I'm now a Swede....can you believe that!?

Yes it is true. This last week I received my Swedish Citizenship! I just have to go and get a passport now. Everything is going great here in Linköping. It is finally Spring!

As usual, I like to talk about my outdoor adventures and news. Well, some great things have happened. Sofia and I took our hunting exams, and now have Swedish hunting licences. Now we just have start collecting stuff for hunting. Ptarmigan hunting in the fall baby! On April 1st I even did my first fly fishing trip of the year to Silverån (no fish). It was a great trip and I checked out the "offerings" in the area for trout. Some great streams in the area!

Nivos is doing well as well. We've started a tracking course, and will do some more bird training with him. We've done a few training weekends and he is not gun-shy, does great at fetching (after lots of practice) and can track birds no problem. He's a great hunting dog! Moreover, a great fishing dog. He has calmed down a bit since last Fall and I can now take him with me on trips and he will just wait with me while I fish.

I haven't posted in a while, but here are some blended pics from some of our adventures this Winter/Spring.

Nivos Hunting and Playing

Not too much has happened here since X-mas. Most of the snow has disappeared and we've been off and on sick. Work is going good, and finally I can get some research done without worrying too much about other things. I am even coming home to USA in June!!!!! YEAH BABY! At that time I may be a Swedish citizen! I applied for citizenship about 3 weeks ago, and am awaiting the response from the Office of Immigration. And yes, I can have 2 passports and citizenships...I have checked!

Otherwise, here are some goodies to look at. Nivos hunting and playing. He loves sneaking up on stuff! We are waiting for Spring to do some more training on live birds, but old shirts will do for now!

Merry X-Mas Everyone!

Merry Christmas Everyone from Mike, Nivos and Sofia in Sweden!

We are celebrating X-mas this year with Sofia's family in Täby. After being here for a while, this is my first Christmas actually in Sweden. The last 3 years we have been in Germany and USA. Its a bit hard to see in the pictures, as some of them are old, but here in Linköping and Stockholm there is like over a meter of snow. That has packed down a bit, and now the snow is up to our knees. Nivos loves it! Here are some pics from our balcony in Linköping, and out in the woods with Nivos. This is a much needed Christmas break...especially for us PhD students after a stressful Fall. All is well though, and now the research is going good. I hope everyone also is able to take a break from working and eat lots of good food. We are mowing down on Lussekatter, pepparkakor, kola, glögg and many other Swedish treats! Love it!

Have a great X-mas everyone! And I will be back home in June for a little research and vacation!

Davie, Mike and Nivos out Ski Touring!

Here are a few pics from our latest adventure. Davie, Nivos and I were out for a back country ski touring trip north of Linköping. So much snow!!! Was a great trip, and was the maiden voyage for my new BC skis. However, not everything was perfect....My boots gave me bad blisters the day before while testing them (had to break 'em in a bit) then we had planned to build an igloo and stay the night, but it wasn't a good option for Nivos. Poor little guy was super cold! He has no hair on the underside of his body, and the snow comes up to his...you know what...junk. His poor little balls were so cold and red. We stopped at a cool cliff/rock and had lunch to warm up and Nivos used my jacket to warm up again. I guess it is too early for some long adventures for the little guy, but soon he'll be fine. Otherwise he loved it...oh and Davie and I loved it too! What a great trip!

Lunch at the Cliff

Davie Climbing an Ice Wall

Davie forcing his way through the snow!

Nivos and his pack! Awesome! Gore-Tex, Insulated Jacket and a Pack!

Nivos and I enjoying the view

Here's a vid of Davie Perfecting his Telemark Skills...or not! haha

And here I am showing you how to do it...or not! hahaha

Winter Wonderland

It has been snowing the past week in Linköping and it is not stopping any time soon. Here are some pics of snow, hiking and Nivos.

The Beginning of Winter in Linköping

Its actually snowing, and we have about 4" on the ground now here in Linköping. It feels like winter now. The sun doesnt come up till after 8AM and it is down at 4PM and every day is getting darker and darker. But, I thought it has been a while, so I will update my blog with some new pics of our adventures.

This fall we've been out a lot with Nivos. We found a great forest north of Linköping with LOTS of mushrooms. Both chantarelles and funnel chantarelles. Its been a great year and we have like 10 kilos of dried mushrooms!

Then here are some pics of Nivos. He's been out quite a bit training for hunting next year. Tracking and finding birds are what he does best, and he is damn good at it!

When we are not out training, exercising and working we are usually inside and relaxing with Nivos. He loves sitting in our laps still, even though you can see he is getting huge!
We did a few last trips to Silverån this fall as well and Nivos loves fishing. Here he is pointing out the fish for me.
And finally here is a pic of Nivos and his best buddy, a springer spaniel named Tipsy. She's a 2 year old, and loves playing with Nivos. How good do these bird dogs look together!

Sverige Runt!- Around Sweden with the Family

Been a long time since my last post again, but finally here are some pictures from this summer. It's been pretty eventful. Mom and Ron came over to Sweden, we drove around , saw EVERYTHING, fished, did Stockholm, Ystad, Linköping, Åre, Östersund...the list goes on. Sofia and I also fixed the apartment more, went up North again and did some adventures with Nivos. I wont babble on but show some pictures here! And one last thing....RON CAUGHT HIS FIRST GRAYLING!!! AWESOME!

Rons first Grayling!

Ron on the Långan River

Lyxlivet....Ron with a Cuban!

Sofia and Nivos along the Norrveman

Nivos LOVES sleeping outside, i.e. inside a sleeping bag

On the beach in Ystad

Sofias Parents, Mom and Ron at Kåseberga/Alestenar

Ales Stenar

Nivos taking a nap at the Restaurant in Åre

Mom and Ron in Åre