FLOWERED FLOWING BEACH

Liv, Torhild, Turid, Tilly, Elbjoerg and I went to revisit the garden of our dreams last opening day of this season September 23rd .
On the north peak of an island, surrounded by the Golf Stream, two hours south of Haugesund a gardener fought all odds and founded the only palm island of Norway.
The gardener was struck by a terminal cancer, left his family in the city and moved to the the little family hut on the barren island, to die without burdening his near and dear ones.
He had bought the 25 acres of stones and cliffs far out in the sea for a small penny in the mid sixties. Planted pines and furs to create shelter from the howling Atlantic storms.
Now he started freighting soil, manure, seeds and cuttings while waiting for the great harvester to take his course.
He had nothing to loose, challenging nature to its utmost, with a surprising siege.
His wife came to live with and stand by him, in this peculiar, creative struggle. His children went on growing flowers, plants and rare imports in the greenhouses in the city.
Seasons came and went. The gardener was still alive and planning new projects. People became famous, wanted to see the green wonderland
The whole family decided to invest in buildings to house the visitors, later on also their own boat to bring the spectators to and fro.
In -87 the opened the place for the public.
600 visitors. Far beyond their estimates.
The built a restaurant, hired a gourmet chef who could make a menu from scratch. There are no shops at the island.
Last summer queen Sonia celebrated her 75th birthday at the island with royalties from all over Europe.

They searched and found living quells of water deep under the earth.
We were there on a rather cold and rainy day. The pictures does not at all give fairness to the color splendor of the flowers.
I will not even try to list the variety of the flower species. They come from all over the world.
34 000 guests have this summer greeted the gardener, still alive, though in an electric cart, and testified that the miracles of belief, hard work and love is stronger than any medical or metherological prognoses.

THE PINK TOWNHALL OF HAUGESUND

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

Once upon a time there was a town, built by barrack barons on viking sites. Herring bones was the turf of the new town. Its inhabitants were proud of that. Fish gave work to fishermen, barrel makers, salters, layers, carpenters, rope makers, skippers, seamen, school for seamen, cooks, navigators, the lots. On the top of the pyramid throned the shipowners. They became rich, fast and stinking rich. Especially was World War 1 good for the trade. Huge assurance sums for the ships sunk by the new German u boats. Equal high prizes for the valuable cargo; fish and fish oil for a Europe at war.


Now; what I tell here is only hearsay and old rumors.
The biggest and richest of the shipowners was claimed for owing a lot of tax. An income he denied for and could not either be persuaded to pay for.


"I'll do something better," he said, "I'll grant the town a new and mighty town hall as a gift from me on my fiftieth birthday." The year was 1920.The fathers of the city coucil could nothing but accept.
A competition was held among the foremost architects of the nation. The two young men who won, had chosen a neo classicistic, rather pompous style.
To study at the well they afterward went to Italy for a year and a half. Some say they hardly made it home to Norway again.They pored on, inspired from the antique and renaissance; columns, arches, tempel like gables ,architrave, geometric forms and consoles. Created in euphoric, youthful intoxication.

One setback as they came home. The land was a sloopy hilltop, too short for a classic, symmetric building. No problemo. They just broke the east wing and bent it backwards. The inhabitants of Haugesund are so used to the sight, that they hardly ever reflect over the fact that their town hall has but a half facade..
Two years ago it was voted the prettiest building of the town. The autumn red Virginia Creeper on the raw, reddish granite floor groud is a sight for sore eyes.So is the mighty eagle sculptured by Norway's # one animal sculpturer, Dyre Vaa.
The ship owner?
He and his wife continued to bulid, educate and donate for the rest of their lives.
The citizen still honor their pink hall, with a feeling; "Maybe he was no scholar, maybe he was a bit pompous, but he had a wide open heart, he knew how to throw a party. If the town belonged to him, he also belonged to us ".

Double click to enlarge

September hikes 1

We already write the fourth of October, and I have not found time to post the hiker-ladies' wonderful excursions in September. We basically were a gang of four, but as we have grown older, more have left professional working and become associated members. Ladies of star quality, all tried in life, but not loosing in morals, compassion or belief.

Turid is photographer on the pics where moi is also "starring."Elbjørg,Tilly, Gjertrud, Liv and Elise posing in Elbjørg's flower park.

Turid shining to the left. Elbjørg has gone inside to prepare us one of three meals we had in her Paradiso .
Elbjørg's family has had a farm on a the island of Bomlo since 1300.They have their own church bench in the Mostra church, built about year 1000 by king Olav Tryggvason.Growing up on a small "sea"farm was no status half a century ago. Nothing but hard work and stormy journeys to the mainland. Now, people would pay millions to get hold of an acre by the sea. Elbjørg's family praise togetherness and cultivating old heritage above money. I respect that.
They are the greatest wood-owners in the area, and the six of us went to explore her realm.
Turid found Cantrell mushrooms, the local queen delicatesse.Elbjørg making a fire for a simple BBQ midst in the wood. Her son has set up a lavvo right behind her. Her her grandchildren can overnight and watch the deer and other animals from the forest real close.Tilly and Gjertrud on plum slang. Juicy taste and 100 % ecological. The blackberries were likewise just waiting for us to come. Hardly anybody will take the work to pic berries themselves. Better buy some freighted all the way from New Zeeland.The Fly-mushrooms are a beautiful sight, but deadly toxic, every Norwegian child knows that.

The summer was a bit different this year. I had not had any swim in the sea. Liv offered me company. The water held 12 Celsius degrees. Not so bad once I regained the feeling in my num feet.
Liv in full pace over the sound. The ugly duckling striving behind.
View from Elbjørg's apple orchard.

We all claimed to be full to the brim. Somehow the applecake vanished into thin air (or even fuller stomachs) inside the hut.Nuts from hazel and oak, now reaping in my kitchen.
We are having most fun in between to walking.

Primeval forest.

The old barn still in use. Landscape cultivated for coming generations.

WARNING

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go,

and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals,

and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other peoples gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Jenny Joseph

RUBY ASTRUP AUTUMN

We've just returned from The autumn journey.
Primary goal: Handing over a newly, dadly repaired Fiat to daughter Serina. 3 days of traveling in wind, rain and slippery roads. Past the most magnificent scenery of Norway.
Visiting the poor farm of the painter Nicolai Astrup.

He lived with his family high in the steep mountain side.
To paint he had to crave a living out of stones and cliffhangs. He learned the possibilities of various herbs.
Also he planted "Devil seed" for the mere decoration.To live he had to paint.Neither he nor his family were highly estimated.

Nor was his art treasured by his contemporaries.A peak in the window of his home shows the painting Midsummer.
No need to tell we were caught by the landscape, the old buildings and the destiny of the painter.
Wonder if Astrup ever fancied people coming from the ends of the earth to admire his art and his courage.

The Dream
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 springs 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.
Graham Edge
Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY FLORENCE

Florence, the city with a ruby flag, a pageant of color in art, markets,galleries, street life, living history and powerful young students of art and music making their way into the future.
Something old, (Florence)
something new,(streetpainter)
Something borrowed,(hubby Gunnar & daughter Serina also pushed the button)
Something blue.(me, longing back to Italy)


Ruby nightowls. Serina and I on the carousel just before midnight.
With a Mom who has to sleep in the middle of the day, there will always be late nights.
Serina made this picture of Gunnar and me resting on a genuine old stone bench before walking home.
Oh,to think, just two years ago we were the unconquerable trinity exploring the beauty of one of Europe's noblest cities.
Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.