Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share! Can I get you a luxury cup of a dark French roast coffee? Today we are in a celebration mode! What are we celebrating you might ask? We are celebrating the first day of the summer vacation. It’s worthy of a celebratory mode, right? Yesterday I worked my last day at the job I’ve cherished ever since I moved back to Sweden 2019. It was a great last week, and a fabulous last day at work. Everyone was so kind, there was many tears, hugs, and gifts exchanged. The children gave me beautiful paintings, necklaces, and bracelets that they’ve made.
It was not easy to say goodbye to the children and all my friends at work. At the same time it’s going to be wonderful with a long vacation, and time to prepare for the new adventures ahead of me. Yesterday evening I invited ”my team” over to my house for a little party. It was wonderful. Everyone had a blast. Since everyone worked a long day first we decided to order food from the nearest pizza place. I had booked the greenhouse outside our apartment complex in advance and we had the party there. It’s the perfect place to have a party, there’s a long table and everyone can sit together, and there’s big areas outside to get up and move around when needed. My daughter joined us the whole evening, and she had a great time, getting a lot of attention. She loves to be the center of attention at any party. I am not the least bit shy, but I’ve never felt a need to be the center of attention the way she does. She was shining the whole evening. My colleagues looked like they had a blast and there was many laughs, and some people got up and started to dance to the music. It was a perfect summer night. I did make a berry cheesecake for dessert, there is a small piece left, would you like to try it?
Are you enjoying summer weather? It’s still a little cool here around 70F, which suits me just fine. I’m hopping to enjoy a relaxing day today. I was thinking of giving my blog a summer look, visit blogs I haven’t been able to visit due to the business at work and school these past weeks, and just enjoy life getting into vacation mode. Thank you Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. Tell me what’s going on in your neck of the woods. I’m going to try to visit everyone’s coffee share this weekend.
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
It is so nice that you formed those connections with your students and colleagues. The leaves on the plant from your colleagues remind me off some kind of rubber tree, but I don’t know what it is. Will you tells?
Have a great weekend Maria. Thanks for the virtual coffee.
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It warms my heart thinking of some of the conversations I had with parents and students alike this week. I am so very grateful for each and every connection. One six year old girl said “It’s OK that you are going to quit because you already taught us everything we need to know.” Several of the parents said that they felt that I saw their child and his/her needs, and that this made them feel so good about their child going to this school. It was indeed a great week, and I’ll keep the memories in my heart.
I actually don’t know what kind of plant it is. My colleagues thought it looked great and that I would like it. I do like it! They didn’t think of asking what kind of plant it is. I’m going to figure it out. I was hoping one of my blogging friends would know. Someone has too, right? Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and a great week to come!
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My boys are in grade 3 and 6, but their kindergarten teacher and I often have great conversations when we see each other. She formed great connections with her students and with the parents. An amazing lady and an amazing teacher. So important. It sounds like you are the same.
Haha, the mystery plant. Love it. It is a very pretty plant.
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That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you for sharing.
My wise friend Eliza told me that the plant is a dieffenbachia, or ‘dumb cane’. I read a little about the plant this morning, and I think I’m going to have to put it in one of the kids bedrooms. It’s way too sunny for it in the kitchen. I think the leaves are exquisite. Have a wonderful day!
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Your parting with the school and families sounds strongly bitter sweet. It all sounds wonderful but sad. You’ve made some great friendships (no surprise there) and now you have a summer to enjoy. I hope it proves to be full of peace, rich outdoor smells and views all surrounded with friends and family.
Blessings indeed Maria.
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Thank you so much Gary. That is exactly how it was, bitter sweet. A great chapter ends, another begins.
I hope your summer is filled with peace, adventures, fresh air, and lots of writing (since I know you like to write a lot.)
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The food looks yummy, the flowers and plants are very beautiful, Maria! I am glad you’ve had a great summer so far. Best wishes for you in your new job, your daughter must be speaking good Swedish now to be with the party people. Sunny and 90F in Vegas today, We’ve had some 100+ days already. Be well, my friend! 😍🇸🇪
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Thank you so much John!
Actually we mostly spoke English at the party. Everyone learns English at school and most people answer in English if you start speaking English. I believe that is partly why my daughter don’t see the use of actually speaking Swedish, when it is so much easier to speak English, and everyone understands her just fine. LOL. We all had a great time, and that is what matter the most 🙂
Enjoy a wonderful rest of the weekend John!
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Yay to summer! Bet you are loving the long days right now, definitely worth celebrating. (Are there big solstice festivals where you live?)
As Shakespeare wrote: ‘parting is such sweet sorrow…” Sounds like everyone is going to miss you and such generous gifts they gave. The green plant is a dieffenbachia, or ‘dumb cane’, named because any one who eats the leaves loses their voice… poisonous to animals and humans, but a great low light houseplant. The hibiscus is a lovely color, too.
Enjoy your week ahead… freedom!
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Cheers to summer! We do have big celebrations, we call it ‘Midsommarfirande’. This is how it’s celebrated in my region https://www.visitdalarna.se/en/midsummer.
Thank you so much for telling me what kind of plant it was they gave me 🙂 I read some more about it, and it seems like I would have to place in in one of the children’s rooms, the kitchen window is very bright with direct sun (West-facing window.)
How is your garden doing? Is it still comfortable temperatures? Have a wonderful rest of your weekend ❤
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Your festival looks like so much fun with everyone welcome to join in.
The garden is doing well… we could use some more rain, but I have soaker hoses on the annual seedling beds to supplement. All the perennials are pretty well established and mulched, so it is rare that I have to water.
This weekend has been breezy and chilly in the low 60s… our ‘normal’ is mid-80s. Nice and sunny today, so it feels great.
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The bouquet with flowers from your garden that you posted a photo of the other day was absolutely lovely! Your summer arrangements are inspiring. Enjoy this week!
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Thank you, Maria!
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Sounds like a great last day at work. And the party afterwards sounds like a good time. I miss having summer breaks, though I will take a couple of days off next week, It looks so pretty there! And the temperature is perfect for me, though I can’t complain this weekend, it is perfect here as well.
I hope you are havign a good weekend and have a wonderful week ahead! In fact, I hope you have a super summer break 🙂
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Thank you so much Trent! It’s been a lovely week, and I am excited about the freedom to decided over my own time for a while. Just being able to drop everything when my daughter has something interesting to say (which happens a lot,) and actually listen, instead of feeling stressed over what you should do to get where you need to be like 5 minutes ago. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Hi Maria – I think your plant might be a dieffenbachia and I know the one under it is a hibiscus because we have a few growing in our front garden – the flowers are beautiful. Well done on being so valued and knowing you’ll be missed by the children and your fellow workers – that says a lot about what you brought to the table while you were there.
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Thank you for your kind comment Leanne! I believe you are right about the plant being a dieffenbachia, my friend Eliza (that usually knows what she is talking about ) said the same 🙂 I moved it into my sons room where the light preferences better suits a dieffenbachia. I hope you are well ❤
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Sounds like a great party and send-off! Best wishes for your next adventure, (2019? My goodness! I hadn’t realized it has been so long.)
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Thank you so much ! It has indeed been almost three years since we moved back. Sometimes it feels like yesterday, and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. ❤
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Happy midsummer Maria!!!Thanks for posting some delicious photos of Sweden. I so enjoyed the first with the lake. So serene.
Are you retiring from work or is it just a vacation?
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Thats one of the finest things about being a teacher, the love you been given.
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Indeed!
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What a wonderful going away you had…the scenery around you is beautiful. I might have missed what you’re onto next but I’ll go back and check.
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