Winter over the old houses at Hornbergsgården in Skärplinge

Today the busscompany UL once again made me have to wait out in the cold due to delays! I had to spend one extra hour between busses in the village of Skärplinge, Norduppland-Sweden!

I took the oportunity to visit the beautiful Hornbergsgården, also called Skärplinge Gammelgård where they have a great collection of old houses from the area.

The area is closed for the season, but still beautiful in all the snow.

The Russians burned down everything they could here 1719, not many homes or houses survived, but they have one unsual house from Fälandsbo that survived the Russians. It's from 1647 and have once been a house on stilts to protect against wild animals like wolfs.

There is so many beautiful things to see here, so enjoy:

It's hard to imagine the summer festivities here, National day celebrations and all the music gatherings, but I really enjoyed todays visit as well.

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I'm ending with my photo from a Swedish National Day celebration here, Per

God Jul - Merry Christmas from the Manor House of Lövstabruk

The Manor House in my village Lövstabruk (Norduppland-Sweden) are built 1730 on the grounds after the previous Manor, burned by the Russians 1719 together with all other buildings and homes in the village and the surroundings.

The owning family De Geer decided to re-build the whole village and Iron business again.

During the 13th generations the family owned Lövstabruk a lot of traditions where created, specially around the Christmas and here is a glimpse from the nice traditions.

(I did not have the best camera with me, so I appologies for the quality of the photots)

The guests where greeted in the large hallway here with decorated chandellier and the goats of straws typical for Sweden, originally symbolizing the pagan God Thor's goats pulling his cart.

In the dining room there is a large Julgran/Christmas tree in the corner with stearin candles and the typical windows candlelights from this region, Uppland.

The view towards the windows

 The view towards the entrance hall

Coffee time in the silk salon

On the mantle piece a traditional Lövstabruk candle holder.

In the Christmas room the childrens Julgran/Christmas tree where placed, with decorations made by them. Also Julklappar/Christmas gifts in a basket and candies for the children where always in this beautiful room.

Here the cover of Svensk Damtidning/Swedish Ladies magazine, a Christmas issue from 1946 is a wonderful photo of Baroness Maud de Geer (Mörner), her sons; the present Baron Louis de Geer and his brother Carl de Geer of Stora Väsby.

The childrens Tomte

Christmas Champagne in the Library

But all the food, cookies and candy had to come from somewhere, the kitchen.

On these photos are the originally kitchen from 1730, in the 50's a more modern kitchen where built.

In this kitchen it was busy with kitchen staff, servants, maids. The house where self contained with meet, dairy, fish, game, vegetables and fruit, and many times where fresh Asparagus served from there own greenhouse (still standing) for the Christmas table.

So Dear Friends, with this little glimpse from the Manor where I'm one of the honored guides I do want to wish ALL my followers:

GOD JUL

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Per!