Why I love the summer house

Rag rugs, old mixed with new. History meeting modern life on the old wooden floors.

Old wallpapers in old houses - LOVE!

My grand father's brother Hans was a ceramic and glass artist, painter and gardener.
He built this house in the 60's and lived here alone all his life.
He never had any children but was very well known in this area outside Stockholm in the archipelago.

Old antique wooden chairs brings beauty to the different corners of the house.
These chairs should stay rustic and worn.

I find it incredibly charming with mixed china from auctions and thrift shops.
I have my own collection at home but they are all in blue and white shades. I'll show you some day.

Sleeping facilities are simple and small but who cares when you are on vacation.
Even a small sleeping space can be a paradise to wake up in.

A nap here and a nap there. That is a part of vacation. No chores. No stress. Only some granny making, swimming,
fishing, cooking, laughing and chillin'.  Late nights with vibrant conversations with my family - pure happiness that is.

Wild flowers...

A row of cousins in different shades; dark Elyas, blond Arvid and ginger Maya.

Too many chanterelles this year... Every day a basket full of this golden mushroom.

Mushroom pasta, mushroom sauce, butter sauteed mushrooms on toast. Yum!

Old bicycles ready to take you anywhere in the barn.

My family... They are all my family. Brave people taking a dip in the 20 degree water.

Big cousin Nelly (my oldest) helping cousin Arvid (my brother's oldest...) with his shoe.

The latest addition to the family is little Axel. 4 weeks old. Arvid's little brother. Darn cute!

My oldest LOVE fishing. She has been fishing every morning, day, evening for 2 weeks straight... 
Here a little spike that we unfortunately could not save as he gulped the lure. And next to the big fish a smaller perch.

Lots of good food on big plates serving a family of at least 12 people...

My greatest and most loved treasure find this year. This neckless is making me a beauty every day now.
2 dollars in a local market. Silver it is...

Stockholm's archipelago is fantastic. Especially when Emmy dances on the dock in Grisslehamn.

We came home around midnight last night. The air was sticky like in the Mediterranean, 27 degrees celsius... totally unexpected.

I started out this day with a bare feet stroll through my garden. The stone paths were wet and cold from the nights rain (!!!), the garden is stunning in full bloom. My first attempt of planting flowers is starting to pay off and it makes me happy. The vegetable garden is full of fruit to be picked; tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, the second row of green beans, lettuce, cucumber...

I have just unpacked roughly, started a load of laundry (light colors), cuddled with Charlie the cat and moved him back into the house. We slept long, in our own beds with our own pillows and blankets. The house is clean, everything seems to have a totally different meaning after being away for two weeks. I suddenly see solutions for storage and organization instead of helpless problem zones. I feel energized.

But I have to tell you - I am so so soooo in love with our summerhouse this year! More than ever before I have noticed the beauty in the old and worn, mixed and matched, the simplicity, the rustic, the real. This years family get together was exceptionally filled with love and laughter. At times we were up to 19 people in the house. Big dinners. Baking. Swimming in the bay. We have our own little beach... Lots of fishing. Mushroom picking - WOW what a mushroom picking year!!! There were just to much of it. We had to stop. And most of all I am happily surprised to see all the cousins just instantly, within seconds, run around and play all together. Family is so special indeed.

I think we can all agree that Rosendalen (Rose Valley), the summer house, is our happy place. Next year I will aim for a 3 weeks stay there. But for now I am browsing through the photos taken, remembering every moment, every second of it. I am smiling and feeling filled up with unconditional love from my brothers, parents and friends. I want to stay on top of this wave for a while now. I have new ideas. New goals I want to set for myself, my family and my marriage. Vacation has been great and now I am happy to be back home. This is a perfect time to start something new. A habit, a change, a project... It is good to be home!

Kärlek
Annette

PS Thank you for popping in even though I haven' been here. Lovely! I'll catch up with you all soon. ♥♥♥