ROTVÄLTA

Forest in Södermanland, October 2011.
IMAGE: ANDERS MOHLIN VIA FLICKR

TAKE A WALK ON THE WHITE SIDE

Karlavägen, Stockholm 1922.
IMAGE: SWEDISH NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

FEEL LIKE BANQUETTING MUCH?

Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to Laureates at ceremonies on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, the 10th of December. The official webpage of the Nobel foundation is wonderfully comprehensive, with everything from educational games to science documentaries to live webcasts of the awards.

Most commissions for the banquet,  from Swedish suppliers, are available commercially as well. A bit on the pricey side for every day use, but great souvenirs for the design oriented. Beats a plastic viking helmet.

Table linen Nobel from Klässbols by Ingrid Dessau
Tableware Nobel from Rörstrand by Karin Björkqvist
Silverware Nobel from Gense by Gunnar Cyrén
Stemware Nobel from Orrefors by Gunnar Cyrén

Other ways to sample the event: Visit the Nobel Museum. Take a virtual tour of the City Hall. Enjoy the Nobel menu of previous anno at The City hall restaurant, Stadshuskällaren. Your cheat sheet to the event from Sweden.se
IMAGE: GENSE.SE

CAN'T BE NORMAL

I think it's ridiculous to be homesick, and pathetic to be nostalgic. Let's live in the here and now and dig where we stand! Unless you come from Stockholm, of course. Then we understand the agony of separation.  I was there just two months ago and yet I'm feeling tugs at my heart when I see images of it. Is there a diagnosis for people like me? Can this be cured?
IMAGE: MORRI_GAN VIA FLICKR 

YOUR GUIDE TO YULETIDE STUFFING

An excellent summary of Swedish Christmas foods by Sivert Sidebo, Scanorama.

"Unlike the Americans, Scandinavians don't eat turkey for Christmas. Instead they serve a beautifully decorated large smorgasbord, a julbord or julebord.

The idea is to eat just a little of everything because there is always more food than you have anticipated. Most Scandinavians have made the mistake of eating too much on the first round.

The first course should be filled with different kinds of herring (mustard, arlic, or onion-pickled), other fish, often salmon (smoked, pickled, cooked or peppered), caviar, boiled eggs and potatos [sic]. Many people like to have a schnapps to go with this first course. There are also those who want some schnapps with every course.

The second course should be a plate of cold cuts like patés, smoked and cooked ham, sausages, deer, turkey, goose, and lamb ribs.

The third course is the warm one. You can fill it with brown beans, small sausages, meatballs, boiled lutefisk, potato and anchovy gratin or red and browned cabbage. Are you full yet? If not, take a fourth course of rice pudding, accompanied by either cinnamon, sugar and milk, or with fruit sauce.

For your fifth course, try some different kinds of cheeses. Camembert, blue cheese, whisky cheddar, edam or perhaps some brie. The sixth course is dessert. Come on, you can down some chocolate cake, lemon or raspberry mousse, créme caramel, gingerbread cookies, crullers, or almond tarts with strawberry jam and whipped cream.

Last but not least is the seventh course, the goodie plate. Bananas, small citrus fruits, apples, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, walnuts, jelly beans, rapberry and licorice gum drops, arrack pralines.

Now that you are pleased and content you can join the dances and games around the Christmas tree. Or take our advice: just sit back and relax."

Published with permission from Swedish inflight magazine Scanorama. 
IMAGE: IKEA ON FACEBOOK

UNDERNEATH A CHESTNUT TREE

If there is one thing I miss in the North during fall, it is chestnut trees. Today, this old knuckly tree is where we're heading after a stroll through the old town in Stockholm and visiting the Nobel museum.
IMAGE: JAF-PHOTO VIA FLICKR

I LOVE MY HOME TOWN

Stockholm City, this afternoon.
PHOTO BY AUGUST LINNMAN

SAREK

Sunrise in Rapadalen two weeks ago.
IMAGE: PHOTO BY ANDRÉ SPICA VIA FLICKR

NORRMALM

Stockholm on the 3rd of February. See more every day images from Stockholm at Hanna's blog Stockholmsbild.
IMAGE: HANNA LINDGREN VIA FLICKR

WINTER PARK

Djurgården, Stockholm Date unknown
IMAGE: PHOTO BY CARL CURMAN, SWEDISH NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD, PUBLIC DOMAIN

A LITTLE HOMESICK FOR STOCKHOLM

Stockholm, in the winter of 1957.
IMAGE: STOCKHOLM TRANSPORT MUSEUM

HEAR THEM BELLS

If you haven't already done so, plan a visit to a church this christmas. Pictured here is Garpenberg Miners' Chapel in Dalarna ca 1900. The chapel was constructed in the beginning of the 17th century.
IMAGE: PHOTOGRAPHER THORVALD GEHRMAN, SWEDISH NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD, PUBLIC DOMAIN

UPPSALA 1901

Most days I look out over the sea and the surrounding spectacular mountains and can't imagine how I will ever be able to live without such dramatic beauty again. But the last week I've longed for old houses with detailed architecture, narrow streets, old brick churches and parks. Such were the cities I grew up in, and it's hard to feel truly at home without them.
IMAGE: UPPLANDSMUSEET, PUBLIC DOMAIN

SLEET & SLÄNG

As much as we all prefer the idyllic white christmas, the truth is that gray skies and sleet is a pretty common winter reality in many parts of Scandinavia as well. Apparently even here in the very north. 
Stureplan, Stockholm, December 1948
IMAGE: STOCKHOLMS SPÅRVÄGSMUSEUM