Garden fall, the last rose of Norway

Last Tuesday Gunnar, Amidala and I had probably the last great garden day of this year. We worked until the dark fell on and we couldn't see what we were doing. The next day more rain and chill made us stay indoors, but the joy of yesterday still lingered on. So did the hideous pains in my right wrist.

I love roses, but the love is mostly unilateral. Even so, I keep planting new ones. Red ones only, and late this fall some slow growers finally rewarded my efforts.
Hidden among a big hydrangea shrub a tiny red little fellow
assured me that my love was not in vain.

Amidala thrives when we are working outdoors. She especially finds joy in the tranquillity in the afternoons, and chase the odd mouse now and then. She also invites her friends to come over for a "happy meal", but when her folks are outdoors, she's busy guarding her territory.
The leaves of the blood beech in late afternoon sun. They are a sight for soar eyes. They just grow without any cravings at all, and know how to die in beauty.

Amidala most is taking part in the procedure of planting spring bulbs. That is; I am planting, and she's digging them up to control if the work is properly done.
She's such a lovely, Godgiven creature. I dedicate this Dylan song to her.

Do you love me,
Or are you just extending good will?
Do you need me me half as bad as you say,
Or are you just feeling guilt?
I've been burned before and I know the score
So you won't hear me complain.
will I be able to count on you,
Or is your love in vain?

Are you so fast that you cannot see
That I must have solitude?
When I am in the darkness,
Why do you intrude?
Do you know my world,
Do you know my kind,
Or must I explain?
Will you let me be myself,
Or is your love in vain?

Well, I've been to the mountain,
And I've been in the wind,
I've been in and out of happiness,
I have dined with kings,
I've been offered wings
And I've never been too impressed.

Alright,
I'll take a chance,
I will fall in love with you.
If I am a fool,
You can have the night,
You can have the morning too.

Can you cook and sew,
Make flowers grow?
Do you understand my pain?
Are you willing to risk it all,
or is your love in vain?

Can you cook and sew,
Make flowers grow?
Do you understand my pain?
Are you willing to risk it all,
or is your love in vain?

Visit teach Mary for more Ruby Tuesdays here

Our life with Amidala

When our last cat, Marcello, disappeared in 2006 and we all were totally heartbroken, I said, "never again". I cannot bear more lost love now.

Four years later I said," if God wants us to have a cat, He'll have to send us one."
The next morning Amidala stood on our doorstep, hungry and with icicles hanging from her fur. She was so polite and thankful for some food and being let into the outer entrée. She kept purring and stroking up to us, and had us captured from that very first meeting. Gunnar opened the garage and found some rags she could hide under. The next day and the following day she'd wait outside our for food. We tried to find her previous owners through the local radio, paper and even hung posters of the cat on the local grocery stores.
Nobody wanted her. The cat stayed and we let her into our home and our hearts. Serina named her Amidala after the Queen from Star Wars.
She was fully house trained from the first day, and she adopted us as her chosen family moment.

I guess when God sends a cat, he does it properly.

Here's Amidala sitting on Serina's balcony. She keeps staring at us who are dining in the kitchen, no mewing, just this hypnotic look. "Let me in!"
After giving birth to five wonderful kittens in February and getting spaded in April, she has regained both weight and her thick fur.

If you wonder why my northern window is looking spotted, you now partly see the reason why. Our feline is using it as a ladder. The other reason being the salty rain pouring down horizontally at times.

The first time she did this trick my jaw fell down to my breast. This cannot be true. It was. The thickest queen in the neighbourhood is entering her home through a narrow window opening under the kitchen roof.

Will she manage to drag her fat behind with her? I'm using the camera as fast as I can, but Amidala is faster.

Finally inside with out touching one of the twenty boxes on the top of cupboards. "It's all mine", she thinks, from her majestic position.

Storming under the kitchen counter, for some comfort and praise for father Gunnar. It evidently was a greater challenge than we thought. "Home, free."

Triumphantly leaving her comfort cave heading versus me. She got some story to tell, and I'd better listen. "I want food and I want it now."
Amidala is neither a pet or a mean of escapism. She's a fully member of our family. Adding life to our lives.

THE SPRING BEGINS IN THE FALL

The fall came thrown upon us. Frost and full storm for a few days sure did alter the garden. I stood behind the living room window, watching helplessly green foliage turn into silver. The two red plastic chairs have survived 15 winters outdoors. I let them stay for one more. They're not exclusive or even good-looking, but they're there when Gunnar and I need a rest while gardening.
I've had acute wrist inflammation twice this fall. Still, or because I have planted three hydrangeas, 149 spring bulbs and spread 7 sacks of fertilized soil.

The spring begins in the fall.

Happy Ruby Tuesday to all of you.

Visit teach Mary for more Ruby Tuesdays here

HOPE OF FALL

Fall blues is creeping into dark corners of my heart. When the birches outside my eastern library window are naked and brown and yellow leaves are dancing slow fox all over the garden in the autumn winds, then I know it's time to search comfort among my books and in the music.
I start reading from "A year in my Garden" by Karel Capek, and let the Moody Blues fill my ears with The Dream.
I quote my mother, who keeps assuring me, "We will get by this time too,---I think."

The Dream ( Graeme Edge )

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.

Night of the Moon.

Gunnar has this wonderful gift of comforting. Not so much by words as by acts. Yesterday he was busy repairing the car, due for control. Nevertheless he found time to take me for a spin while testing the brakes. We drove to a top called Stone Mountain and had chocolate buns and coffee while watching the town west of us and the moon over the pine forest in the east.
I did feel a bit homesick. The thought of my mother is always there. Then I remembered this beautiful poem my dad used to quote in German. (I found this translation for you).

Mondnacht (Night Of The Moon)
by Joseph Freiherr Von Eichendorff

Es war, als hätt' der Himmel
Die Erde still geküsst
Dass sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müsst

Die Luft ging durch die Felder
Die Ähren wogten sacht
Es rauschten leis die Wälder
So sternklar war die Nacht

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus
Flog durch die stillen Lande
Als flöge sie nach Haus



It was as though the sky
had silently kissed the earth,
so that it now had to dream of sky
in shimmers of flowers.

The air went through the fields,
the corn-ears leaned heavy down
the woods swished softly—
so clear with stars was the night

And my soul stretched
its wings out wide,
flew through the silent lands
as though it were flying home.

WHERE YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO

Christmas Dinner prepared by my mother all by herself. Now she's exhausted, but happy.

How often has she sung to all of us, mostly the songs of Zion.

We now see through a glass darkly.

John 21:18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Love

We are mourning these days. My mother insisted on returning to Sauda, even though she knew it meant she had to spend some time at a home for elderly. She so badly wanted treatment for her feet, her left side broken hip,and her right side sprained ankle, and it must be trained by her special physiotherapist, Ton. That was her firm conviction.
My mother's favourite landscape, Jaeren.

Tonight she is where she always said she doesn't want to end, and she does not feel happy at all, her voice sounded tiny and scared.
We therefore are sad, the whole family.
"When one limb is aching, the whole body is hurting."
Sharing secrets.

I woke up six this morning. Listening for the bumping sound of the roller. It is not longer here, nor the sound of the early nurses, chatting friendly a with my Mom as they carefully wake her up.
I need not get up to make her special breakfast or light candles in the kitchen.
I cannot sleep any more, so I steal out of bed anyway.
My Mom's waffles still are the best.

I have been reading a lot about angels lately. Both in the old and new testament there are lots of stories about how the servants of God are sent out to protect and bless the children of the Almighty.

I can feel your hand in mine

Psalm 91:11" For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
Dear God, please send at least one to watch over my mother, night and day."

We've "seen to" many family graves throughout the years.
It has been a part of growing up.

WALKING ON PROMISES

The more troubled life is, the more important and valuable are the Lord's promises.

JOB 35:14
14 Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him--the cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him. (Hebrew on English translation)


This picture was shot two weeks ago outside Oslo by my dear cousin Arne. He has generously let me use his morning glow art in my blog.

P.S. I've have written seven blog posts on Sisterhood Of The Traveling Scarf from September 9th till September 14th . Here's the address if you care to look them up.
http://travelingscarf.blogspot.com/2011/09/bible-and-circumstances.html
http://travelingscarf.blogspot.com/2011/09/circle-is-ended.html