The dandelion path

I just had to go out on a walk this morning to take a proper picture of the lovely dandelion path I found yesterday. If I was a little girl I'd most definitely imagine that walking down that dandelion path wouldn't take you to the houses beyond but to a secret fairy realm. That's what I told my kids. I prefer keeping the magic than talking about regular disturbance, closed grass swards, colonization opportunities and ruderal species ;) Being a biologist does sort of take the magic out of nature, but luckily I have this imagination to keep me tapped in to childhood wonder. I hope I never loose that.

Our morning walk was a bit longer than I'd planned. Little miss is too busy these days for her second nap in the afternoon, so I'm trying to keep her awake for longer periods in the morning so she won't be this angry, loud little thing when I'm trying to prepare dinner. There is nothing as stressful as an angry, crying and hungry child when you're making dinner. Add to that one that wants to be held and only having two hands - I almost can't stand it. So to pass the time we went for a stroll, camera in hand.

We walked alongside the river running through our little town. I have to say that through the years I have found this town lacking in many ways. It's situated between two major cities - Stockholm and Uppsala - so there really isn't much here. But it's small, quiet and a good place to raise kids in my opinion. But now things are happening here. The town is growing and what is more to my liking is that its getting prettified. I'm a sucker for pretty. The area around the river now has this beautiful statue of a girl crouching, I have to go take a better look sometime. And wildflowers were sown here last spring and are absolutely beautiful. We come here a lot with the kids now, they love throwing pebbles in the river and waiting for ducks to fly in. Once again reminded that it's the little things in life, isn't it?

Little miss has a thing for dandelions and I picked several for her on our way back home. She did her best to copy what she has seen her brother doing, but managed to eat more seeds than actually blow them into the air. I often get this pang of guilt when I think about how different these early years are for Esther than they were for Sebastián. He was the center of the universe and I had so much time to show him things and allow him to explore. Esther, on the other hand, has been tagging along with us from day one, at first quietly observing and now noisily observing and diving into the goings on of our daily lives. But her brother makes up for what I can't show her and do with her, she copies everything he does. I can already tell that he is her hero, despite the many murder attempts between those two....

Walking to the park I came across an apple tree in bloom, breathtaking! I was lucky that it has a little visitor that I could capture on camera. 

See those loaded pollen baskets? Hard at work, this one, and not caring one bit that I was following him around with my camera. Of course bumblebees can sting, but I've never ever been stung by a bumblebee. Despite that I like to pet them when they're sleeping on some big flower. Between their head and wings, they usually just sort of lift one leg and wave it in the air, but don't seem to mind at all. I have to show that to the kids too....

Hope you also get to stop and smell the flowers today! 

Ta-daaaaah!

Finally I get to share a finished project! I crocheted a pair of slippers, "Granny Rose", for my niece. They were a perfect fit and she loved them. And I love that she loved them.

I guessed that they would probably stretch a bit after being worn, so I made them  size smaller than her actual shoe size. They were very snug when I tried them on, but not uncomfortable in the least. I used a cotton yarn, "Drops Paris", from Garnstudio, and must say I didn't like working with it much. But the slippers turned out great, I have a mind to make myself a pair as well - but first I need to do something about all my other unfinished projects.

As far as reading goes, I've been stepping away from the computer and actually taking some quiet time to myself to just lie in bed and read. I borrowed a stack of books from my sister that she recommended, and decided on "About a boy" by Nick Hornby. It's an old book, but I haven't wanted to read it despite good reviews because of Hugh Grant. I know he is in the movie, which I haven't seen, and he is on the cover of the book.  I know lots of ladies swoon over this man, but no, he just gets on my nerves. I can't stand movies with him in them, always the same character. Always that creased brow, insecure look that is supposed to be so charming.  So that kind of put me off of the book. But I really enjoyed it. It was quite witty and made me laugh every now and then, and a very easy book to take in. Just what I had been looking for.

Next on my list is Barbara Kingsolvers "Poisonwood bible". Another book that everyone probably read ages ago, but as usual, I let silly things like it being mentioned on Oprah put me off of it. I'm planning on this book being a summer read, I want to take my time with it. Just as well, summer is upon us and the days are packed from beginning to end. We have the usual goings on here at home, I sometimes feel like I do nothing other than tidy up and cook. We're spending as much time as we possibly can outdoors, and we've come to the point where I'm having a hard time getting my boy to come in at the end of the day. My little corner of green needs weeding and watering, and I still have some seedlings inside to tend to. And a tree. Indoors. I have a thing for acorns, I love the look of them and their smooth texture, so I planted one to see what would happen. Grow it did, and now I need to figure out what to do with it. Can I make a bonsai out of it? Anyone have any experience with that? If that doesn't work I think I'll just have it in here until fall, and plant it in some special place outside.

Joining once again in Yarn Along.

A ta-dah! gone awry

Joining fellow knitters and crocheters for Yarn Along.

I had been hoping to give you a ta-dah!-post instead of a little glimpse as to what I have on my hook at the moment. I'll be done soon though and then this little gift can be given to a very special little girl who is being very patient with her aunt.

As for reading, well, I haven't really been reading much. I have tried quickly grabbing something at the library that I think I will like, but no, no luck. I have, however, been doing some writing. I'm re-writing my recipe collection into a new book. The old one fell apart and the fat stains and smudges on its pages stopped being charming quite some time ago. I'm sure there is some smart online site where I could store my recipes, but I like to do things old-school. I'm also trying to take time to write into my kids journals. I have one for Sebastián and one for Esther, and I like to jot down funny things they've said or done - anything memorable really - so that this noodlehead mother of theirs will remember all those quirky, funny and most adorable things that these kids come up with. I don't know about you but my memory is horrible, its so easy to forget those small things and just remember the big stuff. I don't want to forget that Esther likes to pull up her shirt, points at her belly button and says "eye", or that she has said her first words in english - SIT DOWN! Read that with an Arnold Schwarzennegar voice, we say it as a joke to her brother and it stuck. Or the funny (to us) fashion choices Sebastián makes. He says he's the most good looking boy at daycare, sporting a worn out vest, long johns and a baseball cap. And if I actually do get him to wear a pair of pants, he'll tuck the legs into his socks - always. I love that kid to bits, I really do. Both of them!

Pockets for Lori

Last week those of us that visit Loris blog were invited to participate in a special project. Lori posted about her coming trip to Africa, and her wish to knit little necklace pockets with gifts in them, to give to the Himba people she plans on visiting. She asked if anyone wanted to contribute, and it seems many thoughtfully did. 

I decided to crochet my pockets since I crochet faster than I knit, and since its easier to do around the kids. Only one enticing stick to hold on to, and if curious little fingers start pulling the yarn and manage to unravel something it's easy to backtrack and start over. I used a pattern found here, chaining 22 for the foundation chain and using a 5 mm crochet hook to match the size of Loris pockets.

Now I just hope these pockets actually make it to Lori in time. I'm such a birdbrain sometimes that it's scary. I used a prepaid national package instead of an international one, so now I'm praying to the postage gods that the package will get sent anyway since it was so light. Cross your fingers for me, or if you're in Sweden - hold your thumbs. Never have gotten used to that thumb-holding thing....

I have to say it felt really good to do something for someone else. It feels really good to know that some child might receive one of those pockets I made and find a little toy in there, just for them.

If you're curious about the other pockets that have been made, follow this link.

Underwear pizza and other tidbits from days passed

The weekend started with a much needed girls night out. I decided to try something new, so I had snails. Tasted sort of like mushrooms. All the garlic saved the dish, I don't think I'll have them again.

I woke up on Saturday not feeling very well, thinking that I didn't have that much wine the night before and then realizing that I was getting sick. Spent Saturday in denial, made home-made calzones (calzone sounds like the swedish word for underwear - "kalsonger", so we always call it underwear pizza), whole family involved. I supervised, hubby executed most of the work, Sebastián rolled pizza dough and Esther ate it. They were delicious, I do believe I will need to post a recipe soon.

Sunday spent on the couch with an earache, headache  - everything ached. But I didn't mind, I really needed to just be at home and do absolutely nothing. Hubby took the kids to their grandparents, ah, the silence...

...and then - the silence! Way too quiet at home, I missed the kids after a couple of hours. Was so happy when they got home. Seeing Esther walk around, fall around - her balance is still just a bit off. Sebastián wearing his spiderman suit that he refuses to take off (and he only answers to spiderman now).

And this morning I was pleasantly surprised to see that the acrobats of the air were back, the swallows are here! I adore swallows. Their high pitched cries are summer to me, and they just look like they are having so much fun the way they fly about. If I was an animal I'd definitely want to be a swallow.

Back on the couch, spiderman is next to me and Esther is sleeping in the stroller. Oh Esther, she is having a hard time letting go. I'm trying to get her turned off of boob food but she is adamant and won't give up "tah-tah". Sigh, I kind of want my body back now. Aw well, it will work itself out somehow, it always does!

All in all it was a good, lazy weekend. Now I just need to get back on my feet!

Getting out of the spiral

Watched this TED talk yesterday which got me thinking about this old post and my "three happy's". I wish I didn't have to reprogram my brain so often to positive thinking, but at least I know how to get myself out of this negative spiral I often find myself in. Need to take out my journal again, end the day with writing three things that have made me happy. And by happy I don't mean totally euphoric happy (although thats a good thing of course), small-smile-on-the-face-happy is more than good enough. 

Oh, and music helps too. We all have our list of feel-good songs that just pick up our mood a notch, don't we? This one always has me dancing...

Copycat

A while ago I read this post over at "the habit of being" and couldn't get the idea of this list out of my head. How great wouldn't it be to have a long list of things you want to do for yourself or others to tick off over the course of a year? Fun things, things that will help your personal growth, things you've always wanted to do but have been putting off and so on and so forth. So, here goes, here's my 33 before 33:

1. Find a reason to crack open the expensive bottle of champagne we have had at home for way too long.

2. Step out of my comfort zone when it comes to clothes & accessories

3. Go to one last concert with my bro (my concert buddy) before he leaves the country

4. Enjoy a quiet morning alone with my cuppa and other morning indulgences

5. Go crab-hunting with my boy

5. Take Sebastián to Iceland

6. Go completely organic on the beauty products front

7. Grow potatoes on my balcony

8. Find my abs again (where did you goooo?)

9. Knit a cardigan for myself

10. Have a pedicure

11. Take a knitting class

12. Make sourdough bread from scratch

13. Buy myself a new jug to replace my favorite one that broke

14. Do my best to make sure my crazies (that is, the kids) know their worth and feel good about themselves. 

15. Get that tattoo I've always wanted (eek! really?!)

16. Send my husband off on a chess tournament somewhere abroad

17. Spend a day at the spa getting pampered

18. Move out of the shoebox

19. Improve my photography skills

20. Paint the hall dresser robins egg blue

21. Go through our storage room and get rid of things we don't need anymore

22. Participate in a run of some sort, 5 km minimum

23. Finish my thesis

24. Get a full-length mirror

25. Send someone a hand-written letter (don't you miss those?)

26. Make dvd's of all the video's we have of the kids and watch them. (Oh boy is this going to make my cry and want to populate the world with my awesome offspring)

27. Go bowling

28. Take the kids to the butterfly house in Stockholm

29. Have a picnic in a meadow

30. Lie on a blanket in the sun with my bare feet on the grass

31. Give an unexpected gift

32. Go for more walks in the woods alone. Pure meditation.

33. Make a campfire with my kids

I'll end this post with a photo from this weekend. The white fluff came back, I really thought we'd seen the last of it. We'll have no more of this now, OK? We're all so very ready for some warm weather and I really want to start getting some of these seedlings out of my kitchen. The kids love them though, Sebastián is following their growth with excitement and Esther wants me to take the pots down for her about ten times a day so she can kiss the seedlings and say hello to them. These kids cuteness is just killing me.