Back from the land of magic

Dear everyone, hello!

Well, I am back from the wonderful, beautiful land of Sweden. Sébastien is still over there for a week-long conference (which is why we happened to go to Sweden in the first place). I came back on Monday evening, but have been too busy since then to update my blog. Yesterday was devoted to laundry (there was a huge pile waiting for me) and other chores. Today has been a long and busy working day! Which is good

We had a great time in Sweden - not a honeymoon really, though. (I must confess I do not care for the ephemeral idea contained in the word anyway. Besides, this trip was certainly special, but so are all our trips! What would be the point in them otherwise. ) Above all, I'm not sure many "honeymoons" would involve hiking an average of 20 kms a day, occasionally carrying a backpack a quarter of your own weight (with all your stuff in it, including a duvet and a tent). At the end of the day, you feel too sweaty and exhausted to be in much of a romantic mood. But oh, what a fantastic time we had. Seb and I both have a passion for hiking, for discovering new places by foot and at length. That trip totally fit the bill for us. My two favourite days have to be those when we hiked on the Bergslagsleden.

We've hiked in a number of beautiful places, in several countries and on three continents (Seb has hiked in four) - but we had never been so awed as in the forests of Sweden. The wildness is so incredibly, so respectfully preserved. The forest seemed, and sounded, truly enchanted - the zillion mushrooms on our way looked as if they came straight out of fairytale books. It didn't take much imagination to fancy that each of them was house to a tiny pixie - or that such or such gnarled stump was in fact a motionless gnome that would start moving again as soon as we had our backs turned. Seb grew convinced that elves would come and steal me overnight.
We did hear lots of strange noises when night came. The forest animals in Southern Sweden are not dangerous, though. It would have been a different matter if we had gone further North!

Sweden is regulated by the right of public access, which means you may camp everywhere provided you do not damage the environment and are not too close from a house. As you can see in the above picture, small stugas (cabins) can be found here and there in the forest. There isn't enough space to sleep in it, but it provides a shelter to eat and rest if it rains or snows too much. The trail we hiked on (Bergslagsleden) is more used in winter for skying, though, and we hardly met a soul.

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We also spent some time in a few towns, of course - but that will have to wait for another article. Now is high time for thank yous.

I came home to a mailbox full of cards and gifts - and feel completely bowled over. You know, friends, at times I want to creep into a hole and make myself tiny - this is just too much!! Personal emails and notes of thanks will be coming very soon if they haven't already. I just wanted to say merci, merci beaucoup, to all of you - Doris, Marianne, Souris, Martine, Barbara, Karen, Shashi, Margaret, Anneke, Tracy, Mireille, Katrina, Murielle (I'm sure I am forgetting someone)... to all of you who emailed as well... and I have yet to fetch a mystery package from the post office, too. I'm a bit stunned with it all, to say the truth. I would never have dreamed of such kindness pouring over us. Of course I'll need to find some time and take decent pictures!

Miss Cutie/Ptite Mignonne is back home as well, and she seems to have had a great time at Julie and Thomas'. She actually sulked a fair bit when I came to take her back yesterday, which had never, ever happened before. I think she fell in love with Julie, and probably also enjoyed being photographed by an artist. Ah well. Julie and Thomas will just have to come over and play with her at our place now. Seriously, you did a really kind thing, taking care of her for so long!

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I'll try and write more soon. You've all been very busy while I was up North! So many things to see and read on your blogs. So much beautiful stitching, and sewing!
Sending special hugs and thoughts to a couple of dear friends, who are going through pain. I love you.