Dog on ice

Ice skating today in sunshine and wind. Leo surpriced me and enjoyed some winter sports!

Small dog on a big ice.

Happy flowers on this stunning maxi long party dress from the 70's.

Fashion by: Aspens made in Sweden

Unfortunately it's wrong size for me, but I'm sure I have saved this gem to now find a new happy owner somewhere.  No more hiding in the wardrobe! New parties are waiting! This dress really makes one shine and I wonder who picked it originally and what parties it has been to in those days.

Leo the dog is sleeping and snoring right beside me now, curled up with his nose under his back leg. Tired after this fantastic day out on the ice.

Eva

Leo the dog, one year with us today!

Celebrating today!


Today a year ago Leo moved in with us. We are absolutely happy with his sweet personality and big heart, it's a delight to have him here.

Leo the studio-dog. Mastering Irmelin CD Monday 4th of March 2013.

Leo checking out water facilities for dogs in Basel. Autumn 2012.

Leo enjoying café-life in Winterthur, Switzerland.

Some unknown friends in the street.

Leo on the day he arrived a year ago. So tiny, only 7 month when he came!

Early picture of Leo, in March 2012.

Well, it's a lot about us growing into the role of being dog-owner. So much more we now can read Leo's signs, and he can read ours. We've learned to communicate quite well. Still learning of course.
A favourite cartoon can tell some more.....
Here's about the paradox of a dog, Rambo the dog.

Eva

Vasaloppet

Happy skiing All you 15000 skiers who will give the 90 km a good fight tody. Sunny weather, good temperatures. Enormous gathering of energy!


Look at this magic moment when the skiiers set off on their long journey. Film clip from 2011, looks like the same weather that year:

3500 litres of blueberry soup will be consumed by the skiiers along the trail. We made some for us for breakfast here at home too. Ekströms Blueberry soup is da thing!

Eva

Final steps in Irmelin CD-making

Karin, Maria and me in vocal trio Irmelin are just in the final steps of the process of making our new CD. It's a great pleasure to see it come into form. On Monday it's time to do the mastering. I'm very excited about all this. As usual it's also a bit of a labour emotionally. Will this music come out the way we dreamed about it? The stories we want to tell, will it be touching? As soon as the CD is printed it's totaly up to the listener, but at this point it's a fragile and yet strong walk of balance carrying something precious in our hands. A work with lot of heart in it. Everytime you put your naked heart into the work it's also a portion of pain to it.

In this process we are united and working together in the very best way. The Irmelin trio stands strong together! It's a joy to work with Karin and Maria, to unite with their artistry and personality. I learn so much everytime we work together!

Some pictures from this week:

Yesterday I visited a second hand store I've never been to before. Lucky me I found a dress compleetely hand made with fine knowledge in hand craft, probably from the 50th or 60th. I'm happy about the bright colour, even with out the sun shining through it's the colours of fire. Double layers of fabric. i wish I knew who made it and what parties this dress has been to before.

Eva

Journey of Nishiyuu and sleeping giants

Good morning! A new week lies ahead with it's work and missions to be done. Today I want to start with this truly amazing and hope giving story that unfolds right now in the wilderness of Canada. Click on the links to see the full blogposts I'm quoting.
 The group is getting bigger as more walkers join in the Journey of Nishiyuu. Men and women, warriors for courage, honesty, humility, compassion, respect, sharing and wisdom.

What is the Journey of Nishiyuu? From the beginning:

SUMMARY:

From Northern Quebec, Six Youth, with one guide, are walking from Whapmagoostui, Qc to Ottawa, Ont and will arrive at Parliament Hill. This is to show to the People of the World, including other First Nations, that the Cree Nation of Quebec are keepers of their language, culture, tradition and more importantly, still carry the sacred laws of their ancestors. This Journey is to inspire all people to reclaim their roots and culture.
MISSION:
This Journey will re-establish and re-unite historical allies and restore traditional trade routes among the First Nations in hopes that this amplifies to all humanity to do the same. The time for unity is now.

From the official webpage of nishiyuujourney.ca Teachings.

Definition of warrior, Kinwhapmackin:
Kinwhapmackin is a person with leadership qualities, who sacrifices themselves for the betterment of others, protecting the people, culture, heritage, and land. Ensures promising future for present and generations to come. They are the carriers and are guided by the teachings of Courage, Honesty, Humility, Compassion, Respect, Sharing, and Wisdom.


Waking up the sleeping giants, in blogpost written by Mattew Mukash, on Censored News.

" For the JOURNEY OF NISHIYUU to have a purpose and meaning, we must go beyond just following it. We must realize that it is also our journey, a personal journey within (from the mind to the heart - the seat of the soul, as they say). To walk among those who can make a difference in the world such as our own Nishiyuu Warriors, we must wake up the Sleeping Giants (Courage, Honesty, Humility, Compassion, Respect, Sharing, Wisdom and other virtues) within each one of us."

Walk with your sleeping giants on your path this week.

Eva

Best cds in my player 2012

Ahmad Al Khatib, Youssef Hbeisch: Jadayel. Maria Misgeld: Romans i moll.

John Doyle: Shadows and light.

During the year that passed I had some cds that kept spinning in my player, over and over again. I would gladly like to share some brilliant work made by musicians from near and far. Some cds has been with me for many years and they will steadily be my companions here. Other cds just released now, hot from the print.

2012

January:
Lhasa, The Living Road Toutoutard 2003
This great voice will never be silent, her artistry is forever. This cd is the first I encountered of her works. Heard first in the dining room at Dala-Floda Världshus in the unforgettable settings of Paul and Christina Aarts food, music, style of folk art from different corners of the world.

February:
The Boswil Concert, Paul Hanmer and McCoy Mrubata. 2010
Paul Hanmer, piano, organ. McCoy Mrubata, saxophone.
Künstlerhaus, Boswil, www.africanmusic.unibas.ch

Mars:
Ilmajousi - Luftstråk. KMH Förlag 2001
Maria Kalaniemi & Sven Ahlbäck

April:
John Doyle: Shadow and Light, Compass Records 2011
John Doyle performed at festival Lempo in Finland where I first heard him live. Totally mindblowing music, him alone on the stage. Great honour for me to guest him on one song. Unforgettable.

May:
Moses Hightower: "Búum til börn" Record Records 2010
I heard them live in Germany when I toured with Nordic Wedding Music. Lovely to hear music sung in islandic language.

June:
Tetra: Hiyya, Footprint 2010
Lovely a capella quartet from Göteborg.

July:
Algérie Voix des Femmes: Compilation cd by Blue Silver. 1997
My absolute favourite track is Djurdjura ura's Azemmour.

August:
No other listening then just dig into Irmelin repertoir, work in progress. Sometimes I go into a kind of music fasting when it comes to consuming music from other artists. It's not so concious from my side, I just go inte to the process of creating my music and then it fades away with listening to other. Or I dont have so much time to listen to other music. I can imagine that the brain is working that way, to give a lot of space for the process of creativity.

September:
Hornroh Modern Alphornquartet
Phonag Records 2009
www.hornroh.ch
Our new friends in Hornroh! Irmelin had the chance to meet and work with Hornroh while doing the performance Blaue Stunde in Basel, in september.

October:
Maria Misgeld: Romans i moll.
Misgeld Music 2011.
www.misgeldmusic.com
Maria's own soloalbum, the album following her first one, "Margits sånger". And again, she's made a touching, vivid and profoundly beautiful piece of art. I will listen to this album for a long time to come.

November:
Otonal.
Mattias Pérez and Nano Stern 2009
A meeting between Chile and Sweden guitar mastery. My friends and former collegues, I long to the moment we will reunite in music one day.

December:
Ahmad Al Khatib, Youssef Hbeisch, Bela Quartet: Jadayel.
My full review can be found in december blogpost.
Jadayel has been spinning in my player ever since. The more I listen, the deeper it goes. Wonderful.


Have a good journey out there!
Eva

Smash the mirror: Odd Lovin

I have a weakness for dresses.....vintage dresses.
Odd Lovin is a wonderful web shop for vintage dresses and today I got my order in the post. Quick shipping, I ordered yesterday.

I'm a lucky owner now to a dress from the 70's with the name "Smash the mirror". You can see it here on Odd Lovin

Got a letter in the package from Odd Lovin. I couldn't have said it better myself.

"This garment is vintage.
It has been picked and loved by someone before you, in another time and place.
I'd like to think that vintage clothing comes with a secret story that gives it a special kind of character. It's in a way already full of life right now when you're holding it in your hands.
By wearing it you will make this story continue and it will become a unique extension of who you are.
It will add that special edge to your wardrobe and personal style, and at the same time you will contribute to a more eco-friendly way of dressing.
Thank you for sharing our love for odd clothing."

Tuva Minna Linn.