RUBY HIKER TUESDAY

LIKE DUCKS IN THE WIND: DEEP VALLEY

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

The Deep Valley is where most of the inhabitants of Haugesund like to go for a walk, a hike, a bath, to pick mushrooms, watch birds or just sit on a beach to relax. The wilderness with a touch of park.

Young parents will bring their children, it's also made available for wheelchairs. New this year is the ramp leading straight into the water..


Tuesdays, that's when the gang of hikers set out to explore islands, mountains peaks, forests, historical sites,beaches,- you name it, we've done it.
Due to my many broken, unhealed bones, we cannot go far or fast. We are all ladies around our best sixties, and therefor carry some luggage from a rich, but turbulent, in the best meaning of the word, life.
Stroke, artificial hip, cancer, hmm, that's just one of us.
We share laughter and tears, defeats and sieges.
You can spot the ruby drops in the sunlight??
We sing while we walk, we stop bend down to fetch stones, cones, driftwood, berries, seashells, moss, flowers to bring home like curious and overwhelmed kids.

"You are my favorite break pad,"Tilly smiled the other day. "You make us stop and wonder."
These are pictures from last Tuesday's hike.
Elbjoerg reading about ants. How they always build their tuft towards the south, and like the bear go to sleep in the winter.
Liv talking foliage, while the only surviving plants from the age of the dinosaurs, the ferns, still are green.

We ended up at Tilly's for cocoa and sandwiches.
Liv and Elbjoerg stretched out at the children's playground while Tilly prepared the meal.
Even the swing had red strings. Who cares if the sky is gray as long as children's toys color our day?
Relaxing outside Tilly's entrance door. Ruby once more!
Before we left Tilly brought us all a gift; striped socks.
"Some are known as the ladies who always walk to Crooked Lake. I thought we might be known as the Ladys with the socks," she laughed.
A splendid idea.

RUBY HEIRLOOMS

Family cannot be bought, it's a free gift.
Memories attached to the past help us treasure our roots and bring the history to new generations.
This chest comes from Astrid, sister of my Dad's mother. It's probably elder than 1819, the lack of rosepaint shows that.
My Dad's parents married in 1910. The red chair was bought then with a short sofa and one more chair.
When it was time to share inheritance, the four brothers made five heaps. (one also for aunt Elly, then a missionary in Kenya.) One of the brothers was placed with his back to the heaps and the others asked who shall have this heap? Until all the belongings of my grandparents were righteously shared.
This chair stood in our fireplace room. My dad used to sit there, listening to his old records.
Original fabric, plush, on the backside. There used to be a row of small tassels dangling from the armrests and also under the seat of the chair. I loved playing with them, crawling around on the floor while the adults were drinking coffee.
Best heritage; living, caring cousins. Vivian came over from Chicago as my Dad and my uncle gradually sickened. She was the treasure of their hearts, being the first niece, daughter of their only sister.
Cousin Reidar has really taken care of family heritage.
Here in the loft over his garage.

Cars and car accessories are Reidar's passion.
He literally grew up in the garages of his dad and uncle.
Memorabilia from the old buses of my granddad.
Red?? Adults ticket.
Cousin Reidar and his wife are passionate veteran car enthusiasts. At this occasion Gunnar and I were allowed to sit back in the master's seats, while my cousin drove his Buick to a number one position. Red? Cars in the background, Berit's dress and my shoes.
Double click to enlarge.



Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

PEACE, GOD'S PEACE

Luke 2:
10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Peace is not sought by the aggressive, revolutionaries and dangerous people.

The frightened, the meek, the helpless, the wounded, the tired, the starving, the refugees, the persecuted, the motherless, the little ones are praying and waiting for peace.

Thank you Mimi for planning and sustaining interest in this BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE.

RUBY TREASURES

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

I blog, therefor I am...
Sometimes real life is more important than that of the internet.
This has been such a week.

Ruby treasures have filled my time.
Family, friends, nature, books, art & music are some of God's incredible gifts to me these last days.
Serina ..coming home. Staying up late nights, helping me with blogmusic, shopping and dining out.



Serina is into art noveau and its Austrian cousin "Jugend."Here posing with Norwegian posters from 1900.The hiker girls had a lovely Tuesday in the town upland.
Last days of October, the snow had fallen and disappeared during the night..

Walking in wet moor, we also had to climb fences set up to protect domestict animals on pastures.
Look; snow and red mountain cranberries.
The town's own hiker-place, available to all her inhabitants, the Havaas(Ocean-hill) hut.

Liv reading poetry after the coffee break.
Gunnar, Turid and I attended Kirsten's painting vernissage. She is a multitalented woman with a vigorous energy.
Sunday; time to celebrate Gunnar's brother in law, 69.
Terje had a severe brain stroke 6 years ago, but has fought his way back, in a way none would imagine.
Shrimp sandwiches are his specialty.
View from Turid's kitchen window. If my cellphone cam had been more efficient; I would have been able to present a horde of warblers, plus two white swans in the lake.
I normally compose my Ruby Tuesdays Monday Eve.
I would not dream of reclining the invitation of a girl's night for the sake of a dear hobby.
Turid and Elisabeth, nearest and dearest. They were whistleblowers in a serious case of maltreating mentally retarded 12 years ago. Their courage resulted in new and better laws for the mentally handicapped in all of Norway.
We all bear scares after that bitter fight, but agree we'd do it once more if neccessary..

TRAVELINGS IN RUBY

Traveling up and down the Norwegian coast means crossing over bridges, through tunnels and ferries. Tunnels running 300 meters under the water. Suspension bridges with wind balloons, clearly indicating the danger of being blown at the sea. ..
It takes 12 hours driving up to our daughter.Stop at art galleries not included. Ruby? Watch the flagpole.
Self portraits by recently passed Eikaas. "I have won over the negative. That is well done," he states down right in the picture. .
The roads are curvy and narrow. The truckers are a menace to all roadfarers.This one, carrying high explosive liquid gas, here threatens three other vehicles, to make a bypass on the slippery road.Not good for fringed nerves.
We made a stop in the town where my Dad went to gymnasium. Mark the cock at the top of the church tower. It's said to symbolize the incident in Gethsemane; Peter's denial. The black Uno belonged to my beloved Dad. Gunnar spent some months restoring it.Here it's to be deliverd to our daughter.
Serina preparing to conquer the town from the room of "our" ruby room at the beach hotel.
I do not ask more of Heaven than staying in a place like this.Driving southwards in my Mom's footpaths.

Ruby red traal boats. Here's the place to buy freshly boiled shrimps to color a gray Sunday morning,--red.

MY 'LONGSHORE LASS

FAR in the mellow western sky,
Above the restless harbor bar,
A beacon on the coast of night,
Shines out a calm, white evening star;
But your deep eyes, my 'longshore lass,
Are brighter, clearer far.

The glory of the sunset past
Still gleams upon the water there,
But all its splendor cannot match
The wind-blown brightness of your hair;
Not any sea-maid's floating locks
Of gold are half so fair.

The waves are whispering to the sands
With murmurs as of elfin glee;
But your low laughter, 'longshore lass,
Is like a sea-harp's melody,
And the vibrant tones of your tender voice.
L. M. Montgomery
Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

ALL RUBY SOULS' DAY

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today
Happy Halloween, with red points.
The teach is right; Halloween is a strange cult in Norway.
The closest we get is "All Souls' Day", which is an ancient celebration of the dead, held November 2nd.
That day we cherish and honor our dead, preferably in church. No monster pumpkin, no threatening "trick or treat",no scary masks.
Last Sunday hubby Gunnar and I were at an exhibition at the old Vicarage. These knitted vegetables in a knitted kitchen shall be my treat for Ruby Halloween.
We don't celebrate thanksgiving either, except for children placing neatly washed crops from the fields on the altar of the church, one Sunday in September.
If I've got you right, the second most important about thanksgiving, is families being gathered. Our single child, Serina, here pictured in a restaurant up north near by her college; well, she's coming home THIS VERY WEEK-END!!
Thanks, Lord.