A little hide-away
I’ve been keeping something from you. A little secret. Hidden away in the middle of nowhere. Somewhere with lots of room outside, but not so much inside. Enough for simple needs: a fireplace, a small kitchen and living space and two tiny bedrooms.
Somewhere with a huge garden to get lost in and exciting trees and hidey-holes to explore. And even a little guest cottage with its own deck where you can stay; and where you can sparkle and dazzle in the candlelight for the guest wing has no electricity.
And what’s this? The quaint little wash house with a sauna, shower and dry earth closet. (Toilet paper in the basket, please!)
You see, dear reader, we have decided to rent a summer cottage in a tiny neighbourhood with four or five gravel paths – in the middle of the woods. But just a 45-minute drive from where we live. A bumpy drive down a two-kilometre lane will, I hope, take us to the shores of a lake with crystal clear water for swimming.
Many Swedes like to get away from it all by going to their summer places with no electricity or running water and just relax. We’re not going totally native as our rented place will have water in May (optimistically known as ‘turning on the summer water’) and there is electricity in the main cottage.
Oh – what’s that? No, you have to bring your own dogs along as they are not included in the rental!
Wow,Getting back to basics..Candlelight and all sounds very romantic and am sure it’ll be relaxing.
It does look lovely…
April 17, 2009 at 10:47
Did you want me to come?! It looks DELIGHTFUL! Just the thing I need to write and reflect and free-load. No really, the little cabin will be just fine. The kids can stay in the main house with you. I insist!
It is darling! You are all going to have such a ball. Do assure us you will be posting though. How would we do without you?!
April 17, 2009 at 10:50
What a sweet looking little cottage!
April 17, 2009 at 11:03
Sounds great.
April 17, 2009 at 12:59
Woohoo! I’m packing my bags – I’ll see you there! I can contribute three dogs to the cause, too!
April 17, 2009 at 13:04
This is my dream summer! My boys’ dream summer too. What a beautiful setting and such a quaint cottage. I’m with you on not roughing-it too hard. Water and electricity are good… in moderation.
April 17, 2009 at 14:29
How cute!!!
April 17, 2009 at 15:51
I love this adorable little “house”. We have plans, well dreams actually. Muddy Boot Dreams, of our farm, and on it we will have the cutest little cottage out back. Part studio, part workshop, part guest house. We get so much company, and when we move further away, then all our friends can come and stay for awhile.
I hope that you have a really enjoyable summer.
Jen
April 17, 2009 at 15:56
Ok, I´ll admit it looks primitive but beautiful. I´m more of a city girl and since I already live in a “secluded” area of the world, vacation for me means going to the city, shopping, hotel living and getting spoiled!
But to each his/her own, I guess.
April 17, 2009 at 16:22
And many of us have running water, a WC, shower and electricity in our summer hide-aways! Like me for instance!
(and a tv of course!) There is no other way to live! :O
April 17, 2009 at 16:35
sounds heavenly!!!! Cannot wait to read about the family´s adventures in their little cottage in the woods!
April 17, 2009 at 17:23
I think the Swedes are a delightfully civilized people.
Take pictures and enjoy the silence…
Pearl
April 17, 2009 at 18:14
And, there is a guest wing for me, right ladyfi? I need no dog, I can pet your beautiful beastie!
How wonderful – I hope your stay is filled with magic! x
April 17, 2009 at 21:05
Idyllic!
It’s interesting that during the busy time of the year we stress and strain to get ‘bling’ and ‘stuff’, while craving holidays of simplicity.
June in Oz
April 17, 2009 at 23:02
Oh this is so fun. I always rent some chalets to get away from the city life. I would love to have this secret place too.
April 18, 2009 at 03:46
I’m packing now … I’ll be there in a week!
April 18, 2009 at 04:02
It looks like a great place to me! How long are ya staying? The anklebitters and Oscar should love it..maybe Oscar already does! A wonderful place to recoup and relax away from the hustle and bustle.. a sauna..now what more could you want! Little red cottages..did you take these photos recently? The landscaoe looks as brown as we do, it will be fun to see it all greened up and summery:)
April 18, 2009 at 04:36
That’s close enough to home you could go there for a weekend. Not as primitive as my Belizean hut on stilts. I love all the windows and the open space. Are there stores to buy food close by, in case you forgot something?
April 18, 2009 at 05:48
That sounds great! Some day we want to do a family vacation in Sweden, apparently it’s quite the thing.
April 18, 2009 at 08:36
I’ll be at the airport 2.30 on Monday. Please meet me
April 18, 2009 at 11:12
Åh vad härligt med ett litet hyrhus! Ni får det säkert härligt. Vi har också hyrt hus några gånger och det är suveränt. Men jag önskar vi hade något helt eget.. kanske om några år. (Jo, vi har en liten kolonistuga. Men den har ingenting och är så vaaaansinnigt liten. Just nu går det inte att sova över där med småbarn.)
April 18, 2009 at 19:41
Looks like a perfect little getaway, enjoy it!
April 20, 2009 at 16:19
How interesting! I like this practice. Looking forward to reading about your experiences there.
April 20, 2009 at 17:13
What a lovely lil getaway spot! We’ll be leaving shortly, and bringing along 3 more woofers.
Can’t wait to hear more about your vacation at such an idyllic spot.
April 23, 2009 at 14:32