Small things

It is funny how the small things can make all the difference some times. Here in Sweden when grocery shopping you have to return your own shopping cart. The carts are connected to each other and without inserting a five or ten Krona coin you can´t get one out. You don´t get your coin back until you have returned it where it is supposed to be returned. So first you have to unload all your grocery bags in the car and then bring back the empty cart to its place. Sometimes you got to take it all across the parking lot to return it in its designated place. Well it usually is not such a hassle but when there is a lot of snow or ice I wish I did not have to return it. I suddenly miss the politeness of the South where someone would come up as I was unloading my grocery bags and say "M'am may I take your cart?" That sure does not happen here.

Here everyone has to return their own cart. You also have to pack your own groceries into your bags. I think this is both good and bad. By packing it all by yourself you get everything in the order you want and you can sort your stuff and group them together any way you wish. On the other hand it can be quite stressful because it is hard to start packing before you have payed and after you have payed the next customers things are already on their way. In Alabama I most of the time went grocery shopping alone but here me and C go together. That way one can start packing everything while the other one adds everything on the band and pays.

There are equally many small things that I still give me a lot of joy. The Swedish crisp bread is just soooo good and there are so many kinds to chose from. The dairy section in the store is also one of those joys that still seem like a luxury. I love the selection of butter milk, sour cream the low fat variaties of whipping cream and the great selection of yogurth.

I still get offers and mail from both Costco and Sephora. Those are two stores that I miss.

For the moment I can't get enough of all the pretty tulips. Each week I buy new ones. New colors and new kinds. I just want spriiiing!