Sara Hjelm ⏸️ Profile picture
Mar 27, 2022 41 tweets 21 min read Read on X
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👇🏻 Image
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👇🏻 Image
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 Image
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 ImageImageImage
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 Image
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 Image
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 ImageImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 Image
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 Image
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImage
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 ImageImageImageImage

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More from @sara_hjelm

Mar 21, 2023
Today, March 21 (or rather tonight) is the spring equinox 2023. I celebrate end of winter by starting this years count down of the 91 days until the summer solistice, documenting gardening and spring/pre summer progress.
This is what it looks like today …
#sarasspringcount23 ImageImageImageImage
90 days until the summer solstice!
It’s raining & I spend my time sewing a new sweater for my cat before tomorrow’s vet check up
My 1st garden addition arrived: 10 bare rooted sloe (thinking of you @eyebeams) soak in rainwater, waiting for decision on where…
#sarasspringcount23 ImageImage
Thursday March 23 & 89 days until the summer solstice
And it’s raining
+8°, so warm considering
Visit to the vet went well
Medicine prescription for itching/allergy &👍🏻 for overall condition
Here is the cat Alice waiting to see the skin specialist this morning
#sarasspringcount23 Image
Read 333 tweets
Oct 28, 2022
Saving down this to be sure its not lost threadreaderapp.com/pdfs/4900629/d…
#sarassummer22
Sunday and 2 more nice calm and fairly warm days ahead. So I managed to finally shred those branches and spread the result behind the logs (tried yesterday, but too windy and cold.
Thought I’d end this thread as we turned to wintertime, but I’ll extend it a bit…
#sarassummer22 ImageImageImage
Read 19 tweets
Jun 26, 2022
I’ll not start a garden blog, but I like to keep track of what gets done & ev. get reactions and tips from others. As I’ve just finished one hashtag, (#midsummercountdown) what should be the next? To followers + #GardeningTwitter, please vote or suggest
Giving this a week…
Anyway, I did an attempt to clean roots & move these perennials, but was held up by thunder, rain and hale. I’d better go out and put them in pots before they drown. Just waiting for a bit better weather … Image
Putting this thread in Swedish from today here …
No hashtag yet, so vote⬆️

Male Wren is now very busy delivering larvae to the ivy. No sounds yet so probably only eggs so far
Read 121 tweets
Apr 12, 2022
+10° at 6 o’clock👍🏻
Tulips stick up in everywhere, not just by the warm wall, & my pile if branches grows. Slow work, but at least the nearby flowerbeds are rinsed, ready for new soil
Right now it’s 69 days 16hrs 12 min until the summer solstice June 21
#midsummercountdown ImageImageImageImage
Even warmer today: 6pm it is +12° & the first drops of rain make me give up & go inside
My patio is now more or less swept, ready for pots & benches
I’ll prune the ivy tomorrow
It is now exactly 68 days, 17 hrs, 9 min until the summer solstice June 21, 11.14am
#midsummercountdown ImageImageImage
A rainy day & change is now rapid
Buds on the lilac is swelling & if you look closely my yellow anemones are on their way up
Even the meadow on the other side of the street has a few green patches
It is exactly 67 days 15 hrs until the summer solictice June 21
#midsummercountdown ImageImageImageImage
Read 257 tweets
Jan 23, 2022
Think I’ve reached a decision on my book sorting
Took some serious considering

This whole process started with a new built in bookcase wall in my renovated guest room in the basement, March 2020 and collecting all crime fiction to move those down stairs
First, all children’s books, comics, readers, school books, maps & travel guides, music + lyrics, pedagogy including handbooks & finally non classic crime paperbacks are not kept in the living room
The above also includes a considerable pile of not yet read books in my bedroom - I’ve been careful to leave empty space here & there, not cram the shelves. How long it lasts is another matter
Read 8 tweets
Sep 15, 2021
Today is the day …
The fur tree “hedge” or rather my green wall towards the side street is coming down. It’s 7 am and the guys cutting it down will be here in an hour. Not warm, only 8°C.
Planted around 1973, they are long overdue. But I’ll miss them. So will the magpies ImageImageImageImage
I’ve prepared by collecting cardboard in the garage, moving the grass and collected all my pruning from the front side in a huge pile. Ready for molding with my neighbor’s machine.
Tree trunks, cardboard and molding+all compost will hopefully be a ‘raised bed’ along the new fence Image
It’s definitely nervous. The lorry bringing poles and other material to set up the net fence and then collect all branches, arrives at 1 pm. Then not needed trunks and big branches are picked up for firewood. Clearing the space of about 35x3 m is for today.
Read 130 tweets

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