Ruby Autumn Norway

Two weeks ago we were rambling in the local district, turning our back from the sea to a fjord, woodland and inland.
The picturesque Monet bridge made us stop the car.

Time to return to old habits and joys. Like for instance blogging Ruby Tuesday 2.
The blond summer was busy, but now we're past Autumnal Equinox and it's time to slow down.



What a difference in the scenery just a few miles away.
We found the Norwegian edition of Monet's garden and deer preparing to leave the lowlands before the hunting season.A log cabin, smaller than any American shed, but a paradise to admire from the road to me.



A slow, but wonderful restful time of the year. I love being in it. Stretching out the joys of daylight as long as possible.
 

Shutting out the el.light in the morning. "Don't burn a hole in the day," my mother exhorted, long before Al Gore even thought of going green. In a short month the light will have diminished drastically. Carpe momentum is  the slogan. Time is precious.

Peacefully grassing

The deer are moving towards the mountains and the hunters are loading the firearms. We have too many deer for the time being, and even though they look breathtakingly elegant and lovely, they taste even better. I am so looking forwards to a tasty  autumn meal.

Home is the sailor, home from the sea and the hunter is home from the ground...

Welcome to
RUBY TUESDAY TOO

The sun also rises...and sets

King Winter has been extremely reluctant to leave the country.
April is soon over, and yet the grass is brown and the birches haven't sprung.
The sun is, however, with us longer day by day. We have about 15 hours of sun each day. Some amazing sun-downs and sunrises to enjoy in  thick winter-clothing.

Morning sunrise in the east.

And sunset in the west.

I wouldn't change these magic hours for any Spanish beach.
This is where I belong.
This is where the sun also rises for me.

Welcome to play on with the members of Ruby Tuesday2

Photo  © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

From old grave yards. A spring report.

Gunnar and I were out on photo safari in the neighbourhood yesterday. The  grave yards of the parish of Skaare have so many ancient head stones. Like this with a German text on it:

Psalm 69:1
Gott, hilf mir; denn das Wasser geht mir bis an die Seele.

² Ich versinke im tiefen Schlamm, da kein Grund ist; ich bin im tiefen Wasser, und die Flut will mich ersäufen.

³ Ich habe mich müde geschrieen, mein Hals ist heiser; das Gesicht vergeht mir, daß ich so lange muß harren auf meinen Gott.

Psalm 69

King James Version (KJV)

69 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

² I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
³ I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

 The old church, now gone. was situated about the place I was standing while photographing the old graves.
I wonder, were shipwrecked sailors resting underneath this special stone?

My friend Annie has a fine word for walking in grave yards. I hope she'll repeat it once more to me. I keep forgetting.
The text on this cast iron stone moved me deeply.
"Hereunder rests the dust of Madame so and so, widow after meerchant so and so. 
She was born in 1778 on Hauske vicarage and died in Haugesund 1860. 
She had no children of her own, but by her goodness she became mother to many who remember her with great thankfulness.
Among these were particularly two who she took in her care, and loved as if they were her own, and who always will keep her memory in loving recollection.
Peace be with thy dust.
Blessed by thy memory."

This happened at a time when Norway was among the poorest countries in Europe.I found it very moving.

A special neighbourhood to the old church. The red roofs are for Ruby Tuesday.

 If one didn't have much land, but was in need of housing, one might build like this one century ago.

Gunnar overlooking one more graveyard.

Beautiful out take of a headstone.

Dandelion spring is finally here.

A stroll down to the sea, where children will be swimming in a month or two.

 ...And back again, where the train is waiting.

May your guardian angel follow you both this Monday, the Ruby Tuesday and evermore.

Photo  © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Happy Birthday

Our beloved Serina was 25 a week ago. We usually celebrate a birthday for 24 hours. Opening presents at midnight. No wonder Serina was a bit tired for breakfast. The menu was red gel, strawberry dipped in chocolate and Californian Rose wine.

 

With her birthday crown she looked exactly ten years old.

 

Red lipstick after breakfast nap. Isn't she lovely? She's also painted the scenery of the narrow roads to Sauda standing to the left.

 Birthday child posing with a glimpse in her eye. "I'm finally old enough to wear my glasses in a string", she mocked.

 A penny for your thoughts. Maybe the bitter sweet poem by Irish  William Butler Yeats?

When You Are Old
William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
  
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face among a crowd of stars.

Photo  © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Early Spring Fleemarket

Some way Ukraine has become the country people in this region of Norway consider their responsibility. Several organizations and private persons gather money for our starving, freezing, poor neighbors. Nobody can help all, everybody can help one.  Fleemarkets are a poplar way of raising money.

mSerina and I went to a fleemarket this Saturday on a nearby island, Bokn. People there are famous for their collective spirit. They are mostly fishermen, oil rig workers or farmers, that means they are used to take responsibility for their neighbors in more than one way.

We are in between seasons. Ice in the salt sea, and flowers in the sunny hillsides.

There should be some red on the roofs, but I doubt you can spot them. I used my iPone cam on this trip.Three islands with bridges and two deep under water tunnels ( about 300 meeter below water) are  connecting our town southwards.

Houses for fisher boats and tourists by the shore.
  

Old, weatherbeaten roof.

Ancient civilization, a garden with an old pavilion, orchard and the first snowdrops.

 

 Serina resting after the "gold rush" .

 

The apex of the day, meeting the first snow drops of the year .

Home again displaying the catch of the day. A red latern, a vase, six trolls, a dozen books, Kosta Boda crystal, Pilgrim jewelry and other handy things for the home. Thank God; for the first meeting with the spring. 
 
Photo  © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Mother's Day and Shrovetide

Last Sunday was Shrovetide or Lent Sunday  celebrated.
Birch shrubs are decorated with colored feathers and green leaf shoots eventually burst out after a week in our hot kitchen. They are made and sold every year by elderly women 70 - 80 years of age. Gunnar's mother used to make them, and we buy some bunches every year in memory of her.

The second Sunday of February is Mother's Day in Norway. This was the first Mother's Day when my Mom wasn't here.I actually didn't look that much forwards to the celebration. But Serina did. She had prepared the most beautiful breakfast when I came into the kitchen. The white Wedgewood porcelain was decorated with a flower my mother once made of silver strings and pantyhose fabrics.
Strawberries are my favorite. 

 The table was wonderfully decorated, almost made for Ruby Tuesday.

 Since our car has been out of function the last three weeks there was no way Serina could buy anything but groceries. 
My card was made on her iPad. "Happy Mother's Day. Today the waffle hearts shall beat." Wasn't that a sweet promise?
We had a great celebration. Some naps in between delicious dinner and coffee, but the "day" lasted till 2 hours passed midnight. 

 Besides waiting upon me in every possible way, my daughter had also thought out a present from the colonial store. Irish beer. I hadn't tasted it since the two of us toured Ireland in May. It really was a taste of Ireland. There are still some left in fridge!!

 
Photo  © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Songs my mother taught me # 9

Air, snow and a carpet beater.

 Since my mother didn't have a washing machine or a vacuum cleaner when I was a very active and curious toddler, she had to think before throwing clothes to wash.
She had different ways of stain removing based upon the origin of the stain. Her thumb-finger rule was, always be quick to remove a stain. Don't let it fasten. Try cold water, no soap, first, except from fat, which can only be removed by hot water. Be sure to check out what the fabric can take from soap, heat e.t.c. If you don't know, make a try on a place where it can not be seen, if you should fail. A newspaper or even better a blotting-paper and a hot iron will suck up stains from candlelights. If you let the stain soak for awhile (over night) it will be easier to remove. Never, ever soak wool, it will shrink.(Thanks Mrs. Mac.)
My mother would always hang a used garment out for venting, even if it wasn't stained. Clothes and bed linens were "blowing in the wind" every day, summer and winter.  

Heavier items, like carpets and cushions were thrown into snow and beaten with a carpet beater, while they were dragged around in the white, snowy garden. They were turned and tossed and I remember my Dad had to carry them into the house, when he came home from the office. The arm chairs got a similar treatment on the veranda outside our living-room. No vacuumer could replace the snow and the beater. The chairs were eventually moved into my brother's room. We got to keep our rooms long after we left home. My parents would insure us, we were always welcome home, often bringing guests as well. The arm chairs were upholstered at least four times. Here sort of in between redressing.
Serina and I are busy wrapping Christmas gifts while bro Kel is in his favourite position, reading.

  

  Gunnar and I have help washing our home due to disabilities. They do not do carpet or cushion beating though. We still have to manage that piece on our own. It's actually frightening to see how much dust is left even after vacuuming.

Not much snow, but it does the job for the plaid and cushions.