the long weekend that was

The Ascension weekend has come and gone, thus it has been a rather long luxurious one here in Sweden, many people having a holiday not only on Thursday but on Friday too. It has been pretty blissful, with glorius weather overall. Thoroughly enjoyed by us all I'd say.

I've also thought a lot about my energy level not being quite up to blogging, despite me, as usual, thinking about it whenever I see something especially nice and shareworthy, whenever a picture is snapped. I just don't get around to the actually downloading, uploading, writing bit of it.

And when the days, weeks, months pass the once so shareworthy seems strangely uninteresting and old. I'm thinking perhaps that, even though I love the writing of long posts, with more than one photo, maybe the very short blogpost via the app on a regular basis, perhaps even skipping that unofficial one-post-a-day at the max rule of mine, is what my life is now. When I see it, think it I blog it - and since I don't appreciate the photo uploading via app I can always return to it and tweak it for aesthetical reasons. 

For now though, a few snaps of the weekend that was.



The little fella named Åskar has found a new owner. An unexpected blast from the past that was quite lovely. Perhaps more about that in a post of its own later when I feel inclined. He won't move until late June, so I can still completely enjoy them tiny all - well perhaps not the part when they use me as a giant human pincushion. Which happens several times a day - for a month plus still.



My nails are blue - OPI No time for the blues - and my toe have a Moomin patch. Due to a rather nasty blister. But of course Moomin patch has made it feel all better.



I was very sceptical to trying out a moo toilet seat - not being a fan of animal prints and such. Now I totally love it. It's such a moodlifter!



We visited the magical king's meadow lily field of 2012 - the bobbaloos were much happier about it than last year. More of in a later post. Hopefully.



I got me a pretty little summer tunic. The prettiest thing is actually the embroidery on the back. Another little thing for another little post.



We stumbled over a field with another kind of moos, my favourite the Highland cattle. Too far for close ups, but a delightful sight just the same. May they live long and happy lives...



There was another lovely outing with a wonderful lunch - this is my dish. A so called "health plate" with raw food salad, avocado, hoummus, pesto and fried tofu. It was very very satisfying. Both to the eye, palate and tummy. I wish more food could be like that. The restaurant also offers cooking lessons of various kinds, I've never been tempted to do one of those, but now I am. The vegetarian one sounds awfully nice, given the fabulous fresh and pretty food they serve in the restaurant.



The latest pair of shoes was inaugurated. They got all thumbs up for comfort and cuteness. Yay!



The new, fine wax cloth I've been saving for a special day since last summer lasted three (3) days before it was touched by the claws of a cat. The trimmed claws, but still, touched like only a cats claws can.



I baked a banana bread. It was a lovely banana bread. Pretty perfect if I may say so myself. Half is in the freezer, half have been enjoyed by several individuals.



There was pottering around garden - with a scary amount of dandelions this year too - we had to cut down the sugar loaf fir tree, for every year it has been getting drier and drier, it was time to say goodbye. I planned to plant a white lilacs shurb in its place, but I stumbled over a mock orange plant this weekend, I've always wanted one with its intoxicating scent and gorgeousness. Will clear the garden mess during the upcoming week and have a little appropriate farewell ceremony for the fir tree. It has after all served its pretty purpose for many many years as a Christmas lights delight holder, clematis hugger and much more.

Needless to say, but I will anyway,
I hope your weekend has been a fine one -
what did you do, anything special? -
and that the week will treat you well ~

aday 12

I'm participating in the Swedish non-profit photo-project Aday initiated by the foundation Expressions of  Humankind - open to participants all over the world, where anyone inclined today on May 15th 2012 was to snap pictures of their lives, their surroundings. Real people taking real pictures of real lives, and they don't have to be fancy schmancy, love the idea!

Did you take any photos and participated? The photos must be taken on May 15th, but you can upload them to the website until May 22nd. I've created an account but I still have to sort out which pictures to chose, 10 is the limit.

Our main event of the day was removing Malte's stitches, one stitch on his tummy looked a bit infected so he'll get some penicillin for that, but the plastic funnel have been removed - a Norfolk terrier's body type doesn't allow the licking of private parts, that seem to be the issue with many male dogs - and after the vet-visit we went to a dog café were he had a little feast and we had lunch/coffee.

Yes a little missus at the café tried to snatch the loafie's treat - quelle horreur! - but luckily the plate escaped her jaws.

Certainly a face that deserves some black pudding, right?

It was a lovely sunny day - oh the promise of summer in the air is so very tangible! - and right across from the dog café is this park with a fountain and people of all ages enjoying th weather. I snapped a few photos, uploaded via Instagram - which I still adore, despite the Facebook-thing - and via Twitter it found its way to the Washington Post's aday-gallery. Which I think is a nice little thing. (Not sure if the link lands exactly on my photo, but browse away and you'll find.)

Hope your may 15 was a lovely one too!

the weekend that was

It has been a lazy weekend. There have been rain, there have been sun. For a few glorious days the ornament tree is in bloom.

~ I have finished the latest course of medicine now, I'd lie if I'd say I'm miraculously feeling better, but perhaps at least on the right track. I will await this week - Ascension week, a short working week for most office working Swedes - and if things aren't better by next weekend I will have to have a talk with Dr Feist what to do next. Sigh. I hate feeling like this, the constant, yet not really tangible inbetween of being completely well and feeling competely crap. End of whine for today.

~ We've planted pansies. They've been inspected. I love that I found new boxes for them this year. Bright apple green ones.



~ There have been kitten and cat cuddles galore. And yes, the match my robe, ain't that nifty!



~ The lilacs show great promise this year...



~ We had fika at a *new* place, a lovely garden, nursery, summer café that I'm sure we'll return to and have a closer look at all the fabulous plants they had.



~ It was a no socks-day!



~ And yay, it was a good hair day! It doesn't happen often, but when it does it somehow calls for a celebration - I'll save that for later this week. I'm thinking it will be a good one. I have a few nice lunches and meetings booked, the loaf dog will have his stitches removed - and the plastic funnel will finally be history - and they've promised a plethora of sunshine. Somehow life and matter seem a lot brighter and lighter when sunshine and blue skies.

I hope your weekend was sweet and that your week will be a lovely one,
possibly include the cuddle of a little cat or two ~

the blue trio five weeks old

"please keep calm and behave yourself, little sister/cousin"

A week plus later, I do not remember British Shorthair kittens being this advanced and active in general, and I certainly do not remember Ztina and Zigne being that at this age. Especially Ågot - formerly known as Ågaton, before she revealed she was actually a girl - who a few days ago showed she is a veritable escape artist, there's a whole wide world out there outside the kitten box and I want to explore! Before she found a way to climb out of it  herself she screamed in a high pitch like only kittens can to be picked up and let out.

I've always had the kittens and their box in a separate room, with these two latest litters I decided it was best to have them in the living room, the place were we mostly are, the TV, action and the kitchen nearby. It has proven to be the best way to socialise them - but oh my, tiny as they are they do take up a lot of "space"...

In the most adorable way of course. And with me being at home, mostly resting and trying to get back to my usual self still it's very comforting, the company I have.

I'm constantly amazed about how not only are they too cute for their own good - I know, they do look painted, but they are seriously looking like little huggable creatures from a fairytale - , they are also very inventive, advanced, curious, social and snuggly. They love a good snuggle, especially Ågot.

The way Ztina in particular both play with and try and keep her little siblings/cousins in order is fantastically entertaining and endearing.

Yes, Årvar is most probably a longhair. He is amazingly adorable, a tiny fluff and not all as big as all that fluff would suggest.

Åskar is just a perfect little British Blue boy, chubby, plush and stylish.

And Ågot, well she is just very obviously a girl, not a boy, with a lot of personality, gumption and go. Heart. A whole lot of heart.

the winners of the march tea giveaway

Better late than never, the winners have been chosen, by the small sized woollies of course.

Into the tin they went, all fighting to get to the winners - or at least most of them, some liked posing for the camera better.

The bobbaloos who managed to snatch two pieces with names first were Gingerbob and Knut. And the winners are...

ikkinlala and Tracy

Congratulations, you'll both get a bag of Swedish tea blends, either Vetekatten or Guteblandning. If you send me an email - you'll find my email at the about me-page - with you address I'll have it in the mail asap.

Thank you to all who participated and told me about your favourite thing/s about Spring, I hope they have all come true in an abundance this year too!

the shoe lust syndrome

Apparently the new (unofficial) rule is that every trip that lasts more than one day should comprise a new pair of shoes.

And granted I had saved and planned for a nice little spring shoes purchase in Helsinki since it was said El Naturalista had a flagship store there - the so called flagship store in Berlin was a hole in the wall with far fewer model than one would think so I didn't have that much hope for this one either... - which it was far from. But still, nice in its own way.

Not the models I had hoped for, but there were a few options to chose from. In the end though, when I went back and was to chose which pair I went with a pair of ART shoes instead (like the recent red flowery boots in Tate model, though this model is called Paris). The soles were actually more comfy than the El N models I tried on. And maryjanes, the rounded toes, the quirky details and the raspberry red... well that's somehow very me.

They have now been thoroughly inspected by bobbaloos. And paws. Approved.

It is indeed strange though, that no matter, apparently, how many shoes you have, get, purchase there is always room for more.

I remember I even wrote here in blog years ago - oh dear was that really me writing? - that I was not a shoe-person, sure I love a good-looking (and  comfortable!) shoe, but I wasn't crazy about them, as so many women seemingly are. That has obviously changed. Although the only shoes I look to buy these days are El Naturalistas, and now apparently ART too, other pretty shoes I'm more than happy to just feast my eyes on. One huge reason for my my addiction fascination, love even, of El N shoes are the wonderful colours - the eco, comfiness, design, craftmanship, CSR are the fabulous bonuses - the colours are what get me going, the juices flowing. Like colours always do. Every time.

Now I'm just anxiously await them to begin making vegan shoes and/or use recycled leather...

It is also strange how for every new pair of shoes one might get, there is always (immediately) the next pair to lust after. I blame the colours. If they just stopped making so darn fabulous colours, some new covetable blend for every season, then I'm sure I would not be in such shoe lust. Possibly.

Are you a shoe person?
Or do you lust after sensible things only?
(Because really, how many shoes can one person go through and wear to pieces in a lifetime...)

may weekending

for some odd and annoying reason my regular internet connection at home doesn't work - thus this will only be a shortish post alas. not pleased with how the posts and pictures look with the blogging by app, will tweak this later, but i had a little writing urge, so here goes by app.

~ my latest appointment with dr feist and the tests i had led to what will hopefully prove to be a good super-medicine that will get be back to feeling my usual self again. because feeling like this still, after so many weeks is just crap. the vague but obvious symptoms, the overwhelming tiredness, hate it. be gone!

~ poor loafie had his surgery with tumour being removed and neutered, he was such a weary thing yesterday but is reasonable himself today. although plastic funnel, ol' friend, will have to be worn until the stitches are removed in 10 days... not a happy loaf scenario.

~ looks like bluespotted boy ågaton is in fact a bluetortiespotted girl. her name will thus be ågot (apparently danish for agata).

~ i have definitely not forgotten about the tea giveaway...

~ i have loads of things to show and tell, especially with the optics of the iphone 4s having been wonderful to play with, but for today and the app restrictions, one picture it is.

cherry blossom 2012 - magic every year.
i hope you'll have a wonderful weekend ~



edit - upon editing this post since the app doesn't do the trick for me i realised i had posted cherry blossoms, granted from another tree, another place, in the previous post too... my memory really is short and shallow these days...

may may bring

~ health back, for real, for sure, for all - booked another appointment with dr feist tomorrow and loaf dog has his surgery on thursday

~ lovely new assignments for prosit

~ sunshine and kitten cuddles galore

really, that's not too much to ask and wish for, life?

happy may to all!

walpurgis 2012

wishing you a lovely day ~ evening, take care and be safe

(nor sure how this post will appear, trying the blogger publishing app for the first time...)

å å å and z z

Only a few days later really, but the blue boys had grown so much upon our arrival back home. So I'm pleased to re-introduce you to Årvar -

who might or might not be a British Longhair, I've never had one, but nature surprise us when least expected and he does look like a miniature blue Chewbacca... Be as that may, he is absolutely the cutest little fluff imaginable.

Ågaton - the bluespotted brother, with an expression to melt any heart and

first born in the trio, smallest of the three, Åskar - with a mischiveous personality already.

But the two first ones to great me when I came home were the Z-sisters, curious, cuddly, purring, delightful as always. Cottonball Ztina 

and little Miss Redhead Zigne. 

Oh, when it comes to household members I'm truly blessed, I know.