Simply..living simply....

3/6/2022

I woke very early the other morning and the deep silence and beautifuul light reminded me of a lady I once visited in a remote part of Sweden who led a truly simple life.

Liselotte lived alone in a cabin in a meadow on the edge of the forest, by a lake in which she bathed and washed her clothes. She used only natural soap, careful not to pollute the water. Drinking water came from a well, and the house was lit by candlelight. She served us tea on the prettiest old fine china, and we saw a moose on the far edge of the meadow.

I felt as though I was in a dream.

I think she lived here only during the summer months, but she seemed to be utterly content with her simple life.

Do you think you could live this simply? I'm not sure I could.

Maybe for one summer...

21 Comments

Mary R.

3/6/2022 05:26:33 pm

If I had books I believe I could live that simply.

Mary R.

3/6/2022 05:30:14 pm

… and pens and paper. Do you know what she does while she is there for the summer?

Freda

4/6/2022 01:35:14 pm

Liselotte spoke no English and I spoke very little Swedish, but the house was full of books and writing materials..

Susan in Dorset

3/6/2022 10:28:06 pm

Yes, please.
I'd build my cabin on the other side of the meadow, and in the morning, stroll across to invite Mary R. for fresh coffee and cinnamon buns (I'd have to learn how to make these!)
(A Winter studio/appartment in Stockholm, next to Töve Jansson, would be nice, though.)

Freda

4/6/2022 01:36:18 pm

Sounds wonderful!

Sheena

4/6/2022 12:10:03 am

Hmm, maybe one summer? I suspect that living so simply will actually take up a lot of your day to stay clean and fed. It does sound idyllic but funny feeling I would start trying to garden round the cabin.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:37:48 pm

You would probably want to grow some food, but it might well get eaten by the moose!

MaryB

4/6/2022 01:41:32 am

I'd love to try living in such an idyllic place. It's a country version of Tove Jansson's "Summer Book" and that's essential summer reading for me . What lovely memories for you to treasure.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:39:00 pm

I am must see if her books on audible..

Gail

4/6/2022 02:22:34 am

Pandemic shutdown taught me that I’m the dullest person ever. I enjoyed the quiet and still times….for a few hours each day. But after reading my scriptures and doing daily chores, I was just filling time doing nothing or busy work. As beautiful as your friend’s setting is, after housework and a few strolls, I’d run out of things to do, just like the shutdown

Freda

4/6/2022 01:43:32 pm

The curtains in the house where handwoven, so you might find a passion for a craft if you were permanently in such isolation. Also without mod cons the truth mate take up much more of your day!

Mary R.

4/6/2022 06:03:52 am

Oh yes, Susan - I would have the coffee on - how do you take it? And then I thot oh wouldn’t that be fun to have other little cottages there and then I laughed at myself for beginning to create this little community in my mind when the whole point for that woman was the solitary existence. Hmmmmm

Susan in Dorset

4/6/2022 10:36:38 am

Just with some fresh cream from our communal cow, please.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:46:10 pm

Good idea.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:45:39 pm

I noticed many of the summer houses had several outbuildings. The first photograph is a little guesthouse that Barry and I stayed in. Loved it!

Grace

4/6/2022 09:20:13 am

I wish I could have been there today - our house was full of builders doing their magic on our kitchen.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:46:51 pm

Hang on in there Grace. It will be worth it!

Lucille

4/6/2022 11:57:20 am

I would miss hot water and proper light to read by. I don’t think I’m an ideal candidate. But I would like to visit for a day and then carry the idea of it away with me.

Freda

4/6/2022 01:48:19 pm

I would miss company. I didn’t know that until the pandemic and lockdowns..

Clare Rose

7/6/2022 04:46:04 am

My version of the simple life is camping by train - which really limits what you can take with you! But at dance festivals so the opposite of solitary. I'm planning to spend July like that 😀

Freda

7/6/2022 09:51:11 am

That sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

Simply..living simply....

Leave a Reply.

Categories

Author

Archives