The warm weather continues and we are both ecstatic and sweaty hehehe. You know we do our best not to complain about the heat even when it is over 30 degrees celcious (85F) however in reality it is truly hotter than hell LOL! But we make the best of it, worshipping the sun, grilling, eating outdoors and enjoying the local beaches. We are having pasta salad for dinner for the 3rd day in a row – cold food for warm days you know hehehe!
Bus to Sandvika on my way to the beach
When I took the bus yesterday afternoon I noticed that there was not a woman unboard without a bikini under her clothes and a beach bag in hand. All the ladies and girls were on their way to the abundance of beaches we have in the local area. Many beaches are conveniently available by bus. The bus is air conditioned while my car is not, and I don’t have to worry about parking. Environmentally friendly too!!
Sandy Kadettangen by Kalvøya
The Oslo fjord provides something for everyones taste, sandy beaches, rocky beaches, beaches with a view, even nude beaches if you prefer to bathe without a suit. My favorite is the Sandy beach along the way to Kalvøya. But sometimes if I want a quick dip I go to the rocky beach at Høvik because it is closer. And if I am not swimming at all but only enjoying the sounds of the beach, the sun and the water some of the rocky beaches are quite nice. If you find a good rock to lay on you don’t get so much sand in your uhmmm shorts 
Enjoy the summer, rain or shine, where you are…and for more pics of scandinavian beaches and Kalvøya drop by my husband’s blogg at RennyBA’s Terella!
Categories: Family · Outdoor life · Travel
Last month I missed Lifecruisers Cocktail party, but not this time, even if I am a day late. I actually came in and read the post this time and have my cocktail ready.
While on my girls trip to Sweden we enjoyed lady like (yeah right) drinks on the balcony in the balmy summer weather. Here was one which was popular this time.
A strawberried flavored shot of tequila rose
Categories: Uncategorized
Sorry I haven’t been in so much. I had a week off and sooooooooo much that I was going to do with it. Time sure flies when you are having fun!! I got a call on Monday and my surpervisor for my new position is going on vacation and would like me to work for her 3 days a week the next two weeks to make sure the children’s program at the center keeps to it’s summer plan. On the one hand this is exciting news for me because I wasn’t supposed to start my new position until August and here I will get a chance to get my feet wet a bit earlier. On the down side though it means I have less time off this summer as my current position was just 50%. (My new position will be full time from the middle of August.) The final result is that I did agree to work the extra days primarily because I am looking forward to my new job. This is just a fabulous experience for me, I have never looked forward to a new job in the same way as I do right now.
Torsö beach
Not wanting to waste the summer that I have, my yearly ‘girl’s trip’ took place last weekend! Each summer I welcome two former colleagues and very good friends to our vacation paradise in Sweden. We call this our summer home and clearly you can see why. We do actually use the place all year round, but summer time is truly the best time of the year in this area. Above you see one of my favorite beaches, far out on the island of Torsö. Off the beaten path and only accessible by country dirt roads, this beach is well worth the adventurous driving as it is a natural sand beach with crystal clear water and few visitors. The water is of course the shores of the Great Lake Väneren (that big blue dot in the middle of the map of southern Sweden).
The trip also included many visits to local cafés to enjoy delicious open faced sandwiches, salads, or cakes accompanied by good Swedish coffee. This one is an adorable refurbished cottage, with a beautiful garden. Here we enjoy the shade since the temperatures were quite warm this year!
Ester's Café in Lyrestad, Sweden
Another important part of our trips is combing the many local flee markets in search of antique treasures and charming decorations. It is incredible what we have dragged with us home from time to time. This year my friends bought 2 complete china sets plus 2 partial sets, diverse decorations and a pink crystal chandelier!!!
Fleamarket, otherwise known as 'loppis' in Mariestad
Yes, folks, the green bowl in her hand is a very popular old pattern in Sweden known as Anna, and it helped complete a set which we hauled home with us
Here’s hoping your summer is as fabulous as ours! Now get out of the air conditioning and live it up people!!!
Categories: Family · Outdoor life · Sweden · Travel · Women's Issues
St. Hans in Norway is usually associated with boats, beaches and bonfires. It is the celebration of midsummer in Norway. Originally a pagen summer festival to celebrate the summer solstice. Later when Norway was christened to a Christian land the festival we renamed St. Hansaften. The celebration of St. John the Baptist (Johannas in Norwegian). However today as before Midsummers eve is celebrated first and foremost as a popular party day and not a Christian feast. The Swedish celebration of (midtsommmar aften) “mid summer” is a the Swedish variation of the same pagan celebration.
St. Hans bonfire
Customs:
Decorating with birch leaves this day was an old practice as well as dancing around the bonfire in the town square, or out in the open air, and especially beaches. It was believed that the fire had purification and protective power on a night filled with superstition. It was believed that the fire protected against evil forces, and often a witch made of sticks and old clothes, was burned on the top of the fire as it still is in Denmark.
Faith in the power of fires special effect is probably transferred from the sun being at its highest point around this time. The following day the ancient ritual was to roll a burning wheel, as a symbol of the sun down the slopes in honor of the sun wheel in the sky. (Just to be clear they don’t do this anymore!)
Myths:
Midsummer night had a special power, such as Christmas eve, New Year’s Night and All saints day. If one had the right capabilities, on this night one could read the future of many things. Famous herbs were collected and cut with a silver knife. If a young girl picked seven or nine herbs (magic number!) and put them under her pillow on this night it was believed she would dream of their true love. Branches of leaves were put in the ground at the corners of the fields to protect the earth and it was believed that the longer the branch, the better the grain would grow.
The water also had a special power this night, steam would help against eye diseases. Holy water was believed to be more effective around St. Johns then at any other time. The weather that day would predict the weather for the rest of the summer.
DianeCA's St. Hans celebration
Today the bon fires, boat trips, and beach rituals continue as well as many outdoor parties and BBQ’s. Since I have to work this evening I took my celebration this afternoon. I burned myself instead!!! Happy St. Hans!
Categories: Family · Outdoor life
I am very lucky to be married to RennyBA and share adventures with him, especially travelling to exotic places. However when you travel so much with a fellow blogger it isn’t always easy to figure out how to post and use your originality at the same time. We are visiting the same places, seeing the same things, talking with the same people. I want to be an original, I don’t want to be an accessory to Terella which is older and has a larger following. I hope you don’t think I’m complaining, because I’m not, we have a lot of fun together. It just presents its challenges to find original posts.
Details from inside the Synegoge.
When we were in Budapest RennyBA was really enjoying his cameras! He risked life and limb for all the best photos, standing in the middle of busy streets, asking me to keep an eye out while he stood on the cable car tracks to get just the right angle on the castle across the river….and me normally looking for danger, holding my breath and occasionally pleading with him to hurry up! Being married to a blogger and avid photographer can be a hair raising experience now and then hehehe. My husband has been known to take pictures while driving, stand on perilous ledges, climb over the edge of a bridge down to a waterfall and even get into a pen with a ram.
Crystal Chandeliers inside a hotel
I am a tamer blogger. On our trip to Budapest I decided that my angle would be details. I am a more detail orientated person, always pointing out the small things, seeing the way the light falls, the carved ceiling, and the crystal chandelier. Although an avid feminist I have to admit that this falls into a typical gendered division, my husband is always looking for the bold, the adventure and the glory, while I am always looking for the special, the beautiful, and the details in situation.
Charming flower shop
So here are some of the details. The beautiful things which are less famous, but which catch my eye….when I’m not keeping it on RennyBA and his antics!
Categories: Travel
