Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, can I get you a cup of coffee? Or tea? It’s still very early Saturday morning, let’s sit down and enjoy our beverages in my kitchen. I love watching the tomato plants grow a little every day. Next week I’m going to plant tomatoes with the kids at work. I can’t wait to watch them eagerly follow the growth of their own plants. We’ve saved milk cartons and printed each child’s name on them. When the weather is nice enough for them to plant them in the ground, hopefully at the same time as the plants are ready to be planted in the ground, they get to take their own plant home with them. We will plant some extra for our school’s garden (it’s very tiny.)
What’s going on in your corner of the world?
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I’ve been riding my bike to work every day except Tuesday. I spent Tuesday in the ski slope and figured that my legs could benefit from taking the bus that day. It’s been truly wonderful getting back to riding my bike, even though I’ve had to watch the ground carefully at all times, the ice is still pretty thick in some places. The day I spent in the ski slope this week was a little different, I usually have skis on, but this week I had a snowboarding school with the children that expressed a wish to learn how to snowboard. About 20 children that had never tried snowboarding before tried snowboarding for the first time that day. It was so much fun! By the end of the day I had a long list of children that also wanted to try, that I didn’t have time to help that day, they will get to try within the next 2-3 weeks. For safety reasons I only helped two children at a time.
Riding my bike to work this week I witnessed several amazing sunrises. I’d say that it has been a very good week so far, I am very grateful. I turned in the final exam paper for the class I’m taking on time. There is an oral exam seminar next week, where one student present their exam paper, and another student ask questions, and make suggestions about it. Next week I am going to do both of those things, presenting my report (it’s an analyse of a study within the field of subject-didactics; conversational genres in the teaching of literature,) and react to someone else presenting their report. It’s only the first class of the Degree of Master of Science, Main Field of Study: Educational Work. I am enjoying school immensely, perhaps mostly because it is really challenging..really challenging, like the most challenging thing I’ve done academically so far in my life. I have all the books for my next class that is starting the last week of March. I’ve started to read some, but my mind is on the ventilation of the final exam next week. I’m going to give my mind a break this weekend, and focus on my daughter and my home, maybe I’ll plant some early salad greens in containers at the balcony. I might read some tomorrow evening.
Thank you Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. Please visit her blog, and have a look at all the lovely coffee shares. I hope you are enjoying a fabulous weekend!
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
Hi Maria, are those the tomato plants in the window? They look happy and healthy. I have three seedlings that grow at least a couple of cm every day. One of them is becoming too large for the container so I think I’ll plant it in a larger pot and place it in the window, and plant new seeds in turf pots in the container. We’ve bought seeds for tomatoes, chili and pepper. I hope it’ll go well although I’m a bit late with it – now at least I have a good container, and planting late has the advantage of more light!
Your morning bike rides sound pleasant even if I wouldn’t dream of doing it before all ice is gone. I hope you get a nice relaxing weekend!
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Hi Susanne! Yes those are indeed tomato plants 🙂 Thank you! It’s so much fun watching them grow. These are all cherry tomatoes, my kids preferred type of tomatoes. What kind of tomatoes are you growing? Being a little late with the start isn’t too bad, like you said, they will have more light. I’m adding extra light when needed.
Have wonderful weekend ahead!
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I’ve no idea, I took seeds from last year’s tomatoes but they should be a larger type because all cherry tomatoes were eaten by woodlice. I’ve bought seeds, mostly cherry tomatoes since they’re usually easier to succeed with. This year I’ll put them in large planting boxes down the hill in the garden, where they’ll get plenty of sun and air. It’s the warmest area of the garden in the summer.
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It is wonderful to save seeds. Last year I had bell-peppers from seeds I’ve saved many years prior in California. Best of luck with your tomatoes and the rest of your garden.
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Hi Maria and thanks for the coffee! I bet your schoolchildren look forward to growing their very own tomatoes indeed. I’m so happy you saw some great sunrises on the way to work when riding your bike. Sunrises and sunsets always please me. Overall indeed it sounds like you had a lovely week. Hope next week is as wonderful!
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Thank you so much Astrid! I bet it is going to be a lot of fun planting with the kids, it usually is 🙂 Thank you for your kind comment. I think the sunrise and the sunset gives the day a golden frame. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
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I haven’t started any seedlings yet. I am not sure if I will be doing much gardening this year, but we shall see. Thanks for the virtual coffee Maria. Have a great weekend.
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If you do, best of luck with it! Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you so much for your lovely company!
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Someone asked once whether a sunrise or sunset was better – I say both are magical for their own reasons!
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Absolutely, they are! Like a golden frame to the day. Thank you for your comment!
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Yay for getting your paper turned in on time! Please be careful riding on the ice, Maria. Your photos are beautiful! And, I was wondering how far your bike ride is, four miles is a pretty good ride. My eBike blew the rear tire out, it’s being repaired tomorrow. Your tomato plants are growing nicely, delicious! It’s been in the upper 60s and mid-70s lately, nice weather here. Be safe and well, Maria! ❤️🇸🇪
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Thank you so much John! Yes, it is about 4miles one way, making it some decent exercise. I am so happy to be able to ride my bike again. I always wear a good helmet, and try to make wise decisions, if it’s too icy I get off and walk pass the worst ice.
I saw about your tire on Instagram. Good thing you are getting it fixed. Enjoy your beautiful spring weather. 🙂
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I will, thanks! I just put the bike in the bed of my truck for tomorrow’s repair. I have no idea how much this will cost, and I don’t have the tech skills to work on the gears and all that.
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Best of luck. If it’s just a flat tire it shouldn’t be that expensive. If you have the option maybe choose tires that don’t go flat. I am very happy with mine. You can find good ones at a bike shop for around $30-$60.
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Hi Maria,
I need to ask, because I’ve never seen the phrase before, what is meaning of , “… the ventilation of the final exam …”?
I majored in Christian Education to get my BA and took gobs of education theory and practicals stuff, but never ran across this term. Going for a Masters is a whole level above what I did, but still – please catch me up.
Surly even even Sweden is beginning to see more signs of spring coming. Still having ice on the ground would be odd for me. Even in Colorado, we could get it this late in the mornings but it would steam off by mid afternoon leaving me back in shorts by dinner time.
Always a treat visiting with you. Have a great week.
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It’s possible I’m not using the correct term. What I was referring to is a seminar where one student present their exam paper, and another student ask questions, and make suggestions about it. Next week I am going to do both of those things, presenting my report (it’s an analyse of a study within the field of subject-didactics; conversational genres in the teaching of literature,) and react to someone else presenting their report.
There are some signs of spring, warmer days, and some brave budding flowers. We’ve had a lot of snow and ice this year, it will take some time to clear up. Kids in our neighbourhood were out sledding earlier today, so there is still some snow 🙂
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and a great new week!
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You sound very busy! The tomato project sounds exciting. I love getting kids interested in gardening, so life giving. 🙂 Hope your weekend is relaxing before you launch into the next course. What is a ‘ventilation?’ Is that like an oral quiz?
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It somehow tends to get very busy, perhaps it’s living in the city? My goal is still to have a place in the countryside, but it is taking some time to get there 🙂 I’ll try to explain the ventilation better, I should probably change the whole post, Gary was just asking about the same thing. It is an oral exam, where you present your work, and your work gets analysed. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. What is the weather like?
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Yesterday was drizzly and today was mostly cloudy… the temps are hovering around upper 40s in the day. Last night we had a brief thunderstorm! Friday was in the 60s and it was a wonderful taste of days to come. I am ready to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring!
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Let’s manifest more days in the 60’s! We had a high of 55F Saturday and Sunday, sunny weather and no wind. It was very nice. Today we are going to have a high of 52F, but the low last night was 24. We may have frost at night for another month. Have a wonderful new week my friend ❤
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Thanks, Maria… sounds like our weather is similar. Last year our last frost was April 23 (10 years ago it was May 23). Things are changing fast, but I must admit I like the longer growing season.
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Maria, Thank you for sharing your great week with us at #weekendcoffeeshare. The schoolchildren are going be so excited growing their own plants. Glad to hear you’re able to resume cycling. Good luck with your final exam presentation. I have no doubt that you’ll do very well.
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Thank you so much Natalie!
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Thanks for your coffee share. Here in Florida it has been HOT. 30 Celsius and some days a bit more. But I like the heat and so I am happy to have it.
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That is hot! I am happy that you enjoy the heat 🙂 How does Biasini feel about the heat?
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Hi Maria!
I absolutely love your sunrise photos. They are so beautiful and your tomatoes have a great start and are fun to watch grow. How fun to have the kids at school grow some too!! Sounds like your studies are going great, and I hope you are having a relaxing weekend! I’m staying busy as ever, my sister is visiting for a week and she’s my riding sister so she has been helping me with Murphy. I’ll have to share soon, my pony adventures!! ❤️
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Thank you Diana! how fun to have your sister over for a visit! You are very good at making time for your family ❤
I cleaned out my balcony yesterday, and planted many different types of salads and herbs. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Sounds like a wonderful week! I do hope you’re resting as much as you can this weekend in preparation for your exam! May it go smoothly and easily 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Cycling to and from work is a great way to see the changing day, more so in the mornings. I’ve missed this as a regular activity. Definitely need to get back to it.
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I agree! I di it when it is possible, and sometimes when most people think its don’t LOL. I am so grateful for my bike. Since I do not have a car my bike gives me so much freedom. Have a great week!
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We manage to scoot about town all over the place on our bikes, much easier than needing/paying for parking. I wish the roads were more cycle friendly here.
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I’m glad you were able to ride your bike to work 🙂 Sounds like your class is going well. After this oral presentation and critique, do you then go back, revisit (if needed) and hand the paper in for a grade? Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
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Thank you, riding my bike to work really adds to my week in so many ways (personal me time, exercise, nature experiences, energy..)
Yes, my class is going well, although very challenging. You are correct, after the oral presentation and critique we have the option of rewriting parts if we feel there is a need for that, but we also already handed in our paper as they are to our professor (deadline was this past Friday.) I don’t think I would change anything before her feedback.
Have a great week!
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Good luck with the exam!
Teaching primary or secondary kids?
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Thank you. I am a kindergarten teacher, working on my master’s degree on the side.
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👌
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I wish I lived in an area that I could ride my bike more places. While not far out of town, I live up a hill so that would make it a bit trickier…although I’d just have to walk it up and down I suppose.
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I am grateful to live in an area with well developed bike paths. I don’t have a car, and I don’t plan on getting one, so last year I invested in a good bike. I am so happy I did, it makes a big difference.
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