Minus

This is Minus. He is a ten years old, red, big, fluffy and enormously cuddly cat. He is not mine, although I wish he was.. His owners live not far from my grandparents and whenever I visit them, I usually meet Minus too. He is so trusting and fond of people, a huge contrast to our late family cat who was very wary of strangers. I think he is so beautiful and cuddly, I just want to pick him up, put him in my handbag and take hime home with me. But I can't do that, can I?

In progress

Remember my post Sjokoladebutikk? Well, here is the chocolate-shop-to-be, four months later. New windows and a new door, but still in progress. I think my hunger for chocolate will have to wait a little longer..

Red barn

There are some red barns in this region, here is one of them, situated on the hill in Krokstadelva.

Been skiing yet?

It's embarrassing to admit, but I haven't been skiing this winter. I took this photo last winter, it's from the cross country skiing fields around "MIF-hytta," a cabin belonging to MIF (Mjøndalen's Sports Association). Hopefully, I'll be up there very soon, getting some fresh air, and before I go I can check out the weather and quality of the fields here

Nature's Art

Check out this stunning piece of art! It looks like paint on a canvas, doesn't it? However, it's not. What you see here is nature's art, the patterns in a big piece of rock

Weeping willow?

I like how branches become all frosty when it gets cold after a mild period. This tree is a birch, but could resemble a weeping willow, don't you think?

The chestnut tree

I have realised I haven't posted a photo of a tree for a while. I haven't posted that many photos of trees at all, really, despite being a sucker for them. This tree here is a huge chestnut tree, it's growing in the courtyard of my friend's parent's farm. I think its beautiful, but this tree here is still my favourite!! The building on the photo is called "stabbur," a house on farms used in the old days for storage of food. For more information on storehouses, check out stabbursnatt.no, where ten farms in Rollag, Numedal (about 1 hour drive northwest of Eiker) have come together to offer accomodation options in these storehouses.

Bandy

When I posted the photo of the ice at Vassenga, on Boxing Day (see the post here), one reader commented "hope you will post photos." I was working that evening and never got to see the derby, so I planned to take a photo of the match when the bandy team I am playing for (an Oslo team, Stabæk) would meet Eiker's women's team, Solberg, on the ice in Solbergelva. The match was played yesterday and here is a photo of one of my team mates (in blue) with total control of the ball. Let me add in the end, we won 7-1!

Årstidsforvrengelse

I'm not sure if "årstidsforvrengelse" is even a word, it was my granddad who came up with it some years back when we spotted an apple tree covered in snow, with bright red, ripe apples on it. The word can be translated into "season distortion." I remember we saw the tree in November, and now I have spotted the same thing again! Talk about stubborn apples, refusing to let go!

Blue

My apologies for disappearing for a while, 2011 started pretty hectic. I took today's photo some days ago after walking home from the shops. It was the beautiful blue light and colour of the field that made me stop. Light, either at dusk or dawn, especially in winter, is a favourite of mine. I have already blogged pictures where light have been my motivaton for taking them. Remember Winter light and Twilight from my old blog?

Gulden Kunstverk

Today's picture is from inside the art gallery Gulden Kunstverk in Steinberg. It's a small gallery in a new, modern building. Next door is the art sales outlet, housed in an old barn, and Kafé Elvebakken! Check out their web page for more information, other exhibitions and its art online at guldenkunstverk.no

Reflections

I caught the reflection of the rare winter sunshine in these windows some weeks ago. Thought it made a nice picture. The buildings are the collection of four apartment blocks, called "Åkerbråtan," in Mjøndalen.

Photo of the year!

2011's first theme day!! I have chosen to interpret it by reposting what will have to be my favourite photo of the 220 photos I have posted in 2011 (including Oslo Daily Photo). I made that sound really easy, but let me tell you, it was not. Can I choose all of them?? My favourite photo (one of many) belongs to the post Wrapped and stacked up!. Why I like this photo I have explained in the post, but quickly summed up, it's to do with the light and angle. I choose this, but I have to add that my favourite could easily have been this photo, this or this one too..

Happy New Year!

I wish you all a Happy New Year! 2010's last photo was taken a few years back, fireworks above Nedre Eiker!

Frost

It is still cold, even though it is "only" around -10 here in Eiker. It has been twice as cold and colder for so long, so -10 feels like zero degrees about now, yet these frozen branches tells the truth about how cold it really is..

Snømannen Kalle

I'm no engineer, but I'm pretty happy with the making of this snowman! Looking at it now, I can see it looks a little sad. Maybe it's because he's got one eye smaller than the other? And yes, I know I'm (supposed to be) grown-up, but I'm allowed to make ONE snowman throughout the winter!?

Snow Graffiti

It is not that there has been a lot of snowfall this winter, it's only about 30-40 cenitmetres. The abnormal thing is that the snow came in early November and because it's been so cold for such long periods (between -15 and -20 for weeks at a time), the snow is still here. Today's photo is of a wall covered in patches of snow, making a nice pattern. It's decorative and harmless, but when patches like these cover up whole traffic signs along the road, it's a different case.

Romjulsdrøm

The days between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve are called "romjul." Traditionally, the romjul lasts from the 3rd day of Christmas (today) until the 13th (the 6th of January). The name derives from the norse word "rúmheilagr," meaning "that do not need to be kept strictly sacred." Romjul is for many a quiet, peaceful and relaxing time at home, for others a busy week of visiting family and friends eating left over Christmas food. My romjulsdrøm (romjul's dream) is to do as little as possible, only with breaks of some acitivity, preferably cross country skiing or bandy. As the famous norwegian singer and writer Alf Prøysen put it;

"En skulle vøri fire år i romjul

da julelysa brente dagen lang
og væla var et hus med fire vegger,
der saligheta var et bessmorfang"

If you have got Spotify you can listen to Alf Prøysen singing his Christmas song here.

SSK-MIF

Boxing Day is the day for the annual derby between Mjøndalen Sports Association (MIF) and Solberg Sports Club (SSK) in bandy, a winter sport similar to ice hockey. This year, the match will be played at the ice in Solbergelva, whilst today's photo is from last years game at Vassenga, in Mjøndalen. I'm cheering for MIF as it is my home team, but I suspect that SSK will win. For those of you who are not too familiar with bandy, check out this video.

Gnomes need food too!

When you read this, you might be chock-full and sick of Christmas food, but have you thought about the little gnomes that might be living in a barn close to you?? There might be a little gnome or Santa Clause living in this barn, if so, I hope someone have put out a plate with traditional "risengrynsgrøt" (rice porridge) and a glass of special "tomtebrygg" (santa beer) to him.