Absolutely Autumn.

Autumn has definitely arrived at my terrasse.
The last blossoms of the summer are fighting for their existence in yellow, orange and red.

This spring I spread nasturtium seeds in pots and pans wherever I saw brown soil. I fear that snails and caterpillars might eat the most, but oh joy, the power of the seed won the race.

My mother would always use the last summer months first removing the blossoms, they are edible, to lure the plants producing  more flowers, and later collecting seeds for next year's flower feast.    I feel so close to her, going through the same procedures. 

  
Begonias are fighting for their lives. The first night frost will mean the end of them. I will as always bring them in security, in our basement,  and try keeping them alive till next spring.
 

I have collected small seeds from the pansies since August. They have been a true blessing. Blooming since April.

My dahlias are the greatest challenge. They either dry or rot indoors. This time I have found a garden expert allied. By following her advices I once more will give them a chance. It's to sad just to let them die. They are grandmother  flowers and so deserve to live. "The spring begins in the autumn", Karel Capek said. I'm so looking forwards to the fruits of my work. Have a wonderful Ruby Tuesday.

 
Photo and poem © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher


http://rubytuesdaytoo.blogspot.com.au

Songs my Mother taught me # 4

The more I reflect I see how influenced I am by the many little details my mother taught me, nor by preaching, but by doing.
Nowadays we can buy fresh flowers imported from all over the world 12 months a year. When I grew up most store flowers were grown in Norwegian greenhouses. January was a rather naked month, the Christmas decorations were boxed away and outdoors snow and naked trees as long as the eye could see.
"Now I go outdoors and fetch the spring indoors," my Mom would say, wading in the snow towards the Forsythia shrubs.
Then, as a yearly, smiling refrain; " the only specie to blossom on a naked twig."  
January first is the day I fight the frost to harvest some Forsythia twigs for me and my friends.A week after the first buds and a few blossoms sprung.
I have spring in my kitchen!

Photo and poem © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Christmas Carols # 21

This carol originates from Germany, but we consider it Norwegian. I found this clip where Sissel is singing with Vienna Opera Children's Choir in German and Norwegian. The text  on the video is Spanish. I know that Trey reads Spanish.
A happy amateur have also made his video. I think his original Norwegian videos are great.

Christmas Carols # 18

This is not actually a Christmas Psalm, but a scene from Children's Advent TV back in 1979.
A dear memory and a timely reminder of how much children's song always has been a part of Christmas celebration.
It has been said that Christmas also is a light feast and a time for the hearts.
Let's keep it that way.

Colors of the Season

Picture 1.
Easter Day or Jewish Pescah is celebrated every year the first Sunday after the first full moon after spring equinox.
In Norway we call it Paaske and start the celebration Palm Sunday in memory of the day Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey to hold the holy feast with his disciples. The week in between we call the silent week.
The picture of eggs for fertility and a rooster in memory of Peter's betrayal are common Easter decorations.
Pagan and religious hand in hand. The sun cult did also celebrate the spring equinox as one of four majors. The sun cult is known and many reminiscences are found in our region dated back 7000 years or more.

Picture 2.
I let the young children designed by the Swedish artist Carl Larsson be a symbol of new life. N.B. The boy is wearing red suspenders.

Picture 3.
After the long and dark winter time, we now have 13,5 hours of daylight. I am in desperate need of colors, even if the frost took three of my outdoor geraniums, I fill the kitchen with an indoor rainbow.

Picture 4.
I like reading interior blogs. I'm amazed at the engagement and ingenuity young women decorate their homes.
Now and then I steal an idea. Like this one. Using an old wooden box after my dad for presenting tea boxes. The text spells First Class Citron.

Picture 5.
I found the old box in the carpentry shed.My father was keen on
having every thing in it's proper place. A dear memorabilia.

Picture 6.
Colors on thermoses, but white candles for me. These are recycled from used church candles and of fine quality. They burn slow, with no dripping and they are low priced. What more can one ask for?

Picture 7.
Daffodils are the proper flowers for Norwegian Easter, since they are named Easter Lilies.
I fell for this Ranunculus when grocery shopping. It might with a little good will be described as orange with a hint of red!
Happy Ruby Season to all of you.

Magical Mystery Teacher is hosting Ruby Tuesday 2 together with Gemma Wiseman

NORWEGIAN PASS TIME

My pewter is up, thanks to G & G.
I have enjoyed spring in London, daffodils and outdoor cafes.
King Winter still rules back home, and we have ski World Championship going on in Oslo, with the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian royalties watching Norway win.
Congratulations to Canada who bet our hero, Northug, once on 15 kilometers...
This weekend I divide my time between the telli and a new crash course; T'ai Chi, Chi Gong and Feldenkrais combined.
Still waiting for the new kitties to arrive into this world.

NEW YEAR

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Alfred Lord Tennyson and Felisol

RUBY NOVEMBER

Summer has passed, and fall is also reckoned to be over.
We were surprised by an early snow fall at the end of October. King Frost made short process with most of our garden flowers. I managed however to save a dozen of the still blossoming geraniums. For a while our kitchen and living room were inundated with all shades of red geraniums.
Due to lack of water, they have starved one by one.
The few survivors shall be taken care of, in remembrance of the bygone summer.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today

Ruby rest of summer

Two weeks ago; when this picture was taken, I still had the chance to save some for the winter.
Now the golden opportunity has past.
Only the photo is left.

The Dream (Graeme Edge)
When the white eagle of the North
is flying overhead
The browns, reds and golds of autumn
lie in the gutter, dead.
Remember then, that summer birds
with wings of fire flaying
Came to witness spring's new hope,
born of leaves decaying.
Just 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
of a promise almost seen.
Live hand-in-hand and together we'll stand
on the threshold of a dream. 

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today