Wednesday, November 14, 2007

AS FALL GOES BY

This fall has galloped along with yours truly dangling helplessly behind. I sure would like to show some of the things that have been occupying my time and mind for the last month.It's hunting season. The deers seem to know that they are not safe in the woods. This one visited Turid's garden early one morning. (Photo Turid)
Serina is doing well at her school. She played around in Photoshop and sent me a sweet greeting. (Photo Serina)
Gunnar and I like to go strolling on the quays of Haugesund.
Wind in his hear. He should be putting on warmer clothes.
Gorgeous Ruby, step niece of mine, is closest to my heart. She visited to watch Grey's Anatomy with me 2 days before she left to study to be a pet vet at a university just outside London.
Serina visited her on November the second. The two have been friends for ten years now, and were perfectly happy on their own in London.
Ruby has a special project nursing two tiger-babies. She's my tiger girl!!!
After a heavy storm came the frost and the snow.
My kitchen window facing north (and Serina's veranda) is white from sea salt.

Second Sunday in November is Father's Day by us.
I brought Gunnar breakfast in bed (and new clogs). Serina woke him up with a telephone call early in the morning.
Snow outside our living room window. We used to say that the snow had to fall three times before it would remain. That was in my childhood. Now we're lucky to see a few snowflakes now and then. This year frost came too early. I have not yet finished planting tulips..
After 20 years of marriage I am getting a room of my own. Gunnar has cleaned out a former guest room and bought me new bookcases.
I inherited two thousand copies after my father.
Those are books he collected almost one by one. He used to have a list in his wallet with books and authors he was looking for. We've had many a happy chase together. One time he used his stick to stop Turid from passing him in the queue to a market. Well, he learned not to mess with my friend. She simply threatened to steal his cane if he would not let her pass on the stairs.
The blue jar is a gift from my German friend, Christa. We've managed to keep out friendship for 37 years, even though she's living in Germany.
I being my old weird lucky self decorating my room for hobby work, music listening and reading. Finally I can see what has been hidden in chests and boxes for decades. I feel very rich indeed.
Serina brought me flowers in her autumn vacation. They have been greatly appreciated.

On our weekly hikes. Ducks swimming on the Eivind's Water.
Here's the troll guarding The Deep Valley, favourite recreation area for the 30.000 inhabitants of Haugesund.
Too cold to take a swim. The ladder is there in case someone falls through the ice in wintertime.
Last living insect in this part of the country. Even the snails are gone for now. That is, they hide two inches under the ground.
Very old friends gathered before Elisabeth, sitting at Turid's right hand side, sets off for two months in Thailand.
In Norway we have all kinds of churches, and then in addition assembly houses for low-church people, called prayer houses. Gunnar's aunt Lilly and I went to a bazaar there. That's what we call it when house wives knit, embroider and gather all kinds of stuff and sell lottery tickets for, in this case, a hospital. Aunt Lilly won a pillow, a jumping rope and a toy moose. Kaare, sitting next to her won at least ten items.
Eight gentlemen by six of them were singing barbershop melodies. Cute.
It's dark outside before six in the afternoon. Turid smiling on board the ferry from Bergen.
Turid, Liv and I joined a healing session in Bergen. Here's the very sympathetic hostess Aslaug.
At the dinner table. Turid sitting left in a new classy Oleanna jacket.
Near by a large shopping center, under the bridge separating Haugesund from Karmoey
five bauta stones (stone monuments) have been placed by the druids, prior to the viking area.
They look a bit spooky, and are called the five foolish virgins.
Every autumn art exhibitions are flooding.
Gunnar and I managed to visit three in one day.
Paintings of all ages, qualities and techniques. I fell for a small needle etching called "We are my dream." I bought it, on Gunnar's approval, but have not yet received it
On our way out into the woods.

Gunnar is enjoying fresh boiled shrimps on the chest my grandfather brought with him from Sweden to Norway 102 years ago.
Now king Winter has definitely arrived.
In a week or two our home will be in advent mood, day by day transformed into Christmas delight.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

THE AFTERMATH

The wake of the ferry carrying Serina back to school over the hills and far away.The Danes call this season the after year.
My mother is however still at her best age.

Hiking with the "girls" near Liv's house.
I love sheep in a naive, yes sheepishly way.
Often I try to persuade Gunnar to buy us a little farmhouse with sheep, some hens, a cat and a goat. He thinks I'm just being my ordinarily mad self. I know it would be a meaningful way of life.
I think I'll have to check up the farmer living in the woods in Liv's neighborhood.
In Sauda the Canadians, owner of Union Carbide, built a factory about 1915. After WW1 they started melting manganese for steel production.
The factory is still melting raw material for war industry. The hotel was built in the 30s to provide suitable accommodation for the directors.
Oldest church yard in Sauda under fall blue sky.
Hoofland is the name. Here were the ancient gods of the vikings worshiped. When Noway was Christened churches were built on the old hoof sites, to prevent people from sacrificing before the old gods.
In the background Hovlandsnuten, a pike of 934 metres. Me and my father's pike. We went from home over two ridges to climb this pike an autumn Sunday in 1965.
Gunnars just finished his month long reading of Finnegan's wake. Now he's on a new expedition; interpreting the book upside down.

Important message sent daily.
My dentist is located in one of the few remaining town wood houses built in a Dutch style from late 19th century. The nice location makes me feel less scared going for the root canal works.
Hall to my qi-gong studio. Nice, isn't it?
I have to admit; Gunnar is the better wok'er. Something with accuracy and taking his time to get the ingredients well cooked.
Hiking in the rain.
I love being outdoors in all kinds of weather. Some sour days the threshold mile can be too high though.
The Horn mountain in the background is a hike aim...for next spring. For now it's just too slippery.
Turid and Liv in the woods.
The Hortensias are thriving in sour soil and lots of rain.
Swan song for the Petunias, Pelargonias and the Marguerites.
God's summer curtains are also dropping their leaves. The song birds will still hide there right in front of our living room windows- all winter.
The Lavender has been harvested for indoor use.
Even the Begonias, originated from my grandmother, have had two frost nights and are now resting in our washing cellar.
Good night from my kitchen dresser, may we all rest peacefully.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

RESTLESS FAREWELL

Kris Kristofferson is also one of my guys.
Tonight I'm moody cause Serina is leaving tomorrow, and this song came to my mind.
Guess he's describing another kind of love than I'm feeling.
But love is love and parting is cruel in all kinds of relationships.
"One never gets used to the pain of farewell," my Mom says and this fall it's 49 years since I left home to study.
If sorrow is the price of love, I'll manage to pay.

COME SUNDOWN

I heard the front door closing softly,
as I wakened from my sleep;
With the last touch of her lips,
Lord,like a whisper on my cheek;
And I cursed the sun for risin',
'cause the worst, Lord,
was yet to come;
'Cause this morning, she's just leavin',
but, come sundown,
she'll be gone.

See the lipstick on the pillow that
I placed beneath her head;
And the soft sheets still feel warm,
Lord,where she lay upon my bed;
And it hurts to know it's over,
for the hurt, Lord, has just begun.

'Cause this morning,
she's just leavin'
but, come sundown,
she'll be gone.

Parting

My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me,
So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.

Emily Dickinson





Saturday, October 06, 2007

IN FOR A NICE CUPPA' TEA?

Autumn leaves are falling. The sky is grey. The air is chilled.
Hey, Terry & Pals, why don't you come in for a nice cup of tea? Have a taste of Turid's organic grown Prince apples.
I'll put on the kettle as soon as you tell which brand you prefer.
Honestly, the stove became a bit messy with all those old tea boxes. Would you rather join us eating at the Chinese restaurant?
My Mom claims she is much prettier, "or else the mirror's lying." Gunnar and Serina are trying their charm on the waitress.
Iiijk. Did not like the taste of the still water???
Behave yourselves!
Just joking. Can't you see we're two harmless kittens?

Looking forward to be seeing you real soon!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA


Serina taught me how to write on a picture.
Gunnar shot the pic.
David wrote the words.
God made it.
I live here.