What can I get you? The coffee is strong, and the tea is ice cold. We’ve had some really hot days this week, with high’s of 94F/34C. That is hot for our area. Around midnight Thursday it started to thunder, like no other thunderstorm I have ever experienced. The lightning struck all around us. Today it’s been raining all day with a high of 57! We enjoyed the warm days earlier this week, and now we’re enjoying the rain.
Mon-Thur I’ve been riding my bike up to the garden around 6AM to water the garden, especially all the new plants and bushes I’ve planted, before the heat of the day. Today there was no need for that! I am super happy with how things are progressing at my new gardening plot. Most days this summer I’ve done around 8miles/13km on my bike before 9am (riding uphills to the garden, and downhills home from the garden.) My daughter likes to sleep in, and when I get back home I can focus on her the rest of the day feeling great in my body, knowing that I’ve already had my main exercise taken cared of for the day, everything else is just a bonus. Some days we visit the garden together later in the day, but only if she feels up to it, if she’d rather do something else I am free to say yes to that.
There was several different varieties of raspberry bushes already on the gardening plot when I took over the lease, some where next to each other (likely intentionally planted like that,) but most were spread out all over the place. I’ve started to water them, and gently dig up the runners, planting them next to the others. This might be a never ending project, since raspberries are notorious for sending out runners, but hey..that’s the fun thing with a garden – it’s never done, it’s a never ending work of love. I’ve already eaten some of the raspberries, and within a week, or two, I believe there will be a bigger harvest.
This vacation is so much more than I expected going into it, and I still had pretty high expectations, and there’s two more weeks to go! I am filled with gratitude. My plan is to add a few raised beds for vegetables every year. I feel that I am on the right path to a more sustainable life, keeping my dream alive. I’ve made some wonderful new friends with similar interests, and my feeling of belonging and being a part of the local community is the strongest it’s been since I moved back to Sweden. I’m not going to lie, it was a big change coming back home after several years abroad, and then Covid hit the world right after our move.
Next week we are celebrating a big birthday, and afterwards we’ll have a little adventure. I’ll write more about the celebrations and the adventure next weekend 🙂 I hope your week is fabulous! 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 some time this weekend.
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
Wow, look at you go with the garden! You have the touch, that green thumb like my mother had. And, you have two weeks of holiday left too, enjoy!! ❤️ It will hit 113F in Vegas today, Maria, be glad that you’re in a much cooler place, and I never thought Sweden could hit 94 degrees!
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Thank you John for your kindness, I take the comparison with your mother as a great compliment. I am so grateful for this opportunity to do a little more gardening, it is perfect. I heard that its cooling down a bit for you next week (spoke to a friend in Las Vegas today,) stay safe until then ❤
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Your garden is growing! It’s absolutely beautiful!
It seems to be hot everywhere!
Your current bushes remind me of when we had current bushes when I was a little girl. I got to pick them for my Mom. She made lots of current jelly.
And you showed up in my email! Lucky I am!
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Thank you so much Nancy! I too have found childhood memories of redcurrant jelly and blackcurrant lemonade, I hope to make some for my daughter. It’s great seeing you again. I hope your weekend is wonderful!
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It’s great seeing you again! Enjoy making memories with your lovies!
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Thank you! Great seeing you!
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I’m equally excited for you, Maria. You belong in a garden! 🙂
94 in Sweden is astonishing. The world is changing, for sure. On a bright note, maybe your garden season will be longer in the coming years. Ours is a month longer than it was a generation ago. Grab those silver linings!
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94 was hot, but it didn’t last for long, actually the rest of the summer have been colder than usual. No one in the region have any luck with warm weather crops this year. Last year was a fantastic year, but this year it’s not the best. Cold weather crops and berries on the other hand are plentiful. I am grateful for more space allowing me to grow a wider variety of crops.
The green hills you posted in your Silent Sunday today are marvellous! Such a gorgeous view. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend ❤
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Thank you for the tour of your garden! I am especially drawn to the redcurrants! So pretty and I can almost taste them! #weekendcoffeeshare
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So happy to share with you, gardening is my passion. Redcurrants are both beautiful and so gapped for you. I like incorporating them to my breakfast on my yogurt, or oatmeal. Enjoy the rest of your weekend 🙂
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I’m curious to hear how oregano behaves in your area! I bought a plant three years ago and planted it in my garden bed. Then two years ago I moved to a box next to the greenhouse. It start growing massively! I had to move it from that box and put it in a larger box. Now it’s absolutely enormous and just takes over all the space. I’m tempted to take some and plant it in a pile of compost we have at the bottom of our garden, where we dump the soil we get from digging for a new patio, but I actually don’t dare to, it could be too invasive! I never had oregano in Sweden so I don’t know how it would behave there.
Anyway I’m so happy for you and your new garden plot!
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It would probably be wise of me to purchase a plant next spring and plant it in a pot to let it get established first. Which I am planning on doing next spring. Now I am mostly aiming for a bug and weed repellent around the other plants. Any extra herbs are a bonus. I was lucky with the oregano I planted from seed at the balcony last year, but it is warmer and more protected there. The garden is in a slightly windy, and open area. I am excited about the possibilities next year 🙂
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The produce is great! Well done. Love the bike shot. What a great spot!! #WeekendCoffeeShare
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Thank you so much Lydia! I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend.
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Maria, Thank you for your weekend coffee share. Your garden looks well organized and beautiful. I’m glad you found your happy place and feel belonged in your community. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Thank you so much! I hope you are enjoying a happy, and rejuvenating weekend!
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Thank you for the ice tea as we’ve been hot here as well. That’s crazy it got so hot there and I saw throughout Europe they were getting a terrible heat wave as well. I’m thankful that the weather here even in the 90’sF is not full of humidity so I can still be outside and enjoy my horses.
Your garden plot is AMAZING! I can see and hear the excitement in your voice as I know you are in your happy place! YAY! And to be gaining new like minded friends even better. 🥰 They say it takes at least 2 years after one moves or relocates for your home to feel like home and I think you are hitting your stride. Moving anywhere is very stressful, add a pandemic, wow it can all be very challenging. How wonderful you feel at home with a great community! 💞
Enjoy your vacation, so great you have 2 more weeks! 🤩 I’m hoping to put together a coffee share this weekend. So good to see your garden progress, those raspberries look delicious!! ❤️
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Thank you Diana! I have not heard it takes two years to feel at home in a new location before, but I am sure that there is some truth to that. I am super excited about being able to garden more, for so many reasons (my sanity, raging food prices, knowing what we eat etc. etc.)
Looking at the photos you post it looks like you are enjoying summer tremendously. I am so happy to see your horse photos when they pop up in my feed. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend. I will be checking in to see if you have any coffee ❤
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I have a herbal peach tea that is lovely iced. Even the kids like it on a hot day. Great garden pictures. Thanks for the virtual coffee, Maria.
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Thank you for your lovely company! Ice tea is a wonderful treat during hot days. Today it is rather comfortable though, 64F right now and a high of 74F later. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Love your garden! Mine is wilted and sad b/c it’s so hot–looking forward to fall when things perk up and start blooming/producing again.
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Thank you so much Janet! What are you planning on having in your fall garden?
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An early morning ride to the garden and then coffee there sounds wonderful! It sounds like you had a great week and I am glad you are feeling more at home in your new/old home.
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Thank you Trent! It is perfect in my world 🙂 I hope you get to enjoy your summer. I recall you’re having a fun trip planned in the fall as well? Right? Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
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A trip next week 🙂 It will be in a place cooler even than Sweden right now (except for the heatwave, Scotland has been in the 60s F).
Hope you are having a great weekend!
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Next week! That is so exciting!!!! Enjoy!
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I leave Friday night – it is exciting 🙂 Thanks.
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Your garden is incredibly inspiring, Maria! It must be a pleasure to be sustainable and to literally see and eat the fruits (and veggies) of your labors, not to mention teaching these values to your children! Enjoy your upcoming roadtrip!
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Thank you so much Terri! It does feel very good to be able to have a garden again, and room to grow all the vegetables my heart desire. Looking forward to finding out more about your road trip 🙂
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Hi Maria.
We had a family guest this weekend so I’m only now circling back to read other’s posts.
I love how this land plot is working out for you. Things look so far along already and esp. that squash, are going to get huge with your summers temps and rains.
Great memories are happening for you.
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Thank you so much. I am most grateful. Have a wonderful new week!
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Your garden plot looks amazing! How exciting. I’ve never had currants, red or black. I have had gooseberries.
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Thank you so much 😊 I’d love to offer you some blackcurrants, there is an abundance right now.
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