The Singing Ball

This ball sings. And it reflects the entire river bank. 

Isn't it just too cool? :) 

Wrap til you drap.

One of the things I like most about Christmas: wrapping presents. :)

Merry Little Christmas!
(That's what this day is called in Norway)

GOD JUL! :D

Det er ingenting jeg ønsker mer akkurat nå enn at ALLE får en
EKSTRA GOD JUL!
Takk for alt godt i året som har gått, jeg gleder meg til et fremgangsrikt og velsignet 2009.

Bless you all. :)

Maximus Manus

We were more than 20 close friends last night at the movies. The greatest norwegian movie ever made had a premier this weekend, and of course we had to see it. The movie is based on a true story, about Max Manus and his men and what they all did during the Second World War. I usually get kind of embarrassed when I watch norwegian movies, there's just something about the language that hasnt really been fit for the screen so far, but last night - I just loved it. 

It was a fantastic movie, and I enjoyed every minute. I even cried. 

If you like foreign movies (and you're not from Norway), you should check out this movie when it's released on DVD (unless it comes to a cinema near you). 

Everyone rise

I did this one for a game. It's called "Everyone who [insert awkward/funny/weird thing here], rise" and then you put in whatever word or happening etc you'd like. This, for example, is "Everyone who's ever attended to or arranged a tupperware party, rise".

And yup, a lot of people has!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Snow is wonderful. 

It's like really good make up, it covers up everything. (; 

It was dark, wet, muddy, no leafs, no flowers, no greens outside - and then snow came. And everything went white, nice, light and soft. I love my view every single morning! 

Happy Winter Days to you all. :) 

Love for Winter

Winter in Norway basically lasts from November till April. That's 50 % of the year that is. But snow is not what it used to be. When I was a kid, it snowed in winter. There was never a doubt. It snowed in December, and we had snow Christmas Eve. It would keep snowing and we'd be outside, getting red-cheeked, jumping from the kids house in the garden, getting stuck in snow that would reach way above our heads. The trees would be covered in snow, and like old men the branches would be bent under the heavy, white weight. We'd make snowball candlelight and snowmen with carrot noses while licking on icicles picked from the frozen rain gutter.

Last year I remember thinking - what happened to winter? It rained so much in December, it felt like an overdone fall. Stretched to its limits, never wanting to let go. It rained, was windy, sloppy and cold, but just not cold enough. It was the first Christmas Eve I ever experienced without snow (or was it the year before?) Well, my point being we can't rely on winter anymore. We never know what to get. It's the new, grown up winter. My childhood snowy days are over.

But!

This year it changed. It started snowing at a perfectly normal time. Covered the trees, making it lighter outside, beautiful, beautiful winter. Making us want to decorate the houses with stars and candles, and making it sort of easier to get up in the morning. There's just something about walking into the livingroom in total morning darkness, glimpsing with your eyes and in your tired mind discover over and over again the christmas star and a 7 armed candlestick in the window. Total coziness!
So, winter is back. :)

I was walking alone home the other day, I faced down on the white, slippery hard snow to prevent from falling and suddenly I stepped onto a black shade under the white snow. I stopped to get a better look and what it was, was the perfect shape, the perfect description of the perfect Winter.

Why don't I have more hats?

Women Only Christmas Feast tonight. :) Age 18-82. Hats are essential.

Sounds like a lot of fun? Oh it will be. The problem, it seems, are the hats. Where do you get hats these days? What IS a hat, really? Does it have to be made from something that used to be alive? Does it need feathers? (probably.) It also seems my head is a bit larger than everyone else's, cause no hats fit me. Especially not the ones I tried in the second hand shop. People had smaller heads 50 years ago. Means I'm smarter now. Smart enough to create my own hat. Oh yes. 

I'm not gonna show you now (cause I havent made it yet, but don't worry - I have 60 minutes between arriving home from work and being at the feast. Plenty!), but here's a drawing nonetheless, I'd love a hat like that.

Juleminner en desembermorgen

Å våkne første gang vekkerklokka ringer fordi man vet at det er noe spesielt, ligge og dra seg under varm dundyne før man strekker seg etter det gulvarme nattbordslyset og ser at ute er det varmt vinterlys fra gatelykter som lyser opp snøen. Jeg står opp, setter på vannkokeren, tenner lysene i vinduet og lager meg frokost. Også åpner jeg luka. :) LUKA. Kalenderluka. Gjennom hele livet mitt har kalenderen hatt en utrolig stor betydning. Hele desember dreide seg om kalender. Hele november dreide seg om å lage kalender. Det hendte jeg snikspiste av sjokoladene frem i tid. Uff, flaut å tenke på, men sånn var mitt barnehjerte. :P Spiste aldri opp HELE, da. Det var alltid en liten knert igjen, tilfelle noen skulle sjekke. Men det gjorde livet så lyst og lett hele desember. En grunn til å stå opp og kose seg. Husker også hvordan lærerinnen min Anbjørg leste "Julemysteriet" av Jostein Gaarder til gløden av stearinlys og knaskingen fra 26 barnemunner fulle av pepperkake og mandariner. Og skive med sylte og sennep. ... :) Min lykkelige, lykkelige barndom.

Men i dag satt jeg der alene i mimrelysgløden, koste meg med kaffen og kjente at ja - jeg er voksen, men barnet i meg er så intakt, intakt - halleluja. Hallejula. Ingen måned er bedre, ingenting slår gleden over å skulle tilbringe dager hjemme hos mams og paps, søsken, god mat og lys og varme og peis og venner. Deilige jula.