up, up and away

The wind has picked me up and I'm in the air once again! I am no longer unemployed. Hoorah! I say, Hoorah! Come Saturday, I'll be making crepes and blending smoothies and being cheery all day long in a cafe called LoveFood. Happy as anything, I spent my afternoon with Frankie, soaking up the sunshine that was spilling over the back wall onto my bedroom floor. I also listened began work on illustrations for a wee story I wrote last week.

oat so simple

Another day dinking about at the palace called for yet another round of baked goods. I feel I'm moving up in the baking world. Perhaps one day soon I'll be comparable to the Holy Mother of baking herself, the one and only Betty Crocker.
Today it was Havreflarn, a recommendation from the ever loving Swede I call my own. "Have-a-what?!" I hear your voices echo, and let me tell you I thought the same. That is until google informed me that these Swedish treats had nothing to do with having a flem, a yarn or a farm but rather are quick and easy to make and "taste fabulous!" They certainly were quick and easy, taking a record time of only six minutes to bake. Wow, wow, wow!

baking queen, young and sweet

I'm feeling incredibly accomplished today. I've been for a run, spoken to my Ma, cleaned my room, washed my sheets, had a play with Henry the Hoover in the living room, spent some quality time with Simon & Garfunkel and baked cinnamon buns for the one and only Celine Fourtina.
In light of all the goods I have produced in the kitchen recently I have dubbed myself The Baking Queen. I swear it's not out of vanity, neither is it an attempt to place my skills above those of my mother, but ask any one of my housemates and I'm sure they would concur and happily tell you that I'm worthy of the title. Perhaps I'll sit down and make myself a crown before the sun goes down. (I'll make one for you too Ma.)

crumpet, crump-it real hard.

Sophie and I spent all afternoon in the kitchen and were quite proud of what we achieved. We made sugar cookies and a pie with a P for Parsifal and love heart shaped crumpets. Crumpets! Utter brilliance.

where humble people go to pray

Just a plain and simple chapel where humble people go to pray is where I sang to a small but kind crowd last night. Surrounded by flames that danced around my words and around the sounds that echoed through the small church I welcomed the blessings being offered by the souls seated in front of me. It was a magical experience, one I would truly love to live again. I swayed as I sang about a man who killed an albatross, a kind soul from Sweden and the two of us waving from such great heights. It was a glorious evening, it really was. These three also graced the chapel with their beautiful tunes, I implore you to fill your ears.

Rosie May: http://soundcloud.com/rosie-may

Laura Hocking: http://laurahocking.com/

Harry Ridgeway: http://www.myspace.com/harryridgway

we spent some time together

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I think I might write a book about the past week. A children's book. For my children, and perhaps your children too. I spent it ambling through cobble stone streets, climbing haystacks, watching sunsets, stargazing by the seaside, holding hands in IKEA, walking about a small village, hiding in a secret hillside tomb, eating breakfast in bed, being stealth and sneaking into the village castle, catching wild animals, and making killer salads and heart shaped pies. All in the south of Sweden. You wouldn't believe if I didn't have the pictures to prove it, you really wouldn't. It was all things great and slightly more than amazing.

This is the library at his university. Is it not the most amazing thing you've ever seen? 

The crypt under the Cathedral 

The Cathedral in Lund, circa 1020 I think. 

The Church in his village.

His lovely abode, sauna included. 

The tomb in the hill.

Stealth. We felt like secret agents, dodging the security camera and all.

The castle!