Morning run in the glorious island nature, before school and work. So many wild flowers! It’s like a postcard every way you turn. Todays run was a bit heavy going after a period of slacking but we made 5km at least(with some walking). Then what can be better than to finish it off with a dip in the sea? The water temperature is still nice and cool, around 15°C is my guess, so you get that refreshing feeling afterwards. It kept me going all day!
Earth skipped spring and went straight into summer instead. The garden is absolutely exploding with blossom! Last weekend I had the yearly Plant and seed exchange and it was an even bigger success than past years. Loads of people both Saturday and Sunday. Some show up to trade plants, others to give, some to buy plants and some people turn up just for the fun of meeting others and fantastic home baked “fika” of course. Since my daughter turned vegan at xmas we had gluten/lactos/vegan rhubarb pie with soy whipped cream and a lovely chocolate cake. For the none-vegans we had the traditional Tosca cake and sandwiches made of my husbands sourdough bread and home smoked salmon. I ended up with some very interesting obscure tomato and chili plants and lots more.
For the weekend I had a local woman selling her traditionally weaved carpets, she was lovely company and did really well selling her carpets.
This time I tried not to get stressed out before hand and not to expect anything but I was over whelmed with all the people who turned up and had so many nice conversations!
So the tradition on the islands are still going strong. There is nothing else as controversial if you don’t count “build a bridge vs keep the ferries”. I try to not let my personal views out too strong in this blog but I do love the xmas tree hunting. Comparing to the old days it is so much healthier now and since one or two years ago, the council put some effort in to it trying to stop people using car tires and petrol etc, now we’ve had the cleanest bonfires since probably like ever! We went up to the nature reserve to watch them build the fire earlier today. 
This year we went for the largest fire on the Island. Since we moved here we have gone to Kanonberget but this year there was a big landmark for boats put up right where the bonfire usually is and I also think that fire will die out soon because of lack of interest. So we went to the biggest one, in Rö(Hönö Red) we have all heard lots of horror stories about that one, people being put in hospital, burning tires chasing people down the hill and a four wheelie being overturned into the fire. But this year we came away with the feeling that we miss the usual bonfire. There is usually at least one crazy person shouting, a few people letting off fire works in the crowd and the happiness when you actually make it up the mountain through all the shrubberies and cliffs. Comparing to the big crowd, lit-up way to the top, our usual fire felt much more intimate and fun. I hope they will start it up again next year!
Is it Spring?? Today sure felt like it. Blazing sunlight, only a couple of degrees but the sunshine warmed our skin. We went for a long walk down the beach and the wind was thankfully dying down. It was so beautiful! Just regret not bringing swimming clothes.
The chickens are basking in the sunlight. Sand/soil bathing and then stretching out in the sun, so happy! On top of that we are chicken watchers for a week so we now have 12 little chicks in the basement and one baby quail. I am slowly dying the cuteness overload death every time I go down to check on them.
I am so getting into the Easter spirit. Easter is the most important holiday on the island. You can really feel the whole island sizzling with mopeds and old Volvo cars (who would definitely wouldn’t pass the MOT) frantically driving around looking for X-mas trees. All collecting them for the bonfires tomorrow. Sometime tomorrow morning, think it’s around 2 or 3am that there’s a seize fire and everyone starts bringing their trees out and building the fires. We’ll be out capturing it on film. More to come…
I last went in January and have been so busy I haven’t had time but today was so beautiful and lovely it kind of made up for the rest of the months… The fog/mist was so thick all day and we could hear the fog horn going time and time again. Me and my daughter cycled down to the beach and I realised my battery had run out in my camera so my daughter sent me home to get another. It was all just so beautiful that you couldn’t miss out on taking photos. When a couple of swans swam into my picture it almost got ridiculously pretty. We went in the water, me actually three times! Sorry toes, they were like deep frozen little sausages and really hurt but it was worth it. While I kept my hat on my daughter went under wetting her head, kind of scary afterwards when your brain shuts down and you can only spin easy sentences… Lovely day though! From now on I’m going every week.
So yesterday I decided it was spring. I can’t believe this year, the sun has come out waking the spring flowers and then next day temperature goes down to -10°C, again and again. So I started indoors and planted more veg, re-planted most of my geraniums and other indoor plants. I ordered 15 bags of soil from the local flower shop. Can’t believe I haven’t done that before, not owning a car I’ve been time and time again on my moped. My plan is to add 2 more planting frames for vegetables in the impossible patch. I have now given up any hope for getting rid of the weed and instead covered the whole patch with black cloth. I reckon I will need at least double the amount of the soil I ordered now that I’ve started using the bags… With a vegan teenager in the house I now feel much more prepped for growing veg, so my plan is to be self sufficient over summer at least. The chickens are helping with loads of chicken poop but they have started digging up all my spring flower bulbs which have left me covering all the flower beds with netting. I love them to bits but they are such a pain sometimes.
So there’s been rain, storm and snow one after the other and then more of everything. What to do on this opposite of summer paradise island? Actually plenty. The last two weekends I’ve been to two exhibitions at the next door island Öckerö. One with a painter and a local ceramic artist, I just love his ugly fish! Also quite funny that most people compare them to the politicians running the islands… Last weekend a photographer had a vernissage. The exhibition was called Iphone diary and consisted of pictures taken with his mobile, the complete opposite to my work but I loved it. I would have like to buy a picture but realised I would never be able to choose so I opted for three of his little books instead.
Now there’s a very successful business man on the island and apart from starting up the biggest company on Hönö he’s bought the gym, the bowling hall, a restaurant and conference center and now he’s opened a cinema as well. Soon there’s no need for us to ever venture into “town”(which is what us Islanders call Gothenburg). It’s a great experience with red carpets, 50 seats and of course popcorn and stuff. Then the very best thing, no 1,5 hour travel home after the movie only a 10 minute walk!
