What do you think? Do we look alike? Girls only this time, there are no SwedeDaddy pictures on the hard drive. Sorry!
Baby SwedeMom 1974
Baby SwedeGirl 2005
SwedeBaby 2009
Baby SwedeMom 1974
Baby SwedeGirl 2005
SwedeBaby 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Can I get used to this lifestyle?
And here are more SwedeBaby pictures from the last two days, for her adoring far away fans.
Garden Update: Argh!!!
So much to know...
So we drove to the store and shelled out about $50/ 300 kr for dirt. And it filled the bed half way. So SwedeDaddy is off buying more dirt now. We WILL get these plants in the ground!
Next year, I am planning in the winter. That's my first lesson ion garden, don't start mid May, and be overly time optimistic. It is not a weekend project after all!!! But it is a good start!
For now, I am appreciating all the more the effort that goes into growing our food. This gorgeous cornucopia of fresh food came from the local produce stand. The tomatoe variety was amazing, so I had to put them out in the sun and warm them up, so I could eat them warm and dream of what will hopefully come from our own garden soon.
So much to know...
I said I was not going to get crazy with the garden, and was just going to stick plants in the ground. But I am an info-maniac by nature, and am googling like crazy and trying to avoid making basic mistakes. I am realizing now garden planning is a winter activity. Because it takes a longtime if you do it properly.
We on the other hand thought we would just throw up some raised beds. We made one, and quickly realized it was gonna take quite a load of dirt to fill. So the strawberry bed went in, not raised. So we could save on dirt. We just loosened the soil, added amendment, and topped with some cut up plastic bags to prevent weed growth. One bed down! Strawberries aregrpwing!
Then we set to fill our raised bed with dirt. We have a big rich looking mound in the front yard we thought would be a good source of dirt, so we got our wheel barrow and shovel and began dragging loads from the front yard mound to the back. Soon, we realized what the mound actually was in it's former life- a burn pile for the old house materials that used to be here. So, when we suddenly starting seeing charcoal, we got it was a burn pile. Then when hinges, nail, and shingles started showing up, we had to halt the project. No use growing organic veggies in a pile of industrial waste! So out came all the dirt from the raised bed, hauled BACK to the mound, and covered again to rest in peace under the beech trees.
We on the other hand thought we would just throw up some raised beds. We made one, and quickly realized it was gonna take quite a load of dirt to fill. So the strawberry bed went in, not raised. So we could save on dirt. We just loosened the soil, added amendment, and topped with some cut up plastic bags to prevent weed growth. One bed down! Strawberries aregrpwing!
Then we set to fill our raised bed with dirt. We have a big rich looking mound in the front yard we thought would be a good source of dirt, so we got our wheel barrow and shovel and began dragging loads from the front yard mound to the back. Soon, we realized what the mound actually was in it's former life- a burn pile for the old house materials that used to be here. So, when we suddenly starting seeing charcoal, we got it was a burn pile. Then when hinges, nail, and shingles started showing up, we had to halt the project. No use growing organic veggies in a pile of industrial waste! So out came all the dirt from the raised bed, hauled BACK to the mound, and covered again to rest in peace under the beech trees.
So we drove to the store and shelled out about $50/ 300 kr for dirt. And it filled the bed half way. So SwedeDaddy is off buying more dirt now. We WILL get these plants in the ground!
I am tasked with googling how to get this stuff in the ground safely, and now my head is spinning with square foot gardening tips, as I was just trying to figure out how to get the zucchini in with out taking over the whole growing space we have. Now it seems I need metal framing and white nylon mesh to train up the vines? I am warned my stakes will just break off and the plants will be destroyed in the collapse if I use wood or anything not very strong. Ugh, more money and shopping!!!
Not to mention companion planting. No tomatoes near potatoes, or was it corn? Corn near squash, and where should those peppers go? And now I know dill improves flavor of cabbage, we will put it near Kale, but keep it away from tomatoes as mature dill destroys tomatoes. So much to know!
So, I think the plan is this: in the precious raised bed with the 'pay dirt', we are putting in on the pumpkin, the tomatoes, a cuke, and some leafies like lettuce and herbs. In the other bed, which we will leave a a ground bed and amend with compost and peat, so we don't have to fill the big raised container, we will put in the zucchini, yellow summer squash, corn, a pumpkin, and the kale. Of course, after putting in a foot or more of good dirt from the store, I read that in square foot gardening, you really only need six inches of good dirt. Well, now I know!
Not to mention companion planting. No tomatoes near potatoes, or was it corn? Corn near squash, and where should those peppers go? And now I know dill improves flavor of cabbage, we will put it near Kale, but keep it away from tomatoes as mature dill destroys tomatoes. So much to know!
So, I think the plan is this: in the precious raised bed with the 'pay dirt', we are putting in on the pumpkin, the tomatoes, a cuke, and some leafies like lettuce and herbs. In the other bed, which we will leave a a ground bed and amend with compost and peat, so we don't have to fill the big raised container, we will put in the zucchini, yellow summer squash, corn, a pumpkin, and the kale. Of course, after putting in a foot or more of good dirt from the store, I read that in square foot gardening, you really only need six inches of good dirt. Well, now I know!
Swedegirl and her neighborhood friend helped out
Next year, I am planning in the winter. That's my first lesson ion garden, don't start mid May, and be overly time optimistic. It is not a weekend project after all!!! But it is a good start!For now, I am appreciating all the more the effort that goes into growing our food. This gorgeous cornucopia of fresh food came from the local produce stand. The tomatoe variety was amazing, so I had to put them out in the sun and warm them up, so I could eat them warm and dream of what will hopefully come from our own garden soon.
But if all else fails, we have this great produce at the moment to hold us over!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
SwedeGirl's Year at
The Waldorf School
Next year she will head to the bigger school, BackeBo, or hilltop school. The teacher there brought this lamb to school this Spring. It was such a pity they have no Swedish version of "Mary had a Little Lamb" because "it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school!"
As the school year ends, we had a few events. A few weeks ago there was a Spring time clean up in the yard at school, and the parents came out and helped tidy up the yard for the new Spring season. 
And last weekend the school had a picnic in the woods. It was lovely to be together with all the families on a hot, sunny Swedish day. The children played in the pond, flew kites, and sheep grazed nearby under the shade of the trees! 
The Waldorf School
SwedeGirl has had a great year in her little school, LilleBo, which means little home. 
There are three teachers, each with a group of four kids. The three groups have their own room where they start the day and have lunch, but the groups mingle for snacks, singing, and outdoor play. The children are ages 18 months to 4 years old. In Sweden we have 25 hours a week of free daycare since I do not work. Generally children come to school everyday from 8 until 2. This is common for all Swedes to have their small children in Dagis during these hours. We choose to use our time on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 8 to 4 instead of going five days a week. I like having a few home only days with no school, and the slow mornings that go with that. Many of the children go to Dagis fulltime when the parents are working. 
We like our Swedish Waldorf school, which I can describe as anthrosophic in intention, but moderate and balanced in the execution. Waldorf education is based on the philosophy called anthrosophy that was developed from the thinking of Rudolph Steiner. Waldorf education seeks to protect the spiritual nature of children, so they can remain in touch with themselves so as to develop into balanced and spiritually self aware adults. Waldorf classrooms for young children are structured to look like homes. The teachers model normal domestic life like cooking, cleaning, and gardening so the children can learn by imitation. The classrooms have only open ended toys that allow for this imitation, attention is paid to surrounding the children with quality, natural materials, and the class emphasizes daily and seasonal rhythms. 
I find Waldorf schools can get a bit dogmatic, and that instead of focusing on the heart of things, they get too caught up in the specifics of the "Waldorf Way". It can start to feel like there is only one right way to do things. I just met a german midwife from a village Rudolph Steiner lived in who told me a story that is a perfect example of this thinking. Waldorf schools have this big thing about hats, that the children always need hats. She was discussing the orgin of this, that once Steiner said a certain child needed a hat for it's particular constitution, and then he said don't go making this a rule or anything, this is just for this one child! But sure enough, after he died someone went and said "All children need hats!" and it became dogma. You can get fundamentalist about anything, I guess. Especially when implementing a philosophy developed by a charismatic and visionary leader. The whole point of anthrosophy is that you have the information you need to be self realized with in yourself, so of course it makes sense to be your own guide.
There are three teachers, each with a group of four kids. The three groups have their own room where they start the day and have lunch, but the groups mingle for snacks, singing, and outdoor play. The children are ages 18 months to 4 years old. In Sweden we have 25 hours a week of free daycare since I do not work. Generally children come to school everyday from 8 until 2. This is common for all Swedes to have their small children in Dagis during these hours. We choose to use our time on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 8 to 4 instead of going five days a week. I like having a few home only days with no school, and the slow mornings that go with that. Many of the children go to Dagis fulltime when the parents are working. We like our Swedish Waldorf school, which I can describe as anthrosophic in intention, but moderate and balanced in the execution. Waldorf education is based on the philosophy called anthrosophy that was developed from the thinking of Rudolph Steiner. Waldorf education seeks to protect the spiritual nature of children, so they can remain in touch with themselves so as to develop into balanced and spiritually self aware adults. Waldorf classrooms for young children are structured to look like homes. The teachers model normal domestic life like cooking, cleaning, and gardening so the children can learn by imitation. The classrooms have only open ended toys that allow for this imitation, attention is paid to surrounding the children with quality, natural materials, and the class emphasizes daily and seasonal rhythms. I find Waldorf schools can get a bit dogmatic, and that instead of focusing on the heart of things, they get too caught up in the specifics of the "Waldorf Way". It can start to feel like there is only one right way to do things. I just met a german midwife from a village Rudolph Steiner lived in who told me a story that is a perfect example of this thinking. Waldorf schools have this big thing about hats, that the children always need hats. She was discussing the orgin of this, that once Steiner said a certain child needed a hat for it's particular constitution, and then he said don't go making this a rule or anything, this is just for this one child! But sure enough, after he died someone went and said "All children need hats!" and it became dogma. You can get fundamentalist about anything, I guess. Especially when implementing a philosophy developed by a charismatic and visionary leader. The whole point of anthrosophy is that you have the information you need to be self realized with in yourself, so of course it makes sense to be your own guide.Our school is warm, cozy, and flexible. We have enjoyed the peaceful environment, the organic vegetarian lunches, the space for a child to be a child. 
Even when Swedegirl went on a disney princess streak it was fine for her to bring her princess-y backpack along to school, and she carries her lunch for the outings (utflick) in a princessy lunch box. If you know Waldorf philosophy, it discourages characters strongly. I think this is a good thought. But it was nice that when the Swedegirl became interested in all things DISNEY princess-y (she was very funny about this, I will have to post the story) we did not feel like we had to completely put a stop to it for the sake of the school. Like Ani Difranco notes in one of her songs- 'buildings and bridges are made to bend with the wind, because what doesn't bend breaks". It's nice to have the benefits of the Waldorf environment with out a sense of religious fervor about how we adhere to the concepts in our life. We are grown ups, and can make the choices for ourselves how we wish to incorporate the Waldorf concepts in our life, and its nice to be at a school that supports that moderate approach.
Next year she will head to the bigger school, BackeBo, or hilltop school. The teacher there brought this lamb to school this Spring. It was such a pity they have no Swedish version of "Mary had a Little Lamb" because "it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school!"
As the school year ends, we had a few events. A few weeks ago there was a Spring time clean up in the yard at school, and the parents came out and helped tidy up the yard for the new Spring season. And last weekend the school had a picnic in the woods. It was lovely to be together with all the families on a hot, sunny Swedish day. The children played in the pond, flew kites, and sheep grazed nearby under the shade of the trees!
The Swedish Beach 
We got a phone call from the mama over at Liquid Visionary as she was headed to the beach in Florida to meet up with our friends. It made us miss home, and pine for a coastal view. So we headed out to the coast to check things out at our Swedish beach last Friday Night. 
We got a sunset sky, if no view of the setting sun, and the expansive feeling being near the sea brings. This will be a good day time spot this summer... A forested playground, a beach, and a restaurant. 
The water is a bit brrrrr, but that's Sweden for you. Even this sign says "Grunt!" at the thought of diving in!
And yes, it's late May when we took these pictures, and we are at the beach in fleece! Not for long, it was 82 farhenheit one day this week! Thats 28 Celsius, and a day later it was 14, and then ten yesterday. I see why people go crazy for nice weather here!
We got a phone call from the mama over at Liquid Visionary as she was headed to the beach in Florida to meet up with our friends. It made us miss home, and pine for a coastal view. So we headed out to the coast to check things out at our Swedish beach last Friday Night. We got a sunset sky, if no view of the setting sun, and the expansive feeling being near the sea brings. This will be a good day time spot this summer... A forested playground, a beach, and a restaurant. The water is a bit brrrrr, but that's Sweden for you. Even this sign says "Grunt!" at the thought of diving in!
The best evening activity, pebble throwing! SwedeDaddy can really skip a rock!
I got these photos of the baby, not in her most cute expression, she is looking more like- hey, what is that thing ?? It's a camera! Get used to it!!!
I got these photos of the baby, not in her most cute expression, she is looking more like- hey, what is that thing ?? It's a camera! Get used to it!!! And yes, it's late May when we took these pictures, and we are at the beach in fleece! Not for long, it was 82 farhenheit one day this week! Thats 28 Celsius, and a day later it was 14, and then ten yesterday. I see why people go crazy for nice weather here!
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