Welcome to the weekend coffee share! Can I get you a cup of coffee?
Would you like to step outside, and sit at the balcony? The outside temperature is 51F/11C at the moment, but at the balcony it’s around 70F/21C. Perfect weather if you ask me. I wouldn’t mind if it never got any warmer than this, (of course my plants would like it to be slightly warmer.)
It’s a beautiful morning, and we’ve had plenty of those this week. I’ve enjoyed each and every one riding my bike to work. I usually ride through the park that you can see in the photos. After I pass the park the bike path takes me up through a pine forest before I reach the kindergarten school I work at. There are many different paths that I can ride to get there, but this time of the year this is my favourite morning ride. In the afternoon I take a different path home.
How are things in your corner of the world? I’d rather not talk about how the prices of food have escalated like crazy these past months, but to give you an idea, imagine that you are walking in to the most upscale Whole Food store (expensive grocery chain) in San Francisco (expensive city) and that everything in a (usually) budget friendly grocery store (similar to Walmart) nowadays have those price tags. Enough said..besides expensive groceries life is very good!
We are getting closer to vacation time, something both me and the kids are looking forward too. I am hoping for many camping adventures in beautiful nature.
After the vacation I am going to start a new job! Yes, that was the big news last week. I am going to work in another school district, the same distance from my home, but in a different direction. It’s situated in a somewhat socio-economically disadvantaged area, compared to where I work now. Many of the children are in great need of extra help, in a wide range of areas, language being one of them. I am going to refresh my sign language skills during the summer. I am excited about the challenge. Because it is going to be a great challenge, but I feel I have something to give, and I really want to be able to make a greater difference than my current job lets me.
How is your coffee? Would you like a refill? Do you have any plans for the weekend? I mostly look forward to doing little things around the house. I enjoy that immensely, especially since my schedule is rather tight during the weekdays. I also hope to ride my bike to a lake I’ve never visited before. Tonight we’re going to have a small party watching the Eurovision song contest, and eating good food. Eurovision is a big thing here in Europe. Most countries in Europe have several music competitions/finals during the spring, it looks a bit different exactly how this is done depending on what country you are in. The goal is to choose one artist/song to represent the country. These finalists compete against each other during one week in May, this week, and the finalists from these competitions compete against each other tonight in a great final – The Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a tradition going back to May 24, 1956 when the very first Eurovision was held. This is the link to the live stream tonight, Saturday morning in the US. Sweden made it to the grand finale and that is very exciting of course. I really like our contribution this year, I think Cornelia Jacobs voice is very beautiful. The video is from the second semi finale. The Eurovision Song Contest is always held in the country last years winner represented. Sweden have arranged the competition six times. Ukraine is the favourite this year…and if you are wondering, this years competition is held in Italy, the winners of 2021. It would be interesting, and equally wonderful to see Ukraine arrange the competition next year.
Thank you Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. I hope you are enjoying a fabulous weekend!
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
I love your photos, Maria, such peaceful scenery. Congratulations on your new job, I hope it goes well for you! Have a great weekend. Vegas will see 97F today, and 100F tomorrow, you remember the heat!
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Thank you so much John!
I know you are going to enjoy that heat. Enjoy! ❤
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Your bike ride to work sounds perfect on these lovely spring mornings. Do you bike in the rain or take the bus? Congrats on the new job! Challenges keep us growing, so I hope this one works well for you.
We’re having a summery blast the past few days with temps in the mid to high 80s. After such a cool spring, most days in the 50s, it is a bit of a shock! The leaf canopy is opening fast in response. All that new green is lovely. The dawn chorus starts at 4:45 am, but I don’t mind. I like hearing all my bird friends waking up and greeting the day. I got my dahlia bed planted today, glad to get that done… all ready for summer bouquets. 🙂
Every day I work for about 2 hours (my energy limit these days), so slowly things are getting done. Always something on the list, new things replacing the old. 😉
Have a great week!
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Thank you Eliza. We haven’t had any rain in the morning in a very long time, maybe not even this year? I have great rain gear for rainy days, it’s mostly a matter about the wind, if I should take the bus. This week I had absolutely no reasons at all to take the bus, riding my bike every day is the goal.
This summer however there is going to be some bus rides out to different nature areas a little further away in the region. I am planning on getting a 30 day bus/train pass that covers the whole region in June, to be able to do some exploring, hiking, and camping with the kids.
The progress in your garden sounds wonderful. My tomato plants and, and red currant bushes are looking great, but harvest is far away. I do harvest green onion, baby spinach, and a mix of salad greens almost daily. Tis is the season! 🙂 I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend ❤
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I enjoyed this post very much.
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Maria, Congratulations on you new job! It sounds like a good fit for you. Thank you for your weekend coffee share and beautiful photos. The park looks beautiful. It won’t be long before you enjoy summer vacation in nature with your children. Have a great week ahead!
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Thank you so much Natalie! I hope your weekend is lovely!
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How EXCITING for your new job!! I just know you are going to love it and do so well there. I’m loving your photos as you live in the most beautiful area! Thank you for the links to the singing competition. I’ll listen to them soon and it’s always so wonderful to share coffee with you and I hope you and family have a wonderful weekend. I haven’t been sharing as often lately but will hopefully have a coffee share later tonight or tomorrow! 💖🤩🐴❤️
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Thank you so much Diana! The favourites won the competition, but it was a really good competition with many lovely contributions. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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We got up to watch Eurovision which started at 7am down here. We were very happy with Sweden’s fourth place.
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Awe, that is nice! I think the whole competition held a very high standard, with so many talented artists and wonderful songs!
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testing 😉
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Hi Maria – It looks like the weird problem of commenting to you is not with us today.
I was wondering, even guessing that you were thinking about a new job. You seem to be one of those who just plain have a lot to give and would be frustrated if your gifts were not being fully used. I hope this turns out to be a great career move.
And – wow! Springtime in Sweden is breathtaking.
Great photos my friend.
Question – do you use a colored lens filter at all? I used to brighten up some of my film photos with a yellow lens filter and was wondering if you used something like that because these photos are amazing. Now that I think about it, a digital camera could likely do this with the flip of a filter setting.
Either that – or Sweden is just alive with such colors.
Hope you have a great week coming.
Blessings.
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Thank you Gary, I am happy you had a smooth experience when commenting 🙂 I actually do not have a digital camera anymore. All my photos this year have been taken with my iPhone, no filter needed. It’s very convenient since I always have my phone with me. Thank you for your kind comment. Have a wonderful new week 🙂
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Beautiful photos. I would be very happy to never see temperatures higher than 65 F… Cool about the new job. I’m sure it will be nice having the summer to prepare. Same distance as present job – are you going to be able to bike? Is it a nice route?
Have a wonderful week!
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Thank you! I can ride my bike along a path next to one fo the lakes almost all the way to my new job. It’ s nice ride, not as hilly as the one I take now. I hope your week is great!
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I enjoyed your update. Your photos are gorgeous and I’d love to sit on your patio.
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Thank you so much Kristin!
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Congratulations on the new job! I previously worked with a range of people from disadvantaged youth and elderly. I’ve learned so much on the job.
I learned about Eurovision today on the local news on how Ukraine won. I did not know it was a big thing there.
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Thank you Julie! How is your new job?
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My new job is good. It has helped me with my work-life balance.
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I am so happy to hear that!
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Thats sounds interesting. I been working myself in schools with students with same background. My exprience is that you learn a lot about your self in that kind of schools.
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Thank you! Yes, I am looking forward to it. It is very exciting!
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The scenery in our photos is so beautiful! And best wishes for your new job.I may not know you other than through your log but I think you will do well with this new job. I feel that you have the empahty and skills needed for these children. Enjoy your summer and I hope we will see some blog posts about your camping trip. (ps.I have put up a post this evening that is my weekend ‘coffee or tea’ share. )
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Thank you so much Anne! I’ll drop in for some coffee 🙂
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I’ll have it ready for you.
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Thank you 🙂
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