winter sunday from suburb to city

On this very last Sunday of January - the coldest in Sweden for ages. Not a single day with medium temperatures above zero degrees C. Or was it any temperatures above zero? Or not a minute of temperatures above zero in Stockholm? Or... No matter, cold - here are some glimpses from suburb to city on a day that offered sun and blue skies on top of all snow.

From little red cottages

to castles -

Bro Hof castle which is home to not only a luxuary restaurant (that I hope to have an opportunity to visit one day) but a luxuary golf course that makes even very much non-golfing me go weak-kneed in parts by its stunning green prettiness in summer -

and pretty barns.

From literary signs to

walking on ice -

something I very much shy away from -

from blue buses -

which is a part of the sad public transportation system in Stockholm that really very much doesn't work in Swedish winters. Every year the same... -

to lost mittens, caps and such ~

postcards - bookmark giveaway reminder

Not only loaf dogs but time hoppeti-hops so quickly, despite all snow. Tomorrow, Sunday 31st midnight CET is the last day to leave a comment in that giveaway post to have a chance to get a set of three mood postcards and accompanying bookmark.

And who wouldn't, says one liquorice nose.

the red bird tree

Whenever I stand at the nearby bus stop I see this pretty winter tree full of red berries and birds. It makes such a sweet picture.

I finally had some decent light, time and camera yesterday, but was very displeased with the birdies that really weren't cooperative. They decided that the non-berry tree on the other side was a better place to hang while some annoying human stand muttering below red berry tree.

If you magnify picture you might spot at least some birdies, then try to imagine the scene when the tree is overflowing with them and all the sweet red berries and the snow. It makes such a fine winter scene.

Happy Friday ~

wednesday words

:: The project has begun. Estimated time to finish first bit of project 1,5 months, I will have finished it by tomorrow. That makes one (1) week. On half time. Yes I'm quick and effective, but this is silly. And if there was such a thing as anti-intellectual challenges this first bit of project would get a gold star. Very much not something I thought would one day be the result of all those years of law studies. I fear for braincells losing their elasticity and geist.

That said, they seem to be very grateful for getting the job done. And the general ambiance is friendly, helpful and unpretentious. So it could of course be worse. I do hope it will improve soon. But still. This is not me.


:: With my new glasses I do feel more me. And I see more. So much more. I find myself staring at this and that all the time because everything suddenly seem so bright and clear. I'm in four eyes love with the simple lime green Harry Potterish-but-not-quite-pair. The other pair (not inaugurated yet), claims M, turns me into an Ugly Betty-lookalike. Which is just fine by me. Comparisons could be so very much worse.

Suddenly I don't care much about wearing contacts, for some reason glasses that make me see things very clear again also get me to forget I wear them. And yes, I would love to get more pairs. As I have a fresh glasses recipe now I can order more frames online for close to peanuts and come spring I might feel frisky and do just that.


:: I've always felt some inexplicable (at the time when I perhaps wasn't as much in touch with the inner me as I feel I can be and many times am now) sadness whenever I see mankind's uncaring demolishing, mauling of nature (green pastures and forests, mountains and stones) in order to build and construct, eradicate to ridge. Still do.

Even more so these days when everywhere one look there seem to be new ongoing building schemes of blotting out what has been growing and thriving, developed for hundreds, thousands, millions of years in the blink of an eye. Everywhere one look a building, construction site and nothing is sacred.

Some days I really very much feel that life somewhere countryside far far away would be prefered before seeing politicans and builders eagerly efface so much natural beauty. Perhaps then melancholy over this wouldn't be this constant companion always somewhere in the back of my mind.



:: I may be condemned to eating a tweed hat or two, but I will admit to, despite what I have been known to feel, having a Facebook profile. I just decided to get one a while ago to see what the fuss was about. And I still so do not get it. Yes I do write an odd thing here and there on a not so irregular interval - basically when I feel I need more word than Twitter (which I quite enjoy these days) allows and the things I have an urge to instantly share isn't enough for a real blogpost -

but I can't say I feel it neither that interesting nor important. Most of my friends or family are not on Facebook and for some odd reason we have no problems keeping in touch still. Life does go on just fine without FB. Believe it or not.

Another thing I also think is quite bizarre is the fact that you call every little remote contact you've ever had your friend on FB. I mean really. It may be my conservative, serious Scandinavian me, but I don't call every Tom, Dick and Jane I meet my friend that quick and easy. I separate friends from acquaintances and contacts (even if some may be two or more of these in one great person) and I feel it would be so much more clever and nifty to have such distinctions on Facebook too.

That said. There are lots of lovely blog people and readers out there, kind enough to leave a comment or two or more here now and then that I would be happy to call my very friendly contacts on Facebook. Want to rub Internet shoulders there too, send me an email ~


:: Last day to get the MOO discount, January 31st (Sunday).


:: Still time to be part of the little postcards - bookmark giveaway. Leave a what-kind-of-blogposts-do-I-enjoy-most comment in that post January 31st at the latest.

precious furface

I never ever get tired of every exquisite, tiny detail in a precious cat face...

I'm so grateful for being able to share home and life with all these quirky, sweet, annoying, lovable, purring, furry feline creatures.

"bird alert!"

And their pretty paws.

dalecarlian tassles and embroidery

I had no idea that such a thing as the National Swedish Handicraft Council (Länshemslöjdkonsulenterna) existed until last year. In every county there are county handicraft consultants (länshemslöjdskonsulenter) at work promoting handicraft activities in different ways. Information and communication combined with handicraft, surely that sounds like a mindblowingly fantastic job!

My first attempt at 'luffarslöjd' (vagabond wire work) last year was held by the Stockholm consultants. And there are usually lots of nice classes (from a few hours one evening or more in the city to weekends and weeks in the country) in different arts and crafts. Most often old classical and nearly forgotten Swedish crafts from different provinces in Sweden.

The cost for the different classes vary. A lot. From ridiculously affordable to very expensive. The classes are apparently very sought after and most of them are quickly filled with eager to learn participants. Even if some seem to be more interested in talking loudly and a lot about their grand craft skills and very interesting (not) connections with this and that artsy person.

Before Christmas I took an evening class in so called 'kavelfransar' (roller tassles) and yarn balls (above patch is the not quite finished result of the first hours work) traditionally made in the Dalecarlia province. It was great and unpretentious fun. There and then I signed up for an embroidery Sunday class a few months later learning the Dalecarlian embroidery called 'påsöm' (on sewing).

It did sound like a brilliant idea at the time. Not so much when the day came and I was still recovering from a cold knowing I had to get up very early on Monday... But I went. And I'm so glad I did - I even managed to sign up for a really droolworthy crochet technique class in a few months... - because it was great fun (but for the annoying people mentioned above).

Not only learning the technique - which of course will take years to master. I managed to finish about 1/5 of the above little piece we worked on during those 5-6 hours of embroidery... - but also hearing about the history, the whys and the whats, the materials, insider tips and hints.

Not to mention drooling over, being mesmerized by and in awe of the fantastic, not afraid of colours, gorgeous, amazing and very inspirational work created by women in the 19th century Sweden. Feast your eyes. And dream of being able to make this by your own self on skirts, dresses, coats, jackets, cardigans, waist coats, hats, mittens, trousers, stockings, shawls, belts, cuffs, wristwarmers...

~

Yes, sometimes the Swedish heritage

can be quite lovely.

the fabulous nose and the magnificent loaf

Nothing quite like starting a brand new week,
the last of January,
with one fabulous nose.

Attached to one magnificent loaf,

with or

without preppy sweater.

graffiti love

If not in a place designated for just that I'm very much not an appreciator of graffiti in general. To me it's vandalism of the most blatant kind that destroys and uglifies public or private property. The cost of restoring the property rarely fall upon the vandals and well, that certainly falls into the category of 'nuisances' in this life and world of ours that makes me quite upset and angry.

Anyhow. There are certain places that surely desperately cry for a bit of 'bright me up', 'please graffiti me' and 'colour me pretty'. Like long dark, grey tunnels and such.

Thus this unexpected message of big love ('jag älskar dig' is the Swedish way to say 'i love you') in one boring tunnel under the road and railway tracks of Stockholm (close to this view) I find quite, quite smitten worthy. I hope the intended object of affection enjoyed it wholeheartedly ~

raspberry toffee

One sweet tooth childhood memory of undersigned is that of lovely raspberry toffee when it came to the once a week candy day 'lördagsgodis' (Saturday candy). I haven't found that perfect raspberry toffee as a grown up, alas flavours and consistencies change, brands don't exist anymore and so forth.

This simple raspberry toffee doesn't taste THAT lovely - at least not my very first batch for which I didn't have a thermometer thus it was boiled tad long. Cooking thermometer now part of household - it only faintly reminds me of it. But sometimes that's all one needs to get a dash of sweet memory lane.

Easy peasy to make, I made my first and so far only for Christmas, but if sweet tooth strikes its red raspberry prettiness goes well any time of the year. I got about 30 toffees from this recipe with four ingredients only

200 g frozen raspberries
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice
2,5 dl sugar
2 dl cream (35% fat)

thaw the raspberries. press them through a sieve to make a purée. it should make about 1 dl. pour the raspberry purée into a small pot along with the other ingredients. bring to a boil while stirring all the time.

the temperature should be about 123-124°C, if you don't have a thermometer do the toffee-test (a small sample dropped into a glass of cold water should easily be rolled into a little firm ball).

pour the toffee onto a baking sheet approx 20 cm x 20 cm. let it cool. cut into pieces, wrap in paper. keep in room temperature.

enjoy a taste of summer in winter ~

postcard - bookmark giveaway ~

Recently the camera hit the # 30.000 photos taken - snow bouncing!

Now there are 10.000 plus photos uploaded to the Flickr account (which I use also as an extra 'safe-keeping-online' place).

I thought it would be nice to share the special moment(s) with a little giveaway here in blog.

Little as in a set of 3 postcards and a wee bookmark - similar to the ones for sale in the Prosit shop on Etsy - will be given to two (2) recipients that leave a comment to this post and tell what kind of posts you enjoy the most (be it cats, dogs, food, Stockholm, crafts etc and so forth). Leave comment no later than January 31st CET and you'll participate in a draw (in which I hope to get the best of furry helpers as usual). The two lucky (I hope) recipients of postcards-bookmark will of course recieve something with motifs that match their comments...

And which was the 10.000 photo?

- One of the photos from Gdansk past October that I had forgotten to upload until now.