Some Sundays are for relaxing. Others are for getting things done. And then there are those at Björkesö when you do just enough to avoid calling it procrastination – somehow managing to combine forestry, carpentry, fencing, construction inspections, and business development, all at a very relaxed pace.
First job: forest management. Marking trees with colourful ribbons so we know which ones to spare when it’s time for the next round of clearing. Oak, rowan and maple are on the OK list, while hazel has unfortunately not made the cut this time. The challenge? Clearing is best done in winter, when the trees have no leaves. Great for working conditions, not so great for an amateur trying to tell the good trees from the not-so-good ones. Better mark them now, before everything looks equally bare! I still don’t quite trust my tree-identification skills from the forestry course, so a little advance marking seems like a sensible precaution.
Next up: interior design. Measuring the loft and sketching plans for a small bookshelf between the bed and the window, roughly at windowsill height. Nothing too ambitious, just a little custom-made storage. Maja was, of course, closely supervising the entire operation. High attention during quality control is important.
From a Mikado of trees to a Mosaic of habitats: The brush fence is still a work in progress. The idea is to make the roughly one-hectare area around the house accessible and walkable without having to fight your way over the felled trees, which are currently lying around like Mikado sticks. A simple solution, using material from the forest clearing itself. Slowly but surely, we’re turning a rather uniform patch of wilderness into a mosaic of smaller spaces, different habitats separated by brush fences, a more diverse landscape and a little more room to explore. Slowly being the operative word.
… while others make real progress. A quick inspection of the terrace construction. Progress? Check! It’s always reassuring to see that something is actually moving forward without having to pick up a tool yourself. Sometimes the most important contribution to a building project is simply showing up, looking around and nodding appreciatively. That’s my expertise here.
And finally: plotting Björkesö’s next move. A discussion with Kai, CEO of Schweden-Ferienhaus24, about the possibility of offering Björkesö through their platform as well. More visibility, hopefully more guests, and one more step towards sharing our little place by the lake. Thanks for contacting me, Kai. Stay tuned – more to come!
All in all, another perfectly ordinary Sunday at Björkesö. Nothing spectacular, just a few trees saved, a bookshelf planned, some fencing extended, a terrace checked and a little business conducted.
And after all, wasn’t Sunday supposed to be a day of rest?