Tagged: obiterphotos

20
Jul
2011

BABY!

I’m so thrilled! My baby brother just became a DAD. What a bizarre feeling to think that John has reproduced! 😀 I know he and Simone will be great parents; they’ve waited and worked so long for this moment. And so fun to think our family name will be continued, as well. 🙂 He was due 2 days ago, and my mom arrived here in Sweden yesterday for the beginning of her European vacation, she heads to Germany next bearing gifts and love from us all. Welcome to the world Samuel Otto Slaughter! Born 1:55 pm, Wednesday, July 20th, 2011.

18
Jul
2011

WHALES & PUFFINS & GULLS, OH MY!

If I’m not careful I will be turning my biorhythmical clock upside-down. It’s really easy for me to do when I’m on vacation. I stay up later and later and then I wake up later and later. I have to start restraining myself or I end up sleeping all day and being up all night. When we’re traveling, however, it’s harder to do, since we usually have things scheduled: places to be, things to see, goals to achieve (my goal for Iceland: find a silver puffin charm for my countries-i-have-been-to-charm bracelet). It’s funny, I didn’t actually inspect the paper money...

04
Jul
2011

AMERICAN STYLE

Yesterday, we were all-American…even those of us who don’t come from the United States. We had our annual Independence Day BBQ hosted by the AWC at a lovely location on the shore of Ringsjön (a member’s home). Thanks to the high level of moisture content in the air, Barky had a great time playing Humidity Hair From Hell plus I had a red red nose (from the allergy-treatment aftermath (so no photos of me, ahem). There were hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill and watermelon slices and red/white/blue berry desserts, but alas, I didn’t have time to make deviled eggs...

11
Jun
2011

INVINCIBLE SUMMER

Things that I am grooving on lately: Looking: Swedish summer! Listening: Sara Bareilles — Little Voice Reading: Bill Bryson — At Home, A History of Private Life Drinking: Schweppes Pear Lime Fusion Eating: mozzarella & tomatoes, red seedless grapes Flowering: Paradisbuskena (Paradise bushes! latin: Kolkwitzia Amabilis), it’s called Beauty Bush in English, and it really is incredible. Giant bushes FULL of these gorgeous deep pink flowers Karin took this photo of the farmhouse behind us. It’s falling apart…no one has lived in it or taken care of it for a couple of years now. The green-covered mound to the right...

23
May
2011

CAPTURED

There’s nothing nicer than going for a walk in May. The lilacs are blooming, the lupines are blooming, the rapeseed is glowing. The weedy edges of the meadows are leggy and exploding; and wisps float on the sunshine-filled air. A blackbird trills ahead of us; a hedge is filled with sparrows fluttering and busily rustling. Beech hedges shine in the sunlight and everyone we meet is smiling. A new neighbor’s brand-new puppy gambols in the dandelions. At first, the kids didn’t really want to go for the walk, but they warmed up to the idea. 🙂 Do I HAVE to...

03
May
2011

WILLOW WEAVING

Now that I see my creations in the cold light of the day after (or rather, the 3rd day after), mostly what I see are the flaws. How uneven they are, how the weave is screwed up, how wobbly and unstable they seem. Still! I am pretty proud that I went to the course, and learned the technique and if my creations don’t look as perfect as the ones the instructor with her 20 years of experience turned out, well, so what? The nasturtiums won’t care! Making a bottomless basket Awaiting nasturtiums!

07
Jan
2011

DOGS & BLOGS

I think we fall a bit in love with every subsequent dog that we babysit. THIS dog, however, was really hard to give up. He was just the most darling thing ever and all of us enjoyed his company so much. I’ve told berchshill that I really hope she’ll keep us in mind the next time they need a dogsitter. The kids were out in the snow with Mental every day, playing fetch. We went for a long walk today in the brilliant sunshine, and later he kept putting his head on my knee to be scritched and I hugged...

30
Dec
2010

ICE ICE BABY

I suppose it’s that time of year again. To look both backward and forward; to make resolutions and promises and open your eyes wide to the wonder of what will come next. This morning, the white world was whiter: covered in thick hoarfrost, fat and full and frozen. Chickadees flock to the frozen feeder, grabbing seed and flinging themselves to the top of the bird cherry. From the bedroom window I could see a bird with a very red body and strained to make out what it was; there are no cardinals here and the red-breasted robins aren’t that red....

25
Dec
2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This has been a cold, white, frozen Christmas…on the outside. On the inside? Warm, relaxing, and full of food, family and fun. Full Swedish julbord yesterday with Anders’ family here and a leisurely-ish American-style Christmas this morning, complete with stockings full of perfect stuffers, great gifts that had everyone smiling, an afternoon spent enjoying the new massage chair that Anders got me (!) and an evening at the movie premiere of Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader in English AND 3D! A very merry holiday from us to you!

23
Dec
2010

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS

This has been a cold and snowy winter so far. It started snowing in early November and it hasn’t let up yet. In fact, it’s snowing now; it’s been snowing all day. We’re supposed to get another foot or so, which brings us up to at least 3 feet, at least. And with the wind sculpting the snow into wild white piles, some of the drifts are up to my waist. I love the snow—you won’t catch me complaining. It brightens everything up…there’s no way I’d trade this brilliant brightness for another rainy dark cloud-covered SkÃ¥ne winter. And even with...

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