A Home

Pictures from my last place in Sweden

The most important ingredients in a home is the people living in it. There's no doubt about that. There's a few things that, if you ask me, that helps to make my home a happy place. Without harmony there is no home. I found harmony in simplicity. Having less things, but things that I have for a reason (may it be beauty or that I really need a certain item every day, if possible both!) That makes it easier to avoid clutter around the home. It makes my home easier to keep clean and I know where I have my things. More time to enjoy doing what I really want to spend my time doing - spend time with my family, friends, ride my horses and take pictures. Harmony and peace of mind doesn't come automatically, it's a decision. A decision to be made every day, just like eating healthy food and exercise. 

For me staying organized frees up time. Time gives me freedom. Time also sparks my creativity. Being disorganized on the other hand have the opposite effect. It kills my creativity, takes my energy away and leaves the harmony outside the door. A happy home doesn't cost a lot of money, just the commitment to make one.

My grandfather made this beautiful wooden coach that I had in my kitchen.

How much things do I really need? I want my home to be a warm welcoming place
 with beautiful things, BUT is it possible that I have things that I don't need?
Things that makes it time consuming to manage my house?

         What brings you harmony? What's the key ingredient that makes your house a home?

Basic Needs, Play-time and Happiness

Watching animals and children play,
makes me very happy

7am Sunday morning. The house is quiet. I feel like I won the lottery at least! The first night of real sleep in like a month. The weather outside the window is grey and it might rain today. But nothing can take away the great feeling of a good nights sleep. Sleep is such a basic need, but without it, everything becomes so much harder. I get very homesick when I don't sleep. I miss everything about Sweden. Everything familiar and understandable. Without sleep the importance of a good nights sleep is crystal clear. 

Whitey and Stella running on a beach in Humboldt County, CA.

Sometimes the animals play can seem to be rather rough,
but mostly it's just play. Whitey and Stella never had one single
 fight. There play sometimes give them scratches and to an observer
might look a bit aggressive. They play all day long if opportunity given.
They love playing together and when they are too tired to play they
bundle up and sleep together.

On the other hand, a good nights sleep opt for a great day! Today, I'm ready for a great day! I'm not sure what today has to offer yet. I'm looking forward to find out. 

Last week I took around 1000 pictures. Many of them, (strangely enough…) are of dogs playing. Last night when I went to bed I thought about why I enjoy taking pictures of animals so much. Especially animals playing. The answer is simple. Simply because seeing animals play fills me with such joy. I want to capture those moments and share them. 

Happy Sunday!