I had hoped to get out for a hike with Izzy yesterday afternoon, but she was able to make last minute plans with a friend from school so we weren’t able to get out with Hoagie. The forecast for today was sunny, cold and windy. So, a perfect morning for a hike.

It certainly felt like a winter day today. The sun only crept 10 degrees or so above the horizon at its zenith. The wind was whipping up the waves in the lake and chilling us through our coats and scarves. The shallow inlets and coves around the island were covered with a skin of ice think enough for Hoagie to poke his head through for a drink.

Izzy and I bundled up in coats, hats, gloves and scarves for the 5km walk around the island; Hoagie wore his sweater. The temperature wasn’t terrible, just below freezing, but the wind made it cold. We skipped the optional look around Musön, the island just north of Hissö.

The trail was more crowded than I’ve experienced in my recent weekday walks here. However it is school break and the sun was out, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. I did have to keep Hoagie on the leash more than I’m sure he wanted.

I was able to get out to Lake Alstern today and take Hoagie for a walk. There was a little dusting of snow left on the ground. Not too much, but enough to offer Hoagie plenty of entertainment trying to eat the little left.

Yesterday was the traditional Swedish Christmas. Susanna cooked salmon (okay, ham is probably more traditional, but I think fish works as well) for lunch and then we watched Donald Duck on TV with half of the Swedish population. After the TV show we opened presents. That leaves today (Christmas Day) pretty open.

This morning I took Hoagie to the Kronobergs Slottsruin for a hike and pictures. It was overcast and cold and I didn’t have a lot of luck with the camera, but here are a few pictures from today.

It has been a month since I’ve posted, so welcome to a my scattershot method of updating my blog. It is also a good view into how my ADHD mind works. I’m squeezing in drafting this post between the Swedish Christmas Bingo (Bingo Lotto) games on TV tonight. I’ll let everyone know if we win millions tonight. Update: I haven’t won anything yet!

My move over here is progressing! I spent a few weeks back in the US getting my interview completed at the Swedish embassy. I had planned to return on Christmas eve. However, I was approved a week after my interview and moved up my return trip. The approval was only step one. I needed to get my biometrics done here to receive my residence permit. Susanna scheduled an appointment for me the day after I returned home last week and I received my residence permit in the mail yesterday! I have an appointment early January to get my personnummer (Swedish social security number). Then get a bank account, driver’s license, doctor, etc. It should keep me busy through the first part of 2026. But at least I don’t have to leave the country!

We are in the middle of the holiday season. Izzy had her last day of school on Friday; Susanna had to work today and yesterday, but has tomorrow off. Tonight is Christmas Bingo (and as of this point in the blog, I still haven’t won anything). Tomorrow is Christmas eve and the traditional day for opening gifts in Sweden. Izzy’s cousins are at their dad’s house on this week, so we went to Susanna’s parent’s house on Sunday to celebrate Christmas with her extended family. I drove the hour up to Vetlanda to pick up Susanna’s grandmother. Her English is pretty weak, so it was a good chance for me to work on my Swedish. Of note, her English is still better than my Swedish, but I am understanding more and more. It was a fun day of food and gifts, though the night ended with Izzy feeling sick with a sore throat and fever. Don’t worry, Izzy felt much better after a good nights sleep.

The days are short and cold, but the sun was out. I was able to get down to the lake around sunset on Sunday (which is a little before 3:30 pm this time of year). Hoagie enjoyed getting out to run in the woods, and everyone eventually made it out to walk “the loop” down to the cabin on the lake and back up the road. Luckily for Hoagie, there were no cows, pigs, sheep or other equally terrifying animals out in the fields.

The workshop is making slow progress. A few days ago, the landlord, Bo, and I installed a board over the hole from the door at the rear of my workshop. Yesterday Izzy and I stopped by to put the second coat of paint on the board. Today I spent a few hours cleaning up the room a bit and putting the shelves in place. The walls are still bare and I need to bring my tools over. I can use the industrial tablesaw next door and I think Dan has a router I can borrow for now, so I think it is time to start building a pair of hall benches. I know my ADHD will make it tough to work on a project and not just building out a workshop. I think I mostly spent time in my workshop in Preston making stuff for the workshop. I’ll have to work hard to make sure I’m more productive here.