Burning into Spring

Living in Italy, I kind of forget important celebrations we have in Sweden.

 Pagan festival Valborgs Eve is one of them.

It has been celebrated since the Middle Ages and honor the German, 8th century abbess, Saint Walpurga. To ward off evil and ensure fertility, an enormous bonfire is lit to cleanse the land of the Winter.  Dried wood, leaves or anything that can be suitable for the flames are collected months ahead.  A spiritual get together with family and friends. I guess this should always be cherished , although very few care of the origin of the celebration. 

Music and beer is an accessory. 

The feeling is to burn away the long, dark and cold winter and celebrate the warmer season.

I might lit the fireplace and feel Swedish today, 

Gunn

My Latest Present

How lucky .... to be able to hang this amazing photograph on the wall. 

This my latest buy to myself. A beautiful image by Finish photographer Denise Grunstein, living and working out of Stockholm. This still life  was part of a show she had made in Sweden of her own garden flowers. See more at her agent Cameralink or at Artedition, where you can buy a beautiful flower arrangement as well.

I just can't stop looking at this beauty.

I am a strong believer that a nice image is increasing the mental well being. 

Bringing Joy and Happiness to every day.

Thank You , Denise.

Practical Day !

It is perhaps going to be a big "get together day " tomorrow for many of us, following the Royal Wedding. 

Picnic in front of the TV or in a park in London. 

I am selling these fantastic baskets from Handed By  in my shop in Biella , Un Momento Nordico They are made from recycled plastic and dyed into nice colours. They are super strong and during the last 2 years of a successful selling I have never had a return of a broken bag. The only damage I have seen is from my own puppies last summer. Easy to wash with any detergent and a good shower. 

Perfect - for bringing home groceries. It can be filled with lots of tasty things.

Perfect - for the beach this summer.

Perfect - for a picnic with friends.

Perfect -  to keep in the house as a magazine basket.

Perfect  -  As I do...This is mine. Logging around stuff. 

Into the car, out of the car.  Into the office, out of the office. 

Well, I think that is familiar to You all.

I will be going to a nice garden show and forget about the wedding for a day,

Gunn

Make The Best Of It !

Make the best of it ! Is a wonderful advise and expression. 

In any circumstance good or bad, it is good to have a positive outlook. 

For instance, I have a few Tree Peonies in the garden and when the flower is coming out it is a tradition that the rain is on the way. I kind of measure the weather on these flowers. 

You just wish the time could be still so they could stay around for a while. As I know that they are blooming for one day only, I have to stop and enjoy them. I just park my garden chair in front and watch them open and close and go bad.....

This is a situation I do not like but cannot change. 

So I make the best of it !

Gunn

The Earth Day

Today, the 22nd of April, do we have The Earth Day. Lucky Earth, that she has one day a year, at least. Hm...lucky or ridiculous ?

 April is the perfect time to dedicate all our energy to give back something to the earth. 

Plant a tree or two. Seed flowers. Plant roses. Compost as much as we can.

 Perhaps our pets are included in The Earth Day. I let them have a nice Spring shampoo yesterday and a thoroughly brush. Ear cleaning. New collars in pretty colours. 

And the yearly vaccine against Heartworm.  All four will be in my car in a couple of hours.

The two cats will be getting their treatments as well, but I guess I leave for next week.

To eat locally and seasonally will do a lot for the earth. 

Keep it in mind when you are attracted to those gorgeous strawberries next time. Just check where they are coming from.

What would we do if we could not have this ? 

So, separate waist and recycle.

Buy Vintage when it is suitable.

Do not waste water. It is too precious. 

Make a compost, even if you are in an apartment  for your flowerpots.

And so much more can be done.

Stay away from red meat and industrial chickens and eggs.

And the very last, make a positive prayer for our friends in Japan.

Love, Gunn

Yellow For Easter

Easter is the time of energy. The moment when nature is opening up to us. 

And the colour Yellow is everywhere. Yellow is a colour of vibration. The rays of mind, stimulating the mental faculties in the creation of thought, and giving help in visualization:

A yellow cashmere sweater from the Scottish brand Drumohr, I made a couple of years ago and I still think this shade is perfect.

 Yellow is arouses optimism, cheerfulness, and a balanced outlook on life.

I made this invitation some years ago, printed on a cardboard and We keep them in the office as joyful coasters.

   The yellow ray of mind, flashing as it does golden streams of awakening light, can be used for mental stimulation.  It is a good color to use in a room devoted to mental pursuits, such as for writers, artists, and all creative workers – the paler shades being especially inspirational.  A yellow-shaded light is helpful when doing mental work as in studying.  Too bright yellow, however, while stimulating at first, will soon have a somnolent effect. I find the colour very modern when it is bright lemon yellow in an interior. When the shade is going warm okra it is sad.

 Generally it arouses optimism, cheerfulness, and a balanced outlook on life, equilibrating in its effect.  By stimulating the higher functions of the brain, yellow aids in developing tact, mental alertness and discrimination, and helps establish emotional balance.  It is said to make joyful through greater attainment of the soul and one’s Self, and suggests as well the joy, gaiety and merriment, the comfort and cheerfulness of the fireside.

nara heltnaturligt - delightly 

A scent of orange and lemon essential oils. It is very uplifting in the morning shower.

  Heroes and heroines of older legends were usually depicted with yellow hair, as it seemed to suggest the lighter, or finer, side of life. Yellow to many of the ancients was the animating principle of life; to the Chinese it symbolizes nobility. 

 As the ray of maximum light, yellow holds first place in the spectrum for brightness and luminosity.  It has a positive magnetic vibration, with a powerful effect on the nervous system although in healing work when nerves are very active and irritable yellow should not be used.

I hope Easter will bring joy to all,

G

Feed On Greens!

Spring is here and we can have all the chlorophyll we want !

Fresh nettles ( for free ), wild herbs from the fields ( also for free ). If you have some extra strength and willpower ( you actually get it from the greens ) there is watercress in the streams to collect. Great rucola is starting to arrive in the Organic markets.

All leafy greens are nutritional winners. Spinach ( only organic, otherwise leave it behind ), Kale and more. I actually have learned to use the greens from fresh carrots in the salad. Dark greens are a good source of vitamin C and betacarotene. A good solution, for keeping cancer and heart disease away from your home.  And more iron , potassium and calcium. 

Here is a Green Smoothie by Frederic Patenaude and his book, "Instant Raw Sensations" and best-selling e-book "The Raw Secrets". 

I will pick up the ingredients this afternoon and make myself a drink for Cocktail hours.

Basic Winter Green Smoothie
1 apple
1 pear
2 bananas
1 and 1/2 cups kale
1 stalk celery
Water

Dice the fruit or cut in big chunks. Blend all ingredients together with about half a cup (up to 1 full cup) of water.Greens are your key to good health. Whether organic or conventional, raw or cooked, eating more green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, kale, spinach and lettuce can improve your heatlh, well being, and digestion, stave off cancer and many other illnesses, and make you feel great. Here are some easy ways to eat more collard greens and other green vegetables.

 I just LOVE !!! this image from VOUGE Paris, my favorite in the "Avril" issue.

Think green,

Gunn

Every Minute Is Precious !

Take advantage of every minute ......

This season is so amazing. Flowers, light, perfumes and fresh air. Every minute is precious.

Meals outside. 

Long brisk walks. 

Playing outdoors ( with dogs ), 

Gardening and much more.

Have a nice Sunday !

Gunn

Brodera Mera !

Brodera mera....is Swedish for Embroider more ! 

It is lovely and calming to sit down and let the creativity flow with colored yarns. 

( I never do, but love to..)

The best gift items arrives from our hands. 

I found an amazing site from Sweden , in Swedish (sorry), you can always use Google translate.

www.brodera.nu or her blog at Broderibloggen

I did not find any interesting information in English except this wonderful embroidery.

 I just Love the pink vespa !

www.scooterswag.com/fabric/scooter-embroidery-designs-601  

Another fantastic idea is from graphic designer Patrizia Zapata, embroidery on paper. 

See: A LITTLE HUT

Get to work ! Dear Friends

Love, Gunn

Gomasio For Memory

If something is useful, it is Gomasio. 

Toasted Salt and Sesame seeds, a condiment to sprinkle on food and gives bland dishes a delicious taste. 

So, why eat bland ? It is better for our health !

Gomasio is neutralizing acidities in the blood ( so much better than AlkaSeltzer ) and strengthen the nervous system. ( could be good ). You can sober up a drunk person with 2 spoons ( will try it next time I see one )

Effortless natural healing starts with a spoon of Gomasio every day and the quality of blood will be improved. 

How to make this golden seeds:

1 - 15 parts of seeds and 1 part of sea salt.

2 - roast the salt carefully ( I do manage to burn it eight out of ten ) until it turns light grey. Move it to a Suribachi ( a "must have" in a natural kitchen)

3 - roast again carefully the Sesame seeds and add it to the salt.

4- Now grind....and inhale. You are probably still in the kitchen and did not go to heaven....

5 - Store in an air tight glass jar ( not in the refrigerator ).

6 - ENJOY - sprinkled on your food or take one tablespoon a day.

By the way, it is improving the memory. 

You might or you might not need that...but it is better to plan ahead.

Gunn

Drinking Water !

As I looked through the web for water information yesterday, I run into this "odd and funny" article by Dr Ben Kim. 
And perhaps not that funny in the end.  Actually it is very sad. The craze of drinking lots of waters has a negative effect on our health. Being macrobiotic for , hm, about 20 years.....my information is to eat food with water. Grains, beens, fruit and vegetable. When you do, there is no need to carry a 2 l plastic water bottle around in the handbag. 
Drinking too much is making the kidneys work overtime and that is creating other problems.


 But then we should always listen to our body and if the mouth is dry...a glass of fresh water is lovely. 
I love the Chinese habit of always starting a meal with a glass of warm water. To help digesting the meal well.

See the article on drbenkim.com,


By the way....the hand made crystal glass in the photo is designed by Swedish Ingegerd Raman and I sell them at Un Momento Nordico.


G

Clean Water

Clean water is a luxury ! 

We all know this and still, we continue to pollute the water.It is unfortunately a very simple process. Down the drain !  A mayor pollution is happening at home every day. Cleaning dishes, chemical bleached toilet paper ( yes ), laundry, dishwasher, sunscreens, body lotions, shampoo....you name it. 

We might think, Well it is going through millions of filter and it is coming out clean again in the end.  Are you sure ? In the end of the day it is depending on us. We can do so much , if we just make that extra effort.

It is so easy to clean with Baking soda, Vinegar and Lemon. 

Dishes with Baking soda

Bathroom with Vinegar

Laundry softening with Vinegar

Cleaning the counter top with Lemon juice

and so on...The best information I found is from another blogger housekeeping.about.com

(Too lazy to go down and get my natural cleaning book , full with useful recipes. My best blogging time is in bed with a cup of Yogi tea)  Ok, now you know that...... 

I once visited Kyoto and had a lunch in a Sushi bar, where the owner scrubs his wooden counter with salt every day. I have never seen such a beautiful wood ever. I use this trick for the cutting boards.

Think about it next time you clean !

G

Happy Easter !

Easter is almost around the corner.......

It will be nice to take some time off and celebrate with friends and family. Easter is the second most important religious holiday after Christmas in Italy. 

 I can see lots of creative chocolate Easter eggs around. They are hollow and normally has a surprise inside. And we also eat a sweet bread called Colomba and is similar to the bread eaten at Christmas, Panetone. A very important gift giving season as well. 

If the weather allow it is a good time to celebrate by the seaside.

  

This cute little chicken ( a friend sent it to me last year and I kept it my files) make me think of being a child and easily fooled. I thought if I wrapped a fresh egg in some warm textile, a scarf or similar and kept it on the radiator for a week a "real chicken " would be born. I tried many times....

G

Spring or Summer ?

We are having 26° today and it is probably even more in direct sun. A bit crazy but we are all in t-shirts and barefoot. And kind of cranky .... due to this sudden heat.

A walk in the garden is the only walk I had time for today. So, 10 minutes of photos.

The Cherry tree was pruned back in the last days and is now looking Japanese. and the photo was taken by Masato Koide, our Japanese staff. So here we go !

Lovely, I wish I could remember the names of the plants I plant in the garden.

The ornamental apple bush. Completely full of energy and pink flowers.

Studying something.....

The wild Cherry tree with a cloud of white flowers.

Dicentra Spectabilis - Cuor di Maria

We call them "fiori di prato" lawn flowers...

I guess this is another Apple tree

Magnolia Liliflora - traveled from China in 1790.

Daffodils - loyal in time for Easter

Dandelions - and is insisting with Easter yellow

Muscari - with it's amazing blue colour

What a lovely day, looking forward to tomorrow as well.

Gunn

Welcome Spring with open arms

Tarassaco in Italian and Dandelion in English or Dent de lion in French ( the tooth of a lion )

The dandelion plant is a beneficial weed, with a wide range of uses. Many are bothered with the sunny flower and prefer to eliminate it and keep a green lawn looking like a catalog photo, selling plastic grass lawns..... Actually, as kids we used to get payed pennies for collecting them on the lawn. 

I say, enjoy all the benefits of the beauty instead. It is a wonderful salad in the Spring . The leaves are full of vitamins, especially A, C and a good source of Magnesium. 

Should be eaten before it is blooming. 

I do pull it up with the root at times , when I find it in vegetable garden, where I prefer to seed other plants. The root is a perfect remedy for an overworked liver. Just brush it clean or scrape it carefully with a knife and chew it.  A great bitter taste.

If you are into healthy drinks, Dandelion coffee is a smart choice.

 How wonderful is this ?

Gunn