The birds! They mark the spot!

Haylie was getting antsy this afternoon, so she and I drove to the library in Visby and checked out some books, and then to the park across the street. She played a little on the playground and we fed the waterfowl some bread. The swarming seagulls were exciting in a slightly scary way.

Almedalen in winter. It was slightly above freezing again today, so the snow is more slowly evaporating than melting.

We walked briefly over to the shore to look at the waves. The boat from Nynäshamn was coming in, and Haylie thought it was exciting how all the sea birds and ducks were bobbing on the waves. She had a close call slipping on the ice and almost ending up in the water, and learned (temporarily) why you should listen to your mother once in a while.

Happy 94th Birthday

Stefan's Grandma Kally turned 94 today. We were at her house for lunch and coffee on Sunday. Here she is seen being forced to pose for pictures whether she wanted to or not.

Kally and Stefan

Haylie is outside right now. It is a nice sunny day. We went shopping today and bought her some new clothes which she will probably refuse to wear. One dress is already in the return pile because it didn't feel right. She also refuses to wear short sleeves - only long sleeved t-shirts. And she had a spaz because her new tights that she picked out didn't feel right. She pretty much will only wear lycra blend products that fit like a glove. Nothing baggy, nothing tight. And god forbid anything should be wrinkled. Now she just came in and is having all tags cut off of her underwear because they are bothering her.

She is out slopping around with water and snow. She manages to go through all her mittens and gloves within the time she is outside by getting them wet. When all the gloves are wet, it is time to come in.

We put up window film for privacy in the bathrooms. This is out our main bathroom window.

I was home from work with some stomach flu of the vomiting variety two days this week, so she was home with me. Here she is seen dancing ballet after watching "Barbie and the 12 dancing princesses" for the fifth time.

Tonight we are going to Henrik's birthday party and tomorrow, Great-Grandma Kally's.

Our kitchen table and chairs have arrived

Our kitchen table and chairs were delivered yesterday. We ordered them from Tofta Möbel AB, since they always have the best service. They are from BITC. Strange taste that we have (as many less creative minds have pointed out through the course of the past year), we have combined materials here too. The table is Walnut veneer. We still have to oil it before we start using it, and 2-3 times a year.

We aren't 100% about which way to have it yet. I like it this way, but Stefan is convinced it would be better perpendicular to the window. We are going to have to get a feeling for it for a while and switch it around before committing to anything and buying a light fixture for above it.

By popular demand

See, it really is big. Or high, at least.

This weekend

Haylie bought colored pencils on Friday night when we went to Ica Maxi to go pick up a package from Grandma and Grandpa. She spend a large part of the weekend nicely coloring My Little Pony pictures. I guess colored pencils were the secret to getting her to color. She is a perfectionist, so it is easier for her to stay in the lines with a smaller utensil.

We got some more done in the house this week. The plumbers installed the bathroom sink in our bathroom, and Rikard was here again and put up the shower wall and door.

The cabinets/sink are from Aspen. Unfortunately the hardware to hang up the cabinet on the right didn't come with it, so we have to wait until that arrives. Then it will also be off the floor like the sink is. They are both in walnut. We haven't picked out a light fixture for above the mirror yet.

Our shower is done except for a couple glass shelves on the inside of the pillar and the magnetic closing for the shower door. But it is usable.

The floor

The builders put up the cabinet on the right of the fan, and installed the drawer pulls for the kitchen and laundry room.

Lots of snow still. It just keeps snowing more without melting at all. That is uncommon for a winter on Gotland.

Stefan bought a bonsai tree. He is just the kind of person to have a detailed long-term project like that. Now he is reading up on bonsai trees on the net.

At the plant store, I bought bulbs and materials to make two plantings of spring bulbs, one for myself and one for our friend Eva for her birthday. This was Saturday afternoon.

This was Sunday morning. Now, Sunday evening, there are 6 mini daffodils that have bloomed, and 4 purple crocuses (croci?). I planted them in shallow zinc tubs and covered the dirt with pebbles. The pearl hyacinths have a way to go before they bloom, so hopefully they aren't all done at once.

Haylie picked out a butterfly for ours.

Stefan had an I told you so moment today. About 7 years ago, he got this copper basin or whatever it is from his mom. I then asked him, "What are you going to do with that?", as we put it up in our attic for what seemed like all time.

Well, he now found a use for it. Firewood. It looked very nice too. He was smug.

Here is our one and only hallway. I ordered the lighting seen above from the electrician, who put in these nice lights from Hide-a-lite. They aren't all that common in Sweden. They add a really nice touch, and we don't even have to turn on the lights in the ceiling. We just use these in the evenings.

Now they installed the outer part of our furnace, which meant that we had plenty of hot water when Stefan showered tonight, which we haven't had up until now.

Here is my bathtub

The plumbers installed the bathtub today. It is from Gustavsberg and is enormous. I wasn't quite expecting it to be that big. I think we will need a step ladder to get into it.

Queen of the (sledding) hill

I took a walk around the neighborhood (which isn't that big) with Haylie behind me on her "snow racer". A snow racer is a Swedish sled on runners with a steering wheel and brakes. Walking down the plowed road was no problem, but trying to cross our backyard to our little sledding hills (rubble from when they excavated for the house and garage) was not easy. We have the most snow there has been for 20 years (so I have heard), and our whole backyard is over knee deep. I can't find my nylon pants either, so I had to wade through in my rubber boots, with them rapidly being filled by snow. It made me want snowshoes. I rather like snowshoeing, much more than cross-country skiing. It might be worth getting a pair if we have more winters like this, for taking walks in the woods behind us.

There were lots of hare tracks in the neighborhood, as we walked. Haylie and I have seen a few on the road during all the move-related driving. Yesterday at 6 PM we saw 3 deer as we drove through Sanda. There is one field where they are every night at that time.

I digress. I finally got to the sledding hill, which we both had to climb up. After that one time I was exhausted, so I dragged her to the front door. After that Stefan and his dad went out. They are making a sledding hill by shoveling and packing snow. Those are two determined guys when it comes to stuff like that. You would think they were planning on sledding.

Caught unawares through the window.

She was doing snow angels while leaving the grunt work to her dad and grandpa. That's my girl.

After the first week in our house

This week Haylie discovered the joys of cookie dough ice cream.

She had a good week, and seems to be liking living in our house and playing in her new room.

It is cold in here since we can't have the in-floor heat on everywhere, so she has been sleeping in our bed for warmth. We have a fire going when we are at home during the days, but the mornings are chilly. She has had breakfast in front of the fire in the mornings. I went and bought slippers for both of us (with Hello Kitty), so that helps.

We went out looking to buy a dining room set today, but this was all we could afford. No, seriously, we were shopping for furniture today, but didn't find anything that struck our fancy. We got some catalogs and are going to look around. We want something dark brown, like walnut, so it matches the kitchen. Everything is yellowy oak that other people buy.

We did buy a ceiling lamp, with the foyer in mind, but it ended up being right for the kitchen instead, above the island.

Here it is up-close tonight.

Moving

This morning, our quality inspector came and checked out what the workers had done. He commented on what nice color choices we had made, and how he loved the green (Ha!). A few odds and ends that aren't finished yet (one bathroom, closet doors, pocket door, kitchen cupboard, and some trim), but otherwise done and ready for moving in. Stefan, Anna, and Tobias cleaned half the night, so things looked really nice when we got there this morning. More snow, but we were able to come and go without problems today, thanks to lots of shoveling from Allan, Tobias, and Johan. After the inspection, Stefan went to pick up a big trailer and I started packing our station wagon. We packed 3 cars and 2 trailers and headed for the house. Stefan and I unloaded our trailer and car, and when he went to move our car, it wouldn't start. In fact, the motor started smoking. Apparently it is some electrical doohicky on top of the motor that has kicked the bucket, and will need to be replaced. The part alone costs over 1000 bucks. Great timing. We had to push it out of the way and leave it there at the house. The worst part is it is the good car, the one I drive, with Haylie to and from daycare.

Rikard came to work on installing the glass wall and door for the shower in our bathroom, but didn't have all the parts he needed. So I guess he will be back next week.

They have to keep the in floor heating off in the areas with tile and stone so the stuff under it (whatever that is called in English) can dry properly. That means it was freezing cold today, as we only have heat in the bedrooms. We only have the fire for heat in the main part of the house. 2 more weeks before we can really warm up the place. So I guess I am buying slippers for me and Haylie ASAP. We had dinner at Anna and Joakim's house after we unloaded everything at our house. The girls played nicely for a long time at the house, but when we got to their house they had a row over a game and then were crabby at eachother. They were tired out though, both with colds. Tomorrow morning at 9 AM we start moving the rest. It is going to be weird leaving, since we have lived here for 7.5 years.

Our freezer and fridge, Samsung.

The sink in Haylie's bathroom is installed.

Stefan in the kitchen, looking stressed.

We had some things didn't turn out quite right, including 2 cupboard doors that they ordered brown which should have been white. We have to pick some stuff up at IKEA when we head up to pick out our bedroom closets. Nothing we can't live without for a while, fortunately.

The laundry room with a couple black side pieces missing.

The plumbers started work today and hooked up our furnace to the in-floor heating instead of the temporary one that we have had since the house was put up. It has been nice to have heat inside through the whole process, unlike our poor neighbor who finally got his going recently.

I went on my lunch break and paid for our appliances. The carpenters picked up the kitchen fan and installed it, which they will finish doing tomorrow. They also put in the oven and microwave. The washer and dryer were delivered during the day, and Stefan picked up the fridge and freezer tonight after work. Tobbe helped him carry them into the house. Josefine was working on the last bits of painting in the hall and eating area.

Friday at 9 AM the guy responsible for quality is coming to inspect, and after that, we can start moving. So as soon as all the working guys are out, we will be cleaning like mad.

Sunday

Haylie and I stayed home today, while Stefan worked at the house. I worked on packing and cleaning out some stuff. He took a few pictures of the kitchen area when he was there. Above is where the oven will be and behind that the computer room. This wallpaper is called Pagoda from In Trade.

Same view, a little to the left.

Stefan and his dad did the drawers yesterday. The builders will probably have the kitchen done tomorrow and then start on the laundry room. Stefan got the lights going in the bedrooms and the main bath. Lots of stuff to be ordered tomorrow, after all the plumbing decisions we made on Saturday. It will be a 3-day work week for us, then off Thursday and Friday with Haylie at daycare so we can clean the rest of the house and finish packing, maybe start moving a little. We can't move much in until the house has been inspected, which should happen Friday.