amberbyday

Love and Wine in the Adelaide Hills

2011-11-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Smile! And have a beautiful Friday.

2011-10-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

2011-10-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

In between working full time, selling the cottage, renovating the new cottage, planting out the veggie gardens, looking after 10 acres of land, a cat and a goat, we have also been making and selling our wine. We have had a few tastings here and there and they are always lots of fun. Good music, good conversation, lots of laughs and of course amazing wine!

Oh, and we just bottled our new Sangiovese!

Cheers!

Flower filled painting breaks

2011-10-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Every time I needed a break from painting, I would treat myself to a flower discovery walk on the property... The lemon tree is finding it hard to stand up with all the lemons, despite the boxes we have given away to friends and family...I was over joyed to find Donkey Orchids... Bulbs blooming all over the place...I waited 2 weeks for this rose to open and find out the colour, shape and scent. 3 ticks- Just stunning.

Magical pines, gums and fruit trees...

And the Silver Birch makes me feel I am still in Sweden. Now we just need to build ourselves a sauna...

Thirsty Walls

2011-10-16T04:01:00.001-07:00

I think we have purchased the thirstiest house in the world.

We have FINALLY finished painting- hooray!

We went through 14 canisters of no-more-gaps, 15 10 litre buckets of paint and 12 bottles of wine.

The house still looks like a demo site but at least the walls are all pretty and white.

Thank goodness for holidays and Dads is all I can say.
Floors next!

Spring view

2011-10-11T02:50:00.001-07:00

Camellias or apple blossom.

Which is the better way to view an old cottage?

Hmmm...

Half the vegie patches are planted out (we are waiting for the full moon tomorrow to put the rest in), the lawns are cut, an acre is slashed and 9 acres remain under seeds and weeds, but we are getting there. Sometimes on nice days though, it is hard not to just sit here on the lawn and gaze at our new home under the apple blossom and Camellia petals.

2011-10-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

When I got home from living in Sweden, I felt a bit lost in many aspects.

Friends, work, community, home, myself, my direction, as well as here in the blog world. I didnt see the point any more of writing posts and yet I kept being a voyager.

Everything over time started to fall into place, as it always does. I touched base with friends again, I connected to a new community, I found a arty job as well as a teaching job, we started a company and we settled back (eventually) into our home.

The blog thing took longer and I have only just got a second wind for it and understand it all again.

I love to sit a while and delve into these mysterious peoples lives for a little while. Now that I am no longer traveling with my feet, I can travel with my eyes instead. I feel inspired, uplifted, comforted by some of the blogs I read and I thank them all for their time. It's a magical world we live in and I love every bit of it.

Here are some of my favourites:Soule Mama

A cup of Jo

The Jade Leaf

Junkaholic

79 Ideas

New life project

2011-10-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

Our new house is certainly a life long project. I feel as if we will be painting and weeding and mending for the rest of our born days and to be honest I couldn't be happier.

The front of the house is a settlers cottage with rooms built on as the family grew.

We are going to try to restore the house keeping it true to it's age and authenticity, but of course with a few modern perks and our own style mixed in for good measure.

But the detail in the ceilings, old sash windows,

floor boards, doors and brick and tile work make me a happy girl.

Must go and paint now. Bye!

House for sale

2011-09-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

I cant believe it really, but we are selling our little house.

I feel like a traitor, but it is time to move on.

She has been such a lovely house to live in and the community is wonderful.

We have bought some land in another region of the hills though and it is time to spread our wings a bit.

The new house has lots to do before we move in and it's hard to leave a house which has taken us so long to get finished and just how we want it, only to start again!

But I look forward to more renovating adventures and time spent on our land, planting, growing, harvesting and eating.

If you know anyone who wants a little piece of tranquility in the Adelaide Hills, tell them there is a piece for sale!

Welcome Spring!

2011-08-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome back Spring.

I am so very happy to see you again!

The Adelaide Hills

2011-03-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

I love the Adelaide Hills. It is absolutely my favourite place in the world.

Although I am always a bit sad to see summer ending, I do love apple season up here. Trying out the different varieties of apples on our walks through the orchards and picking wild blackberries and plums.

And the sunsets are just glorious.

Thirsty

2011-03-08T22:57:00.001-08:00

Wishing you ever such a Happy Autumn

2011-02-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

Adelaide Fringe Festival

2011-02-27T02:20:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the Fringe Festival is apon us once again.

I just love it.

The beautiful, crazy people everywhere, something to see and do every minute of the day. Adelaide is the only place to be in February.

You can take a ride and learn the trapeze, before watching a man swollow 10 swords and read the mind of unbelieving audience members. You can stare as a troop of acrobats fly over an Indian drummer, then head off to buy some sexy vintage replica bathers, whilst eating an icecream made from wattle seeds and bush lime. You can then see a play about anything at all and end the day by dancing all night in a packing container with people from all over the world. And you can do this every day and night for a whole month.

You can drink cocktails on a double decker bus before heading to a tent to see a man with gaffer tape over his mouth turn audience members into ballet dancers and helicopters.

It really is much fun. But don't take my word for it.

Come and see for yourself.

ophelia

2011-02-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

Kitchen of a winemaker

2011-02-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

One of life's simple pleasures is a glass or two of wine after work.

Where we live, there are many small wineries scattered throughout the hills and it is so lovely to go driving around the vines on the weekend, sampling wine, meeting the winemakers and vignerons and buying a case here and there to drink or store for later (the storage part happens less often I must admit).

When you are married to a winemaker however, it isn't always a case of a simple glass of wine after work.

It often requires tasting barrel samples, blind tastings of varieties and vintages and comparing or scoring each one, based on nose, length, mouth feel, colour, etc etc.

Oh yes, there are definite advantages to being married to a wine maker, but I'm not sure if the kitchen being turned into a wine lab is one of them...

Happily, our own label is doing well and the 2009 Grenache is nearly ready for release.

I love seeing all the bottles snug in their boxes ready for their journey into shops, restaurants and peoples cellars.

I love too my husbands hands after he has been playing with the wine all day...

You can always spot a winemaker at this time of the year!

Hot!!!

2011-01-30T13:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Summer Day. It is 42 degrees here today!

Any tips for staying cool?

Keep the clucking down!

2011-01-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

My cat was most unimpressed yesterday with her 'sisters' distracting her movie watching.

Op shopping mistake

2011-01-20T01:06:00.000-08:00

I've done some good op shopping these holidays. Some great stuff has been purchased for under $2 each including a 19502 cocktail book, a 70s childrens party book, a Louis Feraud velvet skirt, a Getaway board game and some other 'essentials'.

However today I saw a set of the above Alfred Meakin Marigold 1930's tea and dinnerware for $10 and didn't get it! Can you believe that?

Luckily it is only the next town over so I shall pop in my little car first thing and hope that no one else saw it and fell in love with it this afternoon.

So silly!

Looking for a Teepee, finding inspiration

2011-01-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

Ever since I slept in my friends teepee, I have desperately wanted one of my own. They are jolly expensive though so I need a secondhandy to come my way I think.

We do often camp out, but I have to say, our tent is not usually this romantic looking. I just love these photos by andrew and carissa. Do yourself a favour and check out their blog. It is just so amazing and inspiring. Scroll through a few pages and see their last years christmas video. I adore, adore it. Also their one this year will bring a tear to the eye. Thanks rockstar diaries for the heads up!

PS Let me know if you see any teepees for sale!

Dressing like a flower

2011-01-13T15:58:00.000-08:00

I picked my mum a bunch of flowers yesterday. I was feeling very pleased with my garden that day and wanted her to have a piece of it in her house.

I was looking at them whilst I picked each one, just sucking in the colours and vibrancy and almost wishing I could be one.

Then I came across Allanah Hill's latest collection and realised I could!

Happy Day!

Looking Australia in the eye

2011-01-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks we have been lucky enough to have 14 Swedes here visiting us over Summer. So delicious for them to escape the snow and minus degree weather and special for us to have a little more Sweden in our lives.

We had great fun sharing our family and friends with them, the feathered and furry ones included of course.

Unfortunately they werent with us yesterday when we went out in our little boat and swam with dolphins! They were all around our little boat and we dived in amongst them.

I think it's going to be a good year.

Calmed by a snail

2011-01-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

My brain feels like this room at the moment. Chaotic and overwhelmed.

Oh well, Marcel always cheers me up. Don't you just adore him???

Happy Birthday, Happy me

2011-01-05T00:04:00.000-08:00

This is how I felt on my birthday this week.

Drowning in Love. (In a good way!)

From here

New Year, New plans

2010-12-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

After a gorgeous hot Christmas in the park with the family and our many Swedish visitors, it is nice to have a few days to relax and potter around the house and garden thinking of all of the plantings and projects for the New Year.
To have a bookshelf finally is such a treat as well and I can easily spend hours just staring at my old friends that I havent read in so long.
Little bits of Sweden scattered inside and out...

and the produce in the gardens are ready to prepare and share as more visitors stream through the doors.

Happy New Year everyone.

May it be happy and joyful and full of love and merryment.

Happy Boxing Day Everyone!

2010-12-26T03:55:00.000-08:00

Image from abundance.

2010-12-22T00:37:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you all!

I hope your houses are feeling all cozy and Christmasy. This book is my absolute favourite Christmas book of all time.

Over the many years that I have had it, I have made several of the crafts. ( My favourite being the oh, so cute and easy mouse in a stocking.)

The Danish influenced crafts and recipes are superb, but the best part are the photos and feelings of family and love that it evokes. It always makes me feel so happy and safe.

Naughty Chickens

2010-12-21T01:57:00.000-08:00

Our house looks so peaceful from a distance...

but I tell you what, our new chickens are so naughty, they are causing havoc.
Oh sure, they look innocent enough here, but the stories I could tell you.

Maybe it's because they nest in wine barrels.
We have mistakenly created an atmosphere of drunken debortuary, where anything goes.

Luckily the goat is an absolute angel.

Beautiful Victoria

2010-12-02T23:28:00.000-08:00

This isn't where I am from and I haven't actually ever been to Daylesford, but oh, how I adore this advert/mini movie.

It is so lusciously shot and Isabel Lucas is just beautiful.

Home Sweet Home

2010-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

It is always so good to be home sweet home.

Bicycle Rush Hour in Copenhagen

2010-09-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

2010-08-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Good bye August.

You bought me sweet love, drives across Southern Sweden, bike rides through Copenhagen, plane rides to Poland, walks and feasts in forests, Swedish cakes and herring burgers, unfamiliar, yet friendly cat visitors, picnics on the Baltic, parties with friends and champagne in the garden.

I will never forget you.

September promises lazy weeks on the French Riviera, days exploring London, work and play in sweden and favourite smells and sights of Australia.

I am truly blessed.

I bike Copenhagen

2010-08-29T01:57:00.000-07:00

I bike it, I bike it, I bike it!!!

I've said it before and I will say it again, I really, really, really do love this city.

Everything is beautiful or interesting.

There is always something happening, markets, festivals, concerts, spontanious street fiestas. The people are stunning, stunning, stunning, the architecture superb.

Even the money is beautiful. I mean any coin with a hole in the middle and love hearts surrounding is ok with me.

Thank you again Copenhagen for a great day.

Story book cottage

2010-08-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

This really is a house of dreams to me. It is on a tiny crooked road with 10 or so other thatch roofed cottages, overlooking the Baltic Sea, a short drive from my village.

It has all the essential cottage flowers in its garden and I just know that hedgehogs and fairies roam freely.

A welcoming Doorstep

2010-08-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

In the Swedish village where I live, it is very tempting to knock on every door you pass.

They all look so welcoming.

The windows are dressed with plants, statues and open curtains and the door steps are adorned with candles in winter and vases or pots of fresh flowers in spring and summer.

Each season the flowers, wreaths and decorations change.

I think the summer doorsteps are my favourite.

Such a pretty custom.

A Polish Surprise

2010-08-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

If you ever get the chance to go to Gdansk, you MUST!

It is such a beautiful, friendly, historic city and a great surprise.

I am sure it would make a great vist any time, but happily for us, there was a wonderful festival on called St Dominic's Fair.

The whole of the old town turns into a market! Can you imagine my joy?!

The buildings were rebuilt after the second world war as so much was destroyed and they are just incredibly stunning. The colours and the paintings and shapes. I am sad as my photos do them no justice at all, so you must go for yourselves. My jaw nearly hit the ground when we wandered into the town square.

Breathtaking.

I have been to a lot of flea markets in my time, but these Polish ones are somthing else. So much history, so many stories, so many things I couldn't take home!

This woman made us wonder. She was selling just a few guns and a dagger on a mat on her own. Who's were they? Does she come every week and try to sell them?

Of course there was amber everywhere. A whole street called Amber alley with everything you could make out of amber available, from earings, to boats to clocks.

The street food was sensational and we tried may things we had never tasted before such as zucchini and white chocolate soup, poppy seed fudge, honey vodka, Russian champagne and the biggest sandwiches known to man.

Even the grafitti was cool!

Wizzing to Gdansk

2010-08-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Gdansk, Poland?

When we go to our local beach after work, we look out across the Baltic to the general direction of Poland and wonder what it is like. So we are heading there on Friday.

Gdansk is only 1 hour away from here and really quite cheap to get there with Wizz Air.

(Dont you love that name? I always imagine myself Wizzing through the air in a Giant Peach)

pożegnanie!

Roses galore

2010-07-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

The roses are so beautiful in our garden this year, I just had to show you.

After short bursts of summer rain,

they look even more beautiful, covered in jewels.

The roses greet us each time we step outside

and look up at us when we look out of the window.

They keep us company when we eat in the garden

and when the ancient church bells next door ring on the hour,

the roses seem to hum in time and marvel as I do.

Dream Swedish Hotel

2010-07-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

The treehouse hotel!

A new hotel in Sweden's Lapland.

How AMAZING is this room!?

I think this photo was taken at 3am!

Check out the website for the UFO room, the CUBE and the NEST.

Incredible!

Great quotes from their website...

"It is important that we find another way to value the forest, rather than to cut the trees for industrial use. This Boreal forest is one of the Earth’s lungs. We need to look after it."

"To prevent birds colliding with the tree hotel, a infrared film, visible for birds only, will be laminated into the glass panes."

"Access to the room is by rope bridge"

Another good article about the hotel here.

There are some amazing people out there I tell you.

Thanks Cup of Jo for discovery.

I am in love...

2010-07-24T07:29:00.001-07:00

...with this bike vase.

What else does one need in life, really?

I absolutely must get one. It is not even an option.

Thanks CopenhagenCycleChic for the insight.

Introducing Uppsala

2010-07-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Uppsala is the name of my new bike.

She rides like a dream and although she only has 1 gear,

I can fly up hills without my little pins aching and giving up.

Her chain guard is probably her most magnificent feature, but I also love her

wings and her secret compartment which can hold keys, money

and any treasures I may find along the way.

Can you guess where it is?

She is a Hermes bike.

Apparently one of the first Swedish bike brands and made in Uppsla

(a university town above Stockholm) until the 1930's.

Does that mean she is that old?

I was thinking she was from the 50's or 60's??

Does anyone know anything about these bikes?

Oh, and as we are discussing bikes (again!),

here is a fantastic film.

City Councils- Please watch, be inspired, evolve!

Streetfilms.org

I get so inspired and excited when I see footage like this and dream that one day all cities will be as safe and peaceful and as clever as Copenhagen.

Who do you write like?

2010-07-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered this amazing website?

You write a prose/paragraph of a story/random thoughts into the box and it tells you who you write like.

I wrote a few different paragraphs from different stories I have writen over the years and each time it told me I write like J.D.Salinger.

Interesting.

I had heard so much about 'Catcher in the Rye' over the years and had never read it.

For some weird reason it was really important to me where I found the book.

I didn't want to walk into a library and borrow it.

I wanted to own it.

Own a second hand copy.

Don't ask me why.

Anyway, last year when I was wandering around a little corner of Greenwich Village in NewYork, there was this funky old man selling crates full of old books.

My eyes fell on the first book I saw and there it was.

My copy of Catcher in the Rye.

Have a go! Tell me who you write like.

P.S. Thanks English Muse for the link!

Biking to the Beach- why wouldn't you?

2010-07-15T07:04:00.001-07:00

Don't you just love these photos of beaches in Copenhagen from Copenhagenize ?

So many bikes!!!

The beaches and the streets and the forests and every inch almost of Copenhagen is filled with people on bikes. It is so peaceful and relaxing. You feel at one with the city and really appreciate the little things, rather than wizzing past them and yelling at the traffic lights. You remember to breathe and smile at fellow bikers and feel the wind on your face.

I really love it.

...although finding a spare bike rack can be a challenge!

But how beautiful are these bike racks?

I would put them everywhere back home if I were a town planner. They are like gorgeous, practical sculptures.

Any Adelaide City Council members reading this??

Thank you so much to Katie at You + Me for the above clip. Brilliant!

Elderflower cordial

2010-07-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

The elderflowers are blooming in Southern Sweden at the moment and the smell is delicate and sweet. Making elderflower cordial is an incredibly easy and satisfying way to use these pretty flowers.

First, you must go and find a Elderflower tree and pick 20 or so flower heads.

Always thank the tree after.

This tree just outside our garden is perfect.

Leave the flowers prettily watching you as you pour a litre and a half or so of boiling water over just under half a kilo of sugar. I use brown sugar as I prefer the flavour, but if you prefer the summery look of clear drinks, go for white.

Leave this to cool and go and read an incredibly inspiring book, or pick some flowers in the garden for your bedroom.

When you get back, squeeze half a lemon into the sugar water and slices of another lemon and the Elderflower heads.

Isn't it looking beautiful?

Leave for a few days covered in a cloth, stir occasionally. Taste is as you go and when you think it is ready, strain through a teatowel.

Pour some into a sterilised bottle for later and some into a jug with ice and lemon slices to enjoy in the sun.

This weeks flea market finds

2010-07-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

I must say I am feeling particularly smug about my flea market finds this week. Arent these dresses from Fredrikberg Market in Copenhagen just beautiful?

And for 25 kroner each!!! That's just crazy.

The Noa Noa dress is so beautiful and fits perfectly. It is one of my favourite Danish designs, but not one I buy from too often.

The others are another Danish design called Braans Bazaar.

This skirt also fits like it was made for me and better yet, it has wild geese flying across it!

Just like the ones that fly over our pink house in August.

It is from St-Martins Scandinavian Design and cost me 35 kroner! Dumbfounded!

After the treasures bought in Denmark, we trained it back across the bridge to our beloved Sweden and bright and early in the morning, I fought the crowds at a few Skane flea markets.

I tell you, don't get in the way of a Swedish woman looking for a bargain-Ouch!

The woden spoons were just too sweet to leave neglected on the bricabrac table and a dear old women kept finding more and more for me.

The cloth came on a beautiful old roll and called out to be made into a skirt.

I then went on a bit of a embroidery frenzy and just couldnt stop buying these beauties.

They were so cheap and so beautiful.

Imagine the hours of work in each one and don't you think they will make lovely bags or cushions?

Lastly, I bought this gorgeous blue fabric, just perfect for our bbq party that night. I also got 3 other cloths which are currently being used as picnic blankets at the beach and lake each night, but may get made into a bedspread back in Australia I think.

Only 5 more sleeps until the next market!

Inspired by iceland

2010-07-05T22:28:00.001-07:00

I've been curious about Iceland for years.

It just seems so exotic and mysterious to me.
The other day I came across this advert made to encourage visitors to ignore the volcanoes and enjoy their country.

Can you believe the goverment made it? It just seems way too cool.
Who's coming with me??

Happy Midsummer!

2010-06-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Midsummer was magical this year, if only because it didn't rain! The Swedes were out in force in our little neighbouring village, where we gathered to eat midsummer strawberry cake and dance around a giant fertility pole.

The children and the women wore flower crowns and having some friends over in the morning to make them in our garden was a special way to start the weekend.

The weekend continued to be heavenly, with a trip up north to camp in a forest on the Archipeligo.

We found a beautiful, secluded spot where we could frolick like nympths and swim, ride and dance.

If only every day could be Midsummer...

Hello Sweden!

2010-06-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we are back!
8 months later and we are back in this beautiful town and it seems like we never left.
Our friends are still here, the lakes and sea still beckon and the forest as cool and inviting as ever.
The weather is unbelievable and when not at work, we spend most of our time riding our bikes or walking from beach to forest to market and back again.
Tomorrow is Midsummer.
My favourite Swedish calender day of the year.
Again, we will make flower crowns, ride our bikes along the Baltic, eat strawberries and drink champagne with hundreds of other like minded Swedes.
Of course there will be dancing around the Maypole and lots and lots of singing.

Photos to follow.
X

Can it be true?

2009-09-10T00:56:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe we leave all of this in 1 month's time.

Our Swedish adventure is coming to an end and it makes

me so sad.

The beauty of Sweden has blown me away.

Our harbour, our town, our friends, our jobs, our forests

will all be so very sorely missed.

Luckily our bikes come with us!

I know I will never be able to replicate the Swedish gardens

in my dry state of South Australia,

but I will certainly try.

Thank you Sweden for your open arms and intense beauty.

We will keep it in our hearts forever.

2009-08-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

2009-08-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

The Cantina in Locorotondo is an old and majestic building.

The neighbours live in Trullis and the 100 000 litre wine tanks hover over our heads.

Lugging giant hoses, analysing grape samples and cleaning out tanks is messy, heavy work,

but I love it!

Chardonnay rules our noses and lips these days, though I must admit, at night I prefer to drink the Primitivo or ice cold Rosato,

It isnt the cleanest job in the world...

but what a beautiful town to live and work in!

One crazy cave restaraunt

2009-08-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

I am back working in the winery in Locorotondo, Italy this month.

One of my favourite places in Puglia is Polignano al Mare.

There is a restaurant in a cave which is just amazing.

You can hear the water below you and watch the boats sailing inside the cave under your table.

The staff are fantastic and we dined like kings and queens on fish and champagne and Richi.

The next day we took our own boat and shouted up to the waiters who pretended to jump in our boats from up above. Throwing cigarettes down and being so beautifully Italian.

A beautiful face in the crowd

2009-08-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

http://yvanrodic.blogspot.com/

The man behind Face hunter and his new blog as above.

Beautiful faces in beautiful cities, taken at random.

These from Copenhagen.

2009-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

There's something so special about a girl and her mum enjoying Sweden in the best month of the year and having the time to explore it all.

To spend time in the garden, reading, chatting and eating.

To admire everyones gardens and smell the air, so full of scent.

To be able to bike ride all over Skåne and Copenhagen,

and have picnics on the Baltic

To walk and horse ride through the forests picking and stringing rasberries, blueberries, strawberries and cherries.

I feel blessed indeed.

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen

2009-07-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful antique/flea market at Porte de Clignancourt in Paris

Lovely old linens and fabrics...

Boxes of treasures and house hold items...

Letters from loved ones long forgotten...

Good times shared...

Toys loved and disgarded...

Music practised and performed...

Keys to houses, gates and barns scattered all over the countryside...

Piles of treasures for everyone and anyone...

Just waiting to be discovered.

A week in Paris

2009-06-24T09:04:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we head to Paris. What a nice way to start the summer holidays.

I will be on a strict Champagne, Florentine and French cheese diet.

Au Revoir x

Poppy Love is like no other love

2009-06-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen Comedown

2009-06-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

Another amazing weekend in my favourite city...

We did a house swap this time so our new friends got a garden, beach and forest in a Swedish village and we got a gorgeous apartment, a Christiana bike and one of the best cities in the world as our backyard.

What a great arrangement!

Again it was a bike filled weekend and we have finally decided on a bike and each bought a Batavus Old Dutch each. (Thanks daddy!!)

Now I might have to get a Carlsberg crate for the front!

midsummer

2009-06-17T05:19:00.000-07:00

Midsummer would have to be my favourite Swedish celebration.

I love to make my flower crown in the morning and then ride our bikes along the Baltic Sea with the baskets full of picnic goodies.

We climb the hill and join our beautiful Simrishamn family and hundreds of other Swedes in a giant picnic.

We dance around the giant Maypole, decorated by local children and listen to the musicians.

This year we have family and friends joining us from Australia so it will be even more special.

Let's just hope it doesnt rain!

Ballet dancing flowers

2009-06-12T03:13:00.000-07:00

Don't these beautiful flowers remind you of ballet dancers? I found them in the forest this morning.

PS I was just told they are called 'Løytnantshjerte' in Danish, by the lovely Elsie Sophie

Just on the ballet theme, turn your sound up, take a breath and enjoy the next few minutes of Chanel beauty. Performed by The English National ballet's Senior Principal Ballerina 'Elena Glurdjidze', the Karl Lagerfeld original tutu, took 3 women, 100 hours to stitch.

Enjoy Elena performing 'The dying swan'.

From Sweden with Love

2009-06-08T04:45:00.000-07:00

This poster says it all. Sexy Swedes on sexy bikes.

No wonder everyone bike rides over here!

Maja is my hero

2009-06-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

Maja is my favourite Swedish children's book character.

She teaches children about the seasons...

about friendships...

about food...

about the alphabet...

about animals...

and about gardening and nature.

I think she is wonderful!

Noa Noa

2009-06-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

Just a quick taste of one of my favourite Danish designers- Noa Noa. They are stocked in a gorgeous shop which is 10 metres from my gate, so the temptation is there every day! I think their vision is so dreamy and mythical.

A teacup of roses

2009-05-28T05:20:00.000-07:00

I got another award today. So lovely.

It is from the gorgeous blog 'abundance'. Definitely worth a look, just gorgeous.

I would like to pass it on to some of my favourites. Do your self a favour and visit them when you have a chance, you will be in for a treat!

1. Accept the award and post whoever gave it to you with name and link

2. Post 5 of your current favourites or new discoveries

3. Don't forget to contact them to pass on the good news!

Spring for a week

2009-05-25T05:59:00.001-07:00

As impatient as I was in the darkness of the Swedish winter for Summer, I must say I'm a bit sad to say goodbye to Spring.

I honestly believe that no human could ever make anything so beautiful as a flower.

Miranda, Miranda

2009-05-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

My friend has just had a baby and called it Miranda.

It is a name which provokes in me images of strong, magical women.

Miranda in 'The Tempest' by Waterhouse-

my absolute favourite artist.

Miranda in Picnic at hanging rock. Such a mesmerising movie by Peter Weir based on the book by Joan Lindsay.

Welcome to this beautiful world baby Miranda. May you find much joy and love within.

Rolleicord experiments

2009-05-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with my rolleicord camera a bit lately.

Despite a cracked lense and no film for it, I love the images which it can capture.

Tempo Magazine

2009-05-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

My lovely husband bought these back for me from Italy.

They are from 1951 and have such fabulous advertisments in them.

Viva Italia!

I want this shampoo so I can be fa la chioma bella!!!

Love these!

Street Art

2009-05-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

What a great background it can make for our day to day lives.

A very Swedish Weekend

2009-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I drove to my friends house in Halmstad this weekend.

Her garden is looking amazing and her house to me is the

quintessential Swedish house.

I adore it.

We ate beautiful food, drank wine and played games.

After a beach walk and a smell of her bee hives I drove home...

...via the canola seed meadows and churches...

to a gorgeous National Park called Söderåsen...

where I walked among the trees, ate rhubarb pie...

and enjoyed the sunshine...

... before heading home to a newly weeded garden

(thank you M and B!!!)

and to my gorgeous new/old chair

which I picked up on the way for 150sek!

Springtime in 3 towns

2009-05-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago I was in London and all of the tulips and blossom was out in the parks. It is hard to imagine at times as you sit gazing at the flowers in the warm sun, bees buzzing around you, that you are in a huge, bustling city.

The same can be said for Stockholm, where the city is overwhelmingly beautiful with tulips and spring bulbs at this time of the year.

The tulips are out in Simrishamn too and the town is just full of great big pots of them. Below are some comparison photos of the three towns.

I hope you enjoy them!

Simrishamn town centre

Stockholm town centre

London town centre

Gamla Simrishamn

Gamla Stockholm

Gamla London

Stockholm park

Simrishamn Park

London Park

Love is Possible

2009-05-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Despite of (or because of?!) the riots, the graffiti, the rubbish, the dark history and the crazy people, Berlin is one of the most fantastic cities I have visited.

It is mesmerising, addictive, so very, very friendly.

I want to go back!

I want to do it all over again...

Saturate myself in history...

Drive myself to distraction in the most fantastic flea markets...

Absorb the fantastic graffiti on whats left of the Berlin Wall

Visit A.m.a.z.i.n.g. vintage shops...

Dress up in beautiful outfits and go dancing at outdoor, 24 hour clubs

Berlin baby

2009-04-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

We are heading to Berlin for the long weekend.

I havent been there for over 15 years.

Have you got any favourite places you could reccommend?

XXX

Have you seen my Dutchie?

2009-04-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a bit blue today as someone stole my bike off the train.

It had its beautiful basket on it and little pouch on the side, all full of goodies.

I only had her for 3 weeks and she was such a good little bike.

The only good thing to come out of it is I got dinkied around Copenhagen in the sun all day, but that hardly makes up for it!

Some people really are rotton!

In Love with Amalfi

2009-04-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

How can you not fall in love with a place that looks like this...

Has cats on every corner...

Has lemons the size of footballs...

Has the cutest cars in the world...

Dogs are welcome anywhere (and on anything!)...

And you can find random balloon crowns on the street to wear!

A floral easter in Simrishamn

2009-04-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

The spring flowers certainly took center stage in Simrishamn this Easter. Daffodils, pansies, pussy willow and feathers featured everywhere from table tops, door steps, windows sills and churchyards.

The town was buzzing with visitors from all over, coming to buy art and admire the artists who opened their studios and galleries to share their work. So much inspiration and beauty to behold.

I feel very lucky to live in a such a beautiful town with so many talented people.

Is there anything better than a picnic by the sea?

2009-04-13T01:48:00.001-07:00

Life in the cantina

2009-04-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

We are waiting for some tanks to fill so I have a little time to share

our life at the moment.

The town...

The vines...

The Cantina...

The tanks...

(Ive been climbing up these tanks a 100 times a day!)

The barrel room ...

The accomodation...

http://www.sottolecummerse.it/

Happy to be human

2009-04-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

We have just got back from an impromptu weekend on the Amalfi Coast which was just too heavenly to describe, so I won't even try! No camera cord either so no photos...

Instead, watch this fantastic clip. A big thank you to Becka from Bliss in a teacup for sharing it. I think my favourites are the African woman, the guy in the black suit and of course the guy at the beginning.

Off to Italy to 'maka the wine'

2009-03-30T06:54:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we head to the Cantina in Puglia to 'play' with a few million litres of wine.

It will be another chaotic, beautiful, delicious, busy chapter in this crazy life of ours.

I love you to the moon and back...

2009-03-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

I just found out my mum's flying across the world to see me in a few months. YIPPEE!!!

Dutchie in Denmark

2009-03-30T00:52:00.000-07:00

I finally decided on a bike and here it is! Isn't she so very pretty?

I love the way she looks in front of this Danish castle and all of those amazing spring flowers. Now I just need a small dog for the basket!

The beauty of Bridget Bardot

2009-03-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

'I gave my beauty and youth to men.

I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals.'

I think she is wonderful, wonderful.

Swedish Glass

2009-03-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

More pretty local vintage shops.

A Rosier Day

2009-03-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

I cant get enough of roses at the moment. I adore them and get so excited when I see the new leaves and buds forming on the bushes at home. These are from some local flowers shops and markets. I especially love the darling pink ones in their pretty vases.

Can the houses in my village get any prettier in summer?!

I can't wait!

sad day turned pretty

2009-03-25T02:33:00.001-07:00

After hearing sad news from home and feeling down all day, my beautiful work mates helped cheer me up. I rode home from work much happier and Mulberry's basket looked much prettier!

bike sculpture

2009-03-24T01:17:00.000-07:00

We woke up this morning to find a beautiful sculpture in our garden.

Ribbon madness

2009-03-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I went to Ystad a town not too far away and visited a fabric and ribbon shop which has been owned by the same man since 1967! He was wonderful and sold me reams of beautiful ribbon from 5 decades of storage.

I think I will make headbands and cuffs for long sleeve tops. Any other ideas are welcome!

I feel special today

2009-03-20T01:32:00.000-07:00

I won an award today from the lovely Miss mack Designs. Thank you so much!

(Here are the award rules: List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love! Tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard, to remind yourself of the honor!)

7 things I currently Love

My family and friends, who I miss so very, very much
The new signs of Swedish spring appearing every day; the nearly forgotten sun, the bulbs, the migrating birds, the nests and the smiling faces staring at the sky

The 'House of Elliot'

The cat two doors down (who I got told off for playing with in the window the other day!)

My newly discovered blog world

Making and eating Grandma's pasties

My new red coat

I would like to present the award to:

The English Muse

A field journal

Record the Day

The Tea Drinking English Rose

Resurrection Fern

Katy Elliot

The Unicorn Diaries

Visit them and be awed!

Dreaming of pretty bikes

2009-03-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am more then a little obsessed with bikes at the moment as we are upgrading

ours and looking around for the 'perfect' bicycle.

I adore that in Europe the bikes are considered works of art

as well as transporters.

They are so incredibly comfortable and you can look

ever so elegant riding them.

The little red monarch below is mine.

I bought it the first day I arrived in Sweden in a second hand shop.

Her name is Mulberry and she is fabulously loyal, but I do have my eyes on something with a little more flair.

Mulberry will always be required for transporting visitors though!

Copenhagen fantasy bike

Mulberry in Baskemölla

CCopenhagen beauty

Amsterdam canal bike

Mulberry having a picnic in Simrishamn

Letter box art

2009-03-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

How can you not love a country where the people

put so much love and work into their letter boxes?

antique mania

2009-03-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

I went a bit manic at a 'loppis' shop and local antique fair on the weekend.

It wasn't my intention at all, but I just got such beautiful things

for such a great price I just couldn't stop.

I completely blame my on going obsession with House of Elliot, To the Manor Born and other English, tea drinking, silk and sequin wearing type shows.

(Also I was alone which means there was no one to explain impractical purchases to!)

Beauty and colour therapy

2009-03-13T01:57:00.000-07:00

I woke up with a cold this morning and it's still grey and cold outside,

so I was requiring some beauty, signs of spring

and colour to gaze upon.

Anna Kern's photos are perfect for the job...

What's inside?

2009-03-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

Today I was inspired by what was inside peoples bags. We lug them around the place and they can tell you so much about a person.
I googled 'inside your bag' and of course their is an entire site dedicated to what is inside peoples bags!

Here is the inside of mine today,

followed by some random others.

Whats inside yours??

Feeling French

2009-03-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

We watched Marie Antoinette again on the weekend,

I dont know if it's because of that,
or from gazing and gazing at the goreous English Muse and

The English tea drinking Rose blogs yesterday,

but I am feeling all French today!

I just love the clothes...

strumpet and pink

Cherry Blossom Girl

Not sure!

... the flowers...

Cherry Blossom Girl

...the art...

Amber- Random French Bistro

..and of course, the food and drinks...

The English Muse

Amber- Amsterdam

Amber- Epernay

Amber- Beaune

Amber- Epernay

Hmmm, I think I will have to try to get there this summer...

The beginning of a journey

2009-03-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

I was looking over photos of my travels in the past few months and

noticed an overwhelming number of road signs.

Is it because I need assurance of where I am in the world,

or is it just that they are so beautiful?

Continuation of red theme

2009-03-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

I absolutely adore this video for Nick Huggins from Melbourne band Touch Typist. The Video is directed by Genevieve Bailey and produced with Henrik Nordstrom

For the Love of Children

2009-03-06T02:55:00.000-08:00

I am really missing having children in my life at the moment.

Breakfast Blog

2009-03-05T06:08:00.000-08:00

There is something strange going on when I get a kick out

of photos of other peoples breakfasts!

I find this blog strangly intriguing.

Seeing Red

2009-03-04T01:18:00.000-08:00

I've noticed a bit of a red theme in my photos these days.

Red is for happiness, red is for good luck, red is for love.

Red was an expensive color in 17th-century France

because at the time, the dye was made from a little bug
found in Mexican cactus, the cochineal.

In some cultures, the privilege of wearing red

was reserved exclusively for the powerful...

but non-nobles broke the rules all the time,

some Japanese lined their kimonos

in the forbidden colour or even wore red underwear!

Red can be a naughty color,

think red-light districts and bordellos.

But I like red because quite simply,

it brings happiness to my days.