Summer on the Oslofjord

Let me take you to one of the nicest days we have had this summer.  We are going on a boattrip on the Oslo fjord  

 

 

 

 

This is Lars Tore.  He is our director.

We are going out on a trip in the Oslo Fjord on this old wooden sailboat from 1937

The fjord is showing itself from the most beatiful side.  The sea is glittering in front of us.  Some cheerful little clouds on the sky.  Can it be better ?

The boat is filled with food and drinks.  We are not going to suffer !

This is Franz, my husband.  Next to him is Ronald from Holland.  He is a sailor, and loved the boat.

Father and son enjoying the view.

Time for lunch.  This is the epitomy of Norwegian summer enjoyment.  Fresh prawns, beer or white wine.  Bread and mayones.  In a boat, while the sun is shining.  Simple, but so nice !

This is a prawn sandwich.  Some of our foreign guests did not like to peel their own prawns.  I did it for them, as I have been growing up peeling prawns, so Im fast. As most Norwegians are.  They loved it !

The boat is called Guri.  Such a beauty !

Franz and me took a swim.  The water was just great !  Its so refreshing to swim in the sea.

No, its not cold.  Its great.  I feel its like swiming in champagne.

Lazy afternoon in the sunshine.

Our guests are enjoying themselves.

We are not the only ones on the fjord that day.  The fjord is full of boats !

Here we are passing through "Middagsbukta".  A popular place for other boatowners to spend their afternoon and have dinner.

People enjoy this day.  Maybe the last summerday of this year ?

The Oslo Fjord !!

A trip to the Philippines

Hello !

Its been quite a while since I have been blogging now.  Thats how it is.  somethimes I have too many other things to do.

I have also been travelling quite a bit.  In fact I have been on a really amazing trip, where so many things happened.  Now I thought Id take you to a trip to the Philippines.
This was a bit of a special trip for Franz and me.  When were young we travelled around in Asia for several years. We were one of those very early travellers, back in the 70ies.   This was before the word backpacker was invented.  But we did travel with backpacks.  I must tell this story another time. 
Anyway, we ended up by living in the Philippines for three years.  From 1980 to 1983-4.  This was an amazing experience.  Philippines was so beautiful back then.  We were young, in love and open to all that life had to offer.  And we found this absolutely beautiful paradise beach, which we had almost to ourselves.

And then, just recently we went back to visit again.  Its a long trip from Norway to the Philippines.
But its nice to just sit there and think while you fly above the clouds.  Franz really loves it.  He loves to photograph the clouds too.

As we get closer to the Philippines the clouds change into tropical cumulus clouds.

This is Franz favorite thing to do.  He must have a windowseat, if not he gets angry.  and If I get it, we have to swap.

Finally, after busy dirty Manila, we get on a tiny plane and head out to the islands.  The little aircrafts touches down on a small local airport, and this is what meets us.  Peace, Bougainvillas and a sari sari store that sells mangoes.

We have to find some transport to the next place.  This is what we found.  A tricycle.  That what they use there !

We think its just great !  Nothing has changed, everything is still sweet and innocent.  And natural and beautiful.  We are exhillerated and happy to get in.  Its almost like beeing back in the old days.

Stay tuned...... more will follow

Gave & Interiørmessen

 

The new year is here, and spring is just around the corner.  We are preparing for the coming giftfair in Oslo, called Gave og Interiørmessen.  Its a good place to meet new customers. 

Jeanette is testing out all our new displays and filling them with jewelry.

The new spring poster is ready !

We will continue our pure silver campaing for WWF

Ths spinners are beeing prepared with the new collections.

Our great basic items.

I år har vi laget 17 mai sløyfer for det norske markedet

Jeanette i farta

We are not quite ready yet, but we are getting there !

Vi ønsker alle forhandlere velkomne til vår stand på Gave og Interiørmessen i Oslo 26.-29 jan

January life

Hi again !  Its January, and time to get moving !  I want to show you my hobby !

We are a group of women who dance African dance with Raymon Sereba as our teacher.

 

This time we had great musicians.  On different instruments.  Most important is ofcourse the drums

Sometimes we sing too.  We learn different kinds of african village songs etc. 

The man in turqize t shirt is Kossa.  He is a marvelous percussionist.  And to his left Siddique.  It was great to have the Cora player also. 

Its quite difficult.  One has to listen to the rythms quite carefully, and train the body to move accordingly.

Raymond Sereba is a fantastic teacher.  And dancing works wonders.  African dance is like laughing with the body !

On the other hand, we dont have any ambitions to become really good.  We just enjoy it.

 

 

 

And when I got home I took a hot lovely bath.

With lit candles, and some nice luxurious oil.  And then just sink back and enjoy !!

 

 

Happy new year 2012

Dear Friends !

I want to wish you all a very happy new year 2012.
My best and sincere wishes that the new year is going to be a good one.

I want to share with you this beautiful video that I found on Facebook.
 Aurora in the sky with diamonds.  Take a little time to enjoy this amazing video.


http://vimehttp://vimeo.com/21419634

Lots of love from Birgit

My christmas

Dear Friends,

I did say I was going to share some pictures from my christmas.
We have had a really nice christmas the traditional way. 

The house is ready, we clean and decorate all over.

This red Nisse sits on the mantlepiece every christmas since the children were small.

Our Christmastree is great !  Franz goes out to cut it himself.  He searches for the best one !

Julenissen comes to Norwegian homes on Christmas eve.  This one in particular speaks german, and his reindeers are always making trouble outside.  And Franz is never there !

Christmas morning we have a nice long breakfast with traditional food.

And on boxing day the whole extended family gets together for a big christmas party.  We even dance around the christmastree singing christmas songs.

So all in all nothing new has happened.  Everything has been like its been for many many years.  And thats really great.  Thats exactly what we wanted for christmas.  Just to be together and enjoy.

Warm christmas greetings from Birgit


 

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone !

Up here in the north, Christmas is the nicest and most important tradition of all.
The light is turning on December 22.nd.  The daylight is returning, its going to be lighter every day until mid summer.  

The blue hour. Photo: Finn Jørgensen

 

The daylight starts late, and stops early around christmastime.  We have the "Blue hour" every afternoon, when the light is disappearing, and everything looks blue.   I just want to share with you some picuteres from this time.  Some pictures I have borrowed from some friends.

The low winter sun.  Photo: Miriam Sørsvang

 I look foreward to celebrate our christmas with Franz, our children, our parents and relatives.

Iceroses on an old window.  Photo: Eli Kaldahl

I hope the weather will stay cold.  So we can enjoy the winter.  I might share some pictures with you too, if I find inspiration to turn on the computer.  And with this I want to wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Love from Birgit