Christmas at home

After a looong journey back from the Caribbean, we are finally back home. We took a cab at the airport, I just didn't have the energy to get on another leg of traveling with train and bus to reach our front door. It took us a good 17 hours and 3 flights and a taxi drive to get home, but oh how sweet it is to be home.

Santa (NEVER stop believing...) was kind enough to swing by, filling up the floor space under the tree and on Christmas morning I forced myself out of bed around 8am, prepared some cardamom tea and woke the kids up to the tones of "Santa Claus is coming to town". We opened gifts and pretty much just hung out in PJ's all day. I ran 3 loads of laundry (!!!) and prepared a small version of a Christmas dinner.

It is not the same not having the man of the house around. Jay had to stay and work and it is only me and the kids this year. Once before, in 2007, I was alone as well and swore that I would never EVER spend Christmas alone again. But after our week long family vacation, spending the most fantastic time together, it worked out pretty well. I'm glad I made the effort of filling up Christmas stockings in the middle of the night, wrapping the last gifts in cross eyed jet lag mode late at night and filling the dinner table with the few essentials needed for the right Christmas spirit. Meatballs, pig feet sausage, ham and Jansson's Temptation. And some shrimp and Aunt Dolly's half egg recipe. That is all you need really. And some nice conversations and a few good laughs. Love on high level.

The weather sucks, I have to say. It feels like April. So I close the shutters and light up the candles. Nelly lets her fingers dance over the piano keys... I spray some pine tree essence around and we turn on Christmas movies. So far we've watched The Grinch, The Family Stone, The Holiday, The Santa Clause, The Polar Express and Elf - of course! I have many more favorites but it feels like I'm done with Christmas now. I look forward to the New Year, a New Start and New Adventures. 2015 has not made a big mark in my life wheel... It is a year of confusion, struggles and hard times actually... I hope 2016 will be the year when things turn around. I'm eager to move on and make things better.

Happy Christmas Holidays all. See you around spreading cheerful crochet creations, crafty ideas and sweet chats. I seem to Instagram more now during the holidays. Follow me on @myrosevalley to see what I'm up to. Welcome!

Kärlek
Annette

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Hoping for a white Christmas

As no snow is falling from the sky and no frost is near in sight, it hardly feels like Christmas is coming. Or maybe it is because of us counting down for a different Christmas adventure this year… One that will be spent in Caribbean waters under palm trees and with snorkels at hand to find Nemo. Maybe it is a combination of the two. :)

It was with certain sadness I lit the third candle this last Sunday, as Christmas used to be white where I live. The global warming and what we people are doing to this planet we live on, makes itself reminded more than ever during my favorite holiday. I wonder if we ever will have a white Christmas again...

But no need to be sad as the excitement lies high in our home even though we're lacking the snow. Never ever have I spent a Christmas away from home. Never ever have I considered doing something else during Christmas holidays. I'm just not that person. But this year we couldn't resist the once in a lifetime opportunity to break the tradition and sit ourselves on a jet plane over the Atlantic ocean. We will be back for Christmas day. And presents will be under the tree. And the Christmas carols will fill the house. We will just be a bit more sun tan while opening presents. I can't wait. And who knows? Snow might come. We can always hope for a White Christmas, right?

Kärlek
Annette

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The Swedish Christmas Market

For the second year in a row I attended the Swedish Christmas Market in Lausanne last weekend. An old colleague of my mine is in charge for the delicatessen stand and I pop in to help out. In 30 minutes we had sold 8 kilos of Swedish caviar which is the big seller in this stand. It was busy, needless to say, cutting pieces of smoked eel, warm smoked salmon and handing over cured cheeses, liver wurst, elk sausages and much more...

This market is full of Swedishness, just the way I love it, and seldom do I feel more Swedish than during this event. With my Carl Larsson apron on over a white blouse I might not look as pretty as the ladies in the wonderful folk costumes, but I still feel very Swedish and special.

And I spend money... Well, lets say you should fill your wallet big time when coming to this market. Because who can resist the cute little Santa decorations, the Swedish Pick n' Mix candy, classic stories by Swedish authors like Astrid Lindgren and Sven Nordquist, not to mention all the Swedish food specialties. Here you find the ingredients you are looking for when baking and making all those typical Swedish dishes and pastries.

And there is music. Lovely Christmas carols sung by everyone. A Lucia parade which sets the Christmas spirit right in place. There are games for the small children and a Christmas Craft Workshop. Yes this event is something special. A place to socialize and reconnect with your roots. And I'm seriously thinking of finding me one of those Folk costumes... Just for this event. They are so beautiful, aren't they.

PS Blogger is having  a grumpy day... Sorry about funny spacing and what ever... :)

Kärlek
Annette

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