Min dagligstue

I think I may have misrepresented my current living space in my "Toilet-Shower" post. In fact, I do have three rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, and this, my living room. Its English term is apt for how I use it. I absolutely live in this room. The Danish term, dagligstuen, is equally apt. It basically translates to the "all-day, every-day room." Well, that's what it is for me. Right now, I'm sitting on that striped couch you see, which is giving me back pains, typing on the computer you see, reveling in the clutter on the table top.



What I am loving at the moment especially is that I have, for the first time since leaving my wonderful apartment in Philadelphia 2 1/2 years ago, rejoined with the few personal items I decided to keep before I commenced on my great pilgrimage to Europa. In the top photo you see my mute friend, Esther, huddling in the corner next to the couch -- a creation I obtained at a crafts market in West Philly. Above, you see my typical breakfast spread: granola and yogurt with sliced apples in a plate made by none other than Paul Heckler (check out his blog, if you haven't already: paulheckler.blogspot.com), green tea courtesy of my mom served in the pink tea pot sitting on the lit chaffer and consumed in a mug from my childhood with my grandma's name written on it. This is what I live for.

Facing the other way, I offer a view of a previously white wall, which is being transformed into my Vision Wall. Besides portraits of near and dear ones whom I have printed photos of, I have started putting up words and drawings of things that motivate and inspire me at the moment. I tried tracing Michelle Obama's face off the computer screen, but that didn't work so well. Instead, I'm showing a detail, below, of someone who is supposed to be me saying "I speak perfect Danish!" The pink paintings are also a West Philly import, an amazing gift from an amazing woman, Carryn M. Golden (check out her stuff, too: www.goldensilhouette.etsy.com).




Now imagine the whole scene with loads of candles lit, the smell of vanilla and cinnamon, and the sound of, well, something poppy and gay as the Pet Shop Boys. That's my dagligstue after the sun sets in the middle of the afternoon. Pure hygge! (hyggehouse.com)