grumme green detergent

When I travel I usually pick up "souvenirs" that are useful, food items, skincare and such. Plus I've had nice washing up and doing the dishes moments with local detergents with scents that remind me of the latest holiday destinations.

But with the world being as it is, the ecological point of view in some countries more than others do leave a lot to be desired, including the ingredients in something as seemingly simple as a washing up liquid, I don't buy that stuff anymore. (But good eco skincare, yes please!)

Besides, I've found the best detergent there is. Grumme is a classic Swedish soft soap brand that begun its journey 1882 in Stockholm. The green or yellow soft soap with its distinct scent have been used, at one point or regularly, in most every home since for washing the floors.

The range of products have since grown and now Grumme also offers soft scented soaps, laundry- and dishwasher detergents. Plus of course this one for doing the dishes the old way, by hand. I haven't tried the other scents, but I don't need to, since I'm completely smitten by this one. The green one called Natur (Nature) smells of freshly mowed lawn. One of the sweetest, most reviving scents there is, according to me.

Grumme is well-known for being a caring and conscientious eco brand, plus the products are good and long-lasting. I'm so glad I tried this one detergent once upon a time a few years ago, it hasn't left my kitchen sink since.

What is/are your favourite green product/s and why?

sweden's national day

I used to find it quite appalling that our national day wasn't a public holiday, today when it actually is a public holiday I find oh so many other things in life, in Sweden so much more appalling, worthy of their own day.

Perhaps we should call today, June 6, like proposed last year The Swedish Bobbaloo Settlement's Day instead? I don't see any blue-yellow pastries today, but I'm sure we'll do something nice during it. Simply a public holiday, national day or not, well spent.

two little blue boys for sale

A few days later, things changed in a very unexpected and unfortunate way and now Åskar, darling little Åskar, is for sale too. Alongside his cute fluff brother Årvar aka Sir Plupp above. I haven't really bothered with the advertising as such, but have adopted the laidback view that "things will work out, as things tend to do".

When I learnt today that Åskar's to-be-owner had changed her mind about him - with an excuse and in a way I admittedly find rather strange, for many reasons, though she was very nice and apologetic about it still, it's disappointing for many reasons... - and suddenly there were two little adorable fellas that are looking for loving forever homes (ready to move in three weeks) I felt I might have to adopt a less laidback and more active view on the matter.



The chance to sell kittens via the blog slim of course, needless to say this isn't the natural forum for it, but still, in case you happen to stumble in here, looking to buy a British Shorthair - or in the case of Årvar a longhair version - read more about them and my stipulations at the Luddkolt's website


"my brother is such a blue, perfect catch, ya' know"

happy weekend, happy june

from heatwave to really unexpectedly cold weather for the season. grumpy weather goddesses?

i do hope your weekend weather is benevolent, that health and happiness will be your sweet companions this first june weekend ~ have a fine one!

blue trio eight weeks old

Not a grump in blog sight, only kittens today. Fluffy, cuddly, adorable, soul soothing and all happy - Clever Cat Thursday it is!

Eight weeks old now, Årvar, Åskar and Ågot, they are wilder than ever - it's quite a significant difference between Ztina and Zigne when they were this age and these three - and quite a handful, but of course a delight too.

First veterinarian visit and vaccination yesterday, not too happy but as always they behave well. They also got to run around a bit and Ågot, in her usual high-pitched screaming manner got behind an old vase, sat herself down and started meowing in her special way. Other than that, all went well. I had expected them to be exhausted from the little trip when they got home. But on the contrary, their energy level had risen, they played wilder than ever games all evening.

Adorable and fun as they are, things will undoubtedly be a bit calmer and relaxed when they move in four weeks... Or well, actually Ågot, the little girl is a keeper. This is after all the seventh generation in a straight line from my own breeding, not sure where to go from here - and I can't see myself having kittens again for at least a couple of years now - but to lose that after 19 years would be a pity. So staying she is.

Åskar is already sold - as mentioned before, to a home that bought a cat from me 14 years ago. He was a beautiful male that won a lot at cat-shows at that time and sired many fine kittens. It was so nice to very unexpectedly hear from her again! It would indeed be lovely to sell kittens to homes you already have approved, I've met lots of lovely buyers over the years but the whole thing with unknown people, presumptive buyers visiting the cats and your home it's just a bit... invasive somehow. Yes, as a breeder I've of course brought that bit on myself, still people you already know visiting and opening their homes to another cat, much much nicer... -

and I had hoped the little fluff Årvar - or Sir Plupp as we call him, since he looks just like the little bluehaired troll from an old Swedish children's book, Plupp - had a nice home waiting with open arms. But that didn't work out, so I'm looking for the perfect home still, a worthy new owner. He's just such a gem, though his new owner should enjoy grooming.

Enjoy a mix of snaps of these past few weeks, a blend of some crappy quality and some decent ones, sometimes a moment is just lost if you have to ran for the proper camera. I think the mood and moment somehow speak for themselves even if the photo quality leaves a lot to be desired ~


things you can find on my living room floor

ågot and the elk (malte's squeaker toy)

åskar and uncle/big brother waldemar

daddy pelle and a couple of tiny blue ones occupying the sofa

årvar aka sir plupp, 6 weeks old

årvar and åskar catching suncats at the front door

åskar, 7 weeks old

ågot annoying the sleeping little loaf...

watching tv is often spent with a sleeping kitten snuggling on the shoulder,
at the neck or in the lap

the mock orange and i

during this lovely time of the year it would indeed be (more than) nice to feel energetic, in balance and happy. but instead my disposition is grumpy, with the odd glimpse of what should be.

something - besides the obviousness of cats, kittens and loaf - that is most always a source of soul and mind soothing is the garden, gardens.

the beloved old sugar loaf fir tree was less of the tree for every season, just a dry mess. alas its time to go to the mighty tree heaven had come and last week it went down. goodbye sugar tree, you've been a fine garden friend.

i had planned to plant a white lilacs shrub in its place, like a little silly white garden (sissinghurst inspired) in a corner of the garden (ornament tree and clematis also being white), but then i found a mock orange plant at växplats nybyn. oh i've always loved to have one of my own! i have such fond childhood memories of them and i adore the scent.

home it came. planted it was. with super fertilizer rockdust. protected from paws attacks. i have to say though that with super fertalizer i had expected it to have grown at least twice its size over night. ah the disappointment.

still, things can only improve, right? like not having to be so utterly tired of being tired. the mock orange and i, a day at a time we'll grow better and better. the tiredness of being tired, be gone.

what i learnt during the weekend

It has been an eventful week. Given my current health status quite an exhausting one.

Doctor's appointment, blood samples, lung x-ray - no sign of anything abnormal, which is of course good but still, the way I feel is anything but normal and it would be nice to have something very tangible to explain it, not just "the blood samples and your blood status show an infection of some sorts". Perhaps I'm feeling a tad better, but not at all as one would like to feel after two plus months of this... Two weeks and then I'll go back to Dr Feist to check my blood status again. Until then, be nice to myself. Don't overestimate my energy level, take it easy.

Now to the weekend's Geek Girl Meetup - which surely, after the avocado debacle earlier in the week, couldn't be that bad? And of course it wasn't, I wish I could be excited, but I'm not, though it was nice, met some interesting people (some of which I knew via Twitter and Instagram) with whom I would like to have talked some more. The circumstances didn't allow that, so I hope there will be room for that at a later date, on another occasion.

A few things I take with me from the event are;

~ I don't do the group thing -

something which I already knew, but still, I much rather talk one on one with people. Too bad there's most always rarely room or time for that, we're always forced into group situations.  And there are always people in those group situations that want to dominate, that aren't the least bit interested in listening to others and interact.

~ I love it when people are passionate about what they work with or have as a hobby or special interest -

but that doesn't mean that everyone who is passionate about what they do are good speakers and great at conveying the message and their passion in a fascinating way. In fact, many are quite yawn inducing instead.

~ I really am not the least bit interested in the technical parts regarding Internet, computers and social media -

not even spending time with geek girls who are makes it rub off

~ Beautiful Data (the theme for the event) to me is something which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and mind, good design, great colours, fonts, graphics, snazzy texts and great pictures -

obviously beautiful data is something completely different to these kind of geek girls...

~ Geek girls are much more open to different non 9-5 lifestyles and have an open mind towards different ways of thinking. Outside the box rocks -

but like in any group, profession, specialist area the bromos, expressions and concepts flourish and if you don't speak or think the lingo, well too bad boohoo

~ To not have to even bother with having to pre-order a vegetarian lunch since at least half of the lunch served is already vegetarian by default is just such a huge relief.

~ I do adore the fact that the name badge strings were shoe laces. Too nerdy and cool for words really. Still contemplating which shoe pair they will adorn.

My intention was to attend the event both days, however I was exhausted came Saturday evening, to attend Sunday too just wasn't an option. I doubt I'll attend next year - I think this was the third annual unconference meetup - still, it was very nice to see what all the fuss is about. Even if not world-turning and wow-factorish for me personally, I'm just not that kind of geek girl.

So, what did you learn this past weekend?

happy last may weekend ~

experiencing a real heatwave here, but i'm spending my weekend at an unconference for women only, geek girls. it's in my core not to do the-group-thing, but prosit forced me to go. it might be fun and energizing! (just the fact that there's no risk of the avocado issue, there's always vegetarian food at these events...) and then i'll have a lazy monday in an hopefully sunny garden instead.

i wish you a lovely weekend, may the weather, circumstances and life treat you well ~

two halfs of an avocado

You know the thing I mentioned about asking for a vegetarian option at one of this week's events? Fun fact of that evening: my vegetarian option turned out to be exactly two halfs of an avocado. Not a very ripe avocado at that. At first I laughed, surely it must be a joke? But no, the year 2012 someone (with a peabrain) thought that to slice an avocado in half would be the perfect vegetarian option.

I left early - the avocado issue wasn't the main reason, but it sure helped to see that this venue, this network probably isn't for me. The lack of fantasy, hopelessly outdated, the disrespectfulness, I find it quite appaling.

I could write a long long post about a lot of things regarding this, details that make it even more odd, also involving trusting your gut feeling, but at the same time struggling to separate stuff and situations I myself find awkward but that could perhaps benefit Prosit and business.

The importace of surrounding yourself with people that give you energy and inspiration, that share your core values but also challenge you to think in new ways. To chose your networks wisely, but still be curious about new venues and situations, while being true to yourself and your beliefs.

But I won't. I will only establish that there is now a very obvious phrase for things awkward, disrespectful, appalling, annoying, lazy, outdated etc etc;

two halfs of an avocado.

Feel free to use it.

random musings and a rugged case

:: Trying to upload the 10 pictured to the Aday site really isn't easy breezy. There's something wonky and since you for some odd reason can't upload them in portions you need them all to "stick" to the site at once. It says all ten have been uploaded, but in reality there are only three visible. I know I could have tried the uploading earlier this weekend, tomorrow is the last day to do it, but I really really didn't think it would be such a time-consuming nuisance... I may stop trying now, head to bed and have a go tomorrow again. I wonder if it has been like this all week? And go figure, the support page does not work either...


:: You know the feeling that signing up for an event - or getting tickets for a show, play, concert - seems like an awfully good idea a few months ahead, when the date apporaches it doesn't feel as good anymore? More like, I could have spent my day, evening, weekend more wisely? I've got that feeling about several signed up for-things this week. A good idea at the time, now just... nah. It might be my general feeling of not being well, more than a feeling of course but it's not very obvious to anyone but those close to me thus it's tad trickier (if you want) to grump and hide in a corner, and hopefully it will turn out alright. And of course, as a free grown-up with a will of my own, if it turns out to be crap I can always leave early.

Sometimes I, obviously, have to do things for Prosit. Things the inner me would rather not. At least not some days.


:: With having general less energy to write blog at the (long) moment I don't read much blogs either. I've noticed that me reading/commenting on other blogs and getting comments here does go hand in hand. Not at all necessarily in a reciprocal way though. Funny how things work.


:: Finding out that they will serve a fish dish at one of the why-did-I-sign-up-for-events I asked if they'd have a vegetarian option. The answer was "do you eat fish?" - face palm. A) If I am vegetarian I DO NOT EAT FISH, B) If I was a pescetarian and knew about the fish dish - which I obviously did - I wouldn't ask. People never stops to... astonish me (to put it mildly). They will serve something vegetarian now though.


:: Got the new iPhone case - it's weird how difficult it is to get really protective ones which are at least reasonably pleasing to the eye too! - which turned out to be ridiculously expensive in the end as it got stuck in the customs, sigh. So far I find it nice looking - and look, I had a matching pair of nailpolish bottles at home already! - and easy to assemble, sturdy and a nice-to-hold-material. But also more than a bit bulky and inconvenient when you want to write or touch the side of the screen. Hopefully one can get used to that and learn to work it. From Case Mate.