Early morning and it's raining again it seems like the rain is following us?.................Seriously Mom says, yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day with blue skies 

Monday morning it was time to leave our friends in Mom's puppy town and head south, but first Mom wanted to clean Lucy who had become quite muddy from all the dirt roads we've been driving on. Mom says Lucy feels a lot better when clean and performs much better when she shines ??

I wish Mom would take the bike down so we can go for a ride. We haven't been riding the bike at all? I hope we will soon because that's my favorite 

Driving south all day with a few pitstops I thought, why are we in a hurry? We really weren't but Mom had a place in mind that she said I really liked so I kept looking out the window with great anticipation.

As it turned out Mom didn't make it all the way without stopping to take a couple of power naps, and I understand because it's 749 km (465miles)

The good thing is that there are many rest stops along the way with gorgeous views and paths through the woods

This is the SUV mom wants and she was surprised to see one here in Sweden where gas prices currently are $10 a gallon.......

Waking up from yet another nap at 4 am it was foggy and the sun was trying hard to break through the mist.

This is the time wild animals are on the go, and wolves and bears have been sighted a lot lately so hoping we get a chance to see wildlife we drove small roads through the forest but all we saw was one moose several hares and a tiny little fox pup sitting by the road. When we stopped he quickly ran into the bushes so no chance of a picture.

Finally arrived at our destination and it was the greatest surprise, again we were back where we started my favorite place on earth.

Saturday is Midsummer Day and it's a public holiday and a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

It's the time when where we are now we will get more than 21 hours of sunlight. 

Similar to New Year, the main celebrations take place on the eve of the day. Traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole, in Swedish called the Midsommarstången.

Some believe it originated as a symbol of fertility.  Even though the major fertility rites in ancient times, center around the beginning of spring, Midsummer was linked to an ancient fertility festival, as conception at this time would lead to a birth in March, which was traditionally seen as a good time for children to be born. Others think the shape of the pole has its roots in Norse mythology, and that it represents an axis linking the underworld, earth, and heavens. Many people will wear traditional folk costumes and listen to traditional music. It is also a holiday on which the Swedish will consume a large amount of alcohol and raucous drinking songs are a common sound during the celebrations.

Midsummer was considered to be one of the key times in the year when the power of magic was strongest and it was thought to be a good time to perform rituals, particularly those which related to predicting the future. A tradition of this is one in which young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse.

Nobody here is young enough to follow those traditions except for picking wildflowers and decorating 

Some Swedish men are so secure in their "machoness" that it's ok to pick wildflowers and decorate

I'm pretty sure Mom and Elvy will make flower wreaths for their heads as is tradition. Elvy made this for her front door

Mom made supper.........................it is pasta with mushrooms and pancetta.  The traditional midsummer meal is herring and potatoes with sour cream and scallions. Doesn't sound like anything is prepared for me during this celebration?

Well, there's always beer.............since I heard a lot of alcohol is consumed on this day...........can't wait

is that a gun holster on the bike? really ???? ..............noo it's a repair kit for tires ...peaceful Swedes don't carry guns around I was told

They do have some pretty neat bugs   

We had a gorgeous warm sunny day and in the evening it started to rain again but that's ok because the weather man has promised sunny skies for the midsummer dance.

The gazebo keeps us dry and safe from the pesky mosquitos 

All is well

plenty of kisses to ya all 

Henry