SEPIA LOVE

Sepia Scenes Hosted by Teach Mary
My father shot this picture in 1947. He had a prewar accordion camera of unknown origin.
Paper film which he had to trade for two Records plus the money. Luxury goods were rationalized till mid fifties.
Neither had he a stand for his camera, but a self-timing release was frequently used.
Like in this picture. My mother tells how she had to sit for "hours" while my father adjusted the focus.
Then he'd run like a lighting to pose in time.

I made the sepia.

We'll go no more a-roving

SO, we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.
For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have rest.
Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon. Lord Byron

Arne Ljung born January 27th 1921

Two years ago we celebrated my Dad's birthday, January 27th.
Gunnar shot this beautiful portrait that very day.
Showing my father's most inner personality.
Awake, conscious, intelligent, loving, but shy.
June first same year my father went home to stay with his parents and siblings.
I miss him so.

This was one of the poems he often would read loud to me.
Most of his favorite poems he knew by heart.

When I am Dead, My Dearest

by Christina Georgina Rossetti
(1830-1894)

---

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget .

RUBY GLASS

I have had the great luck of having daughter Serina home before and after she went to London.
Being eager to learn I snapped her to help me making more tile pictures of my macros.
Gunnar slowly drag me into using manual handling of his camera
They both take me one step at a time.
These pix are shot with me only using one "steering wheel" on the camera.
Next time I'll go for three

Selected Poems by Emily Dickinson
For Serina
I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.



Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SEPIA FLEE MARKET

I just had to experiment alone to see if I mastered the sepia thing.
All items exhibited on the picture origins from flee markets in a period of 30 years.
Now filling every empty space in our hallway.

Selected Poems by Emily Dickinson

I died for beauty but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth,--the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

Emily Dickinson is a favorite.
She somehow connects well with sepia.

RUBY PURSE PASSION

There are hobbies, collectibles and passions.
I'm familiar with all.
I paint, knit, write and do a tiny bit of photography; hobby.
I collect glass, china, old photos/ frames, old jewelry, books.
Purses/ bags are my passion. I just cannot pass a store without taking a peak, and very often making a buy.
Be it the posh LV shop in Oslo, the San Lorenzo market in Florence, Portobello Road, London the Trastavere Sunday in Rome, the local Salvation Army store or e-bay. Been there, done it.
Some bags are collected for recycling to SA store, some are due for remote storage in the attic.
First I've assembled some of the rubies for a macro shooting.
To get the macro look; doubleclick!.
Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SEPIA ON RHODES

With a little help from my friends.
Robin told me about where to look (in photoshop).
Gunnar found the actual choice to make to find sepia.
I made the changes.
Happy days with Serina on Rhodes.
Guess who sat in the kitchen when we came home from a trip to the city art gallery?
Serina!

WINTER FLIGHTS

The Norwegian summer is mostly like a dream. Long, light nights, swimming temperature in the sea.
These howling winter storms of January are freaking me off. By statistics January is the longest, darkest, coldest month of the year, with bills and ebbtide on my bank account.
It's then baby daughter and I make serious plans about going abroad.
At least for a week.
Therefore I'm polishing these pics from Portugal.

RUBY MACRO

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.
Still in nostalgic mode, I chose to display Serina's second pair of shoes. How we struggled to keep her from falling and bumping her forehead. Constant on guard, no imagination of greater fears.
Blessed, old ignorants.
Being bedded on the second week, I had to learn about Macro to participate in today's game. Macro is when the little flower on the inner ring of hubby's Canon G9 is in focus. I cannot thank you enough teach Mary, for giving these challenges. I guess i would have spent all day in bed, were it not for the Ruby Tuesday!
The wax angles are bought in a fleemarket all those years ago. I still cannot believe my luck. Guess they were not IN at the time.
I don't exactly know how they were made, but they have kept color and shape perfectly. Only minor scratches in the soft wax.

LESSONS IN BEING ILL

I kind of thought I was used to being ill, spending 12 hours a day in bed due to my ME.
How dumb and totally out of empathy can a woman of the mature years still be?
This flue, sneaking up on Sunday, at the Chinese restaurant, dribbling, itching and cramping in my lounges all night to Monday, the day of Serina's departure for school, almost paralyzing me Tuesday, when I had invited the Hiker Girls for lunch and with the marvelous help of Gunnar managed to pull it through, left me unconscious for the rest of the week Sleeping one hour consequently at most, neither knowing whether it was night or day. Breathing hurt most. Then all my limbs, including my pinkytoes started aching.The fever went rocket high. My feet and hands kept freezing until i put a wet blanket over my boiling brain. My stomach went bananas mostly because of the wild mix of Lem Sip and Kodein mixture I'd absorbed. And I could hardly feet myself out to the toilet. I've lived on water, coca cola, banana and grapes for a week, and haven't even lost a pound. This is not fair.
To be honest; I haven't done much exercises either, except from throwing me from side to side in bed.
Were it not for Gunnar, standing faithfully by my side; providing all I asked for and even more, and voluntarily evacuating the bedroom, I should probably not have been here today.
In times like these one gets reduced to one's own big bellybutton. No more, no less.
As my capacity for thinking revives, I am aching for daughter Serina. For nine consequential weeks she was on antibiotics this autumn, due to a severe streptococcus throat infection, the same which gave her arthritic fever summer of-07.
I never for a second heard her complain, nor talking about giving up. Wow, am I proud of my trooper girl.
I wish there were more I could do for her though.
She deserves only the best.
I also caught myself complaining about not being able to get around taking sign pics for Ruby Tuesday. My friend Raven, who cannot get out at all, did she criticize me for being self absorbed or ungraceful? No, she promptly offered to send reiki healing, that is help me instead. Can you imagine that such wonderful people still exisit?
Terry and Amrita both hastened to pray for me. My Mom has called every day, giving me strength to prentend I am better than was actaully was the situation.
On my way out of this weird land of shadows I once more can confrim:
God is good, and his blessings are eternal.

RUBY SIGNS

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

Happy New Year, Ruby Friends!
Today I live an indoor life, due to some fever and severe coughing.
Outdoor is King Winter has arrived. Minus ten Celsius degrees and no snow. Meaning that my garden plants are having a hard time.
Through my kitchen window I found the motive for today.
Ruby Sign.
I detest it. BYGGER'N is East Norwegian for The builder
Meaning they are selling plank, nails and anything in between.
It's a sad view. The birches, 5 in a row on our land, are protecting us from the soar sight half the year, providing green curtains.
Just now I choose to let my eyes wander elsewhere.
There are lots and lots of beauty in this world.
The birches themselves are not bad either.

FOR ALL OUR BLOG FRIENDS

Psalm 139

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

RUBY LAUGHS

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.
December is not over yet. To me now is time for fun and book reading. This pic shows Dec. 22nd, Gunnar's birthday. Daughter Serina gave him an album of own production, -and Pearl.
Sister-in-law had read Jim's comment on Gunnar..old men's dream about women lining up in queue.
She went out and bought him this troll card. Cute.

Not much ruby on mother's little helper. The Santa in right hand corner is made by Serina 6, now decorating vinegar bottle.
American women all are so very clever in making cookies and cakes. These rice & chocolate cookies were my only homemade contribution this Christmas.
I am very clever buying, though.

Funny thing how life changes values. As long as I remember this ball with an angle in was the prettiest sight. It still is hanging on the tree in my birth home.
Made of plastic in 1950 it has gotten blur and worn.
Christmas Eve service in Sauda Church. Angleface striks again.
Happy prolonged Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Ruby Tuesday fans all over the globe.

DECEMBER TWENTYFOURTH

Luke 2

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Deilig er Jorden
The longstanding favorite hymn of both Concordia College and the Lutheran church in general is Beautiful Savior. It is set to the tune of a Norwegian Christmas hymn called Deilig er Jorden, or Beautiful is the Earth (or maybe in this family we would say Beautiful is Jordan!). I translated that several years ago (1971) and the translation was printed in the Sons of Norway newspaper.

Deilig er Jorden

Creation’s beauty dower, Image of majestic power

Inspires a hymn, the soul’s deligh;

Through earth’s fair heritage, Our soul’s sweet pilgrimage

Leads to the land of heavenly light.

Seasons of life shall come, Surely as time rolls on

Man in his father’s way hath trod.

Unending heavenly choirs Echol the heart’s desires,

Praising our glorious walk with God.

Heavenly cherubim Sing to the sons of men,

Echoing tidings of joy on high;

God’s peace to all mankind, Gods’ peace be yours and mine;

Salvation unto us draws nigh.

DECEMBER TWENTY THIRD

Foreseeable; my birthhome will still be there.
They snow may not yet have come to lay for the winter..
My Mom will still wear an apron, when making a fire or preparing food.
Serina will still end up with the Christmas pig,regardless who finds the almond.

Happy Little Christmas Eve
Tomorrow is The Day in Norway.
We celebrate the Evening by going to church, eating a large dinner and then opening presents.
Christmas Eve morning may be hectic for adults and oh, so slow for the children.
The following story was to be heard on the radio every morning the 24th of December
Enjoy.

The history of Silent night/ Glade Jul
Sadly the young assistant pastor strolled through the snow-covered village of Oberndorf, Austria. In a few days it would be Christmas Eve, but Josef Mohr knew there would be no music in his church to herald the great event.

Pausing, Reverend Mohr gazed at the scattered lights in the village. The sight of this peaceful town, wrapped in a blanket of snow, stirred his imagination. Surely it was on such a clear and quiet night as this that the hosts of angels sang out the glorious news that the Saviour had been born.

The young cleric sighed heavily as he thought, "If only we here in Oberndorf could celebrate the birth of Jesus with glorious music like the shepherds heard on that wonderful night!"

Standing there, his mind filled with visions of the first Christmas, Josef Mohr suddenly became aware that the disappointment was fading from his heart; in its place surged a great joy. Vividly, he saw the manger, carved from a mountain side; he saw Mary and Joseph and the Child; he saw the strangers who had been attracted by the light of the great star. The image seemed to shape itself into the words of a poem he had written in 1816 when he was assigned to a pilgrim church in the small Alpine village of Mariapfarr, Austria.

The next day he showed the poem to Franz Gruber, the church organist, who said, "These words should be sung at Christmas, but what could we use for accompaniment? Your guitar?"

The curate replied, "Like Mary and Joseph in the stable, we must be content with what God provides for us."

Franz Gruber studied the poem, then softly strummed the melody that came to him. Next he put the words to the melody and sang them. When he finished, his soul was ablaze with its beauty. Mr. Gruber's beautiful music added the final touch to the poem Mohr had written two years earlier.

On Christmas Eve, 1818, in a small Austrian village, the Oberndorf choir, accompanied only by a guitar, sang for the first time the immortal hymn that begins, "Silent Night.... Holy Night."

This version is sung in Norwegian by the only Norwegian College Choir in the USA, the St. Olav's College.

DECEMBER TWENTY SECOND

Globetrotter, happy birthday, happy celebration.Icelandic family gathering. Gunnar supporting aunt Lilly.

New crocs one year ago!
Ogna beach, heaven on earth.
On the edge.
Aussie hat in Portugal.
The quite afternoon walks we've had, how I appreciate them.
Holding on to the cross which has been standing here for thousand years, showing the right direction.
Moon over Florence.
Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went...on a carousel?
A man of multiple interests and skills. Here; full concentration performing Tai Chi at the beach.
Just how many kilometers of gallery floors we have wandered, I don't know. Here outside National Gallery London.


First picture I made of Gunnar early spring -87.
He has planted his beloved MG in a bed of White Anemones.


I'd say this very much describes the birthday child.
Hubby Gunnar.

Bjørg Thorhallsdottir's picture could have been made for us, don't you think??

Night in Florence
King of happy 50 anniversary. Eight years ago.


At the key in the town he loves so well.
Here was his playground as a child.
Cars are one of his main interests. Gunnar therefor bonded easily with my car-focused family.
Father and daughter in many ways are twin souls with their unique form of humor.
Just how many times Gunnar has been chauffeuring me to Sauda I cannot count. The last year my Dad lived I was home every other week. Gunnar would drive me in to my parents, then return to stay with our daughter, and then fetch me again.
He drove twice the 240 narrow kilometers for each time I went one. I am eternally graceful.

There's never been a doubt who Serina is looking like. They a bonding in a wonderful way.

In the hallway playing monkey business.
Serina's portrait hanging over his head in the kitchen.
If enlarged, you can see Gunnar at the alter of what once were the Monastery Church on Halsney.
History is another of Gunnar's main interest as well as university education. We've spent many a happy day on excursions locally and abroad.
Walking in the special alley near the Monastery.
At sea with wind in his hair.


The teacher never and the artist both are strongly alive. Gunnar has inspired both Serina and me, to photography, painting, playing instruments, writing, thinking, seeing, reading.
He even persuaded my Mom taking up piano playing after 70!Walking, and seeing new places or revisit old. Together
we have had most wonderful summer nights in our neighborhood.

A good meal makes the world a better place.

Jaeren has become a favorite district rallying and roaming.
The churchyard by the sea.
Always awake, always interested, always reflecting.
Oh yes, I have snapped up some ideas from you.
Don't be too serious, Elisabeth says.
Our mutual interests in music generally and Bob Dylan in particular have given us spectacular experiences.
Sola Beach Hotel, where we can really relax.
This summer and autumn have been busy. New outdoor fireplace, new terrace walls, renovating the outlet flat.
Not much complaint about his chronic pains.

June Serina finished school. Father and daughter photoshooting in a mountain village.

Sandycove, Ireland, the Joyce tower.Back on memory lane, accompanied by Gunnar.
Over the hills and far away, crossing The long Mountain Ridge.
A short walk in the summer night. We were out till 01 in the morning. Cameras in use all the time, the birds also are holding the most wonderful concerts at this place between the woods and the trout water. Magic.
I'd probably never dared to touch a computer, where it not for Gunnar challenging, inspiring and helping out under the worst thinkable datamares. How many hours spent helping others. How little space for himself.
Serina needed a car, Gunnar decided. He repaired my Dad's old Fiat and drove for 14 hours to hand it over to her. No wonder she is happy.

More gallery. Gunnar don't spend 20 minutes in a gallery. He's scanning every detail, and makes the visit an experience for life.
Christmas dinner in Sauda.
My Mom stayed with us for four months after she'd had a brain stroke this winter. Were it not for Gunnar , inspiring, training, driving, taking her out for shopping, cafes, sightseeing, I doubt she would have recovered that soon. "I think I'll leave the roller behind, your arm is more supportive,"Mom said.
The dessert is eaten. Who's got the almond??
My dad, my Mom, my uncle, Gunnar's aunties; all trust and hold on to the friendship with Gunnar.
"He's so patient and good at listening," Aunt Lilly says.
Celebrating Iceland's Constitution Day, June 17th.B
Revisiting 100 Club in London.
Heatwave in Rome. I collapsed, Gunnar turned every stone.
The hurricane Inga struck heavily some years ago. Serina called from Bergen. She and a girlfriend had been on a concert, and this oil barrel was given Serina as a souvenir. Gunnar drove for six hours nonstop to rescue this precious gift. A merciful God led them safely home through the raging storm and sinister night.
So tough..home after a shopping tour in the bazaars of Istanbul.

Gunnar is a thoroughbred. He always accomplish everything he sets out to do. Fascinated by the genius of James Joyce he spent months on reading Finnegan's Wake,- and enjoyed every moment.English also was a main subject in his university degree.
Father and daughter inspiring each other. Apple rules.
Serina had never seen this picture of her Dad before today. He was a top gun.

...Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or Bends with the remover to remove. O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark, That looks on tempests and is never shaken. It is the star to every wandering bark, whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
William Shakespeare.