Tagged: goodthings

06
Apr
2008

LET THE SUN SHINE IN

What determines your mood? Is it already preset when you wake up? Does the sunshine factor in? Is it based on how many things you have to do during the day or worries you have about the week ahead? Despite the cloud cover, we have had intermittent sunshine all day. Right now it is beaming through the house like a great big global smile. It’s lighting up everything—the floor, the fish tank, the dirty windows. I still have to get out and go for a walk, but am guessing I will end up going after dinner which I need to...

04
Apr
2008

SPROING!

The lungwort in the front garden is in full bloom. What an ugly name for a pretty plant. It was fun just now to look up the origin of the name, however I like the other colloquial names for it much better: Spotted dog, Jerusalem cowslip, Soldiers & Sailors. I like it because it has such fun polka-dotted leaves and it flowers for a really long time, and then it flowers again, and also it just keeps coming up year after year without my having to do anything much. I like low-maintenance plants, since I’m the world’s most indifferent gardener....

12
Mar
2008

TIME SPENT WITH CATS IS NEVER WASTED

I had not exactly forgotten how lovely it is to have a cat in the house, but it has, admittedly, been a VERY long time. We were forced to give our 2 Swedish cats away only about a year after we adopted them, when Martin was only a few months old, because Anders’ asthma had progressed to the point of dangerous on their account. Today, receiving Hanna was the last thing on a very long list of Things To Do, and much the most anticipated. Both the kids had school. Karin had swimming and Music-play group. Martin had music and...

15
Feb
2008

LIGHTENING UP

Amazing how Friday comes along all bouncy and sunny and nonchalant; all “what cryck in the neck? what? where? hey! vanilla hearts for Friday fika! Awesome, dude!” and then I got a lot done at work and I left on time and the sun was shining and we went out for sushi and it was gooood and then we went and bought a bunch of junk food and there might have been melty brie and crackers involved and then we…I mean I…oogled Viggo for an hour and a half while simultaneously fending off questions from concerned fellow watchers: “Does he...

27
Jan
2008

THE WEEK IS WORTH THE WAIT

No matter how often it’s sunny, it’s still like a miracle to me when the sun comes out. To wake and see the blue sky above the tossing branches of the pine trees and the bird cherry across the ditch and the sun, that pyro, striking sparks off everything. After weeks of overcast skies and rainy days and windstorms, a sunny day is awesome. It AWES me. It makes me sit up and take notice. Suddenly everything that has been drab and dark and grey is silver and light and glinting gold. The asphalt is mica-ed with sparkles; even the...

26
Jan
2008

GOOD THINGS

Today was full, FULL I tell you! of good things. Though there were a few things missing that would have made it perfect (like a massage and my family returning home, and not missing the phone call from my travelin’ bro), I am pretty pleased with the day. And actually since it’s after midnight, it was YESTERDAY that was full of good things, and today that is also full of good things because of the last point below. Meg posts Friday Love Lists and this is a little bit like that, and also just because there is something so solid...

21
Jan
2008

IN SOLITUDE, WHERE I AM LEAST ALONE

The moon is shining down in a misty sort of way, it’s full of itself and drunk on moonshine. The house is quiet and (relatively) clean. This is the one week out of the year when the things I pick up and put away stay in their places for 7 whole days. This is the one week when no one else dictates my activities or time spent on any given thing: I have free rein! I don’t have to think about anyone but me! (at least at home…work is another story entirely) I don’t have to fix meals for anyone...

01
Jan
2008

WALKING AND TALKING

Best way to end a year: enjoying the first sunny day in WEEKS, then driving under a clear crystal-studded sky to spend an evening with good friends, including some not met in far too long. Handing lit sparklers to a wide-eyed child as champagne glasses clinked and kisses were exchanged with dragon breath and chilled cheeks. Cheering as fireworks exploded overhead and all around you in the distance. Sitting around the table telling your most vivid memory moments from the past year. Loving your mate in the wee hours of the morning. Best way to start a year: sleeping in...

15
Dec
2007

COOOOOOKIES!

We baked up a frenzy today and yesterday…the plan was 7 different kinds of cookies, which is a Swedish Christmas tradition (although none of our cookies were traditional Swedish ones) but one cookie sort didn’t get baked, though the dough is chilling in the fridge…we just ran out of time, after spending the morning cleaning, the afternoon baking and the evening decorating the trees. After dinner Karin and Anders made knäck (toffee) which is a Swedish Christmas candy, but without nuts because Karin doesn’t like them. Plate o’ cookies: (clockwise from lower left corner) Rice Krispie Holly Bars, Almond Paste...

22
Nov
2007

THINGS I’M THANKFUL FOR

That your doctors caught it early and got it all because I can’t imagine life without you. That you are healthy and happy and funny and so incredibly well-behaved in public. That we had the money on hand so I could fly over to be there when you said I do. That your new job has made you so much happier and that we seem, in so many ways, stronger than ever. That you choose to come and visit us when you have the chance. That you recommend such great books, and movies, and recipes. That you show me in...