Sub-arctic Winter

 Icy cold weather. Enjoying the sub-arctic winds for a few days... Tara posing by a little "waterfall".

This is Daddy used to go swimming in the summer.

 Please notice the sun in the photo above! This picture was taken around noon-time, and the sun is no higher than just above the tree-tops! ;)

Do what Jesus did - walk on water. Dad and WC trying out the ice.

WC and his new wool hat. Very warm and perfect for cold winter days!

Guitar hero!

Warren C and Daddy playing together on Dad's Gibson guitar, signed by Per Gessle.

Today we played through some of Mora Träsk's songs in Swedish. And we also played the following, very popular, tunes:

"(Jag vill vara din) Margareta" (chorus at 0.50)

"Alla känner nå'n från Göteborg (Rally)"

"Dom är ledsna (för att de inte är från Göteborg)"

WC was also head-banging to Dad's version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit"! For real!

Goodbye Christmas Tree!

The Red White and Blue proudly displayed on top of our spruce, instead of a star.

 It is time to say goodbye to our Family Christmas Tree! Here are some of our ornaments. Call us corny - but we believe in eclectic x-mas trees.

No American X-mas tree without a large Cheeseburger (thanks Sista S + D-Rock!)

Baby's first Christmas Teddy bear in cart.

"Goodbye tree!" Our son has been very good to the tree this season.

Feline family

Wittgenstein sucking up to our son.

WC and Wittgenstein playing Jack in the Box.

Relaxing at Daddy's manicure parlor

Nietzsche sleeping on Mommy's chair.

Herring plate!

Herring - Or what Swedes have for Christmas dinner. The first part of the "Julbord" consists of fish. In this picture you will find that we have boiled eggs cut in half and garnished with Kalles kaviar (red cod roe caviar). On the top of the plate is Tara's homemade bread with butter and in the middle Tara's homemade Janssons frestelse (a kind of potato gratin/casserole with anchovies). The rest of the plate is packed with different versions of pickled herring: "Brantevik herring" (a rather sweet pickled herring), Dill herring (as the name suggests, flavored in a dill brine, and Onion herring (the most traditional form of pickled herring). Yum yum! Served with a glass of cold Porter and snaps (for more about the all-important Nordic snaps ritual - read this). For Christmas we prefer a very bitter dram called Gammel Dansk.

Some famous Swedish snaps labels.

The Duck Song!

A duck walked up to a lemonade stand
and he said to the man running the stand.
"Hey! Got any grapes?"

The man said "No we just sell lemonade. 

But it’s cold and its fresh and it’s all home made.  

Can I sell you glass?"

The duck said “I’ll pass”. 

Then he waddled away. (waddle waddel). Till the very next day. (bop bop bop)

When the duck walked up to the lemonade stand
And he said to the man that was running the stand
"Hey.  You got any grapes?"

The man said "No, like I said yesterday, 

we just sell lemonade okay?
Why not give it a try?"

The duck said "Goodbye".
 

Then he waddled away.  He waddled away.  He waddled away
Till the very next day.

When the duck walked up to the lemonade stand
And he said to the man that was running the stand
"Hey.  You got any grapes?"

The man said "Look, this is getting old.  

Lemonade’s all we’ve ever sold. 

Why not give it a go?"   

The duck said “No.”

 
Then he waddled away.  He waddled away.  He waddled away
Till the very next day.

When the duck walked up to the lemonade stand
And he said to the man that was running the stand

"Hey.  You got any grapes?"

The man said "THAT’S IT!!  If you don’t stay away,duck,  

I’ll glue you to a tree and leave you there all day, stuck.
So don’t get to close!" 

The duck said "Adios."

 
Then he waddled away.  He waddled away.  He waddled away
Till the very next day.

When the duck walked up to the lemonade stand
And he said to the man that was running the stand
"Hey.  You got any glue?"

"What?"

"You got any glue?"

"No, why would I– Oh!"

"Then one more question for you:
Got any grapes?"

And the man just stopped.  Then he started to smile.  

Then he started to laugh.  He laughed for a while.
Then he said, “Come on duck, let’s walk to the store.  

I’ll buy you some grapes so you won’t have to ask anymore.”

So they walked to the store and the man bought some grapes.  

He offered one to the duck and the duck said “No thanks”. 

“But you know what sounds good? It would make my day.
Do you think this store, do you think this store, do you think this store…  has any… lemonade?”

Then he waddled away.  He waddled away.  He waddled away.

Chord progression (throughout the song):

C                     C         F                G
A duck walked up to a lemonade stand
    C                      C      F                G      
and he said to the man running the stand
C  C   F            G      
Hey. got any grapes?

I'm the NRA (again)!

Our son showing his colors and making a statement to defend liberty and support the Second Amendment. (Here is a photo from last summer on the same theme.) Mom and Dad used to live as stone's throw away from  The National Rifle Association headquarter in Fairfax, Virginia.

 When will PopPop take me duck hunting in Texas?