Taking Reservations Now…

Summer is coming……it is….soon enough…before you know it…don’t let the centimeters upon centimeters of snow fool ya…it’s only a few short months away and most people who aren’t sitting in puppy boxes through the summer are out and about, travelling the world and seeing the sights..and when we are far from home it’s good to have a cozy place to stay and with that I share with you our apartment which we loan out to friends and family and anyone else who could be interested and isn’t a dirty crook or murderer….hehehehe…

The Kitchen…where you can prepare pretty much anything your heart desires…there is a microwave, oven, fridge, and water cooker. There is also a dishwasher but it doesn’t work, so you have to do dishes the old fashioned way until we get a new dishwasher.

The living room with dining seating for four (we can always add extra chairs if need be) Two couches, the light tan one is a sleeper sofa which sleeps two comfortably. We usually have a little tv on the chest but Sarah is borrowing it at the moment.

This is your view out the living room window and bedroom window.

This is the bedroom with a double bed and a baby rocker. We also have a portable baby bed for guests with tiny tots..This room is an extreme example that the apartment is a work in progress…I’m tempted to do another colour on the walls or paper or something but not sure what yet…and eventually I thought it could be fun to hang photos of the apartment guests in the bedroom on the walls…also a chest of drawers in here eventually for guests staying any length of time..

Here is the bathroom complete with shower, toliet, sink and washing machine- you remember this washing machine that I had in the main house thinking it had broken down and it was only the filter full of hair….hahahahaha…yeah, well, now the guests can do their laundry!! 

The next photos are views as you go out of the apartment…

In the summer there is an outdoor fireplace over there in the corner- you can almost see the top of it under the snow..

The above photo is a nice bench you can sit on and watch the quiet forest or hear the wind chimes…it really is a nice little apartment for our guests and we hope in time to make it more and more cozy, adding things as we can to make our guests as comfortable as they can be while away from home.

You’ll get to meet the lionesses and our little lion king as well as Jenny the wonder dog and these guys..

Smokey

Oreo (Cookie) and his brother (below) Tiger (Woods)

Stuart Little also, although I didn’t get a photo of him today for you….he’s out hunting…and I’m hoping he won’t be hunted…there is a rumour going that a type of mountain lion called Gaupe in Norwegian has arrived on the island and several have seen his or her footprints…scary!

The apartment is reserved for my dad who I am hoping will be here the whole month of June…but the rest of the summer is open- let me know when you’re coming, how many, and if you need a lift from the airport (Gardemoen in Oslo). If I have time I love to cook for my guests…if I don’t have time I’ll fill your fridge in the apartment with some goodies…but I always seem to find time for cooking!!!

On another note I was given a wonderful award by the dear Renate! Go over and check out her blog- she’s extremely creative and has a lot of fun projects! Thank you so much Renate for this award- I’m humbled and grateful! I guess the rules are I need to tell you seven things about myself you didn’t know and then pass this along…

1. I  was born in Warren, Pennsylvania and lived in Mercer and Grove City, PA before moving to Derby, Kansas and then on to Hutchinson, KS and then from Hutch to Bedford, Texas in the DFW metroplex, then to San Antonio, Texas, Austin, Texas, back to San Antonio, then up to Pratt, Kansas with my hubby.

2. I had a black American Cocker Spaniel named Alexander Grahm Bear (Bear)- he was my first dog that was MINE. I showed him 4-H shows and obedience trials.

3. My favourite film is The Wizard of Oz…the line where the wizard tells the tin man that “a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others” is one of my favourite lines and my kids won’t watch the movie with me anymore unless I promise not to sing…I know all the songs by heart…

4. As much as I love living in Norway I sometimes miss living in the USA…I miss the uniqueness of the people “over there”. It goes without saying I miss my family and I wish I had the chance to know my nieces better and my sister better as an adult.

5. My grandma shared her love of cooking with me and it is in her honor that it has become one of my beloved hobbies…she gave me her iron skillets and I love to cook with them and I remember her standing by her stove making us breakfast with them…I love my iron skillets and I love my grandma..

6. I think about my mom every day…this might not be something people didn’t know about me, it might be natural to many who know I’ve lost my mom…but what I think about is all the things I didn’t say when she was alive that I wish I had…it makes me realize even more how important it is to say what we feel and don’t hold back…don’t live today as if it’s a dress rehearsal…you might not get another chance to say what you want to say.

7. As much as I love the Captain…I love that I can handle things when he is gone also…that I can run the household and take care of things without everything falling apart. I think I have become stronger in the 14 years I’ve lived in Norway then I ever was before I came here and maybe that is one of the reasons the big guy up there put me in Norway?

Now, to pass this along:

Hjemmebest

Ramblins

Ping's Danish Adventure

On A Quirky Quest

Mads And Kelli

Bestas Hus

And now some contests!! Check out Misha’s site for a chance to win some very hot boots! They’ll even ship them to Europe- so this is a contest for anyone!!

From My Front Porch In The Mountains

And Sylvia is giving away a lovely tray and table runner…

Hjemmebest

Until next time my friends…

Running On Empty

Here I am…in case you were wondering…I’m still alive…those who have me on facebook know I’m still kicking but those of you following me here might have wondered if the bread I baked contained a leathal dose and took me out….hahaha…well, no…but the week began with strep throat and an eye infection- the kind that keeps one eye completely shut and makes you look like the humpback of notre dame…yeah- that was me…humpy….

Wednesday I made it back to work and Thursday I even took a corebar class and Friday I felt all those knee bends we did- all day long…but it was ok, I like to feel muscles in my butt…it’s so seldom, so it’s nice to know they are there!

Friday I awoke to a sick dog also..Nanna…difficulty breathing and wouldn’t stand up. Got her to the vet and she had a temp and runny nose, they think it might be a lung infection. She is on medication and we are monitoring her this weekend. Keeping her quiet which isn’t difficult. She is breathing better today which is great and I took her and the rest of the gang out for a few photos. Isn’t that what everyone does with their sick dogs??? hmmm..

Birdy

Bently Bear

Isabella- My Italian Queen…

And my sick baby, Nanna Banana

Pathetic looking isn’t she? Kinda like, is this really neccessary to bring me out in the freezing cold with all this snow on the ground and falling from the sky….couldn’t I just lie inside by the fire please??

We have a lot of snow…and it’s been snowing the last two days…ugh…yes, it’s beautiful…but I think we could just enjoy what we have, we don’t need anymore- no need to be greedy now is there?? We can let other parts of the world have a little snow too….like Denmark- hehehe….how many Danish (or Expats in Denmark) woke up to that??? hahahaha….ok…I’m thinking about posting some info about our apartment (that’s the bottom photo above) in case anyone is planning a summer vacation and might be interested in coming to Norway…I have had a lot of people tell me I should rent it out to tourists, but to be honest it’s mostly people I know or have some sort of connection too, be it on the internet, through my blog, from facebook, or what have you and I couldn’t take money from friends…that is why I’ll never make it as a business person, but I don’t care…I’d rather have friends then money!

Tonight all three of my kids have plans…so it will just be me, the dogs, and the cozy fire…have to get Thomas and his friend Marius at nine, but then I’m slipping into my flannel pj’s and comfy slippers and plopping down in front of the fire again. In the caos yesterday I forgot to take one of my pencilin tablets and quickly realized that my medicine has got me convinced I’m feeling better when in reality I’m still suffering from a very sore throat which I noticed quite quickly yesterday evening and upon so realized I had forgotten my tablet…won’t do that again! So it won’t be just Nanna enjoying a quiet weekend..

Hope you all have a great Saturday….until next time my friends…

Smells Like Home Baked Bread

Feeling a little under the weather so I cancelled my ski trip today and baked some whole grain bread instead.

I tried to follow a recipe but didn’t have the exact flours they asked for, so I improvised. I’ll write the recipe in Norwegian below and then put the English translation (to the best of my knowledge) on the side.

1.5 liters of warm water (finger warm)

50 grams of yeast (I used fresh this time)

blend a little of the water with the yeast until it’s broken up.

Add 3tsp salt and 3 Tbsp (SS) of Oil

2dl Linfrø (lin seeds)

2dl Solsikkefrø (sunflower seeds-just the seed part of course)

100 grams Havrekli and 100 grams kruskli (kli is Bran in English- Havre is Oats, but I’m at a loss for what Krus would translate too- anyone who knows can feel free to comment)

1kg whole grain flour

2dl Rye flour (fine)

2dl Rye Flour (unrefined- grov)

blend all of this with the rest of the water- add regular flour until you get get a nonsticky dough you can knead without clinging to your fingers.

Let rest for 1 hour

Take out and knead again then let rest for 30 minutes again.

Break into three elements and roll into bread shapes and place in nonstick bread forms. Let rise again 30-40 minutes and then bake 60-70 minutes at about 200 C (around 380-400F) The last ten minutes you can pensel over a little margarine on the top..this will give it the nice golden brown colour. Cool completely and enjoy :-)

Until next time my friends…

The Best Cauliflower Soup

I’m happy. VERY HAPPY, these days….no particular reason really. My house is cleaned, I’ve been exercising regularly the last four days and feeling GREAT, and I made this yummy soup which is my mom’s recipe. It warmed my belly and my heart to make it and think of her. She’s been on my mind a lot lately…kinda funny how she just pops in there out of the blue…but I like it..I love to feel like she is near me when I think of her.

So….enough of that, no need to get sappy when we’re feeling happy right?? OK…so let’s have a recipe- well you who have followed my blog know it goes a bit like this:

Cut up about 4-5 carrots in thin slices (you can halves these slices if you’d like…this is a very forgiving soup)

1 onion sliced and diced

1-2 celery stalks sliced and diced.

Sautee these three items in about 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp margarine. Just until the onions are a little see through…

In a big pot, cook up about 1-1,5 cauliflower heads and about 6 good size potatoes- peeled and chopped into bite size pieces. Cover these with water (just until it covers the cauliflower and potatoes) bring to a boil and let cook until tender. Add the sauteed ingredients and then add about 1 liter of half light milk and half light cream (I had a half liter left in my light milk and added “matfløte” which is what light cream is called here in Norway, to the rest of the milk box and then shook it and poured it in…) I seasoned the soup with garlic pepper and salt. OHHHH sorry, forgot to mention I added vegetable buljong to the potatoes and cauliflower while they were cooking- I used four cubes which is enough for two liters of water…

Let this baby simmer as long as you possibly can because it gets better the longer it sits and marinates together…it’s a very easy soup and you can add and subtract ingredients as you please. I used light dairy products this time but usually the original recipe calls for half and half (half whole milk and half heavy cream) but since we’re livin’ light these days…we tried to make this a little healthier…serve this with some wonderful warm whole grain bread and bon appetit!!

Have a great Saturday evening everyone-

Until next time…..

Headlines

This won’t be one of the most exciting posts for my English readers but I wanted to share some of the headlines from VG (One of Norway’s largest newspapers) today which I felt like commenting…I always feel like commenting things but have so long spared you from having to hear my humble opinions…but TODAY…there were just too many headlines to let it go..so let’s begin…again, if you’ve got a google translator bar at the top of your page- use it to translate the written article and the only thing I can say about the video in this first headline is, just check out the dog…who cares what they are saying…

Norway's Ugliest Dog crowned by VG readers...

It might just be me, but I think little Pepsi is ADORABLE in an only-a-face-a-mother-would-love way……there is a charm with her and while I don’t think they should have had this contest at all, we’re humans and find our entertainment in many odd and not always nice ways…the way I look at it is, people don’t have to enter these things but they do…cause hey…it’s fun….right?

Here is an article which of course is great motivation to keep exercising but that wasn’t the first thing that struck me- I have actually had this thought before when witnessing an enormous woman (or man) together with a skinny man (or woman)- how in the world do they do anything physical together without crushing their partner? Now, of course this woman wasn’t doing anything romantic with her partner- in fact she was accused of killing him- but I think I’ve now found the answer to my question….and I’m glad I was a good girl today and worked out…would hate to crush the Captain!!!

Fat lady crushes her partner

Finally, an article about the miracle baby, Elizabeth, who was found 8 days after the earthquake in Haiti- alive and in pretty good condition. Elizabeth is only 23 days old and according to doctors the chances of her or any new baby surviving a whole week without water and food is highly unlikely- but here you have it folks….an honest to God miracle right before your very eyes…

Miracle Baby Elizabeth survives 8 days under the ruins in Haiti

I love stories like that…they give me hope that there is something bigger then all of us out there watching over us and these miracles are reminders of that.

 Faith keeps many doubts in her pay. If I could not doubt, I should not believe.
Henry David Thoreau

Until next time….

Ramblings On A Thursday

I miss blue skies…..it’s been grey and cloudy here lately….not blue like the photo above…or below…

I miss walking in the beautiful snowy woods with this guy…

But I am still walking, even while he’s basking in the sun in Brazil!! My dear friends are walking with me and it’s great to walk with friends…and when I get home I look like this…

Scary eh? Yeah…I like to call it “Fresh!” hahahaha…

Hey, I’m doing my best to get in shape and keep up with my hip kiddos…

Oh he’s growing up too fast…but he still gives me hugs and kisses when no one is looking. Love him…

Not a lot else to say except that I apologize for the lame quality in the photos here today, they were all taken with my cell phone…I’ve just not been in the photographing mood lately so I’ve got nothing from my real camera- but maybe this weekend…

Take care everyone and thanks for stopping by!!

Until next time….

 

My World Tuesday

Welcome to Helgøya…a beautiful island in the middle of Norway’s largest lake. Click this link to come to a website with information from Nes (the village next to Helgøya) and about Helgøya itself. Nes & Helgøya Midt i Mjøsa  Hopefully you have a google translator bar at the top of your page like I do and you can click to translate the page from Norwegian to English or whatever your language is. I’ve linked to the map page, so you can see where we are.

To get to my house you have to take the road through the woods….

Thanks for walking with me…my house is right through that opening….

Welcome to my world…to visit other great worlds click this link: My World Tuesday

Until next time my friends…

Becoming A Woman

Today my oldest turns 17. She is looking forward to an exciting year where she will travel to the states and go to high school for a year.

Contrary to her mamma, she already knows what she wants to do with her life- and she has the brains and drive to achieve her goal of becoming a vet.

She is strong and confident- walking her own path in life..

She is a talented photographer, a whiz at computers, she can cook, she’s mature and yet playful…

She has a bright future ahead of her and a world of opportunity lying at her feet…she’ll achieve anything she puts her mind too and enrichen many lives along the way including her own.

Watch out world, there is a beautiful and intelligent woman in the making here…

Happy Birthday Sarah!!! (all photos in this post are taken by Sarah)

Until next time….

Everything You Needed To Know You Learned In Kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum
- an excerpt from the book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do
and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not
at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the
sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic,
hold hands, and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup:
The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody
really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even
the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.
So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books
and the first word you learned - the biggest
word of all - LOOK.

  
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.

Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about
three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.

I’ve been thinking about the above words all day at work today…I had decided to take my camera to work and take some photos of my day..which involves working with children. I didn’t want photos of their faces, though they made it very difficult to get shots because as soon as I brought out the camera they practically fell over each other to stand in front of it smiling their sweet and innocent smiles and some not so sweet smiles (the kinds with tounges hanging out)….

I wanted to film the kids doing what kids do…and throughout the day I was thinking of how true it is that everything we needed to learn in life we learned in kindergarten..perhaps we’re born in this world knowing everything we need to know that is important and through all our years of living we lose track of the important things because so many other non-important things come in our lives?

Like enjoying a good story…

How good it is to have someone to lean on..no matter the reason…

How it’s not important what your hair looks like..it’s more important to be in the moment..completely..

That good food is essential in life and it’s best homemade and without consideration for calories..

That exercise can be fun….alone or with someone…and definitely doesn’t have to be done in a gym…

How a snack didn’t have to be elaborate to be great…

How the most important thing is being together…no matter where…

How important it is to play as hard as you work…

And how to stop up and look around…..

Noticing the beautiful world around you…

And at the end of the day…it’s important to get your rest…

I’ve had the following song in my head all day long and watching the kids today it was easy to sing the words…”I believe in angels…. something good in everything I see…”

Yeah I know, this was a long post today….can’t help it, I had a lot to say today…

Until next time my friends….