It's one of those mornings..

There are mornings where everything just trots along in a reasonable speed - and there are mornings following nights where the youngest in hour household decided to wake up about five times per hour. Those mornings require large coffees, double shots. And the leftover brownies that hubby asked me to bring to work really seem fit. Today will be a day of caffeine and chocolate. 

Large latte with two shots of coffee.. 

I think (seeing as I don't really remember..) the last time I checked the clock last night, I had about four hours left to sleep until my alarm rang. And by then I hadn't even managed to sleep yet. Which means that it was somewhere around 1:30.. I don't know what was bothering A last night. It could be the vaccines from last week (they can get a reaction up to 7-10 days later) or teeth, but I do hope she'll sleep better tonight.

***

Hubby and I are watching the new season of House of Cards, we're on episode 6 or 7 now, I think. And last night we were discussing how, a few season back, we both agreed that Frank Underwood - the main character - probably was the worst/scariest politician ever. Well, last night we talked about how we both realised that the real life, in fact, is much scarier. I'm not one to comment much about politics, but I'm worried about what's happening - and I sincerely hope there's a better candidate than that big, scary, angry, provocative man who's taking over everything (or so it seems).

Crafty update

My hands may be knitting, but my mind is quilting. 

Flowers of February

I ment to publish this post a few weeks ago, but time has not quite been on my side lately. Starting to work again means early mornings (too early?) and late nights, not much time to get anything done. I miss being home with A, and I hate to miss all the things she's learning and doing and experiencing on this level of her development. She started walking the week before I returned to work, 10 1/2 months old. Now she's basically running (or trotting off in a remarkable speed for her age).

There has been literally no sewing of lately either. If I'm not falling asleep on the couch or going to bed early, I'm knitting on a jacket for myself. It's speeding along quite nicely, considering the lack of time and energy I've had to get anything done lately. 

Anyway, I ment to post these pictures of an abundance of flowers which decorated our house in the beignning of February. 

Hubby and A had met some ladies selling fastelavensris, for decoration, and bought these feathery twigs (which have small green leaves now).

Contained in some tiki mugs hubby ordered from a bar in Las Vegas (Frankie's Tiki Place?).

A vase my grandmother painted some years ago. I love the little goldfish swimming between the water lillies. 

A grand bouquet of roses and such from the company I work through, to express their joy of me coming back to work. Lovely flowers, I really like those purple roses. 

P had decorated some fastelavensris in his kindergarden too, but it seems I forgot to take a picture. Will get one taken soon (they're still around, also with tiny green leaves)!

It's like Christmas allover again!

This morning I showelled snow before going to work. 

I bet the kids in the kindergarden will have a wonderful day today! (I'll be innthe office, dreaming of Christmas..)

Week 8

It's the winter holidays here in Oslo this week. It's a school holiday, and Norway is separated into week 8 or week 9 holidays. Oslo (and Akershus, where we live) is in the week 8-area.

There are a lot of people off from work this week, some have brought their kids in for a couple of shorter days - and others, like me, are working as normal (until next year, anyway, when P's started school). Tomorrow, Friday, the office will be more or less empty. I've heard from about 4-5 others that they will be in, but it will be quiet (usually, we're about 30-40 here). 

Outside the sun is shining. But it's honestly not that bad to sit here, rather quiet and with The Beatles in my ears. 

The weekend is almost here!

Back at the office - and a new view.

My maternity leave ended in January, and I'm back at the office. While I was away, they moved, so my old view of the church has been exchanged to this one, facing the Oslo fjord. Not too bad, I must say (although the sun is quite blinding on nice days). 

Happy Mail!

The other day, when I came home from work, our mailbox was literally glowing  with happiness!

Some background info is required, I think.. Well, a few weeks ago the wonderful and generous Gail Pan wrote about her new book on her blog, and she had a little give-away. And I was one of the very lucky winners!

This is her fourth book in the series Simply Christmas, and I want to make every single one of the eight projects - atleast twice! They are truly adorable! (And I love stitchery projects!)

She even signed it for me! <3 p="">

Oh, but wait? What's this? Two books?

Gail had so generously included a copy for my mom - which I was able to surprice her with yesterday.

Thank you so much, Gail, for such wonderful surprices and your generosity!

5AM me-time?

It's 5:30AM and I can't sleep (for various reasons, little miss A has just been awake too) so what to do..?

Toss and turn in bed? Nah.. 

Try a reboot of the sleep circle? That might work. 

So I got up, changed the thread on my needle and had a little "me-time" before going back to bed. 

10-15 minutes of this, and my head should be relaxed again. 

Therapy in the quiet hours.. 

A feeling of Christmas

Slightly late, one might say, but the feeling of Christmas is spreading a thick blanket over our little part of the world these days.

Not sure what I'm talking about? Well, let's see..  The picture below was taken here on Tårnåsen on December 20th - four short days before Christmas eve. Notice anything not quite Christmas'y?

December 20th, 2015

Aaaah, you noticed the green background too, huh?

Yep.. 

Well, fast-forward to last Tuesday and the park outside the castle in Oslo. In celebration of the King and Queen's 25th coronation anniversary, it was decided to give them some kind of winter park - which is why there's a snow canon blowing snow all over the place. I'm excited to see the end-results.  

Although the pile of snow was growing steadily last week, there was still plenty of green (or brown..) around.

The Castle Park, January 5th, 2016.

But!

Finally!

As last week drew near the end, soft, fluffy flakes of snow finally started falling. And this weekend it piled up! Hubby was outside showelling four times the other day (I guess it's true.. there's no point showelling while it's snowing..) and everything is covered in a soft blanket of white. 

January 10th, 2016. And my orchids are in full bloom!

The temperature has been changing between being slightly cold and freezing! The last couple of days have seen us wrapping up in wool for a chilly 8-10 below zero - but from tomorrow and until the end of the week we'll be getting pretty frozen, with temperatures dropping to between 12 and 19 below zero. Ugh.. Thank goodness there are plenty of wooly clothes around! 

A and I will be spending most of our days inside for the rest of the week. She's too little to be spending too much time outside when temperatures drop that far low. 

The Christmas knitting project.

I'm still knitting on my Christmas project, and the end is near! 40 of 42 points have been knitted, and if I get into some speed knitting, I might have it finished (and ready for a good wash) tonight! Yay! I've run out of yarn (d'oh..) but I've found some purple Holst Supersoft that is almost in the same shade of purple as already in the scarf, so I think I'm good. I already have my next project planned - which is something I've been wanting to start since sometime last fall - but it's a BIG one, so I'm having some stage-fright ideas at the moment.. (What if's are horrible at the moment...)

January 1st.

January 1st and all is quiet. 

P, hubby and inlaws are outside playing football near the local school - A is sleeping (naptime) and I'm knitting on my Christmas project (remember the yarn I recieved in the Advent calendar?) while listening to a podcast (and house-/babysitting). 

The house is quiet, outside it's quiet. Quite the contrast to last night's fireworks. I can hear the rain dripping from the roof. 

Not much snow left here - I think it's rained away back home too.. 

The Christmas tree - from the garden - is huge! Nicely decorated and glowing. It makes me miss our tree back home. 

Everything's back to normal again on Monday - kindergarden for P, work for hubby. My last month on leave.. Work is waiting February 1st. (Not sure if I'm looking forward to that yet..)

2015 -> 2016

Happy New Year!

May the new year bring peace, joy, love and happiness to all. May it bring you tons of creativity - dreams and wishes. May your children sleep - so that you too can sleep. Find what you love - what makes you happy - and do that often. Crochet, knit, sew, write, paint, draw, play, read, bake, cook, travel. 

Cheers!

SSCS 2015 - parcel opened

I have been spoiled - again! I can't believe how lucky I am to have been part of Chooky's SSCS once again. 

I think my Secret Santa has been very good at sneaking around my blog and see what might be the perfect gift - because this is really perfect!

A project bag, with a knitting critter! It's big, and colourful - with balls of yarn on the outside, and knitting needles on the inside. With pockets for useful things. 

And inside it?

Two skeins of - to me- new types of yarn, but oh so soft and fluffy! 

And this little fellow - a piece of (I'm not sure i dare to use it) fabric so exquisit I haven't dared to take it out of the plastic protective sheet.. 

Thank you so much, Maria G (of http://thenextstage-maria.blogspot.com.au)! I absolutely love my gift! 

And thank you, a million times over, to Chookyblue, for once again organizing this yearly event. I know it could not have been an easy task, and I hope that there will be some comfort knowing that our hearts and prayers are with you and your family. 

It simply wouldn't be Christmas with out you, the SSCS and all the participants/friends!

4th Sunday of Advent

Dear mom,

Here we are again, the last Sunday of Advent. Christmas is almost here! Only a couple of days until we're pulling up in our car, barely able to breathe due to all the luggage and presents. We'll arrive in time to help put the decorations up. Everything in it's special spot. Will we be able to see the tree for all the presents?

The fourth Sunday of Advent brings perhaps the biggest gift - if the first one hasn't fulfilled it's call - but it's still small in size. Now it's almost time for relaxing and enjoying. I hope that this little gift will bring you just that, relaxing and enjoyment. 

Merry Christmas!

Hugs.

3rd Sunday of Advent - parcel

I've been thinking "I should post about the parcel" about 20 times this past week, but things tend to interfere. Well, tomorrow is the fourth Sunday, so I better get a move on!

"Baby, it's cold outside"

The parcel contained a gorgeous yarn (Kauni, multicoloured) and knitting needles (square ones) and a note, which read "A new coat deserves a new scarf". 

I'm saving this for when we drive up to mom's house next week. I have a pattern ready (another Hitchhiker, one of my favorite scarf patterns), and I know I can get quite a start on the almost three hour drive. 

Thanks, mom, it is perfect!

***

With only one Sunday left, Christmas is almost here!

An illusion..?

I know it looks like snow, but the truth is all the humidity has frosen, leaving a thin layer of crispy ice on EVERYTHING!

The grass, the bushes, the roses, the road, every thin straw and branches stretching out. 

Winter is fascinating..

A tiny sliver of moon on our way to kindergarten this afternoon. 

And lost (well, not really, just pretending) on our way home Monday morning. 

Our first winter here is a little strange, but we're looking forward to what else it might bring us, besides frost and fog. 

3rd Sunday of Advent

Dear mom,

It's the third Sunday of Advent! Where did the time go? 

Today is St Lucia's day. We'll be celebrating tomorrow in P's kindergarten. Really early in the morning.. but the bears are going to do the procession - and P will be wearing a hat with a star. We have to be in the kindergarten before 07:30. Of course we'll take lots of pictures!

I think we'll be putting up the decorations today. I have a feeling P and I will do the decorations while M and A are out on a walk.. I can't wait to see the look on A's face when she sees the tree! I wonder if she'll leave it be - or make it fall.. It's not quite Christmas yet, but since we're travelling (counting down the days now) it's nice to see our house decorated too, not just putting the decorations up for air before taking them down again.

The third Sunday of Advent brings a strange little present. It's something I never knew existed, but that I know you'll put to good use.

Enjoy!

Hugs.

2nd Sunday of Advent and another parcel.

It's the second Sunday of Advent and we've spent the day on a trip. We drove just over the border to Sweden for some Christmas shopping and some cheap goodies (chicken, bacon, and candy.. a bit too much candy..). 

Before we left home, I opened my parcel from mom. (Yes, this time I was actually allowed to open it myself!)

Time for a bit of work!!?

The picture may be upsidedown, but there's a pattern and templates (and even some background fabric) for an epp heart! Can't wait to get started! A second note gives a tip to use 5" precuts. I think I might have some in my stash.. Hmm.. My fingers are itching!

2nd Sunday of Advent

Dear mom,

It's already the second Sunday of Advent! Tomorrow they will be having a santa party at P's kindergarten. Today we are planning to decorate a gingerbread house. I hope it will turn out a little better than our last attempt (in short, it was extremely soggy!). I'll send you a picture when we're done.  

I remember our gingerbread houses growing up. And how the back of the houses always seemed to lose decoration over the course of the Christmas days.. I wonder where it went.. was it the house mouse?

Did you know that the reason it is called pepperkaker in Norwegian, although we don't use that much pepper in the dough anymore (I know that some versions use pepper, but most dont). It was because at one time spices were so expensive and rare, that when used in cooking and baking, one would say that one "peppered" the dough/meal - meaning adding spices. We still call them pepperkaker, but the english name (gingerbread cookies) or spiced cookies might be a more fitting name. 

The second Sunday of Advent brings along a double-gift. Because even quilters get cold (or idle hands). 

I hope you like it!

Hugs.

The sleigh has arrived!

The sleigh. THE sleigh! The sleigh arrived yesterday afternoon!

Hurray!

Ofcourse, the ornament was opened right away. 

Can't wait to hang this charming little fellow on our tree next Sunday. He looks like a mischevious little charmer - I wonder if he's related to the house elf? Maybe, if I listen really close, I can hear a "mischief managed" whispered in a soft voice?

Thank you so much to my Secret Santa! I'm being a good girl, saving the parcel for Christmas Eve! 

 

First Sunday of Advent - calender opening

My mom and I swapped Advent Sunday calenders this year. Very exciting! I think it's been years since I had a calender like this. 

On Sunday it was time to open the first parcel. Well, the thing is, as soon as the parcel came out, someone nicked it. I heard a "I can help you!" and it was gone..

"Oh look!"

"Can I color one?"

Thanks for the coloring book and pencils! As the wrapping said, I do spend a minute here and there (if not five) coloring. It's a nice way to have a break!

The remaining three parcels are hangong from the stairs, waiting for their Sundays. I wonder who gets to open the next one? Will it be me?