Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Growing up in California I have always been around the traditional Mexican Holiday, Dia de Los Muertos. I had a classmate in Junior High School who was from a Mexican Family and one year she took me with them to celebrate the holiday and she opened my eyes to a whole new world. Dia de Los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a holiday held on November 1st, when people honor their loved ones that have passed away in the most colorful, vibrant and amazing way possible. People make alters for loved ones in their homes and also go to the cemetery and decorate the graves of family members with lovely tissue flowers, countless candles and marigolds. There is also many special traditional foods prepared for the day,which are all rich with exotic flavor, colorful and delicious. My impression of Dia de Los Muertos is that this is a day the Mexican people celebrate the lives of their loved ones and cherish the great times that they spent together, instead of dwelling in sorrow that they are gone.

  

 I started to enjoy the holiday in a new way after a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico a couple of years ago. We were there during Dia de Los Muertos on chance so I feel really lucky because the timing really did enhance our entire experience.

I feel so lucky that we were able to enjoy so many wonderful things about Mexican Culture and tradition in such a short trip. The beaches, the Mayan Ruins, the art, the food and the people we met were all so amazing. I feel like I just scratched the surface on that trip and look forward to many more adventures in Mexico in the near future. What a country! What a culture!

Swedish Haunted Houses

I live in a small village in the middle of the Skane region of Sweden. This area has many "summer houses" and it's easy to see because many of the really old and charming houses in the village look totally abandon. The photos above and below are taken at one of my favorite forgotten houses right off the main road in town. There has to be at least five bedrooms, a huge yard with a whole separate garage in the back .The word around town is the people that own it have not even come to look at the property for years. There is also a rumor that the house belonged to a family that died while they were on vacation in Thailand during the tsunami in December of 2004 (543 Swedes died). I can't help but wonder what happened, and why they would ever leave a great big old house like this to rot

As fantastic and charming as it is it still looks haunted to me. I don’t know what it is but since I have been living here I have been somehow intrigued by this house .When I pass it at night I always have an urge to go closer and see if there is a light on. During this time of year it looks especially scary with the naked branches, the chill of the autumn air and the still quiet that makes you look behind your back at every slight stir you think you may hear in the bushes. It's like living on a set of the movie Hocus Pocus.

          Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

My Dog Peete: My Guide on the Road to Simple Pleasures

My Dog Peete: My Guide on the Road to Simple Pleasures

I know you have already endured a post or two about my dog Peete. But I have realized the Peete is truly a symbol of what "The Swede Life" is all about.

Every day we take the same 5 mile run around the lake by my house, but every day we take this run it's different when I'm with Peete. Peete is the type of soul that lives for today. He is a ten month old mutt with nothing to loose. He jumps right in to every mile high pile of leaves and throws himself into every puddle he sees. His zest for life is contagious and you can't help but laugh at the same time you are scolding him

Life with Peete means if you don't take him for a run early enough you get assaulted with your own running shoes. He forces you to think less about life's troubles and more about playing "fetch the stick" in the forest.

Adam: The Quintessential Swedish Porcelain Pattern

Adam: The Quintessential Swedish Porcelain Pattern

The cups and saucers pictured here are one of the most popular examples of Swedish Porcelain to date. This pattern is called Adam, which I think is perfect because to me Adam is a simple name with a profound significance. This pattern "Adam" was one of the first major successes for famous Swedish designer Stig Lindberg. Lindberg worked as a designer for Swedish Porcelain Company Gustavsbergs throughout his entire professional life and created many of the company's most famous products during his time there.

All of Lindberg's designs have the same basic design principles: Simple, crisp, practical and beautiful. Adam is my most favorite of all his designs because of how timeless it is. The shapes remind me of a strand of pearls, perhaps the most timeless item of all.