Sunday, April 13, 2008

COUNTING STARS

The eight days between uncle Leif's death and his funeral were dark, but also time for searching bright stars. Gunnar and I live in the neighborhood of historical sites, graves from the stone age, ruins of ancient medieval churches, the supposed tombstone of our first king, Harald the Fairhaired, who assembled Norway to one kingdom in 872 according to the sagas.

On our way to Cross Hill, the cross said to be erected by Saint Olav who Christened Norway in 1033.
Passing an ancient grave.
Gunnar enjoying the sea view from Cross Hill.
The cross is said to resemble the eldest Celtic crosses.
It's a mighty mark, a point of orientation for sailors
coming up the North Way.
On the other side of Cross Hill facing the open sea was a thing held twice a year in times of the vikings.
Laws were made and strides were settled.
They were true democrats long before the English Magna Carta.
Our National Assembly is called The Great Thing.
In the background the memorial over King Harald from 1872, a national celebration of the Millennium Jubilee of the Norwegian kings.

Gunnar walking home in the darkness.Sun and rain on historical sites.


A kitchen with a view. Turid's home has a wonderful location. Thursday mornings I usually go to see her for treatment of my toiled body. New energy via the chackra points.
Liv and I had this wonderful hike to Ryvarden lighthouse. Mating time for frogs!
The sea outside Ryvarden is called The Plain. It's wide open , but has some dangerous reefs below sea level.
Just nine years ago a brand new catamaran sunk in a December storm. 16 people drowned, including a neighbor son of us. Liv is reading their memorial plate. After this fatal accident the district were finally granted light bows on the reefs.
Most of the lighthouses along the rough coastline of Norway are now run by long distance operators. Back in the sixties the lighthouse guard and his family had to live on the premises all of the time.

Serina returned from Azerbaijan with mighty impressions from a strange culture. The pics are dragged from her photo site and does not grant her fair credit. This is from a highland desert.
A proud inhabitant of the "Fire Country."
The country is situated on the old Silk Way to China.
There are rich oil wells, but only a chosen few are allowed access to the wealth.

The capital is called The Windy City. Serina at the top of the Maiden's tower.
The Cherry trees were in full blossom and the temperature around 20 Celsius degrees.
"When the sky is dark, it's the best time for counting stars and admire God's greatness."

7 comments:

Renae said...

Oh, these are wonderful pictures! Thank you for letting me travel the world through your pictures!

Such history . . .

And Serina should be on the cover of Vogue. :-)

There is a request on my blog for the rest of your story - please go back and read the comments for today's post. :-)

Blessings, friend!

--r

Amrita said...

Wow a great history lesson illustrated with photos.

Serina looks stunning and her photography is superb. She should enter for Miss Norway contest

Saija said...

i love the photo's you share ... and teach me about norway ... and now Azerbaijan too!

blessings to you!!

Jim said...

Hello Felisol. Again, I am sorry for your loss of Uncle Leif. Aren't we glad he was such a strong Christian who is now getting his Heavenly rewards.

Is it cutomary to wait the eight days between death and burial?

We all are glad to have Serina back from Azerbaijan safely. I'm sure she enjoyed this jaunt very much and was not so very concerned about the things we are. Young people are like that.

It is good to be back, from time to time I will be posting Ireland and some more NYC pictures.

And thank you for the kindness you have shown to me. I'm not deserving this much but OK (referring to Terry's blog and the comments).
..

Felisol said...

Dear Renae,
thanks for nice words, they are like most undeserved flowers, highly appreciated.

Serina will always be my princess, but sadly has not a great self esteem. This last year, her twentieth, living in campus with 150 fellow students has meant a lot to her and luckily rebuilt some of what was earlier torn down.


Dear Amrita,
Nice hearing from you in Yesu Garden.
I'm trying to copy you, sharing from our local culture.
We have much in common, even if our background and everyday life may be different.
I like reading other people's stories. These days, with the themes about food shortage the price of agricultural land and fair trade, I feel "wiser" because I have your everyday life to refer to.
Even if I never come to India, I know much about what it's like to live there thanks to your engagement. The girl of thirteen providing for whole family is stil in my prayers.

Dear Saija,
so happy that you had your "French" visit to Finland.
I like the way you cope with life's ups and downs and try to follow your example. I must admit I have yet a long, long way to go to reach you.

Dear Jim,
I am glad my uncle is finally home in Heaven, but his last journey was hard both to him and his family who loved him so highly.
I cannot even begin to explain what an extraordinary person he was.
About a year ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He was then (And to his last days) well aware of what this diagnosis meant. When the doctor told him, he shrunk back s\as if the doctor had slapped him, but in a sec he puled himself miraculously together and asked with his most charming smile,"oh yes, but tell me, doc, may I still stand on my hands?"
Maybe that was why he was asked to donate his brain for medical examination after his death, and without hesitating said yes and singed the papers.
The man who from age eighteen had devoted his life to Jesus, his family and the weak and defenseless, children, widows, alcoholics and their families.

Eight days are the longest possible time before a burial in Norway.
My uncle's family also came home from the ends on the earth to pay him the last honors.
We are looking forward to seeing him shining in heavenly glory.

Every nice word said about you, Jim, is well and genuine deserved.

I like you.

From Felisol

Jim said...

:-)

:-)

:-)

:-)

:-)

:-)

:-)

Mrs. Mac said...

Felisol ... thank you so very much for sharing your little part of the world ... and for Serina's journey too! I ditto the Vogue cover and Miss Norway contestant for your daughter :) ...