Of course, if I had my way, I’d have been in Sweden for midsummer. But, not this year. So, we had a midsummer celebration here in Long Beach.
First, the Swedish cabin in our woods needed some attention.
![P1010033](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100332-450x337.jpg)
We’d been using a ladder to get up to the loft, but I wanted stairs that were carved out of one log like I’d seen at farm museums in Sweden.
![P1010005](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100051-450x337.jpg)
Josh Blewett, a local chain saw artist, did these for me.
![P1010011-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010011-2-450x337.jpg)
It took a lot of “oomph” to lift it up.
![P1010010](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010010-450x337.jpg)
And then it needed some tweaking.
![P1010018](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100182-450x337.jpg)
They had to take it down…….
![P1010021](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100211-450x337.jpg)
….and put it back up a couple of times.
![P1010019](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100192-337x450.jpg)
In the end, it was a perfect fit.
![P1010010-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010010-2-337x450.jpg)
I took the inaugural climb, and Josh joined me in the loft.
![P1010027](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100272-450x337.jpg)
Last summer in Sweden I bought a wind vane that’s based on an historic design. Note: It’s always good to buy heavy items made of metal to put in your suitcase–especially early in your trip.
![P1010046](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100461-450x337.jpg)
John Bahner made a beautiful mounting bracket for it–even duplicating the heart that’s on the vane–and got it done in time for the weekend festivities.
![P1010009](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100091-450x337.jpg)
The setting around the cabin is so beautiful this time of year.
![P1010014](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010014-450x337.jpg)
I love the delicate ground cover called miner’s lettuce.
![P1010015](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100151-450x337.jpg)
It even manages to find its way into the crotch of the trees.
![P1010011](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010011-450x337.jpg)
The log by the troll house had a nice crop of mushrooms.
![P1010008](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100083-337x450.jpg)
I think the trolls may be cultivating them.
![P1010004](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100043-337x450.jpg)
On the morning of the midsummer celebration, Bob had the maypole in place and ready to go.
![IMG_1269](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_1269-450x337.jpg)
I spent the morning making garland. I wish I had birch leaves, but alder had to do. Bob and my cousin Susan help me bring everything to the maypole.
![IMG_1270](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_1270-450x337.jpg)
Cole supervises as I wrap.
![IMG_1272](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_1272-450x337.jpg)
The onlookers–my mom, my brother, my uncle, my dad, my uncle and my cousin. Quite the family affair!
![P1010014-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010014-2-450x337.jpg)
The decorated maypole.
![P1010011-3](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010011-3-450x337.jpg)
The three guys get ready to lift.
![P1010016](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100161-450x337.jpg)
Can they do it?
![P1010017](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100171-450x337.jpg)
Higher……
![P1010018-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010018-2-450x337.jpg)
….and higher……
![P1010019-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010019-2-450x337.jpg)
Yeah! It’s finally in place.
![P1010020](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100203-337x450.jpg)
Locked in.
![P1010021-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010021-2-450x337.jpg)
By afternoon, we had sunshine and blue skies–perfect for picture taking.
![P1010040](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010040-337x450.jpg)
Midsummer means lots of flowers for decorations. These are on the cabin.
![P1010048](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100481-337x450.jpg)
I especially love the wild fox gloves.
![P1010026](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100262-450x337.jpg)
This is probably my favorite bouquet. These flowers grow wild behind my studio.
![P1010027-2](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010027-2-450x337.jpg)
A little something for the living room.
![P1010029](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100291-337x450.jpg)
It’s traditional to decorate the entrance to your home with birch trees. Since none grow around here, I bought two at the nursery. Now I’ll plant them by the cabin. I figure if I do this every year, I should have a whole birch forest in about 80 years!
![P1010028](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100281-450x337.jpg)
My collection of Swedish horses came out for the occasion.
![P1010030](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100302-450x337.jpg)
Dinner’s nearly ready and Sally is pouring water. We had the traditional meal–meatballs, dilled new potatoes, pickled herring, rye bread, lingonberry sauce and cucumber salad.
![P1010033](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100333-450x337.jpg)
And two desserts–strawberry whipped cream roll and princess cake.
![P1010034](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P1010034-450x337.jpg)
Later in the day we relaxed in the cabin.
![P1010049](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100491-337x450.jpg)
The weather was perfect for being out.
![P1010050](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100501-450x337.jpg)
Before the day was done, we had to have our picture take in the lupine.
![P1010043](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100431-450x337.jpg)
The lupine in Sweden grows wildly and abundantly. I’m trying to get the lupine established in this area of our yard, but I have a long way to go.
![P1010045](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/P10100452-450x337.jpg)
So you can see what I mean, here’s a picture taken two years ago in Sweden. Can Cole really have grown so much in just two years!?!
![IMG_5270-1](https://annalenaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/IMG_5270-1-450x300.jpg)
Glad midsommar!