Monthly Archive: June 2009

30
Jun
2009

SOME THINGS WE DID

We crammed in a lot of activities during our week up north. Even though I could have easily turned into a slug, something about the early early sunshine got me going much faster than I would normally have liked managed. Simone was up in the early yawning every day, doing pilates on the cliffs and she and Anders took turns biking into town for fresh bread and breakfast rolls. We did most of the things on our list of things to do in the area, though we never did actually make it to Smögen. Uri the Amur Tiger at Nordens...

29
Jun
2009

COASTAL LIGHT

The light is incredible along the western coast of Sweden in the summer. It’s one of the sunniest spots in the country, logging more sunlight hours by far than the rest of us. This past week, right after midsummer, the sun never actually set, just dipping down behind the horizon around 1 a.m. and apparently scooching quickly around to the east to rise a short hour or so later. Frankly, sunset photos never do the real thing justice. We drove up from Skåne in rain, which slowed and ceased as we arrived on Ödby Island. There were puddles in every...

28
Jun
2009

IN THE MIDDLE

I am back, but I am not sure I want to be. I am back, for now. I will be gone again. Soon. I am still on vacation and enjoying every sun-packed lazy-ass moment of it. It’s weird being offline for a determined length of time. One gets out of the online habit so easily. It was difficult to open this window and start typing; difficult to think of what to say, difficult to know where to begin, or whether. We couldn’t have had better weather in Sotens Fiskarby: sunny and warm with a constant cool breeze. We went to...

20
Jun
2009

LONGEST DAY

Family, friends, a midsummer pole dressed with 7 kinds of wildflowers, dancing like tail-less, ear-less frogs (kouack kouack!), toads under ferns, swan babies, 6 kinds of herring, strawberries, singstar silliness, a hotdog-begging kitty, reading on the trampoline or alternately, bouncing on it, downpours with hail, giant fluff-clouds, sunshine! a walk in the woods, hotdogs on the grill, 2 puppies to pat, schnaps songs, packing, games, laughter! Happy midsummer everyone! The kids, with John & Simone’s help, were justifiably proud of their midsummer pole! (photo: John Slaughter) Sillybutts! (photo: John Slaughter) Karin, Liz, Martin & Simone (photo: John Slaughter) The Ek’s...

17
Jun
2009

WHATEVER I WANT TO DO AND ALL DAY TO DO IT, TOO

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation? I waffle between not wanting to do anything at all but sleep in, lay on the sofa and read, and read some more, to making travel plans and go-go-going every day, getting something out of every minute. This week, the first of a 4-week vacation, has been a nice mix of the two, which suits my waffling heart to a T. I had plans every day but not the whole day and some of them fell through or were changed and all of them involved nice things. It’s only 2 days until the...

16
Jun
2009

CALLING OSCAR!

This is Karin (Liz kid) and this is my script for a movie that I’m gonna make on a game. Its a Comedy action romance movie. The dark ninja *beach* (Henry and Elizabeth kissing) Elizabeth: I don’t want you to leave. Henry: I must, i have a big test tomorrow, and i may not come back. Elizabeth: Honey, don’t say things like that. Henry: I’ll always have you in my heart. (Henry leaves) —————————————————— (new set) *the living room* (Elizabeth looking at picture and is sad) —————————————————— (new set) *Subway station* (Henry stands waiting for train) ——————————————————- (new set) *train*...

14
Jun
2009

WHEN THE DOG BITES, WHEN THE BEE STINGS, WHEN I’M FEELING SAD

moose word origins leaves sleeping in reading a good trilogy playing games my grandmother’s gingersnaps finding a new artist velvet unpredictable movie endings belly laughs lily of the valley spice cake getting mail hugs from my family sushi sushi sushi! being helpful CATS knowing the answers to questions wikipedia singing silly songs deviled eggs antique markets bright blue skies magpies poetry that lights your head on fire ordering books browsing bookstores a stack of much anticipated books to read my bookworms book group the smell of freshly-baked bread the smell of freshly-cut grass cinnamon sugar toast clean sheets on a...

11
Jun
2009

LIGHT TOMORROW WITH TODAY*

My stomach was so upset with nerves before my doctor’s appointment this afternoon that I seriously thought I would throw up. All for a little lump! I got there early and the doctor was an older man, a bit bear-like, with a kindly expression. It was the fastest I’ve ever been felt up in my life. 😀 He examined me and then said that he couldn’t really feel anything that warranted worry: “nothing dangerous,” he said. But he’s scheduling me for a mammogram just to be sure. I feel much better, I have to say. Tomorrow is my last day...

10
Jun
2009

YOU’VE GOT TO DO SOME DANCING TO GET IN THE MOOD!

I’m not in the MOOD to write. What AM I in the mood for? Glenn Miller songs and convertibles. Summer evenings and those retro lawn chairs made of soft round strips that make lines on the back of your thighs. Backrubs, footrubs, headrubs. Deviled eggs and rice krispie treats. POPSICLES. digression/ I bought a box of Hello Kitty popsicles at the grocery store this evening, partly because they were grape & cherry flavored (!) and partly because I wanted to see the expression on Karin’s face when I handed her the box /end digression I’m in the mood for cleaning...

07
Jun
2009

LISTEN & LEARN, READ & REMEMBER

I love reading posts about reading and books and especially young adult and children’s books which I have a huge collection of and soft spot for, and this post by new blog find Diamond in the Window made me laugh out loud. I knew EXACTLY what she meant by “one of us” and EXACTLY how she felt by having some of her recommendations rejected by her kids. Only one of my children is a real reader. Karin reads…usually under pressure, though she does surprise me now and then by picking up something. Usually, however, it’s a Young Jedi book or...

June 2009
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