Other things missed

It was only when I got up close I realised he wasn't whole,
but he was still beautiful.

Miss T. spotted this hedgehog whilst looking from our balcony in town last night.
I ran down to try and get some pictures, but he was a lot faster than I was.

Stolen and restored

Six years ago these 400 year old statues were stolen from Ragunda Old Church. Last year they were discovered apparently taking an un-official break in Spain. On Midsummer's Day they were returned to the church in Ragunda to the relief of many locals. But they only stayed for the weekend, then they were off again, this time for some more official restoration. I hope it doesn't take too long, we do miss them so, when they are away.

A Swedish mid summer

Helping with the party drinks.

Pole makers hard at work.

Miss T. making a floral crown.



The finished products.

Dancing around the maypole

It is called a "maj stang" in Swedish, which translates as maypole in English,
but here it is always danced around in June not May.
Not always to this tune:

But often to this tune:

Mid summer

Today we'll be celebrating Mid summer.
If tomorrow's weather is anything to go by, it's going to be wet.
It poured all day long.
These are from our local paper:

I was at work, so I missed this.
We had problems too.
Our puddles were inside and not quite as big as this.
Off to celebrate now out in the wilds.
Back after the weekend.

Mummy, I'm stuck!

A pantheistical post

Playing around with sticks and stones,
or drifting with driftwood,
near one of our local hydroelectric power stations,
while sprogs party on at American friend's house.
Hopefully that's what they were invited to do.
We have a problem hearing the difference
between their "party" and their "potty".

Phew!

The summer holidays have started, but we're not quite there yet.
I have four more days of work, and then the Midsummer celebration to prepare for.
End of term is always hectic, and this one has been no exception.

It's kind of difficult getting the horse and kitten to pose together, but here's the horse for you Pat.
Her name is Eloise and the rider is Strawberry learning to do a rising trot and preparing to dismount, taken this afternoon, during her last lesson until next term starts at the end of August.

Killer kitten

This cute little bundle of fluff
caught, killed and ate a mouse today
in front of Miss T,
before falling asleep in her hands.
And no, you still can't take him home.

June 6th, 20 years on

Today is a special day.
It is The Swedish Flag Day, which means we all get the day off school,
but it is also exactly 20 years since the M.O.T.H. and I met.
How and where will have to wait for another time as I have over 120 final grades to set in Art by tomorrow,
plus another 30 or so in English. I am nearly there, but I still have a bit more pondering to do.
Not easy, with the temperature pushing 30 C (somewhere between 80 and 90 F, I think) even at 8.30 p.m., sunshine and clear blue skies.
It's been like this for the last five days.

Summer's here

Just two weeks left before our summer holidays start
and we already have the weather for it.
This is Sweden's northern most ruin stone.
The inscription is about 1000 years old.
It reads:
Ostman Gudfast's son
had this stone raised,
the bridge built
and allowed Jemtland to become Christian.