Thread by @sara_hjelm

Today, right now, it is 85 days 21 hrs and 56 min until the summer solistic, Tuesday 21 at 11.14 am
And now that we have changed to summertime I start my 2022 #midsummercountdown

Aim is to follow nature around my house and in the garden, but I must say it is a big mess right now- the ground frost let go only a couple of days ago. It’s time for spring cleaning!
Everything planted seems alive though & first of the 200 tulips stick up here & there👇🏻

The things in full flower so far are crocus and snowdrops - hardy things that don’t mind a cold night

Monday morning & second day of my #midsummercountdown
Today at 11.14 am it’s exactly 85 days until the summer solstice
This week new night frost and colder weather is forecasted so I had an early start. Pretty warm but windy, so feels cold
So far👇🏻

Not completely straight, but good enough
Next comes gravel & stone lining on top of fabric to control the weeds. Cutting that edge has been impossible before …
I’ll add an update later. Of course there are a few pine roots in the way to cut off even here
#midsummercountdown

And my best rake fell apart and needs a new screw to keep together. Now gravel and fabric …

It’s slow work … at least for me. Both gravel and stones are heavy. Quite determined to at least place the stone line today

And I was too optimistic @eyebeams
This guy has now carried away hazelnuts and walnuts, planting them in various places. What’s left is sunflower seeds without shells - best eaten in place apparently

Enough is enough … 5.15 pm & pretty content
The flowerbed is curved, but the slice sticking up on the left will cover that
I also have a small piece of fabric to go under the last 6 or so stones
It’s VERY dry, even with frost tonight I should be able to finish tomorrow

I now have a pile of scraped of gravel of the larger size mixed with soil and weeds.
I’ll try to water it tomorrow & put it back when cleaned. I’m a bit short of the top gravel, multicolored rounded, straight from the ice age formation in Fjärås ..

In just a little while, 11.14 am, it will be 84 days until the summer solstice. As can be seen on the thermometer it’s not very warm, but in contrast to yesterday there is no wind, so feels about the same. I plan to spend part of the afternoon outside
#midsummercountdown

So far I’ve tried to tidy up inside, complete mess after neglect yesterday
I also got a new digital kitchen scale delivered & wow, why did I wait to buy that?
I’ll straiten the stone line a bit before finishing. Those sacks are in the way & are too heavy to move & I was too tired

And then, when I finally decide to give it a go and dress warm, there are sudden winds and snow. I end moving my tools inside. April weather.
Not that it is unwelcome. It’s so dry out there. Too dry

There will be new grass in no time
With cold week ahead my gardening takes a pause…
It’s not much, the ground will suck this up, but stones and gravel is bound to frozen solid. Good thing I got that far yesterday. And that ends day 3 of the #midsummercountdown

It sure was a cold night
Now, at 11.14, when it’s exactly 83 days or 1992 hrs until the summer solstice, the temperature has reached +-0°
There is even thin ice in the bay when I look out the windows & a thin layer of snow
Remains to wait for better weather
#midsummercountdown

Sun has taken most of the remaining snow now at 4 pm & the patio is quite warm. But ahead we have several really cold nights, down to minus 6°. There is snow/rain in the forecast next Monday which should improve things. I expect nothing but bulbs to get a start before that …

This poem is adequate right now, of course better in the Swedish original (most things lose a bit with transfers), but the translate seems ok … lyricstranslate.com/en/intet-ar-so…
And there is certainly no hurry. I’ve ordered new nematodes to be delivered after Easter
#midsummercountdown

Right now it’s exactly 82 days until the summer solistic June 21, 11,14 am.
Night was really cold, but at least no thin ice on the lake this morning. So far I’ve washed my hair & made mocha butter frosting for a cake that has waited too long for decoration…
#midsummercountdown

Next is making white chocolate ganache with coffee taste, for in between and top. And considering decorations … I have green marzipan for leaves. I’ll have to think about branches or flowers…
As you can see, not very useful or constructive tasks, only amusements ;)

It seems winter is on its way back with snow on Monday … #midsummercountdown
Having passed the exact time of day 11.14, it’s now 80 days and almost 19 hrs until the summer solstice
Outside is grey, cold & uninviting. The cake from yesterday sits outside, frozen, waiting

After an early morning & at least some activity my eventual gardening this afternoon will be moving sacks of soil inside to allow planting seeds, mostly flowers.
Now at 3 pm there are occasional snow flakes in the air, kids are returning home from school & I’ll put on some coffee

Sunshine and snow … crazy April 1 weather

I end up reorganizing my spices …
Different kinds of pepper/chilies & mixes like curries/masalas have been hard to find even with lazy Susans
Putting them in sealable plastic bags instead of glass jars certainly saves space.
That ends my 6th day of #midsummercountdown

Finally finished my sorting
Tidy, & clean, even place left over
Time to get outside and rid myself of multiple glass jars. Weather looks great, bit chilly, but ok
We just passed the time of day of the summer solistic 11.14 & it is a bit less than 80 days left
#midsummercountdown

There are actually tulips sticking up in various places now. When done I made use of all my well sorted spices to make a pilau with lots of saffron …
And that finishes today’s #midsummercountdown

Today started ok & ended in absurdity, plus horrific news reports to accompany
Spent 4 hrs finding a pair of consoles (SEK49.90) for my additional kitchen shelf, then had to pick them up 30 min drive from here🤬
78,5 days to go #midsummercountdown & tomorrow it will finally rain

It’s actually started already. What a blessing

How can things like models of console rails and consoles be allowed to change? It’s the same function, come in same colors, are attached the same way .. Stupid.

Right now it is exactly 78 days until the summer solistic June 21 11.14 am
Outside the temperature is +3°C
It has rained all night and will rain all day, so needed🌧
Finally spring will get a start
Ordering a time for dose 4 of COVID vaccine👍🏻 & making coffe…
#midsummercountdown

And it turns to snow, which is perfectly ok with me. It’s water!
Tomorrow will be an in between day of no rain, It will melt

I roast cashews & fry onions & raisins to boast my leftover pilau from Saturday. That & some omani should be a perfect dinner later
Next: my tick off list

Today has been all idle on my part. Occasional sun, but only +3°C + the harsh wind has not been inviting. Reading and washing & that’s it
Next 24 hrs we’ll get more rain/snow
Right now, at 5 pm, it’s 76 days, 18 hrs & 15 min until the summer solstice June 21
#midsummercountdown

Getting to the clinic to get my Covid shot tomorrow might be a bit tricky. I’ll have to prepare to leave early

The day started really cold & icy, but soon turned to rain. And now at half past 7 pm it’s snowing again. Huge flakes
1 more day then spring will be back
I sat up my shelf in the kitchen, emptied benches
It is 75 days, 15 hrs & 33 min until the summer solstice
#midsummercountdown

The size of what’s falling … tremendous

Last night of more severe frost for awhile is gone & it’s raining- a day for indoors

Considering options:
cleaning walls in the kitchen
sort a few books
take care of that last wardrobe

It is now exactly 75 days until the summer solistice on June 21, 11.14 am #midsummercountdown

I also have a sore arm to consider after yesterday’s vaccination
Small stuff seems most likely
New cord for the lamp over the zink
Sorting paper
Painting inside of another kitchen drawer…

My warmest flowerbed is coming to life, but it will take a few hrs before all snow is gone

An eventful 24 hrs weather has passed
Night of snowstorm, wintry morning (left below), day of cold wind & snow, rain, sun & hail a long tailed tit even knocked on the window by my door to get in
Now finally calm
73 days 14 hrs 40 min until the summer solstice
#midsummercountdown

Splendid day out there … +5° & full sun
Still some snow in my shady garden, but I expect it to be soon gone
The tiny new bush outside my door is very alive with fresh buds👍🏻 (& botanic tulips behind)
Soon,in 30 min, it’s 73 days until the summer solistic…
#midsummercountdown

Lovely weather after the first night completely without frost- +7° & full sun
I think I’ll use this flowerbed as reference of spring advancement
Time for some serious garden tidying today but first more☕️…

Right now it’s 72 days until summer solstice June 21
#midsummercountdown

The day ends with a patio in a mess as I slowly get rid of winter stuff and dig out my table from under debris
Finished by giving banana & apple to a complaining blackbird, spoiled after this winter of continues fruit supply
#midsummercountdown

It has been a lovely day
At half past 7 it is still +6°
My patio is slowly coming together & that flowerbed by the south wall is full of life
Main task today: gathering branches-still lots left
Right now it is 70 days 15 hrs & 47 min until the summer solistice
#midsummercountdown