Another windy storm passed our way 2 weeks ago....we lost a lovely Tulip tree in our front yard. Our biggest Walnut tree (in the photo) almost fell over too! But Bo has managed to strap it back up with high hopes that it will survive it's near fall. (across the street is our neighbor's stable and wood pile in the photo) We don't usually have these storms in the summer...just the winter. This time we only lost power for about 3 hours. 
Because of the storm we decided to take down two more pine large trees in our front yard since they are quite near to the house. Just as a precaution. Our neighbors' also lost several trees in this last storm, luckly none fell on the houses. So, the "trädgubben" was back over here climbing up and cutting down....lots of extra yard work for my husband! 
And now we are so exposed....as soon as the mess is cleaned away we'll plant some new trees and big bushes! We're feeling naked over here! I miss those big trees...but I didn't want them falling on the house! 
Tom and his camera in the "Pyramid"
"Reflections" glass wall....all of us except Maya who was playing inside the bushes! 
As always, there is a KID ROOM at the museum for youngsters (oldsters, too) to create their own art pieces! (no cost)
Our beautiful day ends with a gorgeous orange, yellow, pink, purple and deep blue sunset out my kitchen window! 
Maya and Tom head into the Becán Mayan ruins in Yucatan, Mexico in December 2007. 
Happy as can be sitting together in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico! 
Brad Pitt (oooops, that's my brother!) and Maya get off the plane in Miami, January 2008. 
My brother is quite a good photographer...maybe you'll check out his photo collections in Flickor. He also shoots 360 degree photos. I'll post some links later of his work at golf courses and hotels. http://flickr.com/photos/56826401@N00/
Kelly Sue also brought Maya this flannel/fleece fabric! It's big enough to use as the back side of a quilt! Although it's a gift for Maya, it's really for ME! Thank you, Kelly Sue! :-) I've already gotten my ideas going for this....I think I'll use some of Maya's own mermaid artwork for some of the blocks or appliques on the other side! If anyone knows of a company that makes other MERMAID fabric I'd be deeply appreciative! http://www.ellenedith.com/ sent me to http://www.blankquilting.com/home.aspx but it's not quite what I was looking for....
See? the other mermaids are happy to welcome a new friend or two to our Mermaid madness!
This art piece at the Orebro Castle was called "Out of the murky depths, rise into the light" (by a Finnish artist). cool! 
And there really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME! (from our hotel wall in Tällberg!) 
And since coming home...Pappa has worked more on Maya's incredible play apparatus! The SWING is in business! He's making a climbing wall on the forest side and a platform for a hide out somewhere there. Plus we've ordered a horse-tire swing and she'll have a rope ladder and hanging rope and.....and.....it keeps growing! 
The Nilsson mobile is ready for take off! Bo and his parents drove to Jonköping to visit with his cousin and family in their new home in the countryside. After their visit with her they drove straight back to Skåne, arriving at 1 am!
The Doughty mobile is loaded and giddy with anticipation of more adventures on the way home! Because of Mom's arthritis we decided it was best to take the trip to Skåne in two parts rather than one long drive. So we split the trip up by spending one night in Orebro (on my list of places to visit more thoroughly!). On our way out Maya said "Granpa, take a look at the map and see if we are anywhere." 
After walking around Orebro in the early morning, we continued our drive home and found a delightful place to lunch at the delicious cafe at Stjernsund Palace on the lake by Askersund town.
We had another pleasant surprise in Vadstena where we discovered this huge castle with impressive defenses! Must have seen some fighting going on back in time to keep its powerful position on Lake Vättern! (another place to add to my list!) 
Laundry, porch curtains...just too cute! 
And look at this telephone booth! I bet hardly anybody uses it but it's just tooo cute to tear down! 
And this window box of the Fryksås Handicrafts? TOO CUTE! 
Almost just tooo cute to use...but we did! (Maya would point out "purple" to you...he's in the lower right corner...it's her security blanket.)
FIKA again! Who wouldn't want to join in a fika? It's just tooo cute! This was created for the workers of one of the Dalahorse factories that we visited in Nusnäs. And not one dalahorse near by to remind them of work! What a relief! 
Family garden by Linné's Wedding Place outside of Falun...very cute! 
Sundborn...Shabby Chic cottage....wow, it's soooo cute! 
Tällberg cabin and entry gate...dried flowers from Mid-sommar....the place is just so cute! 
These 3 are just tooooo cute! Wooden statues in honor of the migrant labourers on the farms.
In the Leksand's historical park...
Old barn in Fryksås
Fryksås- summer houses for goat herders back in time....
Solleron - historical park
