After the Storm...

 We have a proverb in Swedish that is probably used in English as well: "After the rain comes the sun". Looking it up now, I learn that the origin is Latin: "Post nubila phoebus" ("after the clouds, the sun"). 

On Tuesday Storm Dave had moved on. It left quite a bit of debris behind, but in my immediate neighbourhood, and along the way I chose to walk into town, only "minor" stuff. (I.e. while there was still a mess of minor broken branches etc here and there, I saw no fallen trees, or roofs blown off, etc. - Our local newspaper has reported some such events as well, though, from other parts of town and its surroundings.)

When I approached the city centre yesterday, it seemed that the winds from the coast had also brought (or been followed by) a sure sign of spring, though: The seagulls are here now, and making their voices heard to let us know. There was a whole flock of them circling over that footbridge in the photo above - but before I got the camera up, they had temporarily scattered...

Branches/trees decorated with feathers are an old tradition and probably still the most common Easter decoration here (besides eggs). I noticed these outside an hotel near that bridge. (There were two of them, one on each side of the entrance, but I found it made better photo to just focus on one of them.)

My main purpose for the walk into town was not to take photos, though, but to get a haircut. I had called my hairdresser in the morning and asked if the could fit me in, and she could. 

I walked both into town and back, which means around 3+ km or 2 miles; which is still enough to make not only my left knee but also the rest of me tired. So not a whole lot more got done yesterday. 

Today was another sunny day, but a short walk to the nearest corner shop for some bananas felt like enough. Later I put some energy into cleaning the outside of the windows in my living room, from the balcony outside. The Easter rain had somehow managed to make those dirty rather than clean them. I also gave the (metal) floor out there a brief mopping while I was at it. If the sun continues to shine for few more days, I might even bring my foldable chair up from the storage room... 

 

Daylight "Saving" (?) Time

 

A brief interlude from the "here and now", before I return to processing the last part or two of my time travels to Germany in 1983. (The past couple of weeks have offered a good time to get on with that project, as spring outdoors has not been making much progress.)

 

Two days ago, like in the rest of Europe, it was time to set the clock(s) forward one hour again. I've never been in favour of the idea, and keep hoping that one day we'll all agree to stop that nonsense - but until that happens, there's not much one can do but try and adjust (oneself, as well as the timepieces one happens to possess). I am one of those who still own a number of clocks/watches that need to be tended to manually - and more often than not, I manage to forget at least one...

 

This time, I thought I had managed to remember them all - until Sunday evening, when I suddenly realised that the clock on the wall in my study (above my computer) was still on winter time. Which meant I had been "working" past my intended bedtime... 

 

Not that it usually matters all that much these days (when I go to bed or when I get up) - it was just that this time I had meant to try to make a serious effort to adjust, as all winter I've been very lazy in my morning habits anyway...

 

Well, I had Monday to try to make amends (hm) before today, when I had a dentist appointment in town at 11:20 - which I know can't really be called early, but with my body clock still on winter time, and having to leave home about 9:30 "real time", it still felt early... Setting various alarms and reminders, I somehow managed it, though. ;)

 

Thankfully the last few wet and windy days had given way to more sunny weather, so once I got out there, it wasn't too bad. (Photo above taken on my walk into town.)

 

The dentist appointment was "just" an annual check-up, including x-rays - and luckily, not even those revealed anything that needed fixing. Afterwards, I visited the pharmacy to stock up on some various "dental health" related items - and, as a bonus, also my favourite tea shop. Besides stocking up on three of my usual favourites, I bought their special Easter blend: black tea with bergamot and passion fruit flavour.

 

Glad Påsk - Happy Easter!

 

Back home, after lunch, I lay down on my bed to rest for a while, listening to a radio podcast...  And woke up again around 5:30 p.m. (summer time)... 

 

So much for my efforts to "adjust", so far!! 😁

 

 Barbie and Skipper are yawning, too, after having helped me decorate for Easter.

 

Easter Decorations - Outdoors & Indoors

 

Today (Maundy Thursday in English, Skärtorsdag in Swedish) was the warmest day yet here this spring, with temperatures up to around 22-23'C (71-73'F) in the afternoon. On my usual walk around the old cemetery, I noted that various bushes and trees are turning green now. Possibly it might slow down a bit over the weekend as lower temperatures are predicted to return - but on the other hand, som spring rain might work wonders as well...

 

Chestnut tree in the foreground

 

Blue pansies on great grandparents' grave

 

 

Many graves are decorated with daffodils for Easter.

 

 

Glad Påsk! = Happy Easter!

 

 

Magnolia, Daffodils and the Easter Rooster

 

Walked into town again today (Wednesday). As it got colder again over the weekend (and still), the magnolia tree in the park still looks much the same as it did on Friday.

 

Back on Friday I bought a pot of daffodils (or whatever name for them that you prefer)* for my living room table; and today I also bought a very small yellow kalanchoë for my Easter Rooster. 

*In Swedish we call them 'påskliljor' = Easter lilies

My other Easter decorations will soon be put up as well. This purple rooster does not hibernate together with my other Easter things, though, but in a more easily accessible cupboard with vases and candle holders etc. So he's usually the first one to come out! 

(In Sweden, Easter Roosters are more common than Easter Bunnies.)

Easter Decorations

 

The top of an old flat-topped chest in the living room is one of the main spots where I'm in the habit of changing decorations according to the seasons.

 

 

I bought a new yellow table runner for my living room table.

 

My collection of old Easter Eggs (all from the previous century) is divided between the bowl in the living room (first photo) and the top of the bookshelf in the hall.

These sit on the window sill in my living room...

 

... and these on the one in my kitchen.

 

 

Small daffodils on my kitchen table. This photo is from a week ago. They tend to rapidly grow too tall and start to wither indoors; but I just bought some new ones to replace them today, which will hopefully last through Easter. 

 

 

I also bought some paper napkins with Easter patterns today.

And Barbie and Skipper have changed outfits again, displaying more items sewn by my mum back in the 1960's. Barbie is wearing a blouse and skirt in yellow, Skipper a kind of pinafore dress, dark blue with red buttons and decorative red seams.