Today is a wonderful sunny Saturday; the snow is melting and it was perfect for a long walk along Berthåga, Stabby and over the fields before lunch. When I came back home I took a shot from my past week´s hit in Erikshjälpen: a few vintage butter knives -I believe from the 60-ties or 70-ties?; two small pieces of a joyful flower textile; an ICA cook-book with old dessert recipes (1947 and I cannot resist collecting old cook-books!!); a small empty tin box which I already filled with dried rose petals wraped in silk paper. The roses I picked and dried last summer in Uppsala and if you open the tin box the rose perfume invades the room!

All these objects take me to my childhood days at home far away in place and time. The cook-book smells like "mother". She used to bake a lot every day and was fond of desserts too. A different dessert after every lunch.

I really treasure all these things! How happy they make me feel.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Today -January 15th- we honour the tulips. These wonderful and strong flowers were cultivated since the 17 th century in Sweden and it was exactly here in Uppsala where it happened first. Olof Rudbeck d.ä. planted "Tulipa sylvestris" on the grounds of the Uppsala Botanical Garden.

The Swedish farmers grow more than 160 million tulips every year and the Swedes are champions in buying them! The best-selling flowers!

In order to last longer, keep them with their original wrapping from the florist and cut their stems one centimeter before placing them in a vase with fresh and cold water.

Hope you enjoy some tulips today at home.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I´m back in my childhood. I feel like a small child quite keen on small wild animals, babies, cakes and cookies, hand-made dolls, bambies and old Hollywood Christmas songs. I remember the film "Benjamin Button" with Brad Pitt and I feel that way: as if the clock needles go backward. Strange, no? I enjoy the smell of cinnamon, clover, peppar, cardamon, ginger, double-cream, pines and glogg these days. So good old memories with all those who are no longer here; so sweet family Christmas traditions from my country and so wonderful past Swedish holidays too!!!

It will be a very lonely and quiet holiday this 2020, but there shall be more holidays to enjoy next year and the following years as well.

As I am not at home, I imagine that I light the four Advent candles in mi heart and I fancy a tall Christmas tree with all the vintage glass-lights we used to hang in my childhood home during the 50-ties and 60-ties. They were wonderful light garlands! Each light was a different figure: a Santa, a snowman, a candle, a street-light, a Rudolf, a cookie, a train. And I shall imagine my own green tree with the names of all the ones I love and all those I remember, written on some beautiful golden tags hanging from every branch.

Ps: this doll is from a hand-crafts boutique I visited in S:t Petersburg, Russia. I thought it matches perfectly with these holidays. I am very childish these days and I love small dolls and hope to see some snow in Uppsala on the 24th!!!

May you have a peaceful 4th Advent this Sunday.

KEEP IT SIMPLE