Garbage in Canada

One of the things I love about the Canadians is the way they put stuff out on the nature strip for anyone to take. You see it the night before garbage puck up or on long weekends. If it is in the side of the road it is up for grabs. A great example of re-using and a habit I have often wished was more widespread.

Tonight Makaila and I went for an evening walk and came home with these two, a rock light and a lightshade and feeling like thieves but very please with our findings!!

Location:Ontario

Where to now?

Clearly I lost momentum. The photo a day was easier said than done - even though I really enjoyed it while it lasted and I love photos (both taking them and looking at others), I lost momentum.

Life somehow got very, very busy for a while there. Between work and kids with all their activities I just didn't manage to maintain it and once I stopped it was hard to get started again - I mean what was I supposed to do - go back and fill in the photos for the last month or just skip a month and keep going?

I watched a tv program this morning about blogging and realised how much I miss the blogging life, both writing and reading other blogs. As is often the case in life coincidences seem to gather and a conversation yesterday prompted me to read a blog post I wrote in 2008. I looked back through the topics dated from February 2008 and onwards and the variety in my writing became evident. Nowdays conscious of "my audience" and my "purpose" I suddenly saw my blog before me as a record of my life and my thoughts. The posts I read felt very precious.

Life is precious and as someone once said the memories are a wonderful gift to my children. Something they will cherish in years to come. And as the days of writing long letters are over I will endeavour to continue sharing my life and my experiences here. For the hell of it. Because I enjoy writing, exploring my thoughts and observations, and taking photos.

And now I found the iPhone app which should make things a whole lot easier.

Seeya soon!
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And for the day's photo(s):

I went to Ikea today to get a couple of frames. Makaila asked a few days ago why we don't have their art hanging around the place like everyone else does. This wall used to be covered in photos but has been empty since it was painted.

I managed to get in and out of Ikea with exactly what I went there for despite the temptation to linger, dream and spend money. I think their art looks brilliant, and beautiful. I want them everywhere.

Easter Saturday. Beautiful Lubeck

Good Friday. Lubeck

Thursday. Crimson Thursday.

Today is the day the witches fly to the blue hill. Be ready for little witches and wizards to come knocking on your door - Sweden's equivalent to trick or treat but with a different history to it. Just make sure you have some candy ready if you hear them coming.

Wednesday. Tyres are changed.

It is such a lovely feeling to have the winter tyres swapped for the summer ones. Now we are ready to do a bit of driving over Easter!

Tuesday. Biking home from school.

Makaila and I rode the 3km each way to school and back today. Downhill getting there, uphill coming back. It was such a lovely way to spend some time with my girl and we both feel proud of her efforts! Would love to do it every day!

Monday. The roads are again filled with bikes.

But I decided not to get in the middle of these guys - they looked like they could have been Bandidos Boys.

Sunday. No family

The freedom.
No sister-in-law ringing to see if we can babysit the kids.
No mother asking us to call in and see Gran, because she hasn't been well lately.
No fighting at Christmas about who will celebrate with who, where and doing what.
No obligatory birthday celebrations with the relatives.
No feeling we "should" invite them over for dinner.
No family get-togethers surrounded by people you hardly know anymore, or hardly knew in the first place.
No need to go watch concerts, dance shows or footballs games to show your support.
No need to fight about whose mother we'll ask to babysit, or if either even will.
No angry phone calls because  I haven't called or even visited in a while.
No father, brother or cousin wanting help to build the deck.
No expectation to do things the way everyone else does.
No one calling in, catching us unaware.
No need to put in an appearance, ever.
No one peering through the cracks, or even for them.
No rituals.
No traditions.
Ah the freedom.
The loneliness.

Saturday. At least it is sorted.

It sickens me to see what is thrown away here at the tip - or the recycling depot. We are lazy, wealthy and live in a throw-away society - what a combo!! Today I did what so many others do - in the name of an international peace-keeping effort. But is it really worth it?

Friday night football.

With one half-Aussie and one half-Kiwi on the team!

Thursday. Football camp.

 

Brommapojkarna offer a week long day camp throughout the summer.
This is what they say:
The program includes football in different forms, training, matches and individual exercises. But football is not just about learning to kick goals, and you do not have to have the best feel for the sport to join in.
The side-line activities are just as important. Football is a team sport and we discuss what it means to be part of a team. Everyone gets the chance to be the referee or lead a training. Care of equipment, personal hygene, knowledge of the rules adn the importance of eating right are other things we teach during the week.
On the last day we play a mini-world championship with the kids divided according to age. The teams are named after the big football nations (will that include Australia??). This is usually one of the highlihts of the week.

I'm not a big football (soccer) fan but it sounds great to me!! I think she'd have a blast.

Wednesday. My Aussie Boy.

Tuesday. Face painting in the supermarket.

It's amazing what can happen when you call in to pick up some milk and cereal. They also picked up a free candy/lolly bag each, jumped in the blow-up castle and Makaila collected her football/soccer membership card. Shame (not) we missed the entertainment!

Monday. Things are looking better and better.

Sunday. Bike for sale.

Girl's bike. 16" wheels. Basket, pack rack and training wheels included.

Saturday. Waffles for breakfast.

 

In my favorite waffle iron from the 1950s.

This one was mine - I like 'em well done!

Friday. Lunch with my girl.

We wagged today and ate lunch together.

Thursday. Team - the four non-blondes.

We would have won if Hester and Lynessa had been there!

Wednesday. Enjoying the sun.

Kaila convinced me to sit out in the sun after work/school today. She was so determined that she dragged out the blankets and pillows onto the rocks to make it all comfy, in her efforts to persuade me. She "promised" me I'd love it.

And yes, it was lovely. I did love it and I thanked her for dragging me out.

Tuesday. Frustration.

Life is not exactly how I would like it to be.

Monday. A better start to the week.

Signs of spring.

Football. And the season kicks off.

Where is the promised 15 C and sun? Makaila looking less than thrilled although she was actually very happy to start the season off with three games today - despite the grey, windy and chilly 8 C.

Saturday. The locals out for a walk.

Friday. Life can be so cruel sometimes.

Broken promises and dashed hopes. The shock of looking out the window only to see the familiarity of white flakes.

Realisation

damn it I forgot to add the egg!! Hopefully they will be ok anyway. That's what happens when you try to do too many things at once.

I did it!!!!!!!!

I joined the gym tonight and did 55 minutes of exercise.

Fan-bloody-tastic!!!!

Tuesday. Washing day.

Swedish communal laundries. I wonder how many funny, irritating or totally crazy stories people have to tell about their laundry experiences. I wonder how many foreigners have written home about their experiences, usually in the basement of their apartment building.

Today was washing day and I used this beauty to wash a blanket too big to fit in the normal washing machine. She is probably about 100(!) years old and still servicing the few people who dare to use her. She moans and groans when turned on, but works like a charm.

Monday. A frosty start to the week.

Promises of warmer days that never come.

Ginger to the rescue

In an attempts to keep the colds at bay in this household I decided to make "tea" with the bucket load of ginger that also came in Eco-veggie box. At first I wondered what on earth I would do with all this ginger - and then Kieran lay with a fever for two days and I found my answer. I didn't manage to get him to drink that much but the rest of us have. I grated the ginger and added boiling water to it, sweetened it with honey and diluted it to our liking. Makaila and I love it sweetened with sugar and served cold - hey if you can't buy ginger beer in the supermarket this is the next best thing. And Ty has been drinking it hot in an attempt to get rid of his cough-cold.

Again, I forgot to take my own photo but found this one online and a great liver tonic (click on the picture) which I am now very tempted to try. Sounds quite delish - I love ginger!

Saturday. Artichokes - why I love my veggie box.

An American friend first taught me to eat artichokes, by dipping the leaves in melted butter. Another friend has served them when we've been there for dinner - thanks to his American mother. 

But despite having seen them at the market I have never ventured so far as to buy them and cook them myself. Until three arrived this week in my box of eco-veggies.

Easy to cook, delicious to eat and when I was searching for a photo to "borrow" (forgot to take one) I discovered they also have cholesterol lowering properties! Hopefully that makes up for all the butter consumed with them. YUM!! I'm officially addicted and the kids love them too.

Fairy Bread

What is a party without it? Apricot Log too. And pass the parcel with Aussie animals dropping out.

Thursday. An Aussie trivia quiz

has been written (in Swedish of course) with little stations designed around the place to help them answer the questions. Question Nr. 6. What does a koala eat?

A little taste of Australia

Makaila is having a little party on Friday night and introducing her friends to the land down under.

My morning view

from the kitchen window. The sun still lies on the frozen earth, which the sun is now gradually defrosting.

Monday. The very talented Klara

held a vernissage for her exhibition on Saturday. Too enchanted to take my own photos I am using one of hers. Have a look at more of her work from the Water exhibition at Nytida Swedish Silver.

A beautiful day

for a Sunday drive and a play in the snow.

Four lovely children eating together

 Chatting over dinner.

 Cheers, to friendship and spontaneous meals together.

Cheers to the camera.

Couldn't help but add all the photos today.

Love looking out the window

on a grey day and seeing snow flakes falling from the sky - NOT!!!      It's March - we're done with snow!

Thursday: Chimney inspection

After smoking the place out our fireplace was deemed safe. Yay we can continue having fires.

Washing away months of winter grime.

Spring is here! It was time to go through the car wash. My funny kids love car washes and think it is all very exciting. Feels great to get months of grime off the car.