Gruesome Murder and Sweet Birthdays

Weather forecast obviously got it entirely wrong, the sun has been showing her dazzling face since our hols started only temporarily clouded by a couple of short and light drizzles. Just the perfect weather for picknicks and cheery outings with friends.

Just before the weekend, one of our dear friends had his birthday. As hubbs and I have absolutely no character at all when it comes to calories and a jolly good time, we happily tugged along when the partner of the said friend suggested we take him out on spin in the country side.

Said and done, we started off his day by having breakfast at a bakery cum very chic café only a stone's throw from where we live. Nothing beats a really strong latte with a couple of extra shots of espresso, croissants & bread rolls almost straight out from the oven and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Here's the birthday card I made for him:

The papers are from Swedish designer Maja. Clocks are cut-out from a WP mini pad, put them there to tease him about the fact that time flies and next year he'll hit the "big oh" celebrating his bi-centennials he he he. The paper with pears on also has a subtly printed recipy for a pear crumble. The very chocolate brown felt and lace bloom is from Precocious Paper on Etsy, don't be scared of their brights, just scroll down the page and you'll find lots of other colours too if you click  HERE 

Tummies full we then drove out to the coast and a visit to the 16th century castle called Gripsholm. It has a very colourful history of imprisoned royalty and gruesome murder, but also an enchanting 18th century theatre and absolutely divine 18th century rooms within its impressive stone walls.

This is what welcomes you when entering the grounds.

Castle Gripsholm is located in the very heart of what used to be prime viking territory, located on the shores of lake Mälaren. The rune stone is a reminder of this. For those of you unfamiliar with these stones, they are letters or memorials to loved one and often tell of a father or a son departed to far far away countries, never to return home.

The part of the coast where we live and the cities around lake Mälaren, are incredibly lush as you can see from the next photo. Reminds me a lot of some parts of the British Isles. The grass and trees stay pretty green all summer through with the proximity to water.

Finishing this trip to Castle Gripsholm with two more photos with a feel of the Tudor quarters of Hampton Court palace outside London. Love the burned tiles of different hues and the lead windows. The scrummie end to our day will follow in another post.

While I'm at birthdays, here's a girly birthday card to my friend Margareta. She's all into shabby herself.

Papers and the little vintage maiden are Melissa Frances 5th Avenue.  Leaf trinket pins Maya Road, and white crocheted doily from Leeann Pearce's Chip Chop Shop. Blue gardenia was originally white and is misted with TA Glimmer Chalk in Cornflower, peach roses, scrunchy seam binding and lace from my stash.

Now off to pick strawberries and a leisurely lunch under the apple trees in an orchard before bracing myself for a tour to the world's first ever and now largest IKEA, which happens to be only minutes away by car from where we live. HAVE to get some sorts of little scrap nook in our tiny spare room as the stash is flooding our bedroom and things are getting rather desperate.

Be good, be well and have a wonderful start to the week folks! Thank you so very much for visiting and having a peek!

xoxoxox Eila