Spring is Just Around The Corner, really..

 

It rained all night and when I woke up all the snow had melted. Seeing ground cover for the first time in months can be so refreshing, it's a reminder that Spring has all the equipment it needs to ward off Winter. In a few short months there will be little white flowers all over the ground instead of snow, slush and ice.

 

             The half melted ice on the lake was really the only reminder that winter was ever here at all.

As is often the case, I did not see a single soul on my run. The mossy docks and abandon boats make it look like time just stands still here. I am thankful for the quiet; it somehow makes my many thoughts more rational and clear.

Kaffe Paus (Coffee Break)

 

It's 9:30 am in Sweden so that means it's time for a "Kaffe Paus" or "Fika" (both terms are Swedish for Coffee Break). This is the time when I make my lists of things to do and think a bit about what I have done so far. The coffee is strong and my energy is at its all time high. This is my most favorite time of the day, anything seems possible!

The rain from the night has left my front yard totally free of snow. The sight of the green grass looks like spring’s little peep show from my kitchen window. The wind rips through the naked tree branches; winter's way of saying "Not so fast, it's still only January".....

The Swedish Winter is No Joke

Here I am at about 3:30pm, half way around the lake near my house in the Skane region of Sweden. This was one of my first runs since coming back from my trip to California. Even though it was -4 I convinced myself that I would be fine wearing my running shoes. Since winter has set in I have not really been able to get the same kind of workout I had been getting during all the other seasons. I have been resentful of having to wear snow boots because of how they limit my range of motion, so this time I just wore my cross trainers which was hugely stupid.

Around the time I took this photo I did notice that my socks were getting a little wet, but I charged through the workout anyway. When I returned home my feet were colder than I ever thought they could be. I had to put them under hot running water for about 15 minutes just to get them back to a normal temperature.

The moral to this story is the Swedish Winter is no joke. It does not do you any favors for being tired of it. You must dress accordingly and respect its power or you will be sorry.

The Sun Deck

    


              This is part of the succulent garden on the deck that overlooks the golf course at my Grandma Nancy's house in Seascape, California (more complete home tour coming soon!). These photos were taken at about 11am and as you can see the sunlight on the deck at this time during the day is ideal.
       

               My Grandma loves to sit on a chair near her picnic table and soak up the sun for all it's worth. The painting below was done by my Grandmother and chair in the painting is very similar to the chairs we sit in on her deck. When I asked her if she needed a hat or visor, she told me that at 89 years old she would take her chances with the UV exposure. She is kind hearted, sarcastic, creative, loving and funny as hell. I sat next to her in the sun and soaked her and the sun rays up as much as possible before returning to my new life in a very cold country.

   
              My Grandma Nancy is a painter. Even though her eyes are not as good as they once were she still says as we look out on the sun filled deck, “Oh look at the light, the way it hits there, that’s a painting!”.
      
            The way I see it everything in her house is inspirational. Because of the way she has always pointed out the beauty in everyday things, it makes me think the world itself is just a life full of paintings waiting to happen.