Marks parents arrived last Thursday and we are taking a few trips here and there with them. Friday we went to Asköviken, a nature reserv in Västerås that is a big bird habitat, where they have seen up to 250 different kinds of birds. We did not see more than 10 and could identify even fewer…. But it was very nice scenery.
Saturday we headed down to Anders and Tina. We sat on their porch and ate shrimp and crayfish when the rain was hammering on the roof. It was cosy and tasted very good. Liseberg, the amusement park in Göteborg, was next on the agenda. It was chilly and rain was in the air, but we headed out anyway. The kids had been there before, but since they both were about 20 cm taller this time they were allowed to go on more of the rides. This was popular, especially for Malin. She is fearless. The worst rides she is still too short to be allowed on, time will tell where her limits are. It was a good thing that Mark and Anders also had ”all-you-can-ride” bands.
I am not so much for the rides, I take pictures and play on the fortune wheels where you can win loads of candy and chocolate. And for the first time I won!!!. A huge Toblerone!
In the evening, Mark and I had tickets for a Roxette concert. When we headed to the concert the others took another loop around the rides for 3 more hours. The kids had a great day. The concert was good, everybody sang along for the most known songs, like ” It must have been love”, and ”Dressed for success”. I have listened to their music for 25 years!!
Back in Västerås we just took it easy for a couple of days. Talking, swimming and in the evening the kids and grandma and grandpa played a new game, Rummycube.
Yesterday we went to a moose park just outside Sala. You ride on a trailer behind an old tractor and go into different fenced in areas and Leffe, the owner, make the moose, male, females and calves, come to eat out of a bucket so everybody gets to touch a moose. Amazing feeling to be that close to such a large animal.
Pictures will come later.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Alfta
Back in Västerås after a week in Alfta. Marks parents just arrived this morning so we are just having a slow day at home. The temperature is 20 C, quite a contrast to >40C in North Carolina.
It was not so warm in Alfta so we had to come up with alternatives to Galven. One day we went to Järvzoo, a zoo in Järvsö close to where my dad lives. The animals in the park are Nordic mammals and birds, for example wolves, bear, moose, wolverines and musk ox. A bear cub called Hedda, put on the best show, first on her own and then she started to jump at her sleeping mother, who then started to play with her cub.
Monday morning when we woke up the sun was out and the plan was made for the day, Galven. This was Jespers chance to get a day at Galven this summer. Always nice, but this day was on the cool-side even for Swedes. 
Then it was time for our traditional evening to feed the calves and milk the cows. Always fun to take part of this routine.
It was not so warm in Alfta so we had to come up with alternatives to Galven. One day we went to Järvzoo, a zoo in Järvsö close to where my dad lives. The animals in the park are Nordic mammals and birds, for example wolves, bear, moose, wolverines and musk ox. A bear cub called Hedda, put on the best show, first on her own and then she started to jump at her sleeping mother, who then started to play with her cub.
Monday morning when we woke up the sun was out and the plan was made for the day, Galven. This was Jespers chance to get a day at Galven this summer. Always nice, but this day was on the cool-side even for Swedes. 
Then it was time for our traditional evening to feed the calves and milk the cows. Always fun to take part of this routine.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Vacation
Today, Jesper has the last day of two weeks of ice-hockey camp.
Last week he was in Katrineholm, about an hour south of Västerås all week with activities 12 hours per day, 4 was on the ice. Very strange to watch them practice ice-hockey in the middle of summer.
When he practiced, Mark, me and Malin took the opportunity to explore the area of Katrineholm with about an hour radius. One day we went to Vingåker factory outlet, with the focus to find suites and business pants for Mark. He was pleased and we picked-up a few other pieces of clothing as well.
Another day we went to Nyköping, a small town on the east coast, and a natural park close by called Stendörren. We took a hike in the woods, dipped our feet in the water and watched boats of various sizes pass through the narrow path into this natural harbor. We will be back there with our kayak to try the waters out some more.
We left Jesper for a couple of days and went back to Västerås. Sara, my dad and Märta came to visit us. We have been living in Västerås for 13 years and one thing I have been wanting to do is to cruise on Hjälmare canal. Hjälmare canal is a path of water that connects Lake Mälaren with Lake Hjälmaren. This year the timing was right and we had a beautiful day on the water. We went through 9 different locks since Hjälmaren is 22 meters higher than Mälaren.
The timing was also right for my dad to experience Power Meet in Västerås. For a few days in July every summer, Västerås is invaded by thousands of old cars, mostly old American cars of various conditions. On Friday night there was an arranged cursing where the 200 nicest cars were allowed to cruise through down. Later the rest of the cars joined the cruising as well.
This week, Jesper has had hockey camp in Västerås, with focus on games and he has been the goalie all week. Mark worked and Malin and I went up to Alfta. Yesterday, we finally had the first Galven day of the summer and by looking at the forecast, maybe the last. But it turned out to be a true Galven day with many relatives on the beach. It turns out that they have had many Galven days earlier this summer without us.
Today, is it raining, so Sara and Malin is enjoying the day with scrapbooking, drawing and other crafts.
When he practiced, Mark, me and Malin took the opportunity to explore the area of Katrineholm with about an hour radius. One day we went to Vingåker factory outlet, with the focus to find suites and business pants for Mark. He was pleased and we picked-up a few other pieces of clothing as well.
Another day we went to Nyköping, a small town on the east coast, and a natural park close by called Stendörren. We took a hike in the woods, dipped our feet in the water and watched boats of various sizes pass through the narrow path into this natural harbor. We will be back there with our kayak to try the waters out some more.
We left Jesper for a couple of days and went back to Västerås. Sara, my dad and Märta came to visit us. We have been living in Västerås for 13 years and one thing I have been wanting to do is to cruise on Hjälmare canal. Hjälmare canal is a path of water that connects Lake Mälaren with Lake Hjälmaren. This year the timing was right and we had a beautiful day on the water. We went through 9 different locks since Hjälmaren is 22 meters higher than Mälaren.
The timing was also right for my dad to experience Power Meet in Västerås. For a few days in July every summer, Västerås is invaded by thousands of old cars, mostly old American cars of various conditions. On Friday night there was an arranged cursing where the 200 nicest cars were allowed to cruise through down. Later the rest of the cars joined the cruising as well.
This week, Jesper has had hockey camp in Västerås, with focus on games and he has been the goalie all week. Mark worked and Malin and I went up to Alfta. Yesterday, we finally had the first Galven day of the summer and by looking at the forecast, maybe the last. But it turned out to be a true Galven day with many relatives on the beach. It turns out that they have had many Galven days earlier this summer without us.
Today, is it raining, so Sara and Malin is enjoying the day with scrapbooking, drawing and other crafts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)