Hello Friday

A week of things going up and things going down.
Some people being more helpful than one can hope for.
Others being who they are and good enough.
But most of all, all of us, trying our best.
And maybe you couldn't tell from looking at me.
And maybe you couldn't tell from listening to me.
But this going up and going down thing,
when I look at the reason for this roller coaster,
I'm very happy.
I created it. I choose it. I deal with it.
It's mine.

On Sunday Christmas begins.
At least to me.
Have a good Friday and thank you for reading.

Christmas Wish List

A doll who pretends to be a bear? Yes, please. I don't see how anyone could resist. More Black Apple creations to be found on Etsy, here, and at Emily Martin's blog, here. Really lovely.

It's Here

It's November 25th and I'm wearing fur and The Ugly Shoes. A personal best. Last year the snow came on Saint Lucia's Day, December 13, and stayed to the beginning of March. It was like living in a cliché for three months. The Image of Sweden every time you opened the door. I wonder what this winter will be like.

The Kid Stays In The Picture

Wilhelm disappeared in time for bed. I looked everywhere.


I did not look here.


Surprise!


After climbing out of the box even Wilhelm was surprised he'd been able to squeeze into it.
"Look how tiny it is! Am I really that small?"
Yes, you are. And a beautiful thing that is.

Random On Wednesday

• We're having our first blizzard of the season. I love that word. Blizzard.
• The picture above is not from today. If I posted from today you'd all be crying.
• I'm finishing my Advent calendar project and it's starting to look good.
• My parents are driving up from Midsomer (in the blizzard) and will be here until Saturday.
• I love to have them in town.
• Even if I won't see them everyday, I just love knowing they are here.
• Sunday is First Sunday of Advent. Big deal over here. Church outfits ready.
• Dear Lord, make the children behave in church.
• Oh, is that my job? Ok. I see. Will try.
• The picture from above is from two weeks ago. Very hard to believe when you look out the window.
• Many things are upside down at the moment.
• But I trust they will all be alright in the end.
• I have to remember I love all this. I made this mess.
• I love this mess.
• Thank you for reading.

Oh Boy

The little cold turned into a monster. By Thursday both Jesper and I were in bed with fever and throats that felt like they were trying to strangle us. Strep. The doctor actually laughed at us, "Oh dear, whatever do you two have? You are so sick!" Ah, validation is a beautiful thing, I felt better at once. But not good enough to function as a human being, not to mention loving mother. I just wanted to crawl into bed and die. Luckily, Wilhelm was to spend the night at a friend's house and Blanka happily went to bed at seven fifteen, at which we collapsed in a feverish pile of self pity and overdosed the paracetamol (so worth it). That we are back in the land of the living today is only thanks to modern medicine (I love you, antibiotics!), good friends and family. My heart is full of Eva and Jan, Cissan, Sanna and Alexander Fleming. Thank you.

Staying In

Some days it's good to have a little cold.
A little cold is a good excuse for staying in and taking naps and drinking soup.
To watch tv in the middle of the day. To drink insane amounts of tea. To paint instead of doing the laundry.
A little cold is a good excuse to wear ugly but comfortable clothes. To be a little tired.
Some days a little cold goes a long way.

This Weeks Eats

Outside my window the world is grey. No more pretty leaves. It rains. It pours. It's so November. Blanka's still sick, watching Timmy Lamb on the couch, I'm in the kitchen trying to get some work done. Jesper's on his way home, I will head for the office once he's here. I wish it was Sunday.

Monday
Pumpkin soup and grilled sandwiches
Tuesday
Spaghetti Carbonara
Wednesday
Meatballs and mashed potatoes, crunchy winter salad
Thursday
Cod in foil packages, cooked in the oven with lemon, rice
Friday
Lamb in some way, probably chops (courtesy of little guy in the freezer)
Saturday
Home made pizza (since we never made it this far last weekend)
Sunday
Couscous, ratatouille, leftovers

Happy eating and have a good week!

40,1°C

Strawberry icecream.
Angelina Ballerina.
Burning cheeks.
When Blanka is sick all the world goes pink.

Birthday Decorations

For Wilhelm's birthday Blanka and I (birthday boy couldn't be bothered) made long garlands to hang in the garden (a Swedish garden in November can do with some sprucing). When the party was finished we put them up indoors instead, making the living room look somewhat carneval-ish. It's pretty in a half-crazy sort of way and they make me happy. And so easy to do! Just rip old rags into pieces and tie them up on a string. Best outdoors, when the wind makes them flutter, but works over the sofa as well. At least for a day or two.

And I'm sorry about the quality of pictures right now, still working on some design adjustments. Thanks for your patience.

Midsomer Blue

When the sky is blue in November, it's very very blue. My mother and Blanka were looking for fir cones and evergreen to turn into wreaths for All Saints Day (when we decorate the graves of loved ones) and I had my head in the clouds. It was a good day.

Testing Testing

Today I bribed kind Kristofer into helping me to do some adjustments to the blog. He's been very good about it. I have not. I hate not knowing what to do! Anyway, the results are looking better by the minute. Unfortunately every photo I've ever uploaded is now out of focus. Kristofer strongly suggest that I move my baby to wordpress.

This Weeks Eats

We like to cook. And eat. But during the week there never seem to be enough time to stand around the stove waiting for divine intervention. So a couple of years ago we started to plan our meals. Come Sunday, we sit down and talk about what we'd like to eat the following week and make a menu. Some items are always included, for example, in winter there's always a soup, there's always a crowd pleaser (something the kids will love) and usually some sort of pasta. Fish is there, so is meat of some kind. We recently bought a lamb from my parents village, now resting peacefully in our freezer, and are waiting for a deer (we're on the "shooting list" and will get it once it's, you know, killed). We try to limit our shopping to once a week and this seem works for us. Now, when people here this there are two reactions:

1. "Oh, we could never do that, I like to be spontaneous and cook what feels right at the moment." To which I always feel like saying bollocks, but never do. I just smile.
2. "Tell me what you're eating! Please! We're desperate!" To which I smile a whole other kind of smile and say sure thing, mister. So here we go. Mary, this one's for you.

Monday
Whole chicken, grilled the night before, with rice and lemony sauce that Jesper whipped up and a salad of shredded carrots, cabbage and rödkål.
Tuesday
Chick pea and pasta soup, grilled sandwiches with cheese and mustard.
Wednesday
Falukorv i ugn! Swedish sausage, extremely kid friendly. Baked in the oven with mashed potatoes, sauce bechamel and apples.
Thursday
Spaghetti with mushrooms (trattkantarell) and bacon, salad as on Monday.
Friday
Jamie Oliver's fish pudding. Very winter-y, very good.
Saturday
Lamb roast with all the trimmings.
Sunday
Home made pizza. Ah, bliss.

That's it. Will return on Sunday with next weeks menu. Cheerio!

The Best Part

The best part of the day
was putting you to bed
reading the Playmobil catalogue
talking about what we like and would like
singing you all the songs
then holding you so close
that your eyelashes fluttered on my cheek
and your breath in my ear
like waves crashing
while you held my heart
in a hand that badly needed washing.
You and me.
Happy seventh birthday to us.

Home Alone

The children are at my parents for a couple of days and the house is quiet and empty. We've seized our chance to do the things we never have time to do, and there have been dinner and drinks and a movie and dinner again. But the house look funny when the kids are not around. Deserted. Messy in a different way. No toys scattered, no lego on the couch, no railroad tracks in the living room, no tower of blocks to stumble upon in the hallway. No cars on the stairs, no jam on the kitchen table, no underwear on the bathroom floor. But there are dishes in the sink and makeup on the counter, a bar of chocolate on the livingroom table, shoes in the kitchen. There are bags in the bedroom and newspapers everywhere, hats and gloves on the floor, books beside the bath. It's a grownup kind of mess. And as much as I enjoy sleeping through the night, I like the other one better.