Surprise Presents

Almost any of my close friends and family can attest to how much I love presents. Surprise presents especially and handmade gifts like the photo of the above painting, made for us by our lovely twelve-year old god-daughter, are even higher on my favorites list. If if you didn't already guess, our god-daughter is amazing. Not only is she sweet, beautiful, fun, and adventurous but she is also brilliant and artistic. 

She and her parents visited us in Stockholm last weekend and they came bearing gifts: A fun and elegant candleholder that glows orange when lit, a photo frame made from a bicycle chain, the above painted portrait of “our family,” and a baking cookbook that looks absolutely divine. I can’t wait to sink my measuring cups into it, or perhaps more aptly, my kitchen scale, as our friend informed us that in England baking requires a scale. All ingredients are measured in weight. 

The wrapping paper used for the presents was lovely as well. Natural brown paper covered with bicycles in black ink. Someone knows that we love bicycles. Of course I saved some of the paper for a yet unknown future craft project. Rest assured that you will be witness to both a future craft project featuring this adorable bicycle paper, as well as something tasty created from this beautiful cookbook. 

Maybe elderflower poppy seed cake? 

Or perhaps a batch of homemade crumpets? (Oh my goodness! I LOVE crumpets!)

Stay tuned to see what it will be….

*Photo of orange candleholder above by Johanna Winter.

Day 339: Oh My Clementine

At different times of the year I have favorite fruits. In the summer it's definitely blueberries and strawberries, or maybe nectarines. In the fall, well fall is hard, since I really like summer fruits best but apple pie is a fall favorite. Unless pumpkin counts as a fruit, then I would definitely say pumpkin. But come winter, my favorite fruit, also bearing my favorite color, is a small round ball of fiery joy... the clementine. When they are ripe and fully in season there is nothing better to pop into your mouth for an easy morning snack or afternoon treat. They are equally delicious if you just find yourself bored and need a pick-me-up or something to do. They don't require much time and they are so small you could easily eat two at one sitting. Maybe even three. 

I personally don't even need to be hungry to enjoy one. I can, in fact, eat a large Christmas meal complete with dessert and still, after waddling away from the dining table, find room for a clementine. If I happen to be at your house and you have some sitting around in a bowl, you can be certain to catch me eyeing them lovingly and maybe even sneaking one without asking. They can be eaten so quickly that you probably wouldn't even notice. So if you invite me over during winter in Sweden, guard your clementines, unless you are okay with them slowly disappearing.

Maybe you remember last year when I mentioned my unspoken fight with one of my colleagues to eat the most clementines at the office? We receive a weekly fruit basket delivery and for the most part I ignore it except for the occasional pear, as I prefer organic bananas and I am not terribly big on apples. But as soon as the clementines surface, you can find on most days at least one, if not two, clementines sitting on my desk. This year I seemed to miss that they were out in the grocery stores upon their first arrival but over the weekend I became reacquainted and we are dear old friends once again. And as much as I love to eat your clementines when I am at your house, I may not be as quick to offer them to you if you are at my house. Don't take it the wrong way. I have always been a little bit greedy when it comes to "my candy." 

P.s. Okay, I'm only kidding... but if you brought your own clementines over I wouldn't be mad.

Click here for a fun song: Oh my darlin' Clementine!

Day 322: Seeing Orange

Both the pros and the cons of studying art history are that one rarely just "sees" things anymore. It's all in seeing the details after one has sat and stared at paintings and sculptures for hours, while dissecting every little detail of the work of art. But seeing tiny details can be a blessing, if it means noticing a beautiful blooming flower that is nearly tucked away from view, or it can be a curse if it means noticing someone's plumber's crack or unkempt feet. Sometimes, when you have trained your mind to detect a certain style or color, it can be fun to notice all of the details, large or small.

Today I was out and about with my husband and his parents, who are visiting us this weekend from Gothenburg. We were walking down the sidewalk across the street from Kungsträdgården and I happened to look up and just up ahead of us I noticed the most amazing sculpted iron wall lamps. Twin lamps flanking the doorway of a beautiful historic building and I was so busy digging out my camera that I didn't even notice what the entrance was to.

As I neared the lamps, the orange bracelet on the dude to the right of the doorway caught my eye. Ha! Someone had tied what appeared to be a friendship bracelet on him. Of course I noticed the orange color. I pretty much notice any and everything orange. An entire crowd could be walking toward me wearing a variety of colors but my eye sees orange. It is like the oranges lift up a little higher than the other colors and almost float or hover above the rest. Not quite 3D but the orange definitely pops.

It's funny because during winter I often see hand-knitted scarves that people have draped around the sculptures in the parks (you know, they are cold) but I have never seen a friendship bracelet on a lamp like this. It warmed my heart that someone thought this guy needed some orange in his life. And it seems to really help him in holding up the lamp, don't you think?

I see something orange.