....If I was sent to a remote island, allowed to bring only one thing, I would bring with me my old eiderdown duvet. Light, soft, warm during the winder, cool through a summer night, when my naked body feel its texture shivers are creeping down my spine. Ever since I was a tiny little girl an eiderdown duvet has been my best friend.
....Sometimes a small feather or some down find their way through the fabric. I pick it up with my thumb and index finger and in the softness I can feel the small eiderduck babies, I can follow the busy life of the eiders when they strive to give enough warmth to their newborns.
....Seagulls down have the same soft feathers and downs as the eiders, but they are much easier to photograph. And they are beautful out here with the huge ocean as their background. In Lofoten we visit a small seamen's hut one day, and the nature screen in front of us let us follow the lives of small seagull babies, looking like soft grey feather balls, still without wings. Time stops and I become a flying seagull.
Taking a break in my flying I read about the eiderduck kingdom on the small island Lånan outside Vega:
Lånan is no longer inhabited while the winter storms are raging their worst. The last inhabitants moved from the island at the end of the seventies. Nevertheless every year when spring arrives the eider keepers returning to look after the ducks. They prepare nests and protect the eider ducks from danger during the breeding season. As a reward the ducks return year after year and provide their keepers with valuable eiderdown, eggs and lasting memories of nature experienced.
....The down has to be collected, cleaned of egg shell and laid out to dry. Afterwards it must be shaken out, sieved on the harp, and then given a final thorough cleaning before it is transformed into the world's best eiderdown duvets.
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Photos: taken from the veranda of friends hut in Lofoten.
Information about eiderdown from www.lanan.no
Note: It is possible to come to Lånan and stay there a few weeks in spring helping with the gathering and preparations of eiderdowns. You find more information at www.lanan.no
Yes, duvets are wonderful.
In America down quilts are often called 'comforters' which is rather apt.
The sea looks really beautiful but cold!
Have a lovely weekend.
Posted by: Elizabeth schmid | July 26, 2008 at 01:44 PM
What a beautiful post and photographs.
I love my eiderdown duvet and wouldn't want to be without it.
Marie x
Posted by: marie | July 26, 2008 at 02:45 PM
I've been on a mini-vacation by looking at the lanan.no link you referenced! thanks for that!!
(I love my down "feather-bed"..)
Posted by: vonnie | July 26, 2008 at 04:34 PM
It is always a refreshing adventure to come to see you. This post fascinates me with the lovely photos of the spectacular coastline with an interweaving of the tale of the eiderdown. I love a snuggly blanket and eiderdown fits the bill nicely. I have some special "writing" of memories coming up next week. You have inspired me. (Wish my photography skills matched those of my "pen.") I am off to have my morning pot of tea and muse about your coastline adventures. I am off to see the sea on Thursday; just a day adventure But I CAN'T WAIT. : )
Posted by: Debbie in CA : ) | July 26, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Beautiful post...
Posted by: Anita | July 27, 2008 at 01:40 AM
Beautiful. I love the soft warmth of eiderdown too.
I made some lavender bottles yesterday! They were harder to start than I thought, but I eventually got going and my house smells of all the lavender now. It was grat fun, and friends who popped in to visit were fascinated, so they each took one home too!
Posted by: Linds | July 27, 2008 at 06:09 AM
Good morning Britt Arnhild!
Once again you made me travel in spirit with your words, to that pretty island this time.
I sometimes envy the freedom of seagulls and the great landscapes they can see from above. No wonder the adventures of Nils Holgersson was one of my favorite books as a child :-)
Posted by: Perroula | July 27, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Goodness, there must be a long wait to acquire one of these fabulous eider duvets Britt-Arnhild! They only produce 7-8 per year. Must cost a fortune too! Lovely though - mine is nowhere near as beautiful as those must be - but I love it. Can't imagine returning to blankets.
Lovely story of the island - beautiful photos.
Thank you so much.
Posted by: Mary | July 28, 2008 at 06:02 AM
So interesting. I have a down sleeping bag which I unzip to use as a duvet however don't think the down is from eiders.Thanks for the links. Looks like a lovely place.
Posted by: Suki | July 28, 2008 at 01:55 PM