Ordering food over the internet?

This past week we tried "matsmart.se" to buy discount food.  Interesting idea, and here are the pros and cons. 

Pros:  

Food to your door at a good price

Kids think it is awesome to get a package and open everything

They actually sell some things that I haven't seen in local stores

 Cons: 

Some things were so "cheap" because they were actually the smaller size of what we normally buy at the store....like that mini-box of cereal and the almost empty bag of dried cherries. 

They call things a discount, but they are based on the high end stores' normal price, so a bit of sensibility is needed to realize if it is truly a discount. 

Some of the food is almost expired, thus the lower price.  Some things are not bothered by their expiration date, others go a bit weird...

I realize afterwards that I tended to buy things that looked tasty, compared to buying at a store based on a shopping list....like that chocolate, cookies, etc...

Will I do it again, absolutely! 

Three new "accomplishments" that are all still works in progress:

1. Sourdough bread....mmmm

 2.  Croissants, a lot of work!

 3.  Homemade mozzarella and queso fresco, also a lot of work, but fun!

What's so special about Swedish cuisine? 

Well, Blueberry soup, to start with.  How do you even drink this? Warm?  With whipped cream on top?  I dont know, but a cold glass of the stuff is quite all right with us.  The kids want to try making ice cream out of it, we'll see how that goes! 

Vem skulle gissa att blåbärs soppa är så gott? 

Kulturskolan

Our daughter LOVES kulturskolan... or in English, "Culture school." 

This program is in our part of town and focuses on helping kids get into music instead of growing up on the streets. 

Imagine, what a joy it must be to see a kid learn to play an instrument and read music and be in a little orchestra instead of learning to assault and throw stones at the local bus or metro coming by...

A kid who realizes that they CAN achieve at something, even something like hiphop dancing, singing, playing a drum, whatever....it goes a long way for kids!

So yes, our daughter loves kulturskolan, and soon our son will be joining the fun too. 

In a year's time, Lydia has gone from playing two little notes on a trumpet to being able to read music and play (within a certain range) many basic songs, including her two christmas favorites, "Nu tandas tusen juleljus" and Jingle Bells. 

If you are ever over for a visit, we have an eager trumpet player here!

It's starting to get cold...last week this was water, this week it was ice.  

(and now back above freezing...)

Where we live....

I

 

We are in Sweden, but this sign nearby is obviously focused on Arabic speakers. Feels like Tunisia again!

Finally a schoolgirl!

Lydia has just started going to school, and here are the results after her first few days of class:

1. About her school lunches:  Mamma, we go to a restaurant every day but don't have to pay, so you and dad can save your money to buy a house instead.
2. About being worn out from a long (half) day of school:  Mamma, can you please put me to bed way earlier tonight, so I am not tired for school tomorrow? 
3. About the mandatory short church service with a child focused mini sermon (it is a Lutheran school), "Mamma, I already went to church this week, so i guess i dont have to go on Sunday anymore."
4. When asked what she thinks about her two teachers, she said, "They are both very pretty so I like them equally."
5. Our girl who wasnt particularly interested in how she dressed is now very particular about looking nice for school. 
6. About raising your hand in class,"Mamma, dont worry, you dont have to raise your hand at home, that is just for school kids." 
7. And today, she was looking at something on my dry erase board and read it by herself after sounding out the letters!
8. She is also a lot more snuggly with the time we have together, and i like that!

9. 

   playground (with Markus wishing he was a schoolboy too!)

   
   

   

   First day in "chapel"

   
   

   

   Opening song
   

   
   
   
   
   

   

   First day of class
   

Lots of snuggles

Matjesilltårta, or "pickled herring cheesecake"

I was trying to explain this Swedish phenomena to my mom a day or two ago.


Let's just set the scene:  It is midsommar, a big holiday in Sweden celebrating the middle of the summer.  Lots of odd things happen every year around this day, including a bunch of adults and children singing and mimicking frogs, a dance around a phallic symbol, and of course, the pickled herring cheesecake.   Lots of sweet things too, like woven flower crowns, good cheer, people singing folk songs together, and the longest day of the year!

A nice savory herring cake, that looks suspiciously like a cheesecake until you take your first bite.

Rye bread crumb crust,

cream cheese and onions, pickled herring bits, and horseradish filling.

Mmmmm.



This newspaper even translated the recipe for you, just in case you want to try it. (It's actually quite good!)

http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/food/4648/

beskära ett äppelträd, pruning an apple tree

This post is for Monica Norén, who got an apple tree as a present, and is ready to prune!

March/April is the ideal time to start pruning!

Den har sidan visar klart med bilder hur man ska göra... http://www.blomsterlandet.se/Tips-och-artiklar/Tips-och-artiklar/Tradgard/Frukttrad/Apple/Beskarning-Av-Appeltrad/

 De har siderna är också mycket bra med alla detaljer!
http://clindmark.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/dags-att-beskara-appletrad/

http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2011/05/01/beskarning-av-appeltrad

6 Years!

Here are a few photos from our 6 year anniversary...we went back to the ocean boardwalk where we had one of our first "Swedish" dates before we were even engaged, in Varberg. 

Of course, 2 kids and one on the way later....

 

A long walk on the boardwalk, mini-golf, chinese food, jumping in the ocean a few times, and a lot of relaxing!

Here we are at the same beach, 7 years ago....

Happy Anniversary, Daniel Norén!

Liseberg with Farmor!

Farmor joined us for a day at the local amusement park, Liseberg.  

What's so special about Liseberg, you might ask?

They have kids theater shows starring these fuzzy guys:

(and some candy from Farmor seals the deal here....all that chewing makes it hard to smile).

 These rabbits get hugged by hundreds, thousands of kiddos every day, Lydia included! (Markus is not so sure about them).

 They have plenty of kid friendly rides...this one was a slow ride over the kids land....

 (I especially like the mossy roofs, and the little water canal that you can ride a boat on below).

 And of course, Liseberg would not be complete without sagoslottet (fairy tale castle).  This high tech wonder boasts fairy tales like a naked fat man (The Emporers new clothes), kids using swords (peter pan), and more!

Here are some photos of Sagoslottet in all it's glory (not bad for something made in 1968!)

The daily adventure...

Rasberries can sweeten any day, and right now they are growing in abundance around us.  

It is difficult NOT to stop and pick a few as we go by!

But Lydia has shown surprising patience in picking them and saving them for later. 

 This book, a gift many years ago to Hannah from our relatives in Maine, has definitely had it's influence.

Here are some things Lydia has said about rasberry picking (that relate to this book):
We better take them home and can them so we have some food for the winter!
Kerplink, Kerplank, Kerplunk (Sound of berries dropping in the bucket).
"One for the bucket, one for my mouth, one for the bucket..."

This girl, she's got lots of plans for her rasberries....rasberry juice, rasberry ice cream, rasberries for pappa....  (And here is a glimpse of some rasberry juice making, which was later translated into rasberry ice cream).

 Hats on, smiles on, watch out for thistles and nestles!

 And Markus definitely has figured out how to get his fill of rasberries that make their way to his tummy.  (I have stopped watching everything he puts in his mouth, so there is no doubt some green rasberries or even a little critter hiding inside have also been eaten!)

Out to the islands....

Going to the beach is not quite as warm of an experience as it was in Mississippi!  

Take your jackets, and if you dare, jump into the icewater!

 Farmor had a lot of fun with her grandkiddos.