Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It is winter!

Yes, big parts of south Sweden are covered with snow.
It started to snow about a week ago - about 4 inches at first.
Then we got about 3 additional inches over this past weekend.
Of course it's been windy and cold too.

Today it seems that we'll see some sunlight again, there are just a few clouds up in the sky this morning.
The last two weeks our skies were full of thick snow clouds that wouldn't allow much sunlight to come through.

Before it got so cold we had lots of rain pouring down on us. Personally I prefer the cold and the snow and so do Aaron and Cleo.
Especially Aaron...





Aaron is now 11 month.
Last month he finished his "pre-school" course with flying colors!
He'll be going to dog school again in spring, until that he is on winter break - and he loves it! :)

He's a very active dog, still very VERY! playful and of course, very sweet.
He's an early riser, meaning he wants to get up between 5:30 and 6:30 EVERY SINGLE DAY which means that Ingrid gets up early too.
I and Cleo get to sleep in, of course. :))
By the time Cleo and I come down, usually around 8 or 9am, the two early birds are already back from their first walk around the neighborhood.



Aaron loves to go on trips in his Aaron-Mobil (- that is what we call our KIA these days), especially since he got even more space to sit and lay down then before. Last month we purchased a professional safety grid for the car and the registration has been changed to "light truck". That means it has just two seats left, one for the driver and one for the passenger. It also means that we pay less tax! :))
But most importantly Aaron and Cleo love to travel safely and so do we.



Everything's fine at work. I mostly get to drive afternoon and evening shifts and that really agrees with me. As I wrote in an earlier post, I am definitely not an early bird and I don't mind working evenings.
Of course, driving a bus in winterly road conditions is a bit more challenging then driving on dry roads. The timetables are tight as it is, even without icy roads, but all that matters at the end of the day is safety, even though people are late for work or school.
It is stressful sometimes, but what can you do, that is part of the job.

Generally life is good, especially with x-mas just around the corner and my 40th birthday coming up in just a couple of days.
40!
Who would have thought that.
That really is half of a lifetime, at least these days. After all I got to do and experience in those first 40 years of my life (and that has been quite a lot) I wonder what the next 40 years will bring.
I feel excitement and look forward to the unknown. I just wish to stay healthy enough to make it through those next 40 in sanity. *lol*



Here's some more photos that I took from around the house during those last few days...


Our current home covered in snow, taken on Sunday.




 The flower pot at the "stuga" (cabin) showing off it's last, all dried and frozen daisies. 




Deer family, gathering in groups during the winter.
(Photo taken about 3 weeks ago just outside of our backyard)



Even though the sun is low, it is out and that is why it is time to finish up here and to get going, Cleo is waiting for her morning walk!

Have a nice time everyone!!!


HBFG

7 comments:

  1. I so enjoyed this post!~ I love all your dogs but have a special fondness in my heart for Aaron! He's 11 months now!! And gorgeous! Just hold him tight and enjoy each and every day of your special time together. The only thing German Shepherd can't do is "talk!" Well, I'm wrong there... they have their ways...we just have to learn them!!
    Many blessings in your beautiful Sweden!
    Ann

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  2. Hi!

    It is so good to see the images of my buddy Aaron. Well, he doesn't know he is my buddy, but I am a fan from afar. He is just such a gorgeous guy and he brings back wonderful memories of my Shepherds.

    Here in the USA (at least where we live) we don't pay more per passenger seat in our vehicles. I first learned about that in Norway. It doesn't make much sense except for the tax folks to collect more tax. I understand the area of the rooms in homes is now being taxed in Norway, too.

    The pictures of your home and the deer are just beautiful.

    Great post!

    Hugs,
    Lois

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  3. I personally love your new blog header of Cleo. Is that a recent shot, or is it from when you still lived in Austria?

    Aaron is magnificent. He just looks smart. I'll bet that you have to really work to stay ahead of him, both in actions and thinking! He's a very handsome boy.

    So, your 40th year is approaching ...and fast. I did not realize that you and Toma are almost exactly 20 years apart. He's turning 6-0 on Thursday. Maybe we'll have to get together again this coming year to mark these momentous passages. Sounds like a plan. At least something to look forward to....

    Great post Michi. Worth waiting for ...
    Stay warm and drive carefully!

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  4. I was JUST thinking about you two yesterday!! I was wondering how come we hadn't heard from you and have missed photos of the dogs and your area! My new puppy will arrive via American Airlines to Columbus Airlines on Friday!! It's a 3 hour drive and I can't wait. I remember you waiting for Aaron to come home and now he's already 11 months old!! wow! He sure is pretty!! I've never seen the mobile safety grid. What a great idea. Love the photo of the red house! So pretty! Glad you finally wrote! Missed ya'...debbie

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  5. ...the snow is gorgeous. We are supposed to get some this weekend. I hope we do! Can't believe how big Aaron is already. When I was younger I had a German Shepherd as well. Her name was Sudsy and she was HUGE--130lbs. Seeing photos of the almost fully grown Aaron bring back memories of her.

    p.s. Love the color of your house. The red looks gorgeous against the snow.

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  6. Wow! Has Aaron ever grown! He is very handsome.

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  7. Hello! it's lovely to see you and oh my gosh how your aaron has grown! the snow is SO pretty, i think you are so lucky to live where it falls. but i hear it's not always easy.
    enjoy!

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