happy summer weekend

No special plans for the weekend, it's summer, it's hot, there are plenty of options for little outings and cool breezes.

But me and my 'magic green' fingers are hoping it will hold colours and flowers,



good cake and appreciation of those tiny blessings in life.

  ~ Have a lovely weekend ~

a little summer dream of open toe shoes

One might not think so, but something I actually do miss in my shoe collection is wearable open toe-shoes. Lovable clogs in all their comfortable, quirky glory, when it's hot, hot, hot it is nice to have airier feet. Plus showing a bit of perky, painted toenails is always nice. Really nice.

Four years ago I got this pair of red sandals. They were lovely to wear for a couple of summers. Then it was no, no, no, the soles of my feet hurt like hell after walking a day in them. Clearly not the most shock absorbing, anatomically-designed sandals.

So when I spotted that my favourite shoe shop in Stockholm did carry the El Naturalista Iggdrasil sandals. In red. I thought, oh oh, must try, will buy for a part of the tax refund.

Sadly today was a huge try-and-buy-disappointment. Turned out the Velcro tape lock around heel was way too short to fit when a foot was inside shoe. Which is kind of the point of a shoe, when you try on a suitable size it should fit around feet. The sole fit, the size was alright, the Velcro band was too too short. The weirdest thing. Such a flagrant design flaw.

But to be honest, sadly, even if they had fit I don't think I'd want them. They may look cute in photo, but on feet they looked frumpy. I don't like frumpy. I do quirky.

I haven't seen any other pleasing open toes/sandals - and my feet only like El Naturalista to cater for their comfort, and I do as my feet say, since they have to carry me all day - I'd like as I want them with thicker soles and the Iggdrasil is my favourite model for long, carefree city walks.

Still, even if I adore and lust after certain shoes because they are both pleasing to the eye and comfortable to wear I have constant battles with myself over wearing leather shoes. I wish they were all made of recycled leather. Then I wouldn't mind battle as much. 

For now, I will have to continue air my summer feet when I sit down for a rest or a wait I guess. Oh, I'm well aware that this may be a luxury problem, I have plenty of comfortable shoes to wear, but still, those luxury issues too can put a damp on one's hot, humid, summer life.

Care to tell me what your favourite summer foot gear is? And why?

the deadly dress and other short thoughts

:: This may look like a pretty and flattering for any shape dress - but labels that say "100% polyester" and "keep away from flame" are rather off-putting somehow.

:: When we visited what turned out to be the overblown-king's-meadow-lilies-field a few weeks back we passed this place for sale. I'm not really sure what made me want it. I think it was a combination of, how wonderful it would be to live in a forest with a large garden but with a bus-stop right outside the surrounding lilacs hedge. Not too far from neighbours but they're still not visible from your own plot. The hermit life but still not really. The size of the house is nice, even if it doesn't look fancy I was indeed smitten. I viewed the interior on the web, it was quite lovely and unpretentious.

Not at all a dream-house as such, and I'm not sure I'd like to live a country-life where you quite possibly wouldn't be able to live as 'anonymously' as you can do in a city/suburb. Who knows how often the bus runs, it was a plot honestly situated too close to an (what I presume is an unbusy, but still) road and being stuck in the forest during fierce Scandinavian snowfalls may not be fun. And the financial bit, plus the selling of current dwellings, moving etc etc.

Still, it looked very appealing. Tucked away in the forest, behind a lilacs hedge with its large garden.

:: Next to my dentist's office the newly open gift shop has painted the dull cement road-sows pink with white dots. A little paint, some dots equal smiley face.

:: Note to self: to get a new kind of dog food just because the old one wasn't available is bad for the environment. The indoors one. The flatulence tendencies in one little loaf can obviously reach new heights of interestingness. If you could bottle it as engine fuel I'd be a billionaire.

:: Will not write about bobbaloos, will not write about bobbaloos, will not...

:: Had this Innocent smoothie for the second time (as lunch) the other week. I don't know what has taken me so long to get around try it (may be that it seems scarcely available...). Think the blueberry-pomegranate-acai might be a runner-up to my mango-passionfruit favourite.

:: I've probably mention this before - yes I have - but every time I spot one of these cuties I feel it would be a most pleasant thing to have to get around on. Now and then.

:: I'm also in serious lust after these nifty, beautiful, perky garden LED lights. But as only one would look silly (and alone) at least two would be a must, though three is even better (and magic). I'm also thinking that the LED flowers are prettier with longer stems instead of the shortest ones. And hey, then it'll be a pretty expensive delight, albeit beautiful.

Can you imagine how cool it would be to have this old boat in your garden - and not be afraid of it to sink and you drowning - and have it as a philosophising / entertaining / creative summer room? I can.

:: The nature and we had a few spurts of rain today. It was wonderful - although during it all and still, the air remained as humid as ever - and brought out lots of snails in garden again. At the snails' garden party I found, what I presume, just might be the li'l fella from yesterday's picaroon meet. Still as sweet. And a living proof of how in mysterious ways nature moves ~

sweet sixteen

Hallo, my name is Pia and I'm (apparently) a bobbaloo addict. Now with that out of the way -

If there ever was a time to contemplate getting not only one (to get lucky number 13 a special friend), but three bobbaloos at the same time it was when 13 (lucky number) + 3 (lucky number too) would become a sweet 16.

Nilla and Georgia (vanilla yellow and peach) and tiny picaroon girl Pippi (which I think is an apt name for a stripey tomboy) have arrived, hooray!

With the heatwave - whine whine whine despite my promise I wouldn't weather whine... Seems I can't help myself today - is making my generally not-a-good-sleep-nights even more sleepless (if possible). And on top of that there's some strange thunderish air. Plus I dipped my crisp white blouse's cord in lunch's tomato sauce. Yes with all that, and some other things not mentioned, putting a damp on my day I was really very happy to see that unmistakeably Kit Lane-package in my letter box when I got home.

Out tumbled three sisters and they were welcomed with open arms by the rest of the settlement (sadly no cake leftovers from yesterday). Especially Seth is overjoyed about now finally having a tiny special friend of his own. 

The tiny trio, Jojo, Leonard and Seth, has now become a quartet lead by deedy Pippi. The boys are in awe of her whims. In the short time she has been here she has already tamed (or so she thinks) a supersized (from bobbaloo point of minuscule view) squirrel.

And met a curious perfect sized baby snail.

And of course, like all bobbaloos,
the trio that became sweet 16
has a fabulastic set of adorable butts.

PS I will try my uttermost to ignore the blog attention-seeking bobs for the rest of the week. Since there are, strangely enough, other things to write blog about... DS

on june 6th 2011

As mentioned before, today is Sweden's national day (nationaldag). A day which I personally can't see any point in celebrating these days. Since, to semi-quote Shakespeare, there are too many things rotten in the state of Sweden. Sadly.

Even though, of course, we can be grateful for having escaped wars, dictators, starvation in modern times. But with a country having avoided just those of humanity's torments one would think that country should have made better use of those blessings. Instead it's as willing as any country to throw away so many resources, misspend finances, praise and give to the ones that already have while mistreating the lesser fortunate, devastate nature and abuse animals. With not the least bit self-perception or -criticism. Most every day is a reminder of so much potential lost. So for those reasons I feel it's quite pointless to celebrate any Swedishness.

But for an extra day off I was happy. A day that turned out to be a gloriously sunny one, tad too hot perhaps (will not whine, will not whine), managed to get some weeding and gardening done followed by cream pastries. Swedish flag cream pastries. Like Princess cakes, but with the marzipan topping in flag shape instead. They were lovely.

The bobbaloos thought it was an excellent day to celebrate their Swedish settlement - and who am I to say no to 13 adorable wee bobs? So they feasted, they partied and seemed pretty pleased with this day, June 6. Which from now on quite possibly will be celebrated as The Swedish Bobbaloo Settlement's Day instead of some silly National Day. Now that is something that's truly smiley-happy celebrate-worthy as far as I'm concerned.

Hooray ~

sunday musings

The long glorious weekend is not really over yet, today may be Sunday for most, but since tomorrow is a public holiday (being Sweden's National Day) I think we can call this Saturdayish evening. But still, what seemed like a close to endless weekend only a few days ago is now singing on its last tune. Alas, all good things must (but why) come to an end.

Here are some things that have wandered through my mind these past few relaxing days -

:: That temperatures suddenly rose to around +30C being only early June still, that's not something I appreciate. I really try not to be that average tiresome weather whining Swede, but phew, this hot, this early in the season? Not my cup of tea.

:: Every day of this long weekend have been spent in different most pleasing garden surroundings. I may not have green fingers myself, but gardens really are a comfort for the soul. I wish I had more patience and talent for gardening. Or a willingness to get dirty and muddy in the way that only gardeners do. It seems liberating somehow, but perhaps not very me.

Tomorrow will be spent in own garden only. Weeding and fertilizing (with a Scottish anabolic organic kind of fertilizer we got today. Worthy a post of its own to come). I'm also planning to bake a cake. Not that I'll celebrate our National Day, as I see no particular reason to do that anymore, but a cake is a cake is a cake any day. And a befitting way to round off to a lovely weekend.

:: My sore thumb from last Autumn is acting up again. I suppose it has something to do with too much crocheting and possibly iPhoneing. I should probably always remember to not be so completely absorbed with the yarny stuff, crochet for much shorter periods, stretch and rest the joints more. But darn, that's difficult.

:: I'm now a happy crocheter of Pippi kettle-holders. I'm thinking they'll be awesome when finished! Easy to make, but very pleasing to the eye. Can only crochet a wee bit, then rest. Must remember to restrain and not strain myself. Must. Remember.

:: Today a couple of bobbaloos swooned at the sight of Drottningholm palace. I was seriously worried we needed a long talk about republicanism. No house-sharer of mine should advocate the utter inanity of monarchy. But I was soon assured by Kit that all bobbaloos are democrats at heart, it's just that they appreciate good architecture. Hooray, I say, they've certainly come to settle in the right house of castle buffery! Just another reason to adore them even more.

I promptly showed them a smaller, homely castle and luckily they were just excited, admiring and no swoony tendencies were shown.

:: If I can't do the yarn thing as I'm used to these days, perhaps it's the right time to finish some long-since-planned projects with the sewing machine? It would be nice to actually finish something that I can wear this summer.

:: I have not been completely able to not think of the week to come, I'm hoping it will be good and decent news of new beginnings. And not the other kind. But still, I'm the worrying kind. I just am. But to just babble things through is often very helpful to sort things out, to have a strategy to deal with what may or may not be to worry about. I have done that good babbling this weekend too.

:: I've now wore the pretty violet-purple shoes a few times and have to say that they are absolutely awesome. The tad higher heels than I'm generally wearing are very comfortable and I love how sweet and kind of embracing of feet that style of higher back of heel is. Yes, I am contemplating the niceness of second pair in another colour combination would be. One can dream of spectacles and shoes alike.

:: There are certain times you just can not be a charitable language police, a forgiving member of the spelling squad. Times when a sensible orthography heart cries loudly in pain at the sight of certain signs.

Now I'm off to treat myself to a home spa of mud mask, moisture mask and a cup of tea. A perfect way to end a Saturdayish evening in style me thinks.

bespectacling

Helped my mother chose new glasses today and well, stepping inside that optician heaven of thousands of affordable, funky glasses I obviously had to try some on too.

Yes, I have been so very pleased with my transformer goggles, and have gotten a disproportionate amount of nice compliments about my cool spectacles, that I would lie if I said I hadn't contemplated getting another couple of such special ones.

Yes, they have been great, but for one annoying fact. They're too large to fit under my sun covers - which really is a great great idea, why didn't anyone come up with such earlier? I can't stand clip-ons, but these easily slip over your usual glasses, they have made my sunny days so much easier when I've decided to wear more glasses than contacts -

thus I can't wear them on sunny days. My old prescription sunglasses are too weak a strength and give me a headache, so either I need a new pair of them or I just have to put up with the fact that I can only wear my transformer goggles on cloudy days or in evenings. Which seems a pity somehow...

Anyway. Today I tried on this and that and then some just for fun. But of course I fell head over eyes for some... The littlest bobbaloos that forms a trio were excitingly adamant I'd go for the cow-pattern ones - me I'm thinking they were too much of the Cruella-de-Ville-look, although granted I'd be a Pia-de-Good-will of course - but I have my eyes rather firmly set on a pair of quirky beige/white dotty ones (seriously sweet they were). And possible some more. When my tax-refund comes I'm thinking there will be another visit to the optician heaven of thousandish quirky possibilities.

Until then, we all dream a little dream of glasses ~

afternoon tea at söderköpings brunn

They call it "cake-buffet" but as there are both scones and cucumber sandwiches served I define it as "afternoon tea". But no matter what you call it, it was a delightful and most affordable buffet that was offered at Söderköpings Brunn (Söderköping's Spring/Spa). Today a four star hotel, but known since the Middle Ages, with organised health spa activities since 1719 and granted a royal charter in 1774.

The environment and surroundings are lovely. Indoors is sweet in a shabby chic way (hint, it wouldn't be a bad thing to re-upholster the chairs and sofas in the lounge...) and you can chose to have you cake buffet either indoors, on the veranda or in the garden.

It was indeed a lovely assortment on offer, so thought Leonard and Knut too (who especially excited about the mini pastries). Slight minus for these details;

:: The scones were perfect, but to have clotted cream (nasty) but no whipped cream and no strawberry jam, oh no.
:: And even if loose tea isn't always better than teabags it is nice to be able to chose.
:: Plus bigger cups for tea-drinkers, please.
:: The cucumber sandwiches were tad soggy and with an unfortunate tang of fridge-flavour.
:: And as a general rule, as certain cakes/cookies horrendously enough still are baked with animal gelatin, please display if all cakes are suitable for vegetarians.

But I loved the scones anyway, many of the cakes and cookies were well-baked classic Swedish ones with a pleasant taste of childhood memories and grandma's garden fika. The fruit cream cake (topped with an abundance of red currants, strawberries and raspberries) and the unpretentious looking nut cookie were my favourites. Plus, really, that minuscule chocolate mousse thing topped with a sliced strawberry... very close to orgiastic I'd say.

My (our) overall impression -
Food - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Ambiance - 5/5 
Value for money - 4/5

The cake buffet is served Monday - Saturday Definitely a place to go for a nice as well as affordable treat! Sadly about two hours drive south from Stockholm, but as Söderköping is overall a very picturesque small-town I think it makes for a perfect summer day-trip.

Söderköpings Brunn
Skönbergagatan 35, Söderköping
+46 (0)121 - 109 00
info@sbrunn.se

the long weekend's thursday

On the first day of this gloriously long weekend (Ascension day) the sun shone generously. A perfect day for inaugurating the applegreen clogs and taking ourselves and a couple of bobbaloos on a toy car outing.

Rodney and Knut in the bobbaloos' travel cabin having a front row seat watching the pretty June landscape swooshing by.

The designated destination was the usually lovely Nibble gård (farm & café). But as soon as we stepped out of the car there we were assaulted my mosquitoes. As unluck would have it mosquitoes apparently invaded the place same time every year. So what should have been a pleasant fika and outing was cut rather abruptly short since it was impossible to stand the constant mosquito bites. Tea and a nice rhubarb pie was hastily gobbled down. Will be back, later in the season.

On our way home we stopped and looked at some lovely horses. Knut was a very excited blue bobbaloo.

But Rodney, known for his sweet tooth, was very disappointed about the 'havrebollar' (oatsballs, playing in the same sweet league as the call-them-whatever-you-like-balls) - being sold at the same place by the road for 30 plus years now - being sold out for the day. Don't you worry, little ursabob, we'll return. And strawberries are really very nice too, you should try ours.

Apart from the now smallish hellish itching of mosquito bites I think it was an overall rather nice start of one gloriously long weekend. Toodle-oo ~

earth lovers etc.

This week so far, apart from the greatest of meetings yesterday, have been a seriously annoying waste of my time -

the kind were one is 'forced' to spend time at an office were people are too stressed and occupied with there own tasks they neither really listen to what one say/ask for nor give one enough work to feel it's a productive use of one's time to spend the day in that office. Oh, I can think of a gazillion more useful ways to spend one's days.

And no, it isn't a place, a situation were I can take initiatives and come up with decent tasks myself. Now what initially was intended to come from that "one of my best meetings ever" feels quite strained and rather awkward. Which is a pity, since it showed so much promise. The blend of Swedish labour market politics, unwieldy, bureaucratic exercise of public authority, projects that weren't steered right from the very beginning, committed people with good intentions gone jaded along the way. And the same people being of very, very different personalities and operation mode causing frequent frictions. All that have caused the lopsidedness. Playing a huge part in the roller coaster conundrumness and the root-fillingness saga -

in that disrespectful way I absolutely loath. Thus I'm very happy to know that now, Wednesday evening, there's a long, long glorious weekend to look forward to, with Monday June 6 being Sweden's national day (something which I once would have liked to seen celebrated more, these days I actually couldn't care less, what good and decent Swedishness is there to celebrate anymore, that I do not know). Five days all mine mine and mine alone.

I'm seeing good weather, good naps (last time I had a really good night's sleep was close to eons ago), nice outings, yarn activity and bobbaloo adventures. Perhaps a dash of painting and possibly some cleaning of house and clearing of garden (as boring as those two latter activities are they do have a tendency to relax the mind from nagging thoughts).

And, during the weekend I also plan to make good, pampering use of the sweet scented, cleansing, uplifting, moisturizing Body Shop goodness in the photo above. I picked them up for a happy 50% off in the taxfree shop on the boat to Åland a couple of weeks ago. So far I'm loving the biodegradable shower gel with yummy scent of apricot and basil (and its name, earth lovers, is a nice one). I'm hoping the scrub will be as good as it smells and that the generally praised body butter will suit my skin type.

Yes, this is what I plan and hope for on this gloriously long, long weekend already here. And for those who are not blessed with that long weekend already here I say

Happy Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, weekend and Monday, I hope you get to spend those days in either a positive, productive or wonderfully, relaxing way ~