ploefff's Profile

"Advent wreath comes from 1839, when the German theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern introduced it into his mission work" quote Danish history magazine Historie. They speculate that he got the idea from the pagans celebrating the turning of the year as a wheel. Today the danish word for Christmas (jul) sounds the same as wheel (hjul). After the 2nd world war the advent wreath became popular here in Denmark because of the defiance in lighting candles after 5years of blacked out windows and decorated in red and white - the colour of the Danish flag.

it kind of looks like "bogkasser" (cubic bookcases like these: http://www.traevarer.dk/Kubikreol-fyr-30-cm-dyb.40.aspx These are the cheaper version of the Montana bookcases (http://www.montana.dk/en/FrontpageColors/)
It's a basic cubic box system for storing books and knickknacks that's very common here in Denmark.
If you build it yourself like Luke suggested then you can give it fun legs like the Swedish Prettylegs or make some yourself like I did for my credenza: http://ploefff.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/skaenk-en-forvandling-part-1/

I have a great little story for you: As soon as Musse the pet rat was pregnant she started carefully moving one straw at the time from the bottom of the cage up to the top. She built the prettiest little nest for her and Alfons Åberg to have their litter in. He didn't much care and just waded through destroying the structure to get to his bed. She built another one and the same thing happened once more. Then she changed tactics and started building the nest around him - that one was left standing.

I'm thinking it's just nature showing its true colours. As most every lady in the comments above I'm the do'er and he's the don't carer but take a note of the moral of my story ladies: My husband used to get frustrated with me when I tried to explain my latest idea for a project so I changed my tactics: now I build small scale paper models of what I want to build and I have yet to be vetoed after I changed my approach. He simply doesn't have the same interest and skills to visualize a drawing into the incredible and genius piece of furniture I just dreamt up.

Use your imagination people: The coffee machine where I work also dispenses hot chocolate - that's what helps me get through a particularly hard day or I watch a movie while I paint a wall to take my mind off how incredibly boring it is. Rewards come in many shapes and sizes.

@ Ciddyguy: Your goals are closer than you think. I love cooking too and with a small stable of ingredients I make tasty meals at low costs (prices doesn't really compare because of taxes and difference in cost of living but from what I calculate I think this is the closest I can get ok: 1 serving of an eveningmeal can not exceed the price of 1 gallon of milk). I always keep vinegar (plain old household vinegar you don't need the expensive balsamic kind) for acid, sugar, flour, salt, oil and my favourite spices: cumin, cayenne pepper and thyme (You might like a different combination so get what you like.) Successful cooking is all about getting the balance of flavours right: salty, sour, sweet and umami (earthy meaty flavour.) With these ingredients you can make something special out of almost anything. As for recipes to internet is a wast and free resource to learn from.

Your wish for an easel is also doable. An easel is basically just something to lean the canvas against. Find some scrap wood and build your own for a dining table. It can be as simple as making two H shapes hinged together at the top of the H's and a piece of sting between the middle bars stopping it from sliding flat.

You asked for a city where cars are not necessary - I give you Copenhagen. It's not like we don't have them but so far I'm 32 and I can't drive a car. I get around by bike or public transport. Oh and the city is roughly 1200 years old.

my floors are mint: http://ploefff.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/nar-nod-giver-nogen-kvinde-en-kinderuberraschung/

A favourite of mine is "Valhalla" about the gods of nordic mythology. I used to read the comics as a kid and the cartoon brings the books to life beautifully. AND it's on youtube with english subtitles so here you go:http://youtu.be/YNX_Heix390
It's funny and heartbreaking and worth a watch.

@ Liefie: My bike has 3 speeds and the basket is in the front so there! ;) No you are completely right. Check out this picture of bike parking by a train station - not that that make this unique. It pretty much looks like this everywhere here in Denmark: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16nine/6935981837/

Uh and the fact that always get a good WHAT! response: I'm 32 and I don't have a drivers license in fact I only have 1 friend that does - she's German. Bikes are an essential part of our culture here. I ride my bike everywhere even to Ikea although not if I'm buying something large like a when I got my 2 folding Franklin bar stools - then I take the bus.

I started hosting dinners once a month usually on a weeknight. Nothing fancy just an evening meal like you would make anyway just made in a bigger batch. There usually no appetizers or dessert - it's just dinner. I find this has been the way to rid myself of the "I can't/don't have room" worries and it's a nice way to see your friends. Also I only have seating for 6 people so I invite 4 friends and rotate so it's not the same 4 on the same dates. All this on 480 sq ft so see Longorious it can be done :)

My home is far from done but I take a lot of pictures so I can see the progress and then I feel like superwoman because I might have far to go but look at how it used to look!