daughter's are always pappa's - Isn't it ?

Here is the cake Shreya made for her pappa on his B'day yesterday. It is something so special between them both - I am always an outsider  :-).

Today is the Earth Day and I strongly strongly recommend you all listen to this girl who silenced the world for 6 minutes.

Have a great weekend.

Party time !!!!

We are into Easter and the mood is elated for quite many reasons

1.       It is bright and sunny SPRING
2.      It’s vacation time
3.      Daughter is home for spring break
4.      It is Sekhar’s B’day today
5.      My spring/summer wardrobe is out 

 

GB's question what I was wearing for a party tomorrow , got my antenna’s up again. Weather - sunny and bright, Season - Spring and Easter, and mood - generally happy and specially very much in the mood to go out. Picked these three and hmmmm - not able to decide – so go ahead and choose one for me on the right side poll

Common go ahead and vote on the right top of the page :-)

God Påske

I just wished you Happy Easter in Norwegian. Officially it is EASTER here and we are closed till Monday. Everything meaning literally everything shuts down from Thursday to Monday (except for a short stint on Saturday) and if we forget to stock up our reserves, we can fast until Tuesday :-). Here is my Easter bunny my PEPPER.

It loves to cuddle up in my arms and can sleep for hours :-)

With the Spring pruning I got my needed twigs for the decoration

Didn't know what to do with the left over eggs, don't u think they look nice in this pasta bottle 

All these cute little chicks are brought home by my son some 11 odd years ago made with his little thumb. Aren't they lovely?

A glass bird's nest that I picked up in Murano (Italy) served good for the eggs..

I do not know much about the religious significance ... but it is always nice to celebrate all festivals. Wish you all a Happy Easter and wonderful SPRING ahead.

YESSS!!!! there is life after WINTER :-)

It felt this week, for the first time this year, after the long dark cold frozen days, like the life is springing back again. Ohhhh !!!!! What a relief and what a hope, can’t be better.

Just last week the snow has been thawing and now even though the trees look barren and still, the ground is breaking with this new life -purple,blue, white and yellow petals, buzzing bees and butterflies, speeding boats and the smiling Norwegians. At the thought of shedding the winter jackets and caps, gloves and long boots – can you see I am smiling and smiling and just SMILING :-).

Every spring day is bringing a new delight to discover and I am enjoying these going for loooooong walks with my daughter S and Ingela (who is an extended member of the family). Ofcourse I am also cooking what S orders :-), watching movies and chit chatting long into the wee hours :-).

 

All images : Self

Here is what Ingela says about Norwegians in Spring / Summer time :-) . I  am linking this to Patty's weekend wrap up and Unknown Mami's Sundays in my City. Have a fantastic springy week ahead :-).

Are you ?

• R&R'ing as GB,
• waking up late as Priya, 
• doing absolutely nothing like Anu,  
• enjoying the li'l one as sharon, 
• planning a vacation like Rekha, 
• having a blast like DW, 
• Setting up the house like Divya,
• creating a Zen zone like Patty,
• in a food festival like My3
• and as whatever everyone else is doing this weekend. 

OK what is Shanthi doing BTW :-). YAY!!! enjoying the homecoming of the daughter S and having the quality mom daughter time. With Sekhar in China and son in a weekend camp :-), SHE IS ALL MINE :-) and just mine and oh how I LOVE THIS TIME. On my walk today I found this at the same old farm house that is so0000 flooded with Indian things.

and how about this original

   Continue the fun and will see you again on Monday

images 1: Self, 2: Via

Small space ? no big deal...

Though great expanses and sweeping vistas are cool, what really counts is a functional, liveable space combined with great style. I am fully in awe of the Scandinavian minimalistic approach with smart use of space that makes one believe small is the new BIG. One such great abode is the 495 sq. ft (approx 49 sq.m) studio attic of Jimmy Schonning a stylist based out of Stockholm.

WOW I just love it all - the modular sofas that can be turned towards terrace or kitchen based on the season :-), the concrete platform with the entertainment, fireplace and cosy reading corner that doubles up as extra beds and the great storage below for wood, papers etc . Take note of the cushions made from an ikea mat - a genial pick.

Gotta love this steel top inbuilt kitchen and did u notice the shelf recycled from an old jetty wood.

A -------- Staircase (go ahead and fill in the blank with the word that occurs to you- bright concrete steps , dark backdrop and the right throw of art n light - what more can one ask

An enlarged photo , creative shelf with the lights and the storage below adds that dramatic touch to this cosy loft sleep.

I am curious to show you this refreshing bathtub from recycled plastic

And what other great place can we wind up this tour than at this creative bath window with character, color, privacy and smart use of space. 

 

Jimmy Schonning is my neighbor (in Sweden) - so you know whom I will ask to do my interiors when I move to an apartment in my old age :-).

  

 Source : Hinteriors, Emma's blog, the doppelganger and dwell. Photos - Per Magnus Persson

Wouldn't you like to float ?

……. that too in the comfy of the cottage that rises and falls with the tides. (I was in the middle of my big project of putting up the Norwegian home series on Home Shanthi Home.  I have been too lazy to compile the first in the sequence though I clicked the photos already a couple of weeks ago. I needed a break from that heavy task :-)) and started looking hither thither, when I hit this wonderful home (not sure if already covered? but who cares , one can never get tired of such a home – not me atleast) so enjoy the float :-)

  

the only way to get to this floating summer cottage on Lake Huron, Canada is by boat 

The foot bridge from the island to the cottage 

 the dock and ...

 .... the deck

 living room

 

Sleeping cabin on the hillock by the side

  All images via Dwell and Trenddir

Stay tuned for the first Norwegian Doll House I will be bringing to you shortly :-)