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.
Introduction There’s something special about waking up at home after a weekend away. The sheets feel different, the coffee hits differently, and the sound of the washing machine humming reminds me that everyday life is back. Today, I got an especially dramatic start – courtesy of our cat.
This morning, our cat launched a full attack on my feet sticking out from under the blanket. Before 5:00 AM. Of course I woke up immediately. That little rascal knows exactly how to get me out of bed – just to get his breakfast.
Still, waking up at home after being in the motorhome is a lovely feeling. I do enjoy our trips in LVL^2, but there’s a comfort in coming home, unpacking, and slipping back into the rhythm of regular life.
Unpacking the Motorhome – Our Routine
We’re a good team when it comes to unpacking the motorhome. I gather everything from inside, and my husband carries it all into the house and puts things in the fridge. The whole process takes maybe fifteen minutes. After that, I usually settle into the sofa for a bit – but not before checking on our greenhouse and garden.
Yesterday, everything needed a good watering, but I left it until the evening.
Birthday Celebration for My Mother-in-law
Once the unpacking was done, we shifted gears – my mother-in-law turned 81, and we had a little party planned. Showers, getting ready, and picking up our eldest daughter before heading off to Gothenburg.
We made a quick stop at Torp to buy the final gift – a warm, long cardigan to go with the two knives we had already bought (a bread knife and another one she had mentioned needing). She often feels cold, so a cozy, knee-length cardigan seemed perfect.
The party was lovely. She served Swedish sandwich cake and gluten-free options for us, along with Budapest roll and Schwarzwald cake. We were twelve people gathered – a rare occasion due to the distance between us.
Home Again – and a Message from the Neighbor
We got back home around 7:00 PM. Everyone was tired. We watered the garden and sat out on the patio. Just being.
On the drive home, my neighbor messaged me. Her YouTube channel had gained more views, and she mentioned that her son missed me. They had gone swimming, but he didn’t want to go into the deep water without me there. I think we’ll sort that out – he’ll be ready for deep-water swimming before winter arrives. I know he can learn.
My our little girl also mentioned that he had probably knocked on our door while we were away. She finds it unsettling when someone knocks unexpectedly, so she waited. Eventually, she saw him return to his house across the street.
A New Children’s Video About Emotions
Speaking of my neighbor – she recently uploaded a new video to her YouTube channel. She makes short educational films for young children, and they’re truly lovely. The latest one is about emotions: what feelings exist, how they feel, and how they affect us. It’s not every emotion, of course – but it’s perfect for young kids.
The washing machines are calling again. It’s not even 6:00 AM, and I’ve already done two loads of laundry – mostly from the weekend trip. I also washed our swimwear, because we’re probably going swimming today.
Closing Words Thanks for joining me on this Monday morning. Maybe you were woken gently, maybe not. However your day started, I hope it gives you both energy and space to just be.
Reflection: It’s in the contrast that we notice what we truly enjoy. A quiet Monday isn’t boring after an adventurous weekend – it’s a soft landing. And maybe that’s what everyday life is really about.
”Live today, right now. Yesterday rests in history, and tomorrow waits out there in the distance. Right now is what matters.” – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
Do you also have a furry friend who “helps” you wake up? Share your best or worst pet alarm moment in the comments!
Have you celebrated someone recently? What’s your favorite gift to give a loved one?
Have you seen my neighbor’s new children’s video? Let us know what you think – she loves hearing from viewers!
Support This Blog
Would you like to support my writing? If you enjoy what I share here and want to help keep the blog going, feel free to leave a small contribution using the link below. Thank you for reading!
Introduction: Today I’m sitting outside under the pavilion, writing. Breakfast is beside me, and the last cup of coffee for the day serves as a drink for my sandwich. A sandwich with avocado and cucumber from our greenhouse. That cucumber really tasted like cucumber – not like those watered-down green sticks from the store.
In this moment, life feels simply delightful and beautiful. The sun is shining, and the sky is clear blue. It’s been so long since it was this blue. I don’t even feel the slightest breeze – everything is just still, lovely and full of flavor. At least the sandwich is.
My plan is to spend this day in the slope at home, in the garden. We’ll see how much energy I have. I’ll do what I feel like, and then I intend to enjoy this sunny day in my own way – by just being and doing almost nothing more than soaking up the sun.
Hanging laundry is, of course, a must on a day like this. As soon as my husband got out of bed, I went and removed the bed linens. They’re drying in the sun – which is where linens truly belong, at least in my world. They smell so wonderful after being hung outside, and it’s such a lovely feeling to be able to hang laundry in the fresh air.
The Right to Sleep Clean and Safe
That – hanging sheets outside, smelling their freshness, and going to bed in clean, sun-dried linens – should be a human right.
There are children, even here in Sweden, who don’t even have proper bedding in their beds. Children who have never experienced the feeling of being freshly showered, then crawling into a clean, freshly made bed with duvets that have aired or dried in the sun.
It should absolutely be a parental responsibility to give a child the opportunity to feel those things. To feel clean, safe and cared for. That sense of security often lives in the smallest details.
Garden Evening Vibes
Already yesterday evening, the weather showed signs of what today would bring. It was warm and light outside. My husband and I both got into the mood. We spent some time walking around the garden.
He worked on his things, and I removed overgrown lettuce, picked some freshly harvested carrots and hung another bouquet of oregano to dry. I checked on the tomatoes and cucumbers – something has happened, because the flowers that were supposed to become cucumbers have withered and died.
The cucumber flowers have started to wither before turning into fruit – any idea what could be causing it?
Education for the Little Ones – with Joy and Care
While sitting here in the sun with my coffee in hand, my thoughts turned to my neighbor. She’s one of those people who truly make a difference – quietly but meaningfully.
On her YouTube channel, she creates short educational videos for children. Small clips where she talks about the body, the environment and animals – always with a pedagogical intention, aimed at young children.
What’s especially wonderful is that she includes questions in her videos – questions children are meant to answer. It’s thoughtful, playful and inspiring. You can feel the care and genuine intention behind it. A channel made for the little ones, with a big heart.
Click on “Video” to watch the films she creates.
I’m going to continue this day right here – with the sun on my back and the scent of freshly dried laundry in the air. That’s enough. That’s more than enough. I wish you a beautiful day, where you get everything you need from your hours.
Carina Ikonen Nilsson
“Live today, right now. Yesterday rests in history, and tomorrow is waiting somewhere in the distance. Right now is what matters.”
Reflection
It’s in the small things that the big ones live. A sandwich with cucumber from the greenhouse. The scent of laundry in the breeze. A child’s voice answering a question in an educational film.
It may not look like much to the world – but to someone, it’s everything.
Question for you
What does your perfect summer day look like – the kind where nothing really happens, but everything feels right? Feel free to leave a comment below – I read every single one. And if you prefer, you’re welcome to contact me privately.
Here are a few things you might reflect on:
What everyday moments mean the most to you right now?
Can you remember the last time you climbed into sun-dried sheets – how did it feel?
What simple luxuries do you think all children should experience?
How do you create a sense of safety in the small things – for yourself or others?
What gives you that true summer feeling?
Do you have a quiet place of your own where you can simply be?
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