Uke time

Our construction zone is getting to be one of my favorite places to play my ukulele.  The future site of the landing in the stairwell is perfect - someplace quiet with lots of natural light and no distractions. 

Meren äärellä

Seaside life is an essential part of our summer. Last year we lived here for almost a month, this year's seven nights just doesn't seem like enough. Amy once asked what we do out there. Here's the core of it:

- Spend most of the day parenting, doing all kinds of maintenance work, and cooking for a family of four. Heat some water and wash dishes by hand, outside.

- Try to go for a swim each morning, even if it's cold.
(Feel very good afterwards.)

- Do the evening sauna ritual on most days. Sometimes go to sauna alone after children's bedtime. Always go back and forth between the heat and the cool sea.

- Pick blueberries. Bake pie, preferably in the wood-heated oven.

- Go fishing with nets. Smoke the fish.

- Run after the toddler on the high rocks and all the other dangerous places.

- Be conscious of the view. Observe the nuances of the weather. Watch a breathtaking lightning show, if possible.

- One of my all-time favorites in life: transport a ridiculous amount of sewing supplies from home, set up the sewing machine outside, definitely outside, and let it sing.

With children, all of this is often not very relaxing, but even so, we can't live without it.

Näkkileipä

A friend visited us recently and brought us this box of crispbread she had discovered in a grocery store in Sweden. I just love aesthetic food! This box with its contents was so perfect down to every little detail that it certainly deserves a post of its own. It was not only a joy to open but the best crispbread I have ever tasted.

And the reason I'm so late this week is... that there was no power to post! Literally, the power button of the computer broke on Friday afternoon. So I have been waiting for Monday evening and the arrival of my husband's laptop from work.

It must have been a sign. Amy and I have decided to downshift My Morning is Your Evening into summer mode for a month or two. You will continue to hear from us every now and then, but the Friday routine will continue later on in the fall. With fresh energy and a new power button.

So, dear readers, please keep visiting! This blog has been such a happy thing for us and we appreciate every one of you.

(By the way, njut is Swedish for enjoy.)

Small-town fun

What is it about carnivals that is so spooky?

Cruisin'

Last Christmas, my brother rebuilt a bike for me that I had found snooping around in his basement.  We live in a cozy neighborhood along a forested one-lane dead-end road, and I am always borrowing from or loaning to my neighbors.  The street is short enough to walk from one house to the next, but often I am in a hurry and end up using the car.  A  simple used bike (with plenty of retro charm) was the perfect solution.

My Christmas present was a large box containing this beautiful seat.

This bumper sticker is the best!!!  It says '65, I hope that poor sticker can hang on a while.

This lightning bolt (or rocket?  Comet?) indicates just how fast this thing can go.

And the basket is from a Pennsylvania dairy that has a convenience store two blocks from the house I grew up in in Maryland.  My husband actually saw the crate sitting in a teacher's classroom at his school in Oregon. That teacher gladly gave it up, and we marveled at how it could have possibly made its way here, much less into my hands!  Lara, there is a good chance you have been to that Wawa!

And I'm hoping I can find some blue and silver tassels for the handles.  Or maybe orange?

Yesterday was the maiden voyage for the bike, and we delivered homemade jam and hot grilled hot dogs to a neighbor who is recovering from surgery.  Happy happy happy!

Juhannus II

Blessed white nights. Solstice came and went, but until about August there will be no darkness, only dim.

Nearing midnight

Late afternoon