mushrooms with my mother.
We found quite a lot.
This is what I received from my mother.
Frying it in butter, adding a little pepper and salt.
Adding two scrambled eggs.
The mushrooms themselves "shrink", but it was still
more than enough to eat.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Makes you think
Yesterday I went with my mother to clean up my
father's grave that had been vandalized the day before.
Having a grave with a gravestone is important to me.
Having a grave with a gravestone she can visit with
plants, flowers and memorial candles is important
to my mother.
Not far from my father's grave is the grave you see
above - only grass, no gravestone.
Was this a single person with no relatives?
Was this a person who specifically told before
his or her death that he or she did not want any
gravestone?
I don't know.
But for me personally, it is hard to grasp why
somebody would chose not to have a gravestone.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Strange
My parents were happily married for nearly fifty years.
So when my father died, his grave became an important
place for my mother.
She would plant small bushes and roses.
She would bring fresh flowers and place in a vase.
She would light memorial candles.
Today she heard on the radio that vandals had been at
that cemetery, and quickly went there.
It turned out that my father's grave was one of those
the vandals had attacked.
The gravestone was standing.
The plants were uprooted.
The vase was broken.
The candle holder was broken.
What goes on in the head of persons who behave this way?
Strange.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Eight gifts that don't cost a cent to give
Jerry sent me this text. Thanks!
Below are eight gifts that don't cost a cent to give.
1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response.
Just listening.
2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and
handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family
and friends.
3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Funny pictures. Share articles, funny stories and funny
greetings. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and
may even change a life.
5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super
job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.
6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
Helping elderly cross the road can be nice.
7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left
alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of
solitude to others.
8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to
someone, really it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.
~Author Unknown~ 
1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response.
Just listening.
2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and
handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family
and friends.
3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Funny pictures. Share articles, funny stories and funny
greetings. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and
may even change a life.
5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super
job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.
6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
Helping elderly cross the road can be nice.
7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left
alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of
solitude to others.
8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to
someone, really it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
A special gift from a special man
I received a surprise present by post.
Opening one figure to see the smaller one and then the
tiniest I had some kind of vision how these figures
symbolize the man who gave me the present.
We are all made up of different parts - our childhood,
our young aduklthood and our present life.
But in this particular man's life, the two figures inside
his presentday figure, have been so dramatic,
it seems incredible he survived.
No author could have invented the life he has lived
for real.
That is why his gentleness, his generosity towards me,
is even more surprising.
How can you go through so many difficult ordeals
and still have such positive energy and life philosophy?
This man is an inspiration for me.
These figures are very special for me.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Kiwi and books from New Zealand to Norway
I sometimes eat kiwi, though I do think about the fact that
those fruits have been flown all the way from New Zealand
to Norway, and something about that seems slightly crazy.
Not so long ago I ordered two books through Amazon.com
and was quite shocked to see that the books I had ordered
from Amazon in the States, had been sent to me from
New Zealand!
In other words, I imagined my books and the kiwis
travelling together, half around the world to Norway.
The Day of the Moss Waterfall (Mossefossen)
On Friday August 14th I attended a ceremony
where the water from the nearby lake of Vannsjø
was allowed to flow into the short-short river of Moss
for one day, from morning to evening.
As the water started to fill the nearly empty riverbeds
we could also enjoy a Waterfall Breakfast and some live
music.
Standing on the old Storebro, a bridge from 1837,
it was impressive to see the cascades of water
flowing down to the sea.
This river, as already told, is supposedly the
shortest river in Norway.
Disclosing good places to pick mushrooms
For a person who loves to pick berries and mushrooms
in the forest, disclosing where those "good places" are,
is something special.
Today I walked in the forest with my mother,
so that the next generations will know where you can
find "kantareller" - the yellow mushrooms most
Norwegians know are edible.
These tiny ones above will hopefully have reached
a decent size in another three weeks ........
This is what we found today.
Kristina and Eric - tragic fates
After my greatgreatgreatgrandfather Eric had stopped
drinking, he sold his farm and bought a new farm in a
slightly different area.
He, his wife Kristina and the two sons moved to the new
farm. The houses were not in a good shape, but there was
the forest for materials and a sawmill, so Eric set about to
build new houses, starting with the farm buildings.
But one day he was hit in his head by a piece of timber,
and died. "Krossad" it says in the church book. Crushed.
Once more Kristina found herself a widow, this time
with two young sons and a new farm that needed much work.
She employed workers and got the farm working while her
sons grew up.
When Kristina was old, she continued to live in the
first house she had moved into when she and Eric came
to the farm in her youth. That house had an open fireplace
that kept the house warm and where they cooked the food.
Her son and his family had built a bigger house next to
her house where they lived.
At that time there was a strong social and religious pressure
to attend church services on Sundays.
So one Sunday my greatgreatgrandfather and his family had
gone to church, but the very old and probably weak Kristina
was alone in her home.
We do not know how it happened, but a fire broke out
in her house and Kristina died in that fire.
Suddenly I had a vision of the family returning home from
church seeing smoke over the trees, and then coming to
the point where they could see the farm and understood
grandmother's house had burnt down.
drinking, he sold his farm and bought a new farm in a
slightly different area.
He, his wife Kristina and the two sons moved to the new
farm. The houses were not in a good shape, but there was
the forest for materials and a sawmill, so Eric set about to
build new houses, starting with the farm buildings.
But one day he was hit in his head by a piece of timber,
and died. "Krossad" it says in the church book. Crushed.
Once more Kristina found herself a widow, this time
with two young sons and a new farm that needed much work.
She employed workers and got the farm working while her
sons grew up.
When Kristina was old, she continued to live in the
first house she had moved into when she and Eric came
to the farm in her youth. That house had an open fireplace
that kept the house warm and where they cooked the food.
Her son and his family had built a bigger house next to
her house where they lived.
At that time there was a strong social and religious pressure
to attend church services on Sundays.
So one Sunday my greatgreatgrandfather and his family had
gone to church, but the very old and probably weak Kristina
was alone in her home.
We do not know how it happened, but a fire broke out
in her house and Kristina died in that fire.
Suddenly I had a vision of the family returning home from
church seeing smoke over the trees, and then coming to
the point where they could see the farm and understood
grandmother's house had burnt down.
Lesson from my greatgreatgreatgrandmother: How to stop your husband's drinking problem
My greatgreatgreatgrandmother Kristina had given birth to
a little boy when she suddenly became a widow.
She then married my greatgreatgreatgrandfather Eric.
Eric had been fortunate enough to go to school at
the time few children had that possibility in Sweden.
Though Eric was a farmer, he was often used as a "writer",
writing letters and other documents for those living
in that area.
But Eric had a problem - he would get drunk.
How often and how much we do not know.
Kristina gave birth to another boy - my greatgreatgrandfather.
She now had two small sons.
And a husband who got drunk!
Kristina then decided to shock Eric out of drinking.
How to do that?
One day when Eric came home, he found his
wife very drunk and the two little boys with her.
That was the only time Kristina drank alcohol,
but it must have made a lasting impression,
not only for Eric who stopped drinking from that day on,
but also for the coming generations.
Personally I can drink tiny amounts of alcohol if
I like the taste ( and in most cases I don't),
but drinking alcohol in order to get drunk - an absolute no!
I had not heard the story of Kristina till
just a few years ago, but I always knew that
temperance was important in that part of the family.
a little boy when she suddenly became a widow.
She then married my greatgreatgreatgrandfather Eric.
Eric had been fortunate enough to go to school at
the time few children had that possibility in Sweden.
Though Eric was a farmer, he was often used as a "writer",
writing letters and other documents for those living
in that area.
But Eric had a problem - he would get drunk.
How often and how much we do not know.
Kristina gave birth to another boy - my greatgreatgrandfather.
She now had two small sons.
And a husband who got drunk!
Kristina then decided to shock Eric out of drinking.
How to do that?
One day when Eric came home, he found his
wife very drunk and the two little boys with her.
That was the only time Kristina drank alcohol,
but it must have made a lasting impression,
not only for Eric who stopped drinking from that day on,
but also for the coming generations.
Personally I can drink tiny amounts of alcohol if
I like the taste ( and in most cases I don't),
but drinking alcohol in order to get drunk - an absolute no!
I had not heard the story of Kristina till
just a few years ago, but I always knew that
temperance was important in that part of the family.
PC down
A few days ago my PC screen went black and my PC
screamed in pain - well, at least made a special
noice to inform me about the problem.
After bringing the "patient" to my PC shop, and hearing
the alternatives - timewise, moneywise,
yesterday I decided to buy a new PC.
So yesterday, just before the shop closed, I picked
up my new "companion", and now have
questions I need answers to, when the shop opens on
Monday morning.
But at least I can receive and send emails this weekend.
It is strange to ponder how important the PC has
become in my life.
screamed in pain - well, at least made a special
noice to inform me about the problem.
After bringing the "patient" to my PC shop, and hearing
the alternatives - timewise, moneywise,
yesterday I decided to buy a new PC.
So yesterday, just before the shop closed, I picked
up my new "companion", and now have
questions I need answers to, when the shop opens on
Monday morning.
But at least I can receive and send emails this weekend.
It is strange to ponder how important the PC has
become in my life.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Me, a non-dancer
I was the girl who tried to learn ballroom
dances and folk dances.
It never worked out.
Should I have tried more?
Or perhaps I was not made for dancing?
Now, after a fairly long life as a non-dancer,
I find I enjoy watching others dance very much.
I follow "So you think you can dance" and
"Dirty Dancing" and even occasionally
"Best American Dance Crew" on TV.
Pure enjoyment!
dances and folk dances.
It never worked out.
Should I have tried more?
Or perhaps I was not made for dancing?
Now, after a fairly long life as a non-dancer,
I find I enjoy watching others dance very much.
I follow "So you think you can dance" and
"Dirty Dancing" and even occasionally
"Best American Dance Crew" on TV.
Pure enjoyment!
How to walk
Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Few people know how to take a walk.
The qualifications are endurance,
plain clothes, old shoes,
an eye for nature,
good humor,
vast curiosity,
good speech, good silence
and nothing too much.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Blogging
Today I came upon a mug
with a text about blogging.
I may even buy it.
http://despair.com/15ozcoffeemugs.html
The text, the way I preferred to write it:
BLOGGING :
Never before have so many people
with so little to say
said so much
to so few.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Contracts can be tricky.....
Kate is now nearly seven months.
Yesterday her parents bought their first home.
As to the photo above, Kate's mother wrote:
"Listening intently to the real estate agent describe
the contract on our new house."
Monday, August 3, 2009
Moss Kunstgalleri = Moss Art Gallery
Yesterday was the last day of the exhibition by
artist Reidun Aafløy Hansen at the Moss Art Gallery.
We were lucky to meet her there and even had
a short conversation.
She told us that she had used an old photograph
of herself at the age of 4 and from that photo
created the drawings in the background and
then the statue in the front.
We loved both the drawings and the statue.
Here she had used a photo of herself at the age
of 9, using the same technique.
The bronze statue "Ingerid" was also a favorite
of ours.
artist Reidun Aafløy Hansen at the Moss Art Gallery.
We were lucky to meet her there and even had
a short conversation.
She told us that she had used an old photograph
of herself at the age of 4 and from that photo
created the drawings in the background and
then the statue in the front.
We loved both the drawings and the statue.
Here she had used a photo of herself at the age
of 9, using the same technique.
The bronze statue "Ingerid" was also a favorite
of ours.
Langeland
The following photo was taken by a
mini-submarin operated by the Swedish Coast
Guard.
It shows part of the ship Langeland at the depth
of around 110 meters off the Swedish town of
Strømstad, in the Kosterfjord.
Last Friday the ship Langeland was on its way to
Moss with stones to the local factory Rockwool.
The ship was Norwegian, but the crew of six
included four Russians and two Ukrainians.
A big storm broke out. We also felt some of it
here in Moss.
But in the Kosterfjord it must have been really
bad, because the ship went down, and till now
no survivors have been found.
Instead of Langeland arriving here in Moss,
the crew perhaps taking some time off
before going on a new trip,
families in Russia and in the Ukraine have
been informed of what has happened.
We never really know what the next day will
bring.
PS. One or two days after this tragedy,
I noted that somebody in Russia
had visited my blog.
I have no way of knowing who the visitor was,
but in my imagination I saw some family
member of those four Russian seamen
googling in an attempt to find more details
about what had happened.
My blog entry did not give any detailed
information, but I hope the families understand
that strangers in Norway think about them
and extend their condolences.
mini-submarin operated by the Swedish Coast
Guard.
It shows part of the ship Langeland at the depth
of around 110 meters off the Swedish town of
Strømstad, in the Kosterfjord.
Last Friday the ship Langeland was on its way to
Moss with stones to the local factory Rockwool.
The ship was Norwegian, but the crew of six
included four Russians and two Ukrainians.
A big storm broke out. We also felt some of it
here in Moss.
But in the Kosterfjord it must have been really
bad, because the ship went down, and till now
no survivors have been found.
Instead of Langeland arriving here in Moss,
the crew perhaps taking some time off
before going on a new trip,
families in Russia and in the Ukraine have
been informed of what has happened.
We never really know what the next day will
bring.
PS. One or two days after this tragedy,
I noted that somebody in Russia
had visited my blog.
I have no way of knowing who the visitor was,
but in my imagination I saw some family
member of those four Russian seamen
googling in an attempt to find more details
about what had happened.
My blog entry did not give any detailed
information, but I hope the families understand
that strangers in Norway think about them
and extend their condolences.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Maureen Fain : "Water and Color"
Fragments from the present exhibition
"Water and Color" by Maureen Fain
at Galleri Soon
from August 1st till August 16th.
Obstetric fistula
Last night I by chance saw part of a
documentary from Ethiopia, telling the story
of women who suffer from obstretric fistula.
Here is a link to the webpage of the
Fistula Foundation
http://www.fistulafoundation.org/hospital/history/
Just a few years ago, I heard about
obstetric fistula and the serious problems
women suffering from this have to face,
if it isn't treated.
So seeing the film "A Walk to Beautiful"
and hearing the stories of some of those
who were treated at the Addis Ababa Fistula
Hospital, touched my heart.
http://www.engelentertainment.com/walktobeautiful/film.html
In the film they said that in Ethiopia they have
less than 150 gynecologists for Ethiopia's
population of around 77 million.
According to the website of ESOG, Ethiopian
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.esog.org.et/ that professional
organization has 172 members.
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