Category: scandi

Mouse House x

Joy can come in very small packages.

The idea of little shops for mice was first started by Anonymouse – a Swedish Artists collective whose first piece of mouse street art was a restaurant in Malmo. The idea has since been taken up by others across the world. Built with dedication, skill, time and humour they exist for the pure wonder and escapism their existence produces; a little bit of imagination made real.

(All pics Pinterest and Anonymouse)

It’s enough to make you smile.

Laters, Kate x

Cabin Porn x

I think we all have a secret something we wish would or could happen. Mine would be a shack by the sea. But I’ve found myself recently dreaming of mountains, snow and vistas of unending wilderness. In my mind I’m seeing this as a conscious unconscious dream, a mixing of lockdown, the same four walls on repeat combined with winter, an acceptance of hibernation and the colder season of winter.

If pictures are not enough, there are two Youtube channels I’ve discovered (I’m sure there are plenty more) that open the door to another world, if only for a little while…

This is Hannah Lee Dugan, living in her cabin. If she’s not in her cabin, she lives in her converted van.

This is Tova and her family, living off grid in the Forrests of Jamtland, Sweden.

Enjoy!

Laters, Kate x

Boxing Day Plans x

Let’s be honest. This year Christmas is going to be different – so I think the only way is to go whole hog and make it more so. Partly due to the amount of box sets we’ve managed to inhale, but also just because I fancy it, it’s been decreed that in this hovel, Boxing Day will be a day of reading and minimal electricity (think candles and open fires. maybe the odd sheepskin. I read somewhere that a Scandi country (couldn’t tell you which one) gives books as presents on Christmas Eve, to be read on Christmas Day. This, for me, is a bit of an infringement on Christmas Day, a bit too holy on the national day of greed and gluttony. But the day after? Absolutely bloody perfect.

So each person has to buy one book for another person at the Christmas table. What joy!

(All pics and links Pinterest and Bookshop.org)

Which is not to say Christmas lunch will have this many people, more – how do you choose? This is quite frankly, a little slice of opt out heaven.

Laters, Kate x

Silver Lining x

 

I remember at Christmas being drawn to coloured fairy lights over the classic, style leading, Scandi simplistic white and that pull to colour is still strong:  In the opening episode of Tales of the City on Netflix, there’s an outdoor party in San Fransisco festooned with every kind of light, shape, size and colour and it was an eclectic, mad, happy joy to see.  When the weather is grey, the politics greyer and the country feels like it’s going to the dogs, we need colour….and the bigger, the brighter, the more ebullient, the better.

(All pics Pinterest)

Simple pleasures.

Laters, Kate x