BE SEATED!

I got myself a set of old movie theatre chairs.

As I've only ever lived in flats and apartments before (or, a townhouse when at home with my parents) I never really was able to buy interesting furniture unless absolutely neede; not being able to have them lying around waiting for the right moment and right place. Or sure, I've stuffed a vintage make up table in the hallway of my old studio apartement and squeezed in a chair here and a lamp there, but with a few square meters there has always been practical limitations. And some sense from my behalf too. But the countryhouse can take in a lot, and already has from former generations! (I mean who needs three big cupboards in one room? Btw that will change, soon.)

So, I saw these old movie theatre seats for sale in an online antique store and had to get them just because, well - how often are you able to buy old movie seats? Not sure what their exact duty and placement will be; if not for when we get a tv they  might find their way to the porch we're about to re-build. As they are not only fun but practical; they take up small space with the seats folded up.

If interested there are still some seats for sale at Lundagård.

COUNTRYSIDE CUTE

I put together a forties inspired outfit of some of the old stuff I've bought to the countryside to wear around grass, dust and garden. As most people, I generally have a (very small) different wardrobe for just haning around out there. But sometimes it's nice to also make those just-hanging-around-the-garden-and-cooking-rhubarb-jam-days cute, by brushing out that whatever-ponytail into a nicer do. And then you can take a break from whatever it is that you were doing and go pose by an apple tree for a while.


The linen shorts are old from Indiska (they became countryside-wear since linen gets so damn wrinkly in an instant...) and the clogs are Moheda. The knit is some decade old H&M. Sometimes today's high street wear can last a long time too.

(And we'll actually have some people over soon, so brushing out my hair turned out to be not just for my own vanity this time.)

CASHEW ICE CREAM

A big slice of (or, in the crumble case: pile of) warm fruit pie and ice cream is one of the best  combos there is! And in summer -at least if you have a garden- you're sort of obliged to make lots of pies and cakes all the time, to make use of what your garden produces. (And preferrably enjoy those in said garden, with ice cream.)

My friend K came over to the contrysidea few days ago. She has a vegan diet so I made us my healthier version of rhubarb crumble (I figured the measurements are about 1:1 with coconut sugar and oats - a tiny bit more oats perhaps- and a third  of the amount in coconut oil. I top the pie with almond flakes) and served it with vanilla ice cream based on cashews.

"Whipped cream" on cashews is a quite classic vegan cake filling/icing and is also seen in lots of raw food recipes as pie fillings and such. Or served with berries for breakfast. When you freeze it,  you get a very creamy dairy-and egg free (and sugar free) ice cream!

The cashew nut ice cream is very easy to make as long as you have a mixer; you don't need an ice cream maker. It takes about five minutes plus the freezing time. Just remember to take a peek in the freezer every now and then and stir the bowl.

For a small set you will need (as usual with me, measurements are a bit so-so):
250g of natural cashews,  a dash of water
1 ripe pear
real vanilla powder
(sugar for extra sweetening)
This makes enough to top about five to six servings of pie

The how-to:
Mix the cashews to a fine powder in the mixer. Add a little water if the mix seems very firm. Peel the pear and add it to the cashews, mix them smooth. Add the vanilla powder. I have this vanilla grinder, kind of like a pepper grinder, with which I sprinkle along. Utrekram also has ready ground real vanilla.  You can add quite a lot of it, I do so, but a little already will add the lovely scent and taste of vanilla. Put in some extra sweetener if you feel it needed (the taste depends on how sweet the pear has been.) I add about a teaspoon of coconut sugar. But the mix in a bowl and freeze for an hour or two. Stir and "fluff" the ice cream a few times during the freezing process. Then you eat it and amaze over how good it tastes!

PS. this works a chocolate version too, just add cocoa powder.

THE ONCE-EVERY-EIGHT-YEARS-DRESS

I'm continuing with my quest to dig in the depths of my wardrobe wear as much as possible during the summer: This dress is my grand-aunt's old and I have had it for a very long time. I used it last time one day during 2008 and the time before -the first time- when I graduated from the 9th grade ( I remember having had big curls in my hair from curlers and wearing those bonzo platform sandals of the late nineties, uh, with it); which means I've used it once every eight years so far. So yes, it was a fair idea to let it out in the sun again.


It's, ahem, rather short and I've felt it's not really me because of that but then again what the heck; why not! I wore it with black hotpants underneath for those just-in-case moments. And painted myself some candy nails to go along.