Scenic Sunday

Thought I’d share some of the scenic experiences I’ve had here in Norway and at the same time take part in Scenic Sunday . Hope you like what you see.

Until next time my friends…

Shopping Treasures…

So I’ve been doing a LITTLE shopping. I’ve actually intended to look for stuff for others but found some things for myself. Hehehe..

Here is my first purchase.

Sarah thinks I was suckered into buying this lantern. The ladies at the store brought over two of them to the cash register and were going on and on about how fabulous they were and how they only got four in the store, there were a limited amount of these sent to each store. I love things that not everyone has, so my ears were growing as I was listening to them at the same time I was studying the lantern and the pretty engraving which doesn’t really show through in this photo. I asked how much they were and heard the sum…gulp….ok…two were out of the question but one….maybe one…the sales lady said I was the customer so I would get first choice but if I didn’t take them they were going to split them, one each. I said I couldn’t take them from them and they said they had gotten four in, so it wasn’t a problem. Then they just kept going on and on about how fantastic this lantern was and how they were priced fairly. OK!!!! I’ll take one please…..:-))

My second purchase…

I knew 3 meters would be too long but wasn’t sure exactly what I should go for, 2 or 2.5 meters…I went with 2 meters and it was JUST short on either end…grrrrr! But I put the placemats (also new) on the table and it’s fine…it will do for now and I know next time, 2.5 meters.

My third purchase…

Doesn’t this look yummy? It is…it was dark in my living room when I took this so the colour seems a bit dull, but it’s fleece on one side and this yummy super soft material on the other side which as you can see looks like sheep skin or something. I’m collecting blankets..you can never have enough yummy super soft blankets to keep you warm in the cold Norwegian winters…

This is also nice in the cold Norwegian winters…a roaring fire with candles…

Lots of candles…it’s so nice and one of the charming aspects of living through the dark winters here.

I also got this star and lights and weaved the lights through the star myself. The lights move…you can’t see that but I have seen it and I’m not sure I like it…they stop and then they start slowly and then it looks kinda disco like and then they stop again…like Sarah said, I can’t wait for Christmas..I’m extremely tempted to decorate one of the last two weeks of November..I’d rather decorate early and remove it right after the new year then have it up long into January or February.

I also got some jogging shoes but I didn’t take a photo of those…they are just plain ol’ jogging shoes…but I needed some…the ones I have are yucky and dirty…from forest walks in the sloppy winter mud, they are chewed on by my baby lion but now I have new ones I can use at the gym and keep the old yucky ones for use around the house here..

I’m making some lists for Christmas, who to buy for and who to bake for…I HATE absolutely HATE the commercial side of Christmas. The pressure to buy things all the time. I’ve tried to stand against the pressure only to feel guilty because I got something from someone I didn’t buy for…I HATE that. I love baking and for me, this is a gift from my heart..this is my precious time I’ve used on people who matter to me and the dog hairs in the baked goods are free….it’s great!!!! Hahahaha, still some people would appreciate my spending some kroner on them rather then my time..so I am making my lists accordingly…

Until next time my friends….

A Leonberger’s Dream…

It’s begun snowing here in Norway…not alot but enough to make it sloshy, cold, wet, and muddy when it melts. The leonbergers are dreaming of the day when we wake up to several feet of snow…

They love snow..

They love running in snow…

They love digging in snow (Aussies like this too!)

Leos love everything about snow…

Long quiet moments with friends in the snow…

But for now these Leonberger dream days are just that…. a pleasant dream…

Until next time my friends….

My World Tuesday

My world revolves at the moment around the safety of this little baby…

This is the boat Stig is captain on, The Skandi Møgster. Built in 1998 she rooms 24 according to her statistics and she is 73.60 meters long and 16.40 meters wide. At the moment she is camped outside the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro Brazil with my honey in command of the ship. This ship’s safety is number one for me because the most important guy in my life is on her six months out of the year and his safety is number one for me and my whole family!

Stig told me the air conditioning was broke and they were all sweating terribly…..hmmm…sitting here in cold Norway I don’t think that one is gonna get him much sympathy from me…but it was a nice try! Otherwise she is in good shape for being an “older” ship and Stig enjoys his crew and being in Brazil.

I got my hair done yesterday and the result is as follows:

I love this style, it’s a little hip and easy to maintain which fits me perfectly right now. I posted this photo on Facebook and my girlfriend called me up, “Oh my gosh Amy, how much weight have you lost???” I said, “Not one tiny pound my darling!” “WHAT???” she excitedly yelled back in the phone, “You’ve got to be kidding, you look like you have lost tons of weight!” Laughing I said, “All big girls know how to take a flattering photo- or at least they should…my gay friend Rooy taught me, you hold the camera a little higher then normal so you get a photo from the top down then you don’t see all the extra chins…plus you’ll notice the photo cuts off at my neck…hahahaha”  Still it was very sweet she thought I had lost so much weight and wouldn’t it be nice to look like that without having to trick the camera…ho hum….well, I’m working on it. I was laid up all last week with my stomach problems but today I got a message from my neighbour and biggest exercise buddy. She asked if I wanted to go to the gym with her but unfortunately I had left my cell phone under my pillow so I didn’t see her message until later at which I wrote back that we could go for a walk if she was interested…five minutes later she was at my door and we were out walking..it’s SO MUDDY and yucky out right now but so nice to walk with a friend. I’m glad she drags my butt out and gets me going, by myself it’s too easy to just sit here and not do anything.

There is going to be an article in KK magazine I think in January about life after Scandinavian’s Biggest Loser program, five years later. The reporter has interviewed me and they’ll be sending a photographer to take some photos soon. I wish just once when these reporters called I could say, YEP, lost all my weight and kept it off!! UGH….I was joking with my friend that I told the reporter, I know how to lose weight, I’m just not ready…but I’m getting there…soon…hahahaha…little self irony or humour or whatever you wanna call it is good to have in life. But it’s true…I do know what to do. The biggest challenge I feel is keeping it going and portion control. If it’s a lifestyle change as we like to call it now instead of a diet, then you should eat what you want but in smaller portions. It’s that smaller portions part I’m struggling with…but I AM working on it..it’s just hard.

Especially when I like- no excuse me- LOVE to bake..this past weekend was bad..I baked four loaves of pumpkin bread with my pumpkin puree I made. (Still have some puree I’ve put in the freezer.) I kept one loaf out, put three in the freezer but today I gave my exercise partner one of the loaves and plan on taking one to work on Wednesday. So that is my trick for being able to bake- SHARE!

So I’m gonna share the recipie with you guys are ya ready?

Pumpkin Bread (I triple this recipe)

1.5 cups flour (210grams)

1/2tsp salt

1Cup sugar (approx. 230grams)

1tsp Baking Soda

1 Cup (1/4 liter) Pumpkin puree

1/2 cup (1dl) oil (I used Rapseed Oil)

2 Eggs beaten

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp all spice

1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Mix everything and pour into greased bread pans. I got two small and two regular size bread pans out of trippling this recipe)

Bake at 350F/180C 50-60 minutes. I think I used 60 minutes.

Another yummy we baked this past weekend was Cappucchino Crunch Bars from the Noble Pig. I used white chocolate bars here since we don’t get white chocolate chips and I used Daim candy bar instead of toffee candy bars..this is HEAVENLY…definitely going to be popular here in Norway when I start making this for the Vikings in my life…so check it out.

I’m off to dog training in the freezing cold..but hey on the positive side of things my cheeks get such a cute pink colour which looks so good on me!

When you are done here go and check out the rest of the world at That's My World Tuesday and have a great day everyone!

Until next time my friends..

Daytime TV and Guacamole Dip

My house smells deeeeclicious right now, I’ve got four pumpkin breads baking in the oven right now. I’m not planning on eating these all myself thanks! I thought I’d share with my co-workers on Wednesday when I go back to work. That is my trick for being able to bake and not eat it all myself- I share…smart eh? I could freeze these also I guess but I HATE frozen baked goods. It does not taste the same as right from the oven and I freeze only when ABSOLUTELY neccessary. Otherwise if you eat something baked in my house it’s more then likely been baked within the last 24 hours. Nothing but the best here!!

So while the breads are baking I’ve been watching Oprah and now Dr. Phil. Oprah had a show about motherhood on and I reflected over my role as a mother and how it’s changed my life since these three fascinating and wonderful people came into my life.

I once thought when they were younger that life would be so much easier when they got older and didn’t use diapers, could talk, do for themselves and so on…little did I know it gets harder. I find myself thinking of them all the time. Even if I’m tired if I see they’ve had a hard day I have to find out why and fix the problem for them if I can. I want them happy always and I feel like I have to be extra aware of things as they have gotten older because they aren’t always coming directly to me and telling me there is a problem anymore. Now they are older and don’t want to “bother” me with their problems when they see I’m busy with things or tired. So I have to be even more in tune with them and there is a fine line at this age between being there and scaring them away with being TOO there…my goal in life is to get them out there on their own, happy, confident, able to take care of themselves and think of others and leading the best life they can. Isn’t that every mother’s goal?

They gripe and moan a lot when I ask them to walk the dogs with me but walking the dogs gives us time without any electronic device taking out attention away. It’s just us and we can talk and listen and hear one another. I love our walks and will take them as long as I can..they need it and I do too.

We made a snack yesterday, guacamole dip, and I wanted to share this with my Norwegian readers and perhaps those of you in Sweden and Denmark can get hold of these products. You’ll need the following:

2 Avocados

1 Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1/2dl Crème Fraiche

1 package of Guacamole spice mix from Tex Mex

3tsp tabasco sauce and salt

1 can of guacamole from Tex Mex

Blend everything together and EAT with some yummy oven warmed corn chips…Bon Appetite!

I’ll tell ya more about my pumpkin bread tomorrow. I’m off to the hair salon to get my hair cut and highlighted. Having a magazine photographer visit me sometime this week and have to look my best! Oh, I got my blood results back today, my liver numbers were a bit high. My doctor is hoping I’ll get called in for an ultrasound soon so she can know if there are any stones in my gall bladder. With my blood test results and my symptoms she thinks I have gallstones. Fun eh? Yeah…just hope it’s that and not something with my liver..ugh…

Ok, I’m outta here folks…see ya soon..

Until next time!!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween everyone! I’ve been here in Norway a little over 14 years and in that time Halloween has grown in popularity. I remember looking for Halloween decorations those first years and the selection was limited and expensive. I remember seeing a pumpkin and it cost 600kroner!!! I remember driving my kids around to different homes and having them go up to the front door and say “Knask eller Knep” the Norwegian version of Trick or Treat. I truly think people must have thought we couldn’t afford food or something in the beginning, they didn’t understand the concept of kids coming to the door asking for candy and were never prepared for us. So my kids ended up getting fruit, half opened bags of cookies or candy bags that the family had obviously gotten for themselves. They even got a deck of cards one year!

Things have changed drastically over the years, Halloween items are abundant and cheaper then ever and some families are prepared when kids come knocking on the door, however this year when Thomas went out he came back with similar items to the first years he was out trick or treating and he told me how one woman didn’t have anything so she gave each of the boys 5kroner…hahahaha! As for us, we had one group of kids come and trick or treat here. The same group that came last year. A couple boys who use to go to the daycare where I work and their sister and a friend. Their mother said my house is a must on Halloween for her kids…which is sweet. Last year I was careful giving out the candy because I thought perhaps someone else would venture into the dark woods here and ask for candy but no one came..I felt bad sitting here with a pumpkin full of candy and having only given the kids a piece or two…so this year I told them to grab a handful- which they eagerly did and when they started going for a second handful I told them we needed to save a little JUST in case…well, no one else came!!! So I think maybe next year I’ll just bag up a few candy bags for this group of kids and skip buying more candy then neccessary!

I’ve been a busy beaver today, I took these two guys…

and turned them into this…

with which I then used some of this fresh pumpkin mash to turn into the following…

Pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting!! The recipe you can pick up at Big Black Dog just scroll down on her page and you should see it toward the bottom. While you’re at her page check out all the other yummy things she makes, I’m constantly in there for inspiration and the doggies are adorable!

Speaking of doggies…my baby dog has made a new friend..

Stuart Little (the cat) is the most patient cat ever…I think he thinks he is a dog since he was raised by our labrador Heidi (She nursed him when he first came to us and even produced milk- so she is his mamma). Stuart knows if you stay quiet and don’t run the dogs are pretty good to you..so he lets the dogs do pretty much anything they want with him…like kiss him..

and hug him..

I love cuddles also with this little lion cub…

Until next time my friends…have a spook-tacular Halloween!!

My Second Award…WOW…

The darling Hagemor has again bestowed upon me an award! For my English speaking readers the award says: Award To a Fantastic Blog friend, encouraging, interested, and always there. I’m so touched by your kindness my friend!! If you don’t stop giving me awards I might get full of myself….ya never know…hahahaha…

So now that this wonderful kindness has been bestowed upon me it’s my duty to pass it along..and I could really give this to so many but I guess I’m limited to choosing only a few recipients. Still it’s hard to choose..there are so many fantastic blogs out there that inspire me and encourage me, teach me, and make me smile…so many wonderful blogs that make my mouth water and my heart sing..I’ve added a few links on the side panel of the blogs I visit most often but I have hundreds saved under my favourites which I also visit often..and I’m continuously finding new blogs which absolutely amaze me. So many talented, funny, interesting, charming, inspirational, fantastic, motivating, amazing people there are out there!!

I think the first person to get this award has to be Kelli in Denmark at Mads and Kelli for her positive attitude toward her new life in Denmark..it’s not easy living across the ocean from family and friends, starting pretty much from scratch but she always looks at everything in such a positive light, we could all learn something about being positive from this woman!!

The second person has to be Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl who also is an extremely positive person in the face of a lot adversity..she is also an incredible inspiration with the camera..her photos bring peace to my soul and a smile to my face and I can never get enough of seeing the world through her eyes…

The third and final recipient must be Lady Fi at On A Quirky Quest With Lady Fi for being smarter then I’ll ever be and writing blog posts that make me have to think and for telling me about books I’ll probably never read but should! Her beautiful nature shots and adorable retriever photos make her blog a pure delight and a must stop every day!

It’s not fair that I have to stop with three but if I don’t stop with three I would end up putting links to every blog I read here and you’d have a heck of a time getting through all of those now wouldn’t you? So check out these amazing blogs, follow the links on the side of my blog here and check out some of these other amazing blogs and have a super evening my friends. I’ll leave you with a baby photo to put a smile on your face.

There is nothing cuter then a sleeping baby- don’t ya think?

Until next time my friends…