An icy patch

I think I might have promised myself not to show any pictures of winter this year. "Oh no," I thought, "I'll leave the winter weather to the other bloggers. I'll stick to summer."

Keep in mind I was so busy this summer I barely had time to blog and share everything, so I assumed I'd have loads of material to keep me busy. And that holds true.

But then winter happened. At first I was determined to ignore it. However, that got harder and harder with each winter storm. And there have been so many.

Then, last week, winter came in earnest. The ice storm came. The horrible, cur-sed (that's two syllables!!) ice storm. Snow, while I don't love it, is soft and fluffy. Ice, however, is something else. Ice is hostile.

I donned my rubber boots and slicker and ventured out. It was, ironically, actually breathtakingly beautiful. So I documented it, and here are my photos.

It makes me want spring to come even more.

None other than classic Swedish Tretorn!

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Street's completely empty. School's cancelled. 

This is the prettiest tree, and it's in the cemetery next to my house! I know that would creep some people out, but I love it living next to a cemetery. The cemetery is funnily called Odd Fellows Cemetery.

I

No one's home

All dressed up in vintage

I hope I don't seem vain for posting two pictures of myself, but I was all dressed up for a party this weekend and I LOVED the dress I wore. I know my expression is goofy, especially in the second photo, but I want to show the back. 

I purchased the dress at flea market a few months back and was dying for an occasion to wear it. I couldn't resist buying the dress although I am not frequently invited to balls and gala affairs! 

Alas. 

The dress was a Bob Bugnand (for Sam Friedlander), who according to Couture Allue Vintage Fashion, was a French designer active in New York in the 60s and 70s.  This dress felt super sixties. It was, um, a tad too tight, but I went with it anyway. I decided to be true to myself (shoes, hair and makeup) so it wouldn't look Halloweeny.  

Everyone looked fabulous. We had so much fun and danced nearly till dawn!!

Stairway to heaven

I love old ladders. There's something about what they do and the way they look that appeals to me.

Our house has a lot of hard-to-reach spaces, one of which is in Charlie's room. He has a little loft where he likes to hang out sometimes, actually I think his friends like it up there more than Charlie does.

That's why I've had ladders on my mental list of "things to look for at garage sales." (That list, by the way, is way too long.)

This past summer I found a beauty. It was beat up and old, for sale in this beautiful 150-year-old stone house, actually it was in the backyard stable I found it. The man at the garage sale said I could "fix the ladder up real nice" if I cleaned it first and then painted it with a mixture of linseed oil and paint thinner.

I paid $30 (after a bit of haggling) and I took the ladder home (thanks to Emma whose car we used to transport it). I immediately went to the hardware store and bought what I needed, cleaned it up and .... ta da!!! .... such a beautiful ladder.

I went crazy with the linseed/paint thinner mixture and starting polishing everything, all my old tools (I also like to pick up old tools, I think they're lovely) and a basket I picked up somewhere. The mixture is a miracle, it brings the best out in everything!

Summer dreaming 1

I think yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far. Two days ago, we had a light dusting of snow.

I came across these photos, and I am already longing for the summer. I took these one day in late June this past summer. I had collected some flowers from the garden and from my sister's garden, as well as some of her tomatoes (mine came much later, and weren't as nice or as plenty).

We were having a dinner and I set the table outside. It was a lovely evening. It feels so long ago, as we approach the winter solstice.

While some are dreaming of a white Christmas, I have my  mind on other things entirely.

Giving thanks

I love everything about Thanksgiving. I always have. This year was no different. 

We hosted, as usual, and we had the usual suspects: my two sisters, their husbands and girls, plus my cousin Domo (seriously, that is his name!) and his wife Deb. We always share the cooking, and for some reason I am never honored with the job of doing the turkey. I've made my share of delicious turkeys in Sweden, let me tell you, but I'm never able to prove that to my family. The two worst things about not making the turkey are: 

1. Not having the turkey smell permeate the house

2. Not getting dibs on the turkey carcass for soup.

We (our house) were responsible for the starches and the salads: Mashed potatoes, roasted root veggies and two green salads. Early in the day, Ulf, Charlie and I had a great time chopping and peeling the potatoes and vegetables while listening to music. It was lovely. 

Finally, the guests and the turkey arrived and the house was filled with laughter and chatter and popping Prosecco bottles. Let the party begin!

When we sat down to dinner I was so flustered I had forgotten that I wanted to say my favorite ever blessing, the one I first heard years ago on the TV series Six Feet Under. Even though it is quite short and simple I couldn't conjure it up in my head! The blessing is from the Christmas episode, actually, when Keith first came to the Fisher's house for dinner to meet David's crazy family. It goes like this: 

For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, and for friends in a world where many walk alone, we give you thanks, O Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day. (Note: Keith, of course, said Christmas).

I guess I'll have to save it for our Christmas dinner. 

Well I've been very chatty in this post. I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but maybe that's a sign that I was having too much fun. We ended up playing Balderdash until the wee hours. It was a superduper day. I have soooo much to be thankful for. 

The table


Me, getting my camera ready.

Charlie and his cousins: Grace, CJ and Sophia.

Drinks before dinner.


The girls after dinner.


Deb and Domo.

Beautiful things

Well I've looked high and low for these boots and finally I found them. I cannot stop wearing them. Zipping them up brings actual joy to my heart. I know it's shallow. But I just love them.

The eggplants below are the last of the harvest, picked on Sunday. It's been a bit cold but it didn't seem to matter. These are real beauties too.

Compact living

Hilariously, Poppy likes to squeeze herself into the smallest of places. Nearly full grown now, she's much bigger than her sister. But she cannot resist cozily settling down in any small container

It's like watching Houdini get himself out of something, only the opposite.

I'm no fan of the end of summer, but as long as the fall is here let's enjoy it

We've had some incredibly beautiful days this past month.

I was at the library the other day, waiting in line to check out my items. One of the ladies in front of remarked to the librarian, "It's a beautiful day today. It's such a gift."

"Yes, it is," said the librarian.

As I was waiting my turn, I thought about it. My cynical self started to kick in. I thought, it's not a gift; it's the weather!

Not wanting to spoil anyone's mood, I kept quiet.

She was just making conversation, I guess.

Here are couple of shots from recently.



Red tree


Fallen leaves


The road less traveled


Father and son.


Berries from the bush next door.


More leaves on the grass.


Mushrooms.


An adorable birdhouse.

A tribute to my 2011 calendar

What's in the bag?

Something good. Something worth waiting for...

Let the fun begin!


I wrote a haiku for my new calendar:

What do you bring me,
Calendar of paper pure?
Wait I know it's time.

____________________________________

This was the best day, the day it arrived in the mail. It was, um, substantial. More celebratory than, say, a birthday! A shout-out to Anna, my colleague in Sweden, for buying and sending it. And to Ordning & Reda, for making it.

Also, I know I've been on some sort of hiatus, but consider me officially back.

This is Hub

"Hub" was rescued by my friend and her daughter from the inside of a truck's hubcap Sunday morning in center city Philadelphia. She's been to the vet, who confirmed that the kitty (a she) is about five weeks old and -- although still too young for shots -- healthy. My friend is keeping her for a week or so but isn't able to take on another pet in the long run. But my friend's willing to pay for the shots when the kitty is old enough to get them.

Sweet little bundle of fur, stripey, playful, softy, lucky-to-be-alive kitty!

Who wants her to give her a home?? You will have so much fun with her. Your first job will be to think up a new name! (I don't want to break it to my friend, but "Hub" is not a good name for a sweet little girl kitty!)

Charlie's videos

Charlie and his friend Tristan spent the week before school making videos. Don't be disturbed when you see these. They are a bit violent, but with a certain tongue-in-cheek attitude that I admire. Also, the weapons are completely made by hand using cardboard, tape, spray paint, oatmeal containers, and the like. That in itself is very creative. They used only the camera from the Macbook and then they edited them in Imovie.

Vote for your favorite in your comments if you like. The boys would love feedback!

Portraits

I tried to do some portraits recently of Charlie and his cousins.
The light was beautiful but I waited a bit too long.




Sophia


C.J.

Grace