MY MOTHER

My friend Mia shot this pic 2 weeks ago.
I tell you laying in my mother's arms made me feel like 6 instead of 60.

RUBY ISLAND

Our town, Haugesund, is situated at the utmost south-west in Norway, with only a few small islands outside to protect us from the rage of the North Sea.One of these islands, Roevaer, actually is a part of the main city, same mayor, same council e.t.c.

About 100 people have their home here. There's a school, a museum, a couple of painting artists, viking grave sites, a small store and a spa hotel.To keep the small society alive, they are advertising for new inhabitants, preferably with children. Some Dutch people have settle down and are thriving well. Main occupation is fishing combined with minor farming. The men go fishing, their wive tend the handful of sheep and cows. The women are a strong breed. Many a husband have not returned from stormy days at sea. Once 11 men drowned on their way to the mainland (Haugesund)to bury a friend there.
After the last disaster in the 1990ies, a light way was set up to mark all the dangerous under water rocks. The boat trip takes about a quarter of an hour from Haugesund's inner quay. The hiker ladies have been there repeatedly. We enjoy island jumping. These pictures are from early October this year. As you can see there's nothing but the endless sea that meats the eyes. Further west lies Shetland and the North Hebrides. During ww2 brave young men set out in small vessels to join the British Army from places like this.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FOR TERJE

Brother in law Terje was 70 November 2.
He was celebrated Monday and today by a large group of family and friends.
All his life he has worked hard supporting his family. Fishing, farming, nutrition engineering, a director of several smaller dairies, greengrocer and inventor. Love of music and arts as his major passions combined with continuous house reconstruction. 5 years ago he suffered two major brain strokes. With a will and strength beyond understanding he has worked with physiotherapists and speech teachers since then.
My respect and admiration have increased day by day these last 5 years.
This poem, written by a well known Norwegian author, who also knew how just staying alive craved hard labor, as well as a flaming dream, shall be my birthday greeting to Terje.

It is this dream we are carrying
that something wonderful will happen,
that it must happen,
that time must open
that hearts must open
that doors must open
that mountains must open
that fountains must spring-
that the dream must open,
that we one early morning dawn shall sail in
to a harbor unknown..

Det er den draumen

Det er den draumen me ber på
at noko vedunderleg skal skje,
at det må skje -
at tidi skal opna seg
at hjarta skal opna seg
at dører skal opna seg
at berget skal opna seg
at kjeldor skal springa -
at draumen skal opna seg,
at me ei morgonstund skal glida inn
på ein våg me ikkje har visst um

Olav H. Hauge

SEPIA RIDDLES

Cousin Arne and daughter Serina in front on a hidden door outside the ancient St. Olav's Church on our neighbor island.
The church was first built by King Olav II who Christened Norway in year 1033.Later it was rebuilt by king Haakon Haakonson in year 1250.
Two friends of mine, one the minister's daughter, the other a theological student, found a secret way behind the alter of the church leading to what one believe was the King's farm close by the church.
Archeologists dug out 36 meters of the secret way in the mid eighties, and the site around the church still is an eldorado for history scientists. Old grave sites containing jewelry, swords and much more.
The place still hides more questions than answers. We always bring visitors there. It's also a wonderful church for ordinary divine services.
Read more from this Wikipedia link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Avaldsnes.
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RUBY WEEK

Time runs faster and faster. This week has flown like a whirlwind.Tuesday we had an appointment at our doc's.Then we went to buy two new outdoor jackets for Gunnar. A major event which happens only every fourth year. Gunnar were to visit Serina at her campus later this week, so this was force major. We are now in waiting line for swine flue vaccination. Wednesday the weather was semi nice. We dressed for cold winds, brought coffee and chocolate buns went for a walk in the forests north of the town.Here I met with this charming, bubbling brook.
Thursday I had an appointment with my physiotherapist, while Gunnar went by two planes, one jet and one small propel, to visit our daughter. I was invited home to my next oldest friend in this town, Elisabeth. We go back 29 years and have shared more than a lifetime of joy, trials and tears, death,love, in battles, sickness and health for us, our families and our beloved psychic retarded.
She is a superb chef. We wined and dined till three in the morning.
Early Friday morning Mia came to take me for a day tripper to my mother, or Monten as Mia and her four generation family calls my mum. Mia made us a huge salmon dinner with belongings. My mother had salmon for three days and enjoyed every mouthful.
Saturday I prepared Gunnar's coming home. Fresh herbs, cod, shrimps, potato and vegetables casserole with homemade bread to go.
You are right, I have avoided the bath weight like plague this week.
Sunday was time for the annual art exhibition at the island and a huge feast for Gunnar's aunt Lilly.
Aunt Lilly got a box of Norway's finest confectionery, King Haakon. Her great, great grandchild Amalie helped opening and ending the box. Oldest joke told by my father. Caller;"Do you have King Haakon in box?" Store attendant, "Yes, we do." My dad, "Then let him out!".
Monday Gunnar's brother-in-law was 70 years old.
We crashed in a nice party for eight. Saturday the huge family will celebrate.
I guess I will need some rest.
Don't fill your life with years.
Fill your years with life!
Good night.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SEPIA SERINA

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These days portraits have become my favorite photoshop playground.
I think the poem of Butler Yeats kind of catches the spirit of the picture.

He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
by William Butler Yeats

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

RUBY ROUND VIEW

The inner city of Haugesund is a total disaster. Barrack barons flattening the old buildings for square steel and concrete buildings everywhere.A desert only homeless can thrive in.
The council in some ways compensates by making the rural outskirts of the city inviting and available to young and old. Here; the hut "Round view" with benches and waffle serving on Sundays.
They've made this place a project where young students have practice. There even are a house for rabbits and hens. Wild sheep grass outdoor summer and winter, this way cultivating the landscape. My good hiker friend Liv is riding the newly painted wood horse.
Trees are chopped to logs for both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.The wheel barrows are neatly lined up for the day.
The lavvo is frequently used by kindergarten children. They all have at least one hiker day a week in sun or rain. For a Ruby Tuesdayer its convenient that barns, huts and sheds are commonly painted red all over Norway.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

MORE SERINA & GUNNAR SEPIA

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest;
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

    William Shaksepeare   

    (1564 - 1616)
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SEPIA SUMMER

I am on PC sick leave.
I sneak doing half an hour of lap-topping a day.
That is, my right, inflamed arm is setting the agenda and is punishing my with nameless pains, when I disobey.
What fun I've had,playing with good memories in photoshop.
Mary, the teach sure know how to challenge entertain and develope with her meme games.
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TRANSPARENT FAREWELL

Life and times fly when we are gathered, if only for a few days.
Then it's parting time again,
and she's got "that far away look in her eyes."
Together we made Turid bread and Serina's own apple cake. Cake, not pie, with melting ice.
We enjoyed an art exhibition, rock and classic music alike, and picked the last apples from our only tree.
Serina contributing all the time with double espressos, violet cow t-shirts and histories from campus and her performance as technical genius.
We shared computer problems. Serina was getting help from her dad, I was mentored by Serina and Gunnar set up his own teaching firm, and is now a com.no. Serina, like her father is such an inspiring and patient teacher; she modeled for my 101 pictures. We watched lots of feel-good DVDs, Rovered on the island in heavy autumn rain and following moonlight, while i-podding the Toreador, read and discussed Vogue, shared laughs over the local culture journalist, went treasure hunting at a flea market, dined out, in the car and at home with equal great pleasure, sorted out four huge sacks of clothing to send away for charity, teased and cuddled, did some minor shopping and puff; the bells were toiling.
How fragile, yet valuable, were those hours of togetherness.
The comings and goings are part of growing up and getting an education and a life of her own.
The only thing worse would be, our daughter not being able to do just that.
Yet;
"Parting is all we know of Heaven and all we need of hell."

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson.
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RUBY THEFT

Gunnar shot the summer hut picture some weeks ago, while we were visiting relatives from Jaeren and Montana.
I fiddled it to ruby,by tossing and turning in photoshop.
I also once more give you my favorite autumn poem.

When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead,
And the browns, reds and golds of autumn lye in the gutter dead.
Remember then the summer birds with wings of fire flame,
Come to witness springs new hope, born of leaves decaying.
And as new life will come from death,
Love will come at leisure.
Love of love, love of life and giving without measure,
Gives in return a wondrous yearn for promise almost seen.
Live hand in hand and together we'll stand, On
the threshold of a dream.

Graham Edge The Dream lyrics

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

HANSA MUSEUM IN RUBY

The Hansa museum tells about how the mighty first European trade organization, The Hanseatic League, dominated all trade in Bergen and all Western Norway, and for that sake the rest of Europe, from about the 13th to the 17th century.
The young apprentices, Die Gesellen, came up from Germany and were not to fraternize with the tempting young Norwegians. They were simply locked in their beds at night.
Red evidently was both popular and cheap. Most of the interior was painted in a more or less ruby color. This stationary probably originates from 16th century.
One wonders, what's behind the locked and barred red door? The modern hearts evidently are there for air supply. The design obviously are some four hundred years old.
The young Hanseatic' dreams were more realistic concerning the natural female body, than those of today. No lipo suctions nor breast implants. Even so, the maiden of their dreams were so far away.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FALL IN PINK AND RUBY

The fall is creeping in on us, whether we like it or not. I embrace the sunshine days of September with a passionate "carpe diem" attitude.Never know when the rain and chill will win the ongoing battle I found these flowers in the woods by a salmon river.
The last clover and probably also the the last butterfly of this summer enjoying the moment home in birth town Sauda.
The boat houses seem to be decorated for Ruby Tuesday.
Outside my mother's house a chestnut mare and her daughter are grassing. Gunnar, the horse-whisperer in action. The mare being the alibi for this Tuesday has turned her back to us.
The hut of the angle fishers is abounded for the season. Now is hunting time in the mountains.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FIVE LITTLE WORDS

1. HERITAGE
2. SEA
3. TRAVELS
4. FRIENDSHIP
5. LOVE
Trish has sent me a five words challenge. Actually I was the one, thinking it might be fun to play along, reading Trish's 5 word post. Guess I knew at once what to write. Worst job was searching out the pictures to go with the words.

1. HERITAGE
I am rich.
Not in money, power or fame, but in spiritual heritage.
My parents gave me a spiritual foundation and a spiritual home. Not through so many words, but through their lives.Saying grace before meals, praying together every evening of my childhood,going to Sunday school, lots of hymns singing, my dad reading the Bible as a daily routine, also asking all kinds of tricky questions (the name of Zelofad's daughters? Higla, Milka, Tirsa). Indeed, knowing that I could always place all my needs and burdens in every aspect of my life on the almighty Lord; that's what have formed the essence of my world. What a mighty heritage!
2. SEA
I'm "dwelling by the uttermost parts of the sea".
Just 5 minutes walk to meet the mightiest and most wonderful elements of the earth.I'm getting renewed by walking along the sea in all kinds of weather any season and any time of the day.
The song of the waves will overwhelm any negative thought or trouble of my mind. Collecting seashells, stones and driftwood is a challenge to my creative side, as is also photographing.The summer is not complete if I haven't had a salt bath.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
3. TRAVELS
We have named our home pages The Exodus/Ulysses years ago.
That about states the importance of traveling in my life too. When, lately, my health has made me stay much at home, even small trips inspire and renew me.
I don't travel to relax or escape life. I travel to live and broaden my horizons.
4. FRIENDSHIP
Friends are the family we choose.
Unlike family they don't necessarily stay that close or that long in our lives.
I've always found that bond strengthened through sharing tears and laughter remain the longest.
This year I've been blessed with reconnecting with long lost friends both from my childhood and youth.
I've seldom felt richer.
I've also made precious new friends through my blog-life.
They have broadened my horizon, made me feel richer, wiser and happier.
Indeed the kind of friends making durable footprints in my heart.

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew,
the sight Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
H W Longfellow


5. Love

1 Corinthians 13

Love

¹If I speak in the tongues^a]">[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^b]">[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ruby crowns

Bridal crowns


The Bridal crowns are photographed in a black room, behind glass and wires in the West Norwegian Museum for arts and crafts in Bergen.
They are all made of silver and some gold.
The foliage, the hanging leaves are special for our crowns and also for other bunad jewelry.

The bridal crown can only be worn by a virgin, and only together with a Norwegian bunad.
Only few families possess a bridal crown of their own. Most museums will rent the bride to be a crown for a fair price. Even in America there is a museum where one may rent a genuine Norwegian bridal crown.


bunads
The 19 Norwegian counties each has its special bunad . Rogaland, my county has at least 8 various bunads . Here a Rogaland collection from Serina's confirmation. My mother has made both hers and Serina's. She also has made one for me.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY HARBOR

Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains which make a perfect sheltered harbor on the windy west coast of Norway.
Gunnar walking in the boarded alleys between the old Hansa buildings. The lens louse to the right remind in the picture because of his bold pink & lemon green clothing.
A viking ship replica is anchored side by side of a tall ship outside the coast culture building.
Cobbled stones and the ancient town gate to the right.
Close to the old fish market where one still can buy live fish. Tourists from all over the world are mixing peacefully.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

BAROQUE RUBY

From the visit in St. Mary's Church neighbor city Bergen. The church became Lutheran with the rest of the Norwegian churches in year 1537. The pulpit, or "sermon stool" we call it,stool, as in chair, dear John C, was central in Lutheran churches till the 1970ies.
The pulpit of St. Mary's Church was made in 1676. It has so many interesting details and is so skillfully made, it's worth a visit to Norway in itself. The baroque joy of life and surplus in decoration and colors is no less than breath- taking. The smiling poster at the entrance door, "Yes, you may take pictures", made us stay in the church for a long, long time.
The stairway to heaven.
These are cherubs, not angels. They have genitalia and bellybuttons. They angels have neither, according to my theological guru, brother Ole.
People must have had other ways of thinking and judging than we have. I hardly can imagine a new church with a bare-breasted woman. None has ever been offended by this one.
The heaven over the pulpit. I haven't studied that closely, but the figures shall be the twelve of the Zodiac. The round brass globe is then the sun.
A closeup of a sunflower on the pulpit.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SEPIA DAYS IN BERGEN

The church of St. Mary was built in year 1130 and extended after a fire in year 1245.
Building material is mostly soapstone from 4 different quarries. It's a basilica church with most interesting sideships.

I let this old crucifix be original.I doubt that sepia can enhance the glow in the old wood carving dated from the origin of the church .
This gentleman can vaguely be spotted under one arch of the left side-ship. Three hundred years before Michelangelo this was the way to paint the ceiling.
The ship is a protestant symbol,I think.Probably a Hansa ship bringing goods to Bergen.
The ship symbolizes our journey through life and is often found in Norwegian churches.
Also the main church room, where the congregation is seated, is called the ship.
Almost hidden on the right hand-side of the entrance door another reminiscence from Catholic times. The place for the Holy Water.
I doubt people even think about it, when entering the church.
Times, ceremonies and people change, but God is from eternity to eternity
Old baroque priest Petter Dass wrote in year 1698:

GOD is GOD,even if all land lay desolate,
GOD is GOD,even if all men were dead;
If People giddy, in LOrd's high heavens
Innumerable swarm GOD's crop.




Hosted by Mary, the teach
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St. Mary in gold, blue and ruby

Bergen is our second largest city. It also was our capital for a long time, and already an established city and a center of commerce in the 11th century.
After the black death the Hanseatic League made Bergen their Nordic base. They were in control of the city till midst of the 18th century.
The Bergeners and the German Hanses went well together and such formed pillars of the Bergen of today.
After Martin Luther had revolted the Northern European Churches with his reformation in 1517, most churches were stripped for reliquary, St. Mary altars and saint's shrines.
The silver were sent to the king in Copenhagen, the rest were burnt.
Not so in Bergen's oldest church St. Mary's.
The Bergeners and Hansas were conservative and traditionalists; they still are.
They also possessed the power following huge wealth.
Therefore the ancient triptych and even elder wood sculptures remained in the church from the 12th century.
Till this day they overwhelm the visitors.
Gunnar and I spent some memorable hours there last week,... and we will be back.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FIRE - ON OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The red and rainy stadium being filled up with 15ooo wet, but happy spectators.


Norwegian school end their summer holiday about the 20th of August.
With hubby Gunnar being a teacher those and have always been busy days. To daughter Serina every fall have been equally fully booked for the fifteen years she has been going to school.
It so happens that our wedding anniversary is August 19th.

This year I asked Gunnar to fulfill my big celebration wish.

A day at the football stadium with my all time favorite soccer team; BRANN; means FIRE.
BRANN's home stadium is in Bergen 3 hours drive north of Haugesund.
It is forty years since I last saw "my" team play live in Bergen.
There were singing, shouting and jokes all over the place. I sung along from the bottom of my heart.


The most charming and enthusiastic team ever.
The audience, even better, singing and shouting of a full and honest heart, through the ups and downs of their beloved team.
A soccer team has eleven men on the field. Brann has a twelfth player; its audience.
This soaky, rainy Sunday our team won 4 to 2.
That's considered a huge win.

We stayed in a nice hotel a couple of nights just to celebrate and to see out daughter well off to her uni. She drove in our old car all by her self over mountains and under fjords.
The winning team thanking "The Twelfth man" for support.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

MIRACLES

Miracles do happen, whether you believe in them or not.
Elisabeth George17 months ago my mother suffered a major stroke.
She was admitted to hospital twice. Had they bothered to take some tests the first time she might have avoided the second one,causing quadriplegia.Luckily mother mother is of strong will and good genes.
She stayed with us for four months, slowly regaining her speech and ability to walk.
At first she had to sit in an armpit chair, being spoon fed and drink water with thickener in it.
She has but 7 years of schooling, but super quality of such. Even in hospital when the nurses came to see to her, she sat with paper and pencil and asked them triumphantly if they were able to calculate the area of a pentagon.
They couldn't, of course. Young people in nursing jobs rarely have a talent for mathematics.
Maybe because of that, and also because I had to talk my mom's cause in the local newspaper,(lack of proper stroke treatment)she later received properly trained- with the inestimable help of Gunnar-, leading her three times a day.

Here my mother is about to beat me in Chinese Checkers less than two month after her stroke.
Why do I remember just now?
I have not played CC since my mother moved to live in her own home.
Recently I played with my cousin and my daughter, and I beat them both, easily.
I cannot remember last time I was able to win over my mother.
Now she's keeping her garden as always and reading short stories to fellow elderly at meetings.

How I wish doctors and nurses began to believe in what they see, and turn their eyes away from the ungodly mammon.

RUBY BLUES

My favorite photo object soon is leaving for school on faraway premises. these shots are taken a blowy day at the local beach.
Now, here's a challenge.
This poem about the Finnish Roine Beach,
one of my dad's favorites probably can be translated. If you're interested; welcome.

This incomplete translation is made by google.

By Roines Strand
Zacharias Topelius
Herd graze and the clock rings,
The clock rings at Roine beach.
Swan flies with white wings,
Flying alone at the cloud periphery.
The spring winds in foliage go,
The sun is shining and the lake is blue;
But I sing my long yearning,
Roine sings alone at the beach.: |

My Father is a birch forest,
My mother is summer's cloud,
My brother is an spike in the filed,
my sister is a winter wind.
Solo, I am as heather of the heath,
Flowering sole and wilted young.
|: Sing, sing my long yearning,
Roine sings alone at the beach.: |

If the glittering sun knew,
If she knew my heart's inclination,
All of its rose guise she lost,
Would fall in the source wave,
Sink, sink in the night's bosom;
But I whisper my beloved's name,
Sing, sing my long yearning,
I'm singing lonely at Roine beach.


Klockan klingar på Roines strand.
Svanen flyger med hvita vingar,
Flyger ensam vid molnets rand.
Vårens vindar i löfven gå,
Solen skiner och sjön är blå;
|: Men jag sjunger min långa längtan,
Sjunger ensam vid Roines strand.:|

Fader min är en björk i skogen,
Moder min är sommarsky,
Broder min är ett ax i logen,
syster min är ett vinterny.
Ensam är jag som hedens ljung,
Blommar ensam och vissnar ung.
|: Sjunger, sjunger min långa längtan,
Sjunger ensam vid Roines strand.:|

Om den strålande solen visste,
Om hon visste mitt hjertas håg,
Allt sitt rosensken hon miste,
Skulle sjunka i qvällens våg,
Sjunka, sjunka i nattens famn;
Men jag hviskar min älsklings namn,
|: Sjunger, sjunger min långa längtan,
Sjunger ensam vid Roines strand.:
Zacharias Topelius|

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

THE ANGELS AND US

Matthew 18:¹⁰"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

I consider myself belonging to the little ones and am proud to have various friends among them as well. People being without means or weapons to speak out for or defend themselves in the everyday rat race here on earth.
How I love the fact that every human being has its own personal angel reporting in front of the Lord's face.
It means above all the safe feeling of being seen, seen and cared for.

So are the hookers on the corner, the mute and seemingly helpless stroke patients, the street rebels, the plague ridden, the retarded, the various psychic ill, the soldiers and prisoners.
We are all unique and of equal value.
On my Mezuza is written:
Psalm 91: 11 For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
We are surrounded by legions of angels, ordered to be there for us.
This is the Bible's happy message for today.

BLOGGING MY WAY IN A MINE FIELD

My reasons for blogging in English are mixed. I want to write in English so I don't forget all I learned in school two life times ago. Reading is easy, thinking and writing is quite different. I also like to learn to know people from different cultures and values than my one. Being a Christian I find it interesting to learn how people on other continents are thinking and worshiping.
My dad used to teach me that in Our Father's Mansions there are many rooms. Guess I'd like to be acquainted with some of the people I'm hopefully going to meet on the other shore. I has been an interesting journey.

Most people have been polite and expressed their opinions highly and freely. Marvelous.
We all love our countries.
Some, more than others, seems to mean they are entitled to pass judgments on cultures and political systems they are hopelessly ignorant about. To be frank; that pisses me off. I'm fine with listening and learning. Pay respect and expect ditto, that should not be to hard to do, even for self righteouslies. I remember asking my daughter a couple of years ago, when I understood there were big differences in thinking and opinions. She came in and flipped a Coca Cola cork bottoms up. "Show them who you are" were the words of wisdom. I've let that be my policy. Where has it lead me? I've found genuine, sweet, loving, artistic, brave, honest, hardworking, intelligent people in three continents. I've been enriched, and hopefully somewhat wiser. Amrita has taught me a whole specter of rich Indian rainbow. She lives as she talks and wow, has she got wisdom and insight. Lidj has opened doors to her country as well as to her heart. I'm forever grateful and impressed. Robin has taught me a lot about the cradle of our belief and culture; Israel. The land God gave the Jews. Terry, my bestest ,has through her life and words revealed depths of Christian love I seldom see. Saija, Debbie and I share pieces of mutual background and culture. It has be so wonderful to experience how important roots and background are, and how the positively are building an identity, a ground wall for life. And there are Catholics, Jews, atheists, searchers, Methodists, Anglicans, Baptists and Pentecostals alike, politically ranging from blue/black to pink (in the broadest sense). How intriguing to try out if this variety of people can respect each others pluralism! Indeed I will go on blogging. I need getting more wisdom. I also have my own place to speak freely out when I feel the ugly smell of censorship.
Well, to quote father Shakespeare; "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go." At least I know where I am headed and why!

PILGRIM CHAPTER 33

See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans
Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile
Once he had a future full of money, love and dreams
Which he spent like they was going out of style

And he keeps right on a changin' for the better or the worse
And searchin' for a shrine he's never found
Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse
Or if the going up is worth to coming down

He's a poet, he's a picker, he's a prophet, he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars
And he's traded in tomorrow for today
Runnin' from the devil Lord and reachin' for the stars
And losin' all he loved along the way

But if this world keeps right on turning for the better or the worse
All he ever gets is older and around
From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse
The going up was worth the coming down

He's a poet, he's a picker, he's a prophet, he's a pusher
He's a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he's stoned
He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home
There's a lot of wrong directions on that lonely way back home

Kris Kristofferson

RUBY HARVEST TIME

Redeeming the time.
Summer in the north is short, too short, even with the long, blond nights.
Time for entertaining guests indoor and outdoor, family and friends visiting.

Time for enjoying beach-life and the abundance of festivals.
Just now; time for harvesting. Today I've picked black and red currant and stuffed in the freezer. Likewise I've made tea from burn nettles (cures everything from gout, arthritis,galleries,prostate, ulcer and even cleanses the blood.) Serina says if I'd lived 300 years ago, I'd be burnt as a which.
Boxes and bottles are filled. This big tea box contains dried bog myrtle.
If you wonder; it cleanses the air especially in cellars and keep moth from eating our valuable bunads and linen.
The fragrance is just so fresh, I get "high" from inhaling it.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY PAINTING

We have been through a de-clutter process on rainy days this summer. This painting, made by Serina 5 years, was some among the treasures we found.
It is about two suns, stars, a huge red flower and our house, she told yesterday as I asked her to interpret her art.
Mr. Jim said he would never allow any of his daughters to paint his house. Here you can see why we are lucky that our only child will help us out. She doesn't spill a drop!
As soon as she had finished the wall and the window, I hurried to get the flowers back in position.My patient daughter let me interfere with her work without complaints.

See what I mean? The door handle and our name shield have no red spots.
Have a Happy Ruby Tuesday, everybody!

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

TROLLS

This sepia is partly fake.
The trolls are made of brown, burnt clay.
They were popular in the seventies, I got two for a present. The others I have found on flee markets, one by one.
They are solid indeed and live outdoors all seasons.
For a year they have been guarding our outdoor fireplace, and done it well.
Normally, or tradition says so, the troll burst when the sun rises. They live in our largest mountains and have done so for hundreds and hundreds of years.
Norway was Christened in year 1033, but the trolls have kept on living in peoples imaginations till about year 1900.
Lots of our fairytale describe how the brave little Ash-lad conquered the troll against all odds, and thus won the princess and half the kingdom.


Hosted by Mary, the teach
Learn more about Sepia Scenes here.

THE RICE AND FALL OF MY PEONIES

The longer I work in my garden, the more I believe in flower power and flower wisdom.
We had a cold and dry May and first half of June.
I visited my Peonies, cuddled for them, begged them, but the slowly developing buds wold not fold out.

Midsummer came with warmth and I let them drink for a day or so.
Next morning they unfolded in the sun.
Revealing the most precious beauty one could imagine.
After some dry and sunny weeks, spreading joi de vivre to all mankind and insects as well, the leaves started falling. Leaf to earth, dust to dust, thus returning the life they had spread.

O rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy,
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

William Blake

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

YOUNG MAN IN SEPIA GARDEN

My step grandmother left some unexposed films.
Gunnar converted them to black/white.
I fiddled with it in photoshop and found this early 20th century very young man.


Hosted by Mary, the teach
Learn more about Sepia Scenes here.

RUBY IN THE WHITE TOWN

When Norwegians talk about convoy, there's but one thing in their mind. The unarmed civil ships that went from America (Canada mostly) with vital war equipment through 5 long years during WW 2. Every 9th man died, the others were injured for life.I have nursed many survivors. Their stories deserve to be written in gold.This North Sea Cup is held in their memory. From Skudenes, voted Norway's summer town #1. http://www.convoycup.com/
Skudesnes, a former tall ship town is situated on the island just south of us. The old town still is like it was built in last half of the 1800. People still live in the white houses, and the red sea houses still are used for storage buildings.
It's a slow town, good for inhabitants and tourists.
We stroll along the narrow streets at least once a year. Best time to be there is when it's rose blossom time.
It has indeed been a good year for the roses.
This garden pavilion always makes me dream.
Narrow streets for pedestrians only makes summer days a thrill.
More roses.
The park is where people gather for all festive occasions. The lady of the Park, an ancient tall ship figurehead, is guarding the place and keeping outlook over the harbor.

This house is for sale. I've dreamed to have it for a summerhouse, but people deserve to have inhabitants living there all year.
A fire post, vital to the fragile old wooden houses.
Doesn't take much fantasy to understand that handicrafts are for sale in this shop.
Outside our favorite cafe, selling only homemade, fresh confectionery. Yours truly may be spotted in the right hand corner of the window.
I made this picture to honor Ralph. So far I've never been inside the aviation gallery.
Serina is negotiating with the sellers in this ambulant antiquemarked. Most of the porcelain and faience are Norwegian made by factories no longer existing. No need to say I have a huge collection. That's also why I can't have a dishwasher. The laze is bound to crackle in a machine. I use mine everyday and find it worth while to wash up by hand.
Have a wondeful summer still, everybody.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.