The Minnesota Noices

Category: Sweden

  • NOT Noice

    My first weeks of Swedish class at Lunds Universitet have been good in spite of the challenges. I went in search of easy audiobooks to listen to while I walk. Using the library app I searched Easy and filtered for audio. Here’s a photo is what came up! I thought it was an extremely strange…

  • Everöd and Tomelilla

    While evaluating Swedish dictionaries at the library today, I came across a book that explains the name/ origin of every town in Sweden. My 3rd great grandmother came from Everöd. Her family is recorded in the parish as far back as 1725The village appears in records around 1228 the name comes from Old Danish meaning…

  • Andra Julen i Sverige

    Our second Christmas in Sweden. How time flies! We had more concerts, parties and events this year before new Omicron restrictions kicked in. On Monday I went to a concert at Lunds Domkyrka with traditional music of the season, including Lucia songs, ambient Celtic style vocals performed in the dark, acapella, candle light processional with…

  • Julbord, Jul Dance Show

    Last week we enjoyed a hike around the castle grounds followed by a Julbord (christmas buffet) with friends from MN. Check out Melissa’s blog for more about this fun afternoon! After the Julbord, we drove in search of a Cut Your Own Tree Farm per request of the younger Noiceling. The older one was home…

  • Gamla Råby and Our Friend, Loki

    This sculpture behind the church in Old Råby (a village just East of Lund and near the new development, Stora Råby) is actually a perfect circle but is distorted by the pano photo. I’ve posted about the church, bakery, Chokladserenad candy shop and ceramics studio previously, but this time I walked out to Råby to…

  • Lucia Dag and a lake in Lund

    This year was our first (Dec 13) Lucia Day experience with some in-person activities, but most were cancelled again or moved online. Traditionally, at day break there are Lucia concerts, processions and lussekatter aka saffron buns for breakfast or fika. Many schools and offices have Lucia celebrations. IKEA does, and Bryant has stories to tell…

  • Jul Markets, Knitting, Open House

    Inspired by the many works of art on display at the Bosjökloster and Kulturen Jul Markets, I dug out supplies for making painted rocks, a tomte house and more knitting projects. Then realized that I don’t really have the time for much crafting right now. I’ve been making time for tea and pepparkakor, gifted to…

  • Nordic-light Duo/ Elsa Beskow concert

    This week marks the start of Jul market season, beginning with Bosjökloster (Cloister by the lake) in the town of Höör. Carole, Beata and I arrived in time for the musical prelude and were surprised to find ourselves enjoying much more than just a few holiday songs. The concert was based on original (some never…

  • Athens

    Our first European travel since moving to Sweden (other than Copenhagen) finally came together this week as we spent 3 days exploring Athens. The trip was short and sweet, focused on the historic sites of the ancient city. The flight was an easy 3 hour non-stop hop from CPH. We started strong with a food…

  • Bjärred: Skåneleden trail

    Both kids have lots of activities now so it’s hard to travel on the weekends. Luckily we are still finding new places close to home. I convinced the fam to try another section of the Skåneleden trail, the same one I hiked while they were camping. The giant beech tree near the Saltsjöbads (salt lake…