we want more

We are back in the city again and Molly has been standing with her wellies on at the door all day ready to go back to the country house. We will, in some weeks.

If you also want to go to Småland you might find some inspiration here. I wrote a Småland guide to Lille Nord with our favourite things to do & see. Let me know if you have any great tips for Småland and Sweden?

1. Flea find for Molly.
2. & 3. Breakfast & morning light.
4. Blue anemones from the woodland.
5. She found a horse at the flea market, best friend.
6. Quilts & rag rugs go so well together.
7. Reading.

we have anemones everywhere

We are up here in our Swedish country house for the holidays. It's so quiet and nice. We have anemones all over the plot and everything is much more springlike than last year's Easter vacation. It's good to be here & the girls are happy.

*Gækkebreve*

I am so happy to tell you that my little assistant and I made a contribution for the inspiring & beautiful Lille Nord. I am quite sure that Lille Nord needs no further introduction for all of you and it feels good to be a contributor to this fine site on Scandinavian culture, lifestyle and family life.

Our first contribution is on the Danish tradition of papercuts for Easter - "gækkebreve".
Did you know that this is a specific Danish tradition that exists nowhere else..?
And that the tradition has its roots all the way back to the 1700s ?
Read about the tradtion here.

This year Frida Viola and I have been cutting & cutting, experiencing the childlike joy of unfolding our papercuts to see what new patterns the scissors made us - and we can only encourage you to do the same.

a little more from the country house...

1. Snow with blue shadows.
2. They play more and more together. Molly wants to do the same as her sister.
3. The Easter bunny came by and left some eggs in the garden.
4. Our view.
5. "Fika" at the local café.

wintry easter

We are back home from a very cold and wintry little Easter trip to our Swedish country house. Very adventurous. We all slept together, very close, to keep warm, the water pump didn't really work because of the frost, and electricity came and went at it's own will. But all at the same time it was very beautiful and very cosy.

easter vacation

Look at her self-portrait - last photo. She is drawing and drawing - and she is getting good at it.

Have a nice Easter!

Easter Activities

I have been ill the last couple of days - not so fun with a little newborn and an almost three-years-old full of energy. Furthermore it has been freezing cold - even snow again - so most of our planned outdoor activities had to be changed into indoor ones. My energy has been so low, but finally today I went to the doctor and had some antibiotica - not something I am particularly fond of, but in this situation it felt like the right thing to do. A has done a great job in planning activities for Frida Viola - these are some of them...

1. Building little wooden ships is always great fun. The ceramic waves are made by Hesselholdt & Mejlvang - two of my absolute favorite Danish artists. I wrote this text about them a couple of years ago - and they offered us the beautiful waves.
2. Sowing cress - also a nice Easter activity.
3. Plum branches from mum's garden - now in flower.
4. Lots of lots of caresses and kisses.
5. This is what Molly and I have been practicing - and we are not doing so well. Frida Viola didn't ever learn to use the dummy, but with Molly I think it would be nice - to give me a little break once in a while.
6. Hand printed tablecloth that makes me happy - we used it for the wedding.
7. Baking daily is something we do when we are home all of us.

Easter Vacation

Easter vacation has started. Usually we go here, but this year we won't - Molly is still too little for such a long car ride. Instead we will stay at home and have lots of visits from family and friends. A is going to work the first cuple of days, though, but later tonight my mom will come to keep Molly, Frida Viola and I company.

More photos from last Easter.

Easter Eggs

I have never made Easter eggs before (yes, of course when I was a child) - maybe because we have always been traveling during Easter. This year I am obsessed with making these little handsewn ones.

I like the idea of making something myself for Frida Viola. Something with lots of little surprises and details that will learn her about Easter without resorting to the vast amount of commercial offers and candys of the supermarket. 

I will show you more later.

By the way, we will be going here during the holidays - can't hardly wait.