Her new clothes

I've been sewing for Nora.

Color in our home

I'm obviously not the only one in need of some color this time of the year. Here's what I found in our home. Most of it in Nora's room, actually.

Saturday night

The days are indeed longer now, more daylight, more song (the birds, not me), and sunshine that is warming us up. But, well, there is still snow and will be for many more weeks to come. But in Nora's window it's spring.




Thank you for all comments on my last post, I really appreciate that you take your time to write a few words :-)

Today I've been sewing clothes for Nora. I will show you soon!

Mittens and a favourite book

Today will be a rather silent post as we are on our way out in the snow and sunshine. I wish you a happy, sunny day (and an evening full of yarn ;o) )






More yarn along on Ginny's blog. I know it "should" be a single photo, but I really want to show you the wonderful illustrations of the books we read, hence the many photos.

share some happiness

I use to think of (and sometimes blog about) things that make me happy, or things I'm grateful for. Everyday, ordinary things. The small joys. It really is a good habit and it helps me focus on what is important in life. But how do I involve my family in it, I thought today as we had dinner.



I recently read one family where they, at dinner, asked each one of the family members what was the best thing that day. Besides the more obvious positive effects, it also gave them a chance to learn what each one of them valued the most. Everyone, each day, was listened to. As good as it sounds, it doesn't really work in our family. I did ask Nora, though, but she answered what she wanted to do, rather than what we actually did ;) And I did ask Magnus, but he was too tired to think of anything but sleep.

How can I inspire my family? Can I inspire my family? I thought of this, and when I read Ginny's blog post today I got an idea. Maybe I can take a piece of paper and put on the fridge, and every day write down a few words on what made me happy or what I enjoyed that day? It'll help me focus, but it's also there for everyone to read (and be reminded or inspired). Will it work? It's worth a try, isn't it?

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And I found a great (and free!) online class on how to use twitter. (If you want to follow me on twitter, you can find me here.)

I saw the sign ---

You know how one thing can lead to another and you sometimes end up doing something else than you had planned to? The other day when I went for a walk with Zam I brought my camera and without much thought I started snapping pictures of signs. It made me think of the Ace of Base, a Swedish pop band, popular in the early 90s. They have a song called The Sign. Thinking of them made me think of a boy I was in love with then.



The lyrics of The Sign are crappy (to say the least). Or what do you say about this:

I saw the sign and it opened up my mind
and I am happy now
living without you
I've left you
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
no one's gonna drag you up
to get into the light where you belong

Thinking of them made me think of him as we both liked Ace of Base at that time. I was a quite shy 12 year old and I think he never knew how I felt. Sometimes I thought maybe he liked me too, but then, probably he didn't. I guess I wasn't the kind of girl you notice. He was from USA and lived in Sweden for only a couple of years with his family, then he moved back when we were 13.



A few years later he came back to visit. There was a girl in our class who stayed in touch with him (I think), I suppose she liked him too ;) and she was the one who told us he'd visit our school during a break that day. I think I never got around to talk to him, I probably felt awkward in some way. Besides, by then I was not in love with him anymore.

As I walked there with Zam and my camera I came to think of him and wondered what he's doing today. I searched on Google (isn't internet amazing?!) and his name popped up. As I know which state he came from, and as his name is uncommon, I actually only found one person - but several hits. I'm not sure it's him as I didn't see any photos so that I could recognize him (and maybe I wouldn't anyway, a 12 year old look quite different from a 30 year old). I was looking for an email address or some way to contact him, but couldn't find any. I did find a text written by someone who seemed to know him, and that guy did have an email adress. So I dropped a few lines ...

Do you think I'll get an answer? Do you think it's him?



More crappy lyrics:

I got a new life
you would hardly recognize me
I'm so glad
how can a person like me care for you
why do I bother
when you're not the one for me

I believe I can - new painting

I was so happy the other day when I discovered my painting - the first one I ever listed on Etsy - sold in less than a week! I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep until 2 o'clock ... Maybe it was pure luck, maybe it wasn't. I will never know if I'm not listing any more paintings, I thought, and listed this one today:



I have to believe, even if it's scary. So I jump ...



... and I hope I'll know how to fly.

Our moment of the week

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. SouleMama.

Snow is melting

This is what it looked like a few days ago (and since November). Then I heard a drip, drip, drop. I hadn't heard that for a long, long time. Now the street is covered in ice and with water on top.



When we went for our morning walk, Nora, Zam and I, it was really slippery outside. I don't know how many times Nora slipped and fell (and became rather wet), but she liked it and kept running on the icy street. Slow down, I said, but of course she didn't as falling was the goal.

They say tomorrow it'll be cold again.

What I like now:
* Daylight is staying for a few more minutes every day.
* Open kindergarten is open again, after the holidays, and Nora loved going back there with me this week.
* I've managed to make a flyer for my shop that I'm satisfied with. Tomorrow we'll find somewhere to put it ;-)
* Today I made a new dinner out of leftovers and it was delicious.

What do you like now?

The doll I made for Nora

Back in November (or December?) I was crocheting a wig for a doll. I promised to show you the doll, but I never got along to take any pictures. When I finally remembered to do so + it was daylight + I found the doll, she was asleep and almost hidden in Nora's bed. Her hair was all messy. That's a good sign, that means she got to play with Nora ;-) Anyway, here she is:



She has a few blue/purple dreads.

And the dress, I never finished it as Nora was waiting impatiently. Maybe one day.