everyday life

nälden, early june

In early June I took off and landed in Östersund, Jämtland. A long weekend trip to meet up with loving friends. Since my last trip to Östersund, my friends have moved out of the city and bought a house circa 45 minutes west of the city. A small village next to the Faxe river.

I had a great time. Sunshine, good food, loving company. And some knitting. And teaching knitting to the kids. The mother phoned my a day before and said her 5 year old demanding me to teach her to knit. So I packed some yarn and needles.

 

When her daddy and I picked her up at the daycare center, the first day, she gave me a huge hug and said: Will you teach me to knit? So, when we came home I cast on and she looked on and I showed her to knit stitches one by one. We continued this over the days and the result? Well, she made som stitches but also lost a few. But she was happy anyway..

But then her older brother (he's 7) also wanted to learn. And he really got the hang of it. So now he is knitting his first scarf. My work is done! :-)

sandhamn

(in Swedish) På en av mina första semesterdagar, hoppade jag på en av Cinderellabåtarna och tog mig ut till Sandhamn. Temperaturen visade på närmare 30 grader, så jag var inte ensam i min tanke att tillbringa dagen ute i skärgården. Båten var smockfull och till en början hade jag en ståplats ute på  soldäck, men efter en stund fick jag sittplats.

När vi närmade oss Sandhamn, körde vi rakt in i dimman, men väl på land var det soldis och ca 20-22 grader. Lunchen intogs på Sandhamns värdshus och det blev en klassisk räkmacka med en pilsner till. Alldeles utmärkt!

Mycket turister i hamnområdet, men gick man nått kvarter bort var det stilla och tyst. En glass och en parkbänk och en bok kan ju liva upp väntan på båten tillbaka, efter det att man har tittat i sjöbodarna och kollat utbudet av shopping på ön.

Båtresan tillbaka, var inte lika knökfull. Men det var vackert att åka förbi den ena ön efter den andra.

Ljuvlig dag i skärgården. Ett måste, på min semester!

last weekend

Another busy week is over. This spring has been crazy at work. And at the moment I can't see the work load to get easier. This week I have been in both Visby & Uppsala. Visby for work and Uppsala for pleasure.

Uppsala on Saturday (March 31), was cold but sunny. In fact when I left Stockholm by train, I left a hefty snowfall. When I arrived Uppsala the sun was shining and it was snow everywhere.As usual, the first stop in Uppsala is the yarn store Yll & Tyll.

I came out with a hank of Malabrigo sock in pink and 2 hanks of Manos Serena in purple. Both intend for future shawl projects.

My main goal with the trips to Uppsala this time, was to meet up with ACE who was in town to have a seminar at the Art museum. So on my way up to the Castle,  I visited the Cathedral and Carolina Rediviva - the university library.

It was so nice to meet ACE again, we hadn't seen each other since december. Lots of chatting and laughter over dinner and hockey at O'Leary's, before I had to go back to Stockholm.

the view from the art museum (as well as the castle)

Had a lovely day evening in Uppsala.

visby

Due to work I had to fly over to Visby for a couple of days earlier this week. Stayed at Solhem hotel, just outside of the city wall. Since it was a work related trip, there where a lot of work - but I managed to meet up a friend for dinner on Tuesday. Spicey Indian food with lots of talk and laughter.

Early Wednesday morning I had time to take a walk around the town. A sunny morning with empty streets.

I also had time to buy some tea at my favorite tea shop - Kränku, I always try to make a visit while in Visby.

I will make this trip a couple of times in April & May. Just more work to do.

edsåsdalen, jämtland

So, I'm back in Stockholm after a week in Jämtland. I had a blast but as always, it's good to be back home.

The new years weekend was spent in a mountain cabin in Edsåsdalen, about 1 1/2 hour drive from Östersund. Doc and I drove up on Friday evening while Doc's hubby and kids drove up a day before us.

31 dec, 2011, around 8.30 in the morning

The things that amazes me in the country side are how dark the night is, no street lights  - BUT on the other side - you can see the stars in the sky! And how silent it is.

We had a couple of great days. Lots of sun and fun the the snow. I am not the skiing type but I'm enjoy the outdoors nevertheless.

 

New Years eve was spent with the family, eating a fanatastic dinner made by Thomas.  We went out around 8 pm to see the early fireworks, for the kids. When the kids had gone to bed we lit a fire and sat in the sofa talking and listen to music, waiting for the clock to turn 2012. The where a small firework in the valley around midnight.

On Januray 1st we celebrated the young daughter's 4th birthday. Lots of gifts to the 4 yr old. And cakes. A fab day!

östersund

Just arrived. Winter holiday trip. Gone north, to winter and snow.

uppsala

Spent yesterday afternoon in Uppsala, an hour by train north of Stockholm. Met up with a friend for some (yarn) shopping, coffee and a visit to Upplands  museum and their exhibition (O)mänskligt.

First stop was at the yarn store Yll & Tyll, close to the train station. Yarn heaven! Had trouble to choose what to buy but I finally came out with som Noro silk garden and Drops Nepal for a new pair of mittens.

After the yarn hunt, we set out on a mission to find my friend, M, a new winter coat. We went in and out in all stores (it felt so anyway) to look and try. But our mission failed, M didn't like a single one. Or if she found one she liked there where no one in her size or in a colour she liked. She will contiune her chase for a winter coat in Stockholm.

It's always fun to shop in another town, than the usual one. Uppsala is close to Stockholm and I go there a couple of times of the year. Looking forward to next trip.

närke, part two

After our stop in Riseberga, we headed to Granhammar- a farm house selling both homemade cheese, marmalde AND yarn. What more can you ask for in a shop?

This place is also kind of famous from TV, when the home interior designer Ernst Kirchstieger, re-build an old barn, which now holds the yarn shop.

 
The shocker is though - I went off this place not buying a single skein. I can't believe it myself. But I bought plum marmalade and some tea. But no yarn. I could restrain myself.. :-) 

We had our lunch at Tant Grön, a plant nursery and shop/café. A perfect place to buy smal gifts if you like the Shabby chic trend. I bought 2 frog figurines to my balcony.

 a sign on the toilet at tant grön

After lunch we skipped the coutryside and drove to Örebro and the mall Marieberg and did some serious shopping. I came home with a skirt, a pink blouse and a t-shirt.

The day ended with a bbq in the garden with the whole family and we had a great evening together!

närke, part one

The past weekend I left the busy city life for the calm countryside, visiting friends in the providence of Närke, about 2 hours train ride west of Stockholm. I arrived on Friday and mr T met me and we had lunch and later visited the Bergööska house - A trading house from the 1880s, designed by the architect Ferdinand Boberg.  Extra attraction is home floor with his "Old Norse" atmosphere and wall paintings by Adolf Bergöö son in law Carl Larsson.

Paintings made by Carl Larsson 

On Saturday, the lady of the house and I, left the boys at home, and took the car to explore area. And the first stop was the Riseberga ruins.

 the western wall of Riseberga ruins

Riseberga Kloster, the Cistercian convent outside Fjugesta, was founded in the 12th century. At its height, Riseberga owned 240 properties in six provinces. King Gustav Vasa put a stop to their activities in 1546 and the buildings were left to fall into decay. Today, parts of the original western church wall remain. However, the entire convent area has been renovated.

 

A really lovely place to visit. Not much tourist, in fact, we were alone here, until we left. Ruins are special, and I really like to visit ruins.

mariefred

On Tuesday there was 9 happy knitter who got onboard the M/S Mariefred, the steamship, to go to the little town of Mariefred, in the providence of Södermanland. The happy knitters: Me, Stickgalningen, Översättarlivet, Schyssta Nystan, Knit-Marie, PurlyWool, Gunilla, Görel & Anette.

 
The weather was absolutely fantastic. Blue sky, sunny and a warm breeze. The boat trip to Mariefred takes 3 1/2 hour, so we had plenty of time to knit, talk, eat cakes & drink coffee!

The purpuse of this trip was, besides having fun, was to visit  Hamilton Design, the yarn shop own by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton.

 
 
And did we shop?!? Hell, yes!! There where a couple of sales bins, with Malabrigo 40% off. Bought one hank of Malabrigo - but also 4 hanks of Noro Kasumi (58% Wool, 24% Silk, 12% Angora & 6% Camel).

 
Before the boat headed back to Stockholm, we had time for coffee at Grafikens Hus - an International center for fine art printmaking.

It was really a nice trip! And I will make it again.