While here in Sweden we haven't had summer temperatures as high as the southern parts of Europe (and are not very likely to end up there either), we have had a few days a bit above my own "comfort zone".
On Monday morning it was still quite pleasant, though, and I went for an "early-ish" (as in before lunch) walk into town, and bought Swedish strawberries from a stand in the main square.
Yesterday was warmer still, but as it was laundry day for me, I didn't really feel it all that much until after 4 pm, when I was done with that and went outside... "Not a cloud was in the sky", and it was beautiful - but I cut my walk short (and did not go out again later, either).
Today I woke up to 26'C indoors (in spite of fans going all night and a window or two slightly ajar); and outdoors feeling clammy, with threat of thunder. I decided to go out before lunch rather than later, and again that was no doubt the right decision. This time I found my strawberries (and a few other things) closer to home - there is a small "corner" grocery shop only 5 minutes away, which I've come to appreciate more and more... They don't have "everything", but they do have a wide assortment of fruit and vegs. This time of year, with a lot of it on display outdoors, it also almost gives me a feeling of being on holiday somewhere exotic, without going through the actual hassle of travelling!
Tonight there are weather warnings for thunder and heavy rain in the southern parts of Sweden, including the area where I live. Not having to be out in it, no serious worries for my own part, though. (Better keep my windows closed, though!)
If I'm finding it too warm even at 26'C (78.8F), I dare not even think how I'd feel about 46'C (114.8F), like they've been experiencing in southern Spain and Portugal...
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| (Map from one of our major Swedish newspapers, DN, 1 July) |
Looks like nice fresh produce. I'm not really a strawberry fan unless it's put on top of Summer desserts like Pavlova.
ReplyDeleteAmy, the season for fresh (local/Swedish) strawberries is rather short, and during those summer weeks I love eating them just as they are, or with vanilla ice cream if extra festive. The rest of the year I rarely buy imported ones even if nowadays one can often find those all year round. Fresh Swedish strawberries is just one of those things that belong very strongly to summer traditions here...
ReplyDeleteWe have had heat warnings and 100 degrees! This little fruit stand so very close is very cool!!!
ReplyDeleteGinny, I do not envy you! Hope it doesn't get "too" bad for you... Here, the weather front passed earlier and quicker than expected last evening, so I actually got some cooler air in before going to bed. And today likely to stay below 20'C / 68'F outside... / As for the little shop, there's even more inside. In spite of a tiny space they have managed to cram in a lot. They're also quite good at removing fruit/vegs that are turning overripe, and putting those in a "cheap box" outside (which might be appreciated by people with little money).
DeleteWhat a beautifully vivid slice of summer life: those strawberries, the shimmering heat, the looming thunder. It all feels like the season breathing in and out around you
ReplyDeleteRo, today we're back to cooler weather (below 20'C) and that too is really very typical of Swedish summer ... :)
DeleteThe Livsmedel (Lebensmittel in German) shop is very convenient so close to where you live. In Tyskland, we've had 39,9C - I think you can safely say that feels like 40C - yesterday in some parts. The 36C we've had in the Stuttgart area was high enough for me, especially since it has not really cooled off during the past 3 nights or so. Sleeping with my windows closed or even just ajar is not an option - everything is thrown wide open an hour or so after sunset, to let the air circulate and the slightly cooler air from the outside come in. A fan doesn't do much; it only moves the air around without actually cooling it (as you know, of course). I have an electric fan in my cellar, to put on top of my desk or elsewhere, but haven't brought it upstairs yet.
ReplyDeleteStrawberries spell out "Early Summer" for me as no other fruit does!
Meike, for me that little shop's supply of fruit and vegs provides a good complement to my home deliveries from the supermarket :)
DeleteThe thunder front passed quite undramatically here last night, and earlier than expected, so I stayed up late to get some fresh air in before going to bed. (Did close the windows over night though, as I did not know if there was more stormy weather and rain on the way.) Today we seem to be down to below 20'C outdoors, and likely to continue like that over the next week or so. So I may soon be complaining of it being too cold and rainy instead! ;-)
I do know what you mean about electric fans. I have three of those around my flat in summer. (As my home is where I spend most of my time, day and night, all year round, I do what I can!)
I'm not enamoured of great heat, either, so was grateful that our temperatures dropped yesterday. It's forecast to be 25' today and that's quite warm enough.
ReplyDeleteJanice, I agree. (Weird, really, that just a couple of degrees difference can make one go from comfortable to not comfortable at all...)
Deletethat is really hot for your climate and shocking about Pourtugal, I just stopped and sent my blog friend there and email to check on her. she is not posting right now. what you did is what we do, travel at the coolest part of the day and stay inside, but we do have ac
ReplyDeleteSandra, here we're back to around 20'C (68'F) and windy outside today, and down a degree (C) or two indoors as well. And a rather cool and rainy weekend ahead. I have to say I prefer that to extreme heat... Don't know how things have developed in Portugal, but the TV news just now showed horrible fires in Greece
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