Berget Cafè and Tehus

Today, I went downtown with Christian to get outside (although the wind was extremely frigid, so I ended up taking a bus).  After walking around a bit, we went to Berget Cafè and Tehus ("tehus" = "tea house"), this charming place that I have been wanting to fika at for a few months now.  It is located in an old house on a hill in downtown, charming as can be.  However...my expectations were a bit too high.  The chairs are so old, that when I sat down, I nearly sunk to the ground.  All the drinks and food were completely overpriced and nothing special (25 kronor for a tiny, tiny coffee!), the place is a fire hazard (I got extremely claustrophobic because people were shoved in every which way), and totally uncomfortable.  It was a fun place to take a few pictures though!  Getting a bit of fresh air was also nice.  I went for a quick sauna afterwards, it always makes me feel lovely.

Joy of Cooking

This post is for my stepdad.  For Christmas, he gave me "Joy of Cooking" with a sweet inscription:

"Heather,
Uno non puo pensare bene, amare bene, dormire bene, se non ha mangiato bene!
Buon Natale
Amore,
Dad"

Meaning:
"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one hasn't eaten" (Virgina Woolf)

I cried when he gave it to me.  It was an extremely thoughtful gift, and it made me feel like I had proved myself enough to follow in his footsteps (he cooks the most amazing, gourmet food.  my friends were always trying to have dinner at my house growing up - and...well, they still do).  I adore cooking, especially baking, and find the kitchen quite an enjoyable place to be.

Although I hadn't gotten around to many recipes in it since Christmas (except, predictably, baked goods), I've had the desire to roast a chicken.  I felt like it was a real, grown-up meal...and was surprisingly easy.  I'm pleased to say that I didn't under-cook it or burn it.  It was hard not to eat it in its entirety in one sitting!

Now, off to the bastu (sauna) with a couple of friends.

Vallaskogen & bike path to school

Today I got lost in the woods.  Not in the I-had-a-whimsical-time and was so awed by nature that I was lost in the beauty around me (although I did feel super blessed to live next to such a wonderful place).  I attempted to take a trail that I had previously gone on with Christian, which eventually led to the bike trail....instead, I went off-trail and ended up at the very edge of the woods, right in someone's front yard...
I do wish I'd actually plan shooting sometimes, because I nearly never have any models.  Although I do appreciate shooting landscapes and nature, I do wish I could work on my profile skills.
Now, I must get back to reading...I started a new class on Monday, Globalisation and Global Justice (they insist on the English spellings of everything at this university, hence globalisation with an "s").
By the way, "Skogen" in Swedish means "forest," so Vallaskogen is called Valla Wood in English.

Back in Business

I finally have a lens again!  I received a brand-spanking-new one, thank goodness for 3 year warranties.

Although school has been crazy busy this week, I made sure to make the time to celebrate Farrah's birthday- it was nice to be social for once.

1. Christian and I chilling in the kitchen

2. Farrah's birthday (carrot) cake!

3. wish made =)

4. Farrah and Christoffer being love-y

5. happy Farrah

6. Farrah and Jakob

7.  Christian and I again

What a bummer...

When taking pictures during a walk on Saturday, my lens jammed up and I could no longer zoom out.  I attributed it to the cold (the previous owner warned me that it could lock up around -10), and figured that it would be fine once indoors (it was slow to zoom in and out in the cold before).
Since it was under warranty, it's been taken into El Giganten who sent it to a repair center today...I'm hoping that the damage is covered and will be fixed and returned to me soon (I didn't drop it or do anything to harm it!).
...wish me (and my lens) luck!

Alla hjärtans dag

Pink roses from Christian on Valentine's Day (despite my insistence that we not spend any money on each other)