Spring is Here! (?)

We have a little pocket of the Swedish countryside.  There is a traditional farmhouse, a snickarbod* and a pond, complete with stream.  These are the adventures of a gardening enthusiast who, while completely unqualified, doesn't mind (read loves) getting her hands dirty.

snickarbod*  This is a small building used as a workshop situated on the property of a farmhouse. 

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Swedish Countryside Spring Thaw

Swedes are very anxious for the arrival of spring.  After the long, dark winter, the promise of warm weather and bright nights, seems the answer for everything.  And I think I have to agree.  Recently we have had short blasts of spring only to be squashed by a snow/hail storm or a dip in the already miniscule increase in temperature.  I think things are finally going to thaw and these will be one of the last crisp nights, foggy with the condensation of the last of the winter snow.

Side Path After Removal of Thick Grass Cover

Much of the property has been overtaken by plants, grass and bushes. Over the past couple of weeks we have been working on clearing the overgrowth of grass from the side path which faces the road.  The many lilac bushes have been trimmed, as have the apple trees. Before anything can be planted there are a couple of plots that need to be turned.  One will be a flower garden and the other a vegetable garden.  Over the next few weeks the hard labour will be done before the planting can begin, after the last frost.

Bauhaus

There are four Bauhaus warehouses in the Stockholm area. This is Sweden's answer to what North Americans call Home Depot. You will find tools, screws and nails etc., hinges, plumbing, electrical, flooring, wood planks, trim and moulding, plants, lighting, lawn maintenance machines, paint and accessories.  I love these types of stores - big, unpretentious and full of stuff! This is not the place to look for designer originals but it gets the job done, so to speak, and you may find a gem or two.  In fact, I found the greatest beveled tile for a kitchen backsplash at a fantastic price.

Bromma
Bryggerivägen 12 D
16867 Bromma, Stockholm
Telefon: 08- 517 080 00

Barkarby
Enköpingsvägen 41
17738 Järfälla, Stockholm
(Barkarby)
Telefon: 08-5191 91 00

Länna
Gamla Nynäsvägen 600
14251 Länna, Skogås, Stockholm
Telefon: 08-519 19 800

Botkyrka
Segersbyvägen 26
14563 Norsborg, Stockholm
(Botkyrka)
Telefon: 08-534 704 00

Ikea

When talking about Swedish décor shopping it is inevitable that Ikea should come up, so I'll make a small mention here. There are two Ikea locations in the Stockholm area, Barkarby and Kungens Kurva. I have only been to the store at Kungens Kurva, which is apparently the largest Ikea in the world, yet I can tell you, feels like the smallest. It is a circular plan spanning over 4 levels. Aside from the (more) confusing layout, the Kungens Kurva Ikea has everything you expect from Ikea. North Americans may find the restaurant a little surprising. Of course, Ikea caters to local food tradition at their restaurants but the selection in Swedish Ikea is much smaller than that of the North American counterparts. Another interesting discovery for me was that the Ikea grocery store, "The Swedish Food Market" (usually found near the exit), is called "The Swedish Food Market" even in Sweden. So there will be overhead messages about the grocery section in Swedish with the name of the section in English ... are you following me?  Kind of made my head spin a bit at first.

You can take the Ikea shuttle bus from Central Station at Vasagatan 18 every hour on the hour starting at 10am - 7pm - Monday to Friday.  On the way home the bus leaves every hour starting at 10:30am - 7:30pm and makes a few stops along the way in Hornstull, Friedhemsplan, Kungsholms and back to Vasagatan 18 near Central Station.  And it's free.

Ikea Kungens Kurva
 Modulvagen 1
141 08 Kungens Kurva

Ikea Barkarby
Folkungavagen 50
177 35 Jarfalla

Ikea.se