Putting Smiles on Public: One Stich at a Time

 

So here you, another picture of goodness,

This one made me smile. So I went back to look at the hanging note. 

Some people though...sooooo beautiful.  I will write more about this later. For now, I wanted to bring you all a smile too!!

Polka Nails

 Just a few images this week

An update of a post from March 26, 2022

Adding some more. So here is the thing. This is my second time getting it done in my life.  All in a matter of 6 weeks. I think this is a waste of money. What happened_

Well, my feet have been hurting.  Plantar fasciitis .....really, really painful. I needed some foot massage. I give myself one everyday but was really tired. Shoulders are hurting due to cold and carrying computers on my back. 

So, this place said that they will include nail paint.  The first time I did not bring flip flops with me, which I coudl use to walk in, after foot massage, pedicure and nail paint. They said to come back and they will throw in a free nail paint.  So I had to get another appointment for at least a manicure, which is cheaper.

So here it is...Enjoy....and color choice is mine, style is mine...I asked them to....and for a few weeks, I felt special. 

That is it...

this week...

Påsk Lilja

 

Påsk, is Swedish word for Easter (Pasqua in Spanish). Lilja is Swedish word for lilly.

So Daffodils are Påsk Lillies....Here are some other posts about them ....

One of the first posts from April 2010. Pics taken in Sweden

One on Påsk Ris from 2019

Enjoy Your Easter!

T'is the Season of Feathers: A Photo Essay

First published on April 23, 2020...here it is again...after all...bunnies are out, the skies are clearer and things with feathers are back...

Starting February, you start seeing these colourful feathers, in offices, outside homes and offices, in shops in doctor's offices. And also around you.  You know, the birds are back!!

Technically, there are some birds that never leave.  Sparrows for example, then there are the magpies and the ravens.  Then there is the yellow breasted sparrow looking--Great Tit (official name), always brightens our days.  Btw, has anyone heard of or seen this movie? The Big Year? (click on the name of the movie to see the trailer).  I watch a tonne of trailers.  So I know about movies, but hardly get the time to watch them.  The Big Year came on TV a few weeks ago and I just loved it.  An underrated film about bird-lovers/watchers, the movie is actually about relationships.  About friendships and about what we give up for careers. I would never do that.  Even though that is what people think when they see that I have worked on my own towards a small career.  

Careers are not important, at least not more than relationships.  Even in my limited career trajectory I have made some real friends.  

So every year I see these feathers, it means a cycle has completed, it means spring is here, it means temperatures are going to warm up, it means we may not need thick jackets and may do with light ones.  Feathers mean, hope, they mean life. 

You can buy them at regular stores and grocery stores like COOP (cooperative) and  ICA (like Wal-Mart).  You can make them on your own, since there is only a small metallic strip attached to the feathers so that they can be tied to the birch branches.  And the best part about this is that birch branches are put in water.  With weeks, they fill up with new leaves and you can remove the feathers and enjoy the new leaves.  

The above two pictures are from outside of the gym. 

The orange and white ones were in the lobby of one large hall.  Women, wherever they are, ensure seasonal beauty abounds us. 

The above picture is from my table at home.  The little doll that you see is actually a Häxa, a witch.  A colleague sold these homemade dolls.  The feathers that you see is supposed to be her broom.  Lena, made these dolls for every season.  This one was for Påsk---easter!!  I got this my first easter in the country. 

The above picture is from my dinning table.  I used some old branches 

In the US I used to change message to my answering machine according to the season.  Music and tone would change. I remember using a bird song for spring.  My sister would call and say, 'Man, it seems like I have entered a forest'.  For late spring,  around April, I would use Aaron Copland's Appalachian spring (Listen to 18:55 onwards, especially after 19:25, and the again at 20:00)that was the section I used, listen to it or Vivaldi's Spring (this one starts strong from the very beginning, it hits you with a tonne of bricks and you will like you are in love) from four seasons. 

Here --now that answering machines are all passe ---I change the decoration on the door about 3-4 times a year.  Here you see my spring decoration.  A specially abled boy came to sell this to my door---so, had to get it--to brighten my day and his. 

The sky is bluer and the water is flowing.  Taken in early March 2020. 

See those chairs, yes, that is Sweden's idea of recreating 'stranded'-- the beach. 

There is something so beautiful about light in Sweden.  This was taken in the evening, in March.  As the days get longer, the light gets brighter.  But in March-April and Sept-October, during the transition time, there is a transparent quality to the sky. And lights look so very beautiful in the evening, even when we can do without them. 

The row of houses across two streets from where I live.  Often go here for walks. You must have seen it in other blog posts here. Or you can click here to see some old pics along with a video--link to which is provided in the post. 

Look carefully, it is not a "wrong shot"

Very intentional.  The folks are putting out outdoor eating areas and creating a garden in the glass-house-like restaurants.  I had to get this one. 

Hope wherever you are, that your spring is beautiful.  Share your pics, if you wish!!

Navratri Begin Today

The nine day festival of worshipping mother nature begins today.

The entire country does not eat onions, garlic, meat products, or even grains for a week. No bread, no lentils, no beans. Only two kinds of flour.  Chestnut flour and buckwheat flour (Bovete in swedish).  Potatoes, all kinds, sweet and others. Greens and milk are allowed too.

This 7-9 days diet allows for slow changes in our body required during the change of season to protect ourselves from infection and diseases.  

Young girls all over the country know that at the end of the nine day festival they will be honoured with fruits, scarves, nail polishes, home made food and money. 

Twice a year we do this. At the change of seasons. To remind ourselves that we cannot do anything on this planet without mother nature. Nor without the species who are closest to nature. 

Women!