PAASKE- EASTER IN RUBY

Church Of Our Savior. Photo Serina
Norwegian Easter Morning is first Sunday after first full moon after the vernal equinox. This year April 12th. Last Sunday the celebration begun with Palm Sunday. This is called the silent week. Schools have vacation and shops are closed Tuesday, Friday and Monday.
Gunnar and I went to the National Gallery in Oslo where Munch's Shriek is displayed. Somehow it reminds me of Good Friday, by us called Long Friday. If you have heard Ian Gillan cry out on Jesus Christ Superstar, you'll understand why.
Time for contemplation and vacation. Darling daughter is home!
Traditionally lamb is the food for paaske (Norwegian translation from Hebrew). Serina asked for Tandoori Chicken. It's steaming while Gunnar is out at the airport, picking her up.
Church concert this year; The Savior by father of the famous Lloyd Webbers, William.

We always hope for a small Serina air.
Paaske also is candies in an egg, Serina's already almost empty, games and reading. In Norway crime is the must of Easter reading. Long, long tradition. Psychologists say it has to do with the nature of Easter gospel; lying, deceiving, covering up and murder.
Salvation and resurrection not included.
We have a box of Easter decoration in the attic. Hubby Gunnar wasn't able to locate it among the zillion others.
I found this cock in a drawer. He's placed among basel, rosemary and lemon balm.
Hopefully we'll take a trip to Sauda as well.
That will be a topic for next Tuesday.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SPRING CELEBRATION

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

The magic folly of spring is sweeping over us.
The sun beats the dark by 13,6 hours to 11,6, and it will go on and on till the nights become blond again.
"Blond on blond" to quote Dylan.
I've been out hunting down the spring today.
This is what I found:
In Norway people go skiing and skating till late April.
Nice hobby for masochists.(Never thought that I should be a sports photographer, not even in the junior league!)
Football, the real one, is no leisure game.
It's more important than life and death, a famous English coach said.
Footballers come crawling out as soon as the snow is gone.
We were a trip at Norway's eastside this week.
From the plane we saw the landscape covered in a white coat of snow, except from the regularly green"stamps", the grass covered football stadiums.
Pope John Paul II said:"Of all the unnecessities of the world, football is the most important."
Personally I find football overrated, overpaid and totally blown out of proportions in the minds of media and average people.
Except for this single red team called Fire from Bergen.
I sing their songs, I watch their games on the telli, and if Gunnar's broken nose heals well, I hope we can see them live this season.


Emily Dickinson
A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown —
Who ponders this tremendous scene —
This whole Experiment of Green —
As if it were his own!

THE NAMING OF A CAT

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

My first name was not often used within my birth family. To my parents I was "Kitten"or "Kit", to my only sibling, younger bro' Kel, I was "Kitten Meow" with an emphasis on meow. Till we got a wonderful gray and white kitten of our own. Then a brand new cat-language evolved, and I became Felisol/Fel /Whel.
Till this day that's how my brother names me.
One might wonder if that's related to my choleric nature. I certainly do not climb the trees anymore.
Only seldom use my claws to scratch.
However, I still purr when being cuddled.
And I love to go hunting at night!

The Naming of Cats

TS Eliot

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there's the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey - All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter - But all of them sensible everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum - Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond there's still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover - But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

SPRING IN NORWAY

This wonder garden is situated in our neighborhood.
Iam lucky just to stand outside the wall and admire this horn of plenty.
Wish you were here .

ST.PATRICK IN ST.STEPHEN'S GREEN

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com teach Mary is hosting this meme.
Sunny day in St. Stephen's Green, April 1981.
The young fellow lying on the grass telling me the thousand stories of Ireland; from St. Patrick year 461 till Bobby Sands dying in the Maze prison just as we were speaking.
He so cleverly told me about St. Patrick, and the way he used the Shamrock to convince the pagan Irish about the Holy Trinity, I felt it might have happened yesterday.
I fell in love with this magic Emerald Isle, and her men, who all have kissed the Stone of Blarney.
And I've got this longing to once more return .
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

2. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

3. I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

William Butler Yeats.

FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

Fra mamma

SONG OF MY HEART

Don't we all love the songs of Fanny Cosby.
I listened through a lot on YouTube to find the right mood from the hymns from my childhood.
As there are no aunt Aase or Sven Odland outtakes, these will have to do the trick.

YOU DID NOT KNOW; OR DID YOU?

Which Grand Designs House Are You?

You are the Peckham Space Pod!

You're ingenious and just a little bit mad

Your practical, can-do attitude and ingenuity mean that the Peckham Space Pod is your ultimate Grand Design. This compact, clever design speaks volumes for your common sense, high intelligence and problem-solving ability. You also have taste that, while not always popular with the mainstream, is undeniably unique and 'you'. more!

Hi, Debbie. Instead of following up your meme, for which I actually don't have the capacity, I'll at least show you one side of myself I wasn't really conscious about. I follow the TV program Grand Designs by British Kevin McCloud with enthusiasm and great interest.

I could not resist taking this test as I stumbled over it at the internet.
The house I ended up with was the least pretentious of them all.
I like it though.
I also like to have a good laugh at my own cost.

Here is Gunnar's result. A little over my league. Together we are dynamite.

Bold and strong of opinion, the Yorkshire Castle is your dream Grand Design because it reflects all of these qualities and more. You are highly intelligent, well-educated and value the lessons of history highly. Your respect for quality and timeless design is reflected in this project, as is your sensitivity to the preservation of history.

RUBY VAN RUBY BABY

Serina showing off our beloved Dodge Tradesman.
It had formerly served as a firefighter van for B.A. jobs at our cornerstone factory Statoil-Hydro aluminum. The sirens were removed, but boy did we feel tough riding that v8 giant.
Still two years, with chocolate ice around her mouth, Serina is looking comfortable behind the steering wheel. We're celebrating Seventeenth of May, our day of Independence.
Serina is so proud, because her dad's a teacher. That means she's allowed accompany him and participate in parades for school children.
She's wearing her first of many bunads, our national costume.

Little did she know that we were twice as proud.
So in fact were all the parents and grandparents for generations, since the 1840ies.
A special greeting from Bob Dylan and Mamma for today:
May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

BLOOD ON THE TRUNKS

Our pines are violently bleeding.
Favorite writer/composer/singer Bob Dylan is visiting Norway this month.
We are going to attend his concert.
Among Dylan's three best albums is "Blood on the tracks.
Our souls and our garden has been mutilated lately. By a trespassing treetrunk murderer.
Psalm 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed,
and be still.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

That was that week that was

Missing my baby, still rejoicing over she having fun in Volda.

Monday I spent worrying about my eyes. The sight had gradually worsened, in spitte of two kind of grops and annoinment to be applied five times a day.
Working with the pictures for my Ruby blog, I finally could hardly see the screen. Colors blurring and my eyes two inches from the working surface aching, colors changing like they were solarized.
I was convinced I was about becoming blind.
I prayed and made my blogfriends praying.
Tuesday the hiker girls went out for a four hour trip. I tagged along. Thought I might as well enjoy the adventure of the spring as suffering at home. We saw snowdrops blossoming every where and also the .
In thee evening I went to see Turid. She is gifted with warm hands and they really soothed my eyes.
Wednesday(on Serina's birthday) Gunnar and I went south, under three tunnels and over the fjord with a ferry to attend a dear uncle's funeral. My third uncle dying in less than a year. So sad to meet my aunt and my cousins under these circumstances.
Thursday I had my physiotherapist therapy and came home rather weak. No time for letting the soare muscles recover and adjust to the therapy. Due to major urgency I telephoned from 10.30 am till 18 pm to get my mom's bank fix some severe mistakes made by them.
I had to contact their superiors in Oslo until they finally came to their senses.
Gunnar and I went to and from Sauda to see to my poor Mom. She was exhausted too.
Friday morning we woke up to motor saw roar.
Our neighbor had rented a firm to cut our trees while he himself had hidden abroad. (To put in mildly cowardish).
I was devastated, cause they did not only cut branches, like we had agreed, but severely damaged the trunk both of the spruces and the birches So late in spring the sap has already risen in the trees and the birds started to build nest.
There are not many Christian thought in my head concerning those vandals.
Saturday was meant to be a girlfriend gathering out at Seahill, hiking and dinner.
I have to pass.
My eyes are getting better all the time though.
Monday I thought that if I loose my sight, I'll loose most of what's important to me in life.
In my vanity I said to God , I'll never complain about anything if you just let me keep what remains of sight and hearing.
Guess I've had to eat these words and lots of dust too. One should not give God promises.
At least reflect on how one, weak and vulnerable in flesh will be able to keep such a promise.
Close to sixty I still have a lot to learn.

Good thing though,the mild weather able me, with the help of Gunnar, to spread ten 50 litre sacks of fertile soil in the garden.
I also planted 50 sprouting bulbs and 10 Primroses.
Anger gives my energy surplus.
Except from Thursday I have had perfect control over my menu, thanks to Debbie's genuine advice.
And despite 3 buns and one hotdog & coke that fatal Thursday, I've lost a kilo.
Guess life could be worse.
Oh, Iknow for sure, life is harsher to a great many people.
I just had to blow out some black steam.
Gunnar made this video of the vandalism.

THREE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS

Dear Serina.
I've swapped Terry's birthday card for you.
dad and I say Happy birthday +1.
Also happy belated birthday to Broder Knut Erik, February 24th and Uncle Leif February 26th.
The Tjaalands have been busy celebrating end of February for three generations.
Hipp hipp hipp Hurray.

RUBY LENT LOVE

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

The theme of last Tuesday has inspired me to right more about love. The agape kind of love this time.
More specifically about the important work done by thousands and thousands of housewives, women of small means, but great love and will.
According to my dictionary they are "Women volunteer workers who provide non-professional care and service for the sick and convalescent".
In short; there's no accurate English term for these extraordinary women.
Through out the years they have gathered money and built hospitals for tuberculosis patients, orphanages, recreation centers for housewives, and in the later 3 decades they have done a tremendous job for people suffering from rheumatism. They also have several school for educating nurses.
How do they manage all this? Amongst other things by selling these special lent feather brushwoods. First they gather birch brushwood in January.
Then these hen feathers are neatly tied to the brushwood with metal threads. Other women go from door to door to sell them. Both Gunnar's mother and my friend Liv have been members of this association. It's a lifetime commitment.
Norway has been a officially protestant country for five hundred years, since the days of Martin Luther. Nevertheless we celebrate the Catholic lent. This Sunday was "Bunsunday". Eating fat food to prepare for the long fast. Then comes Bluemonday, Shrovetuesday and Ashwednesday. Further doesn't our fast go. We still have the redletter days, eat buns with whipped cream and buy the lent brushwood.
The brushwood being part of a pagan fertility celebration dating back to the ancient Romans. Gently whipping of the wives was supposed to maintain their fertility. Barbaric? Guess so.
The remnisance of the paganism has helped sick, poor and chronic ill for a century.
That can't be bad at all. The feathers of the bouquet of this year was bound by a woman of 82.It's a fidelity to one's dedication and a love for one's next one just have to admire without any reservations.

Today the first mouse-ears sprouted on the birch.
Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

TURN TURN TURN

There is a time for everything.
My physiotherapist yesterday set my feet free.
You shall go and stay how you like.
There is no RIGHT way of using your feet.
Just be aware of how you are using them, and how you feel while doing so. Avoid what's making you hurt or tense.
For almost 60 years I have been told that I go, stay and move wrong.
I've tried to adjust in every possible way, only ending up tying my muscles in always harder and more painful knots.
In the blink of an eye my therapist broke the spell.
I'm now looking forwards to also enjoy my freedom elsewhere. Doing what I believe in,
paying close attention to how my deeds make me feel.Then adjust my behavior according to that.

So wonderful to be a work under construction!
Busy being born.

VULNERABLE YOUTH

Being young is such a painful, vulnerable stage in life.
It was to all of us, I reckon.

This poem of William Butler Yeats has been "mine" since I discovered it at the age of nineteen.

When You Are Old and Grey

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 amid a crowd of stars.

.

Visit teach Mary at http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com/

POST VALENTINE

Dutch Valentine stamps.
A Monastery brother painted this icon of St. James. Be doers of the word, not only listeners" is written on his parchment roll.
A heap of nice icon cards.
Letters from brother Ole. throughout the years it's become a trunk full.
The nice drawing of two apples and the cards.

Valentine is long gone. At least 3 days gone. The stores have sales on heart, cards and special chocolate & flowers.
I first thought I might be too late writing about Valentine post festum.
Then it struck me that if love - all kinds of love- shall be limited to a one day season, we are in deep trouble.
Paul spoke about love like no one before or after him..

The Greatest Gift

¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

I have only one brother in the flesh. I certainly love him.
I also have a brother Ole, a Benedictine monk. Living in a monastery in the Netherlands. He is also dear to me. I have known him for 40 years, followed his ups and downs and seen him finding his place in God's garden. He's given up all his worldly goods, even his family farm, to become a Benedictine brother. Yet he loves his books and works as a librarian and a gardener in the Monastery. Lately he's also taken up icon painting. These days they are having a major indoor remodeling of the buildings. Lots of things has to be thrown away. Brother Ole know about my interests too, so he's saving cards, old calendars, an icon, a drawing to be sent to me. "I know you are a collector," he writes. I find his consideration a nice gesture. He makes me feel seen and remembered.
I'd rather have these gifts from his heart than things that anyone can buy.
Only the stamps have to be returned to brother Frans. He's also a collector.


http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

A SEPIA GOODBYE

http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com/
I always was my daddy's girl.
Tied to him by innumerable bonds. Here we had traveled six hours by boat to get to the ophthalmologist. I was three and my dad taught me reading and writing on that trip.
As years and tears go by, I realize that in life's versatile areas of knowledge,learning,skills,ethics, love, no one has had this immense influence on me like my father had.
To cell and backbone marrow level, that is..
After finishing gymnasium, I wanted to work for a year, to find out where and what to study. At the age of eighteen I became a teacher for half a year. Just past nineteen, I decided I had to try something else. Got a job in an old fashioned psychiatric ward. There was a nurse and me, taking care of 30 men.
My parents did not like me to leave home in that mission. My father had to go to his office. When I came down the morning of departure I found this message.
We didn't know of Valentine's back then, but the date is February 14th. The paper has not been manipulated. It has had its place in my Bible all these years.In my 51th year, I in three days managed to break both wrist and ankle. Diagnosis osteoporosis. My dad came to town comforting and helping out. He was 79. Gunnar caught this precious moment..
Thank you, EG Tour Guide, for helping me out with the pictures.Wow,I even managed to sharpen my Ruby homeoffice collage. By and by I will get better.

PRAYER

I hope that all of you will post this somewhere on your blogs. All you are asked to do is keep this circulating. Even if it's to one more person. In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it.

This is for you, B.
Love you,
Annie

Dear God,
I pray for the cure of cancer.
Amen
Cousin Sylvia. This is for you too. You are so brave.

RUBY TUESDAY SPRING

February second is reckoned to be first day of spring in our part of Norway. February fourth winter came with snow, frost and total transformation of the scenery.
Outside my kitchen window the Birches, the Lilac tree and the Spirea hedge looked like a carefully made art of filigree. The only red being the reflex of the lamp and two candles.
Since January first I have fetched Forsythia branches from the garden and driven them to bloom indoors.
The first ones took two weeks, now four days will be enough.
In January I also start buying Primroses, four per week. They'll then fall down and are being replanted outdoors. Often they will bloom a second time in May.
The flowers make my kitchen table look like an immense firework of spring forces.
I drink tap water filled and chilled on empty Martini bottles in the fridge. While listening to The Spring by Edvard Grieg I am living happily in the sudden winter, with a certain knowledge of the joys that is to come.
For the Valentiners:
To
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory -
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the beloved's bed;
And so thy thoughts,
when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
Percy Bysshe Shelley


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