Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods

Together we can make it

     If life is too big to handle - let's do it together!

Do you know the feeling?

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Do you know the "dead end" feeling?

Suddenly the road stops and you can see no way forward? The past weeks have been busy and filled to the brim with activities, planning, waiting, anticipating, exulting, partying, friends. The carousel has been spinning faster and faster, and in the end it felt like the whole world was spinning. Then suddenly everything stopped and I am left at the dead end.

I will give myself a break. To find my breath again. To find my smile again. To find the peace of every day again.

My diary will be my co-wanderer on this road. Together with Terje.

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I have two weeks of vacation ahead Terje and I are going to our cabin for a week, for the first time without kids! This break will be the best place to find my smile again, and in my backpack I plan to find room for what I need for working on my next book.

Grand Finale!

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I can't totally leave my partying period without taking part in the last, very grand Tea Party over at Vanessa's Fanciful Twist. I am bringing with me my 12 year old daughter Marta, and cupcakes from her cupcake heaven.

     Marta has promised me to bring all her eqipments for baking, and if Vanessa find a suitable place for her in her garden, she can bake along while we others are partying.

     In between decorating cupcakes Marta and I look forward to meet other partying bloglanders.

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I jus visited Vanessa. The party has started, and it's the most wonderful. happy, colourful party I've ever been to. So come along!

Today is the 28th wedding anniversary of me and Terje. Our private celebration will be next week at a historical wooden hotel on the western coast of Norway. We will pre-celebrate with Vanessa:-)

I have travelled thousands of miles.....

     The roses from the party are fading now, these were used to decorate one of the cream cakes. For many weeks I have focused on the garden party, and when it was over an all the guests left I was afraid that emptiness would fill the house.

I had no reason to worry. It is summertime, and the living is easy. People are travelling and The Blue Café is always open - for dinner, a walk in the garden, coffee, talks yes, lots of talks, for friendship. And the huge diningroom table fills day after day.

Memories are shared through photos and words. My childhood photo album makes family tales flow like sweet wine around the table. "Oh, I remember that dress" "Can you see the black ribbon I am wearing, it is because my father died that year" "Yes, he died, but before that he met his newborn granddaugher, baby Britt-Arnhild, once, and I will never forget how he put his hands on her sweet, bold head and blessed her"......look at this, look at that, do you remember.....................

 I close my eyes for a moment and breath it all in. The eager talk, the laughter, the family bounds, the love. This is life, and I am in the middle of it.

Before saying good bye, Vicki from Seattle, the wife of my mother's cousin, write in our guest book: I had to fly thousands of miles to see The Blue Café and The Blue garden in person.

Photos: our dininroom table last night.

Spinning tops

     My life has been too much of a whilrwind lately. I need to give all my spinning tops a break.

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You find the fun and - SNAP.......

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In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!

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The quote is Mary Poppin's, and I found it in Tell me something you know, Perroula's great blog of quotes and poems. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game........I made this my motto as soon as I read it, and today I am SNAPping!

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Photos: Marta and family friend  playing at Tautra. When the ball hit the icy cold water, SNAPping was the only thing to do.

In Thankfulness

My way to live life is to bring it to God, my Creator and my Saviour. Every day he meets me. Every day he repeats his promise - I walk with you, and when the road is too steep or to hard I carry you.

Sunday we took some of our guests to Tautra. It was good to get some minutes in silence in the monastery church.

A sparkling palette of memories

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It is said that a photo can say more than one thousand words, but all I can say about the Big Party is the a memory is worth more than one thousand photos. And the memories are all gathered in my heart, where I easily can bring them out and enjoy them.

Of course I was too busy for photographing, but here is a small bouquet for you, in a palette which goes perfectly with the colours of my heart.

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Marta's last preparations.

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A gift from France in the mailbox.

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The party started with a concert. I had no idea that we could squeeze 50+ people into our livingroom

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Games and fun

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Singing in the rain

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Friendship and laughter

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Øystein with the cupcake Marta made especially for me

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A HUGE THANK YOU FROM THE DEEPEST OF MY HEART TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR GIVING ME THIS PERFECT DAY!

She fell asleep smiling

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I enjoyed every minute of yesterday. The busy preparations, the wonderful party.

Today has been filled with a long breakfast with the house still filled with guests, then a daytrip to my dear place Tautra. No time for blogging.

Thanks to you all for comments, emails and greetings. More about the party will follow.......

Sara gave me a word - exult

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The day is here!

I have never made food for 50+ people before and have no idea how much to make. I am probably making enough for all blogland so welcome over.

Marta has a terrible couging and high fever. The sun, which was here in the morning is now hiding somewhere far from the blue garden. Thunder just broke and rain is pouring down. I still have long lists of things to do.........

...........but medicine is helping Marta and hopefully she will soon be fit enough to decorate the last 30 of the 60 cupcakes she has made. A friend just came with the most tasty creamcake there is, the thunderstorm might pass by and I am exulting.

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Can you remember my search for an English verb for "to joy". Sara from Sara and her blog has found one for me - to exult.

My peonies are still blooming, I am singing in the rain and I am exulting!

The party starts in 4 hours!

Photos: the special cakestand Marta will use for the very special cupcake she is decorating for me .-)