Sick Day

Ellie woke up in the middle of the night with a stomach virus.  The first real illness we have had to face in Stockholm.   Most days the decrease store hours do not bother me but it was annoying that there was no were to go out to get Pedialyte.  It was a wakeup call that we need to have a better supply of medications for middle of the night illnesses.  When the pharmacy opened at 10am, David ran down (it is across the street) and talked with the pharmacist.  The Swedish version of Pedialyte is actually a tablet that you dissolve in water.  I love the idea because it is easy to store and transport unlike the prefilled containers in the US.  We will always have some tablets with us when we travel.  Lucky for Ellie that virus passed quickly and after nap she was back to her normal self.  However, David and I needed the day to recover from the long night.

Day at Taxiage

Today, Ellie and I joined the SIS (Stockholm International School) PTA for an outing to the Taxiage Christmas Market.  We took a charter bus to Taxiage and had four hours to do some shopping.  The weather was beautiful: cold bright and sunny with a dusting of snow on the ground.  Ellie enjoyed the bus ride.  It was interesting to get outside of Stockholm and seeing the beautiful countryside.  It was our first trip out of Stockholm. 

The market was very interesting.  It was a mix of foods and crafts.  There was quite a variety of homemade mustards, jellies, marmalades and sausages.  Ellie thought she was such a big girl getting to try all the different samples.  She thought everything was good and even picked a favorite marmalade, a raspberry. 

Her favorite craft booth was the wood carver.  He was carving spoons when we passed by.  He invited Ellie to come over to touch what he was working on to feel the different textures and showed her the different stages of making a spoon. He also gave her different sized wood shavings to play with.  We did find several Christmas gifts and a few yummy things for us to eat.  We also bought Swedish honey to try.  Instead of being a liquid it is a solid, because it doesn’t get warm enough here to change into a liquid. 



Joannah checks out the market



Swedish Trolls

My happy girl

Building where the market was held.

Another buiding on the grounds that held a cafe and other shops.

Neighbor

Our upstairs neighbor, Paul, came down for dinner.  He is an Electrolux employee who has been in Stockholm for three years on an Ex-pat assignment.  He was instrumental in helping us find our apartment.  When our first housing option fell through in August, he suggested we might be able to move into his apartment when he left.  After contacting the landlord, his apartment was not available but the landlord thought that there was a 5 room apartment that would be ready in time for us to move it and it was.  Paul is a really neat guy.  He was born and raised in Denmark and then moved to the United States.  We have really enjoyed getting to know him in the short time we have been in Stockholm.   We had cider-sauced pork for dinner.  It is one of the first meals that we have had that really tasted like home.    

Ellie has really been missing her pets.  She can’t wait to see Nieko, Maggie, and Deadwood at Christmas.  So she was super excited about getting her fish tank all set up.  Today was the day we were going to pick out her new fish.  We met Daddy at T-Centralen.  We rode in on the green line, he came in the blue line and we headed out on the red line.  What fun trying to find him at the busiest station at the busiest time of day.  Thank goodness for cell phones.  After meeting up we headed to the mall.  We had pizza at the Italian restaurant in the mall and made a quick stop by the toy store so Ellie could show Daddy the pram she wanted for Christmas. 

Then it was on to the pet store.  The sales associate was so helpful.  Ellie had a choice between fighting fish (beta’s) and goldfish because her tank is unheated.  She chose an all gold goldfish and one with a black fin.  She named them Funguin and baby.  We left the store right at 7pm, closing time.  We still haven’t gotten use to the store hours here is Sweden, opening late and closing early compared to the US.  When does everyone get their shopping done?  Back at home Ellie helped put her fish in the tank, put in the live plant, and gave her fish their first meal. 

Dogs in the Mall

Our friend Angie has found a temporary job – pet sitting two adorable dogs.  One is a Chihuahua and the other a Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix.  They are both complete cuties.  We went over to her area today to meet the dogs, Wilson (pronounced Vilson) and Chile.  We took the dogs on a walk through the park and stopped for Ellie to play on the equipment.  Then we headed to the mall for a little lunch and shopping.  Here in Sweden dogs are allowed pretty much in any public space except grocery stores.  And if they stay in the basket under a stroller they can even go in the grocery stores.   It really surprises me when I pass a dog in the mall or store.  Most of the dogs here seem really well behaved.  You seldom hear barking or see a dog running loose.  Dogs are also very expensive to have.   The initial cost of the two dogs Angie is taking care of was 25,000 SEK or about $3,500 US.  The pet food and supplies are also fairly expensive.  So the answer to Ellie’s question is no…we can’t get a dog in Sweden. 

We found a toy store in the mall today.  Ellie who is all about Christmas this year saw a pram in the window, just like she and baby “need” for Christmas.  We went in to take a look.  Wow, this toy is so close to the real thing, just in miniature.  It is convertible to a sit up stroller and even has the same suspension.  It also comes with a large price tag 899 SEK or $130 US.     Ellie told paci and bath baby all about the new laydown stroller they are getting for Christmas when we got home.  I hope Santa thinks Ellie has been good this year.

Wilson

Chile

Fishy Business

Ellie worked really hard today getting her fish tank set up and running. She wanted to tank to be in her room where she could see it from her bed.  She did as much of the work as she was physically capable of doing.  She added the pink gravel and planted the plant.  Then she made what seemed like a million trips back and forth from the kitchen with a pitcher to add water.  Finally we added the chemicals that we need to get the biological system up and running.  I measured out the amount and then she poured it in.  She wanted to just watch it run after it was plugged in.  She can’t wait to add fish to the tank. 

Fabric and Claus Olsen

Off to do more shopping today.  We had heard about a store, Claus Olsen, that had a wide variety of items.  David heard they had tools so off we went.  On our way we found a fabric store.  I was so excited.  There was a wide selection of different types of fabric including so quilting cotton.  Ellie’s big find was material to make paci and bath baby a tutu so they could match her.  I feel so much better knowing where I can find fabric and sewing supplies. 

We wandered on and stumbled across a model of the city.  It included buildings that are planned for the future.  David has a really good feel for the city and was able to point out our building, Electrolux and various other landmarks.  I on the other hand could only see them after they were pointed out.

David loved our next stop.  Claus Olsen has a similar selection to a Wal-mart minus the clothing and food.  There was a small toy section, small household items, electronics, a camping section, and David’s favorite…tools.  We were able to pick up a few small items that we have needed and also a ladder so we don’t have to borrow one all the time (some of the storage in the apartment can only be reached with a ladder).  It is a store I am sure we will return to many times.