Västerby

A big part of our visit this time was spent on the west coast, in a summer cabin in Västerby. We were so lucky as to get to borrow the summer house of our good friends Johan & Linda, after they returned to Abu Dhabi for their kids to start school. (On another note - super strange not to return to the school start this year!)

We really enjoyed spending time in their little cabin, and looked after it as if it was our own. We used it mostly as a base, in our explorations of the west coast, but we also explored the surroundings by foot. There was only a beautiful few kilometers to walk down to the water, with a few horses to say hi to on the way.

We had all sorts of weather while we were there, both sunny and warm, but also windy and rainy. Although we didn't mind, it was rather cosy to hear the storm rage outside. We watched tv, sometimes even together, ha ha, and just relaxed.

But the weather also surprised us and even in September we could sit outside and have our breakfast.

Pia came to visit one weekend, and Nathan also came for a whole week. We spent the evenings puzzling, I love puzzles!

We had promised to look after the garden while we were there. So Linnea's job was to pick up all the fallen fruit, so many apples this year, she was really busy!

My job was to mow the lawns. It wasn't many days the grass was dry, so I only managed one time. Good workout though, as the lawnmower was an old push-style one.

Nathan and I went down to the water for a sundowner one particularly nice evening:

Just look at this sunset!

We had a great time in the little summer house!

Mäjens Ice Cream bar

Linnea and I stayed with Mormor and Morfar for about a week, and one of the days we did a bit of an excursion to an ice cream place called Mäjens.

It was a bit of a drive, but it was worth it. Lovely views in the middle of the countryside, and everything made onsite.

We had both a bit of lunch, and of course their ice cream. All very tasty!

Elicia’s christening

Linnea and I came back to Skara just in time for a family celebration, the christening of my cousin Emma’s baby girl - Elicia Christina Patricia. 

It was really nice to be able to partake, as we have missed so many different celebrations throughout the years; but also because Emma is the cousin I’m closest too, and we always try and spend time together when we’re in Skara. 

The christening took place in the Skara Cathedral, at the very front. A part from Elicia protesting a bit getting a wet head, everything went well and the ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Sixten very proudly did his job pouring water into the font.

Afterwards we were invited for lunch not very far from the church, in Kyrkans Sal. I cannot remember ever having been there before, I admired the decorations and artwork.

Emma and Kristoffer had decorated too, in a more pink theme! So many gifts!

Linnea played with the "other" kids:

Emma had baked the cakes, and it was the most delicious cake I have tasted in a very, very long time! I think I had almost three helpings!

Nice to see a big part of the extended family!

Thielska Galleriet

We continued our afternoon at The Thiel Gallery. Another beautifully situated museum space, in Djurgården in Stockholm. This huge palace was built 1904-07 as a home for the banker and patron of the arts Ernest Thiel and his wife Signe, and their extensive art collection.

The house itself was gorgeous, inspired both by the Orient, the Renaissance and the Art Nouveau style; a work of art itself.
At this time, Ernest Thiel was the richest man in Sweden. In 1896, he bought his first large painting, and started his collection. As the collection grew, his apartment in the city became too small, so this palace was built here on Blockhusudden to be both a gallery and a home. The upper floor was designed with two large halls, where the unique collection was, and is, displayed. The works interact with the architecture, the custom built interiors and even the gardens, in a beautiful way:

As Ernest Thiel lost almost all his fortune after the First World War, the palace, including the furnishings and the art collection, was bought by the Swedish government and made into a museum. It has been open to the public since 1925.

The art collection was impressive, mainly focusing on Scandinavian artists such as Eugène Jansson, Carl Larsson, Bruno Liljefors, Edvard Munch and Anders Zorn, art from around the turn of the 20th century.
This is portrait painted by Carl Larsson, of the lady of the manor, Signe Thiel, painted around 1900.

In addition to the two large halls, there was other rooms named after the artists of this generation, nearly all of whom became close friends to Thiel. The Carl Larsson room, the Hjalmar Söderberg room and the Axel Töreman room f.e.

Selfie:

Here as well I found some artwork that I had studied during my art history courses at Uni, so amazing to see them in the flesh, like this The Knight and the Maiden from 1897, by Richard Berg:

The grand Munch room, what an impressive space:

Not only was this the most beautiful space in the palace, but the artwork here were full of colour and energy. One of my favourites to the right here, The Navy Bathhouse by Eugène Jansson from 1907.

Thiel collected not only Scandinavian artists, there was also a bit of French Post-Impressionism on display. Very suited, considering the upcoming exhibition this fall at the museum. Here two works by Edouard Vuillard:

I loved this portrait of Ernest Thiel from 1902, painted by Eugène Jansson. It's the colours for me, always.

I also really enjoyed the temporary exhibition A New Light, with artworks by Stefan Johansson. The way he explored the light absolutely mesmerised me: