Life...The Vivere

VIRTUAL SWEDEN...only

December 6, 2012

Hi Family and Friends,

A quicky post this week as it's been a tough week health-wise...bad, bad cold and an uncooperative back have kept me lying down more than sitting!! I'm getting better as I write... I hope your week has been more comfortable and full of seasonal joy :-) !

Darcy Wilkinson's year-long Art and Sole POSTCARD CHALLENGE invited travelers to explore SWEDEN this week...only a few weeks left before the challenge is over and my Postcard Book is complete!

Sweden has some definite stereotypes: Abba, blondes, Volvo and IKEA. Although all of these are evident in Swedish society, it has, of course, grown and extended its horizons. Today, aspects of foreign cultures are woven into everyday life from music to food to fashion. If you visit Sweden, there are some things you must take very seriously:  being on time, taking shoes off when entering someone's home, personal privacy and recycling!!!

My art for this country is of famous film actress of  who starred in 28 films, GRETA GARBO, a daughter of  Sweden...

Hard to see, but in the background is the very first ICE HOTEL ever built. Now, one can find these unique hotels in a variety of locations throughout the world. But, the first one was in Sweden.

The book page for Sweden celebrates its unique Easter tradition. Like our Halloween, the children dress up... here, they dress as old, raggety people and with their face make-up applied and their brooms in hand, they go trick or treating. They often give those whom they visit, Easter cards that they made...sweet... a treat for a treat!

That's it for this week...back to the couch and my heating pad for my back!! This getting old stuff is NOT for sissies!!!

Enjoy your week. I hope that this beautiful season gives you the happy, grateful feeling that it gives me.

Thanks for stopping by.

'Til the next,

Hugs,

abbyj