My favorite new word is hygge, pronounced, “hooga”, but with a better Danish accent.
In Denmark, it means coziness and warmth and cheerful goodness. It means candlelight and hot mulled wine, knitted scarves and good companions, pickled herring and maybe a friendly Viking. I’m thinking about hygge right now since A) it’s a record cold July day in Oklahoma and it’s a nice warm thought, and B) we are preparing for four months in Copenhagen, long enough to find the best birding spots, learn a few words in Danish, and maybe soak up a little culture. It’s also Ant Man’s sabbatical and a working trip for me. I’ll be sketching birds, both in urban and rural landscapes, maybe from the seat of a bicycle. Which sounds a little insane and terribly cute, if not entirely hygge.
Lately I’ve been working with writer Susan Dragoo, illustrating a story for Oklahoma Today Magazine. In the past weeks we’ve torn through the Oklahoma backroads like Thelma and Louise in Susan’s monster truck, laughing, eating too much fried food, and hitting the brakes for interesting wildflowers. And that, come to think of it, is some real Oklahoma hygge.
Happy Thursday.
Drawing The Motmot 
Sounds exciting.
How wonderful! I love reading all your adventures.
Dear Debbie
Welcome to Denmark! I’m sure you’ll find many good birding spots here. Just 11 km from Nyhavn, where you are going to stay, there is a nice birds resort called Kalvebod Fælled. There you’ll find waders, geese, ducks and many birds of prey. Getting there is a very nice ride on the bike:-) In Jutland as well you’ll find many good spots. The west coast by the Northsea is fantastic! And just 15 km from where I live near Odder in Jutland there is this a very small island called Vorsø, where you find comorants and eagles. Jens Gregersen (as you an artist drawing birds) lives part of the year at the island.
Do you give exhibitions while you are in Denmark? I would love to see your work!
You are always welcome to drop by for a cup of coffee and a little “hygge”:-)
Kind regards
Lene
Odder, Denmark
Thank you, Lene! I’ll check out the spots you mentioned. I don’t have any exhibitions planned while I’m there, but if one comes up, it will be posted here. And I’d love to drop by for coffee with you sometime. I’ll bring the pastry:-). Thanks for the note!
Oh! I do hope you see a duckling that becomes a swan!
‘Sounds wonderful!
Your LIFE is a fairy tale! Wow! How exciting all of it is! Your little apartment under the eaves seems to me the perfect “nest” for an artist! I love the swan sketch!