I thought it was autumn now...

The last week we have had surprisingly good weather. According to meteorologists, there were 76 locations in Norway yesterday that measured above 20 degrees. A small village, a few hours away from Eiker measured 26 degrees, the warmest in Norway. I spent the beautiful day inside, at uni, but managed to see the sun go down behind Hagatjern, a water in the forest very popular for swimming and sunbathing in the summer. The weather is expected to be just as nice and warm the next few days. I know I'll be enjoying this weekend, and I hope you will too!

View from Knabben

Here is the view from Knabben. The view is towards Drammen, a town nearby. The municipal border between Drammen and Nedre Eiker goes approximately across and/or around the little island. What you see of Nedre Eiker is Solbergelva on the left (north) side of the river, and Ytterkollen on the right (south). For those of you who speak norwegian, check out this inspiring article I found in our local newspaper: Ingen dag uten Knabben-tur.

Nye Veiavangen

Two weeks ago, the new wing of Veiavangen Ungdomsskole was officially opened. Last October I posted a photo of the construction site, where I wrote that it was going to be a new gymnasium. As you might see, I was wrong. The new wing includes classrooms, group rooms and common areas. The new gymnasium will be built in stage two of the high school's development.

Rose Hip

My mother's rose bush with beautiful orange-red hips. What to do with them? Make herbal tea? Marmalade? When I was young I used to have rose hip soup with oatmeal in it for supper. And once, I was a very naughty girl, rubbing the inside of the rose hip inside my little brother's clothes making him itch so bad.. Forget the herbal tea, I know what I'll be doing with these rose hips!!

Knabben

I'm gonna give you a tip to a "mountain peak tour" in Nedre Eiker: Knabben, a 30-40 minute walk from Solbergelva, up the steep path to the vantage point Knabben. The walk has a rise of about 300 metres and the views are stunning! I will post a photo of the view another day, very soon!

Flomvarsel

Rain rain and rain. Different from almost all of the 5 million citizens of Norway, I'm not complaining. I like rain, and I welcome the weather that we have! Now it has been issued flood warnings (for the I-don't-know-how-many time this summer), and already Eiker and the surrouding areas are the fifth wettest place in Norway. Today's picture is of Veiabekken, a small stream in the centre of Mjøndalen. The picture was taken at a different time, when it also had rained loads. Yet, the stream is not nearly as large and flooded as I know it can be..

Getting colder

The approach of autumn, air is getting colder. With warmer water than air, mornings are misty. Today's photo is taken close to Steindammen, a little water in the forest of Krokstadelva.

Squash?

Along the road over "bygda," the area between Nedre and Øvre Eiker where many farms are situated, I spotted a field full of plants with yellow flowers and something small, round and green growing underneath it. Is it a squash? I'm only used to those looking like cucumbers. All this vegetable talk and thinking makes me hungry. Can't wait until the pumpkins are ripe, I'm gonna make pumpkin and orange soup!

Election day

Today I have voted in the municipal election. We'll se tomorrow what the result will be. Will we get a new mayor or will the one we have had the last four years sit for another period? Very exciting!

Eiker

Both Nedre and Øvre Eiker has a picture of oak leaves in their municipal coat of arms. There are not plenty of oak trees in this area, so I have wondered why the coat of arms look like they do. After some research on the Internet, I am not much wiser. The origin of the name Eiker is apparently unsure, and despite of the presence of oak leaves in the coat of arms, the name can have originated from an old variation of the word "åker" (field). Here's a closeup of an oak tree growing in Nedre Eiker!

Love?

I think it is (for me at least)... Just a shame this is the neighbour's cat... Click here for another photo of Minus

Granitt

Before I continue where I left off last time, I need to apologize for not posting pictures on my blog, daily, as the name suggests that I should do. I'm a very busy girl!! Today's picture is a close-up of the dam between Nerdammen and Mellomdammen The original peat dam was replaced with a granite dam in the early 1900's so there would be a more secure supply of power to Solberg Spinneri.

Nerdammen

A picture of the dam parting Nerdammen and Mellomdammen, taken last night. Nerdammen and Mellomdammen are two waters in the forest of Solbergelva, 435 meters above sea level. The two waters were dammed-up in the early 1700's to be part of the power station at Solberg Spinderi.

Gi oss panten!

There are many ways to make money. To collect and recycle empty bottles and cans is one way, and Nedre Eiker Red Cross has set up a small container outside their premises for people to give us their bottles and cans. Last week, two volunteers and myself spent two hours emptying the container and recycling the content. Money earned for the Red Cross: 1500 NOK (272 USD or €192).

Fragaria Vesca

Picking fragaria vesca, markjordbær or wild strawberries and putting them on a straw brings back many summer memories from my childhood and puts a smile on my face!

Helt på bærtur

In Norwegian we have the phrase "helt på bærtur." It means that if someone do not understand something, do something wrong, misunderstand or is completely lost, that someone is helt på bærtur. At the same time, someone can be "på bærtur," literally speaking, if they are out in the forest or in the mountains to pick berries. So to the point: Today some friends and I were på bærtur, at the same time we were helt på bærtur. We were supposed to pick blueberries, but we were obviously too late, out of season, as there were no blueberries left. We had to find something else to do with our ten-litre buckets..

Herlig norsk sommer!

Wonderful Norwegian summer! Yes, I am sarcastic, but I'm not complaining. It has rained a fair bit this summer, about 25 days in June and July combined. This past week the weather has been impeccable, though we haven't gone without a proper shed during the day, such as this one.

In memory

I was away when terror struck Oslo and Utøya on July 22nd, and in the week that has passed I have worked. Therefore, I have not had time to take part in the ceremonies that has taken place on the square in Mjøndalen and other places nearby. Oslo has become a sea of ​​flowers, candles, letters and poems, and today the cleaning up has started. Old withered flowers will be composted, fresh flowers will remain and letters, teddy bears and poems are packed together and given to the National Archives. Today's photo is from the square in Mjøndalen.

Demonstration

In September, I wrote about the old nursing home Veiatun, which has been closed and planned demolished, although it is worthy of preservation. Two years ago, another old building in Mjøndalen was demolished and politicians are planning to build a new, modern, five storey apartment complex on the site. Residents in the houses around, on the other hand, demonstrates. They want a better environment, sun and well-being, not concrete and shadow. Who can blame them?

Postcard-worthy

For this month's theme day I chose this, the view from my friend's holiday house on Eikern. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants