Swedish Proverb of the Day

"Bara döda fiskar följer strömmen."

"Only dead fish follow the stream."

In other words, when you feel the struggle from taking a different path, you know you are alive.

The Town Höör

The Town Höör

There are many words in Swedish that are very similar to words in English, just spelled a bit differently. The name of the nearest town to our village that has a Grocery store is not one of those words. This town with the Grocery store is called Höör. Because in English we do not have the letter "ö" the name of the town (that I always have to say when I tell others where I live) we pronounce with a regular old "oo", which sound just like another English word we have.

 The building pictured above is a Hospital of some kind. The woman in the neon vest was hospital security and wanted to know what I was doing. When I told her I was taking some photos of the building to show Americans what Sweden was like she looked at me so puzzled. Her reaction is strangely typical for a Swede when I comment on the design of a building or anything else in Sweden that is so wonderfully different from what I'm used to. I think it's a shame that more Swedes don't have more pride for the things that make the country like a dream to others. I think that this reaction could be because of how much Swedes value modesty in their culture. A very similar reaction is the line I get all the time from Swedes, "I am sorry, my English is so bad". To all my Swedish friends reading this: NEVER SAY THIS AGAIN because it's just not true.

These are some shots of the really old part of town. There are many house made of stone and wood. Everything is extremely clean and there many fantastic yards and parks, with absolutely nobody enjoying them. I think because I come from a place that has so many more people, to me many towns in Sweden are like this one. I feel like I am the only one there but everything is manicured and well cared for.

There is a river that runs through the center of town that makes all the old buildings even more charming. To many American's, Swedish towns like this one look like they are from the storybooks that we read as children. Sometimes it does not even seem real to me. I guess the fact that the nearest Bar or Restaurant to our house is actually a small castle would give you an idea about what kind of a place I am looking at here.

Blue and White

 Blue and White 

I have a weakness for blue and white china. I especially love my collection of blue and white vases because they look different with each type of flower. During the winter months when there are no roses in the front yard or wildflowers in the meadow down the road, they look great empty as well. The little Japanese pitcher you see in the photos is my newest thrift shop find. When I am adding to my collection I don't look for anything in particular. I have seen so many different items with so many different interpretations of this classic color combination. The only requirement I have for items in my blue and white collection is that it must be fabulous. The quality and harmony between the white porcelain and cobalt paint must stop me in my tracks. Not all blue and white china does this for me, only a selected few make the cut each year.

 I think that my dog and my husband appreciate my collection as well.......

 Just not that much.........