The History of Aanderbakkan

There has been people living in Aanderbakkan for at least 5 generations. What I know for sure is that my great great grandfather was married to a woman who had been married to a man from Aanderbakkan and that might be how it came to be in my family. My great grandmother was born to my great great grandfathers third wife and was his 7th and last child.

The house as it is today was built by my great grand father sometime between 1904 when his second child was born and 1907 when his third child was born. My grand father was born in this house in 1911 as was two more of his siblings. 5 children was raised here in the early 1900’s.

My grandfathers oldest sister had polio when she was young and was therefore more or less unable to walk, but that didn’t stop her from getting around. In the summer she would go from farm to farm on her three wheeled motor cycle sewing for people as she was a very talented seamstress. She lived almost her whole life in this house, but the last 5 which she spent in the neighboring farm of her oldest brother.

The oldest brother got his own parcel of land from his father and built himself a house there where he raised his one son. The son and his son and granddaughter now uses that farm as a summer home.

The next sister got married and moved to a bigger place with her husband.

Then there was my grandfather who took over the family farm and raised a stepdaughter and a son, my dad, here till they moved in 1954. They didn’t come back to the farm for close to 15 years till my dad got himself a speedboat. That is when this became our summer home.

The youngest brother bought some land in town and brought up his kids there. That farm too is now a summer home.

The brothers lived off of their farms and their fishing boat. Then in the 50’s things got harder and my grandparents moved to the town where my parents are living and where I grew up. There they worked in the fishing factories till they retired.

My dad still remembers living together with his parents, his grandparents and his aunt in Aanderbakkan. He still remembers falling in the river as a child being rescued by his grandfather who was chopping wood by the barn. He remember the child safety of being tied with a rope so not to run off and fall into the ocean. 

These days my parents being retired gets here as soon as the snow is gone in spring around mid April and leave before the first snow in fall around mid September.

My Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... the sun is shining. Our second sunny day since we came to Norway this summer. I really hope this will last so the girls and I can go swimming soon. 

I am thinking... of how lucky I am to be right here, right now.

I want to do something fun today since I did nothing but laundry and baths yesterday.

I am thankful for... my great grandfather who built this sturdy house in this exact spot and for my grandfather and dad who has taken such good care of of this old house.

From the learning rooms... sounds absolute quietness. Though Isabel will every once in a while find her math book or cursive writing book and work on those for a while.

From the kitchen...I can smell the coffee my mom just made as I am sitting by the kitchen table eating my two pieces of bread and working on this post.

I am wearing... my favorite jeans and t-shirt, my pink watch and faith bracelet, and as always around my neck hangs my cross and my husbands heart.

I am creating... the best summer memories that I can for my girls.

I am going... to take the kids out in the boat today I think to row as far as I can before I start the engine.

I am reading... Norwegian magazines and “Good Girls Don’t Get Fat” by Robyn Silverman.

I am hoping... that this weather will last for the rest of the summer and that I will stop itching from all these mosquito bites.

I am hearing… the water fall, the fire and my mom as she is taking her medicines.

Around the house... we have been cleaning and picking up and getting rid of old clothes that are not in use anymore. Making space for the rest of the family that will arrive in  a few weeks.

One of my favorite things... just looking out of the window…

A few plans for the rest of the week: going in the fjord tomorrow to civilization to get online and post all the posts I have made since I came to Norway, checking my email and look for more books online. Go fishing again. Take more walks and go exploring with my dad and the kids. Cook good meals with my mom. And try to get in some exercising.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

Linking up to

 

My mind

I am so sorry that I didn’t make it around to visit all the Company Girls last week. Time just flies and I have been so busy packing and getting ready for my 7 week trip to Norway and for an eventual move that can happen any time while I am gone or right after I get home.

There is so much to do of things that needs to be done and the things I want to do. I am trying to write up a few posts to schedule while I’m travelling, but I have not had time to sit down much with my computer lately. Tomorrow morning I will get up early and partly work on writing posts and also cleaning my house while doing some laundry.

I also want to go down to the local art festival tomorrow. I have been to it every year since I moved here and I always enjoy it. Hopefully I will find time for it between all I got to do before our trip. They say it is going to rain too tomorrow so it will be the perfect time to go then. I think it has rained almost every other time I have been to this festival. At least it did last year.

Sunday is Father’s Day and I am so excited about the gift I made for my husband this year. I can’t wait to give it to him. We will be able to hang out with him and have some quality time with daddy before we leave in the afternoon, but I know I will be having some nervous fits like I always do before a trip.

Linking up with

Norway on my mind

I take it you have noticed that I am a little busy right now and somewhat absent minded. I have so much on my mind and so much to do.

A few of you have asked if I will be posting when I am in Norway. I can tell you that I will try. I leave on the 19th and arrive on the 20th. I will try to schedule a few posts for those two days. Then I will be without internet for a few weeks. Aanderbakkan doesn’t have phone connection nor cellphone connection. We barely have electricity and that is only because of my dads inventive water driven generator. I will try to visit my dads cousin once a week or so to go online and work some.

After that I will be back to civilization travelling to my aunt and uncles house up north in the area where we will move next year. I will try to blog more often then. On August 6th we will attend my cousins wedding and we leave on the 8th and actually arrive on the 8th as well back here in the US.

I am exhausted right now as I am sitting on the sofa blogging for a bit. I have been baking all morning. Cupcakes, cakepops, cookiepops and marsmallow pops. My cookiepops where a big failure. I have to make them all over again as they just got too big. They look nice though. I will blog more about all of these on Wednesday.

I finished up making all the fathers day gifts for my husband. Isabel still need to finish one thing, but should be done by next Sunday. I just posted about these gifts and hope you will take time to go check them out.

I am also trying to finish up the teacher gifts. Yesterday I embroidered on an umbrella for the counselor. There is a fun story behind this and I will tell you all about it when I blog about it later.

As you can all see there is so much fun to come. I just need to find time to sit down and actually write about it.

Please follow along and tell me what you think of my ramblings. Thank you and have a nice weekend all.

Linking up with Rachel Anne and the other Company Girls.

My Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is dark as it is in the evening, but nice, quiet and warm after our first sunny day in a long time. 

I am thinking... of everything I need to do tomorrow and everything

I want to do. I hope I can find time for both.

I am thankful for... my little girls and the good news I received at the doctors office today about my youngest daughters health. She finally has the IGG4 antibody that she was born without. What a blessing that we are already seeing the fruits of as she is so much less sick now than just six months ago. I am also so thankful for my mentor and that I can be of help and support for her as she is for me.

From the learning rooms... even as Isabel still has a few more weeks left of school here in the US, she is working on her last Norwegian assignment for this school year at home. We are usually done with the homework by Thursday night, but since this is the last one the teachers in Norway have added some extra tests to see how the kids are doing and we still have some left to do by Monday.

From the kitchen... there is still some Rhubarb soup left in the pot in the fridge. I think I will head out there for another cup of it.

I am wearing... my favorite Capri's and a tee shirt over a tank top. My new favorite button earrings and my faith bracelet.

I am creating... a Fathers day gift for my husband. My two girls handprint on a small quilted wall hanging.

I am going... to bed soon.

I am reading... Eat, Pray, Love.

I am hoping... that I will be able to get as much done tomorrow as I did today.

I am hearing... my husband breathe upstairs as he is sleeping.

Around the house... not a mouse is stirring… and it doesn’t look too shabby after a long day of crafting.

One of my favorite things... being an encouragement and help to others.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Going to JoAnn tomorrow to pick up a few things, then do more crafting.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

Linking up to

Saturday Coffee and lot’s on my mind.

I am so tired today. The weather is beautiful and I just spent three hours at my mother in laws helping her with some weeding. I have so much I should be doing at home, but it was so nice to be outside chatting with the neighbors and mil and having the kids play with all the other kids in the neighborhood. Where we live there are kids, but we are on different schedules and rarely get to play together outside.

Last Saturday we went to the zoo for the Easter egg hunt there. I really thought Sofie would just freak out by the eggs and start throwing them around, but she got busy and picked as many eggs as she could. Isabel found a special golden egg which she got to keep.

This week my cousin from Norway were visiting with her family. Having my family here was so nice, but I am feeling so much more homesick now. My cousin and I never really knew each other growing up as I am eight years younger than she. It wasn’t till my oldest and her youngest was born that we actually met and got to know each other. Isabel and Sol is born only three months apart and they have so much fun together despite one speaking Norwegian and the other one English.

I had Isabel skip school on Wednesday so that we could take her cousin to the zoo. We spent the whole day there and had so much fun. No one should ever go to Seattle and not see the Troll under the bridge in Freemont. So of course I had to get lost to find it and by the time we got there it was pouring down, but we got the required pictures.

My parents are already at our summerhouse. They got there before Easter this year and as far as I know they have big plans this year for the garden. At least I hope so. Usually they grow potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, onion, salads and lots of flowers.

My cousin and her family will actually be in the area as well while we are in Norway and we will be able to visit with them there. We are so excited about that.

Seattle Sounders just beat Toronto 3-0. Yes we are a soccer family. Well my husband is the soccer fan, but I actually coached a boys soccer team at one point and I do take some interest to it.

It is bedtime now, but first I need some ice cream and then I’ll do the pictures and posting it tomorrow. Hopefully I will be back at posting every day again next week.

Linking up with

Me in Pictures

Visiting blogs linked up to Eisy Morgans Coffee with Friends I found My Life, His Grace. Sydney was doing a Flickr photo mosaic to describe who you are. She found it at an other blog called Grammy’s Recipes. I thought it looked like fun and figured I’d give it a go. The directions are as following.

Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose your favorite image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

1. What is your first name?

My name is Marianne. This one doll kept coming up as the best representative for my name. Not sure if that means that I am a doll?

2. What is your favorite food?

I will just have to say vegetables. Every time someone asks me what I want for dinner I always say anything as long as it has vegetables with it. When I cook at home I use way to little vegetables, I really have to get better at it, but my family hardly likes any.

3. What High School did you attend?

When I was an exchange student in the US I attended El Molino High School in Forestville, California. That was where I met my husband. That might actually be a good story for another time.

4. What is your favorite color?

My favorite color is Yellow and I love flowers. Especially in spring when the yellow really lights up the world around you. In my next house I want to have more yellow. Some rooms with gray walls and yellow accents and some with yellow walls. I think I will like that very much.

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Norway Haakon Magnus. As a young girl I always imagined meeting him (even though he is way older than me) and that he would fall in love with me and I would become a princess. Instead I got married right before him to an American and he found a single mother and fell in love with her. This year I think we both have 10 year anniversaries.

6. Favorite drink?

I must say Frappuchinos. I love, love, love them and sometimes I have one a day. My favorite is Mocha with a dash of Raspberry or orange in it. Mmmmmmmmm….. Btw I make my own at home to save money. I buy the mixture they use at the coffee shop and blend it at home, just as good as at Starbucks.

7. Dream vacation?

That was easy, Norway of course. I want to go home. This picture is from the district that my dad is from and where I will be staying for the most of the summer this year.

8. Favorite dessert?

Norwegian Chocolate Pudding with vanilla sauce. I pretty much survived my childhood years on eating this. I was sick a lot and would loose my appetite, but the doctor told my mom to let me eat what ever I wanted and all I wanted was this and bananas. The doctor was happy with that. This and bananas are still my two favorite things to eat when I am sick and anytime really.

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?

I have always wanted to be a teacher and I have a masters degree in teaching. Unfortunately I don’t have my credential here and have not been able to teach since I moved to the US. I decided against getting my credentials here too because it got to expensive for me. Next year we are moving back to Norway and I hope to find a job teaching right away there.

10. What do you love most in life?

Most in life I love to read books. I would read all the time if it wasn’t for life getting in the way.

11. One word to describe you?

Chatterbox. I have a hard time keeping quiet when in company with other people than my family. I constantly try practicing to listen to others and asking them questions about them. The best picture to describe that is apparently a waterfall named Chatterbox.

12. Your Flickr name?

My flickr name is my name unfortunately. But one of the names in my email address is elf so I used that instead today.

1. Marianne, 2. Preparing Vegetable Stock, 3. El Molino High School, 4. Yellow!, 5. hkh_kronprins_haakon-68, 6. caramel frappuchino, 7. Steigen, 8. Puddings!, 9. Timken Roller Bearing Co., calendar, September 1950, teacher at desk, 10. Read Across America Day, 11. Chatterbox Falls, Princess Louisa, BC., 12. elf 2

Friday Coffee and thoughts on Saturday

It is a wet and dreary day outside today, I guess that is why I am actually sitting down writing a few blog posts. Yesterday (Friday) it was a rather nice and dry day here and Sofie and I decided to ride our bike down to the mall to meet a friend at the play area to play for a while. It was so nice even though it really hurt riding the bike as I went for a long run Thursday. All the hills were steeper and longer than usual and I had to walk most of them. It took me 10 more minutes than usual getting down to the mall. Oh well, we didn't mind since it wasn't raining.

In the afternoon the girls and I attended an art gallery reception with my mother in law and Isabel's first grade teacher. The artist, Max Lyonga, who were showing his work had been in Isabel's class on Thursday and held an all day art lesson and their class's art were being shown together with the art of the artist and art made of kids from Cameroon where the artist is from. It was really neat and a fun experience for Isabel.

Thursday I went running in the morning. The ground were so soggy wet that I got stuck in the mud all the time. Some days I wish I could run on Asphalt. I am still sore from it. My husband had the day off and we cleaned the house and made dinner together, such a rare treat. In the afternoon we had a realtor visit us. We have decided to forth with a short sale of our condo. Hopefully within the next month or so. It will be very busy getting ready for it here.

There are two reasons for us doing a short sale, one is that we are moving to Norway next summer and we need to sell here first and since the condos in our neighborhood is now selling for half of what we bought for we will never be able to sell without a loss unless we do a short sale, two is that when our daughter was diagnosed last year with immune deficiency it depleted all our savings even though our medical insurance is really good and we can barely make our payments now on the condo.

This upcoming week is going to be busy and fun. We are getting ready for family from Norway to join us for Easter. I am going to write a couple more posts today. Sorry about posting all in one day, but I have a lot on my mind.

Thank you for joining me for coffee this morning.

Daybook and Coffee

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... The world is waking up, birds are chirping and the sun is starting to lighten up the sky. This is what I love with getting up at 5 in the morning.
I am thinking... How peaceful it is. Today will hopefully be a day of peace.
I am thankful for... The inspiration God is granting me for a artwork today.
From the learning rooms... Isabel is working on understanding what we read in Norwegian. She is understanding more and more, especially when she doesn’t think about it.
From the kitchen... I really should make apple muffins and a birthday cake.
I am wearing... My favorite blouse with my skinny jeans. My pink Rumba watch, my faith bracelet, my heart necklace and flower ear rings.
I am creating... A mixed medium picture for my bedroom using a quote from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
I am going... To the Spa today with my best friend. As a birthday gift to myself I am treating her because she deserves it.
I am reading... At least I wish I was reading, but on my ereader there is a few books that I am working on.
I am hoping... That I get a babysitter for the kids tomorrow so I can attend the babyshower of a friend.
I am hearing... My husband watching a soccer game on his pc and Sofie watching a children’s show on TV and whining behind me.
Around the house... There is so much that needs to be done.
One of my favorite things... Is being able to create out of what I have on hand.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Babyshower tomorrow, birthday celebration later, Bible study on Tuesday, riding my bike with Sofie and running again.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing… The love between a daughter and her dad. Enjoying the day and the moment together.

 

Linking up to

 

 

 

 

Isabel, my Dr. Dolittle

These pictures where taken last spring in April when we were visiting our family in Norway. Isabel was 5 1/2 years old here.

Isabel has always loved animals and also had a special bond with animals that she’s met. Animals that normally don’t like children will approach her and let her pet them. She is gentle with them and shows them respect and is cautious around them.

In settings where I would thinks she would get scared, she goes in confidently and where as most kids would just run in and barge right over to the animals, she keeps a safe distance, walks slowly and listens to the responsible adult she is with.

Here the calf is trying to kiss her after having suckled her fingers. And she is riding Ponni-Lars while my cousin Anna is leading him.

She is especially fond of horses, ponies, dogs, cats and snakes. So much so her teacher thought we owned a snake by the way Isabel would describe how to feed “her” snake. She has never fed a snake and she has never been that close to one, ever.

Here she is grooming Ponni-Lars, something he enjoyed so much he fell asleep. Auntie Sissels horse Flicka is saying hi.

Here she is walking Ponni-Lars, a little Shetland pony owned by my aunts sister. He has unfortunately passed away now, but he loved Isabel and would let her do anything to him.

If Isabel could choose any animal that she would be, it would be a Cheetah because she is such a fast runner just like the Cheetah. She wants to become a veterinarian, and a hairdresser and an author.

I love my little Isabel and am looking forward to spending some special one on one time together with her next week. We haven’t had a chance to do that since before sister was born. We will visit a art museum, a LEGO store, coffee shops and the Cheese Cake Factory.

Thank you for visiting me today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Linking up with Eisy Morgan, Design it Chic, and Home Sanctuary.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

   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.

I’m out of my mind

Today I decided to join a few parties. “Coffee with Friends Friday” over at Eisy Morgan is a brand new linkup party where we are to share things about ourselves to let other bloggers know more about us. “Boost My Blog Friday” is a linkup party where you get to boost your blog, link up, visit others and hit follow. Lastly I am linking up with Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary and visiting the rest of the Company girls. I just hope I can get around to visit you all.

    

It has been a busy week and I have not been able to keep up with the extras this week. The Small Things over at Home Sanctuary has been one of those things and my crafting is another.  Still I was able to clean most of my mother in laws house and my own house this week. I saw many of my friends since I made it to Bible study, MOPS steering meeting, Mentor and Mentoree dinner, play date, surprise meet up, and a lunch. Since Sofie was sick last Sunday I took her to the doctor again on Monday and that was a long affair, but she is doing great.

I am feeling great about my week, but my body is complaining. This week I have felt like I have knives turning and twisting in my lower back and my neck. The pain is at times excruciating, but so far I have managed without my painkillers.

I am excited about my next week. This weekend I’m going to work on some crafts and my schedule. And I am planning so many social gatherings coming this next week and rest of the month. I just hope my friends have time to come.

Well I am going to have a piece of Pumpkin bread and get to bed.

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful weekend.

Linking up to

 

Before and after

I had so much fun yesterday with the Small Thing at Home Sanctuary. If you have never visited Rachel Anne, please do as you will never regret.

Yesterdays Small Thing of Before and After invited us to do some Before and After tasks around the house. I made 8 changes in my home, but I forgot to take pictures of most of them. Still here are a few.

It looks so much better after I took my powder room mirror and put it on the mantel together with art work made by my 6 year old daughter and 15 year old cousin.

Aren’t my girls talented?

 

My dining room is finally pulled together again. The frames to the left is our school area. One shows Norwegian vowels, one English sight words, one Norwegian with English translation, one a Norwegian song and one just words we are currently working on.

My kitchen always ends up being a mess. It is our command central and I spend at least4 hours in there every day. Would think I kept in cleaner and nicer then…

I had someone help me clean the kitchen. She was so excited to get to do the dishes that she did them three times yesterday.

My youngest daughter got a doll stroller for Christmas. One day she decided that she wanted a ride in it. It was not made for her and it ripped. I didn’t feel like going back to the store to return it just to get one with just as bad fabric back again. So I repaired it.

 

I really like drop cloth. It is strong and versatile.

We also re organized all of their toys in their bedroom. Re organized drawers in their bathroom. Removed a too big mirror from the powder room. Removed a dining room table that was being stored in the living room.

All these little changes made such a huge difference in our house. As I am sitting here today I am planning on continuing making small changes here and there. I think my bedroom is up next for a small change.

Thank you so much for visiting me and I hope you go visit some of the other Company girls and Rachel Anne.

Have a good weekend.