Northern Shores

Sofia|Sweden|30s|Support 🇺🇦

[soracities]

Czesław Miłosz, from “I Sleep A Lot” (tr. Czesław Miłosz ), New and Collected Poems: 1931-2001

[Text ID: “I have read many books but I don’t believe them. When it hurts we return to the banks of certain rivers.”]

[samodivas]

@ladjarica

[gwaynes-hightower]

@gameofthronesdaily’s Countdown to Season 3 Day 12: Favourite Character → Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower

[pinkblanc]

[ladjarica]

I am now in the trenches of the Swedish housing market and have found out that sometimes the size of the plot that is advertised does not in fact match reality. And it's on you as a buyer to check this out before you buy. And the only way to do that is to look up old documents OR even better, too look for physical markers such as stone walls, metal pins or a rock where someone named Börje shot a Russian in 1700. That's the safest way to know the exact size of the property.

[lamignonette]

[crunchymayo]

Lord, grant me the strength to throw away this box that i'll never use, the courage to throw away this box that i'll never use, and the wisdom to throw away this box that i'll never use

[edinburgh-by-the-sea]

softness of the sun

[ladjarica]

We were invited to a yearly meeting of an organisation we are members in and it was amazing. We met a lot of people, spent the night over at a farm, made own pizza and just were a part of something. It was very scary as M can't speak swedish so good but he basically talked the whole night with people. Oskar broke his nose from chasing sheep, off all the diy pizza options he ate the most Swedish one ofc (banana and pineapple) and nearly lost his little mind over seeing a cat. The cool thing is, that I was voted as a board member which was amazing and it felt really nice to have people (some half my age) talk to me and discuss things with me as an adult who has certain skills and knowledge. Due to it also being an environmental protection organization, it was really easy to start any conversation so there was practically no awkwardness.

((Also, practically everyone lives in the north and now we're definitely going to move because we want to meet some of them more often(I might share my custody right to my husband with a grumpy Finn but it's fine, I have blessed their marriage.))

[ladjarica]

Seriously Barbarez did not pick up every kid over 180 cm for Bosnia to lose from fucking Canada. Also, he's going to kill them, just saying

[deaddogbrain]

imo the way you feel about groups it's fully socially acceptable to hate (like children or polyamorous people, among others) is the canary in the coal mine for underlying bigoted beliefs. if you're only supportive of marginalized groups when it's cool to do so, probably you don't actually care about marginalized groups, you care about other people thinking you care

[deaddogbrain]

there are 1 trillion people in the notes of this post saying "yeah! i mean i hate kids but they should have rights!" you hate kids? you mean you hate all members of an oppressed group solely for their membership in this group? right. why do you hate them? because they can't take care of themselves and need help? because they don't understand social norms and can be "annoying" and disrespect boundaries as a result? because they can be messy? because they don't understand things in the same way as you do? that's awesome. how do you feel about disabled people btw

[leahberman]

flowers for breakfast

instagram - twitter - website

[ladjarica]

speaking of rivers I just want to say that in the rivers of my home region they found an extremely rare form of olm (like axelotls creepy european cousin). Olms are already incredibly rare and finding these is basically finding a golden needle in a haystack. Source (English translation exists)

[ladjarica]

Swimming tips if you find yourself wanting to swim in a river and you've not done it before.

I just read that 9 people of which 7 children died in drowning-related accidents in Great Britain. As someone who has been swiming in rivers (very cold and fast ones) since I was seven years old, I want to give a few tips and I hope this post gets spread on tumblr so more people see it: 1. Never go swimming in a river on the first hot day. Wait at least 5 days. I know, it's annoying if you live in a country where hot days are rare but the temperature of the water is still too cold and has to heat up, Equally if it has rained you have to wait again. If you notice your lips are getting blueish - get out immediately because that is your limit and you are heading towards hypotermia.

2. Do not under any circumstances JUMP into the river, even if its a safe location or a pier if you are only getting into the water. Your body will get a shock from cold water and you will have serious issues getting out of the water. We called this "to harden/adjust yourself". Walk into the water slowly, wait a few minutes and then take the water and wash yourself with it slowly, then plunge your body (not your head though) into it. Now you have adjusted your body more to the temperature of the water and can swim. Should you feel anything weird like your chest constricting a lot, get out and try again slowly.

3. No swimming between 13:00-15:00 on really hot days. Just because you are in water does not mean you cannot get a heatstroke (you'd have to drink constantly while swimming). Swim early in the morning and early noon and use the 13-15 period to cool off and lounge at the beach (not in direct sunlight, if you swim in rivers there are often willow trees one can put your towel under and relax) 4. No jumping into rapids, I nearly drowned as a child because of this. If you are being dared and are not a good swimmer, don't do it, you will die. If you are confindent of your swimming, dive a few meters ahead of the rapid, break the surface quickly and let the water carry you downstream (this is only for small rapids, do not fuck around with big ones unless you've been doing it all your life) 5. Do not attempt to swim to the other side no matter how small a river if it is the first time swimming there. You need to know how the river goes and if you really want to swim to the other side make a plan. Swim ahead in the quiet part of the river and once you are reaching the faster running middle let the water carry you downstream, gather some energy (you have to know how to float!!!) and then use that energy to get out of the current and to the shore. Rest before attempting to go back.

6. Don't drink and swim, we did this as teens and a we lost classmates due to it. Never swim alone and always keep an eye on your friends.

7. Don't jump into the water in your clothes, dresses or anything that can get heavy fast and drag you under. I learned this the hard way when I didn't take off my towel and had it wrapped around my shoulders and it got so heavy that I nearly went under with it.

8. If someone is drowning - get help, don't try to rescue them yourself and especially not by swimming directly at them, they will be panicking and drag you under and you will both die. If you are drowning, try not to panic, try floating, if people are trying to rescue you directly try floating and allowing them to get you to the shore. The more you panic the worse it will be. 9. Last tip which is a bit specific but if you are trying to dive keep your eyes open underwater and if by any chance you are swimming in rivers with that has caves or tufa structures DO NOT DIVE AROUND THEM or inside. It is not safe, you can drown.

Ok that is all I could remember, stay safe, stay warm and happy swimming. PS. This is tips specifically for a bit narrower, faster mountain type rivers. If someone has more tips for swimming in wider "slower" rivers that have a muddy bottom, please share with us.

[paleo-violet]

This is so interesting. I grew up swimming in flat, slow-moving, brackish rivers with far more mud on the banks and bottom than stone or sand, so reading about mountain type rivers is fascinating and super helpful!

The rivers I grew up swimming in (Chesapeake Bay region) have fewer rock or cave hazards, and, while tidal, their tides are pretty weak. But they still have their dangers. For example:

Submerged debris. The water is extremely murky from tannins and sediment, so you usually can't tell a hazard is there until you step on it. I've stepped on horseshoe crab tails, old trash, and barnacle-encrusted logs plenty of times before. Not fun!

The rivers here are really shallow, so you can usually walk across them, especially at low tide. But as OP said, think before you try to cross. The river is always wider than it looks.

However, some of the silt and rotting vegetation at the bottom can create unexpected patches of mud that can cause you to sink several inches while walking. It definitely causes a mini heart attack when you're not expecting it, but don't panic. With the mud here (this will not apply everywhere!), you can just swim forward with your arms to get your balance and get past the muddy area. You won't find much purchase in the mud itself.

If your "friends" take you out on a boat and start drinking like mine did....do NOT drink with them. Ever. You will be called a nerd and a fun sponge and a wet blanket and you won't care. Drinking while boating is one of the leading causes of drowning here. It's not that boaters crash in the same way land vehicle drivers; it's that they go for a swim or fall off and never resurface.

Not specific to my area at all: if you start to feel a little tired, go to shore. Don't keep building up exhaustion while you're in the water!

EDITING TO ADD:

Look up water quality before you swim. As global warming increases, we're seeing an influx of potentially harmful algae blooms and bacteria growth.

And as a general rule of thumb, wait at least two days after it rains to go swimming. Rain flushes a lot of waste into the waterways.

Honestly, my last two points make it seem a lot more scary than it ever was to me when I was a kid, and I definitely broke the last rule countless times in the summer. Somehow, the pollutants that used to be rampant and the bacteria risks didn't get to my dumb seven year old self. But it's better safe than sorry.

[paleo-violet]

I have to second the lake thing...maybe it's just because I didn't grow up swimming in them or maybe I just like being scared of something that isn't going to hurt me as long as I stay out of it (like cave diving lol), but I'm not a huge fan of swimming in deep lakes!

Oh btw, there's a manmade lake near my old home that once spat out a whole island of mud and living plants after a hurricane. It stayed there for a couple weeks before it disappeared back into the water one night.

[dhakcjshkvjbd]

More river/stream tips:

Assume rocks are slippery until proven otherwise, and keep in mind that a rock that wasn’t slippery when dry can become slippery the instant even a small amount of water gets on it, because it can have a thin coating of slimy algae that isn’t noticeable while dry

The bottom of a waterfall is dangerous, even if it’s a relatively small one. The water beneath the surface can form something a bit like a horizontal whirlpool, which can pull things in and churn them under the surface indefinitely. People have drowned because they get tossed against rocks or run out of oxygen while trying to get out of these. And the surface can look deceptively calm and flat. This constant churning of water also erodes the rock and can make the area beneath a waterfall much deeper than you’d expect. It can cut into the sides of the rock surrounding it and make it wider beneath the surface too.

Keep a mental note of how high and fast the water is and how clear the water is as you swim. If it’s becoming murkier, faster and deeper, get out and move away from the banks in case of flooding. Even if it’s not going to flood, the increase in depth and speed of water can make previously safe areas dangerous and difficult to cross

Also there are invasive species of mussel in the Great Lakes, their associated rivers, and all over the midwest. The mussels can completely cover the surfaces of rocks and other objects and they are razor sharp. You can gently brush them with a leg as you swim, because you didn’t notice a submerged rock covered in these, and you will come away bleeding profusely from multiple shallow cuts. They’re mostly just annoying as hell, but the real danger is that they can make it hard to get out of the water or rest while swimming if they’re covering all the surfaces. Swimming shoes work well for these.

[stonelions]

he thinks he's being so smooth with his little face on my leg. i SEE you, villain

[ladjarica]

the more my son grows to look like a toddler and less than a baby the more I panic about his future. Mostly, due to both me and M being bullied as children, I am so afraid of it, that sometimes I go and sit in his room just to watch him sleep to know he is safe. So far, he is a well liked kid, he is also a very strong kid that is already taller than most of his peers and I am so anxious that I constantly think, well at least he will be tall, that might help. I think I will be physically sick the time he starts school.

[ladjarica]

Swimming tips if you find yourself wanting to swim in a river and you've not done it before.

I just read that 9 people of which 7 children died in drowning-related accidents in Great Britain. As someone who has been swiming in rivers (very cold and fast ones) since I was seven years old, I want to give a few tips and I hope this post gets spread on tumblr so more people see it: 1. Never go swimming in a river on the first hot day. Wait at least 5 days. I know, it's annoying if you live in a country where hot days are rare but the temperature of the water is still too cold and has to heat up, Equally if it has rained you have to wait again. If you notice your lips are getting blueish - get out immediately because that is your limit and you are heading towards hypotermia.

2. Do not under any circumstances JUMP into the river, even if its a safe location or a pier if you are only getting into the water. Your body will get a shock from cold water and you will have serious issues getting out of the water. We called this "to harden/adjust yourself". Walk into the water slowly, wait a few minutes and then take the water and wash yourself with it slowly, then plunge your body (not your head though) into it. Now you have adjusted your body more to the temperature of the water and can swim. Should you feel anything weird like your chest constricting a lot, get out and try again slowly.

3. No swimming between 13:00-15:00 on really hot days. Just because you are in water does not mean you cannot get a heatstroke (you'd have to drink constantly while swimming). Swim early in the morning and early noon and use the 13-15 period to cool off and lounge at the beach (not in direct sunlight, if you swim in rivers there are often willow trees one can put your towel under and relax) 4. No jumping into rapids, I nearly drowned as a child because of this. If you are being dared and are not a good swimmer, don't do it, you will die. If you are confindent of your swimming, dive a few meters ahead of the rapid, break the surface quickly and let the water carry you downstream (this is only for small rapids, do not fuck around with big ones unless you've been doing it all your life) 5. Do not attempt to swim to the other side no matter how small a river if it is the first time swimming there. You need to know how the river goes and if you really want to swim to the other side make a plan. Swim ahead in the quiet part of the river and once you are reaching the faster running middle let the water carry you downstream, gather some energy (you have to know how to float!!!) and then use that energy to get out of the current and to the shore. Rest before attempting to go back.

6. Don't drink and swim, we did this as teens and a we lost classmates due to it. Never swim alone and always keep an eye on your friends.

7. Don't jump into the water in your clothes, dresses or anything that can get heavy fast and drag you under. I learned this the hard way when I didn't take off my towel and had it wrapped around my shoulders and it got so heavy that I nearly went under with it.

8. If someone is drowning - get help, don't try to rescue them yourself and especially not by swimming directly at them, they will be panicking and drag you under and you will both die. If you are drowning, try not to panic, try floating, if people are trying to rescue you directly try floating and allowing them to get you to the shore. The more you panic the worse it will be. 9. Last tip which is a bit specific but if you are trying to dive keep your eyes open underwater and if by any chance you are swimming in rivers with that has caves or tufa structures DO NOT DIVE AROUND THEM or inside. It is not safe, you can drown.

Ok that is all I could remember, stay safe, stay warm and happy swimming. PS. This is tips specifically for a bit narrower, faster mountain type rivers. If someone has more tips for swimming in wider "slower" rivers that have a muddy bottom, please share with us.

[paleo-violet]

This is so interesting. I grew up swimming in flat, slow-moving, brackish rivers with far more mud on the banks and bottom than stone or sand, so reading about mountain type rivers is fascinating and super helpful!

The rivers I grew up swimming in (Chesapeake Bay region) have fewer rock or cave hazards, and, while tidal, their tides are pretty weak. But they still have their dangers. For example:

Submerged debris. The water is extremely murky from tannins and sediment, so you usually can't tell a hazard is there until you step on it. I've stepped on horseshoe crab tails, old trash, and barnacle-encrusted logs plenty of times before. Not fun!

The rivers here are really shallow, so you can usually walk across them, especially at low tide. But as OP said, think before you try to cross. The river is always wider than it looks.

However, some of the silt and rotting vegetation at the bottom can create unexpected patches of mud that can cause you to sink several inches while walking. It definitely causes a mini heart attack when you're not expecting it, but don't panic. With the mud here (this will not apply everywhere!), you can just swim forward with your arms to get your balance and get past the muddy area. You won't find much purchase in the mud itself.

If your "friends" take you out on a boat and start drinking like mine did....do NOT drink with them. Ever. You will be called a nerd and a fun sponge and a wet blanket and you won't care. Drinking while boating is one of the leading causes of drowning here. It's not that boaters crash in the same way land vehicle drivers; it's that they go for a swim or fall off and never resurface.

Not specific to my area at all: if you start to feel a little tired, go to shore. Don't keep building up exhaustion while you're in the water!

EDITING TO ADD:

Look up water quality before you swim. As global warming increases, we're seeing an influx of potentially harmful algae blooms and bacteria growth.

And as a general rule of thumb, wait at least two days after it rains to go swimming. Rain flushes a lot of waste into the waterways.

Honestly, my last two points make it seem a lot more scary than it ever was to me when I was a kid, and I definitely broke the last rule countless times in the summer. Somehow, the pollutants that used to be rampant and the bacteria risks didn't get to my dumb seven year old self. But it's better safe than sorry.

[ladjarica]

I might jinx it with talking about it but we are really close to buying a house that is by a river that I adore and has established lilac and aspen trees in the garden. Now, it also has asbestos facade (which can be removed but is not dangerous if unbroken), pipes that freeze during extreme temperatures and probably water damage due to leaking windows.