Still here!

Still no water pouring out his mouth!

Finally the data is over it's virus and I actually bought batteries for my camera! I usually use rechargable but for some reason they wouldn't charge. I can't believe that it is already St. Nikolaus day and that means Christmas is just around the corner! But first birthdays! Today we celebrate Emily who is 21 and farbro Roland who is 85! And the kalas is at Emily's which means I don't have to clean the house!(still have to do the food, tho, Em is an excellent cook but this is my present to her and Seb-who can eat leftovers all week!)

I just had to put in this picture of a display we had at Herresta! When we have courses we usually have lots of things on display to give ideas of what you can make in concrete.That was in May but all the candles are lite on the adventsljusstake! I'm looking forward to springs and more courses!

betong blom bord

I forgot to put in a picture of the table by itself. It is made of concrete of course! I was thinking of making another little ducky today but I have such a bad cold, can't think of doing anything. Don't have any energy at all. Time for another cup of tea.

OK, I know that I'm not been doing this blog as often as I should but it has been too depressing to even think about writing. January blues have continued on into February. Today is a super nice day and we see the SUN! How about that, and the days are getting lighter even if it still seems a long time until spring. I even took my concrete duck out for a sunbath! It feels nice and peaceful with just one kid home and that one is only into "wow", so it is quiet! ET is at volleyball as usual and MT at bandy.

The ducky is a new table I made(ok, the guest room will never be the same again, so any guests that come to visit will have to stay out at Vätö)

Here we can sit and wait for spring! It has rained so much here in the Stockholm area, the mushrooms are really growing. This is the warmest winter on record since they started keeping track of stuff like that instead of just talking about it.(over 250 years!)

2008

I Can it get grayer? It is January gray,grey gray!
Since we are still snowless(well there was some around New Years) I took a picture of a table I made last year. I had to brush off some leaves, but other than that concrete it good stuff to have outside all winter long. Think spring!

ADVENT

The 3rd candle is lit for Advent.

Yes and the cards are almost done and the packages have been sent to the US. We are real behind on baking but it is usually just me that eats it anyway so probably a good thing. It has been really cold the last few days and they are making snow like crazy over on the hill. Time to get the skates sharpened, because Norrviken should have good ice.

ADVENT

The second of Advent and 2 candles are lit.

I'm never going to be able to do all this so I will just do a little bit at a time. Today it is one week left to Christmas day, and I'm just lighting the second candle. Well the kids are not going to buy it. "What, is it Christmas already? I thought there were a few weeks left!" is not going to go over too well next week. I remember a few years ago we were opening Christmas presents on the 25th of course, and the doorbell rang and the neighbor kids asked, "what didja get?" and our kids are like we're opening now and the the neighbors say but it was Christmas yesterday! The problems of being an American set with certain American traditions in Sweden!

ADVENT

Advent has arrived and we have lit the first candle!

The days are flying by now which is nice as soon the shortest day of the year will be behind us, which is why everyone gets so worked up about Lucia and all. This is a concrete bowl with a little decoration (it's a little hard to see in the picture but it is a snowflake of concrete). Maybe it will make a little of the real stuff come down so it won't be so dark, This rain is starting to get me down. I think it's time to put some more Christmas decorations - only 3 weeks left to Julafton!

Time of get into gear!

Hearts

I really like hearts- of all kinds. This concrete heart I have decorated with mosaics from my mother-in-laws china. I really love the pattern and every time I go to an auction, garage sale or flea market I am on the look out for blue and white china(along with the stuff that I'm always on the look out for!) I'm wondering if I should leave this heart as it is, a stepping stone or make it into a table. I've made several of these type of heart tables and they are quite good as side tables. Just big enough for tea for two!

table and chairs

This set I saw at the FlyingPig on my way to Door county. I think it concrete is so much fun to work with as the possibilites are unlimited! Smooth as glass or rough as rock, all depending on the form and technique used. It is snowing outside now and it is fun to look back at pictures from the summer dream about new projects.