The Joys of Biking

When Tyler signed the contract in Nybro I was kind of disappointed that there was no car in the deal. Even though the team assured us we wouldn’t need one. How would we get around on bikes for 8 months?

Once I got here and discovered how small the cozy town of Nybro really was, I was more at ease about the biking situation. For all of you that know me, we all know I’m not the type to jump on a bike and head into town. We’ll that all changed the first week here!

There have been plenty of small incidents, obviously biking is not the most glamorous way of getting around but were making it work.

First there was the Thanksgiving Day turkey incident where our frozen turkey fell off the bike, hit the cobble stone, and skidded across town square. For a recap click Here

Then we had the grocery bag malfunction, where the edge of the milk carton got stuck in the bike spoke, causing milk to pour all over the rest of the groceries out onto the street. (We continued biking, leaving a milk stream behind us)

Ty then had his first biking accident, resulting in a bike with backwards handle bars. (I still think he was going way too fast before he hit the train tracks).

    

But today tops it off..it was drizzling rain, nothing we couldn’t handle. Jumped on the bikes and headed to Oobe (similar to Zellers, 5km from our apartment). We were half way there when I felt a big SPLAT on my shoulder, thinking it was just a rain drop I kept biking. I wiped my shoulder with my mitten to find out it was BIRD POOP. Not just the white poop a normal North American bird would produce..a runny, gooey one! Oh but it’s good luck so that makes it all better..NOT!

I know this biking situation isn’t permanent so I’m trying to have fun with it. If anything we will have great stories like these to tell someday. It’s all in the adventure and I’m grateful everyday. Bring on the good luck!

Thanksgiving has come and gone

Just like that Thanksgiving is over, it was a fun night with the boys and everything went as planned. After the little incident we had trying to bike home with the bird, I wasn’t sure how everything was going to turn out.

We picked out a nice 12 pound turkey, walked out to our bikes tried to put the bird in my basket (of course it wouldn’t fit), so Ty tried to secure the 12 pounder onto the back of his bike. He peddled just a few meters when the frozen turkey fell off and skidded across the cobble stone in the middle of the town square, I was speechless. It should have been a scene on Sweden’s Funniest Home Videos. We picked the bird up, secured the bike latch over it’s wing and peddled home..killing ourselves laughing. Only in Europe would something like this ever happen! Maybe this is why the Swedes don’t eat turkey?

Here are some pictures from tonight’s dinnerJ Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everybody enjoyed the long weekend.

                                                  My festive table

                                        Name cards with turkey facts inside

                                                  Prepping the turkey

                                                   Cooked bird

                                                Carving

                                                 The boys enjoying dinner

                                       Apple crisp with ice cream for dessert

                                               After dinner..tired turkeys!

It's Almost Turkey Time

With Thanksgiving 4 sleeps away I’m trying to get my recipes in order. Since the Swedes don’t celebrate Thanksgiving it’s been quite the hunt for a good looking turkey..they aren’t cheap let me tell you! We’ve invited Brendan (our other Canadian) and Anton (my favourite Swedish guy) over for the feast. I had planned on just the 4 of us for dinner, but.. Ty came home yesterday and wanted to make sure it would be okay to invite another one of the guys…of course! The more the merrier, fortunately for him he’ll be at practise on Monday when all this turkey cooking is going down. Little does he know he’ll be helping prep the night before (so get your turkey hands ready!)

I’ve made Thanksgiving dinner twice before so I’m not too concerned. The Doctor I once worked for told me about covering the turkey in strips of bacon, to keep the meat moist and does it ever work! I have some of my Mom’s Thanksgiving recipes (hopefully I can find poultry spice) along with some new ones. Were looking forward to our first Canadian Thanksgiving in Sweden, we have lots to be grateful for this year. Pictures to comeJ

My girlfriend Nichole sent me some fun Thanksgiving desserts like these ones!
http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/18-classic-thanksgiving-desserts-799741/