Hardanger Living

Croatia and Montenegro

2011-11-02T21:14:00.000+01:00

Hiking down the mountain.

Dubrovnik Old City from above

village of Cavtat, where we stayed

being brave. eating octopus. (a lot of restaurant etiquette practice on this trip...)

beautiful Montenegro, in the ancient Bay of Kotor.

Saint Stephens, south of Budva.

beautiful pink rock beach.

autumn focus roundup

2011-11-02T20:36:00.000+01:00


Autumn Table- notice Jasmin's and Lea's Root Children all lined up to be hugged by Mother Earth again.

Even the bees and hedgehogs have gone underground.

This one HAD not gone to bed yet, but instead hung out with Noa and Lea for a couple of days around the sand box being fed snacks.

Hand picked Chanterelles, and Rasberry/ Apple Tart. Autumn indeed.

We found dragon fruit at the Arab grocers in Bergen. Opening it was like opening a dragon egg. What was inside?

Amazing. Who would have known.

We also found Lotus flowers

...which are supposed to be edible.

If anyone would have any tips on HOW to eat the, that would be appreciated. Saw I could stir fry the sliced stems... maybe later.

The air has turned cold, and we returned from a week in Croatia to all the leaves gone from the trees. Winter is coming. Funny how quickly the seasons seem to be going now. I can remember being a teenager and a summer seemed forever. Now, i f I don't get something done I simply say I will do it next spring. Sheesh, like the old woman who finally doesn't carry her Christmas decorations up to the loft anymore but keeps them under the sofa... Christmas IS just around the corner again. Which it actually is, but first the twins birthday. They will be four in a couple weeks, and the gift planning has begun...

The rhythm of the days are different now. Jasmin gets home at 1.30pm. This is our time together, as she needs to be coiled down somehow and given a cup of tea. Then we read, she plays quiet, or lately, I take her running with me, she bikes, I run, then we pick up the little ones. Works perfectly!

hot Bengal Spice tea and cold Carob Almond milk. Yum.

::this moment::

2011-09-30T12:20:00.003+02:00

Scapes and rainbows

2011-09-30T12:03:00.001+02:00

The landscape from the windows are constantly changing. The light flickers and then it is gone.

Happy St. Michaels Day, which was indeed yesterday, but the kids will never know. Have a few hours home alone to prepare today. Pictures to come. Wishing you strength and inner light as the days get shorter and we move towards winter. Light candles!

school

2011-08-30T23:53:00.001+02:00

Jasmin had her first day of school. We are trying with a part time arrangement, part school, part homeschool. We shall see. She at the same time likes the class, and does not want me to leave in the morning. We leave the house at 7.30. Three days a week we deliver the twins up at the Kindergarten, and then walk down to school. An hour walk before school is great for her.

my beautiful big girl... on her first day of school.

Fish cakes

2011-07-11T22:34:00.000+02:00

How to make fish cakes with frozen-hard-as-a-rock fish:


step one: make sure you have one (1) man and axe handy.

summer activities

2011-07-11T16:42:00.002+02:00

As a cross posting to a post on the house blog, we cannot say enough how happy we are with the dutchtub we invested in. The best toy ever. Basically in use everyday.

On the other hand, the dutch tub is not just something you get considering the price. Alternatively, a black industrial rubber tub is infinitely cheaper, and MUCH more versatile. (see photos...). Can be used instead of taking a swim/ bath/ shower. Provides perfect comfort and privacy to read the few minutes the deck dries up in between the rain.

And can be stacked, built or arranged into trains. Other ruses we have observed are soccer goals, chairs and pools to fish in.

noa's current pastime is to be up-side down. boys.

The second thing to do when it rains and are in doubt: bake. Lea is the natural cook. no matter what they are up to, if i ask her to come help make dinner or stir or watch something on the stove. she comes.

Noa sticks his fingers in it, eats a handful, and washes dishes. Equally fun I am sure. This particular day we were baking at 8am. Managed chocolate brownies, whole-wheat buns and Lebanese mana'eesh, which is a beautiful flattened bread spread with za'atar and oil stuffed with olives, spring onions and lots of mint, by 11. Just in time for the sun to show itself, so we raced to the beach for lunch and swam around for a couple of hours. Summer here is short. Have to act fast.

birthday sun-day!

2011-07-10T13:23:00.000+02:00

birthday breakfast at 6am. jasmin had already been awake an hour. (new birthday crown this year. sunflowers, letter J and waves.)

six candles.

birthday party on the terrace. and the sun came out!

jasmin chose the kinky pinky cake from our danish cake cookbook. amazing how pink blueberry juice is.

cecilia the doll had a new crown as well.

noa survived 2 hours with 5 girls. and passed out in the dolls cradle at 12pm.

Distractions

2011-06-29T22:40:00.000+02:00

Nature table from Whitsun or "Pinse"

My home making is on hold. My house making in on high speed, with the moving into a house and all, but the "home-making" with the kids is on the hold. Sad. We make dinners and life goes on, thank goodnesss, but the enery is drained and the creativity on the back burner. I am looking forward to being completely moved in, to be able to paint, and garden. To bake and just be. Just read a wonderful post from the Parenting Passageway. A reminder to be aware of all the small moments in the day they can actually be of use. actually feel they are an invaluable asset to the household. Working on helping, not because they are nice, not because they are helping ME out, but doing necessary steps to survive. Without their help, the household would fall apart. Well, that all works in theory. In practice, not so easy. The oldest has been entrusted with the job of always clearing the table. So far so good.

On the other hand, the three-some have turned a pivotal corner of play. They play. Together. They leave, go upstairs and play. Mostly bossed around by Jasmin. Mostly imaginative, and mostly involving every single blanket, sheet and pillow in the house, all piled in one corner. Nesting.
Or dollhouse constructing. Here from the old house:

Drove to Bergen today, listening to all the summer seasonal songs by Mary on "Sing a song of seasons". Just wait, I am back on track in no time.

springtime tides, reoccuring

2011-06-10T23:07:00.000+02:00

Despite cold weather, slight rain and cloudy, it IS summer according to the calendar.

Thus a springtime jumble of memories from up in Fitjadalsveien is at hand.

first bike ride in march, snow banks still intact!

noa the man, in purple, he loves it.

thanks to ramona, we learnt how to make pom-poms. all the time.

defuzzed

garden cortado coming up.

embroidery for three year olds. amazing.

egg found in elf forest. "very mysterious, how did they know it was easter soon?!"

easter nature table

very simple this year, dying eggs with onions.

::this moment

2011-06-10T22:34:00.000+02:00

::a friday ritual. a single photo capturing a moment from the week.

Ode to Andy Goldsworthy. Perfect picture books for children. Going into the mountains tomorrow, need inspiration.

moving on.

2011-06-09T22:56:00.000+02:00

So we moved. finally. check out the blog for more formal updates. we see porpoises from the breakfast table and are ultimately happy. beautiful. more to come.

Twins

2011-06-09T22:35:00.002+02:00

I haven't done posting on having specifically twins. I should though, especially since my wonderful cousin JUST had two little girls across the pond, HURRAY!, and I want to pass on some good vibes. Also, since our's have miraculously grown large, are not using diapers and do not need buggys, neither do they use sip cups or need naps (as of last week... so we shall see...). At any rate, we have turned a monumental corner in our lives here, Jasmin is to start school after the summer and simultaneously, we have moved into the new house. This creates glorious chances to sort, recycle, give away, sell and contemplate all the amazing amounts of stuff one can accumulate in one year.

So in turning corners, I have the energy to answer the question: how does one survive the amount of work and time required, how does one get enough sleep and most often, what do I need for twins!!!???
Well, here are my official 4 "do's" ( and DON'Ts):

1. Depending on your type, personality, financial situation, partner situation, you might react differently. But in general the rule is to take it easy, and practice patience. Like with a dealing with all aspects in life, AND especially children, if you keep your cool, you have solved half the problem. If you loose your patience, the problem doubles. I have done my share of sobbing at 2am, falling asleep while nursing two at the same time, and now, with two 3-year olds, getting irritated and shouting, but just remember they are SO small, you are capable and it all turns out in the end. START practicing patience NOW, before they come.

2. SLEEP when you can. START NOW! I have at times thought ( still happens) it more important to have a well-swept floor and gourmet dinners on the table, then to sleep. NOT TRUE.

3. Less is more. Is that a cliche? Most likely, since all cliches tend to be ultimately true. Less equipment than you think. Keep it simple. You DO NOT need two of everything! I do not have two sets of clothing, even now at the age of three, it resembles more 1 and a quarter. AND choose natural organic fabrics like wool and silk. They last longer, do not get dirty and you you need very few shirts since they seem to never get dirty. If they do, you just air them out. AND if you have a boy and girl, choose neutral colors, buy four of the same shirt, and just accept that he wears pink somedays. (This mantra goes for everything. Toys, books, bicycles. Keep it simple, natural materials that are healthy for the children and the environment, and that will last longer and save money in the long run. Be strong and stay away from all the plastic-fantastic stuff you will be given. When plastic gets worn it just gets ugly and breaks, it is toxic and unnatural for little ones to chew on. It just feels too hard. Wood on the other hand gets patina, and is repairable.

4. Speaking of simple: On the other hand, coming from Norway, I DO recommend adequate sleeping arrangements when out and about. Which here means a large buggy, for the first 6 months, a cadillac. For the remaining two years they need it choose a smart one that can turn on a dime. I have my ultimate favorites I could not live without. Since it is cold in the winter you need a carry bag for each one, you can carry in from the buggy, so that they can continue sleeping when you get home, which is large enough for big sheepskin bags and covers.

After that I would not have survived without my One Tree HIll, or Mountain Buggy as I think it is called now. Easy to turn, easy to assemble. Fits through most doors. Good to sleep in. Would not need it if I lived in the bush, obviously, but everywhere else involving a little asphalt, dirt road, traffic and even buses, I recommend them. They are a little steep in price, OK they are the most expensive twin buggy I have come across, but they are worth it, and if you care for them, they are easy to sell used. Even better, buy them used as I did. You can buy small bags for them intended for newborns, but they only last 6 months, I personally think that is too soon to move over to the stroller/ sitting situation. They need a bag for the first year, to be able to lay down and stretch their back.

This is just as important if you come from warm climates or drives cars a lot, they need to be fully flat. And if you moms want to get back in shape and actually go meet people at cafes again the next two years, you need a big buggy they can sleep in comfortably. And you need a buggy they can sleep, eat, and be tied to in dangerous traffic situations when they are even older. Which I still do when I go to big cities like Bergen or the such.

Back with more exciting news just around the corner.

cheers.

Tøybleier til Tvillinger

2011-03-31T21:09:00.001+02:00

Pakken inneholder 11 hjemmestrikket ullbleier, 40 Popolino bleier og ymse innlegg.

For alle dere i Norden, jeg skal selge våre gode tøybleier fra Nøstebarn. Nå har de to små blitt over 3 år. Og nå er det på tide å sende de videre. GI en lyd hvis du er interessert!

a kind of Christmas card

2011-03-30T23:10:00.001+02:00

Christmas' gift investment. Waldorf Dollhouse dolls and furniture from Toyspectrum.de

I have been wanting to post a Christmas post again for along time. Finally, here is a glimpse of the holidays.

Gingerbread village

Advent Wreath.


The Three Kings, happily made in one sitting while watching Lord of the Rings. Aah, the joys of parenting!

cross-posting

2011-03-21T14:51:00.000+01:00

The house in progress is a real beauty. Latest link on using beeswax candles.

Enviormental Housekeeping

2011-02-03T21:59:00.000+01:00

One Small Change was the name of a project circulating on the web last year. Every month one was to make "one small change" towards the better, towards conscious living. We have done a few major changes and actually turned them into habits. This is the only way to make changes, if you take upon yourself too many changes at once they will drown out and become nothing.

We have converted to using wash nuts full time. I mentioned these before in an earlier post, but now I can say for sure they work. It is just as easy, just as clean and actually cheaper. AND they work on everything. Wool, silk, cloth diapers. You name it.

Check out our house blog for more info on nuts in Norwegian, and where to buy them.

Christmas and Candlemas

2011-02-03T21:40:00.000+01:00

Christmas was short and sweet. My family came to stay, lot of snow and good food. Sad to say, very few pictures were taken.

Our Christmas star in the window. Was taken done now at Candlemas yesterday.

Twin Birthday

2011-02-03T21:29:00.000+01:00

The 23rd of November we celebrated an early morning birthday celebration for Noa Leander and Lea Noor. Three years old. Imagine that. Complete with the crowns their Kindergarten had made (which they denied to take off) fresh baked rolls, beeswax candles and gifts. 7am, by candle light, watching the magic unfold.

Out of the ashes II

2011-01-27T21:28:00.001+01:00

Goodness. Where to begin?

Going to post an older draft here from early December. With January goodness right around the corner, though first our homeschooling quandary.

These past weeks I have been ever so present in the time I have had at home. When one is forced to be out and study so much, I appreciate all the more the time I am home. On a side note, the more time I am away from home, the more challenging time spent with the children becomes. Time spent with children is all about quantity , not quality, and if I have been away for days on end, I feel it harder to get in-tuned again, and then I misread signals and it takes time to fix. Hence, more time home, is all that is needed. We, Anders and I, are in the process of deciding to home-school next year or not. Living in Hardanger, with no Waldorf School, it has always been an option, and now the date is drawing near, when we have to decide. We are hoping perhaps the local school would let us do a part time solution, couple days a week option, so she would feel she was social and a part of the local community. The schooldays are relatively long, 8.30-13.30.
Without using this post as a pros and cons list, it will suffice to say that I am not unhappy about the Norwegian school system, nor do I think it will be unhealthy for our children to attend. It has to do with the time spent together with our children, and the amazing beautiful qualities a Waldorf appoach in the home could give them in lack of a local school. Sort of a two in one.
The major choice is simply Jasmin's well-being and my career, since it will be I who stays home. We shall see, inevitably a choice will be made, but the more I think about staying home, the happier I get. And the more I delve into my thesis and dream about fieldwork in Lebanon, the happier I get. Ahh, what a luxury problem. And what a wonderful life we have.

St.Nicholas visited us this morning( a day late I know, but Yesterday just didn't fit in with the baking. And they will never know....) The look on the children's face when we placed the shoes filled with carrots and straw outside the door last night was amazing. Oh, the glory of believing, really believing St. Nicholas will arrive on his white horse, and in exchange for the carrots and cleaned shoes, leave little gifts. We left cookies for him as well, and in return received "Anis kringler". (Which were quite tasty by the way. Almost made up for sitting next to the oven at a quarter to twelve waiting for them....)

Out of the ashes

2010-12-03T12:27:00.002+01:00

Anders built a wonderful 'lavvo' in the garden, complete with bench, sheepskins, Christmas lights and fire outside.

Sunny days and cold. The days are exceptionally short. Light at 9, dark at 4. I think one sleeps more during the winter. At 6pm in the summers we would take an evening trip to the beach, swim and hang out. Now at 6, I am wondering how soon we can go to bed.

House building is on the agenda everyday. Article from the local newspaper. Due to the intense cold we are experiencing now, down to minus 12, progress has slowed down a bit.

Don't forget to follow the blog as well, here is a collage by Anders, taking the twins down to he building site. ( He still takes care of all the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays, wonderful pappa.)

One needs competent experts to ensure the plumber has actually made holes in the pipes...

Happy First of Advent!

2010-11-28T10:14:00.000+01:00

Quick update is in demand. The house building is moving along. For all interested in low energy house, passive standards, and environmental choices on water heating, solar panels and such, check out out house blog, Anders' actually, to see what it will look like. English summery of major posts is coming, I promise.

Our twins are now three years old, I have delivered my thesis and am preparing for the oral exam, and today we off to the Christmas market at a Waldorf School outside Bergen, for the first time. I am really excited!

Where is Your Bicycle?: Before We Left Norway

2010-11-15T10:30:00.000+01:00

Where is Your Bicycle?: Before We Left Norway: "We had a lot of fun during our 2+ weeks in Norway... Natalia and Anders manage to get out with their three kids every day, more than once, ..."

Early Winter Goodness

2010-11-06T21:49:00.004+01:00

I have been working like crazy this week. Came home late last night after 48 intensive hours at the library. Was met with a pristine, cleaned house, wool clothes laid out for today's swimming and incense burning in the hall. Happy me, and happy husband (though equally exhausted.)

the last autumn table. look at those sunflowers! saved in from the snow and blooming!

Building Day 1. Kids and Lunch with Dad.

Our view.

small glimpse at our outer facade. will publish the digital 3D one asap.

Today was a day off. Recuperation for all of us. A lot of sleep, swimming, warm lunch and books. It now gets dark already at 16.30. A wonderful adventure, if you just embrace it. The children and I made hot Roiboosh Lion Tea, packed the cashews and headed to the playground, in the pitch black. We all have our own headlamps, so the night is as as light as needed, wherever we turn out head. Wonderful. Sometimes I feel like we are living on Svalbard or somewhere more arctic than here.

Jasmin's doll Cecilia had a birthday earlier last week.

Jasmin silk-foot.

Purple girls on purple Monday. Jasmin is kind enough to show Lea her "glansbilde" collection. (Thanks to Bestemor) An old Norwegian tradition.

help with dishes.

First snow in OCTOBER!

2010-11-03T11:40:00.000+01:00

Mabrouk!

2010-10-31T21:44:00.001+01:00

Congratulations. The contract on our new house is signed. They start digging tomorrow, and expected to be able to move in March! Amazing. Hard to believe we will have a house on that grassy slope of land we own.
It has been a long and tedious job, of which Anders has had to carry the load pretty much alone.
But as it looks now, insha'allah, we will have a brand new, passive-house with breathing walls, organic paint, solar panels and recycling systems on water and heat.
More to come. We are in the process of setting up a house blog, and I am in the process of finishing my paper. Thus, the lacking activity here. Deadline 20 Novemeber, so I will be back in time to document the twins birthday and the beginnings of Advent. I am really looking forward to that. As it is now, I escape to the office upstairs as soon as they are asleep, and have no time to prepare any activities.

Our good friends Ramona and Joshua are stranded in California for a while, resting and healing a broken foot. We hope they come back asap, as the kids ask about them everyday, and their room is awfully empty. Here is a link to their bicycle blog, adventures across Europe. And a little cross-blogging as well.

We have already had snow, ice and sledding. It is going to be long winter...

Apples, Autumn and Dwarves

2010-10-08T12:38:00.000+02:00

Autumn Harvest , Ruth Elassar

We have picked the lot of the apples on our property and Anders made A LOT of applesauce, and a wonderful apple cake involving, well, applesauce, and a cake lid made up of ground almonds, a la Jamie Oliver's Plum and Almond Tart (which is dangerously good btw!)

Last of the apples. Notice the kid nibbled ones.

Rural living: escaped sheep in the garden.

I have hung up a board. But what to hang on it? Current songs and poetry!
This weeks poem: Come little Leaves, from A Journey Through Time with Verse and Rhyme.

Wonderful collection of verse.

The book also contains quite a few for Michaelsmas, which has just passed with dragons and jewels and quests. Among others, JR Tolkiens epic "Over the Misty Mountains", which I am going to clip in here for you to understand what I speak of:

Far over the Misty Mountains cold,

To dungeons deep and caverns old,

We must away, ere break of day,

To seek our pale enchanted gold.

For ancient king and elvish lord

There many a gleaming golden hoard

They shaped and wrought, and light they caught,

To hide in gems on hilt of sword.

On silver necklaces they strung

The flowering stars, on crowns they hung

The dragon-fire, on twisted wire

They meshed the light of moon and sun.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold,

To dungeons deep and caverns old,

We must away, ere break of day,

To claim our long-forgotten gold.

Goblets they carved there for themselves,

And harps of gold, where no man delves

There lay they long, and many a song

Was sung unheard by men or elves.

The bells were ringing in the dale,

And men looked up with faces pale.

The dragon's ire, more fierce than fire,

Laid low their towers and houses frail.

The mountain smoked beneath the moon.

The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom.

They fled the hall to dying fall

Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.

Far over the Misty Mountains grim,

To dungeons deep and caverns dim,

We must away, ere break of day,

To win our harps and gold from him!

To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell

In glades beneath the misty fell.

Through moor and waste we ride in haste,

And whither then we cannot tell.

We must away! We must away!

We ride before the break of day!

I love Tolkien. I look forward to the day I can read for my children. I think my dad read the Hobbit to me, quite young, but how young? I don't know. Ten years old? Maybe younger. I have to admit I loved the Lord of The Rings films as well, but they are definitely not for children, . The books on the other hand are exquisite. Reading this poem again has reminded me how important verse, poetry and words are. And I believe young children benefit from hearing it, even though they do not understand, the flow of the voice, the beautiful words are enough. And they listen, they move around, but they listen.

Speaking of dwarves, we made a few of our own, since we figured our dwarf of the day was getting a little lonely in his underground house, with only nuts and silly hedgehogs to talk to all day. It took about ten minutes, plus time for the glue to dry overnight. I found the idea in small craft book for gnomes, but I just cut the jackets by freehand and sowed them up with each kid hanging around my neck. Sorry, no pictures of cute little ones putting wool on their little autumn gnome, due to the dangers of picking up a camera in close proximity to glue, scissors and needles.

Two bodies in the making.

Four little gnomes waiting for a beard.

Busy gnomes on a walk outside on the October Table.

Mother Earth welcoming all the flower children home.
Jasmin's reenactment of the Root Children story.

Two wonderful woman bloggers

2010-10-06T09:29:00.001+02:00

Two amazing woman out there doing amazing things.

First Lunchability, she posts her packed lunches everyday. My children get lunch at their Kindergarden, but if they didn't.....

And something that creates order. Jasmin is five, and right in that age where she wants HER things in HER drawer, and she wants to know where things "live", so she has received her own little night stand by her bed, with three drawers. She kindly enough took only one herself, and gave one each to the twins. And she has her clothing bag, which she opens herself in the morning and gets dressed on her own. Here I found another genius way to put things in order :

Now this is a smart mom.
Shivaya Naturals: Tutorial Tuesday ~ Children's Activity Bag

save energy searching

2010-10-04T12:54:00.001+02:00

Saving energy possibilities are everywhere. Everything counts, save energy while searching the web. Use Blackle. Then you are preserving energy by not lighting up thousands of pixels you don't need, and you get used to the dark screen quite quick.

Autumn Inspirations

2010-10-04T12:49:00.000+02:00

"Fugle uro" -mobile #2 and a lot of fog .

We found a real fairy woods up in Fitjadalen.

Making food on the Primus putside, a little egg goes along way...

When it comes to meal planning and inspiration to veture outside the box, I highly recommend inviting someone to come and stay for a few weeks, and let their "normailities" rub off. Let them make dinner and bake pies, and go shopping, preferably at an arab grocers in Bergen, and before you know it, you have expanded the horizons and are eating the most wonderful breakfast ever, outside in the sun, of scrambled eggs with kale, which you scoop up in a piece of Nori seaweed dipped in soy sauce and sesame seeds.

Amazing. I would never come up with that! Thank you Joshua and Ramona, for the inspirations and pumpkin pies!

Great day for a row

2010-10-04T12:32:00.000+02:00

I has a post earlier on the "monstermasts"- these major power lines to be built across the mountain region here in Hardanger towards Bergen. We are naturally against a total destruction of our pristine mountains and tourist attractions, and hope that there are viable alternatives to this explosive need for electricity, and the fact that they will be importing from abroad (possibly from coal) to work the offshore drilling. One has to make a show when the prime minister of Norway, Mr. Jens S, makes a show as well, in Norheimsund. We all rowed out, with about 7 other boats, and met him on the way in. Was great weather, lots of people and great plums.

Lea and Julia Roberts.

People, flares, bright Autumn sun and Noa.

The PM arrives.

Funny twins. I think they love Ramona...

The three-man row team, Anders, Natalia and Joshua

::this moment::

2010-10-01T10:47:00.000+02:00

::a friday ritual. a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. (inspired by soulemama)::

Ode to lovely people.

2010-10-01T10:41:00.001+02:00

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

Beautiful Lea in pink.

Joshua and Lea carry water.

Joshua the horse, Noa the knight.

Mountaineering.

My Love.

As beautiful as his dad.

Mamma and Noa

Ramona and Joshua up at Døgnope, a beautiful hike with the kids.

Helping me bake Lebanese Fatayer, with spinach.

Jasmin reading for the little ones.

Bicycling across Europe is hard on your back. Lucky the one who has a wife.

Michaelsmas

2010-09-30T12:18:00.002+02:00

The much anticipated Micha-els mass came and went. I was really looking forward to the day, since it has been so long since we have had celebrated a festival. Despite that the preparations have been so sporadic, yesterday turned out beautifully. Joshua and Ramona left us early this morning to fly to the States for a few weeks (to return, I told a very worried Lea, "don't worry, they will be back!"), so it was also a little combined Bon Voyage, and a Harvest Dinner for Autumn. I put the two of them to the task of making the centerpiece for the table. They dove into the mission with gusto. Beautiful.

Hardanger Autumn- apples, nuts, berries, leaves and pumpkins. And a kohlrabi. Oh and oranges.

We have been singing two songs the last month, which of one has been a perfect Autumn song, as we walk up in the mountains, we have been really experiencing the decent of Fall. Lea has been the most avid singer, bringing the songs into her play during the days and early mornings.

It's golden in the treetops, it's golden in the sky,

it's golden, golden, golden, September passing by.

rolled beeswax candles.

Sct. Micha-el giving strength and light to Georg the Knight, on the Nature Table.

In the late nights of Autumn, on long September nights,
Micha-el sends falling stars, showing strength and light.
In the late night hours they fall, showering his starlight on all.
Falling stars, falling stars, shoot across the sky.
Falling stars, falling stars, bring to earth your light.

Dragonmas bread.

Baking dragon bread was something we did right before making dinner. I had read this beautiful little story to tell while mixing together the ingredients, found in the "All Year Round" book. Starting with

"the fair land (mounds of clean white flour), which became dark and desolate as the dragon lay it to waste ( emptying the yeast mixture into the bowl).
The darkness fell on the land, bring ice and snow (salt and suger).
Micha-el saw this from above and had great compassion he drew stars from the firmament and threw down (raisons) which became burrowed in the ground, and then he took pure sun shine and let fall to the earth (an egg yolk).
He then lets seeds (sunflower seeds) fall, and urged the people to come aout and plant the seds in the barren ground, and harvest the grain, make the dough, mix and mix, and bake the bread in the oven til it is done. Then to eat it, around a table with friends and family, with love int their hearts and a song on their lips."

Our song we sing before every meal was given in English after this story, which I sang, and then we felt so much more connected to the Norwegian one all through the baking, dinner and after.

Here the harvesting and good defeats evil is all combined, so I opted to not tell any other story this year. I have be been reading several versions, trying to decide how and which one, this short one was hands on, in-motion, rhythmical, and fit Jasmin just fine. And sometimes it is better not to have too high ambitions, or expectations, but take a few elements, and simply realize and accept this is not a Waldorf Kindergarten, I am a busy student, they were in Kindergarten earlier in the day and all is as perfect as one wishes it to be. Though next year I would like to do a a small puppet show, then Noa and Lea will also be closing in on four years old.

We sang around the dinner table together with the whole family, Ramona, Joshua and Jon Kristian included. It was a lovely experience for the all of us.

The children all were shining in their crowns and capes, smiling and red-cheeked by all the warmth from the candles.

Jasmin's french braided festival hair, by Ramona.
And homemade rose-hip/ hibiscus marmalade to go with the bread seen here.

Lea sweeping after dinner, before cookies and dragon bread.

silly girls.

Couchsurfer and the Sea

2010-09-27T12:43:00.001+02:00

We had Als stating with us a weekend a while back. She made us a killer green Thai curry and brownies, went on hikes and we took her to the beach to catch crabs, ate homemade buns and coffee on the Primus, while Anders went freediving.

Surfer Als (Alexandra). the sweetest British girl working in Oslo.

tide pool heaven.

Lea found the smallest crab we had ever seen.

Rain and the pox

2010-09-22T12:49:00.000+02:00

Rain and the pox is it indeed. It has started to rain, and just as the twins were off into healthiness, and I was back to work, Jasmin gets bitten by bird fleas, which then become more and more, until we realize poor thing, she has chicken pox. So here we are again. Though tomorrow it is Anders' turn to stay home. And I am off to the library i think to work. In the rain.

Ramona and Joshua are the most gracious house guests you could imagine. We have been making exquisite food, with a lot of toasted nuts and veggies. Lentil soups, falafel, fish soup, fresh breads and yoghurt desserts, los of Tabouleh and pizza, fatayer and greek yoghurt.
Ramona and I did yoga and Pilates this evening. Wonderful to be two.

Apple season is in, if you are in the area, Steinstø Fruit farm sells the best fresh juice, thick as syrup, and tasty goodness.

House Guests

2010-09-21T10:16:00.009+02:00

"Uro"- mobile #1.

apple season, picked at the ONE tree we have on old house property.

autumn nature table.

So, we have visitors and a house full of guests is wonderful!

Now Ramona nd Joshua are here for two weeks to begin with. The children love it, and get to practice thier English everyday with someone other than me. They get to train on all those sticky social skills and how to just BE... THen they are off to California for a wedding but will be back mid-October. They MIGHT be staying through the winter, waiting to bike on, and get to experience the Norwegian winter. I think it will be grand opportunity to be with friends one doesn't se so often, and learn how to live together. It is actually easier to make dinner for 7, since there are more adults to help out. Looking

forward to meal planning and new recipes!

beautiful guests had birthday same day.

Outside the Autumn is falling literally, and it is COLD. Anders put up a rope bridge a few weeks ago. Wonderful.

monkey jasmin.

finally a good shot of all three of them.

St. Michael.

Working, even from home, during the day causes all new dynamics in the home. I have found it necessary to plan and protect our waldorf-iness, lest it dissolves into everyday-ness.

I have been planning and preparing for Michaelsmas festival, on the 29th of September. Hoping to create a small littel celbration, with dragon bread and a combined harvesting/ Autumn festival, even though the season is early. We have been telling the story in various forms, we have been cutting sticks for swords and I have been planning their capes, to be made ready for them to get on the day of the party. I have an excellent little pamphlet on celebrating St.Michael written by a Inger Brochman, Used the resources for Autumn from Live-Education, Little Acorn Learning has a little and the Rhythm of the Home website has a little piece on it, AND a pattern for making the dragon! We have been practicing singing Falling stars from a wonderful parent resource I would like to recommend: Sing a Song of Seasons by Schunemann.

Falling stars, falling stars, shoot across the sky.

Falling stars, falling stars, bring to earth your light.

Seasonal songs in English, with a CD so I can learn the melodies first, usually when I am driving. Beautiful voice, lyrics and so easy for both mom and child to remember these tunees.

A new story book I stumbled over on Amazon: The Tale of Tiptoes Lightly, the first book in a series of stories about the forest fairy Tiptoes and her friends Jeremy Mouse and the little dwarves.

A wonderful collection of small simple, nature loving stories. It fits Jasmin perfectly, the two small ones drift off and play cats on the floor, as I read for her before bed time.

I am reading the first one in the series for now. Today I plan to read the one on of the Autumn stories,as it contains a story on Michael and the dragon, just another way to introduce it to Jasmin.

glimpses of sun in between

2010-09-11T10:34:00.008+02:00

went on a great hike a week ago with some good friends.

tried to get a few "family shots" in, this one was the best.

We are wedged into the woods where we live now. So one minute and we are out in "the elf-woods" (where we build houses for the little people), or the "golden-money woods" (where the birch leaves have started to fall) or the swing down by the tipi.

Mushrooms! Anders is crazy about them, I am a little sceptic. I eat them, and enjoy their flavor when smothered in butter and thyme, but they are still... mushrooms...

noa the chef, they all love to cook.

am so looking forward to the new kitchen, designed for kids!

Indian summer

2010-09-10T11:54:00.008+02:00

our spectacular view! we have had a few visitors lately, and we are constantly reminded how beautiful it is.

(and more to come, sweet ramona and her hubby (i think) are showing up next week!)

Friday gratefulness in abundance. The little ones have been "blessed" with vannkopper- i think the English translation is chicken pox- a mild strand at least . So they are banned from the Kindergarten, but other then a few itchy red spots all over, they are fine. So here we are. Enjoying the Indian summer at it's best.

We have been eating raspberries by the handful, not having the timeto neither make jam or bake. Put them on bread, in porridge, in yoghurt on on your fingers.

Last Sundays baking- little hedgehogs.

Not always so easy to wake Noa and Lea from thier nap...

Jasmin's new Kindergarten has been a blessing. Wonderful teachers, wonderful area and they are outside between 9 and 3. Collecting nuts this time of year is high priority, Jasmin has become quite a climber. And our shelves are overflowing with sticks,leaves and nuts from the slowly descending autumn. What to do with al these pinecones? Mobiles! Several Works In Progress!

Nuts on the nature table.

All comes and goes in phases, Anders is in a baking phase, which benefits all the rest of us. Cookies and croissants- which he completely succeed in. Pure French perfection.

I got him this t-shirt in on the street in Southern Lebanon. Doing what I am doing, it's pretty humorous to own a Hizbullah shirt. BUT I admit it was a little inappropriate with kids, I was not exactly thinking the day woud come when Noa asks: what is that? and points at the semi-automatic weapon in the emblem. Oops.

And since we are on the topic of Lebanon, my theses is going good. Amazing how much time it takes, how ultimately static it is too work in front of a computer and how fast the hours fly by.

News break

2010-08-30T13:19:00.008+02:00

Which would be a break for me, from reading the news. Life is great as a student. Time alone, sun streaming through the windows, piles of books, articles, adventure and opinion just waiting.

Children running around at kindergarten and husband at work.

Important tip and this months One Small Change for the benefit of ourselves, our environment and those around us: The Washing Nuts.

Here is a link for you Norwegians on where to buy them. They are good for the environment, good for your skin, for your clothes. Everything. And they are cheap, fair trade, organic, and they WORK. Believe me, I just washed a load of BAD cloth diapers. They are clean: smell clean, look clean, feel clean.

It is a small nut from India and Nepal, the shells contain saponin, which turns into soap when in contact with warm water, Been used for eons as natural soap.

Never again will I use chemical substances for washing anything. Totally unnecessary.

Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

this moment

2010-08-27T11:52:00.004+02:00

:::this moment:::

summer flashbacks

2010-08-27T11:48:00.003+02:00

warning: a lot of pictures. no captions.

Autumn winds

2010-08-26T21:30:00.007+02:00

first signs of autumn.

We love couchsurfers. Baz from Australia and Kate from Utah have been with us three nights, left today for Voss. For all the lovely families out there, opening your home for the world is an amazing concept, and works great with kids. They get to practise their English, communicate and feel the importance of opening your home to travelers and strangers.

Baz came back from hiking up Folgefonna glacier, and out of the blue, whipped up an apricot souffle. We had been in a Tiramisu experimental phase, which has now been replaced by souffles. Raspberry today. Tomorrow...

Sunday Serenity

2010-08-22T14:03:00.011+02:00

lunch. homemade labneh with garlic and cumin, homemade/slow-food salad from the garden and roasted potatoes.

I love Sundays. And I love trying to make them different from other days. The day is white, according to our Waldorf rythm. White, clean, serene. We show it in our clothes, our table and the way we move; clean and calm.

We baked sunbread for lunch. A ritual I would like to continue everyweek. You can vary the dough, but the concept is wonderful. I had Jasmin hooked on the whole process. She has been fleeting annd not foucused lately, so it was quite a feat for her. Presented it for dad at lunch.

lea loves daddy.

funny thing is, if they get to choose, lea chooses the doll and buggy-

noa his speedster bike.

no point in fighting against nature.

a small ode to my friend charlotte's house out in fykse. they have made this amazing garden area, beautifully done. and noa.

It is raining today. Real rain. First signs of autumn have arrived, back with more later.

Mountaineering 2

2010-08-20T20:38:00.004+02:00

As I have mentioned previously, we are into hiking now-a-days with the kids. Amazing how far a two year old can run! These are from a few weeks ago. Just a simple after dinner walk. Almost two hours, up and down. Beautiful area we live in now. Looks almost like the jungle. Anders is the photographer- thus all me, no him.

::this moment::

2010-08-20T13:13:00.005+02:00

::a friday ritual. a single photo capturing a moment from the week.

mountaineering. from the protest march last weekend. 4km hike. photo by journalist camilla kvamme.

Orange Pumpkins

2010-08-20T11:05:00.009+02:00

Stocked up on dates, nuts and feta.

Went a little bananas at an arab grocers shop in Bergen a few weeks ago. Everything is so much cheaper and fresher and better in town. Ah, the sorrows of living rural! Well, went a little crazy at this small shop, and came home with f.ex. a 7 kilo pumpkin, 5 kilos chickpeas, beans, parsley and miscellaneous you just cannot get out in the district. Like REAL hot chili flakes...

We have had pumpkin soup a few times, baked it in bread, and so on. Wonderful and nutritious. And very orange. Matches the late summer now well. We are enjoying hot summer days, but the cold autumn is always lurking in the back of my mind, I just keep expecting to start putting hats on the kids, and the rain getting cold, and the oak trees fading. BUT they don't. So, life moves along. Official daycare start gone well. Lucky that Noa and Lea are so old they can speak up for themselves. And say how much they missed me and love me when I pick them up.

I am bunkered down in the office, trying to write and read and do all these adult tasks. Lucky life indeed. Teh break from constant childcare is welcomed. I feel graced to able to just be me for a while, do my yoga and breathe, read what I studying with full concrentration and gusto. Very exciting.

August, by Ruth Elsassar

Am keeping up with the rhythm of our days I feel though all the same. We pick up the children at 14.45. Home to relax, we make dinner together and eat at 16.30. Which leaves wonderful time to DO things. Take walks in the wood, swimming in big basins of warm water out on the deck. We still watercolor paint, draw every morning breakfast and do arts and crafts, though they will mostly be on the days I am home with them all.

Tuesdays wildflowers,pressed on watercolor painted boards

(sample wooden floor boards we receive in the mail for the new house)

Beautiful Lebanese singer/ songwriter

2010-08-20T10:16:00.015+02:00

I was lucky enough to experience beautiful Youmna Saba twice while I was in Beirut.

She is wonderful. Lyrics in Arabic of course, but just listen!

Here is a link to a few songs.

I have not been able to find a legal way to purchase her music online yet. She will be releasing a full length album hopefully this autumn. You could always use the illegal version and send her $10...

Simple Sunday

2010-08-08T20:47:00.008+02:00

July's painting in our birthday calendar, by Ruth Elsassar.

Constantly drying woolies.

Say no more.

Summer days are longer then others. And they are crammed, packed, full with what and where and packing- unpacking. Beach, mountain, walk, picnic, snacks, coffee, tea, rain, boots, sandals. The weather is shifting, but warm. Been alone with the kids since Wednesday, and am getting into the routine, the meal planning, the songs, and the clothes, the laundry and the washing up.

Today we had second breakfast up in the woods, in the rain. We all came home drenched. Did not help they all decided to go wading in the lake with there clothes on. Their boots were NOT waterproof when the water levels reached their armpits, and flowed down the insides of their rain pants.

We had lunch outside in the garden with homemade soup and bread. Then, after watercolour painting and miscellaneous catastrophes, we ended up heading down to the beach at 4pm, the sun beating down, and went swimming. Back to make dinner, falafel with all the extras, and then off to bath, story, bed. Well, that is our days.

There are small things in our environment that are vital components of our day worth mentioning. The play silks are always in use, everywhere-all the time. The bird feeders we have hanging outside are a frequent focus, and conversation topic. Jasmin is an avid and genius, Memory -game player (the one where you find two of the same). She gets me to play all the time. I tell myself it is good brain food for me as well.

Birthday breakfast, with our birthday ring, and main gift wrapped in 5 silks, to be taken off one by one.

My little girl has reminded once and for all how old I am getting. She turned 5 in July, spent a wonderful morning eating breakfast outside with Farfar (Anders' dad) and Bente. Hard to fathom at some times. Other times, when she is arguing her point to her mother, I believe it.

The greatest change in our lives at the moment starts tomorrow. Jasmin will be switching to the outdoors- kindergarten here where we live. All 5 year olds, running around outside all day, based in a lavvo (a Norwegian tee-pee) if it rains. It will great for her. She has never been the ultimate sit-still-and draw-girl. She does, but would rather rough-house, and run up a trail.

The little ones will starting kindergarten too, three days a week, so I can finish my degree before it gets outdated (or I do...). I am excited for them, but already dread the moments I will miss out on, the small ow's I will not be able to blow on, and the smiles that will be gone to the wind. I am happy for myself too, seems like a vacation at the moment, the thought of NO kids, just ME, and books, papers, lunch and my Mac. I know things will look different as the deadline creeps up, but for now, all is joy.

Lea and farfar.

The whites beaches of Denmark. And crawly kids.

Anders and I planned LAST summer we were going to both get a kite surfing course this summer. That was our adrenalin ration for the year. When we lost the house and was dragged through the insurance this winter, we decided to post bone it, till we had time AND money. (Well, truth be, Anders is taking a weekend course this COMING weekend, so we have one down...) Anyway, second best was slack lining. Anders bought a small set-up, and we practised as we travelled around Denmark. Super fun, and easy to learn. And children get it quite quick.

Time flies when you are having fun

2010-08-04T22:16:00.004+02:00

Even my father started to complain about the never changing blog page...

Time had flown by, we have returned home now, and reentered normality. It has been hectic, wonderful, and an amazing two months. Lebanon, Denmark, Trondheim, Hitra and back to Hardanger.

Anders will continue traveling to work on a boat festival, kitesurfing in Oslo and signing *insha'allah* the contract with potential contractors in a few weeks.

Will be back with more, as we reenter housekeeping, back to school for me, and the wonderful autumn to come.

loves.

"summer" moment

2010-06-11T20:37:00.016+02:00

::::this moment::::

Furoshiki

2010-06-03T17:42:00.006+02:00

I was surfing around on the www. after seeing a great picture of someone carrying a cloth bag, made out of 1 piece of cloth. I found lo-and-behold a blog on nondisposable living. She was an avid user of the Japanese Furoshiki technique. Found a couple small youtube tutorials too. Good for picnics, food shopping, gift wrapping and handbags. You can use any material, old bedsheets or fancy silks. Amazing, and incredibly eco-friendly, aesthetic and almost like origami...! Here is a quick how-to-sew. A wonderful move towards no plastic, and less garbage. The japanese are always so elegant.

Well, I am off to try on the kids playsilks.

Books and Birthday

2010-06-01T23:58:00.005+02:00

I have a box high up on a shelf. A rainy day/ crisis box, of toys, books and things I do not like standing out, things we have too many of, or simply items to save for- a rainy day. A couple of days ago they all went into a whine. Hard to know why, but at any rate, I scooped out the books, plopped them all in living room area, and they were happy. I especially loved these two reading two each other. Communicating. Wonderful. The book is by R. Scarry by the way. The pictures they seem to like more than I do... Well, it will be back up on the shelf soon.

We have been cooking a lot lately, all sorts. But wanted to highlight once again an exciting book we are using. A lot of fusion, and new tastes, lots of veggies and lots of produce you simply cannot get here. Exciting. For example a simple LotusLandLinguine with crunchy woked vegetables and the simplest, tastiest peanut sauce I have ever had.

AND i had a birthday a few weeks ago. And received this wonderful old and functional! (adjustable from espresso ground to Bodum grind!) coffee grinder from Anders. We have cut back on coffee, for the best. Now we splurge on weekends, and go for quality cortados. And the grinder was just as much for kids as for me. The grinding is a great activity. Also for grain for breads.

The Free Gaza Flotilla

2010-06-01T23:17:00.005+02:00

I am "lucky" enough to be parked in the couch these few days due to a sprained ankle, and have been reading up on the International aftermath to this ongoing tragedy.

It is time to end these heinous crimes against humanity the state of Israel has been committing for too long against the people in Gaza. We, the International society have to act now.

Please, the way to cure misconceptions, fear and ignorance is through KNOWING. Read, read, read newspapers, articles, op-eds, videos, blogs and so on. I am not going to link to or recommend any specific news site or commentaries, you will have to choose the medium you trust best.

Good luck.

Greenness all around

2010-05-31T20:34:00.008+02:00

Spring nature table.

The small flower children.

I received these beautiful wooden Sprites from Syrendell on Etsy. They are wonderful! It is Jasmin's job to run out in the mornings and fill their hands with fresh flowers.

Felted bees.

a few glimpses into what we have been up to lately:

My WIP project now is cloth bags to hang by their beds, to find their clothes for the days, no questions and less mess. Jasmin made hers together with me, making the twisted rope and stitches along one side. She realy looks forward to finding out what she is to wear, now I just have to make sure I don't forget...

We did a lot of watercolor painting a while back, everyday, and did a whole wall feature, all of us painting our own side.

We celebrated whitsun (or pinse in Norwegian) with the kids Sunday morning a week ago, with paper white doves and washing, making everything clean and fresh.

The dandelions have sprung into seed, covering the hills in fairy-dust. Our garden is coming along, the days have been hot and dry, which requires a little more watering then I had expected, I was of course hoping mother-nature would take care of the watering situation. Pictures to come. Am slightly immobile as of yeasterday, on a hike up the mountain here with the family, I seriously sprained my ankle, have to use crutches, and am off to get an x-ray tomorrow.

our garden flag. handmade flagpole, just a little crooked...

Our greenhouse on the porch is an ingenious food-cart from and old ship Anders came home with one day. Not the most beautiful/ aesthetic piece of furniture, but very effective.

The tomatoes seem to like it at any rate, and the baby-salad is thriving.

To sum it up, Noa's tractor love. I made up a blue tractor lullaby special for him (I sing them all their own good-night song). A couple weeks ago we were at a great local small cultural happening, and they had put out this gorgeous little old blue tractor which WAS HIS tractor! He was amazed! Stunned.

News and days

2010-05-24T22:52:00.010+02:00

One month, that must be the limit. I have had this demarcation date in the back of my head now for days. Time flies when you are having fun, or simply extremely busy, all the same, time is all relevant, and "everydayness" and evening work has all been non- pleasure, all business.

The most important time consumer for me has been being accepted to quite a substantial seminar in Beirut in June, requiring intense read ups, and language buffering. I planned on going down in June no matter what, to do fieldwork, and when I was accepted it all sort of materialized. I am really excited about going. Really, it has been a year since last time, but still all too soon, to leave these wonderful kids, and my beautiful hubby. 17 days is a long time, a long time to be away, not just that they will forget me, but what I will miss out on. Like today, an everyday at home, involving Whitsun dove mobiles, baking lemon/ poppy seed cake for Noa's dolls birthday afternoon tea, laundry and gardening.

Noa conquered his Early Rider.

Walks in the woods. The twins are old enough to walk!! Without a buggy, and without one single beg or whine, this trip was about almost 2km one-way.

Strawberry season is up in Belgium. They are down to $4 for a box. Which is cheep. We invested in a quality blender a few weeks ago, and are now smoothie-ed out, on all the berries and spirulina. And coconut, pineapple, sesames, dates, and so on and so forth. At any rate, the difference between female and male hand-and-eye coordination revealed itself, with Lea handling the knife with dad.

Noa pretended to be participating... while sneak eating.

No strawberries in my cheeks, dad!

Will be back with more, asap. Good night.

::this moment::

2010-04-23T22:29:00.005+02:00

::a friday ritual. a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. (inspired by soulemama)::

Gardening in the snow

2010-04-23T20:14:00.008+02:00

These past weeks have passed in a blur. A little one sick, another cranky. Anders was gone last weekend, and attending a seminar in Oslo this one. I don't mind being alone, I use the time usefully for all kinds of good Waldorf fun, crafts, baking and GARDENING! Yay! Finally, we are stated. The seedlings have sprung out, and until yesterday, I thought we were going to start transferring outside, but then the weather changed.

Lea last week in moments of sun, watering her tray of sunflowers, and sweet-peas.

I am no gardener, nor do I have green fingers, BUT I do believe it is possible to create soemthing out of nothing, despite lack of skill. All you need is time, inspiration, and packets of seeds. Oh, and children help, I admit I would not be so excited without the little helpers, and Root Children stories and wonder of watching things BECOME, all pushing me on. Spending time outside just took on a new meaning. I really recommend a book "Gardening with Young Children" It's one of the Waldorf Early Years books.

I had decided to mainly plant in pots and boxes, as we are only living here temporarily. Then it dawned on me, that we indeed will be here till Christmas, long after the season is over, and any vital strawberry plants I wish to take with us, I just do. Well, here goes then. First stage has been digging out weeded areas that havn't been touched in years. We are going for full kitchen garden herbs, including parsley, rosemary, thyme, peppermint, basel, coriander. After that we got tomatoes, various flowers, sunflowers, radishes, baby salads, argula and maybe potatoes, if I can get the dirt turned in time. Now I just need the snow to melt. Again. And I need to get some sleep.

Spring?

2010-04-23T12:20:00.004+02:00

King Winter returns, with a blast of snow and ice.

In these volcano times, it makes you wonder. Though it is most likely simply unstable April weather, warm and dry one day- considering planting out the sweet peas, cold and snow the next.

Taking this opportunity to show Anders' massive wood benches/ work areas for kids. Amazing what you can do with a bench!

The Cloth Challenge

2010-04-14T13:34:00.007+02:00

The work in progress, at least in my mind, is the amount of waste one produses. How to cut it down. This was one of our monthly challenges. Thanks to borrowing from friends and buying used, we are back to cloth diapers. A must with TWO 2 year olds.

The cloth napkins and wash cloths are also a must. Done.

And for you women, cloth sanitary napkins are really easy! And the mooncup, works perfectly, is healthy for your body and the environment. They sell them in a store in Trondheim.

Sunday in the Sun

2010-04-12T22:34:00.004+02:00

We spent Sunday out at Rykkje, at some wonderful friends paradise, right by the sea. They had 4 brand new lambs, just a day old. S new that we could not get very close, will have to come back later when mama sheep is not so protective.

First day we could be at the beach, took off our sweaters and rain suits, AND they all could play on their own. A new era has begun. It is going to be great summer!

SPRING!!

2010-04-10T23:06:00.005+02:00

Photo courtesy of Jasmin.

Spring Nature table.

Mother Earth was beautifully done by a wonderful needle felt artist in New Zealand. Thank you Marie!

Nature Awareness Month

2010-04-10T22:13:00.004+02:00

Living in Norway, going outside everyday is as natural as any other rhythm of the day. We have a saying: there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. In Norwegian it's a nifty rhyme! Well, inspired by a blog post through a blog post, I heard about something called Nature Awareness April, and thought that would be a good idea, and inspire me to post a little more often, and take a few more photos!

We cook outside for lunch as often as possible.

New sandbox up and running. Water and sand is all one needs, more photos to come!

Easter Week and Moments of discipline

2010-04-07T12:45:00.010+02:00

Easter is not something we really celebrate religiously, but all the same, we have crafted and painted, and went on an Easter egg hunt Sunday, baked Hot Cross Buns, made buckwheat pancakes (again), and decorated an Easter tree. The spring is so close now. The leaves on the branches burst out after approximately 5 hours!

Watercolors on eggs

As the Easter gifts, I had ordered these wonderful knitted gnome hats from a wondeful woman on Etsy- her name is Judy, and her shop is Mama Judes. I think it is fine to know ones capibilities, and cheat a little. They ARE homemade. Each one got a matching hat for their doll too. Noa, the boy, loved his the most.

A little early morning play.

Bike time. Jasmin is learning how, Noa and Lea share a wonderful Early Rider.

Picking up on the French Cooking, Anders made some exquisite pate a choix- with raspberry cream filling.

All dolls invited.

Home making with kids is, lucky enough, all about just being home, and not having BIG expectations. They are still so small. Have reachded a point of relaxing more, on myself that is.

They are still so small, and all the same so capable of pulling your strings, and laughing it up! The concept of gentle dicipline, NOT reaising your voice and speaking in pictures is all wonderful, but difficult to incorporate at all times. I am really trying though. Really recommend "The Parenting Passageway", see link on right column. She has some wonderful insight into gentle dicipline, and doesn't require reading an entire novel, to get started.

Weekend Serenity

2010-03-29T12:24:00.011+02:00

Table set for red lentil soup, drizzled with feta, lime and with homemade foccaia bread.

We just had an incredible weekend. We were blessed with a couple couchsurfing OUT of the blue, visiting Europe from the States and Canada. We have had some incredible adult conversation and a well-needed dose of inspiration to cook.

I recommend this wonderful cookbook Rebekah had with her on her travels. We had an incredible linguini pasta with vegetables and a beautiful peanut/ lime sauce. Incredible. The recipe called for bok choy, which we don't have so often here in the outback, but we do have chinese cabbage- kinakål- for Norwegians, mostly used for salads from the 70's. And I never really paid any attention to it. BUT you can stir-fry it. Wonderfully crunchy, new and dirt cheap.

It is in the mail from Amazon as I type! Have been inspired to keep a list now of cookbooks we use on the side here. The Three bowls Zen Book was one we had in the old house, reordered it now. Vegetarian dishes are a good reminder to use more veggies.

Remnants of earth hours rolled beeswax candles. And spring lilies.

And being ever so intimate and loving with her lea-dolly.

my two boys in the sun.

Sunday chocolate chip cookies.

EARTH HOUR

2010-03-27T14:39:00.002+01:00

Don't forget! Participate, light candles, talk with your loved ones!

We will be having a great dinner with some wonderful couch surfers.

All the best for today!

Blog header

2010-03-25T23:45:00.002+01:00

I am stumbling around in the virtual world of configuring blogger headers, pixels and pastings.

Have patience with the confused formats. Have to go to bed now. early birds wake up in 6 hours.

First signs of Spring

2010-03-25T12:44:00.002+01:00

Snowdrop down, crocus up

Head held down, and head up

Down to Mother Earth

And up to Father Sun

Winter is over, and Spring has begun.

- Candy Verney

I found a tiny snowdrop blooming in the cold.

I'll share with you a secret, the little flower told.

Though Winter still is here, he hasn't long to stay

I came across to tell you, that Spring is on it's way!

-Christina T. Owen

Winter is stil very much a fact. It is raining bitter cold. We were at a playground today, the little ones have been asking for so long to go, so I decided to try and see if we could find the swings. The snow had melted enough to barely swing above ground. It was pounding rain, and foggy. But Lea loves to swing, and we found some buried tractors and shovels where the sandbox used to be, so Noa was set for an hour. So nice to be back to that.

::Work In Progress Wednesday::

2010-03-24T08:39:00.007+01:00

I am felting all the kids little easter eggs, for Easter Sunday next week. I had been wanting to for a long time, something organic and natural, and I found a great tutorial on Rhythm of the Home. Will post some more pictures next Wednesday. Have finished one so far. As I was working on that, Jasmin wanted to felt too, she does best at flat, dry felting.

Yellow hearts everywhere.

I am also making a dolls blanket for Cecilia, Jasmin's doll.

Funny pictures of Noa in girls clothes show up everywhere. Not so easy to understand for him WHY he is not allowed to wear a dress, so I say he can. Hoping that will not damage his masculinity...

House plans.

Spring is upon us! Thank goodness. The winter had been famously long, stabile and cold. Spring will be absolutely divine. The house plans are moving forward. Beautiful, functional.

Toy making WITH children

2010-03-18T11:11:00.006+01:00

Jasmin needed som money for her store, Noa needed logs for the tractor. Toy making is not so complicated. Needed: saw, branch, kids.

I have been looking quite a while for a child sized REAL saw. Found it not at a hardware store, but at the only real toy store in Norway:Alveslottet. The owner had also been on the hunt for some time. They do exist. Quality is good enough.

Baskets of goods. Food, boats, money, blocks.

This is a wonderful tractor we received from Aunt Rikke, Faster Rikke, Anders' sister in Denmark.

Quick peek at the trees and one of the squirrels Anders made for Christmas. Beautiful.

Diving for scallops

2010-03-18T10:52:00.003+01:00

Anders and Jon Kristian went out to the coast last weekend to freedive for scallops, oysters and fish. Lucky us. We even got all three to taste them raw, right from the shell. Sceptic, but brave. Most fun were the shells. We are blessed/ cursed with substantial amounts of them...

Ode to Love

2010-03-16T22:55:00.006+01:00

These last weeks have been a little tough. They have all been taking turns laying sick on the sofa, the weather has been damp, the spring happiness has been a little clouded by tiredness and housework duties, kindergarten projects and outdoor adventures have been limited to around the house, simply doing the rhythm of the home, everyday, is a joy. Luckily we have the morning rituals, the nature table, and the songs to remind us when and what is going on outside.

We have been blessed with amazing architects for the house. They are creating an amazing house for a family of 6- organic, modest, at the same time functional, and modern and aesthetic in form. As such, the evenings have been spent working on these, and Anders is doing an amazing job with the bureaucracy and insurence company that follows a fire.

We are blessed with the status quo.We work a minimum amount of time away from the home. Our children are here, with us, happy, and we are utterly aware of it. Acknowledgment and awareness is half the happiness.

Ode to Anders for finding the driveway.

Ode to two little ones.

Lea loves daddy. No doubt.

All the love, all the love.

Note on t- shirt: If you do NOT know Banksy, DO. He did the all important "Girl with Balloons" on the illegal built wall of segregation in Israel/ Occupied Palestine. He does some amazing stencil art, which is technically graffiti. I recommend a book of collected photos. Or see "Exit through the Gift Shop"

Signs of Spring

2010-03-14T13:25:00.004+01:00

This last week Winter has been pushed aside by rain and melting snow, blazing sunny days and melting snow. Spring is right around the corner. The seasons this year are timely and exact. Now we are preparing for Easter, birthdays and planting. The snow is still deep, so no signs of buds or tulips, but we have dug out one area for early planting, AND the sandbox has been located and we have begun to dig it out.

Mrs. Thaw ( Tante Tø) has been on the Nature Table for a week. Made by Haddy2dogs.

:::WIP Wednesday:::

2010-03-10T12:58:00.005+01:00

The work in progress this week is crocheting a rug for jasmin's small toes when she wakes in the morning, and preparing for easter.

This one is super easy. Long ripped strands of old pieces of bedsheets and curtains at the used store, "Plant et tre" (Plant a tree) here where we live. I have a great hook made out of holly, got it at Nøstebarn a year ago. Size 10 I think.

Green grass in baskets. Ready to bloom.

White Sunday

2010-03-07T23:05:00.005+01:00

Picture of "The White Bear: King Valemon" fairy-tale on the Nature Table

One Small Change:::March

2010-03-07T21:44:00.002+01:00

March thundered in on us unexpectedly.

February passed in a wind of visiting grandmothers, I went to London with my brother, and all three kids have been sick for over a week. At least we are on our way out of it now. The days have passed almost without time, as the winter is stabile and cold, the snow white and the sun bright. I miss being outside.

March's inspiration is cloth, cloth, cloth. Cloth napkins, cloth diapers, and cloth pads for women. Which I highly recommend.

We always use cloths in the kitchen, for everything, and we have 30 in a drawer, so we wash a lot, but napkins are more formal, and can be used to highlight the color of the day.

Blog-Award stafett

2010-02-11T19:53:00.003+01:00

Takk til Tonje for dennne lille utfordringen.

Det ser ut som om jeg må fortelle noen små sannheter om meg selv:

Hmmmm...

1. Jeg er i gang med en sakte kostholds omlegging i familien, men klarer neppe å si fra meg en hjemmelaget Cortado om dagen. Eller to...

2. Vi har ikke TV, men må si at vi ser det siste av det siste av Desperate Housewives, og Lost sesong 6 har nettop begynnt....Ulovlig nedlasting biter ikke så hardt...

3. Jeg er hektet på å lese internasjonale nyheter, blogger og ymse fra Midt-Østen daglig. En god motpol til livet hjemme med de små.

4. Jeg er i gang med 4 bøker samtidig på nattbordet.

5. Selv om jeg får lov å sove ut på en morgen, våkner jeg uforskammelig tidlig.

6. Har aldri tid til den der fantastiske yoga'en. Heldigvis starter Pilates i bygda på mandag!

7. Skulle ønske det fantes slike ull-nattdrakter fra Nøstebarn, MED fot, til voksne.

Kjenner ikke så mange andre bloggere, får se hvem jeg utfordrer videre.

Package from Beneath the Rowan Tree

2010-02-11T11:49:00.010+01:00

It took me a while to reorder the playsilks after the fire. I did not want to go for these Sarah Silks which I didn't really like, so I found a wonderful woman on Etsy.com, Beneath the Rowan Tree, who hand-dyed them and sent them to me in Norway. Absolutely wonderful quality and colors! I am so happy, and so are all the kids, they have been in use ALL the time. Really the best toy ever.

My unwrapped magic.

Basket of silks

In addition I ordered 7 little dwarves, one for each day of the week. Have to switch them out every evening, but Jasmin is already finding a little joy in finding them in the mornings, aknowledging their color, the color of the candle and todays dinner on the menu planner.

Thursday hiding in the trees

A beautiful little gnome for today

Chores in The Waldorf Spirit

2010-02-10T20:37:00.005+01:00

Helping and encouraging the children to help out is not just simply to make our lives and days a little easier. It is also for their own good. To bring rhythm, the single most important aspect of home life, is exactly what cleaning up and chores are, the utter consequence of things.

But it is not always easy, and it takes a lot of work, or stamina to see it through. Even when one would simply like to sit and enjoy that one cup of tea after dinner, trying to talk to each other, you know that being able to hold the space, and see it through the evening ritual is absolutely necessary.

A couple of weeks ago I had left the blocks out on the floor in the evening. We usually clean pretty well before we go to bed, but we have been working on the insurence papers practically every evening, and opted to get some sleep over picture perfect. The first thing Jasmin says as we stumble down the stairs at 6am, to make tea and make a fire, is : Oj, what a mess! I was heartbroken and so proud at the same time. Well, at least she has expectations, and has learnt how nice it is to be met by a clean inviting space t the beginning of a day.

Helping in the kitchen is our forte. We are incorperating the "island" in the kitchen in the new house, simply because we love having the kids help. And they are quite capable if you just let them ahave go at it. ( With a healthy dose of fear for the big knife...) They can see forst hand what goes into the compost, the necessary ingredients for baking, the process of whipping cream and making my coffee. They roll and cut and stir and especially love watching the popcorn pot, waiting for the first corns to pop. (A great opportunity to do tongue twisters by the way. Pop, pot, stop, a lot...)

A quick look in our "helping out" rhythm for a four year old on a regular day:

Putting away nighties in the morning.

Clearing breakfast dishes.

Sweeping.

Wiping table.

Washing pots in the sink. Water play in reality.

Putting wool clothes back in shelves when we come in. Hang up suits.

Put away playthings.

Set table.

Sort silverware from the dishwasher.

Light candle for King Winter on the Nature Table.

The list could go on...

This was an uplifting exercise, seeing how much she actually tries to do.

Happy days with the children to you.

One small change February Challenge

2010-02-07T19:32:00.007+01:00

We have shifted to Optima Products in the house cleaning no problem. Along with the EcoVer dish soap and Sonett wool wash around the house, we are in good shape.

The one small change for this month must be food planning and grocery shopping cut down to a bare minimum. This will indeed benefit the environment, our economy and the time and resources we spend on shopping. Planning ahead is a lot less time consuming than anticipated, I cannot see WHY we have been so slow on getting started. Have written for the coming two weeks, and bought in more or less all components. Have to do vegetables and salads a little as we go, since they do not last very long.

The Star Money.

2010-02-06T15:26:00.007+01:00

I have been telling the story of The Star Money quite often these past weeks. I like the idea of repeating the same story, using original language, singing songs, enacting, and talking about the same story everyday. And I have firm belief that such stories will speak to the small child for every repetition. I am not a musical person, nor am I fluent on any sort of instrument, but I did try to go through this wonderful Star Money Circle found in the Live-Educations Kindergarten curriculum, consisting of 4 different verses, and speech.

by ruth elsaessar

Candlemas and snow, snow, snow

2010-02-02T21:57:00.008+01:00

For all you in Norway, I looked up Candlemas to be "Kyndelsmesse", originally the same festival of shining lights, when Marie brought Jesus to be purified to the temple 40 days after his birth. Now, at least in the Waldorf tradition, it is a day of cleansing, spring cleaning, rolling/ dipping /lighting many candles, making apple pancakes for breakfast, (the circle a symbol of the sun.)

And most important for Jasmin today:

If Candlemas Day be clear and bright,

Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again.

Blue sky and crispy. Perfect.

The sun arose over the mountin at 9.30 in all its splendour and continued to shine and melt the day until the very end. Winter is here to stay. We have dug our paths and hills and caves in the yard, we are out several times a day for hours, in to to eat and rest and out again before nightfall.

Preparing the apples for pancakes.

Watercolor painting after lunch.

Snack at 2pm was "Apemad"- a Danish Monkey Dish with cut fruit,

whipped raw cream and vanilla and shredded cocoanut. Beautiful.

Gratitude Friday

2010-01-31T22:54:00.005+01:00

I have borrowed this wonderful term "Gratitude Friday" from a wonderful, inspirational blog "Waldorf Mama".

This Friday we had Elias over, like every Friday, except this particular Friday was exceptionally wonderful and gratifying.

The weather was an amazing example of Winter Wonderland, the children were happy and content.
Jasmin and I did "big girl" stuff while they slept. Still trying to sow with her a couple times a week. The stiches are all hers!

One Small Change

2010-01-31T22:39:00.004+01:00

Where to start, though we do feel we are doing a little, our situation could be better:

1. We lost all our lovely, and expensive cloth diapers in the fire. And I have not had the energy or economy to buy or make new ones, or used for that matter. But enough is enough! The amount of garbage these two twins make is outrageous, AND expensive. So some "new" old ones please.

2. Composting is going great, we have a warm compost system that is consumating our quite large amounts of left-overs everyday. Which, even though we have a compost system is too much. SO, for the new year buy less, make less and throw LESS away.

3. Amount of chemicals we surround ourselves with. We use Eco-Ver dishwasher soap and all the good Weleda stuff in the bath, but for house cleaning, apart from th tradional Norewgian, "Grønnsåpe"-brown soap, we still use JIFF in the bathroom. The smell says it all. We are 6 people in a bathroom, but that is no excuse. Anders is great fan of a local made series, made right here where we live, based on natural organic products you could basically eat. And they are all PH neutral.

So three areas for improvment and all in line with living up to our living standards.

I came across a blog inciting us all to choose one area for improvement per month until earth day, whivh I intend to try to live up to. I urge you to do the same.

King Winter Revisited.

2010-01-28T22:36:00.003+01:00

Winter is here to stay this year, dry and cold.
Wonderful.
Our nature table has been white and sparse, until I finally let go of my inability to find the time this year to felt a King, and found this wonderful woman on Etsy, who felted me the most wonderful King Winter. As to order, as Jasmin pointed out King Winter looks like the King in Else Beskows book, and incredibly fast. King Winter's throne and place was waiting and now he is here. The same day it started to snow again and all was well in the home of rythm and meaning in the day.

WIP Wednesday

2010-01-20T12:30:00.004+01:00

Work in Progress. Ahem, does accounting count? No? Well, in a desperate attempt to create for the children I have begun on COSTUMES. After reading "THe Creative Family" by Soule.

First off, blue silk cape. Hand-sewn because sewing machine, which I have just borrowed since mine toasted, is so much noisier then sitting in the sofa with them walking around.
Second, learning to knit, for real, it takes time, and I will show something on a post as soon as it is worthy.

Happy Working.

Yellow Wednesday.

2010-01-19T19:57:00.011+01:00

Waldorf in the home, back to basics.

In a full fledged dive into IT, we broke our Waldorf fast by going IN TO tuseday with a PLAN: Oh my goodness!!!

Tuesday snacktime. Look at these wonderful two vests my friends mother knitted for the twins. That does it, I have to start to. HAve got the needles and the wool in the mail...

A few shots of story time.

Jasmin and I do sewing and water-color painting when the twins sleep. She has started sewing a flannel-doll, inspired from the Live-Education resources. "Winter work", which lasts until summer, seeing it through with her, I am excited, her attention span is anywhere from 5 minutes to 15.

Stacking wood under Buddha

2010-01-19T19:56:00.005+01:00

The intense cold weather lately called for more wood, from a local farmer. We spent an hour in the evening stacking outside with the children. The joy of seeing them actually work and participate till the very end was worth the cost of the wood itself.
Real work for real kids. And headlamps, we use them all the time outside now. Never leave home without them.

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-18T21:48:00.003+01:00

4 hours of daylight. Rest time is at 12, so the time allotted to out is minimal, but lovely.

Etsy.com

2010-01-18T21:36:00.003+01:00

It seems life never ceases to suprise. Like finding the website: Etsy.
Imagine all this wonderful homemade goodness and art, all right there.
Check it out. I had no idea people were so crafty...
It is global too, everywhere. Buddha prints, felted dolls, hats, jewelry and beautiful handmade treasures.