On Saturday we went to a lovely birthday party at our neighbor’s place – she’s the one who creates those beautiful YouTube clips for small children, educational and playful. As always, there was joy, laughter, and a warm atmosphere.
Gothenburg visit to our youngest son
Yesterday we headed to Gothenburg to visit our youngest son, who moved there last autumn. He and his girlfriend had just returned from Greece, sun-kissed and full of stories. We had coffee, checked out their now fully furnished apartment, and admired the cozy sofa he had built on their balcony. Honestly, I could imagine living out there myself! They had also reupholstered the headboard of their bed with a beautiful fabric – so creative and personal.
The plan was to have dinner at their place, but since we were quite a few, we decided to go out instead. Pizzas were ordered, and I chose a kebab salad – which, I must say, had very little salad in it. And when you choose a salad, you actually expect it to be filled with salad and the fresh things that belong there.
Blogging work and the Oskar series
This weekend was a reminder of how valuable both small and big moments can be. A birthday party or a balcony conversation in Gothenburg can bring just as much energy as a long trip. It’s the ordinary everyday memories that shape our lives.
Right now, I’m also working here on the blog, especially with the Oskar series, where I write about children, neurodivergence, and school life. This week we’ve been focusing on the post Motivating circumstances and invisible support. At the same time, I’m optimizing the blog to make it easier for both me and you as readers to find your way through all the posts.
A lot is happening – in everyday life and here on the blog.
Live today, right now. Yesterday is history, and tomorrow lies out there in the distance. Right now is what we can influence. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
Reflection
This weekend reminded me that strength is often found in the simple things – in the laughter of a child’s party, in a chat on a balcony, in the ordinary meals we share. Life doesn’t have to be grand to be deeply meaningful.
Your Voice: Between the Lines
Between the lines, this post carries a sense of gratitude. To be present – in both small and big ways – is a gift I do not take for granted.
Yesterday filled our home with the smell of cabbage pudding, the sound of laughter, and a deep sense of gratitude. Today, my body feels tired, yet my heart is still glowing warm.
Yesterday, we had a dear visit at our home. My husband decided that cabbage pudding was the dish of the day, so in the morning, I went shopping with our little one – but not before we first harvested big, beautiful potatoes from the garden. They were more than enough and tasted absolutely wonderful.
A Day to Remember
We ate, we talked, and we laughed until our stomachs hurt. It was the kind of laughter that stays in your body long after, the kind that makes you feel happier just by remembering it. I also want to take this moment to say thank you for coming yesterday – it was such a joy to have you here.
Today, my body is tired, but my heart is light. I plan to rest and enjoy the feeling of yesterday lingering in the house. Later, I might work on tomorrow’s post about LVL² and perhaps a weekend motorhome trip – although, with the wind outside, we have not decided if we will go yet.
What are you up to today? Have you had a laugh recently that stayed with you?
Live today, right now – and it becomes a memory tomorrow. Those small moments can bring you happiness later, like gentle flashes from yesterday. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
Hello and a warm welcome, both to those of you visiting for the first time and to those who return again and again! I am always both surprised and happy to see readers from all over the world – from Ireland, the USA, and so many places I hardly dared to dream of. Imagine that my small corner of Sweden can reach your heart across the globe.
Thank you, most humbly, for reading here with me. It means more than you know.
When Piles Come to Life
Today I want to write about something completely different than international readers – those piles we all gather at home.
I have one of those piles. It started with a printer. The printer and I already had a shaky relationship, and eventually my husband grew tired of hearing me talk to it. He said he knew where to find one of those new machines that actually worked.
Although I muttered that the old one wasn’t that old, and that it had been expensive enough that it should work, we went to NetOnNet and bought a new printer. The old printer ended up in the basement, right on the floor. We were going to throw it away “later.”
The Kitchen Faucet in LVL²
Then, as always, more things joined the pile. In the spring, when we took our motorhome LVL² out, the kitchen faucet broke. We bought a new one, and the broken faucet also moved to the basement. Not a big pile yet – but still, a pile.
Broken Pots and Forgotten Things
Last year we bought a new battery for our motorhome. The old one got a spot in the garden, waiting for recycling. And that plastic box where I tried to grow leeks? The sun cracked it, and it stayed where it was.
Broken pots, an old garden stool, and everything else slowly joined the pile. Eventually, when we walked past, it felt almost alive.
My husband thought it looked sad when you came down the street and saw our pile of junk. So we moved it to the other side of the patio, so it wouldn’t be as visible.
From Pile to Relief
Yesterday, the recycling station in the village was open. It rained heavily. The pile stayed put, and I gave up hope that we would ever deal with it.
However, today a small miracle happened. My husband said:
“Let’s take care of this now.”
At first, I wasn’t very eager. However, because he had the energy, I didn’t want to be the one to hold back.
First, we took the usual recycling: milk cartons, plastic, and glass. Then, the plastic pots went, along with my broken garden chair. After that, the printer went to Elgiganten’s electronics recycling, and the faucet joined the scrap metal. Finally, since we were in Uddevalla anyway, we returned our summer cans and bottles – two large bags, which gave us 230 kronor back.
The Joy of Order and Lightness
When we came home again, it was as if the air was lighter. The pile was gone. The garden felt bigger. And I got such an energy boost that I took out the grass trimmer and tidied all the edges where the pile had been.
The grass that had grown around the pile was trimmed away – as if it had never existed. My husband heard me from the basement, came up, and mowed the lawn. Even Lillfia caught the feeling and asked if she could help.
Reflection: Why Do We Always Wait?
Now I’m sitting under the pavilion, writing. My body feels lighter, and so does my mind. And yet, I wonder: Why do we always wait until “later”?
For me, it looks like this:
First, I say, “We’ll do it later.”
Then, the pile grows.
Then comes the shame and the quiet anxiety.
Finally, we do it – and then it feels like Christmas morning.
There is a certain reward in that final feeling – the relief and the energy when it’s all done. But I don’t know if it’s worth all the quiet nagging before. Maybe that’s just how life works sometimes. And maybe, I’m not the only one.
Between the Lines – My Voice
Between the lines, this isn’t just about trash or a pile in the garden. It’s about holding on to things – and feelings – longer than we need to, and about the freedom that comes when we finally let go.
I write this to remind myself – and maybe you – that it is in the small actions that the greatest relief and joy can be found. When the pile is gone, life feels a little bigger.
Questions for You
Do you also have a pile waiting for attention?
How does it feel when you finally finish something you’ve postponed for too long?
Do you think the relief is stronger because we waited too long?
Here’s a reminder of my friend’s YouTube channel – her sweet educational videos for children about animals, nature, and the small things that spark curiosity.
Live today, right now. Yesterday is among the memories of old piles, and tomorrow waits in the distance. Maybe new piles will come – but it all depends on what we do in the present. Right now is where life unfolds and where we can finally breathe. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
AHA – Between the Lines
Behind this story of a disappearing pile lives a lesson about life itself. It is about the weight of what we hold on to, and the unexpected freedom that comes when we let go – of things, of clutter, and sometimes of the emotions that keep us stuck. I share this because life is often lighter than we dare to believe, and because even a cleared pile can make room for new energy, hope, and a deep breath in the present moment.
This post is a small journey through everyday life. It moves from a gray August morning with soft rain, to tidy drawers and a birthday celebration that warmed my heart. Most importantly, it is a reflection on how small actions – folding a sock, sipping coffee, or watching a child laugh – can become moments of stillness and happiness. Perhaps it reminds you, as it does me, that life truly lives in the simple things.
Autumn Makes Itself Known
Yesterday, autumn whispered its arrival, even though it was only August 2nd. The rain fell heavy and gray, as if the sky had pulled a blanket over summer for a while. Because of that, it was the perfect day for quiet tasks indoors – the kind that bring peace to both the home and the soul.
I pulled out the drawers and began folding clothes using the Marie Kondo method. Underwear, socks, sweaters, and pajamas all found their places. The clothes I no longer needed, I thanked for their time and set aside – some to donate, some to throw away.
Afterwards, when I opened the drawer, it felt almost magical. Everything lay in neat rows, the socks sorted by color. It was as if the drawer itself sighed in relief. And so did I.
Why Fold This Way?
I’ve come to realize that the KonMari method isn’t just about tidiness. Instead, it is about showing gratitude and creating calm in daily life. When every item has its place, the mind also feels a little clearer. No more searching, no more silent sighs at the mess – suddenly, home feels like a place where you can breathe.
There’s also something meditative about the folding itself. While standing in the quiet, I can feel the fabric in my hands, deciding what stays and what moves on. It’s like creating small islands of stillness in the stream of everyday tasks.
KonMari and everyday joy – yes, that’s how it felt as I stood there folding my clothes. Even if my husband only shook his head and said it took time, for me, it was precious time – harmony, self-care, and quiet respect for my belongings.
A Celebration with Simple Joys
In the afternoon, we went to a birthday celebration. We were served smashed potatoes with minced meat and melted cheese, with salad, red onion, and jalapeños on the side. After that, dessert was an ice cream buffet with plenty of toppings – simple, yet so good.
We met my daughter’s partner’s family and their two little boys. They were shy at first, as little boys often are with new people, but after a short while, the shyness melted into laughter and play. I smiled to myself, watching how quickly shyness can turn to mischief. Children are amazing that way – they always find their way to joy.
We had brought a coffee maker as a gift. It felt good to give something useful – finally, there will be brewed coffee in their home.
Tiny Animals and Quiet Greetings
On our last shopping trip, I couldn’t resist buying some small, cute stuffed animals. They each had names and even their own birthdays – completely irresistible.
We bought them for our grandchildren. One stayed at our daughter’s house, while the other two went on a little adventure. Eventually, we placed them in our son’s mailbox with a small note explaining that the animals had birthdays to celebrate. A quiet greeting – from us to them – with the hope of bringing small smiles to their day.
Evening Peace and a Gentle Reflection
When we came home, I settled onto the couch and watched a film about slavery in the US – about a woman who helped others to freedom. As usual, I dozed off for a while, but the evening still ended in peaceful calm.
Later that night, I reflected on how small acts can create deep well-being: A tidy drawer. A shy child daring to laugh. A cup of freshly brewed coffee. And the reminder that life truly happens in the little moments – here and now.
Between the Lines – My Voice
I seek calm in simple things: a tidy drawer, the scent of coffee, the sound of rain. I write to capture the small moments that bring me peace, never to point fingers at anyone. This is my space for reflection, gratitude, and the gentle glimmers of everyday life.
Have you ever tried the KonMari method? How do you create calm in your own daily life? And which small moments stay in your heart the longest?
A Tip – My Neighbor’s YouTube Channel
If you want a short moment of inspiration, take a look at my friend’s videos on YouTube. She shares small glimpses of life with her own gentle warmth – little educational videos for children about animals, nature, and all the small things they wonder about.
Live today, right now. Yesterday is among memories, and the future waits just beyond tomorrow. Right now is where we live and breathe, where life truly happens.
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