Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods

The umbrella day

text and images britt-arnhild

I have just given yesterday a new name. Not Syttende mai, May 17th, Norway´s Constitution Day, or Nasjonaldagen as we also call it, but The Umbrella Day, paraplydagen!

Celebrations from dawn till dusk for the 5 million people of our countrty. For the 175.000 inhabitants of Trondheim, the celebrations went on in pouring rain, with not one single break.

It started in the morning with the intricate work of dressing up in our bunads.

Actually for me it started two nights ago when I ironed the linen bunad´s shirt, a work which takes hours, which I never will master fully, and which  feels like a kind of Sisyphus work, as the wrinkles comes again as soon as we touches the shirts to put them on..........

Patient father´s hands are good to have.....

...... loving boyfriend´s fingers too.

The parades went on as usual, in spite of the pouring rain.

One parade in the morning where every school child took part......

......another one at 1pm with the NGOs, sports teams, student groups, international friends, scouts, dancers........well, more groups than you can imagine.

Our mayor Rita Otervik, in her regional costume.

 

The  whole day filled with brass band music.

 

 

 

Our friends from Keren took part, Habteweld with his flute. Can you see him playing?

Wet guests from Scotland,

Thai dancers living in Trondheim.

 

Marta´s cheerleading group, Nidaros Nixies.....

And like this I could go one and on and on and on......

 

The day was wet and cold.........and filled with smiles and thankfulness.

May 17th is a day to celebrate that we live in peace in a free country.

 

::::::::::::::::::::::

In the afternoon we followed our traditions and opened the house for family, and for friends of our kids. Innherredsodd for dinner, a local kind for meat soup, coffee and cakes for dessert.

Ingrid and two of her friends, Martine and Kathrin.

Øystein´s friend, another Øystein, came in a car which Marta simply had to be taken out in. A little rain, what is that? When they had to stop for red light, Øystein simply opened his unbrella and covered Marta. That´s what I call an Unbrella Day Gentleman :-)

 

Did I really promise.......

text and images britt-arnhild

(photo: the cake I made)

Did I really promise you a travel tale today? Where did I have my thoughts?????
Okay, I am working on one, from Sacred Bath, but I need more time to finish it.

I am back in Norway. Came back around midnight Friday night to a busy house with guests and preparations. Saturday was my niece Mathilde´s confirmation, and after a few hours sleep I was up to iron the bunad linen shirt, to write the speech Terje and I wanted to give Mathilde, and to make a marzipan cake.
Brief moment of panic when my iron made black spots on one of the shirts, dear old neighbour saved me, and all of a sudden we found ourselves in Havstein church, celebrating Mathilde and a few other youths.

 A beautiful service, with words of love and importance to the congregation.

A bouquet of freshly blooming youths.

Then home to my brother´s house for a party. Filling their house to the brim with people, food, flowers, gifts, tales, laughter and love.

And at some time photos, photos and more photos.

Can you see that Mathilse has the same type of bunad as I have? She has even inherited my first shirt.

Three generations of beautiful women.

Confirmant, parents and witnesses.

Photographers.....

and more photographers.

 

::::::::::::::

Thank you Mathilde, Torodd and kristin for a wonderful day.

 

 

Bible Sunday

text and image britt-arnhild

Yesterday we celebrated the annual Bible Sunday here in Norway. In church we heard about the kingdom of God compared to a man casting seed into the ground, the growth of the seeds, from Mark 4, 26++

The little mustard seed which grows and become greater than all herbs. That is the kingdom of God. To grow, the seed is planted. It dies. 
Jesus already did that for us. Died.
And He helps me grow. 

Coming home I made "bible food" for lunch. A box of dates, left over from Christmas,  fried with beacon. Fresh, homemade bread, a tasty cheese.

 

The Bible. Food for life.
In words. In bread. In dates. In meat. In cheese.
In the clean icy cold water

In thoughts.

Walking through life with The Creator.
With body.
With mind. 

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::

How do you live with the seasons?

Visit from Iceland. December 18th

For several years I have followed Mo´a and especially her blog around Christmas about the Icelandic tradition with the visiting Jolasveinar. In 2008 she let me use a couple of her photos in one of my posts, and now I have asked Mo´a to be a guestblogger here at The House in the Woods. To my delight she said yes :-). So today I have the pleasure to introduce..........

Guest blogger Mo´a

Thank you Britt-Arnhild, for the opportunity you have given me to share the story of the Icelandic  Jólasveinar, here on your blog.
I have been counting down to Christmas for several seasons on my blogs. First on Leikur and List http://moaromigboyles.blogspot.com/ and now on my current blog,http://www.moaromigboyles.com/  telling the story of the 13 Jólasveinar and the adventures they have along the way.

Their story starts on December 12th, as that is the day the first of the 13 Jólasveinar,( variously called Yule Goblins, Christmas Men, Christmas Elves or Christmas Lads in English) , arrives down from the mountains.

The first to arrive is Stekkjastaur …Stiff-legs, followed by his brothers, the last one Kertasníkir … Candle- beggar arriving on the 24th, Christmas Eve. Then they leave for the mountains one by one, in the order of their arrival, the last one leaving on 12th night, January 6th.

These charmers were first mentioned in print in the 17th century and were known by various names, which differ from region to region, with up to 80 names recorded. 
Most of the names reflect the tricks they played. The Jólasveinar coveted things people found hardest to do without during the lean times and the blackest Arctic nights, food and light.

Their parents were real charmers, their names are Grýla (Ugly) and Leppalúði (one who wears tattered clothes). It was said that Grýla and Leppalúði liked to feast on misbehaving children and were used as bogeymen to terrify children into obedience. 
The family pet was an enormous Black Cat who had the same culinary habits as Grýla and Leppalúði.
Today’s generation of Icelandic children, do not have to worry about Grýla, Leppalúði and the Cat's former culinary habits, as now they probably prefer a Pizza or a Hamburger with a Coke

In the 20th century the 13 Jólasveinar have mellowed and evolved from bogeymen into benevolent beings. They are now entertainment for, and friends to children. Each night when the children go to bed they leave their shoe on the window sill. If they have been good, they will receive a gift from each of the Jólasveinar, as they arrive from their mountain home. If they have been bad, they will find a potato in their shoe.

A few reflections on Christmas Traditions. December 2nd

text and images britt-arnhild

A comment from Mrs Steglich some days ago started a chain of reflections in my mind:

The Christmas traditions seem to be really strong in Norway. Here in Brazil the Christmas traditions are all imported from Europe. In recent years there has been a great effort of trying to create a genuinely Brazilian tradition cuz Brasil is a tropical country and here Christmas is in midsummer. There has been an attempt to replace nuts, Christmas tree, holly leaves, etc, for food more appropriate to our climate but there are few changes. I have not noticed movement around the preparations for Christmas. The city is not the usual decorated with handmade decorations made ​​from recycled materials.
Not much to share about the issue til now.

Here in Norway we are in the middle of deep, dark winter when Christmas arrives. The candles are important to give light, so is the white snow. Thick woolen stockings are hung near the fireplace and we sit down with our mugs of hot chocolate, and plates of homemade cookies.

Reindeers, Santa Claus with his fur coat, frosted window is part of a Nordic Christmas, a Nordic winter.....but there must be more.

How would I get in Christmas mood if I lived closer to equator?

Mangers would be important to me. To remember Mary giving birth to Jesus. So would angels, messengers bringing the Good News. Candles to symbolize Jesus as the living light, wreaths for eternal life.

Most important though would be words. The Word. Sharing of tales. In church, in music, in reading, in sharing.

God created by the power of words.

I am reading a "different" book this advent. Often at this time of the year, I chose old favorites like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Sigrid Undset, The Hobbit, Narnia. But not this year. Now I am reading Rabih Alameddine´s "Hakawati.....The Storyteller". Set in and near Beirut, a gem of a book sharing stories from past and from now, from the written and told history from both the Bible and the Koran. Today´s 1001 Night.

I wonder how many of these stories were familiar to Mary, to Joseph, to Jesus.

::::::::::::::

All photos are from Syria.

::::::::

What do you read in December? In Advent? At Christmas?

Foxberry Tales

text and images britt-arnhild

The foxberries are ripe, tyttebær as we call them here.

We were out hiking yesterday. Had planned to go picking foxberries in the area where we know to find a lot, but as it is the time of moose hunt in Norway, we decided against it. Instead we went to Geitfjellet, not far from where I hiked last Sunday.

I have grown up with foxberries. My father loved to pick them, still loves to pick them, my mother preserved and made use of the brihgt red berries in her cooking.

Terje and I always make jam, and we freeze berries for trollkrem, but now I have started to collect foxberry tales.......i.e. old ways to use these rich berries.

 

A couple of weeks ago I was served foxberry porridge, made with rye, as a dessert. I asked for the recipe and will make it myself as soon as we get some fresh berries.

This week, at the meetings with the Sami people, a couple of the men started to tell foxberry tales from their childhood.

Like how they, in winter, found green foxberry leaves, gathered a basket full to give to their grandmother. She dried it on the stove and used it for tea. A treat for the leaves was a candy cut in half.

Nature is generous. Unfortunately we are forgetting how to harvest, how to use what is here right in front of us.

I had dinner with the Sami. To decorate the starter the chef had used rocket salad/ruccola. "I pick wild ruccola all summer" one of the men said. "Wild?" I asked, "I also pick ruccola all summer, but that´s because we grow it in our herb garden. I´ve never seen it wild in Norway"  My Sami friend smiled, "Dandelions, I pick dandelion leaves and use them as ruccola"

 

I like to learn more from Mother Nature.  

To pay forward old knowledge. To gather recipes from my foremothers. To cook traditional food.

Do you have family recipes with wild nature included?

 

Terje loves to eat foxberries directly from where they grow. We are a perfect hiking couple. I can walk my own pace knowing that he is there somewhere, picking berries.

The Bunad. Part II on Marta's Big Day

 
"Mamma", Marta had undressed and we were talking about the day, "the embroidery on Ingrid's shawl is much more beauifully done than on mine?" "More beautiful? How can that be, they should both be the same." "No, they are not". Marta walked into her room to get the shawl of her bunad and came to show me. "Look here"

 
Can you see the differences? Marta had been wearing her shawl with the backside turned out the whole day, and none of us had discovered. It really say something about the beautiful handwork, doesn't it?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.

 
The bunad are a traditional Norwegian costume. There are different ones from the different areas of Norway. Mine is from Trøndelag, where we live. Both Ingrid and Marta wanted to have one from Rogaland, the area where Terje was born.

Here is a link where you can read more about bunads.

 
It is very popular among girls to get their bunad for their confirmation, though it is an extremely expensive costume. Very few boys get one, or want one. One of the reasons might be that many of them are still not fully grown at 15 as most girls are. Neither Terje, Torgeir nor Øystein have one, or want one. I've told them all that as soon as they let me know they want one, I will collect my money and buy one for them.......

Men in bunad are SO STYLISH!

::::::::::::::::::::.

Today is May 17th, Norway's Constitutional Day. We are ready for more big celebrations, starting with parades in town. There will be thousands of people wearing bunads, both men and women.

Here is one of two posts from last year's celebration.

 
Thank you very much for all your comments yesterday. hereby I invite you over for coffee and cake!

Through Marta's Big Day, part I

Text Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

Photos Britt-Arnhild, brother Børge and brother-in-law Arne

 
The house is empty again. First The Big Day on Saturday, then our house guests left after lunsh yesterday, and at last a big "left over party" for friends and relatives last night.

 
It felt strange this morning to wake up and there were only three of us left. Still the tables had white damask table clothes on, but during the day they will also be gone.

 
We do have the memories though.....and photos, hundreds of great photos.....

 

From early Saturday morning when my sister in law Lisbeth helped me decorate the marzipan cake...

 
...and niece Hilde helped Marta to dress in her new bunad.

 
To the service and prayers said for every youth.

 
Proud parents....
 
... beautiful daughter....

 
....and best friends.

 
Home from church, and the party is ready to start.

 
Is everything ready in the kitchen?'

 
Yes, everything is ready, and Marta can give a speach to welcome her guests.

 

 

 

Krumkake

cText and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
Last week I struggled with karamellpudding, a traditional dessert kind of like the French creme brulee. My mother has always made the best karamellpudding, so has my father in law. I have tried several recipes over the years but never made it "like my mother's". Marta was sure, she wants karamellpudding for her confirmation dessert, I am just as sure, I want to make the karamellpudding myself.

So I started to make karamellpudding. Of course I did. Wouldn't you have done the same? We couldn't eat too many ourselves, the main ingredients in this special dessert are calories, so I even took one to work one day. Made me very popular of course.

Several tries later, now I know how to make the world's best karamellpuding.........yes, I will make you one when you come to The House in the Woods and The Blue Cafe.

 
My mother and my father in law also make the world's best krumkake. Mine are quite ok, but never get six on the dice.

I make krumkake on Sunday night. Perfect tast, but did they look good enough for Marta's confirmation?  Yesterday morning I decided I wanted to give it another try, and while flipping though my old, worn recipe book, I found a krumkake recipe I'd never tried before. Guri's krumkaker. Guri is my dear friend who died of cancer in August. Guri was a witness at Marta's baptism and should have been one of the honored guests in the confirmation.

Here Guri came to me, offering her recipe. I tried it, and all of a sudden (well, hard work included) I had boxes filled with the world's most perfect krumkaker.

 
::::::::::::::

Still four days to go. Still a lot to learn in the kitchen.

Today I will make more cevapcici (bosnian meatballs), for the tapas buffet. We had some for dinner last night. Oh my, they tasted good!

Five Days to Go

Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland

 
Already last year Marta declared that she wanted the colours on her confirmation dinner table to be white, pink, black and silver. "And as soon as the snow comes mamma, I want you to take a series of photos of me, for the invitations"

 
Obedient mamma as I am, I followed her out in the garden late last autumn when the first snoe came. A wonderful series of photos we now have and it was not easy to choose which ones to use for the invitations.

 
I have made the place cards for the tables now, and will do the last touch today - writing names on the cards.

26 guests.

 
Five days tillthe big day. I will make krumkake today, and also more cevapcici (bosnian meatballs) for the tapas lunch.