[Photos taken 17 – 26 July 2023, posted online 28 April 01 May 2024. Started writing this point in Holland, finished in Iceland.]
We were all formally on summer vacation except Anna, who would be working to the end of July. Thus we took it pretty easy for the most part.
I did start working on one task early on: finding the optimal 4 km bike-route for Bjarki to his new school. We had to take into consideration how easy it was to navigate, how to avoid the worst hill-climbs and busy streets, and stay sheltered as the school is located near the top of a large hill, higher up than we live.
We also helped my brother and family pack up their apartment, as they were moving to Sweden! Then it was prepping for the next big project: The Garbage Bin Shed!
Monday 17 July 2023
Bjarki taking a photo of the lovely view we stumbled onto as we biked to his new school.
Yours truly, all decked out.
Found the school! After a couple of tries we vetoed the scenic route, especially since it would be nasty in windy conditions.
Tuesday 18 July 2023
Summer had finally arrived in earnest, and I went looking for plants on sale.
I optimistically planted some strawberries, but it was way to late for any harvest, tsk tsk. However, Anna’s broccoli did better than ever! We did have to be mindful to water the veggies, as we had near-zero precipitation for weeks on end.
Enjoying the couch-y life.
My weakness: Flat-packed furniture!
It was a teeny-tiny table! I decided we needed to get a matching one. I liked how small it was because I knew I’d need to store it indoors during winter…
Rhubarb-face!
Take two on biking to the new school, again hitting the scenic bridge. That large apartment complex was a huge trouble-spot when I was younger, and lived close by. Now that whole neighborhood is the most international area in the city, and a lot less troublesome.
Scenic view is scenic.
Bjarki attempting to catch the pretty sky on “film”.
Thursday 20 July 2023
Art under construction.
We had an interesting situation with the pretty old tires on one of the cars. The pattern was still deep “enough”, but all the edges were blunted, so they had very little grip. It was time for a new set.
Costco coming in handy.
Bjarki was busy doing his online course for driving school. They blatantly link to YouTube videos!
Awww, the table got a friend in a box!
Big sigh. It was time to tackle the grass again.
Super fresh!
Super gone!
New school, route exploration number three!
We have a few friendly spiders that hunt outside our windows.
Phone cameras are getting ridiculously good at macro photography.
Friday 21 July 2023
A song I’d like to learn on piano. I’m a very slow note-reader, and had to work out the counting by hand Got through this first page in multiple weeks, but then life swamped me. Got to go find it and get back to it.
Sometimes lazy days are lazy.
The pink ad is a hint.
Anna went to see the unexpectantly glorious Barbie movie. So on the nose.
Some audience members were all-in!
The outdated mall food hall area was under heavy construction.
Saturday 22 July 2023
Art still under construction.
I went to assist my brother and family for their upcoming move to Sweden. The container had arrived!
Boxes and stuffs outside.
Mountains, what mountains? The volcanic eruption at Litli-Hrútur was still under way, and would keep going until 5 August 2023, so this may have been smog.
At home, Anna had made bread. Yum!
Those white spots under the window are spider droppings! Crazy!
Sunday 23 July 2023
The Sweden-bound container was rapidly filling up with stuff.
Emma found a decorative headband.
Handy car to take stuff to the recycling center.
Lots of new apartments under construction. Still won’t be enough.
Brothers throwing more stuff away.
As far as the owner of the next apartment got with his deck the year before.
Nearing fullness!
Time for refreshments!
Emma as a launching pad.
The mountains are almost there…
Monday 24 July 2023
This cat had started lurking around the apartment. It’s not their cat!
Tired but excited brother by his sealed container.
The container seal. Looked rather flimsy!
The curious cat.
A container-truck arrived.
These are so neatly designed.
The whole process took five minutes!!?!
Big relief to be rid of the container!
My last helpful act was to quickly mow the lawn.
Tuesday 25 July 2023
With no more good excuses, it was time to oil some of our sad woodwork at home.
I think that was all the oiling I did that summer… I never got in the mood!?
Wednesday 26 July 2023
Random garden photo. The were a lot of peas hiding in that pot.
There were a few big things that needed a lift to the recycling center, so we arrived with a cart. We also inherited some cement from my brother.
Then it was time to prep the next project: The Garbage Bin Shed.
