The Equation for Home

A story from Lofoten.

Hello there! And welcome to Dandelion Seeds, an illustrated newsletter in search of the magic in everyday moments.

April has always been a big month for Jose and me.

Nine years ago this week, our paths crossed for the first time, in the far north of Norway. There, on an archipelago called the Lofoten Islands, little red fishermen’s cabins dot the coastline, and a wooden yellow hostel was the place we both called home for the spring — and much to our surprise, fell in love.

Right after we moved to Belgium, we made our first trip back to Lofoten — with a new little addition to our family, and Eva on the way 🤍

In honor of the day we now think of as our Lofoten-versary, I wanted to revisit the very first illustrated essay I created.

In “Home is a Cup of Tea,” one chapter is devoted to Norway, and to some of the first conversations Jose and I shared there — about the things that help us feel we’ve not only stayed in a place, but have truly lived there and can call it home.

Today feels like a perfect day to share this chapter with you again, and I hope you’ll enjoy journeying with me back to this special part of the world.

See you in the far north,
Candace