Lydia’s school had a dress-up day today and it should come as no surprise to anyone thather choice of costume was “pop star.” We found a suitable outfit at the Salvation Army thrift store last weekend and, after I made a few alterations (she greatly overestimates my prowess with a needle and thread, I’m afraid, but I made do), she was ready to face the paparazz:

It’s been one of those half-glorious, half-gloomy days that Swedish summer is famous for, and during the sunny parts I took Asbjørn for a walk, then came home and took my plants out to the balcony for some fresh air and nourishing rays. I’ve been giving them plant food along with their water once a week, and it’s amazing what a difference it makes. They’re positively thriving these days.

In between my other housewifely activities, I wrote two articles for the July issue of Mosaic Minds. I haven’t come up with a fiction idea yet, but I’m trying hard not to think too much about it, per the “a watched pot never boils” admonition. The first lines of my last story, Anti-climax, came to be from out of the blue as I was washing dishes, and when I sat at the computer it almost wrote itself. I should be so lucky every time.

After Lydia came home from school we all went to town so Lydia could spend her allowance. While at the toy store, I picked out a present for the baby shower I’ve been invited to in Umeå over the weekend, and it’s nice to have that done. Then we went to the grocery store and picked up a few things. I really like ICA Kvantum, but we don’t go there very often, partly because it’s quite a bit out of our way, but mostly because it takes us a while to forget what a madhouse it is and we can’t go again until our memories have faded sufficiently. We made it out alive, though, and in the possession of a jar of Marshmallow Fluff, the key ingredient for the Mississippi Mud Pie that I’ll be taking to the shower on Sunday.