THE NISSE FAMILY'S LULLABYE

The Norwegian Youlenisse usually lives in the barn. One can easily imagine a whole nisse family living thee, like in this Advent series from the NRK. I prefer watching Youle on the Moon peak to any late night crime series. The nisse family are singing a goodnight song.
It's not that many years ago people in Norway actually believed in both nisses and trolls.Superstition lived side by side with Christianity. Few farmers dared to celebrate Christmas without leaving a huge pot of porridge for nisse daddy. At least till about 150 years ago that was the tradition on farms, maybe even longer. Now our Youle nisse has been mixed with St. Claus till something nobody can relate seriously too. maybe that is a loss, especially to those, to whom Christmas only is gifts and food.

FRIENDS LEAVING FOOTPRINTS

We have lit the first candle in our Christmas wreath.Time for meditation and peace of mind.

RUBY FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

November 29th and we are celebrating the first Sunday in Advent.
In summer we have blond nights,in Advent time both dusk and dawn are dark blue.
The seven lights are shining from window candlesticks all over Norway, in private as well as public buildings. It's pure magic how young and old, rich and poor, businessmen, military, seamen in ferries and passenger boats, police, hospitals, all, choose to place these lights of waiting and expectation wherever they stay.
Some wants to make us believe that faith and hope are dead, that Christmas is just good for business. The advent sticks tell otherwise.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

MOUNTAIN FARM

We get to see a lot on our hikes. This mountain farm is still operated, only from a second farm down by sea level.Tractors have made life a lot easier for the farmers. Still they have to fetch water outside and do a little bit of laundry under the open sky as well. The antique sink tub is not for exhibition, but a piece of utility. On the other hand the farmer has installed double glassing!
Homage to Rose. Reflected in the window; an old pit shed where there once was a mica quarry. (We "harvested" quite a lot of mica for our collections)

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY FUTURE

If I had to live my life over - by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it , live it and never give it back. The wonderful ting is; we all have the opportunity to live the rest of our lives this way. We need not look back on our mistakes, but ahead for our possibilities. Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SUSAN BOYLE FIGHTS BACK

MY MOTHER

My friend Mia shot this pic 2 weeks ago.
I tell you, laying in my mother's arms made me feel like 6 instead of 60.

RUBY ISLAND

Our town, Haugesund, is situated at the utmost south-west in Norway, with only a few small islands outside to protect us from the rage of the North Sea.One of these islands, Roevaer, actually is a part of the main city, same mayor, same council e.t.c.

About 100 people have their home here. There's a school, a museum, a couple of painting artists, viking grave sites, a small store and a spa hotel.To keep the small society alive, they are advertising for new inhabitants, preferably with children. Some Dutch people have settle down and are thriving well. Main occupation is fishing combined with minor farming. The men go fishing, their wive tend the handful of sheep and cows. The women are a strong breed. Many a husband have not returned from stormy days at sea. Once 11 men drowned on their way to the mainland (Haugesund)to bury a friend there.
After the last disaster in the 1990ies, a light way was set up to mark all the dangerous under water rocks. The boat trip takes about a quarter of an hour from Haugesund's inner quay. The hiker ladies have been there repeatedly. We enjoy island jumping. These pictures are from early October this year. As you can see there's nothing but the endless sea that meats the eyes. Further west lies Shetland and the North Hebrides. During ww2 brave young men set out in small vessels to join the British Army from places like this.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FOR TERJE

Brother in law Terje was 70 November 2.
He was celebrated Monday and today by a large group of family and friends.
All his life he has worked hard supporting his family. Fishing, farming, nutrition engineering, a director of several smaller dairies, greengrocer and inventor. Love of music and arts as his major passions combined with continuous house reconstruction. 5 years ago he suffered two major brain strokes. With a will and strength beyond understanding he has worked with physiotherapists and speech teachers since then.
My respect and admiration have increased day by day these last 5 years.
This poem, written by a well known Norwegian author, who also knew how just staying alive craved hard labor, as well as a flaming dream, shall be my birthday greeting to Terje.

It is this dream we are carrying
that something wonderful will happen,
that it must happen,
that time must open
that hearts must open
that doors must open
that mountains must open
that fountains must spring-
that the dream must open,
that we one early morning dawn shall sail in
to a harbor unknown..

Det er den draumen

Det er den draumen me ber på
at noko vedunderleg skal skje,
at det må skje -
at tidi skal opna seg
at hjarta skal opna seg
at dører skal opna seg
at berget skal opna seg
at kjeldor skal springa -
at draumen skal opna seg,
at me ei morgonstund skal glida inn
på ein våg me ikkje har visst um

Olav H. Hauge

SEPIA RIDDLES

Cousin Arne and daughter Serina in front on a hidden door outside the ancient St. Olav's Church on our neighbor island.
The church was first built by King Olav II who Christened Norway in year 1033.Later it was rebuilt by king Haakon Haakonson in year 1250.
Two friends of mine, one the minister's daughter, the other a theological student, found a secret way behind the alter of the church leading to what one believe was the King's farm close by the church.
Archeologists dug out 36 meters of the secret way in the mid eighties, and the site around the church still is an eldorado for history scientists. Old grave sites containing jewelry, swords and much more.
The place still hides more questions than answers. We always bring visitors there. It's also a wonderful church for ordinary divine services.
Read more from this Wikipedia link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Avaldsnes.
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RUBY WEEK

Time runs faster and faster. This week has flown like a whirlwind.Tuesday we had an appointment at our doc's.Then we went to buy two new outdoor jackets for Gunnar. A major event which happens only every fourth year. Gunnar were to visit Serina at her campus later this week, so this was force major. We are now in waiting line for swine flue vaccination. Wednesday the weather was semi nice. We dressed for cold winds, brought coffee and chocolate buns went for a walk in the forests north of the town.Here I met with this charming, bubbling brook.
Thursday I had an appointment with my physiotherapist, while Gunnar went by two planes, one jet and one small propel, to visit our daughter. I was invited home to my next oldest friend in this town, Elisabeth. We go back 29 years and have shared more than a lifetime of joy, trials and tears, death,love, in battles, sickness and health for us, our families and our beloved psychic retarded.
She is a superb chef. We wined and dined till three in the morning.
Early Friday morning Mia came to take me for a day tripper to my mother, or Monten as Mia and her four generation family calls my mum. Mia made us a huge salmon dinner with belongings. My mother had salmon for three days and enjoyed every mouthful.
Saturday I prepared Gunnar's coming home. Fresh herbs, cod, shrimps, potato and vegetables casserole with homemade bread to go.
You are right, I have avoided the bath weight like plague this week.
Sunday was time for the annual art exhibition at the island and a huge feast for Gunnar's aunt Lilly.
Aunt Lilly got a box of Norway's finest confectionery, King Haakon. Her great, great grandchild Amalie helped opening and ending the box. Oldest joke told by my father. Caller;"Do you have King Haakon in box?" Store attendant, "Yes, we do." My dad, "Then let him out!".
Monday Gunnar's brother-in-law was 70 years old.
We crashed in a nice party for eight. Saturday the huge family will celebrate.
I guess I will need some rest.
Don't fill your life with years.
Fill your years with life!
Good night.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

SEPIA SERINA

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These days portraits have become my favorite photoshop playground.
I think the poem of Butler Yeats kind of catches the spirit of the picture.

He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
by William Butler Yeats

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

RUBY ROUND VIEW

The inner city of Haugesund is a total disaster. Barrack barons flattening the old buildings for square steel and concrete buildings everywhere.A desert only homeless can thrive in.
The council in some ways compensates by making the rural outskirts of the city inviting and available to young and old. Here; the hut "Round view" with benches and waffle serving on Sundays.
They've made this place a project where young students have practice. There even are a house for rabbits and hens. Wild sheep grass outdoor summer and winter, this way cultivating the landscape. My good hiker friend Liv is riding the newly painted wood horse.
Trees are chopped to logs for both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.The wheel barrows are neatly lined up for the day.
The lavvo is frequently used by kindergarten children. They all have at least one hiker day a week in sun or rain. For a Ruby Tuesdayer its convenient that barns, huts and sheds are commonly painted red all over Norway.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

MORE SERINA & GUNNAR SEPIA

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest;
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

    William Shaksepeare   

    (1564 - 1616)
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SEPIA SUMMER

I am on PC sick leave.
I sneak doing half an hour of lap-topping a day.
That is, my right, inflamed arm is setting the agenda and is punishing my with nameless pains, when I disobey.
What fun I've had,playing with good memories in photoshop.
Mary, the teach sure know how to challenge entertain and develope with her meme games.
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TRANSPARENT FAREWELL

Life and times fly when we are gathered, if only for a few days.
Then it's parting time again,
and she's got "that far away look in her eyes."
Together we made Turid bread and Serina's own apple cake. Cake, not pie, with melting ice.
We enjoyed an art exhibition, rock and classic music alike, and picked the last apples from our only tree.
Serina contributing all the time with double espressos, violet cow t-shirts and histories from campus and her performance as technical genius.
We shared computer problems. Serina was getting help from her dad, I was mentored by Serina and Gunnar set up his own teaching firm, and is now a com.no. Serina, like her father is such an inspiring and patient teacher; she modeled for my 101 pictures. We watched lots of feel-good DVDs, Rovered on the island in heavy autumn rain and following moonlight, while i-podding the Toreador, read and discussed Vogue, shared laughs over the local culture journalist, went treasure hunting at a flea market, dined out, in the car and at home with equal great pleasure, sorted out four huge sacks of clothing to send away for charity, teased and cuddled, did some minor shopping and puff; the bells were toiling.
How fragile, yet valuable, were those hours of togetherness.
The comings and goings are part of growing up and getting an education and a life of her own.
The only thing worse would be, our daughter not being able to do just that.
Yet;
"Parting is all we know of Heaven and all we need of hell."

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson.
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RUBY THEFT

Gunnar shot the summer hut picture some weeks ago, while we were visiting relatives from Jaeren and Montana.
I fiddled it to ruby,by tossing and turning in photoshop.
I also once more give you my favorite autumn poem.

When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead,
And the browns, reds and golds of autumn lye in the gutter dead.
Remember then the summer birds with wings of fire flame,
Come to witness springs new hope, born of leaves decaying.
And 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 for promise almost seen.
Live hand in hand and together we'll stand, On
the threshold of a dream.

Graham Edge The Dream lyrics

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

HANSA MUSEUM IN RUBY

The Hansa museum tells about how the mighty first European trade organization, The Hanseatic League, dominated all trade in Bergen and all Western Norway, and for that sake the rest of Europe, from about the 13th to the 17th century.
The young apprentices, Die Gesellen, came up from Germany and were not to fraternize with the tempting young Norwegians. They were simply locked in their beds at night.
Red evidently was both popular and cheap. Most of the interior was painted in a more or less ruby color. This stationary probably originates from 16th century.
One wonders, what's behind the locked and barred red door? The modern hearts evidently are there for air supply. The design obviously are some four hundred years old.
The young Hanseatic' dreams were more realistic concerning the natural female body, than those of today. No lipo suctions nor breast implants. Even so, the maiden of their dreams were so far away.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

FALL IN PINK AND RUBY

The fall is creeping in on us, whether we like it or not. I embrace the sunshine days of September with a passionate "carpe diem" attitude.Never know when the rain and chill will win the ongoing battle I found these flowers in the woods by a salmon river.
The last clover and probably also the the last butterfly of this summer enjoying the moment home in birth town Sauda.
The boat houses seem to be decorated for Ruby Tuesday.
Outside my mother's house a chestnut mare and her daughter are grassing. Gunnar, the horse-whisperer in action. The mare being the alibi for this Tuesday has turned her back to us.
The hut of the angle fishers is abounded for the season. Now is hunting time in the mountains.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.