Yesterday (Christmas Day), Margareta took Kevin and me on a drive around the island and nearby mainland. We saw such beautiful countryside and can't wait to return so we can see it during warmer weather, too.
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| Driving through Grisslehamn, looking toward the inside passage. |
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| A rare picture of the two of us! We're standing on the bridge between the island and the mainland. What a view! The entire passage was frozen and covered in snow. |
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| The view from the bridge. |
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| Looking the other direction. |
On our way back from our tour of the island and nearby mainland, we stopped at the grocery store. Kevin and I marvelled at the differences between American and Swedish selection.
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| Just a tiny fraction of their cheese selection. This looks like it could belong inside Costco |
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| And why would you want to have even one variety of Surströmming? |
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| Look at all the varieties of knäckebröd! |
When we got home, we had a nice fika, then we played a few rounds of Skip-Bo before dinner.
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| Annali has a very nice conversation with Eskil and Nils while Linnea and Adrian share secrets. |
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| With Ebba, Nils, and Felix playing, the competition is stiff! |
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| Linnea, Ebba, Nils, Annali, Kevin, Adrian, and Felix enjoy a rousing game! |
In the evening we had another fabulous meal. The menu? Cheese wrapped inside meat patties, marinated in an incredible sauce and served over noodles. Amazing!
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| One end of the table.... |
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| ....and the other |
After dinner, we played some more Skip-Bo and ate Christmas cookies and candies....
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| Christine, Ebba, Adrian, Nils, and Olivia |
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| Off to bed, but first a bedtime story! |
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| Followed by....you guessed it! More Skip-Bo! |
We were supposed to return to Alfta earlier today, but there is a Class 2 winter storm (blizzard) advisory in effect for all of Hälsingland (the province which includes Alfta), so we will stay in Grisslehamn one more night. We enjoyed playing in a LOT of new snow today. Linnea got some more sledding in, and both girls enjoyed playing with their new toys and with Ebba and her cousins, especially Adrian.
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| Annali barely consents to sledding with Papa. |
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| Linnea waits patiently in her snow recliner until it's her turn to sled. |
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| The pepparkakor after sledding is the best part, especially if you can find a little nook in which to hide! |
We were even able to take pictures of individual snowflakes today! They really DO look like the paper ones we cut out!!!
They have an incredible view of the Baltic Sea and a pretty little island just off the shore. Near their house there is a small inlet which was mostly frozen over. The sea at times had snow floating on top as far as the eye could see, and then the wind would come and clear it all away. I've never before seen ice in the ocean or snow floating in the ocean. The whole view was breathtaking!
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| The view from the house, looking out east at the Baltic, taken on Christmas Day. |
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| The very same view taken on the 26th, during the big storm. |
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| The back of the house - so pretty! |
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| They tell us there is a deck here somewhere.... |
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| The guest house, in progress. |
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| The view from the front porch. |
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