

...back from a couple of days away in Dalarna (Dalecarlia), I'll write more later. But I thought these two Dalahorses, very typical for the region, made such a pretty picture that I wanted to share promptly...

Additional Thoughts...

...even if travelling is evolving, mind broadening, amazing and wonderful, one of the greatest things about it might actually be to return home and realising it's really very nice to be back home again.

Even if you now and then really, badly need to get away and experiencing something new, or different but still familiar, it's so comforting and endearing to be able to get back home and be really happy about the fact that home is fantastic in its very own way!