The world

Monday. Rainy dark and no fun. A lovely thick delicious ovenbaked pancake did the trick to cheer us up. Served with caster sugar and/ or amazing raspberry/blackberry jam. Yum.

What a Sunday – it’s raining and not cold at all. No snow or Christmas spirit yet. But, I’ve put up the Christmas curtains in the kitchen and the house is getting ready for the holidays even though the weather isn’t.  We’ve done some serious grocery shopping to last us a while and now I’m rewarding myself with some time in my corner cheering on our Swedish skiers both downhill and cross country.  Happy 3rd Advent!

After doing a lot of chores we met up with my sister w/ family and went to see the second episode of the Hunger Games. Mixed reviews afterwards from the group but I enjoyed it. Next time we might see the Hobbit. Now corner time and relaxing a bit.

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Guess who sang for her grandparents over 40 years ago? I love this old picture – brings back so many good memories.  Today is the day we celebrate Lucia in Sweden – or Saint Lucy as she’s called in English. There is a lot of information to be found about this tradition on Wikipedia for instance.

We eat saffron buns and gingerbread cookies, enjoying the carols for Advent and Lucia and have family time together. All the daycare centers and schools have Lucia parades and parents are welcome too. It’s a good day!

Thursday.. I did some serious brain gymnastics this morning and I managed to figure it out. Felt pretty good. I love a good challenge!

Then I met up with a friend after work for some catching up (which we definitely need to more often) and when I came home dinner was on the table. I even managed to get some Christmas-shopping done today.. It turned out to be a really good day!

What a great day I’ve had – first work, then a very nice lunch at Sturekatten – the oldest coffeehouse in Stockholm – and after some chores and time with my boys – a Lucia parade with my niece’s class in a church near by. They were really good and it was a true feel-good experience.  God how I miss singing with a choir. Maybe I should do something about that.

One of the most famous Swedish people is probably Alfred Nobel and the award in his memory – the Nobel Prize – which is handed out December 10 every year in Stockholm in four categories – physics,  chemistry, medicine and literature. And every year in Oslo – the peace prize.

It all started back in 1901. In 1969 the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Science was added to the list of awards.

As a Swede I am of course proud of this tradition – and I am looking forward to see it on tv later on this evening.

2 more weeks – 9 days left to work this year.

Can’t believe how quickly this year has passed and how much we have accomplished and experienced. I hope next year will bring us just as much joy and things to look forward to. Maybe we will get to travel some – or maybe we will be honored a visit from friends from abroad.. that would be amazing! 

A good day has almost come to an end. We have lit the second candle and now the whole family has cuddled up together in front of the tv to watch a movie.

Earlier today I went to see my niece in her dance show – she was great!
Oh – and my amaryllis has started to bloom and we now have snow on the ground. Christmas is getting closer.