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

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

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

Ruby Spring Once More

Spring once more.
Spring in our garden, even if snow was 
blowing in from north yesterday.

Tulips in abundance, joy upon joy.

The pink tulip siblings flocking together in one corner.

The red, creeping rhododendrons are also springing out. I love them, they can withstand most; cold, wind, sour soil. They blossom as were they to the manor born. 

For more interesting Ruby Tuesdays

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