The sun rises. I visit nature for comfort in days of uncertainty of what the future holds... Lock down 2.0 starts tonight with some modifications from the first version... I've watched the numbers sky rocketing from 400 - 9000/day in just a few weeks and I can't help but wondering how we will ever be able to control this pandemic monster... I turn off all News channels, stop reading the updates. I don't want to hear one more word about Covid, the terrorists or the US election... Don't even go there...   I retreat into my own world, a world where I feel safe, a world I understan ..read more

We are at the last stretch of a two week long October break. I've enjoyed it to the full. This is the year of no plans so we've spent this school break at home. Luca Bo (who has started his four year long apprenticeship to become an awesome wood worker/carpenter/builder) has been working most days as he no longer can benefit from school vacations. I think he was a little bit upset when reality sunk in last week, being the only one who needed to get up at dawn while the rest of us slept in. I'm so beaming proud of my boy, who gets up at 5.30 am making himself a frothy coffee an ..read more

Hello my lovelies! I'm so happy to see so many new visitors here at My Rose Valley. Warm welcome to you all. ?? ? It is cold and nippy outside and after a great start with some delicious Good Morning Keto Pancakes (see recipe below) and a cup of morning tea, I'm ready for this day.    I suffer from pain in my lower back (arthritis the doctor said a few years ago...) that makes me sleep poorly at night and walk like an old lady in the mornings before warming up, and a couple of weeks ago I had enough and decided to go on a low sugar - low carb routine to kick the inflammation th ..read more

I'm desperately trying to work, I've been attempting to get this project started for days now, but I do everything part from what needs to be done: - I tidy up my desktop on the computer, make folders, back up files, sort and organize - I tidy up my desk, filing papers, sorting mail, put coffee cups in the dishwasher - I make myself a tea - I have to check the mailbox - I feed the cats - I sort some photos  - Start a load of laundry - Sweep the kitchen floor - Write a grocery list - Oh, it is 10 am, time for a pause and some "fika" [coffee & cake break] and so it goes on with ..read more

I walk down through my village, the sun is coming in and out behind the clouds. Trees are starting to change colors. I pass the flowers shop and all the beautiful autumn flowers arrangements. I take a mental note to tidy up my geraniums when coming back, preparing to change geraniums for autumn colors at the front of my house.     I cross the fields with my village on my right, walk along the river, into the woods following the path between the pine trees shooting for the stars. An hour later I'm back home longing for a frothy coffee and some crochet ..read more

The autumn sun. How I love the autumn sun. How it spreads a golden layer over the fields, tree tops, roads and houses. I'm in the car, listening to some gentle tunes from my Chill & Dream playlist. I'm trying to catch the feeling. The bus stops in front of me and lets people off. Young and old, I can't see their faces. They are covered in masks and something inside of me just bursts in that moment... this is so surreal. How did we end up here? I'm not sure if I can take more of... of what? Just everything!   I've had a shitty day. Work at school was extremely busy, loud, challengi ..read more

Hello my lovelies. Thank you for popping in to my world here in Blogland the last couple of days. I'm really enjoying having you around. These last days have been just crazy. Prepare yourself for a bit of a download from my end... First Nelly announced on Saturday morning that she was a Covid positive "close contact" which meant we all had to figure out how that effects us as a family, with school and work. Suddenly I felt caught off guard not knowing who to turn to, who to contact for advice. Luckily we were given a Health & Safety guideline brochure form work at the beginning of the s ..read more

Oh dear Dahlia beauty! Now I get it. I get why some people have gardens overfilled with with these beauties in all shapes, sizes and colors. They are just G O R G E O U S! Simply makes you happy no matter the weather, mood or situation. We planted a number of bulbs in our garden during lock down and in July they started to bloom. At one point I had a flower big as my head in the garden. That was a great moment. This year has been a Dahlia trial year for us. Some varieties worked great while others didn't do that well at all. I think we need a little bit of schooling on the subject un ..read more

Hello my lovelies! It's been grey and rainy for quite a good week now. The temperature dropped from jolly 25-27 degrees  to chilly 10-12 over night last week. Autumn is here for sure and I haven't been out in the garden since the sun disappeared. But yesterday late afternoon it cleared up and the light was amazing. I pottered around,  took pictures and planned in my head what I want for this garden next year. We have suffered an infestation of grubs (won't show you any here, they destroy the beauty of this post...) this year. They are all over our garden and are killing ..read more

30 seconds of calm. After CrossFit. I was strong today. The views are magnificent. I just had to pull over and take it all in. Share it with you. 30 seconds turned soon into 30 minutes...   This is a good day.  I see everyone coming together with Lucy's (Attic24) September challenge #yarnfriendsrock  on Instagram. It's inspiring. Makes me reflect. I need my crochet. I need the calm it gives me. I miss it. I want to make time for it again.   I need moments like this. To stop. Take it all in. Be. Life is running away from me too fast. AT least that is what it feels lik ..read more