The winter school sport break, established to help save energy on the cost of heating during the coldest weeks of the year, offers a chance for many students to pause their studies to get out in nature (disrupt the seasonal virus spread?) and the parents are often able to get time away from work more easily. Bryant and Ebba were both able to find a short window for a getaway so last minute we joined up with the usual crowd- Shane, Melissa and their kids- to rent some “cabins in the woods” two hours drive from Lund. Our cabins were 2 of 3 places offered on a large working farm property near Svängsta, with lots of space for exploring forests, fields, and frozen water.
We found a cozy winter wonderland with enough snow and cold to satisfy everyone without being too much. Some of us took it turns to try out cross country skis around the fields and woods, while the rest forged trails in the snow and explored the terrain or snuggled up inside with cozy activities like crochet, knitting, and calm coloring for relaxation. Plenty of time for board games, puzzles, reading and slow living.
Other activities included fire building, camp cooking, chopping kindling, and of course, testing out claims of the Swedish Sauna Academy “in sauna there is truth” with a hot tub + Swedish bastu combo and fresh snow nearby rather than the freezing water plunge. The low was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit so we got the authentic winter bastu experience (minus the stars and northern lights unfortunately, as it was overcast) I think we all agreed that it was a mostly pleasant sensorial event. The pins and needles of cold add some interesting contrast to the soothing heat of the water and steam. Even the dry heat of the bastu felt good to me when normally I don’t enjoy it. I found the cold air more than enough to produce the necessary cold effects and did not roll in the snow. But take note of the photographed remains of Bryant’s snow angel, evidence of his commitment to the process! Those who had shoveled, skied, skated or otherwise activated some under-used muscles were especially happy with the results of the hot/cold therapy.
Bryant and Ebba especially enjoy tending the fires and cooking over them so they treated us to a tasty reindeer and mushroom dish, served with Ebba’s homemade flat bread, based loosely on a traditional Sami recipe that we tried on our visit to Kiruna.
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