My doggie neighbours have apparently been out picking mushrooms (they have a car, and they grew up in this region, so they know where to find 'em), because H, the one I've been helping a lot with her maths lately, just came over and asked if I wanted some assorted mushrooms as a thank you, and if so, did I want them blanched (for freezing) or fresh ( Read more... )

This morning I went to a chiropractist (note for Americans: Swedish chiropractists crack your bones in place and nothing else, no mumbo-jumbo stuff), and afterwards there was a noticeable difference, I could move a bit more freely. I'm going back next week and the next one again for follow-up treatments, but it definitely seems like it was a thing ( Read more... )

Apparently this is my doggelgänger:


( Read more... )

Strangely, in the midst of the severest winter we've had since I moved here 22 years ago, I've already seen two signs of spring. In my own kitchen.

The first was this, two days before christmas:


( Read more... )

I was going to go to see my mother on Christmas Eve, as she now lives only a few miles away. But typically, we're having another round of snow chaos, and all the local trains between here and there are cancelled, and there is a great risk that they'll be cancelled or heavily reduced tomorrow as well, seeing that they predict the weather to continue ( Read more... )

This morning it was one of those breathtakingly beautiful mornings where everything is still and clear and sort of milky, and the sun rises like molten gold. There used to be days like that when I lived in Malung, but I didn't think I'd experience them here. It needs to be snowy and quite cold to get that milky effect. I wish I'd brought my camera ( Read more... )

Rosa's not well, she's had a runny tummy for weeks now, and nothing seems to work. She's not really sick or anything, she seems her normal happy self, but constant diarrhoea isn't fun for either of us. I've been giving her cooked white fish for the past few days, which seems to not give her the runs, but on the other hand she's hardly eaten any of ( Read more... )

Today I remembered that I can actually listen to the radion on my mobile, so I grabbed it and went out for a long walk in the heat while listening to the summer talk with Ulf Danielsson. It ended while I was pretty far away, so I started listening to The Beast of Orlok after that. I think I walked for two hours. I found three wild strawberries. Oh ( Read more... )

On Saturday, acropetal and I went to Malmö, to visit the big pet shop and Stoff&Stil. I had a clear idea of what I wanted to look for at Stoff&Stil. I even wrote it down on a piece of paper, and even remembered to bring the piece of paper. I think you can guess the rest.

When we got back, I did some quick shopping and then acropetal brought her Russian Blue kitten ( Read more... )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10404251.stm?ls

(Warning if you're really sensitive, but it is essentially an amazing story)