Saturday, March 26, 2011

My Paradise


I am playing catch up today. Having coffee a day late. Actually I don’t really have to catch up on my coffee, I drink it all the time.

Today I want to welcome you to my second home, my family summer house Aanderbakkan. My great grandfather bought the property in the 1800’s sometime and it was very big. He divided the property between his three sons and gave each of his daughters a parcel where they could cut down wood. The oldest son built his own house to the right of this photo and the youngest got a property on the left. My grandfather who were the middle son got the old family farm.

gaarden

My grandfather and father were both born in this house. It is slowly sliding off of the foundation and my dad is trying to prevent this from happening.

aanderbakk huset

There were no electricity, no running water and no roads out here. To get here we have to use a boat, but my dad has made his own water turbine and we have enough power to run lights, a small TV and recharge cell phones. He has also made is own system for getting running water in the house. He is so clever.

huset

This is the view from our kitchen windows. Isn’t it amazing that people used to live her year round just about 60 years ago. My grandparents and my dad moved from here to the town where I grew up when my dad was 10 years old. They didn’t go back for years, but then they started to spend every summer here and now my parents do the same. They come here as soon as the snow is gone at the end of April or beginning of May and then they go home at the end of September or beginning of October before the snow comes.

utsikten

These are the mountains that crowns our property. My dad went up to the top last year and I hope he will be able to take me this year.

I have not been here in 8 years and the kids and I will be going this summer and spending at least 1 month with my parent here.

fjellan

This is the beach. Rocky, yes, but it feels so good on your feet. I actually don’t like sand. My daughter is going to be in heaven collecting rocks, but she is going to be so sad that she can’t bring them all home on the plane.

fjaera The rest of the beach looks like this. It is so nice and warm to lay here. I don’t think I can count all the times I have fallen asleep enjoying the sun here. They are also fabulous for drying clothes on when you fall in the ocean by accident…

stranda

And our favorite past time hobby while being here. Fishing with my dad. My mom has already ordered the new life vests for the kids and I guess I am getting Isabel a fishing pole for her birthday this year.

pappa paa fisketur   I am so excited for this summer. The kids and I will be spending the whole summer in Norway and it will be wonderful.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed visiting my paradise.

5 comments:

Danyelle said...

The property looks beautiful!

Anonymous said...

That sounds lovely! So many great memories there I'm sure. =) Can't imagine living with no running water or electricity. That's I get for having lived in the big city for a number of years in my life. =p

One More Equals Four said...

So beautiful! What an incredible place and amazing memories for your family. I hope that your father is able to get everything structurally sound, it would be such shame to lose such a treasure.

I know you will have an amazing time this summer...it is gorgeous!

Jennibell said...

What an awesome way to spend the summer! It's neat that you have all that history to pass down too. I would love to visit a place with all those memories. . .

Kathleen T. Jaeger said...

wow! This is so beautiful. This reminds me of the book Island Boy by Barbara Cooney. I just read it to my five year old tonight. What wonderful treasured memories you have - how wonderful you'll be able to share them with your children.