Today is SmÄlands Nationaldag - the national day of beautiful SmÄland. So many things remind me of this magical place, the forests, the lakes, the rocks and boulders and most of all the little red houses in amongst it all. Selma Lagerlöf wrote a wonderful story in The Adventures of Nils in which she described how, at the creation, St Peter begged to help God out by taking over the creation of SmÄland when the Almighty was making Sweden. While God moved south to create the lush rolling landscapes of SkÄne, St Peter threw up the soil in SmÄland, making mountains, boulders and stony ground, cold snowy pine forests and deep lakes. When God saw his handiwork he was horrified, but its the tough country of the place that makes SmÄlanders so tough, doughty and persistent, explains the author. And for that we should all be grateful! #smÄlandsnationaldag #smÄland #smaland #mysweden #mysweethome #selmalagerlöf
