The First Week of June

 

The first week of June offered rather "mixed" weather, with high risk of showers most days - so I've mostly been keeping to short walks. On Wednesday 3rd June, I managed a walk into town for a few errands and back again without getting wet, though. 

 

On my way  home, I passed by this really massive hedge of purple rhododendron in the park (photos above and below):

 

Besides stocking up on tea from my favourite tea shop, and a few minor things from the pharmacy - all of which I managed to fit into my small backpack - I also visited a flower shop to buy two flowering pelargoniums. Maneuvering a walking stick with one hand these days, one extra bag is as much as much as I can manage!

As I'm not (at least not yet) sitting on the balcony much, I placed the pelargoniums indoors for now. One in the living room (above) and the other one in the kitchen (below).

 

 

 

This time of year, I have a very green view from the spot at the kitchen table where I always sit - for example at breakfast. 

 

I bought a new black tea blend with strawberries, mango and lemon in it to try out. (I like it!) (A direct translation of the Swedish name to English would be "strawberry straw"...) 

 

Thursday afternoon was laundry day for me and I don't think I went outdoors at all - but from the laundry room down in the basement I could enjoy this "different" view of the rhododendrons outside (through a small window high up on the wall):

 

 

Friday the 5th was rather rainy, but dressed in a raincoat I managed my usual "recycling walk" + a visit to a small shop on the way back to buy some fruit & veg. (Fresh strawberries included! I think probably Dutch rather than Swedish, though.)

 

6th June is Sweden's National Day and a public holiday with  traditions attached. There are usually celebrations in the city park in the afternoon and I assume that was probably the case this year as well. The weather that afternoon also turned out rather good. But personally I didn't quite feel up for a walk into town just to mix with crowds of people this year. So I just went for a quiet stroll on my own in the cemetery, where the azaleas were still in full bloom:

 

 

 

 

And in the evening I watched parts of the national celebrations in Stockholm on TV. Below is an official photo I copied from the royal family's website, of them traditionally joining the crowds at the open air museum Skansen in Stockholm:

Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O'Neill; Prince Carl Philip with his wife Princess Sofia; King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia; MrAndreas Norlén (Speaker of the Parliament), Crown Princess Victoria with son Prince Oscar and husband Prince Daniel. The queen and the princesses all wearing a national folk costume in yellow and blue (the colours of the Swedish flag).

Busy times for the royal family just now, as the King and Queen will also be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next weekend. (They got married 19th June 1976, but as in 2026 that date happens to be Midsummer Eve, the official celebration will be held the weekend before.) 

 

Postcrossing, Unicorns and Bubble Tea

 

 I've been a member of Postcrossing since May 2013. When I started, it was because I had inherited a lot of unused, but still usable, stamps from my dad (who died in 2011); and I arrived at the conclusion that the most fun I could have with them was to send them out into the world on postcards - and get interesting postcards from strangers all over the globe in return. In Postcrossing, you don't get to choose to whom you send your own card  (you just get an adress allotted to you), and it is also not an exchange in the sense that you get a card back from the same person that you send yours to. But the system does keep count, and you do get a card back for every card you send. (Unless the postal services happen to lose it somewhere on the way... That does occur, but not often.) 

Over the past decade, postage has kept going up, up, up, though - and having run out of old "free" stamps of usable value, in later years it has instead become quite an expensive hobby. Besides, my collection of received cards has also grown - and requires a lot more space than the old stamps ever did! So, I've gradually been cutting down a lot on my participation, compared to the early years. I still send (and receive) perhaps one per month or so, though.

Last week I received two. The one above, with the unicorn and the postbox, comes from Poland, and the sender writes: "This is a postcard from last year's [Postcrossing] meeting* in Lodz. 'Unicorn' was theme of it because in Lodz is big monument of unicorn."

* A Postcrossing Meeting is when postcrossers in the same city/country get together in real life and write and send a lot of cards at the same time. Often they also have a special card printed for the occasion. I have received a number of such cards from various countries over the years. If actually written at the meeting, also usually signed by lots of people. 

Photo by "Zorro 20212" (Wikimedia Commons)

A tourist website from Lodz gives further background on the unicorn statue:

"We all believe in unicorns. Yes, we do. In the centre of Lodz, at the intersection of Piotrkowska and Mickiewicza streets, a large, pastel-coloured, optimistic tram shelter catches the eye of passers-by. Because of its colourful canopy and unique visual qualities, the locals call it - applause for imagination - the Unicorn Stable. The name quickly caught on and has stuck to the building ever since. --- Thanks to the popularity of the Unicorn Stable, the Unicorn Monument by Japanese artist Tomohiro Inaba was erected nearby in 2019. It depicts the unicorn in dynamic motion, giving the impression that it is dematerialising in front of our eyes. Right next to the monument is one of the most popular selfie spots in Lodz."

 From Taiwan I received this card about "bubble tea".  

 

The sender writes: "... the most popular drink in Taiwan, Bubble Tea. It's invented in the 1980s. We put milk tea and tapioca pearls together o make bubble tea."

I love tea, but have never come across "bubble" tea. As for tapioca, I don't really know what that is either, even if I've heard/seen the word...

Google AI to the rescue! Tapioca is "a starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant, a shrub native to South America. It's a versatile ingredient used in various cuisines, often as a thickener in both sweet and savory dishes. Tapioca is naturally gluten-free and can be found in different forms, including pearls, flakes, and flour" - BUT... "Tapioca starch has a high glycemic index, which means it can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels". 

As I prefer my tea without both milk and sugar, I don't think bubble tea is really my kind of drink. But both these postcards were reminders that Postcrossing (just like blogs) can be quite educational! :)
 

Tea, First Snow & Last Leaves

Wednesday through Friday were mostly staying-in days here, with windy and rainy weather going on outdoors, and various indoor routine chores to deal with at home anyway. Today I woke up to a thin layer of powder snow on the ground - but dry, and no ice underneath, so I decided on a walk downtown for some minor errands.

Not really enough to constitute a "Christmas market", but a few extra booths and stalls have been put up along one side of the square (as usual this time of year). 

My main errand today was to my favourite Tea Shop, though. I've been buying loose-leaf tea blends in this shop ever since I first moved to this town to live - 38 years ago in January! (They sell coffee too - but I don't drink coffee.)

Buildings and trees across the square reflected in the windows

 

 I also popped in at the Bookshop, recently reopened again after a fire in that building back in the summer. I didn't buy any books, but some stickers and stamps - as I realised the other day it's time to get started on my overseas Christmas cards. (I already had enough cards at home, but I wanted to show my appreciation of the bookshop being back in business...)

 I received the first Christmas card and letter myself this week - from a penpal in the US.

Looking back towards town on my way back home - the sun breaking through from the south, but still dark skies in the background.

Crossing the old cemetery closer to home - here you can see the very thin layer of powder snow on the ground.

The trees are all bare now, except for just a few leaves lingering here and there. In the cemetery I've noticed that some low branches on birch trees growing right next to lamp posts seem to tend to hang on to their leaves longer than the rest... Must be to do with the light from the lamps at night!

My Moomin Mugs

In comments to my previous post I was asked to post photos of all my Moomin mugs. As my collection is no larger than nine, I did not find the request too overwhelming...

 I took some photos this morning while there was good daylight in the kitchen. 

The texts I got from Arabia's website (i.e. the manufacturer); see link at the bottom.

Muddler & Little My

"Muddler is a restless and absent-minded collector who lives in a coffee tin. He keeps all the buttons that he finds, but is hopelessly careless with his collection. He forgets things and loses stuff almost all the time."

"Little My is one of Mymble's children. She is the smallest and most energetic. Little My always decides herself what she will and won't do. She isn't bothered by a mess, and she is so small that she fits into a pitcher or kitchen drawer between the whisks and spoons."

 

Snufkin & Moominmama

 
"Snufkin is a gentle vagabond who plays his mouth organ and loves to fish. Moomintroll is his best friend and Little My is his stepsister. Snufkin wears a green hat and wanders the countryside wherever his fancy takes him."

"Moominmamma is a gentle mother who cares for others. She never reveals the secrets that she has been told. She makes sure that the Moominhouse is safe and feels loving to both her family and to visitors."

 

The Ancestor

 
"The fascinating, mystical Ancestor is small and hairy. He moves only at night time, and doesn't speak at all. He lives in the Moominhouse salon, behind the oven. He keeps on decorating the house by turning paintings upside down."

 

"Adventure Move" (The Comet) + "Spring Winter"

Adventure Move (Snorkmaiden, Little My, Mymble (My's sister), Moomin and others )
"The Moomins run away from a comet and bring only the absolute essentials along with them. The comet floats in the air and gets bigger every day, and looks like it will hit the ground very soon."

Spring winter (Snufkin, Moomin, Little My)
(My comment: Moomin trolls usually hibernate in winter - while Snufkin prefers to go south for the winter, and comes back in spring. One winter, Moomin wakes up early, while there is still snow on the ground. Little My is awake too; and a squirrel plays a role in the story.) 

 

Moomin Valley

 Moominvalley
(Summer. Moominpappa in the black hat + several other characters.)

Moominhouse

Moominhouse

"Moominpappa is very proud of the Moominhouse, which he built himself.
Guests are always welcome and the doors are always open, even at
night-time. Moominpappa, Moominmamma and Moomintroll live in the house
and are its permanent residents. Others come and go as they please."

 

You can find all Moomin mugs here:
https://arabia.fi/eng/products/moomin-mug-listing

"Arabia’s Moomins are turned from stories to ceramic illustrations by designer Tove Slotte. She has been drawing Moomins onto Arabia items since the beginning of the 1990s. The designer draws inspiration from Tove Jansson’s original illustrations."

My own "collection" started with the Muddler mug, which was a present from my friend G (who recently passed away) - either for Christmas or some birthday. Not sure what year. I thought the Muddler looked a bit lonely in my cupboard, so I got him Little My as companion, and I think I also bought the Moomin House around the same time. Then other friends gave me the Snufkin and Moominmamma mugs, I think for my 60th birthday. And the other four I've bought myself on different occasions after that.

The Moomin House has become my Water Mug, which means it's always on my kitchen countertop or draining board, never in the cupboard. The others I use for tea and I tend to vary which mugs I use the most from season to season. :) (I drink tea 3-4 times/day)

A Nice Pot of Tea

GB’s post today reminded me of this envelope I too recently received from John. (Thanks!)

For comparison, here’s a photo of my favourite real-life small teapot...

… and one of the Tea Shelf in my cupboard…

I usually buy my tea loose leaf in various blends with fanciful names, in a special Tea & Coffee shop in town.

As for coffee, I never drink it. Only tea. I never owned a coffee maker/percolator.

I do keep a jar of instant coffee for visitors, though!

Friday My Town - In the Café

I thought I'd show you some more photos from inside the café in the Museum Park, which I took while sitting there waiting for the rain to stop the other day. They keep an old-fashioned homelike style indoors as well as outdoors. As for the menu, they chiefly serve home-baked cakes and waffles, with coffee or tea. (But I think you might also be able to get a sandwich on demand.) The café is only open on summer afternoons and sometimes on special occasions.

 A collage to remind you what the Outdoors looks like.

 

 What the café may lack in physical sitting comfort (be prepared for straight-backed wooden chairs and benches), it makes up for in authentic old-world and hand-made atmosphere. 

I had my cup of tea (and a shortbread cookie) at this table by the window, from where I could look out over the lawn and old church - and the weather situation...

On the opposite side of the room an equally charming table and window, overlooking a small kitchen garden at the back. Pelargoniums on the window sill is still a "Swedish summer classic"... They come in a variety of colours and shades from white to red, but these tall pale pink ones would be the kind that we call Mårbacka pelargoniums, named so because it is associated with the country estate Mårbacka which was the home of the famous Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940, and the first female author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909).

"Home, sweet home"

Wall tapestries with various proverbs and sayings were popular back in the olden days - and often connected to home and family happiness.

"Happy is the house in which love spreads its light."

(In Swedish it rhymes!)

"In every home, even if poor,
a happy mind can bring happiness indoors." 

(Hooray - with a bit of a twist I was able to make that one almost rhyme in English, too!)

 

 

Friday My Town: Summer Drinks

(My drink is Tea, whatever the Season!)

December 2 - TEA

One of my most frequently opened cupboards is this one – where a whole shelf is set aside for TEA… I always buy loose leaf tea, and mostly in mixed blends with fancy names. Just imagine, on a grey and cold November day, stepping into your favourite cosy little teashop in town, asking for half a pound of Euphoria… (Puts one in a good mood just to say it!)

And in the blue bag, there is a Castle Blend, that I bought back in the summer at a visit to Läckö Castle. Which reminds me that I still have holiday photos from July left unblogged. I will get back to those some day, but until I do – here is one:

Just  now, however, it’s tea time; and here is my favourite small teapot, and a recent addition to my collection of tea mugs. I got one in this series (Moomin by Arabia) for my birthday; and when more recently I happened to see that a shop in town had more in that series on sale, I could not resist the temptation of buying two more… 

Little My, the Moomin House (with several of the characters appearing in the windows and outside), and The Muddler.

I have loved the Moomins ever since childhood. First got to know them as picture books and comic strips, later also read the novels. And they’re the kind I still like to return to every now and then.

If you like the Moomins, and enjoy playful personality tests, you might want to try this one: Which Moomin character are you?

I got Moominmamma, and I guess that’s not too far off the mark. For one thing, I do tend to always carry a handbag full of “just in case” stuff…

See? Opening a cupboard door can lead you anywhere. No wonder that some days I seem to get nothing done!

I’m a Little Teapot

I think we need a tea-break between all the flowers. Mustn’t forget to show you this cute little “tea-for-two” teapot I found (i.e. bought) on sale last week…

Click here for the song: http://youtu.be/uKwdhRPIiaY

Straight Out of the Tea Shop

For Straight Out Of the Camera Sunday

On Friday I visited my favourite tea shop to renew my stash:
A local blend of black (not sure exactly what’s in it but it’s one my favourites), peppermint candy black, black currant black, “peach bonanza” green,  “sea-fire” green (I think it has sea-buckthorn berries in it) and…

Tropical Dream (green tea with… red currants, papaya and something more that I’ve already forgotten)

I wish there was a button to send scents, but alas…!