Midsummers Eve

The night is nothing more than a two hours dawn here at the moment. It never gets really dark these days.. The sky has a beautiful dusk blue color with brighter, bluish grey, cotton looking clouds gliding over it.

The 21.June was the lightest day of the year for us living in the nothern hemisphere. Today, 23. June we are celebrating Midsummers Eve, or Sankthans as we call it in Norway. It is an old tradition and celebration, that dates back to the viking times with offerings. In later times the church changed it into a Christian celebration, celebrating St John the Baptist.

In Norway we celebrate Midsummers eve with small and big bonfires, music, food and partying that lasts all through the night. That's if we get the next day off.. We're not as lucky as the swedish, where the day is a national holiday. Some places in Norway they even throw paper withces on the fire. In old days, they thought it would keep the withces and bad spirits away!

This year me and my love will be heading out to visit Miss Lindy Lee and her man. They're having a moving in party, as well as a Midummers Eve party. Crossing fingers for nice weather and no rain, so we can dance naked around the swedish Midsummer Pole and wear flowers in our hair;) All according to swedish traditions.. *Cough* ya, maybe not the naked part. Skip the naked thing, but we'll have flowers!



Midsummers Eve 2010 in Oslo

Midsummers Eve bonfire

Christmas Eve & Day

After an extremely cold walk and bus trip through winter wonderland, we arrived at a cozy, candle lite, Christmassie house at my parents. All the Christmas smells hitting us like a warm, welcoming blanket as we walked through the door... Tears were popping, my eyeliner running and thighs were numb, after venturing out in the cold -15C/5F evening.. Layers of warm winter clothes wrapped off, as high heels and stockings went on. A glass of champagne later, we felt more human again;)

The evening were celebrated with laughter, wine and great food! Like every year, turkey was on the menu and some light, salomon dish for starters.. Mom and dad had done a great job in the kitchen, it was just left for us to dig in and enjoy! After a very satisfying dinner we rolled over to the sofa for more food.. Christmas cookies, chocolates, marsipan, fruit and coffee, while presents were exchanged:) Me being "Santa" again handing them over..

We stayed over to next day and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day breakfast-brunch-lunch with all sorts of goodies and wasn't home before late that evening, after my parents driving us home.. My sweet, wonderful parents!

I'm not sure how many more years there will be with Christmas dinner at my parents, something tells me that it's soon our turn to carry on the tradition.. Just in need of a bigger place! Something I'm looking forward to with a mixed feeling of joy and fright!! haha lol

A decorated Christmas trea

Family photos and Christmas flowers..

Some of mom's christmas decoration around the house

Christmas cards and display

Me & my love

Salomon marinated in lime juice.. The fruit acid actually cooks the fish, really nice;)

The yummi turkey, sliced and diced;)

Kransekake with ice cream, poached pears and chocolate..

A beautiful, tiny Christmas tulip!

An old baby photo of me from my parents house...

***HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!;)***

My Christmas

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!!! If it's celebrated on your own, or with your loved ones and the traditions that you have for the time of the year that makes it Christmas to you!! <3

The day today started with Three Wishes For Cinderella, a nice bacon breakfast and cinnamon coffee with my love.. We will be heading over to my parents for the Christmas dinner with the family later on. Mom's Christmas cakes and dad's marsipan... Christmas carols playing on the old LP player, while we sit around and talk. A decorated Christmas tree with presents underneath... The smell of pine tree and Christmas incense in the house, blending in with the wonderful smell of mom's turkey cooking in the oven. Makes it Christmas to me:)

Here's a few things that makes my Christmas eve complete...

The most wonderful, sweet and romantic story ever made about Cinderella! No Christmas without it...

Disney's Christmas show

Christmas breakfast with cinnamon coffee...

And eggs and bacon ..

Our Christmas bush..

Some Christmas decor that found it's way to our wee appartment...

A world covered in snow...

Mom's turkey (had to borrow a image here:)

Anne Murray's Christmas carols turning on the LP player...

Christmas incense

A decorated Christmas tree, with my old angels still hanging on the branches...

Mom and auntie's Christmas cakes...

And most important my family.. Being together with the ones I love, will allways give the big Christmas spirit to me;)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Chrismas

Last Saturday it was once more time for gramps annual Christmas party with the family:) Lot's of great food, some traditional, some not. Made by grandpa, my mom and my aunt. As allways the wine is flowing, food is sent around the big table, eager conversations, laughs, grandpa's speach and cheering.. Like every year, my mom had made kransekake for dessert. A yummi, traditional norwegian cake with a taste of almonds/marzipan. Decorated with  firecrackers, hiding funny little hats and the worse jokes around. They're so bad, they're getting funny.. Pretty bad in other words!

Nothings better than to see the family and spend some time together! For me it's what Christmas is all about, being together, eating the same foods, doing the same things and maybe making some new traditions, but allways holding on to what counts.. Family and friends. It brings me serenity and peace in mind, and makes me feel in one with myself. I can charge my batteries, be who I am, what I am and knowing that is enough. In any state of mood, by the end of the night I allways feel uplifted..

Wishing you all a great time with family and friends these days around Christmas! Or where ever feel like home to you. I hope you all have a place which gives you the same feeling of peace in mind, where ever you might be..

Cheers and skål! Wishing ya'll a great pre Christmas time;)

A glimpse of the lovely food that was served...

Kransekake

BAM!!

Very bad jokes

     And funny hats...

*Chuckles* Tricky little self portraits!

I spy with my little eye..