august 2025 reflections

 

Hello. August is here. 

After July being a miserable, climate emergency heatwave. Torn with the livestreamed Gaza genocide (and with more genocides that get so much less publicity…), facism on the rise, the continued invasion war in Ukraine and a mindboggingly stupid, narcissistic toddler president on the other side of the pond. Life is heavy, for far too many reasons.

At least the temperatures have dropped (to soon for what used to be a regular Nordic summer of course, but here we are) and it is again possible to breath and get a decent night’s sleep. Which has lifted my spirits somewhat.

Earlier this week I even had a pretty decent day, running little errands and treating myself to a soy latte to go. Having a fairly good hair day and feeling pretty spiffy in outfit per diem. 

Maybe I should document it with a selfie? 

Got a sweet comment ’Looks spectacular!’ to which I replied ’Thank you kindly! Feeling anything but though, a case of unintentional fake it til you make it, perhaps.’

And that pretty much sums up me and my life currently. And have for quite some time now. It is impossible to feel motivated, worthy my dreams, capable, strong and overall awesome. I’m. just. so. tired. 

And yes, admittedly I loath AI, it drains us and will be our downfall. 

So in awaiting that. Here are a few other good things August have brought me so far -

After using the Swedish Skinome fresh skincare daily for 15 + months I still didn’t feel it brought the positive change to my dry rosacea skin I had hoped for and expected. It may not be the priciest of skincare regimes, but when their cleansing cream I added to my skincare regime gave me the most horrific rosacea flair up I’ve ever experienced I decided to look elsewhere for relief.

Ended up stumbling over the classic Swedish pharmacist brand ACO, which has been around since I was a kid. And just because I saw that this particular cream for sensitive and dry skin happened to be vegan my decision was a quick one. 

It also didn’t hurt that I got two of this large tub for 10% of the price I paid for the Skinome bottles. I’ve been using it twice per day for 3 weeks now and if not perfect my skin feels more supple and soft.

I’m still wanting to find a cream that actually lessen the rosacea redness, but just getting rid of the dry patches and getting a softer skin means so so much.

Consistent cat cuddles always means so so much. 

This tree has been one of my big worries this year. Inherited from the previous house owner, M cut it down many years ago because it became so unruly and grew to close to the fence I share with the neighbour. 

Over the years since it began to grow again. I have always been able to trim it myself. Until this year when it’s branches became to thick for my weak wrists and my tools. And the more the tree grew the more it stretched over the fence into the neighbours’ and with the harsh winds we have had this summer the higher risk the swaying against the fence would cause harm. 

I asked my next door neighbour (the one that helped me with the overgrown shrubs on the front of my house last autumn) to help and he kindly agreed to. So last week the tree was cut down.

The electric chain saw was of such poor quality so he ended up using my useless tools, that turned out to not be so useless with more strength behind the tools. I felt like the stereotypical feeble, weak woman. 

Still the most important thing got done. And I’m so grateful for the much needed help. It’s sad the tree had to be cut down, it was so lush and green, and appreciated by insects. But now it also feels like such a relief, and one less thing to worry about.

The work isn’t fully done of course, the tree needs to be cut down in smaller pieces and lugged to the recycling, but that’s not so urgent.

I am so very ready for THRIVING again not just SURVIVING.

Planting goals ✅ Harvesting dreams welcome!

I also baked vegan bagels last week. As I couldn’t remember the bagel recipe I used earlier I ended up using the first (seemingly good) I found online. The dough turned out to be much much softer than doughs usually are. I let it prove 3 hours insted 1,5 that the recipe called for, and it felt like a reasonable dough at first.

It was impossible to turn the dough into bagel shape, or reasonable size, so ended up with very small rolls instead. The taste and texture was perfect though! Will not use that recipe next time, but the end result was quite satisfying anyway. Bagels are great but bagel rolls are rather good too.

Hey Universe, I truly need your help now, please. More positive changes. More joy. More long term solutions (although as dire as things are at the moment, I would be ever so grateful for satisfying short term ones too). 

More kindness and compassion for all. More justice. High time for fresh new impactful beginnings. What will be the next step?

farewell vera, farewell june 2025

 

Tonight the very last episode of the very last season of Vera was aired on Swedish television. Having watched this grand series from the very start 14 or is it 10 (?) years ago, it has been and remained one of my favourite detective series.

Brenda Blethyn is fantastic, the wild, ruggedness of Northumberland nature too.

It’s actually quite 💔 to say goodbye. 

In a superficial way of course. Given the horrific times we’re living in right now. I don’t know what else to say anymore. Every day offers a new nightmare timeline. Because obviously it can always get worse.

My personal June month wasn’t very impressive or uplifting. Quite blah without shining exceptions. Short term solutions. Trying my best to be mindful and treasure the little things in my small world. Trusting the Universe. And doing my best keeping my overwhelming worries for September/October at bay.

Thank you for nature bliss, June.

Hello July, I don’t ask much, but pretty please can we please please please focus on positive new beginnings with purpose and meaning. Moving forward.

the price of strawberries & other musings

 

I’ve never had a particular fancy for Swedish strawberries. It’s nice if they are organic AND local. 

But organic is ALWAYS better than local from a sustainability point of view (unless they’re transported by plane of course). 

These beauties are from a Spanish, organic strawberry farm. There seasons are obviously very different from our Nordic, so I think I bought then in Feb/March a few years back. And not transported by air.

The texture was very different from our Swedish summer ones (June-August), but lovely in their very own way. Great to add to sallads with tofu for example.

Anyway, my aim was to write a few words on the fact that this regular box of 1 L strawberries have had a price of ca 35-55 SEK (depending on early/late in season) for as long as I can remember during my adult life.

It has practically been a basic human right for Swedes, to be able to have strawberries for Midsummer.

And although I’ve always much prefer raspberries and cherries over strawberries I do enjoy eating them in a bowl with oat milk and whipped oat cream at least a few times every summer. And not least enjoy fresh for cream cake toppings.

This year something has drastically changed. It may be the climate change weather and droughts. Or perhaps the overall chaotic world situation, with import/export not being as straight forward as it once was.

Because now the price is *drum-roll*…

175 SEK per box. 🥵😱

Hopefully this was a really horrid anomaly, but this super-market chain (which happens to be my favourite) made a big deal they had strawberries and cherries at a great price (cherries were 117 SEK, with average price usually 29-49 SEK).

As clearly visible only a couple of boxes were sold. 

These ridiculous prices (which is well-know to be seriously jacked up by the Swedish supermarket giants, and have been ever since post-pandemic) will certainly see a serious rise in food waste. 

The cost of living in Sweden (in combination with a difficult labour market) has seriously created a tough situation for many.

And with a right wing Minister of Finance who thinks it’s a great idea to suggest that people start to bargain at the grocery store chechout if they think the price is doesn’t fit 🤦🏻‍♀️ … 

The epitome of RICHSPLAINING.

- Yes she is grossly overpaid herself and as obviously incompetent and in lack of a spine as the rest of our government members, can’t wait to finally get rid of them in the September 2026 election! -

Also, can we just agree on one fact; that letting men rule the world has been humanity’s worst decision ever?

midsummer 2025

 

When you’re having daily miniature breakdowns of sorrow, anger, frustration over the current state if the world (basically caused by entitled old men) it’s hart impossible to say cheers and happy Midsummer!

The pretty flowers was delivered to little mum from an old co-worker of hers. Just because.

I love sweet just because actions. 

Couldn’t get any kitties to pose. Remember those days when there was a whole bunch of eager snoopervisors around to do that? The epitome of truly ’good ol’ days’.

The amount of the global warming caused prevalence of ticks in garden/nature doesn’t make the garden the happy place it once naturally was. I let Ztina out to eat her much enjoyed grass on very rare occasions. 

And myself to cut some branches, take photos, bring a bunch of lilacs indoors. It pains me how the once easiness of nature outside my doorstep have developed into something to fear and shy away from. 

We may be fully vaccinated against TBE, but the risk of borrelia is still there. And I’m not the least bit comfortable to give Ztina tick pills with all itsside effects. She has also always reacted against ticks when she has had them, and it took a while before I understood the connection.

Anyway, I hope you can have a reasonably happy-ish, peaceful and fine Midsummer.

Cheers of sorts from Scandinavia 💚

🌱🌸🌱🌼🌱🌺🌱🌸🌱🌼🌱🌺🌱🌸🌱🌼🌱🌺🌱

bye bye may, hello june 2025

 

It may be the prettiest time of the Swedish year when it comes to nature and all things growing. And the season this year has not disappointed.

However with the ongoing genocide by a zionist terror state is so so disturbing, that it is hard to not constantly feel desperately sad and infuriated. 

I know there are marches and protest against this deeply unjust occupation all over the world, including here of course. But the politicians and the states still turning a blind eye to the autrocities (including the ridiculously incompetent right wing government in Sweden) makes it… I’m lost for words.

And on top of that, the orange president joke and his minions on the other side of the pond, and how he still hasn’t been fully ostraziced (doesn’t any politician, government have a backbone?) is mindboggling.

Not to mention the little nasty dictator to the east, still doing his evil deeds.

All while the climate emergency doesn’t get the full focus it deserves from us all. Instead money are poured into the global war machinery.

So you see, and I suspect many (if not most) of you out there, feel a very similar angst and pain to what I’m feeling currently, it is hart impossible to focus on your very personal worries, trials and tribulations.

No, I didn’t take one little step every day in April, towards my goal/s, as I boldly declared at the beginning of the month. There were just too too much going on in the world for that.

I focus on solving my most pressing issues day by day, week by week, instead of falling down a rabbit hole of worries for things that need to be done in September, October.

Currently I can’t see further than that. Keeping it together and surviving another day, another week will have to be enough.

More than a sneaky suspicion I am being shadow banned by LinkedIn - most likely for having liked, shared and commented on insightful posts that mention the forbidden g-word. My reach has plumeted since April and is now so low it’s a joke.

So yeah, LinkedIn has grown into quite a useless, censoring platform, from being one of my favourite, informative social platforms. Dispiriting times on countless of levels indeed.

But tomorrow we will have a nice pick of lots of rhubarb in a neighbourhood dog lady’s garden! And I’m so excited there will be rhubarbs available this year too. I see the making of vegan pies cakes, buns, jams, cream… in a not too distant future.

Life is slow, and the worries are plenty, but nature is wonderful this time of the year.

Thank you May, for helping be solve some problems and for being so soul soothing pretty.

Hello June, can we please be kind and compassionate, inspiring and inviting new joyous adventures? That would be so very much appreciated!

💚☮️🩷

easter 2025 reflections

 

Just a few recent captures of Easter-ish highlights in this residence. I’ll return with explanatory words tomorrow.

My little queen of fucking everything aka Ztina has found a new favourite spot. I created the spot to sit comfortable in this ol’ softa while watching TV or reading. Ztina claimed it, because obviously it was made for her.

Had planned to change the sofa cover, and new pillow covers for Easter. It didn’t happen. Not yet. But there’s always another week.

The protected hepatica (Sw. sing. blåsippa) first. Shortly followed by the wood anemones (Sw. sing. vitsippa).

Felt like a pink pleated day pre-Easter. The Unikko skirt is of course from Marimekko. If I remember correctly I bought it as an Easter gift for myself a few years back.

Still tights-weather, so it teamed with Snags in colour Raspberry Pie. Vegan sneakers from the Adidas/Marimekko collab 3 years ago.

I haven’t visited the beloved cherry blossom trees in Kungsträdgården since 2019. And the plans for this year to do it  turned out to a big nothing alas. 

These sakuras in the neighbour suburb are nothing as impressive as the Kungsträdgården ones, but it’s still a pretty feature in an otherwise rather depressive suburb center.

Our local cherry trees will hopefully be in full bloom very soon too. 🌸

It wasn’t the bakery XL levain I had planned to get for Easter, none left when I got there. So I got this less impressive poppy seeds loaf. It was rather nice. 

A soy latte in keep cup is a very rare treat these days, and another little (luxuary problem) reminder life is very different from what it once was. But with these two I reached 5 more points on my Espresso House app, so I have a few free coffees saved now. Little pockets of joy ✅

The vegan Easter looks very different in this residence now compared to when younger. Very much less candy and more a focus on good food. And with ridiculously high grocery prices nowadays, the food isn’t fancy or plenty. 

But here are a few of my plantbased favourites, all Swedish brands. My favourite baking butter and sandwich butter from Carlshamn. The Greek style soygurt from Planty/Oddlygood makes such a nice garlic sauce. Organic baby spinach from Garantskafferiet. 

Plantcheez doodles from OLW. Another rare treat, but much enjoyed snack on these rare occasions. Whipping cream from Oatly is the best dairyfree cream as far as I’m concerned. Bubs winegums style candy. Palmoilfree Brago biscuits have been around since I was a kid. From Göteborgskex.

Made one of my favourite simple meals for Easter dinner: oven roasted 🥔🥕, dito zucchini and 🧅. Airfryed tofu. Baby spinach and 🧄 sauce. Kind and texture/flavour rich food that makes me so happy and satisfied.

Little mum found these wild growing hyacinths. Smells lovely. Looks pretty. Free treat.

Not having a working streaming device anymore, but a TV with more channels (but too much commercials that I hate) my TV routines have changed a lot.

First I was so happy to see the original UK Grand Designs still ran on Swedish TV. I have been a great fan since forever, but haven’t seen it since my TV stopped working for the channel that showed it. Alas the show was on for a few weeks only, I guess it was end of season episodes.

Then I discovered ”The Great Pottery Throw Down”, loved it! The incredible talents, the emotional judge, the pottery. One of the nicest shows ever. Unfortunately the two first (old) seasons haven’t been followed by more. I hope there will be.

There are also several US building shows I think are pretty good. But I find it quite quite ridiculous with the obsession with the huge flags at the entrance. Do Americans easily forget which country they live in? 🤦🏻‍♀️

In Sweden (and most other European countries I think) we have usually have raised flags on Swedish national fete-days and on the home owners family birthdays and such. Not everyone has a house/garden large enough for a flagpole of course, but small flags can be attached to terraces and such instead. 

We are not a very flag worshipping nation, and personally I have always find flag obsessive patriotism quite off-putting and nasty. 🤷🏻‍♀️

”The Lottery Dream Home” has also caught my attention. David Brostad is such a fun and colourful host. It’s also very interesting with the architectural differences between north and south, middle, west and east USA. And of course the most often the country typical unnecessary huge houses. 

Noone needs it, and the strive for luxuary and larger things, more than you actually will ever need is one of the many many things that is wrong with this world. It will never make you a better, kinder, caring human being and loving steward of this one and only planet.

Watching TV shows like these make you think. A lot. About the chaos selfish, greedy people have created on this planet. And if there’s even a glimmer of hope to turn back from this devastating path of cruelty, ignorance and lies.

But apart from an overload of thinking, my Easter 2025 has been quite enjoyable after all. 🐣🌷🐥

let’s talk about little pockets of joy

 

Things and situations that continue to give me moments of joy in these times of overwhelming angst and worry (that I have no power to control) are (in random order) as follows:

A plate of home made vegan Swedish chocolate balls (which I was a long long time since I made).

Changing shoes and adding colours when spring is finally here.

Next up is finally begin using all the pretty spring/summer dresses in the wardrobe.

Having all the ingredients at home to make Mapo Tofu.

The arrival of buds and spring flowers. I love when large parts of my garden consist of scillas. Alas the beauty isn’t really fully visible in photos.

I am so looking forward to wood anemones, crocuses and tulips next…

A decent bowl of vegan overnight oats. This one with organic rolled oats, blueberries, oat milk, coconut shavings, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, organic raisins and dito peanut butter.

Making plantbased scones for breakfast. 

Saves money and adds a bit of luxuary to a weekday morning. Win win.

Lighting vegan candles in pretty candle holders.

Meet cute á la neighbourhood dogs. 

One of the hoods dog ladies have adopted an 8 year old Norfolk terrier. She was adorable and looks very much like loaf dog Malte extraordinaire. But lacks the confident, energetic, happy personality. I hope she will grow more confident and relaxed in her new home.

Last and literally least that day was tiny sausage dig puppy Otis, 9 weeks old. Too cute and impossible to capture properly.

Finishing a satisfying book. Like ’Jonathan Livingston Seagull’. I now can’t stop thinking about the secret life of non-human animals. Is it really all about instincts. Can’t it also be about hopes, dreams and personal pursuits of happiness?

top 5 swedish lifestyle blogs 2025

It may not exactly be news, but since 2018 I’ve been on the most extensive top list of Swedish lifestyle blogs. It started out on the top 20 list for a few years, moved up to the top 10, and have flipped back and fourth on place 2 and 3 for the last few years. Currently on 2.

As this blog will have its 20 (!) years blogoversary in September, I thought I’d write something about it. Even if it’s not something I make a big hullabaloo about, it is rather nice to know that after 20 years of more or less irregular writing there are still people who a) think it’s worth reading snippets from my point of view and b) think it’s worthy of a distinguished placement on a top list of Swedish blogs. 

Haven’t updated the lists, links and info in the sidebar ➡️ for many years now. And it still remains ad-free of course. Which is just how I want it to be. The truly meaningful ads of this world can probably be counted on five fingers, or there about.

blue sunday

 

I’ve been thinking about the current overwhelming stress and worry cloud over my head. I wish I was able to look at it as an adventure, the excitement of not knowing what will turn up, to trust the process and know everything will be alright, even if it currently feels ridiculously stressful. 

Once upon a time that way of thinking came easy, but then I always felt I stood on firm ground, had a solid base. Now I’m at a free falling place in life.

And that isn’t a pleasant, inspiring place to be in.

Although, I suppose it’s the perfect place for the ”anything is possible” mindset.

I had such high hopes for a) the every meeting has a meaning situation and my new mentor, 

b) the fantastic sustainability/circular economy company she stumbled over, and I reached out to and later even applied for the sales position (which would certainly be an interesting new challenge) at and 

c) the green book club meeting that felt very serendipitous.

Alas nothing long term positive came from neither.

The mentor did not really understand the assignment. And honestly she turned out to be one of those persons that makes everything circle back to her life experiences and her attitude towards life and people. 

Every time we’ve met it always ends up with anecdotes from her life. And more often than not, the same stories on repeat. I’m lucky if I get to open my mouth.

Naïvely I thought she as a mentor (who supposedly loves problem solving) would listen, grasp who I am and give useful advice. So far, apart from stumbling over the above company, she clearly hasn’t understood who I am and her suggestions have been more or less ridiculous. Offensive even. 

And even if we clicked right away in the beginning, I now feel the whole situation annoys me more than it gives me the energy and momentum I want and need. It just rubs me the wrong way.

So I suppose I’m a life lesson richer. But sadly disappointed. Extroverts really don’t understand how ambi/introverts work.

Apart from the late email I got from the founder of the local sustainability company I thought sounded amazing, and for which I would be a perfect match, I never did hear anything more about the job. 

It may not be a position I’d even contemplated applying for before, but nevertheless I ticked so many of the boxes they looked for and then a gazillion more. They would be fools if they didn’t at least met me, had me in for an interview, or a coffee.

Apparently they did not understand what a gem they decided to waste. And given how excited and happy I was for this obvious opportunity that would be so beneficial for us both, it was quite disappointing that it didn’t pan out. Fools they were.

As for the green book club. Well, we never decided on another time and date to meet up and discuss the book that was chosen. At least not when I was in the room. And I really really didn’t want to read that book either. I gave it a chance, and basically hated it. Which is an extremely rare thing for me.

Last week the chairman of the local Green party aka the woman who set up the book club sent an email saying that tomorrow’s book club meeting would take place in another place than last time and if we couldn’t make it please let her know.

It was a really weird thing to send an email one day before a meeting I had never heard of. I said I couldn’t make it and that I really didn’t like the book, but of course wished them a nice evening the next day.

The next day she removed LinkedIn connections with me. What an utterly weird behaviour. Because I didn’t like the book I never wanted to read in the first place, or what?

Such bizarre behaviour, especially after she wrote she felt that first meeting had been magical. So even if I had looked forward to other interesting books and more book club meets I have been truly put off the whole idea now.

My search of my kind of people continues. Again.

And today I dressed in blue.

That seems to be my only constant in life really. My penchant for colours and colour coordination. And my love for animals of course. 

Let’s make this week a good one! One step a day. 

when everything is uncertain

 

anything is possible.

Currently Fridays and caturdays evenings, in this house, equals old Inspector Lynley Mysteries on TV.

And today this memorable quote came up in a discussion on said series. It perfectly sums up my life. As well as the madness and uncertainties globally.

I’ve been watching the footage and photos from the Hands Off demonstrations in the USA. It makes me all emotional. Well done all of you who made it, naturally I whole🩷 support your efforts and objectives! 

I do hope April 5 2025 is the beginning of some positive progressive changes forward.

I was going to write something on the more personal level, but I think that is better saved for another day.

Always remember, when everything is uncertain, anything is possible. 

It’s a wonderful quote to go to bed with, especially when life feels particulary rough and unfair.

💚