Dreamy English Gardens

After watching another episode of House Hunter’s International, I am dreamily staring out in space pretending I had a mature, green, English garden…

So, while I was out this evening I bought some flowers bulbs that are hopefully going bloom together with some of the tulips from previous years.

To join artichokes, rhubarb, grapes, and hops in the garden I bought roots of Strawberry Superstars and Yellow Onions. As seeds I bought cat grass and carrots as I don’t know any other way than using seeds to grow carrots.

Can’t wait to see what these plants and bulbs will become.

New Job Perhaps

There are tough days for every one when there isn’t enough full-time positions on the job market. For quite some time I’ve had a rolling schedule with three different jobs, and it has been working better than I anticipated. Yesterday I interviewed for another school district for a position as a Sub. Teacher (Elementary+Middle School), as my current/soon to be previous district hasn’t been able to supply many of us Subs with enough hours. Talking to other Subs from the ’old’ district gave the same feeling, and it’s not fair to have to stay at home by the phone and almost compete with 100 other subs for about 5 jobs per week. Yesterday was finger printing and background check (which I’ve done before and will comeback clean), so now it’s just a waiting period to see if the new district will accept me. Until then, I’m continuing my job as an Instructional Aide and Tutor (own business), and I really enjoy them both. If I could do full-time tutoring through my business I would accept it in a second. I really enjoy it.

Now off to get a physical, and then to the gym.

Snuggle

Some mornings are rather spent in bed. It is so hard to wake up when you have a warm, tired looking, snuggly cat pushing up against you in bed.

The picture speaks for itself.

Spring Is In The Air… Already

Routines are back to normal here; parents are no longer visiting us, we are again a two people + two cat household, the weekly schedule includes grocery shopping for two people and planning some days meals in advance, and work of course. First pay check after the holidays will come in this week, and I’m very pleased about that.

Last Wednesday we drove my parents to the airport, but not before we did our best effort trying to close their suitcases and putting on the new fun address tags I bought them for Christmas.

The two tags were both purchased at our regular CVS store. They almost anything you need at any time, and this little things were perfect to wrap in paper as gifts. I’m leaning on buying the same one for myself as I bought for my mom. Every girl needs it.

All Christmas decor is taken down and been put away in bins and boxes, and this year I had to get a new plastic bin from Target to be able to get everything in one place, instead of being scattered throughout the closet.

The day before my parents went back to Sweden, the three of us went down to Target for some last-minute shopping and lucky me found the perfect chair, in the perfect color, to have on the front porch.

All of Target’s spring colors are my favorites! It’s like Target has ‘targeted’ me this spring and summer. Just visit their outdoor section and you’ll see.

 

 

 

 

Nrgize Lifestyle

Oh my god, I so love running on the treadmill. In two days I’ve spent 4 hours at the gym, and today I even tried the swimming pool. I’m going back tomorrow again, as I figured I should try to be there when I am not too tired from working separate shifts, or spend some time there when the husband is working his looong shifts.

The pool consisted of myself, and two older women practicing their water-aerobic and doing some light swimming, so the three lanes were perfect for us. One each, it couldn’t be better.

Hopefully I will still like working-out when times and schedules get going and that I keep on going. I know I am all hopped up on endorphins and adrenaline right now, but so far so good. I am going over again tomorrow, and on Monday morning I’ll have a “welcome practice test + BMI check” as complimentary. All interesting stuff. I am trying to watch other people at the weight equipment while I am running to know how to use different stuff. That’s what always scares me about gyms, that I am going to do something wrong and weights are falling everywhere. Haha!

They are offering many different classes like, Zumba, spinning, well anything you want really, and there are no sign-up sheets. Just go in and join what ever cardio-class that is going on. For those who want to can buy healthy drinks and snacks in the juice bar. Haven’t tried it yet, but I all looks darn yummy.

Endorphins and men with canes

Tired body but with a mind hight on endorphins.  I’m officially a member at LA Fitness, and I had such a good time visiting the gym today.  I forgot how much a liked it, and the big plus is the pool.  The gym is never crowded, and has aaaalll types of people: muscle mountains in tank tops way too big, retirees with canes who work out in jeans, teenagers who read People magazine while running… you name it.  I enjoy the diversity of people at the gym, the monthly price for using all the different facilities, the nice staff, good location to hit between jobs (as I have a big gap between two shifts), and the pool.

As a complimentary addition to my new membership I am going to train with a PT (personal trainer) tomorrow afternoon, and it will be interesting to see what type of exercises he is going to show me.

On the other hand, when it comes to goals regarding my training I can’t really put my finger on it. What is it that I want with my training?

To get back into pushing my body like I used to do in high-school through different sports, but not as tough as then. See how far I can take it. How much the body remembers from the time when I was doing handball and athletics 9 hours a week. We’ll see how this will go, I’m just glad I dared to go back to the gym :).

Best sport in the world!

Nuuk under winter cover

My parents are flying over Nuuk as I’m typing, and hopefully the pilot tells them what he told us the last time we flew over, “Roll up your blinds, and obeserve the only lights shing in Greenland, that’s the city of Nuuk. The rest is only ice and snow”.

It is always amazing to fly over Greenland, press your nose towards the window and chat about the amazement with other passangers.

Greenland is one part of the world that is on our list of places to visit. Probably in the summer, to be able to hike and not freeze too much. In the summer it looks like Spring in Sweden, which I am very acustomed to.

 

Happy New, Hot Water, 2012!

Christmas has gone by as well as New Years Eve, and this is now my first post of the new year 2012. Wow, the time has gone so fast and I can’t even believe that it was 11 years ago I graduated from high school, or that I met my love 7 1/2 years ago, or that we are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this Thursday. I guess time always fly by when you are having fun.

New Years Buffet: Pork Tenderloin, potato gratin, béarnaise sauce, salad with tomato and persimmons, plus small Trader Joes pies with ham/cheese and mozzarella/carmelized onions. Champagne, beer, or wine. Oh, and I finally got to use my new, white plate I bought at last year’s after-christmas-sale to put the pies on.

My parents have been here for 4 weeks, but I wish I could stop time and have them here for many, many more weeks as we have so much fun together.

Oh, almost forgot. While counting down the seconds to the new year our water heater really broke down and we had to turn of the hot water until the following day, buy a new water heater, install it, and finally have some warm water again. Thanks our night-guests over new years the water heater was installed properly and we are very grateful for that.

Yeah. I know. It’s embarrassing. It turned out to be 21 years old. We have been here for only 11. I always called it our ‘Crystal Cave’, but the new one is so not!

Happy New, hot water, 2012!

 

Update! Update!

Roof is up, and as we speak new paper and shingles are being hammered onto the wood boards.

A bit of a Swedish touch on the top of the roof, just underneath the plywood board. And for those who know how low the roof was earlier; everything is raised up, so no more bumping heads or bending down when going outside. Yay!

I am extremely happy with what have been accomplished so far, and I can’t wait for everything to be done. Other projects around the house are planned, but they are on the smaller side, so I can start with them by myself.

Happy Holidays from all of us in California to all of you!

Roof Crashing & Other Projects

Long time, no see!

Even though I am still working and patiently waiting for my two week school break it kinda feels like vacation time for me. Parents are here, Christmas decoration is in full blast, presents are being purchased, and outdoor porch remodelling is taking place. As everytime they are here, we are always trying to get something removated on the house as ‘daddy’ is a contractor. Great to have one of those in the family.

…to be continued.