Happy new year!

After a week filled with laughter and tears of old friends, the joy of gifting and receiving, exceptional culinary treats, sharing old tunes and the desire to divide myself into just enough pieces so I could spend an equal amount with everyone I love so dearly, I am trying to find my way back to a daily routine.

Dear readers, I hope you've had a wonderful New Year's celebration, as calm or dashing as it may have been. I'm thankful for each one of you who accompanied and inspired me on this journey through last year, and welcome every new reader who finds his way to my little space.

This year will be filled with projects and crafts. Lots of unfinished ones as well, of course. Yes, I do have some thoughts on New Year's resolutions, but I like to call them ideas. Nothing too mandatory. Leaving enough air for inspirations and cogitations to do their thing. And things do work out, sooner or later, even if unexpected and sometimes in a surprising way.

Back home

It has not been a pleasant trip. I call it trip on purpose, not holidays. I have learned many things during these 10 days, and wouldn't miss the experience. There's one thing I can tell you right upfront. It doesn't really matter where you're going. It depends a lot on your company. More than you think. There are of course places that may somehow inspire you, or your expectations of them motivate you so much you simply get into a good mood automatically. But share your travels with someone who figuratively doesn't speak the same language as you do.. and joy and relaxation only comes with tremendous effort.

There are still a lot of things to be liked about Norway. Like the odd feeling you get looking at the clock and noticing it's past midnight, yet bright outside. Or the landscape, of course, Staring at the enormous rocks of those fjords makes you feel so tiny. And they've been there all along. And they'll be there still after you've gone.

I also enjoyed fishing, and we were lucky enough to angle a young codfish. It was so exciting, since I've only been fishing once in my life, as a little girl, with a little self made fishing rod, using breadcrumbs as a bait. I've been told real pro's don't use breadcrumbs. But they do work, don't they?

This carrot cake in a small café in Alesund mended my heart. It was simply delicious, and sharing it with someone I care for and could rely on during this trip, wiped away some of the worries and sorrows. 

The way to someone's heart is always through his stomach, they say. I tried that with a heavenly apple cake, made with an apple sauce you prepare a day or a few hours before. 

It was beautiful. It was tasty. It was juicy. It didn't work. The heart thing, I mean. Maybe one day it might, but it will take a whole lot of cakes.

 

After a long and tiresome ride home I was delighted to see my little garden had grown and survived my absence. Some tomatoes of quite some size were waiting for me. My first ones ever! I am so excited and afraid I could do something wrong before they are really ripe and ready to be eaten.

And here's a picture of my lucky clover. I planted it a while ago, hoping it would bring me luck. It's growing and flourishing every day. I know good fortune can't be constrained. But inspired, maybe. A little?

Picking up the trail

Time to pause.

Take a few deep breaths.

Finally enjoy the sun.

Some things need to be called to mind consciously, or the wheel just won't. stop. turning.

The last two weeks have been so hasty, I simply couldn't find a moment to sit down and write a few lines.

I've had the most wonderful birthday party with close friends gathered in my little place (and still did not have the heart to take down all those garlands - they remind me of all the chatter and glee and happy munching mouthes). I attended the release party of a musician most dear to me, and was reminded once again of my weakness for live concerts (why don't I enjoy these more often?). And right after that I spent a week in Spain with my mother, enjoying the feria. 

Family holidays are never easy, but I think once we got over the initial discomfort regarding the difficulties to find some proper food to fill our bellies, everything went pretty well. Oh I know, Spain isn't exactly famous for its poor culinary treats - but sadly the very city we visited was. And I am one of those that can't think nor act on an empty stomach. If I do, it's with a rather moody tone of voice and wrinkles all along the root of my nose. I try telling peeps about this quirk before they get too concerned about my seemingly grumpy nature, but it's a race against time...

I returned to the most sprouting and springing little garden on my balcony. The tomatoes are doing so good. Almost too good, I ran out of space now and find myself postponing the replanting.

This week will be another quiet one, filled with sun baths, strawberries, laughter and good music. After that it's back to the less pleasing things of life, that simply need to be done. 

I'm wishing you a wonderful sunday, just as sunny as this one here!

Catsitting

I'm spending a few days at my brother's place taking care of this 'little' fella while he's away on a roadtrip. 
I'm kept well busy. Maine Coon are quite famous for their drive to play and fidget and communicate. But all the effort is paid off when I am being awoken by this 4 kg big fella suddenly walking all over my chest. Literally takes your breath away.

Rough Diamonds

We've spent a few days with the family, celebrating my grandparents' Diamond Wedding first, and then recovering from that said family reunion, which took us four days.

I know every family has its issues and is probably anything but perfect. The flaws of our relatives seem to show most when we're gathering for these family meetings, which are actually supposed to be fun, but really aren't.

My grandmother has an incredible talent to turn any positive remark into misery, making you wish you did not mention encouraging things like how beautifully the new jacket suits her complexion. The only conversation I witnessed went something like this;

Mom: "Oh, you did your hair, that looks wonderful!"

Grandma (pulling down the corners of her mouth): "Mhmm, yes, we went to the hairdresser in this crappy weather, it was raining all day!"

Mom (coughing lightly, yet not surrendering): "Aw, but it really looks lovely."

Grandma (grunting): "Eh, just today.. you should see how it's going to look tomorrow!"

... and so on. And it really does go on for hours. No matter how high your spirits, be assured that you'll eventually feel so down and absolutely convinced that life really is a dilemma, that the only good thing you can do is to make your way from one buffet to the next and engage in conversation as little as possible.

Now I know why Grandpa keeps the volume of his hearing aid at absolute minimum. And even though some things can not really be changed, because they're so deep in our genes, have been so long in the family history, I keep trying hard to not follow in their footsteps. I'd much rather annoy my children and grandchildren with silliness and good mood. 

And cake, lots of cake.

Lovely Substitutes

 

It's been such a busy week, and so unexpected. I was supposed to enjoy some sunny days in Spain, and even celebrate my birthday there. But Eyjafjallajökull had its own plans I guess, who could blame it. So against expectations I spent the whole week dealing with various plan B's. And there were plenty of little substitutes to choose from, who would've thought.

The weekend was so sunny I even got freckled cheeks and a sunburn on my knees while knitting all afternoon or painting my pale toes for an imaginary Spanish flair. I believe nature had a bit of a guilty conscience and compensated us with the brightest rays of sunlight for two days. I could finally get on with my little project and make use of those adorable buttons I ordered from Etsy.

Sadly my birthday was rather rainy, but the lovely flowers out of my mom's garden made up for all the clouds and grumpy faces on the street. And of course these delicious shoes I simply had to get my hands on helped as well. I am constantly losing myself in thoughts about how to combine them with my entire wardrobe.

It's curious though, even though I feel I am quite good with choosing my own clothes when out shopping, my mom always picks those kind of things I can wear for years and which I can combine with so many things I already own. She has that talent to spot timeless classics, and even though we've been caught up in endless discussions about how this or that might not actually fit to me or my style, she was always right in the end. I just needed a lot longer to see it. 

Maybe this is something I will only be able to learn with age. Too often I am tempted to buy things that look awesome right this moment, and make me roll my eyes in a year from now. And those things can be heavy on your wallet, I can tell you.