#LOCKDOWNDAY28

Today is day 28 of the Corona Virus Lockdown. Started to feel locked in...even though we are allowed to take long walks everyday and I live in a very beautiful area with lots of accessible walks and paths in the stunning Brecon Beacon National Park and the Black Mountains. Trying to stay sane and healthy be eating well, walking and keeping busy with housework and gardening and a bit of my own work. It is hard to stay in a good mood every day when you sort of live like there is no tomorrow. Nothing to look forward to. Trying to make the week normal by having a boring, normal Monday and Tuesday and then slowly get into weekend mood by Wednesday and Thursday...I keep thinking of the Frank family in Amsterdam during World War II who were locked away in silence and darkness for two years...

At the same time in nature life goes on as normal. Saw some wild garlic yesterday on our daily walk. Unfortunately not enough to pick.

In Sweden we talk about the time between the flowering of the Birds Cherry and the Lilacs. Meaning the hight of spring. These days with the global warming (minimally slowing down now due to lockdown)in Sweden the Birds Cherry and the Lilacs have been in bloom at the same time. But this spring here in Abergavenny we have had the time "mellan Hägg och Syrén".

Trying to keep some beauty indoors as well! More soon from me in lockdown.

#LOCKDOWNWEEK4 #THURSDAY #BIRTHDAYBOY ETC

Today 22 years ago it was a rainy windy day and Hugo decided it was time to announce his arrival. I was "looking forward" to natural birth but it did not go according to plan (like a lot of things in life) and he was delivered at 8 pm by caesarean section at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Hugo loves sticky chocolate cake. Made one and decorated with rasberries. Yes, there is 22 candles on the cake.

Went for a walk and did some weekend shopping as well. Walked to our local and lovely garden "Linda Vista" where the Rhododendron just started flowering. You really notice what goes on around you more during the lockdown. Nothing bad that does not bring some good, as my mother use to say. Talking about my mother, she passed away 20 years ago so did not have to live through the corona virus and the deceit from my younger sister. Family matters seems to come to mind during these difficult times. Unfortunately mine has good and bad bits. It takes a lot of patience and love to be so close to your loved ones 24/7. But so far so good!

Gardening is one good activity, keeps you sane, gives you pleasure and lasts... Ranunculus are a favourite flower of mine.

Spring is here with daffodils etc. This is part of one of our lockdown walks that takes us through the Abergavenny Cemetery.

Our garden is taking shape. This is our little courtyard just outside the kitchen. Perfect for breakfast and fika. Bench by John Reeves for Heals. Foldable table and chairs from Clas Ohlson. Green table with an upside down flowerpot as base by Jonas Bohlin. It was made for a pop up cafe during the Stockholm Furniture Fair in 1990?

Keep safe, the rainbow was created by a English lady who wanted to engage her daughter during lockdown! Now it has become an international symbol for "keep safe" during the coronaviruspandemi.

I always loved this flower. In Sweden we call them "Mormors glasögon", grandmothers glasses (spectacles). Here in the UK they are called cat´s eye. Linda Vista Garden, Abergavenny.

Abergavenny got it´s own vineyard. Sugarloaf Vineyards. Just sprouting. They also have a nice cafe/winetasting venue. Unfortunately closed during lockdown like everything else..

The vineyard is situated in a lovely spot at the foot of the Sugar Loaf mountain.

Some black humour in the window display at one of the local hairdressers!

The bluebells are coming out. Not the best area for them around here but some are around.

And that´s all for now. I am trying to keep the spirit up by smiling...soon it´s time for champagne to celebrate my son´s birthday. A good excuse for a party...

#EASTERAQUAVIT AND #EASTERDECORATIONS #SWEDISHSTYLE

It is Easter and Lockdown week 3! Even more reason to make this holiday an extra good one. I infused some Vodka with spices etc to go with the eggs (boiled) and herring. Schnaps for Easter! Swedish way. Here is what I used this year. Mandarin peel,  1 table spoon cummin seeds and one vanilla pod with 33 cl of vodka. In a bottle of 20 cl I put 10 rasberries. In the small bottles (5 cl) one strawberry and a mix of cucumber and lemon peel. Let infuse in sunlight for at least one day. Will keep for a long time, at least until midsummer. Freeze before serving. Drain of the fruit and spices after a couple of days.

We would normally be in our summer house in Sweden for Easter and I take in some birch branches and dress with feathers and egg decorations. Fortunately I have some egg decorations in stock (from Ikea ages ago) so during one of our Lockdown walks we cut some branches and took in! Now on our mantelpiece in our dayroom! 

These decorative and simple wooden eggs in different colours I got at Ikea for over 20 years ago. Why don´t they still make them?

In our new dining room (which is a pass through room with an indoor window) the branch is bigger and the colourway from yellow to green and blue! HAPPY EASTER!

#LOCKDOWN2020 END OF #WEEK2 START OF WEEK 3

We are so lucky it these lockdown days being surrounded by natural beauty. The Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal and Black Mountains. We are taking a long walk a day around our hometown of Abergavenny. Last night this was part of Mondays walk.

The walk takes us around part of the canal, once used to carry the "harvest" from the local mines down the mountain. (Brecon Monmouthshire Canal). Today the canal is only used for recreational longboats etc.

The Rosemary bushes are in flower in our lovely local garden "Linda Vista Garden".

All the flowers is coming out. Love this type of Forget Me Not.

Not a person in sight. People here in Abergavenny is keeping the distance. Just heard from a friend in London that it is not happening there and that the police has to interfere...I have been reading the Swedish DN (Daily News/The Times) and I am worried about their very narrow reporting from the UK. It is all about London and does not represent what is happening on this highly populated island(s). I have so fare experienced very high moral and common sense from the British so far. The UK is one big village (meaning more villages than citys). The London (like New York, Paris, Stockholm) are not to be made examples of a whole country. I am postively surprised on how well shops, the NHS, and people are coping. All very organized and calm (so far). 

This pub by the river Usk (Llanfoist) just started to recover from flooding a month ago. What a year! Now closed of course!

Waitrose carpark, normally full on a Sunday morning. Yes, it is open!

Yes, the UK is the land of gardens and gardening. This one in Llanfoist is full of nomes, ducks, etc. On the brink of being OTT but just lovely!

Double colour flowers. Spring is not in Lockdown.

The river Gavenny also runs through our town.

I normally cook a lot but this last two week more attention has been made into making everyday more glamorous. I made some red thai curry paste, enough for more than meal. So now we have some extra in the freezer.

Flowers is important to liven up the home when you have to spend more time indoors. Little stillifes around the house are what you need.

Love this time of year when tulips are in season. Mixed colours give extra energy. Vase by Ingegerd Råman for Reijmyre Glasbruk, Sweden. More soon from Abergavenny, Wales, UK.

#LOCKDOWN #APRILFOOL #GARLICOIL #MUESLI #CELERIACREMOULADE etc

A very empty car park otherwise always full...outside Morrisons (supermarket). Long queues outside with 2 meters distance between shopper and barricades to help with that...today the death toll took a big jump. We have still a lot to come...

This blog should have been published yesterday but something went wrong. We went for another long walk and passed the leisure centre and it´s football pitch. Empty of course in spite of a dog walker who had it all to himself. The Blorenge in the background as beautiful as ever. The only April fool joke I saw here in Abergavenny yesterday was that someone offered to be a manual (driven) ferry across the river Usk since there is only one bridge over here in Abergavenny and due to the corona virus we need to keep a distance. Joke aside, really not a bad idea at all.

We have been walking around Abergavenny town and really explored our new hometown. A lot of closed doors now. I really liked this door since we will have to change our front door soon and need some light to come through it...

We have been trying to cook really nice dinners since the outbreak and lockdown. This is lamb meatballs. I usually make my own but Waitrose (upmarket supermarket here in the UK) had a special offer that we could not resist. More minty than mine but my husband made a lovely tomato sauce with garlic and a bit of chili to go with it. Penne suited the dish well. Very tasty.

I normally make my own muesli, this week it became more important than ever. Roast oats with other seeds, like quinoa, sesame etc, and chopped nuts for about 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius (normal oven). Cool down and mix with dried fruits of your choice. Crispy and delicate for your breakfast yogurt.

It was time to make a new bottle of garlic oil. Chop some fresh garlic cloves (skin off, put in a clean bottle and top up with olive oil. Leave from a couple or days or more, preferably in the window sill where the infusion will go faster due to the warmth from the sunshine. Use were you want to add a garlicky taste to your food, salad or vegetables. Easy peasy!

Made some Celeriac Remoulade for a starter yesterday! Cut the celeriac into long thin strips. Cook in salted water for 3 minutes. Mix mayo with garlic and a touch of french mustard. Mix with the cooled down celeriac. Serve with some parsley on top. More tomorrow from lockdown week two here in Abergavenny, Wales, UK.