RAINBOW DAYS...

'May God give you...'

"For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial.  For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and and an answer for each prayer"

In the blink of an eye, our youngest son has turned 15.

How did that happen?

It's a funny age...

An age where you're at the cusp of boyhood to manhood.

I am very proud of my two sons, my daughter too.

But today I am especially proud of Joseph.

 Who in the face of adversity...

has dealt with a tumult of personal things  

 with such a great sense of maturity.

He is already a wonderful young man!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

I 

GOOD MORNING LONDON...

It's exactly 4 weeks since 

I arrived back to my home town

 and hit the floor running...

I have separated from my husband of 23 years

We left Sweden at 11pm on Friday 17th August

I drove through the night and we caught a 7.30am flight from Stockholm to London, a taxi was waiting for us and within the hour we were back to my Dads house and then straight to the rental property, where the agent met us with keys.

Me and my 2 sons now call this home...

Today is the first time in that period of time that

 I really feel like I can take a pause and relax

So many things to deal with and cope with...

But the future looks BRIGHT and golden

I'm going to have a nice cup of tea and BAKE!

HAPPY WEEKEND TO YOU ALL!

'It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome' William James

UNFORGETTABLE ...

"... that's what you are...Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me, never before has someone been more, Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay ♥ "


On Friday it was the 1st anniversary of my Mums passing.

I spent a lovely morning with my Dad at South Weald country park, wearing my Mums walking boots and doing what she loved to do...WALKING and being outdoors with nature.
 The church bells at St Peters peeled as Dad and I sat chatting, 
and remembering ...

And the songbirds were singing...
I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, like never before ♥.

GOOD MORNING MR SUNSHINE...

Here in Sweden, already a hint of Autumn in the air

click on image to enlarge

Seems like a good idea...

Have fun watching the Olympics!

And a great week ahead

:)

THE OLYMPICS LONDON 2012

We have been serving these in the Tea Room 

Everyone falls in LOVE with our Mini-Schnauzer 'Stanley'

He has been iced wearing various collars and coats

I think this has to be the best! 

Looking forward to the opening ceremony tomorrow

Have a great weekend ahead

LOVE PEACE enJOY!

IT'S... TIME FOR TEA ... again

Hello everyone

I have been out of the blogging world for quite a while...

Have been to London and Stockholm several times in May & June.

I have enjoyed a much needed and longed for holiday with my three children on the island of Majorca

 I am in the process of moving out of the apartment in town...

And our home here in Sweden...

On the 1st July I re-opened my little tea room. 

So every morning each weekend I have been busy baking scones and biscuits, cupcakes and of course Victoria Sandwich cakes
 for all our lovely visitors who take 

English 'Afternoon Tea'
 in the middle of nowhere, in the Swedish forest.


N.B.
Click on the photo to see it in full size




Happy Sunday!

I watch the sunset fading away

Lighting the clouds with sleep

And as the evening closes its eyes

I feel your presence near me

For you are always close to me

Following all my ways

May I be always close to you

Following all your ways, Lord 

 (I Took this photo as I was driving along...

 back to our house in the forest

about 2215 CET)

N.B.

Click on the photo to see enlarged image

A CAKE FIT FOR A QUEEEN

TA DAH!

(Only 1 month later...finally managed to upload the photo)

THE QUEEN CAME FOR TEA!

DIAMOND JUBILEE

LOVING my coloured candles...

My wonderful daughter bought these fab candles for me, for Mothers Day (UK) way back in March 

I've been admiring them all week.

Their zingy colours have been making me smile  as well as the thought that I will be seeing my big girly on Saturday...

STOCKHOLM & LONDON here I come!

EVENING SUN

I LOVE that the days are getting longer

 and the wonderful Swedish Light

I arrived at the house with the boys for the weekend

 early yesterday evening

This is the sun going down about 8.30pm

WISE WORDS WEDNESDAY

A little humour...

INNER PEACE

 If you can start the day without caffeine,

 

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without alcohol,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are Probably 

 

The Family Dog! 

HOMESPUN IN LONDON

I have been in London all week

2 BOOKS arrived this morning that I have been waiting to get my hands on...

They didn't disappoint.

The weather is cold, grey and miserable

I've been snuggled on the sofa having a good old read and relishing all the beautiful decor, quite a few of the images I recognise from Scandinavian blogs I follow, which makes this book even more appealing to me, the Scandic slant on it.

The cookery book is a delight too

Pure, delightful images and recipes in typical

simple scandinavian style.

HOMESPUN STYLE

SCANDILICIOUS

Happy Homespun weekend!

CARAVAN LOVE

LOVE this little vintage caravan

I see it everyday as I walk the dog

I have a vivid imagination

In my head I have re-vamped the interior

 RETRO chrome & red polka dot 

and crochet Granny blankets & cushions for snuggling

Although we have lived in Sweden for quite a while

We have seen very little of all that Sweden has to offer. 

I think I need to pack the tent 

and plan a Summer Road Trip for me and my boys...

It's a big bank holiday weekend here in Sweden

MONDAY & TUESDAY are both RED days (Bank Holidays)

Wishing you all a great weekend! 

DALARNA HORSE

Grabbing my keys off the kitchen table this morning, taking the dog for a walk, on this damp and grey morning...

I stopped, and noted the colours

 of this sweet, little, Dalarna Horse keyring.

 I purchased it in one of the typical trinket shops you find in the tourist area of Gamla Stan in Stockholm.

Off and out to Yoga and Meditation this morning

My saving Grace.

:)

CHOCOLATE CAKE...

...Isn't always the answer to everything... 

But it helps.

I rustled this up for my boys late tonight

just before bedtime...whoops 

Sitting around the kitchen table

with a nice cup of tea eating Chocolate Cake

We're enjoying the moment together.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead!

INSPIRATIONAL PICTURE

I LOVE laundry...

LOVE this inspirational picture from REFORMA STHLM 

I especially like the fish tea towels 

Think I will place an order here and and turn them into a cushion for my youngest son's bedroom

SIGNS OF SPRING 2012 CHALLENGE

Please forgive me, I am posting this a day late

It is not from Halsingland...sorry.

We are currently staying in Stockholm, my daughter is house-sitting her boyfriend's parents house.

On our way to our friends apartment in town,

next to FILMSTADEN

Walking in the footsteps of
 Ingmar Bergman, Greta Garbo
 & Ingrid Bergman

We discovered this carpet of spring crocus

(not sure what the plural is crocuses? lol)


Click on image to enlarge


Click on link in title to see more SIGNS OF SPRING 2012


Wishing everyone a wonderful, spring filled week ahead!

EASTER

Easter 2009

I LOVE this photo.

This photo was taken at our Summer House...


This morning I've had the opportunity to look through images and reflect...


Easter 2009, was quite an exciting time with many plans & dreams and the promise, of a new and better life ahead as we were planning our move to Sweden...whilst our daughter remained behind in London

Today 3 years on (where does time go?)

Easter 2012 I am here in Stockholm with all our 3 children together

The first time since Christmas... and it makes me so happy.

And they are so happy to be together. 

 I have been sitting back, just watching them interact, joking and laughing, play fighting/real fighting, squabbling, playing guitar and singing, dancing, chatting about weird, stupid and wonderful things as only siblings can do...

The last 3 years have been an enormous struggle for our whole family, on every level, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially.


  And for our children especially, educationally and socially. 

I feel terribly guilty and saddened for the burdens that my children have endured...

We also realise that in the months and weeks ahead
it will a rocky road that we travel...


At this Easter time especially...

My HOPE is strong


"After the darkness comes the brightness - sometimes you go through a dark time and it seems like there will always be darkness but there is light at the end..."

Easter means a new life, a second chance, a new beginning

AND THE WINNER IS...

MOONSTRUCKCREATIONS

Congratulations!

Please accept my sincere apologies for the lateness

 in announcing the winner of the draw.

Thank you to everyone who entered.

Have a great weekend ahead!