What Anna's Up to Now

"Winter is not a season, it's an occupation" -Sinclair Lewis

2012-01-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

Might as well call this one "A Study in White"....

Treehouse

God Jul!!! Some Christmas photos and Winter-scapes!

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

Hello and God Jul! So, quite a bit of time has past since my last post! It's Winter here now, of course, and we have had a few good snowfalls mixed with a bit rain since it has been rather unseasonably warm lately. I've included a few photos of the beautiful winter snow-scapes and as well as some Christmas pictures, to give you an idea of "Jule" decorations and customs. I may add to these as the Christmas season continues, but here is a little taste for now.

View from my bedroom window

View from the porch

The Oak tree in winter

I've also included a few photos of some foods. There are many foods traditionally eaten around this time of year--such as smoked lamb ribs, lutefisk, rice pudding, as well as desserts such as caramel pudding, chocolate, Christmas fruit-breads and saffron rolls, and lots of marzipan candies. Also there are Christmas ales, spirits such as the caraway-flavored Akevitt and of course, the mulled wine beverage, Gløgg. A good recipe for Gløgg can be found here: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/22/144101579/get-into-the-holiday-spirit-with-scandinavian-glogg

A good non-alcoholic Jule-Øle and a Marzipan pig (usually used as a prize for whoever finds the almond hidden in the Christmas rice pudding)

Rack of Smoked Lamb ribs hanging out before being chopped apart via hammer and axe, and then steamed over birch-sticks for cooking

Good picture of what they look like when "done"

Coconut Macaroons I made from a freshly hacked apart and toasted coconut

Below are a few photos of decorations for a feel.

Fresh greens: Holly, Ivy and Juniper cut from the woods used to decorate

Christmas Creche

Greens in the foyer

Jule-post!

Some wooden mushroom ornaments added to the greens, a nod to the beserkers of old...

And the Jule-Nisse by the Creche, of course. After all, nisse hang-out in stables.

Our tree with the Norwegian flags and straw ornaments

One of my presents is a lovely example of Norwegian wool-work.

The Nes

That's all I have for now, hopefully I can get some more photos taken and posted soon.

FYI -->

2011-11-17T03:46:00.000-08:00

If any of you are interested in purchasing postcards, prints, etc. of any images on this blog, I finally have a Deviant Art account and put a few up there, if there are any requests just feel free to shoot me an email at z155240@gmail.com and I can edit a photo and put it up there. Rates are pretty darn good for a high quality print or postcard and you can help support me as a starving artist =P

My account is: http://riahart1989.deviantart.com/

Anyway, promise to take some more photos and get a REAL post up soon!

Cheers!
~A

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks" -John Muir

2011-11-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that autumn is my favorite time of year. Don't get me wrong, I love all the seasons for different reasons--but there is something about the dying, or rather "falling asleep" of the natural world that is melancholic but nonetheless romantic. Norway in the fall has been quite the treat for me, despite the frequent rain, I'm finding that the cloudy grey-ness of it all makes one appreciate even more the few spatterings of sunlight that appear in increasing rarity. I'm certainly taking this post as a way to clear off some camera images, so its probably not the most "interesting", but there are some beautiful shots I got.

Norheimsund from elevation

Lichen covered tree

Freshwater lake in the mountains.

For those of you interested in the Sami people, there is a very fine article in this month's National Geographic about them, here is a link to some of the lovely photos from the article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/11/sami-reindeer-herders/larsen-photography#/16-summer-reindeer-calf-marking-670.jpg

Finally, I'll leave you with a little Hauge:
Everyday
Drops in the East Wind, 1966

You've left the big storms
behind you now.
You didn't ask then
why you were born,
where you came from, where you were going to,
you were just there in the storm,
in the fire.
But it's possible to live
in the everyday as well,
in the grey quiet day,
set potatoes, rake leaves,
carry brushwood.
There's so much to think about here in the world,
one life is not enough for it all.
After work you can fry bacon
and read Chinese poems.
Old Laertes cut briars,
dug round his fig trees,
and let the heroes fight on at Troy.

The folk who live in the waves call out to me- "We sing from morning till night; on and on we travel and know not where we pass."

2011-10-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

There were some blustery autumn winds today and as a result the fjord waters were quite choppy. Went for a stroll down to the Ness and I figured I'd share it with you all.

Waves breaking on the rocks

Shed overlooking fjord

Stone steps to the shoreline

Boats being over turned by the waves

So, boats getting turned over, high winds, overall dangerous conditions....what do the locals do? Stay inside? NO! Those Viking Badasses go WINDSURFING!

AND boating....with the dog even!!! Crazy Nords.

These converse were NOT made for walking

Snow on the Mountains

2011-10-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

So, sorry that it has been a while since I last posted! We've had a lot of rain here lately and I've had some medical issues that I'm coping with thats been slowing me down. Anyway, finally had a sunny, beautiful autumn day today and felt good enough to exert some energy, so I took a walk around Torfjell and about the old summer farms nearby. The mountains now have their first dusting of snow for the season. The summer farms were a large part of the old Norwegian agricultural society, they were used by the maids who tended to the sheep in the mountains during the summer months away from the men and older women who stayed back at the homestead. There are some that are hundreds of years old that are still standing alongside many new hytte (or vacation cottages).

Torfjell with "new" snow.

Boathouses new and old

Note mix of Summer farms and hytte on hillside

Beautiful hytte

Old "Summer Farmhouse" and it's outhouse

Hiker enjoying the last of the warm days

Eidfjord, Vøringfossen and Kjeåsen

2011-09-17T00:54:00.000-07:00

Eidfjord is in the innermost part of the Hardangerfjord. There is a nature center there which has a very impressive scale model of the region, as well as exhibits about the lifestyle and culture of the inhabitants, the reindeer herds and the trout fishing operations.

Yes, this is a goat on the roof of a shop, that's how they keep the grass on the roof trimmed.

Children's Hardanger Bunad (regional rural garments of Norway)

Norwegian sweaters for sale!

Herd of stuffed reindeer in the exhibits

Dramatic scenario exhibit!!!

Statue of Viking huntsman in the exhibits

Next on the agenda was an overlook to see Vøringfossen, a magnificent waterfall with a 182 meter vertical drop. They have a nifty hotel built by the overlook and there are some very nice walking areas. The landscape is very interesting and since its is so close to the tree-line, there are remarkable types of vegetation that is only seen higher above sea level.

Bare birch trees speckle this landscape since autumn has already seemingly come and gone.

View walking up to the overlook.

Lingonberries grow wild around here, as do crowberries, blueberries and the sweetest raspberries I've ever had.

Bare birch trees

Vøringfossen

After the waterfall, I went to Kjeåsen, a mountain-plateau farm which is at least 400 years old and lies close to the treeline, 530 meters above the fjord. It has been called the world's most "inaccessible" farm and up until the 1970s the only way to reach the farm was a step vertical climb of bare rock-face up the side of the mountain. There has been at least one book written about the family who lived up here and the stories are fascinating. Apparently, if someone was old, they would decide when to descend the mountain so as not to put their loved-ones through the inconvenience of removing their body from the farm if they were to die up there. For some more information the wiki page is: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Kjeåsen&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8. Hit the first "result" and "translate", can't seem to get the link to work directly.

View from the farm

Old farm buildings dating back to the 1600s.

More to come, I'm sure, when I'm not working and if money allows. =)

Excursion within the Øystese-region

2011-09-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Went for a drive in the region surrounding the town of Øystese this Sunday afternoon and took the dog. Above he is seen terrorizing some poor sheep. Below are three more videos, the first being a view from a nice vantage point overlooking the fjord and the second and third are "driving" shots. Again SORRY, the video quality is awful! Thanks to my gimp-camera.

Next are some photos. Please forgive the volume of animal-photography. There are animals everywhere, you see. And they tend to be more photogenic than I am, so I rather have them in the pictures "for perspective" than my awkward form.

Non-native ape species and non-native dog species

This is an electrical company, actually.

Hillside dotted with mixture of rocks and sheep

Curly-horned "wild"-type rams

The Norwegian Fjord horse...and in my opinion, the most adorable creature ever.

Cleaning the card

2011-09-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

Wiping my card, so here are some random Norheimsund pictures and photos of the woods and fjord. So, not a "real" post by any means. Enjoy.

Farm with apple trees

Norheimsund

Cabin I want to own.

1,000 year old oak tree. Now...this makes me understand the Druids.

Hollow of the oak

Tree covered in mushrooms

Snorri, Egon and Whale Meat---Velkommen å Bergen.

2011-09-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

First up, what I am currently working my way through...I strongly recommend Hauge, wonderful Norwegian poet

Went back into the city today and was able to explore a bit more than I had been able to during my last visit. Mostly I ventured around the historic Bryggen area (old port/docking area and fish market).

Statue of Snorri Sturluson, the author of Eddas and Norse Mythology

Read more about Snorri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snorri_Sturluson

View of the Bryggen, some of the buildings dating as far back as 1702

Odin and Thor, they are damn near everywhere. =P

View of the narrow alley ways in the Bryggen, note the wooden streets

Pelt and fur shop

Reindeer pelts for sale

Everything is crooked!

Restaurant sign in Bergen...Damn, Chicago follows me everywhere....

MORE TROLLS!

Lovely little coffee shop

Finally had a beer. A Carlsberg...for a whopping k33! Beer is cheaper in America.

Pigeon I wooed with the aid of some peanuts

And just as I was settling into the differences of a European city and enjoying the sheer "Norwegian-ness" of the place--------I saw it....horror of horrors!!!!!!!!!

Just when I though I had found the ORIGINAL McDonalds...I realized that only the building was what dated back to 1710 (note plaque at top). BOO!

Damn you, America... Damn. You.

Had to go to an actual Norwegian restaurant chain now to combat the sheer evil that is American fast food...in other words one of the several Bergen "Egon's". This restaurant chain is named after a Norwegian "hero"---a fictional thief and the mastermind leader of "The Olsen Gang" from the popular and almost cult-classic films all about the criminal gang's misadventures.

Norwegians give their children great role-models...

Interior use to be an old meat market

I'm told that the fish market is THE place to be on the Bryggen...so, I have some pictures. Unfortunately, I got there as it was closing (yeah, like 3:30 in Norway, btw), so I didn't see too much. Almost everything closes at literally 4pm.

Stand

Stand selling sausages...whale, moose and reindeer. I bought some whale sausage.

OH, and disclaimer! The whale meat sold here is not from endangered species and its harvested with ecological consideration, so NO, I'm not going to feel bad for buying it. Its not like I'm buying Japanese whale meat, for pete's sake.

I also had a very nice salesman give me a free whale steak cooked right there on the grill... because I was a cute American girl who had never had it before.

Win!

Odd way to flirt with someone though...looking back on it..."here's some whale meat on me".

I didn't mind. It was delicious. And kind of a weird mix of fish and steak taste...if that makes any sense to you.

Note tubes of "Kaviar", yes TUBES. I've had it...its salty and pink and alright I guess.

Square by the wharf, note the way the buildings go up the mountainsides, the statue is of Ludvig Holberg.

And if you don't know who Holberg is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludvig_Holberg

Alright, thats enough for now...going to go eat some more whale meat (in sausage form and on flat bread) because it tastes good. So sue me.

=P

A Day at Work

2011-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

So, as a job I help out cooking and serving meals at the Gamlestovo (old farmhouse) from roughly the 16th c. with parts that may be older. I get to work with my Dad which is alright and lets face it, its pretty dang cool to work out of a 16th c. building.

First up are some shots of randomness that may or may not interest some of you...

Mushrooms found by my house, the red type was what reportedly (old wives tale if you ask the locals) the Vikings ate before Beserking.

Local "goods", teas, berry syrups, this store is where you can find reindeer meat and cloudberry syrup.

Mushrooms from the region, dried and ready to cook with (see reindeer cooking post)

Dog picture...I warned you about these...I just like that he was thoughtful enough to allow the cat some room on the couch. What a sweety.

Next up, quick tour of "where I work".

My Dad and his Atypical cook work get-up

Foyer area, some original furnishings and utensils

Old stove in Gamlestovo

Very old (and tiny) bed and tiny slanted door I have to get in and out of the kitchen through

Tables set for dinner for 20

After "work" today, I was treated to a very beautiful sunset I could see as soon as I walked out after serving dinner.

More Sunsets...

How to cook reindeer and the glacier close-up

2011-08-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Wanted to try some traditional food and have already tasted the smoked mackerel here (served on toast or with cold, cooked potatoes). This is a simple preparation of the "exotic" reindeer, which is a dish more commonly seen in Northern Norway where the Sami people raise these creatures.

Raw reindeer meat goes in the pan with some onions

After being sauteed with onions, mushrooms and juniper berries, its put in a pot with cream and brunost cheese sauce

Served over a bed of rice or potatoes

Tea makings from wild growing berries, rosehips and juniper berries

Photos from my day-trip to go have a closer view of the Folgefonna glacier I can see from my home. http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Theme/What-to-do/Active-holiday/Blue-ice-trip-on-the-Folgefonna-Glacier/

To get to the glacier we had to cross part of the fjord

Cows on the way up to the glacier

Meditating cow...contemplating the nature of the mountain =)

Mama ewe and her lambs also on the way to the glacier

Glacier up close

Melting glacier water running right off the glacier

Hikers on the glacier

In front of the glacier's beginings

Glacial pool up above the tree-line

You can see part of the winding road down here

Rocks left standing on other rocks from when the glacier receeded

Glacial waterfall and the glacier in the background (note pockets of snow)

Sheep and a little building, also far above the tree line

The color of the ice is actually an aquamarine hue, reason why the pools are also that color

Me and Bamse!

Bamse now being contemplative himself...to the best of his doggie ability

Glacial Waterfall (did collect some fresh glacier water while up there)

Og mer

2011-08-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Didn't all fit into a single post, so here.

Snail on blackberry plant

Pony on hillside

Mushroom in woods. This place is chock full of mushrooms, molds and mosses.

Wild roses, making some tea with the hips

Beautiful rocks by the fjord

Road to Norheimsund

"New" Farmhouse......not very new at all....

Water lily in farm's garden

TROLLS!

Steinsdalsfossen

2011-08-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

View outside my office window this morning.

Here are some images from my jaunt to Steinsdalsfossen, a waterfall you can walk behind. http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/norway-steinsdalsfossen.html

Mountains in area around the falls

Yes, I was HERE

Lefovers/ testing the camera.

2011-08-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

So, plan to make a "real' post later on today, but here's some random randomness I made while testing my lens. Guess the camera function is fine, but the video function tends to have a weird orange glare...um...its kinda "retro"...yeah....oh, and I KNOW I sound like a moron. This was a TEST =P

Test Picture

Okay, I promise to make a "real" post later today, but I wanted to get this nonsense off of my camera before I go on any reaaaaaaallll adventures =P

Mud and Mountains and Coffee and Cake.

2011-08-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Started the day off with falling into a marsh while trying to photograph Torefjell, "Thor's Mountain", while on my way back from Øystese where I had purchased a nice used parka for only k70!!! My camera, however is still drying out and I may have to go and buy a replacement (thank god it was a $35 camera to begin with). All in all, I've learned to look down more often, which is not so easy considering how breathtaking the landscape when you look up...and today was actually a very clear day after two days of rain. Anyway, the rest of these photos are from my father's phone camera which I purveyed for my own purposes, so forgive the quality.

<--Torefjell

,--ditto

<--again, shall get it again when it snows probably starting in October-ish.

<--somewhat zoom.

Found out WHILE trying to FIX my camera that it has a panoramic option...sooooo.....plan to improve my photographic efforts in the future. boo. Anyway, that afternoon, we had coffee at a friend's relative's orchard, which is brimming with apples and pears and plums right now. We sat around the old boat houses off of the fjord banks.

<--Some trees in fruit

<--fantastic apples

<--Boat house and our host

<--another view of a somewhat newer boathouse.

<--Kaffe og kake neste fjord. =P

ANYWAY, when I get my camera alive again or when I get a new one, I'll do some panoramic shots...but I cannot emphasize enough what an injustice any photo does to the beauty of this place.

More Settling (and getting random pics off of my camera)

2011-08-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is just a bunch of garbled randomness on my camera that is left over from the other day mostly, but hey, some of you may get a kick out of these.

<--Found a user manual so that I may properly use the ones I find everywhere during my time here. =P

<--Apple trees overlooking the fjord

<--Horse on the horse farm a little higher than my home.

<--Horse and background (very high up)

<-- ditto...

<---Some very lovely clouds by the barn

<--Lovely carved chair in my Dad's house.

<--Some knives in my Dad's, some are Laplander, I know the one on the far left is for sure.

<--Yes, more of the dog, I'm sure I'll bore you with these soon enough

<--Trees growing on top of the old farmhouse

<--some lovely flora by the fjord

<--VERY old stone "throne" on the property

<--Shetland ponies on the farm and Bamse's best friends, they all trot down from the mountain when they see him coming and he whines for them. Its rather charming and funny since he is almost as big as they are!

Alright, hopefully a more coherent post to come. Trying to plan some sightseeing adventures here soon enough.

Settling In

2011-08-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

First order of the day, go and greet the dog---usually found in some silly position in order to gain your attention.

Trip to the flat in Bergen, random street scene ->

<--- Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains, here is one =)

<--More Bergen street

Socrates in his nest -->

<--My dad in his nest

Note grass covered roof of holiday center -->

<Holiday center

Giant chessboard for giants (see John Cleese for reference ;)

<--Back of Ness Farm

Little sunroom overlooking the fjord on the farm >

<the fjord

Woods on the trail up the mountain -->

<Fresh wild blueberries I picked and then promptly devoured.

Again, more to come! So far just settling in and enjoying the mountains and the berries and the brown cheese and the goats and sheep and dogs and cats and even the rain =)

Jet Lagged

2011-08-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Alright, pretty insanely jet-lagged, but figured ya'all needed some photos of the basics. So....

My Room:

Note the really neat-O old trunk dated 1887 -->

My dad's dog Bamse, who weighs 20 pounds more than I do!

View from the office window ^

Where I live -->

That white in the middle is a glacier -->

My dad and Bamse in entrance to Ness Farm

Building on stilts to keep the "animals out"

Me outside the old 16th C. farmhouse on Nes Farm

^--Door where the dead bodies would leave, no joke. Guess they couldn't leave from the door the living went through.

<--More views from the ness.

<--Norheimsund

<-- 1,000 year old sacred oak tree on the property that is protected by law.

More later.... :)