Axel's 34th

We celebrate Axel's 34th birthday last week.  The beautiful ash berries made a wonderful center piece.  Fish soup and bread were served with cake for dessert.  Saga has started to go to pre-school/daycare for 15 hours a week.  It's just to slowly transition her into the whole"school system" way of things.  She seems to be enjoying it, and I have to admit, it's nice to have a little time for just Sixten.  We are starting the countdown to Michelle and Luke's arrival.  They will be staying with us for 5 weeks helping out with the caviar fishing.  SO EXCITED!  Moose hunting starts this week too.  I'm heading outside to enjoy the break in the rainy weather.  I see sun and need to soak some of it up. 

The New TV Room

These past few weeks we've been busy transforming our storage shed into a cozy tv/movie room.  All it needs now is a little wood stove to warm it up and we'll be good to go all year long.

I saw this sofa, which pulls out to make room for a mattress, in Axel's Grandma's neighbor's storage unit.  Thought it was great and the lady was trying to get rid of it.  New material on the pad and a good wash led to a really cute couch.

Axel spend Sunday building this DVD stand out of birch trees. Love it!

I painting the corner cabinet white a few years ago and the table is from my in-laws attic.  The theme of the room is old paint peeling furniture.  Just what I wanted.

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Saga enjoying some time with little cousin Liwia.

Sixten on his new tractor.

A tired and happy mama through the eyes of a lens.

Saga is so sweet and pushes Sixten on the tractor.  He can't peddle it yet.

Thanks grandma and grandpa for the tractor. He fell asleep with it soon after opening

Can you find the little girl way up in the tree.  She climbs up all by herself and goes amazingly high

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Sixten and his birthday cake.  What a wonderful little boy we have.

Chuggin Right Along

Summer seems to be just flying by, and we still haven't gotten any real warm streak of weather.  Many animals are found and taken care of, the hens eggs are collected, we jump in the water as soon as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.  Summer days are great everything else takes a back seat to being outside.  Today on the other hand we are inside due to damp weather, perfect for a little blog post.  Enjoy our pictures.  More to come of our newest little cousin who is here visiting.

Another day, another toad!

He was so cute cuddled up under the blanket. 

 Mid-Summer Celebration in Brändön.  Here you can see Sixten, Farmor, Saga and I getting ready to dance around the mid summer pole.

 A beautiful rainbow that we followed all the way home in the car only to find it right over our house, Amazing!

Saga loves to paint her face as an Indian. She is very creative and even came out of the bathroom with red "blood" on her teeth.

 

Sixten on mid-summer evening.

The First Summer Flowers

I made a crown of flowers for Saga yesterday.  She was so sweet wearing it.  Sixten got to try it on as well.  The last picture is so funny.  He wasn't sad at all about the flowers, it was something else entirely but it makes for a good story.  Yes, he still wants to wear the pink ballet outfit everyday ;)

Happenings in These Parts

My egg gathers with three eggs from yesterday.  The hens seem to like their new home but need another nesting box. At night they all cram into the one box you see below.  It's rather comical.

Axel build this for the 4 hens and one rooster.  They need a bit more protecting when it's windy so we are adding things to it everyday.  Today we looked out the window and the rooster had escaped.  New netting added to the top, we live and learn.

The boat is finally in the water and getting ready for some fishing this week. Axel worked on it all winter, totally redoing it.  It looks awesome with a new motor and all :)

I've come upon 2 bird's nests the last week.  I just feel awful when I have to move them only to see the birds don't come back.  This one was under a tarp that I picked up.  I guess at this time of the year it's important to look under things before moving them.  Another lesson learned.

I've taken it upon myself to stack all of our wood for next winter.  It's rather enjoyable actually.  This is were the first bird's nest was found.  I would have been a nice spot if the we wanted the wood to sit on the grass in  a bit pile all summer.

The Hens Have Arrived

Yesterday we drove to pick up the hens.  They look a little ruff around the edges but hopefully a little fresh air, grass and some loving care with turn them into beautiful egg layers.  This morning we had two eggs that Saga and Sixten ate for breakfast.  Sunday was Swedish Mother's Day so we had the family over for dinner.  Below is a picture of Saga and Sixten's Great Grandma who came and spent the day with us.