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Joy On Purpose: The Fox Diaries

Don't Forget!

Today is the last day to enter the Little Acorn Learning Giveaway. It's open until 8 pm EST tonight. Please leave your comment here.

 

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog post.......

A little over a year ago I looked out my office window to see a mother fox with her 4 baby fox kits. It was one of the most magical moments of my life. I immediately got my camera and spent the next several weeks in my front yard and garden observing and interacting with these gorgeous creatures.

 

Each Thursday I shared a little bit of each week and what it had held here on the blog under the category of "The Fox Diaries". The foxes didn't return this year and I still look out my window everyday expecting to see them.

 

They're with me though in another way.

 I haven't been as active as usual on my blog and it's for a good reason. I've been writing and editing my new book "The Fox Diaries: The year the foxes came to our garden" published by Audrey Press.

 

It has been a life long dream to write a book and the one thing I realized while putting this whole project together is that dreams don't just arrive at your front door, you have to create them intentionally. It's been the creating process that has meant the most to me and has brought me the most joy. To see a word document coming back from the editor looking like "real book text". To wake up one morning and see the book cover in my in-box and realize, "Oh,....this is really happening". 

 

There have been moments when I've lost complete objectivity, like the first time I saw the actual book design, I held my breath through the whole book look. Or what about the day a large envelope came to my door. Not expecting a package I couldn't think what it was, and it was the proofs of the book. I stopped breathing then too.

 

 The next package to come were the actual book pages. Soon, my book will be ready and soon....I'll have so much more to show you.

 

This is where I thank each and everyone of you who stop by this blog to say "Hej". It was because of your love of our foxes which gave me the courage to give this a go and it's been worth every living second.

 

 Here's to Joy! What have you always wanted to do or create?

A Visit with Pippi

As we were on way over to Sweden, my little "O" kept asking me, that since we were staying on a horse farm if it would be possible to have his very own horse to ride wherever he wanted. He had visions of riding into town to pick up some bread or just hanging out with friends.

For the life of me I couldn't figure out how he got these ideas in his head. Why would he think he could go riding a horse all over the place? Forget the fact that he's never ridden a horse in his life.

It wasn't until we visited a very special friend who harbors a horse in her living room that I figured out where he got the idea that Swedes are riding horses and living with them in their homes, as friends of course.

~Welcome to Ville Ville Kulla, the home of Pippi Longstockings.

Our friend Pippi. When I was young I use to put wire in my braids to make them look like this. If I would of had a Pippi wig it would have been my "look" for sure.

 

Ville Ville Kulla, home of Pippi Longstockings.

Footprints on the ceiling. My eldest daughter actually did this when she was younger. I kept asking her how she got her footprints on the ceiling. I later discovered that she had been doing handstands on her bed with her shoes on. I might had that she is a very tall girl.

Here it is.....the famous horse in the salon.

And some  indoor clotheslines.

   This house is filled with so many fun and imaginative things. I liked the way we got out of the house and that was down a very long slide.

I think our tree-house should have this exit strategy don't you?

   

Linda Olsson

By Valarie Budayr

This winter has been a real winter with much snow and wind. With this brings the on slaught of reading many books and drinking many coffees.

Over the last couple of years I've discovered, as probably many of you have, the novels of Linda Olsson. When I first opend "Astrid & Veronika" I thought I would be reading a quaint "Swedish" story but as the story unravelled layer by layer with it's honest and clear prose I couldn't put the book down. She has an uncomplicated view of human relationships and a gorgeous clarity which grabs you. The story caught me hook,line, and sinker.

When "Sonata for Miriam" came out it was like a meld between my best friend Suzy and myself. Both of us have family in Sweden. Suzy is Jewish and we have been to Germany to find out what happened to her family in WWII and I'm the musician, luckily still living. Along with an intrinsic review of the human story comes the added element of ones personal history. If one doesn't know their story is it possible to move forward? I've seen so many war survivors going back and piecing together their stories. I've seen so many people with Swedish heritage doing the same thing. Tracing their stories from the point of Exodus to the US and back to Sweden again. This story again has that incredbile clear prose which left me sitting in one place for hours until I finished the book. Because the story goes back and forth between time periods and situations I would get confused for only a small moment and then I could pick it up again quickly.

I've recently just discovered that Linda Olsson has her very own blog. While I was reading her posts I also discovered that we share something else in common and that is Visby. Her Swedish publisher sent her to a little house in Visby to write. I wish I could be sent to Visby to write. Honestly, not much would get accomplished because of all the family and goings on. So that's a dream for another person in a another life. I am so glad she made it to Visby.

 

I really like Linda Olsson's books and she just cannot get them out quick enough for me. So here I wait on this snowy day for Linda Olsson's next book. I hope it's coming out soon.  

Camilla Engman The Suitcase Series

The first time I encountered Camilla Engman was when I was writing an article about the Göteborg International Film Festival. Camilla had done the artwork for the poster and I was immediately enchanted and enamored with her work.

I soon found out that I was late to the party and that everyone I knew practically had heard of her. Shortly, thereafter, I had the pleasure of adding her artwork to my google page and running across her blog.  Now a daily read,Camilla has impacted the discovery of my own artistic side through her use of paper,photography,ceramics,walking,traveling, and the life she shares with her little dog moran.

So when I was asked the question,"What do you what for Jul?" The first thing out of my mouth and emails were "The new Camilla Engman" book.

 So it came yesterday and I spent the afternoon with Camilla, delighting in her art process.  What impressed me the most was the philosophy of sharing a creative life. It doesn't stand apart from us but she has included us in it. She has experimented with everything from stuffed animals, to paper cutting, collage making,ceramics, drawing, painting and combining many of these mediums to create her art. Her great love though is drawing.I've seen how her art has unfolded and evolved through the last years on her blog. She shares in her book how her creative living came to be and the one thing that I greatly appreciate is her desire to inspire us. This she has done with success.

 

In this lovely little book she has included a post-card, a luggage tag, and this fun little glassine envelope filled with postcards which we can make our very own collages with. One of my favorite additions is the small book about her dog Moran , who leads a very imaginative life of his own.

To find out more about this book please go here. Here's where you can find Camilla and also at Studio Violet.

The Tomte by Victor Rydberg

by Per Svangren

 

Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold

Stars send a sparkling light.

All are asleep on this lonely farm,

Deep in the winter night.

The pale white moon is wanderer,

And snow lies white on pine and fir.

Snow glows on rooftop shake.

The tomte alone is awake.

Gray, he stands by the low bran door,

Gray by the drifted snow,

Gazing, as many winters he’s gazed,

Up at the moon’s chill glow,

Then at the forest where fir and pine

Circle the farm in a dusky line,

Mulling relentlessly

A riddle that has no key.

Rubs his hand through his beard and hair,

Shakes his head and his cap.

“No, that question is much too deep,

I cannot fathom that.”

Then making his mind up in a hurry,

He shrugs away the annoying wory;

Turns at his own command,

Turns to the task at hand.

Goes to the storehouse and toolshop doors,

Checking the locks of all,

While the cows dream on in the cold moon’s light,

Summer dreams in each stall.

And free of harness and whip and rein,

Even Old Palle dreams again.

The manger he’s drowsing over

Brims with fragrant clover.

The tomte glances at sheep and lambs

Cuddled in quiet rest.

The chickens are next, where the rooster roosts

High above straw filled nests.

Burrowed in straw, hearty and hale,

Karo wakens and wags his tail

As if to say, “Old friend, “Partners we are to the end.”

 

At last the tomte tiptoes in

To see how the housefolk fare.

He knows full well the strong esteem

They feel for his faithful care.

He tiptoes into the children’s beds,

Silently peers at their tousled heads.

There is no mistaking his pleasure:

These are his greatest treasure.

Long generations has he watched

Father to son to son

Sleeping as babes. But where, he aske,

From where, from where have they come?

Families came, families went,

Blossomed and aged, a lifetime spent,

Then-Where? That riddle again

Unanswered in his brain!

Slowly he turns to the barnyard loft,

His fortress, his home and rest,

High in the mow, in the fragrant hay

Near to the swallow’s nest.

The nest is empty, but in the spring

When birds mid leaves and blossoms sing,

And come with her tiny mate.

Then will she talke of the journey tell.

Twittering to all who hear it,

But nary a hint for the question old

That stirs in the tomte’s spirit.

Now through cracks in the haymow wall

The moon lights tomte and hay and all,

Lights his beard t hrough the chinks,

The tomte ponders and thinks.

 

Still is the forest and all the land,

Locked in this wintry year.

Only the distant waterfall

Whispers and sighs in his ear.

The tomte listens and, half in dream,

Thnks that he hears Time’s endless stream,

And wonders, where is it bound?

Where is its source to be found?

 

Deep in the grip of the midwinter cold,

Stars send a sparkling light.

All are asleep on this lonely farm,

Late in this winter night.

The pale white moon is a wanderer,

Snow lies white on pine and fir;

Snow glows on rooftop shake.

The tomte alone is awake.

 

The Story of the Snow Children

By Valarie Budayr

I can't think of a better way to start off the December season than with the story of The story of the Snow Children by Sibylle von Olfers. Who couldn't love Poppy in her little red hat going to a winter's feast. I was trying to remember the first time I heard this story and I can't remember. It seems like its been a constant throughout my life.

Now it's time for us to have a little fun. We are going to jump into this book by making message crowns to wear to the snow festival. It's just that we won't be doing it here but over here. This is a special jump that I designed for the new e-magazine Rhythm of Home. Today is it's maiden voyage with the very first issue.

Rhythm of Home is a creation of love by Heather of Shivaya Naturals and Bernadette from Sugar in my Bowl.  This quarterly online magazine hosts projects, articles, interviews, and recipes all embracing the rhythms of Waldorf and Montessori methods. 

For this edition they have a great list of contributors which includes Meg from Sew Liberated, Julia from Adirondack Mama, Eileen from Little Acorn Learning, Shelley from Waldorf Mama, and an interview with Amanda Soule and me.

You can find out more about jumping into books here and making message crowns here.

Swedish Home Cooking

Catarina Lundgren Åström and Peter Åström have written two fantastic and very Swedish books, very well worth buyin! Both filled with inspiration.

                          
They are "Swedish homecooking in America" and "Swedish Christmas in America".
Both books will give you three things, interesting information about food/Christmas, wonderful pictures and last but not least, a bunch of easy recipes. These three things will bring you the feeling of Sweden, and a great array of Swedish food .

     

    

So why not try some of these recipes? .....potato cake, Rhubarb pie, Salmon pudding. When reading the book I can guarantie you that you will become hungry and you soon will end up in the kitchen preparing one of the lovely dishes from inside these books.

  

Christmas is far away now and maybe you think it is to early to read. But there are a lot of recipes there, well worth doing any time of the year, Swedish meatballs, Liver paté or Ris à la Malta.

Here's to good eating. Enjoy!

  

  

  Today's post by Per Svangren

Bamse ?

For the love of a new puppy what should we name him ? How about Bamse ?

"Bamse?" said Jenny

                 

Yes friends. This is what happens to Swedish Americans ,they lose touch with the important things in life. So dear sweet little Jenny who doesn't know who Bamse is....here we go.

Bamse is the world's strongest bear. He becomes the world's strongest bear by eating a type of honey called, dunderhonung or thunder honey. Which I might add is prepared for him by his grandmother. So little yum yum Jenny, you must know that if anyone other than Bamse eats this honey they get a 3 day tummy ache.

Bamse is also a very kind bear who often helps those in need.

                               

Just like you Jenny, Bamse has a best bunny friend, his name is lille skutt which means little hop. He is very fast and because he is so quick, he has been given the job of delivering the mail. Not like your rabbit , who eats all of the carrots in Lille's garden. He also frightens very easily and is never very willing to enter into these adventures with Bamse , but he does because he is a good friend. Did I mention that his dogs name is Fuzzy ?

There is a very fun turtle who invents many things, just like grampie. These great inventions include things like spaceships and time machines. He carries everything he needs in his shell. He invented a clock which tells him when to sleep and when to eat. He is very into his routine and even in the middle of an adventure he won't wake up if it is sleeping time. He even plays chess against himself and has beaten the world's best chess player. His name is Skalman, pronounced Shellman.

                                   

At first Bamse was a TV cartoon and a comic strip in the newspaper. Now Bamse has his very own comic books since a very long time. This story has gone on so long that Bamse is now married to his sweetheart,Brummelisa and they have 4 children, Brum, Teddy, Nalla-Maja, and Brumma. Just like Bamse, Lille Skut is married too, to Brummelisa's best friend Nina Kanin. They have this really hyper,fearless child Mini Hopp. He is just too funny in the stories.

                     

There are a few bad guys too....

Croesus Vole
A millionaire with a large number of fixing-voles at his service. He's the worst 'bad guy' in Bamse but, there is never proof that he is behind all the tricks. Only his fixing-voles get caught.

               

The Wolf
In the early episodes, the Wolf was world champion in being bad. Bamse however tried to be nice to him and eventually the Wolf changed. He found that if he acted nicely he got a lot of new friends. His only problem was that he was lonely. Many of the episodes in Bamse are about evil people who are turned good if you are kind to them.

                  

The first issue came out in 1973 in Sweden and has been one of the children's favorite in Sweden ever since. Bamse's father is his drawer Rune Andréasson. Today Runes son Dan also draws Bamse. Nowadays not only children in Sweden can enjoy Bamse, but he's spread all over Scandinavia. The comic is more or less moralizing and teaches the children good behavior and morals.

So Jenny.....I'm looking all through our bookshelves to bring you a copy of Bamse. If you can't wait ,go to Farmor's house and she has a whole bookcase full.

                     

The Richest Reading

                  

There are moments when unexpected people persevere despite opposition and challenges. This week The Palestinian Tamer Institute for Community Education was awarded children's literature's richest and largest prize, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.   

                 

For the last 20 year The Palestinian Tamer Institute for Community Education has diligently worked to promote reading in the West Bank and Gaza strip.

Set up in 1989 during the first Intifada, the Tamer Institute started working with children and young people to develop supplemental learning and alternatives to their dire circumstances.

The Astrid Lindgren judges lauded the center's"perseverance, audacity, and resourcefulness, which has stimulated Palestinian children's and young adult's love of reading and creativity."

Under difficult circumstances, the Institute carries out reading promotion of an unusual breadth and versatility. In the spirit of Astrid Lindgren, the Tamer Institute acknowledges the power of words and the strenth of books, stories and imagination as important keys to self-esteem, tolerance, and the courage to face life."

 

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was set-up seven years ago in memory of Sweden's beloved writer and her"deeply humanistic spirit." Each year the award is given to an author,illustrator,or organizaiton that encourages reading and increases an interest in children's literature.

Along with The Tamer Institute other nominee's were Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo and Eva Ibbotson.

Previous winners have included Philip Pullman,Maurice Sendak and sonya Hartnett. Crown Princess Victoria will present the award and prize of 5 million Swedish kronor on June 2nd.

       

Photos of Astrid Lindgren are stock photos.

 

Booked !

Sometimes it's uncanny how I can be on one side of the pond and Per can be on the otherside and we are all doing the same thing. Last week saw such a moment. A few days before the big book sale the papers were reminding everyone not to forget this stupendous occasion. Forget a book sale ? What are you crazy ? So Per lovingly took his family to the book sale in Visby while clear across the planet Valli was in the throws of Children's Book Festival week.

Book sale in Visby

           

                            

           

Children's Book Festival Week

Each day had a different book theme in the cafe.

                            

                   

                                                        

         

Thursdays was the main event with a pirate scavenger hunt and book swap.

                        

                              

     

                          

On Friday we saw everyone dress up as their favorite book character for the Parade of Books.

                                                        

           

                               

  

     

         

Whether here or there everyone enjoyed being "Booked".