Sunday, July 1

Day 183: Milestones, Bad Krukas and Random Giveways

"Milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road. This can be used to reassure travellers that the proper path is being followed, and to indicate either distance travelled or the remaining distance to a destination." - Wikipedia 

Today is a day of celebration for many reasons. First of all, it is the day that I reached my half year milestone to Finding Happy In 365 Days (mini squeal). Second of all, it is, as I am declaring it, the first official day of summer in Stockholm (medium squeal). And third of all, there is a present, or Happy Package, involved in today's celebration (Super squeal). As I wrote a couple of days ago, today will be my second Random Giveaway for a Happy Package to one of my lucky readers. All in celebration of me meeting my milestone of Finding Happy for one hundred and eighty-three consecutive days. More details below...

I personally celebrated today with a bicycle and picnic outing with my husband to one of our favorite summer spots, Haga Park. It is also where Crown Princess Viktoria and Prince Daniel live with their newborn, Princess Estelle. There is a lovely spot located along the water where we like to picnic, if it isn't too crowded, and sometimes swim, if weather permits. Earlier today the weather was really nice. It was sunny and warm but a little breezy. We rolled up on our bikes to the spot and it was nearly deserted, with the exception of an older woman who was sunbathing topless. Unfortunately she was lying on the big rock where we usually swim from, which made going into the water from the rock a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately the water was still a tad too cold for swimming, so we just had our picnic and enjoyed being out in the sunshine and ignored the woman on the rock. It was my first day to be out in public in my swimsuit, which is why I declared it the first official day of summer. This weekend was also the first time it was warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt and not have goose bumps on my skin at some point during my bike ride.

It was so wonderful to lie lazily on our picnic blankets and read or just sit and watch people walk, bicycle or kayak by. Part of me really wanted to swim, regardless of the woman on the rock, but the bad kruka in me said no. A "bad kruka," pronounced "bod krooka," is someone who is a chicken when it comes to swimming. I was christened with that name several years ago on my first visit to Sweden and I was chicken to get in the water. Well, the water was COLD for one thing and for another thing, the sun was hiding behind the clouds. Cold water plus no sun equals bad kruka. 

I am actually a bit of a chicken when it comes to swimming in oceans, or rivers and lakes too for that matter. I blame it on my brother who, when we were kids, told me that there were sharks in swimming pools. It pretty much kept me out of the deep end for years with the fear that sharks were lurking in the deep water waiting to eat me. I don't know if I made that part up or if my brother told me that as well. There is a fifty percent chance that it could be either but he did tell me that there were sharks in the pool.

Why I believed that I have no idea but the fear has stuck with me unfortunately. So, just call me a bad kruka. The funny part is that "bad kruka" literally means "swimming pot." There are so many fun plays on words in Sweden. Whether it's putting rhubarb on something or calling someone a swimming pot, but meaning something entirely different, the words and images that come to mind are enough to keep me rolling in laughter. Today we were both bad krukas. My husband will probably protest but regardless of the reason, I know he really wanted to swim but he wouldn't get in the water either.


So, you are probably getting distracted by the lovely photo below. Yes, it is part of the Random Drawing and Happy Package that will be on it's way to one of my lucky readers tomorrow. In order to participate you need to leave a comment below on today's post. I will then hold a drawing with the names of everyone who commented today. Please be sure to leave your name somewhere in your comment if you make an anonymous comment. Also, due to the time zone differences in my readership, the cut off time for leaving a comment, to be included in the drawing, will be midnight central standard time in the U.S. The drawing will take place tomorrow with photos to be posted later.

Tell me something makes you happy...

Good Luck... Happy Commenting... and a Big THANK YOU for supporting my Positivity Project!


A part of the Happy Package that will be sent to one of my lucky readers tomorrow! 

14 comments:

  1. One thing that makes me happy? Seeing the wonder of Sweden through your eyes. :) Great post!

    xox,
    Debra

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    1. Thanks Debra! I am happy to hear that you enjoy the posts about Sweden. :-)

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  2. Hi Grace Ann, I normally don't participate in sharing so much online, but the present in the picture was so beautiful and the story about the topless older woman in your bathing spot was so amusing, that I feel obligated to share. Also congrats to making the half year mark. Your level of dedication and energy is mind boggeling. I hope you write a book with these entries or start a franchise or some kind of business idea with it. I think you should show up in the Dragons Den with the concept.
    Anyways.. The thing that made me happy today is woefully materialistic, but it was the huge amount of sales going on in the shops. In previous years I have been out in the sun and in the US and missed these 50-70% off sales. ok have a good week! Stacy

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    1. Stacy! Thanks for participating and leaving your comment. And shopping is one of the things that makes me happy too, despite that it is a material thing. The sales are awesome, aren't they? You have a good week too!

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  3. Great post!! Pretty package, Love mom

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    1. Thanks mom! I am glad you were able to get home in time to read this post. I love you too!

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  4. That's really funny, I've never heard of a Bad Kruka, but I wouldn't go swimming in freezing water either! The weather in Helsinki has been great too, can't wait to see you on Friday! - Elizabeth G.

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    1. Yes, I thought it was pretty funny myself. And cold water is not my favorite so it is pretty amazing that I actually swim in it in the summers. Hope you have a great time in Helsinki! Visit Marimekko for me! :-D Looking forward to seeing you next Friday too!!! and thanks for your comment!

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  5. Love it!! This morning was so beautiful, I really wanted to swim as well but didn't have a chance :) So funny you saw a topless old lady at Haga Parken! Ses på torsdag!

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    1. Thank you Katie! It was a gorgeous morning, wasn't it? I think a swim is in my near future. My mistake today was sticking my toe in. :-O brrrrrrr!!!!!! See you on Thursday!

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  6. I love reading your blog!! It allways leaves
    a smile om My llips. What makes me happy is My family and friends. Stor kram från Mia

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    1. Hej Mia! Thank you so much for your comment and support! It means a lot! :-) Family and friends make me happy too. Have a happy week! Stor kram - Grace Ann

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  7. Ha! I didn’t miss day 183!!! Congratulations Grace Ann on arriving at your halfway mark!!! Speaking of travels and celebration, we just returned to Texas from visiting my parents in the beautiful farmlands and countryside of Ramsey Illinois, population 1000. It was a long journey driving back for 12 hrs across the Midwest with Erik and Ella ( 2 and 6 yrs old) in a wicked heat wave but they have been such great travelers! Gabi stayed behind with grandparents for a few days before they all head down to our house for the 4th of July. The tough part of the trip was for Tanna. On the edge of my parents property she spotted several wild black raspberry bushes. She picked berries for hours over several days with the goal of a wonderful home made pie and some freezer jam! The not so friendly fruit of her labor was about 30 chigger bites which makes for a very itchy ride home!!!

    Anyway...great to read your posts! Tell Carl we said hello and we’ll look forward to hearing more from you via the blog!

    -Michael Fox

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  8. Michael! Wow - thank you so much for your nice comment and message! I hope you will post photos of your road trip. We love taking road trips ourselves and plan to take a short one to the west coast in a couple of weeks - with our cat!!! Wish us luck! ;-) Sorry to hear about the chigger bites :-( That doesn't sound fun but the wild raspberries sound like they may have been worth it! Hope we get to taste the jam (if there's any left!) when we are in Texas in the fall! :-D
    Thanks again and Carl says hello too!

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