This week’s small pleasures 489

It is hard to believe we have been in Stockholm for just over a week already. Time is just flying past what with one thing and another and before we know it, we will be on the next leg of our journey. We have been blessed so far with wonderful weather which of course always helps.

Spring is of course now in full bloom, and on Saturday we walked past the cherry blossom on Kungsträdgården. There were so many people looking at the trees, taking photos and generally enjoying this sesonal sign.

Food and food shopping

I am one of those people who loves going to supermarkets in other countries. It is where you learn so much about the place, the food, what people buy. It is also a place where you can find all the things you have missed living elsewhere. I was naturally drawn to the herring shelves (I limited myself to one jar…I know I can go back and get more), and also picked up a large tube of the one and only Kalles kaviar, some of that cream cheese in a tube, this one with shrimp (I know…), some cream for a dish I was making and three boxes, not tins, of tomatoes. I don’t know why we can’t get this type of packaging in New Zealand: it makes so much sense, is easier to store and can easily be disposed of.

On Thursday, for no particular reason, I treated myself to this cardamom bun from Hagabageri (as featured in my last post), because you can’t come to Sweden and not have at least one. Anyway, this was so light, and not too big and the smell of cardamom was wonderful.

On Thursday, Karl gave a talk on his new book at the university, and after we went for dinner with one of the brothers and his wife to Blecktornskällaren. Three of us had Halstrad rödingfilet (‘seared char’) with potatoes and a roe/crayfish sauce, lots of dill and lemon. It was very good and Karl enjoyed a very large schnitzel. For dessert and coffee, we headed back to their flat for this very elegant ice-cream and fruit topped with walnuts.

On Saturday we had lunch at Systarna Andersson, where I enjoyed a club sandwich and Karl a ham and cheese toastie, and where we found the Hamburg based Fritz cola as well. Later, we also spotted the same brand in our local supermarket believe it or not.

Friday afternoon

On Friday I went with my sister-in-law to Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde to see a special exhibition In Bloom – Art & Botany celebrating floral motifs in art and design. There were paintings, sculptures, installations, botanical drawings all celebrating flowers. The exhibition contained works from Waldemarsudde’s own collections as well as loans from museums and private collections. It was such an interesting and with works of all sorts spanning several centuries, all celebrating flowers in some form.

Prins Eugen’s Waldemarsudde is situated on Djurgården in Stockholm. The museum consists of a main building, the Mansion, built in 1903–1905 as a residence for Prince Eugen (1865–1947), and a gallery building that was added in 1913. The prince was not only an artist (naturally many of his works are featured in the museum), but also a great patron of the arts and a collector. Prince Eugen’s will left Waldemarsudde and his collection to the Swedish state in 1947. Below you can see the start of the walk up to the museum.

As well as the exhibition, we walked around the rest of the museum. The house has magnificent views over the water and the rooms just oozed peace and tranquility. The picture on the right is one of the prince’s own works. The room below was filled with plants and the pale yellow curtains cast a golden light over the space – I was enchanted and would have loved to have been able to sit there for hours.

The prince was passionate about gardening and flowers, and the gardens and landscaping around the house still reflect this. Tulips were popping up, oxalis graced the window sills of the upstairs galleries, and other signs of spring could be seen all around.

Sunday

Sunday saw us going for a long walk with another brother (Karl has 4), grabbing a hot dog, and stopping to look at the grave of Olaf Palme.

One of my old school friends arrived from London, and we enjoyed coffee, carrot cake and of course lots of chat at Third Place.

For dinner, we went to Villa Romana, where I enjoyed ravioli filled with lobster and a very delicious sauce, Karl pizza and my friend the ravioli filled with goat’s cheese and topped with hazlenuts and other good things. Very good it all was too.

Simple things

• Finding our way around a different part of Stockholm.
• Enjoying good weather so far.
• Visiting family friends for an excellent evening of food and conversation on Saturday.
• Going shopping in a Swedish supermarket – cannot tell you how good this is!
• Having cosy evenings in the flat.
• Meeting Smilla.

What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. 

• Carol Ann shares some wonderful delights.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens shares a fun guest post from Paris.
• Neal shares a silent Sunday.
• And Natalie enjoys the French riviera.
• Anne finds something old.
• The Travel Sketcher shares his week in The Pearl along with some very tasty looking food.
• And Mr Tootlepedal celebrates spring.
• Anabel of The Glasgow Gallivanter takes us to Dumfries and Galloway.
• Maria has been baking bread.
• Jo shares a Monday medley.
• While Laurie celebrates Earth Day.
• Ju-Lyn bakes banana walnut date bread.
• And Jo reveals….well, go and read her post!
• Finally….Mr Platypus shares an amazing picture of a bear for Wordless Wednesday.
• ..…and all the other lovely bloggers out there. Sorry if I have missed anyone…..

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram