Welcome to the weekend coffee share! Can I get you a cup of coffee? How are things in your corner of the world? I took the photo at the top during our camping trip this weekend, but first things first, let me start from the beginning. I started a new job on Monday.
I ride my bike along this lake on my way to my new job. Every morning this week have been absolutely beautiful. I am so grateful to start my day with beautiful nature. The ride to work is about 2,5miles/4km, slightly shorter than the ride to my previous job that was closer to 4miles/6.2km. Everyone was so nice to me at work, and I’ve spent a lot of time learning about all the different digital systems that are being used by the school. We are expecting more children next week, it was only a few this week, but it was definitely plenty of things to do anyways.
On Wednesday I attended a half day introduction held by my new employer at a different location. The education ended at noon, and I brought my own lunch that I stopped and enjoyed on my way back to work. The whole week have offered warm, sunny weather 76-81F.
It has not been a great tomato year this year, but the sunny weather now have been thoroughly enjoyed by the last tomatoes at my balcony garden.
At my garden plot the cool weather crops in my winter garden are starting to appear. I feel a little bad for only tending to my garden twice this week, it’s been a busy week. It seem to be doing OK anyways.
Like I mentioned I’ve worked one week at my new job, but my kids have yet to start school. They start tomorrow. My daughter and I went on a mini adventure this weekend, to celebrate the last days of freedom. We had planned to go camping this weekend for a few weeks, and when I realised that the weather was going to be warm I made it easy for myself and booked a camping spot at a nearby camping by a lake. We’ve been swimming in this lake many times (Siljan is a HUGE lake,) but never camped at this particular camping in Rättvik.
Everything was perfect; the check-in was super smooth, the camping spot very close to the lake, the restrooms/shower/kitchen were close by and very clean. Since I do not have a car now we have a small, light-weight tent that I can easily carry in a back pack (along with my sleeping bag, and mattress. My daughter get to carry her own sleeping bag and mattress, but I carry the tent, food, and clothes.) We slept very well in our little home for the weekend, and we had a fabulous time. We did more swimming this weekend than we did during the whole summer. My daughter suggested that we move to this little town, so that we can swim here every warm day. Like so many other kids my daughter loves her phone, but “unfortunately” it died during the bus ride to Rättvik. The whole weekend was phone free, and it probably contributed to us having a more relaxed time. Camping is underrated, even though my daughter said on several occasions that real camping is in the forest, or on a mountain, not at a beach, but this time it’s OK. Personally I love camping in the forest, or on a mountain, but sometimes cheating and using a campground like this is OK, right? It was very convenient, and stress-free for me. I knew before hand that we were going to have a great time, and we did.
Thank you Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. I hope you are enjoying a fabulous weekend!
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
I’m glad you guys had a great camping experience, and that your new job is going well, Maria! Beautiful photos as usual. be well! ☺️🇸🇪
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Thank you so much John! Have a fabulous new week!
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Sounds like a perfect end to the summer vacation. I loved the absence of cell phone distractions. So much better, but I guess I am old school. 😉 Maybe it can be the start of ‘cell phone free’ times for the two of you to connect… esp. as she enters her teen years where kids tend to drift away.
Your photos are beautiful, what a lovely area to live in. So glad your new job is going well. Are you still teaching or is it more administrative? What level of kids?
The heat here finally broke, amen, and it has been delightfully cool. Still no rain, but I keep hoping!
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Thank you Eliza! It was 🙂 I also prefer to disconnect regularly, in fact I turn the internet off several times a day, and have my phone on silent (when my kids don’t need to reach me.)
I am still in the midst of children at my new job, it’s a smaller group, with a different set of challenges compared to my last group of children. Same age.
I am happy you are experiencing more normal weather. I hope things are easier for you, and that you can enjoy the garden and outdoors more. Have a fantastic new week my friend ❤
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❤
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Even if it was “hard core” camping, it looks and sounds wonderful. Glad you had a good end to your summer vaction and a nice transition into the new job. The ride to work looks great – short, but nice. have a great week!
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Thank you Trent, it was a perfect ending to the summer vacation. And thank you for your kind comment. I can’t wait to read about your trip! I hope it was everything you dreamed of 🙂 Have a fantastic new week!
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Aww!! Love the photo of you two together! ❤️ What a fun getaway!!! And I absolutely Love to swim, I miss swimming actually since I don’t have a pool and haven’t swam in years. I grew up with a pool, my mom use to call us fish as my brother and sisters and I lived in that pool all summer long. I’m so happy your job is going great so far, it’s good it’s a bit closer too! Yay! Have a wonderful week ahead!! 🥰❤️
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Thank you Diana! It does make me happy to see that photo 🙂 I have it on my desktop with one more photo that I am going to print later this fall. I had a photo from Miss H birthday printed and framed recently. (The plan is to slowly transition to wooden frames, from black frames all around the house.)
I bet you miss having a pool in this heat. I saw your photos of Murphy a fe minutes ago. Hopefully cooler weather is coming your way soon. ❤ Have a great new week!
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HI Maria,
This looks like a great time.
Perhaps like you I cut my camping teeth on real backpacking where your whole kit went with you on your own back and you chose a spot somewhere each evening from anywhere in the wilderness, so my pack buddy and I rarely had neighbors and when they were near by, they were like us and looking for isolation not being close enough to hear each other.
Yes, there is a place for camping in more public and accessible spots, but tell you daughter that she’s right – the best camping is out away from everyone. It clears your mind and I think brings you even closer to the outdoor experience.
Great photos too BTW
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I agree! Real camping takes place in pure nature, away from people 🙂 I guess my daughter learned that from somewhere 😉
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What a beautiful commute to work. It’s wonderful you get to bike there!
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Thank you Julie 🙂 I purposely live in a place where I can bike everywhere. I love starting the day with a nature experience. I hope your new week is wonderful!
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Maria, Thank you for your weekend coffee share. I’m glad you had a great camping trip and a nice transition into your new job. Your tomatoes look delicious. Have a wonderful week!
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Thank you so much Natalie! Have a great week!
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Oh Maria! Congratulations on your new job! I’m so happy to hear you’re transitioning well *and that you’ve had some glorious outdoor adventures to round out your summer! BTW – Your tomatoes are ahead of mine so it looks like they’re doing just wonderfully. Enjoy every bite!
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Thank you so much! The new job is very rewarding, and I am happy that I made the transition. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. I would love to see some updates about your wonderful farm 🙂
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Awesome phone free time! A great share and love the fact you are making the most of your sunny weather. Your Cycle to work looks amazing and very peaceful. We have a massive influx of tourists this time of year, so dodging people walking out onto the street adds to the chaos of cycling on the road. Congrats on the new job.
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Thank you! There are some tourists here as well, but they are mainly concentrated to the centre of the city, and special landmarks, tourist attractions etc. Most people in Sweden have their vacation in July, but some fo Europe have vacation ion August and those are our guests now. Our school starts this week and things are getting back to normal.
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