And I've traced my tree back to Ragnar Lothbrok

Since our tree has been traced back to Thorsteinn the Red, a few clicks away on Wikipedia led me back to Ragnar Lothbrok.  The legend states that Thorsteinn would have been a contemporary of Ragnar, which makes many a historian wonder about the sagas.  Was Ragnar alive a century or so earlier?  Since my other ancestor (Snorri Sturlason) was a big influence, who knows?  A mystery to be solved in my lifetime.

signed, the willow

Lately on the internet I have been randomly found here and here and here

Doing Blogilates with this cool chick


Visit her blog and Blogilates along with Cassey.


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



And quite honestly, I spend a lot of time here (but who hasn't?):


Pinterest!



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


A great blog to read (and lots of decorating eye candy) from Croatia (and heck I'm married to one - a Croatian. that is):


COPY PASTE




xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


I've been exposing my Viking side to my Croatian husband and he's become more and more intimidated thanks to the History Channel's Vikings.

Meet Ragnar Lothbrok



via  Vikings


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Speaking of Vikings, I love me a little Iceland and while I dream of my journey there soon (very soon!), here's where I drool



Wouldn't a marathon in Reykjavik be fun? Get ég fengið bolla af kaffi? 



signed, the willow

Halló

Herding in the South of Iceland from paul taggart on Vimeo.


I would never call myself a horse person, but I romanticize about the Icelandic horse.  The way it trots along as if its body floats weightlessly above.  heaven.  I wish I could run like that with such grace and synchronization in my stride.  <3


I implore you to visit my friend, Iceland, here.


signed, the willow

Swim in to RIFF

At the Reykjavik International Film Festival, audience members were able to swim up to watch the movies.
Imagine?  You'd be as shriveled as a prune by the end of the movie.  And then they'd try to slip you into the vinaterta!  Sorry, little Icelandic joke there.


Swim-in cinema Never Ending Story from RIFF Festival TV on Vimeo.



signed, the willow

Brown Paper Bagging It

Since *mila* has to present on how she feels about herself by placing 5 objects in a paper lunch bag tomorrow,  I thought I'd try the same.  Remember, it has to fit in a paper bag!


source:  club doctissimo

1. a croissant:  I can't put the cappuccino in the bag.  I like to think of myself as pensive and a bit of a daydreamer that can sit over an americano and a nice croissant in an outdoor cafe in Paris.



source:  art paints

2. an indigo paint chip:  Rich in character like the colour indigo. Dark and mysterious.  Vibrant and fun.




source:  touches home interiors

3.  a crystal door knob:  It creates prismatic views of life.  It allows others to open new doors.  It is the way in or out, not the door itself.  It's like I need the attention that a doorknob from 'Alice in Wonderland' would need in order to be opened.  I like to be tippy-toed around, handled with kid-gloves and all those other wonderful things!  No, I'm not a princess or a diva, just fragile like that crystal door knob,




source:  schleich

4. a toy icelandic horse:  it's unique and has a gait like no other (I have a normal gait, but I march to my own drum).  It's a reminder to be true to who I am.  It's a reminder of my familial roots (my great-great grandparents emigrated from Iceland to Canada).   Oooh, that's a boy pony, isn't it?  Eeek, sorry about that.




source:  coo home designing

5.  an ikea catalogue collection:  First of all, I have a collection of IKEA catalogues.  This is not my collection.  I guess if you have no clue who I am or just started to read my blog, you probably haven't noticed that I'm a bit of an IKEA freak.  Been there for dinner tonight, have a Billy bookcase in just about every room.  I know each and every catalogue like the back of my hand.  How does it describe who I am?  Well, I'm a bit obsessive.  I like to collect and I can't dare throw anything out (sometimes).  I'm loyal.  Loyal like a dog.  I was born in the year of the dog.  99% of my home items come from IKEA.  I like to think that IKEA acts with integrity and I like to think I do too.  Or at least I try.

+++++=====++++++


Normally I would identify myself by my relationships.  I'm a mother, I'm a daughter, a sister, a wife, a grand-daughter, a cousin, and an aunt.  But, this time I needed the autonomy lesson.  We all do.  Life gets busy and life can whisk us away to places that take us down roads where we forget who we are.

Take some time to fill up your bag.

What did you put in yours?

signed, the willow

I need to cool off

While everyone dashes onto planes for March Break to warm their little pale bodies in some foreign land, I have been having a "great" time putting out fires.  Literally.  So, I need to escape and cool down.

I'm taking you to Iceland.



An homage to Iceland.



Icelandic glacier trivet from Lyng.  source:  designmilk.com


Sleek boutique 101 hotel in Reykjavik  source:  101hotel

sleek boutique 101 hotel contains a wonderous art collection  source:  101hotel



Their fashion is remarkable and their women are said to be the most beautiful in the world.  Yes, they are!  And don't mess with them.  They're of Viking descent.

Spaksmannsspjarir designs  source:  randburg

and of course, the lagoon.  source:  holiday iceland

More coming!

signed, the willow

Sharing

The house is getting decorated for Christmas.

We're still missing lots of trim and detail around the house.  My living room is riddled with tools as always.  But we've found ways to bring in warmth.

"Sexy and weird" according to *Mila*.

A painting I'm working on for my parents.

Our "advent" calendar to count down the days.   There is supposed to be chocolate under each gnome house.  We're afraid we'll eat them all.

Can't call this my favourite Christmas story, but it reminds me of my childhood.  "Nets of silver and gold have we said Wynken, Blynken and Nod"

A curtain warmed up the ice palace that we live in.

I managed to "sew" 5 curtains scattered throughout the house. *Mila* scored one for her room, of course!

Put the tree up and we're tired of bandaging the tree with ribbons and scattering feathers.  Seems very 80s.  And yes, becoming a parent means accomodating for multi coloured lights and all the vintage ratty old decorations.....but most loved.

Even the bookcase was jazzed up with some disco balls.  Yep, more curtains!

SWEDISH decorations.

Icelandic disco balls.  They're Icelandic in my home.

Swedish pine cone.  It's Swedish when placed on top of the IKEA catalogues.  And yes, it is necessary to have so many copies!

Sarah will miss us and we'll miss  her.

Even Suma feels a lot cozier in the house.



signed, the willow

Why being a dottir is all that and a bag of lutefisk too!

Reasons that the Scandinavians rock.


felted ball rugs
source:  mjolk




icelandic silk velvet
source:  mjolk



the ability to find a way to work white and lots of it into the decor
source: i lay my hat and wish to stay



they're incredible artists
source:  camilla engman



they make the coolest plates!  Gadzooks, this is too cool.  And anyone who spells Kristine with a K is mighty fine too.
source:  meyer lavigne



signed, the willow

For The Love of The Canadians

Exactly why we are so cool in Canada


HINDSVIK~!


signed, the willow

Icelandic Ghoodies

Once in a while I take a little imaginary journey to Iceland.  Today, it was Reykjavik Fragments that enticed me.

signed, the willow

So Sorry, So Very Very Sorry

One of the best parts about being deliciously Canadian is that we love to apologize.  We free our spirits with a little "I'm sorry.  So very sorry.  So very, very sorry."  Why is that?  Oh well, sorry for boring you with that thought. 

As I continue to seek out the perfect epitome of "Modern Muskoka", I knew I was drawn to Emma's Design Blogg for a reason.  I love her great sense of style and Swedish flair for the All-Things-Scandanavian.  Makes me feel like I'm sort of her Canadian cousin of Icelandic and British descent.  (See, sorry about the lack of Canadian identity yet again.)  So today, I stumble across this.  Emma, you simply just "get it".  If there was ever a reason to walk outside and scream "SOMEONE FINALLY GETS IT!", it is Emma!  She could be listening for me from Sweden and hear my Muskoka cries.   Yes Emma, Modern Muskoka might very well be Rustic Swedish.  And that birch bark ring from elizabeth scott's botanical jewellery store on etsy brings tears to my eyes how much it reminds me of home and the paper birch trees that we spent lazy summer days peeling the bark (that had already fallen from the tree) over and over again until only the ribbons of pink were left.   It should be our national tree, I think.  Oh, I'm sorry for that. 

If you need more of Emma's Design Blogg, click here OR find her as a permanent fixture on my sidebar titled design links.  Oh and did I mention "I LOVE THE SWEDES!"?

signed, the willow

An Icelandic Rune

At the Nordic Store you can get one of these fabulous runes that will save you from getting lost in a blizzard.  Provided you wear it when you go out into the blizzard!

signed, the willow

Forest Friends

Meet 'Mishkyn and Boris'. Well, that's what I've decided to call them. They are the forest friends I have been waiting for. Talented artist Kitty Empire was kind enough to conjure this messenger bag up and send it to Ontario. Most amazing to my 5-year old daughter that she could sew this. "Your 'passenger' bag is handmade? That's just amazing. How did she make it? ... She sewed it? How? I just can't believe that she sewed that 'passenger' bag for you mom!"

Handcrafted of vinyl, so it survived today's downpour and killed no forest friends. And Kitty Empire was kind enough to donate 5% of this month's sales to Rabbit and Guinea Pig Welfare. How cool is that? Since Mishkyn was a bunny I had as a little girl that unfortunately was taken too soon from us by a nasty skunk. Okay. Moving on.

Mishkyn and Boris welcome to your new home.

Let me just enter the secret code. No peeking.

Try not to trip over all the toys that *Mila* left on the floor this morning. This will happen quite often. Also, expect to be sniffed quite readily by a canine. She's harmless, but she is convinced she's part beagle. Just go with it.

Thanks for coming grocery shopping with me. Even though I lost my list (from my pocket, silly) I'm pretty sure we picked up everything we need and we by-passed the junk food aisles.

If you haven't noticed yet, we will be taking you on many a shopping excursion. *Mila* had to stop and make her Dad a Father's Day card at Old Navy. While they don't sell ties, they put them on their cards (? Yeah, I know).




So we did pick up a tie. Shhh! and a pink basketball. How cute will it be when we're outside watching *Mila* and *Steve* shoot hoops?

When we go to IKEA, we'll find a whole bunch of things that we won't need. But they are so cute and you'll love them too.

Let's not forget your very cute partner that I picked up for *Mila*, Fawnzelle (thanks Dooce). Check out those size 13 shoes she picked out for herself and this great Canada Day tee. If you can't make it out: heart + (:)) = maple leaf. Love plus happy people equals Canada. Or Big Sugar + Stompin' Tom = Canadian.

Occasionally, Boris and Mishkyn, you will be asked to plantsit.

The beast known as Suma will surely cuddle with you, even if harbor no sausages.

Join us for some "home-schooling" that we do for pure fun. We draw our own flags and then memorize them. See the Iceland one? Good, get used to that topic of conversation.

*Mila* will take you up and down the stairs for breakfast, lunch and dinner with her. She'll ask you to pass her the sugar. Don't fall for it!

Maybe I'll ask you to carry Dooce's book "it sucked and then I cried" around. Don't worry, it's not that heavy.

Mimzy and Emma (part deux) are the faux forest friends that live with *Mila*. At night they'll want your contents.

I'll show you my outfits and ask you for your opinions. Be honest, but not brutally honest.

Put your head on my pillow if you like.

And say goodnight.

Goodnight.

signed, the willow