Fermented fish, yummy

Clear and sunny again in Forsen, and today our friends from Älvdalen are here.

We pack a picnic basket and start out on the trail. There has been a lot of logging around our area this winter, and I hardly recognize where we are. Before, this trail went through thick forest like a tunnel, but now you have a clear view for ever and ever. The magic's gone.

We unpack the coffee and cardamom buns at lake Kollsjön.

We've brought a GeoCoin from Cyprus to place here.

Naturally we have one of our caches at this perfect spot. It's the fake bird nestingbox.

Then we admire the scenery.

Home again it's time for a traditional feast of fermented fish, a delicacy in the north of Sweden. All the traditional accessories are on the table; finely chopped onion, creme fraiche, flat crispy bread, a well matured cheese, new potatoes, tomatoes. And of course a little snapps. Home made 12 years ago with special herbs.

At Danderyd's Hospital

.This is the 21st August, exactly one month after the previous happy pictures. Birgitta and I are trying to make mum eat a little blueberry soup.

Afterwards we got some coffee and cake that Gunnar brought us.

Mum

This is 21st July when Sara and I visited mum. It was an unusually good day. I have talked about it earlier and now here are the pictures. They were taken with a phone and the quality is not very good.

They had rolled her hair quite hard, so we removed the rollers and combed her hair that was already dry.

Then Sara helped feed her food and drink.

A day full of good memories.

Älvdalen

From Wednesday we're looking after Conny's dogs, Humlan and Kolan, two 1 year old female Golden Retrievers. Lovely, soft and quiet girls except when you put on their leash, then they become absolutely wild, almost pulling your arm out of the socket!

The day before yesterday we took them on a trip to see some friends in Älvdalen.
Karin

and Björn

The sun was shining and the air was clear. A perfect day for a trip to a waterfall some distance out of the village.

We started with a walk.

In among the trees. There were a lot of blueberries.

Afterwards the dogs relaxed in their cage

while we eat the picnic that Karin had packed.

While we sat there this huge lorry came thundering by. Had it been just a little wider, if would surely have got stuck on the bridge.

This little waterfall is called Rakkbekk, which means "dog-stream" in the local language, not Swedish that is.

We also stopped at their summer house.

There's a beautiful church in Älvdalen.

And this is where Karin and Björn live. We were treated to a lovely fish soup with vegetables from their own garden, and a yummy cake with fresh blueberries and cream for afters.

At home in Forsen we put the dogs on long ropes so they could run around and play. They had been so good all day in the car.

Thank you for a lovely day!

A visit to Falun

At the beginning of the week we visited Falun. The imposing church stands in the middle of town.

The main square and streets were decorated with goats in different colours and patterns.

An owl looks out at the passers by.

Falun is quite a pretty town with a slow stream meandering through.

And there's some interesting architecture.

Back in Leksand we went to Gropen where there was a motor meet. They congregate here every first Tuesday of the month during the summer.

When we were little we had one of these, Opel Kapitän. I got quite nostalgic.

One enthusiast had brought his old gramophone and a "TV thermos".

This VW-bus looks mean. Notice the cartridge-belt on the bumper!

Two pretty Citroen.

Well, why not?

I wonder what make this was.....

This number plate would look just right on my Ford.

Not only cars were on display. This old motorbike is dated 1917, if memory serves.

A lot of people had brought picnic tables and coffee as well as their treasures.

Back to Dalecarlia

 We're leaving Stockholm after a quick visit to use the washing machine. Gunnar's waiting for the lift with all the laundry.

 We stopped off in Västerås where Gertrud treated us to a tasty meal.

Reino has recently had his birthday and we bought him, what we thought would be a perfect book. It's called "Ved" which means wood. He's passionately fond of cutting fire wood. Unfortunately, we were not alone in thinking this. This was the third copy he'd been presented with!

 Gunnar's climbing aboard their boat that's anchored just outside their house.

The boat's name is Linus.

Here we all are at dinner:

 Magdalena, always happy and bubbly

Alf, camera shy

Anja

and Johan

and their Vera. Her little sister Ester was impossible to photograph, she was forever hiding.

And the head of the family himself.