The frozen sea and the trees at the beach.

I'm back from my short trip up to Haparanda, the north of Sweden. It was both good and a bit hard for me to go. My family on my mothers side stems from this region and it was a couple of years since I'd been there. The places and fragrances brought back so many happy memories that due to the nature of my trip became a bit frayed in the edges by sorrow. But the cold air, muted sounds, the scent of my grandmothers house and the soft snow did it's best to surround me with love and beauty. 

It is always interesting to return to your roots as something inside you awakens. And even if it's just a small sensation deep down in the pit of your stomach, it is important for every one of us. 

To feel our history, our belongingness in a continuance of space and time.

On Saturday we went out to the archipelago and to the gem of a cabin at Santasaari that another side of the family owns. I have never been there in winter and all my memories surrounding this place are connected to summer. Bathing in the sauna, swimming in the sea, staying up late and watch the midnight sun, read comic books, get itching mosquito bites and the scent of Finnish sausages roasting on a stick over the fire. 

It was still the same lovely place but now embraced by a soft layer of snow and it suited my mood so very well. To see it in summer for the first time after being away for so many years, and after everything that has happened in my family, would have been to hard to bare. 

The cold and magical airiness of snow and the feeling of everything sleeping under the covers of winter, just waiting to burst out for another summer, was refreshing instead of sad. It held within itself a promise, a promise of summers to come and of new happy memories to be made. And, that time and space continues even though it feels like the world has stopped turning for a while. It was like conditioner for the soul and a breath of air after keeping my mouth closed tight for a long time.

A place to heat the water.

The fireplace indoors.

The heart, the cabin.

I hope these photos show even a glimpse of what I felt when I was there and also I am happy to show you a little taste of my cabin clothes! Fully dressed against the cold with three cardigans, a shawl and comfortable shoes but still (of course) with a bit of flair in form of a liner and a red lip!  

Finally, thank you to to all and everyone who was there, I am so very grateful to have you all in my life!

(And, on another note. My last post was my 100th! Yay!)









     

   

A summer glimps

I know, I know. We should all enjoy the beauty and loveliness of winter and snow. It definitely has it's own magic. But I just can't stop to sometimes day dream about warmer weather and sun dresses! 

This little clip is from this late spring/early summer and was something I just did in the spur of the moment while I took these photos of my dear friend Sara. So let's just enjoy a liiiiiiittle glimps of summer before we return to our hot tea cups and cozy slippers this Sunday evening! Styling, Make up and Photography by me.

  

A summer glimps from Simona Street on Vimeo.

Land girls

One day in June I followed my friend Liv to her and her boyfriend Mattias new little vegetable patch in the middle of the city. I'm myself most interested in eating the veggies and enjoying the flowers and not really growing them, but I thought I would tag along to get some dirt under my fingernails anyhow. And of course snap some photos of Livs new green pastures. 

It turned out to be amazing! I watered the plants, cut the grass and covered the plants with soil so that they would keep warm and grow comfortably!

Anything doing with nature stuff, Bengta naturally has to come with. She was sniffing around and exploring everywhere, so much so that I finally had to tie her to a little table so that she wouldn't disturb the other "patch owners".

   My lovely friend Liv, her name means life in swedish. Very suitable for when she plants bulbs and grows veggies!

  

We also drank some coffee and ate strawberries while admiring the view.

I grew up with these flowers and I love them. They remind me of summer!

Bengta was quite content with her little spot. I call this look "relaxed eyes".

Since then I have eaten both spring onion and zucchini from here, and of course it tastes a little bit more special when you know where the vegetables come from. 

Now it is time to close everything down until next spring/summer. Feels a little bit sad but I can't wait to see what my friends will grow then! And maybe I will come out and help a little bit again, as long as there is coffee and strawberries, haha!  

Let's go on a sunny walk together

I'm at a crossroads and I really don't know what to do. I don't like thinking about it and at the moment I'm apathetic. While I try to figure out what I want I procrastinate by doing other things. Like taking long walks in the woods with Bengta. I took these photos about a week ago when the sun had just begun to come back and I love the serenity in them. I wish I could relax but my head is stuck in a whirl wind. Hope everything is better with you guys.

Puppy love

Hello lovers!

So, besides having too much to do wich have kept me from blogging I also have some exciting news! 

This little munchkin has moved into my home and into (even though it sound like a cliché) our hearts. I have for a long time wanted a dog and I had even made myself a little list. I wanted a black dog which I thought would be easier to keep clean, I wanted a pug and a male.

Bengta is nothing of that. She is light, a chihuahua and female. I never thought I would have a chihuahua since they have quite a bad reputation but this little dog just charmed the heck out of me.
She is a 8 months old pedigree dog who was breeded to become a pageant dog but unfortunately started to grow a little underbite. This stops her career as a competing dog and her old owners then decided to sell her. One of them is my colleague and he wanted me to meet this sweetheart then called "Bella".
I was a bit hesitant, I had my wishlist and on top of that a chihuahua!? I'm definitely not one of those who love carrying around my little dog in my bag. I want a dog, not a stuffed toy. So with that said he still brought her to work so that I could meet her. She was a trembling little package and I could not deny how cute she was. I still though, a very sweet dog but not for me. But the weeks passed and I heard that they had not found any good buyers for "Bella". And I could not just forget her. So I decided to come and meet her at their home, just to see how she was when she was comfortable.
And "Bella" was just adorable, she sat in my lap wanting me to stroke her belly. She was a bit hesitant at first though wich I liked, she came to me when she was ready. After that I had to make Erik agree to try this dog thing out so that "Bella" could come to live with us for a weekend. After a bit of discussion we decided to let her come and she has never left!
Now she lives with us and we could not be happier! She is the coolest dog ever with a happy temperament and a kind heart. She loves kids and is very easy to take care off. And when she wants you to stroke her belly she looks at you and place her little paw on your hand.
So wonderful!

Then it was the question of her name. I always liked it when dogs had names who were a bit funny and not so serious. Also I really wanted to use a more old timey Swedish name because I like them so much! Bella is a nice name though but since she is so cute calling her Bella is so sugary sweet you almost get cavities. But since she already was called Bella and already was 8 months old we thought that her name should be something similar. We together decided on Bengta, the feminine version of Bengt, a very old swedish name that for me brings associations to the 50s even though the name is older then that. 

 Trying to get into position infront of the camera.

Almost.

So, the past weeks I have been buying up on doggy gear, trying to make Bengta feel comfortable and just enjoyed her company together with Erik. If you follow me on Instagram where my name is simonastreet and where I update more frequently you have been able to see lot's of photos of Bengta and her adventures! Now, I will try to be more active here but as you fellow bloggers know it can sometimes be hard when life comes in between. 

Thank you so much for your sweet comments, it has really warmed my heart! So thank you again!