A Sunday in Stockholm

I am writing this on Monday at 1:30 PM from Stockholm Sweden. It’s a cloudy/rainy day and it has already begun to get dark. I’m on my own today, as my son is working. I’ve been out and about several times and came home for lunch and to make a cup of tea before I head out again. I’m trying not to overdo it on my knees and so far am doing ok.

I took these photos yesterday to share with you.

 

I headed out early for coffee.  There is an extremely complicated coffee maker in the apartment and I have read the instructions and have no desire to learn this course in the art of coffee making. I am sure there is a test at the end of the instruction booklet and I’m certain I will fail it miserably. It’s easier to put on my shoes and coat and head down the street to the Espresso Bar. Unfortunately, the coffee shop doesn’t open until 9 on weekends.

 

I was the first customer. I had read before I came to Stockholm that the Swedes are . . .

 

I foolishly ordered a large regular coffee and didn’t realize until after I had drunk the delicious concoction how potent it was. I spent an hour chattering to my son and cleaned the surface of everything I could find in the apartment.

(Today I was smarter and only ordered a small.)

After the coffee incident, we hopped on the subway, a block away, and headed to the Sodermalm area which is just south of Gamla stan. I wanted to see Joyce Tenneson’s photographic exhibit at Fotografiska and this was the last day her “Light Warriors” would be on display.

 

The gallery is along the water and if you look to the right, there is a set of crazy high stairs that we ended up taking afterward. We wanted to walk around in the neighborhood up there.

The stairs weren’t bad at all, really. Going up stairs is easy. Going down is hateful on my knees. We went down another way (thank heavens).

 

These are two pieces from the Light Warriors display, which was absolutely luminous.

 

And these are the “killer stairs” that we took to get up the hill.

 

Being up there was totally worth the effort because we could now see Gamla stan quite well and the clouds were beginning to break and the sun began peeking through.

 

A group of young musicians was setting up as we walked by.

 

And the light was perfect to get a few shots of Gamla stan.

 

Pretty colored buildings in Djurgarden.

 

And Grona lund, an amusement park.

 

We walked the streets after climbing even more stairs and headed to a fantastic Mexican restaurant for lunch.

 

And then we walked the streets a bit more before getting back on the subway to head ‘home’. I just noticed that my son is in this shot. He is directly in the center and his back is to me.

 

I love that so many of the restaurants have decorated their entry ways with wire cages filled with candles. I’m not sure if they do this all winter or if it’s just for the Christmas season which is in full swing here. But it’s very cool.

 

And the subway trains are spacious and exceptionally clean.

 

There is an H&M on almost every corner. I exaggerate only a little. This one is outside of the subway station near the apartment and there is another on the next block. A young musician is singing a Bob Dylan tune as two little girls dance to his music. It was absolutely adorable and everyone in the crowd was smiling at their antics.

I love it here.

More to come tomorrow ~

Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden

It is early morning as I write, and the streets of the city are quiet. I arrived yesterday very early and my son met me at the train – a 20 minute ride on the train from Arlanda Airport. On the advice of many, in order to avoid jetlag, I took a 2-hour nap and woke up wanting to sleep the day away. But I forced myself awake and the reward was great.

We went to the Gamla stan, one of the largest and most well-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. To say it is beautiful, is an understatement – and since a picture is worth a thousand words . . .

 

 

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The Christmas market has been set up.

 

 

A café where we had cappuccino and a treat.

 

View from our table.

 

The cappuccino was delicious and the cake was extraordinary. It was infused with coconut and had a crusty and sweet topping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will have more tomorrow ~ am off to the market which is below ground. The apartment where my son is staying these months is right in the center of everything and it is quite nice. The floors in the bathroom and the foyer are heated.

I am in love with this place already and am so glad I am here ~

Until tomorrow, then . . .

New beginnings

It’s early afternoon on a cloudy Sunday in Maryland as I write this. My knee feels much better but is still not good and I want to thank everyone for the advice on the cortisone shot. I leave late this week for Stockholm and I really want to be able to walk around just a bit.

I took these photos early this morning while I was sitting outside having my coffee and tossing a stick to George. I haven’t been able to walk him lately and stick is the next best thing, I guess.

My playlist, as I write this post:

We Never Change – Coldplay

Northern Wind – City and Colour

Wonderlust – The Night VI

Clair de Lune – Lauren Sullivan

St. Patrick’s Day – John Mayer

Lost Stars – Keira Knightley

I love music. And yes, that last one is actually sung by Keira Knightley, the actress. If you haven’t seen Begin Again yet, I recommend you do. I have this thing for Mark Ruffalo and when I saw he was starring in it, and then read that it was about music, I checked out the trailer and promptly went to my local Red Box. Really loved it.

 

I was surprised to get so many comments regarding an offhand comment I made about my blog having run its course. I am not going to quit writing, ok? I was just saying that I could feel myself pulling back from it all. But it’s good to write. It makes me feel more connected, I guess. And I have a lot of friends and family who keep up with me this way. Which is why I can’t talk about them all and tell you what bitches some of them are.

 

Gotcha there, didn’t I? You know I am totally kidding on that one, don’t you? I don’t think I have any friends or family who are bitches, come to think of it . . .

 

I think she hears a wee mousy.

We have had two tiny little ones in the house this fall.

Ugh.

 

Yesterday morning, I sat in the sunshine while I had my coffee. What a difference a day makes. This morning’s clouds were beautiful, though.

 

I have always loved bare branches against an interesting sky.

You can tell it’s November.

 

Bare branches reflected in the storm door.

 

I have been meaning to paint this door since we moved here and I finally did last month. My husband was against it for some unfathomable reason. I painted it basically the same color that it might have been before it was completely faded to a near pink color and I polished the brass knocker too. I know the wreath is too small but I don’t care.

Here’s the trailer to Begin Again.

 

 

Oh, and I have every intention of blogging from Sweden, so keep posted.

Until then ~

Take it easy

It’s early evening and I’ve just finished dinner. My son brought home a Hawaiian pizza tonight and oh my, was it ever tasty.

I am tossing an old and quite worn toy for a certain border collie who just can’t get enough of his super squirrel. The toy is well over four years old, the slingshot part of it no longer works and it’s missing much of its stuffing, but he still prefers this one item over all the others in his toy box. At least, tonight he does.

I’m also watching the end of a documentary on Netflix that I began last night. It’s called History of the Eagles, a band I’ve always liked and who still performs together. It’s an interesting documentary loaded with photos, videos, and interviews from when the band was just starting out in the 70’s. Totally recommend if you are a fan of the group.

 

Yesterday I snapped the photos you see in this post. I took the day off to deal with an injury to my knee, had an ortho appointment and got some answers. Last Thursday, I pulled up lame. Sorry – but after having a husband who worked with horses all of his adult life, it’s hard to get away from the horse talk. Just last week, when someone told me their daughter got pregnant again right after having her first baby, I said that it’s common to get pregnant off a foal heat. Good grief.

 

I am nursing the knee, taking anti-inflammatory meds, doing stretching exercises, and hoping that it all works before I leave for Stockholm late next week. Somebody told me I should just bite the bullet and do a cortisone shot. It may come to that.

 

We still have a little color on the trees but most of the leaves are down. Today was quite warm here in Maryland but a cold front is coming.

 

I have been pulling back more and more from my blog and have come to the realization that it may have run its course. Still, it’s good to write from time to time. I know many of my readers have probably given up the ghost, but I write for myself.

And sometimes when I am feeling nostalgic, or missing my husband, it’s kind of nice to go back and read about a good day we had together.

 

My driveway this afternoon.

It’s kinda purdy ~

(even though it’s a pain in the ass in the wintertime)

 

Taken from my window seat this past Sunday. We had off Friday from school and I’d planned a quick flight down to Raleigh NC to visit a friend who had moved down there after retiring last June. I probably should have stayed home because of the bum knee, but I really didn’t want to let her down. It was a good visit.

Hope all is well in your world.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit mine.

You’re like fallen leaves in an autumn night

Hello, my friends. It’s been an absolutely stellar weekend here in Maryland, with mild temperatures and abundant sunshine. The nights have been just cool enough to close all the windows. It’s perfect October weather.

I elected to stay home this weekend and keep the home fires burning. I built a camp fire last night, and invited my son and his friend, L for dinner. I got a good fire going and they both took over tending it for the night. We roasted hot dogs on sticks, and then made s’mores for dessert. We used the ‘cheater’ method this time. (One roasted marshmallow between two Keebler fudge-striped graham cookies). Way yummy, too.

 

I got lots of chores done, cleaned the yard up some, washed all of the bird feeders, and even carved a jack-o-lantern, and set out pumpkins and gourds for display. It was truly a nice, quiet time.

George has had several good walks this weekend, too, and he’s super glad about that.

Oh, and I heard this nice tune, as well:

Just hit play and keep reading ~

It’s just such a lovely melody. I could let the words make me feel sad, but I’m choosing not to. Sometimes you just have to make a choice.

 

I went outside with the macro lens this afternoon and took all of the shots in this post.

 

 

A glimpse of the old manor house in the early afternoon sunshine.

 

 

The days may not be so bright and balmy—yet the quiet and melancholy that linger around them is fraught with glory. Over everything connected with autumn there lingers some golden spell—some unseen influence that penetrates the soul with its mysterious power. ~Northern Advocate

 

 

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons. ~Jim Bishop

 

 

I shot everything on F 6.3 in manual mode, adjusting the speed and the ISO for each image. There was a time when I didn’t know how to work the camera, but I’ve finally figured out the basics, I guess.

 

I sat outside today and this was my view to the front. George napping.

 

 

My sitting chair.

 

 

Looking up from my chair and hoping that I don’t get hit with a hickory nut.

 

So how are things in your neck of the woods?

Inquiring minds would like to know.