The boys were in all day, mixing powders and making their sparks, while Karoline and I went outside on a photo-safari. Walking to the mailbox and back takes five minutes. We spent the better part of an hour… 

They made this one above too. Axel specializes in ground special-effects, so there were sparks flying between the trees. No worries, he is authorized, so it is all as safe as it possibly could be. 

These were our neighbor across the farms´ bought ones.

Karoline had a good idea, I think. At midnight she burned a note where she had written all the bad things that happened in 2009, so that the new year would be cleansed of them, and it would be a fresh start. 

What would you like a clean start on? What are your wishes for the new year? Leave me a comment!

I´m gonna spend some time thinking about that one, but I know already now that there are some friends I would like to re-connect with. Other personal plans of action are on my 41-list.

But I do believe in taking the time, every now and then, to reflect upon life. To think about what the last year has brought with it, and what next year has in store, and more importantly, what I have done and intend to do with whatever comes my way. 

Who am I? What have I become? Am I the person I want to be? 

How do I meet the challenges that come my way? How do I meet other people? Do I let my temper and selfishness rule? Is my mind open and my horizon broad? Do I have the right perspective?

My wonderful college Tanja made this heart. It is called nanu-filt, I think. Felted wool from South Africa mixed with silk from China. It is so light and warm, which makes it ideal for clothes, like scarves now when it´s so cold. She´s added pearls and sequins, and I think it is just lovely! 

This little angel was made by the talented Lulu. Isn´t it just adorable? Lulu is so versatile, it seems like she works in just about every material there is. I´m just loving the details here, like the black seam on the feet, and of course the J on the belly

Thank you, girls! They are both on my tree!

The view from my work-room window. 

But enough with the romance already. A true Western Norwegian is actually quite surprised if Christmas is white. The hard-core ones of us prefer the snow ready plowed (read: rain). We are a water-proof breed. Snow is beautiful. On film. In real life it´s quite unpractical. So my plan is to take lots of pretty pictures while the snow is here, and then celebrate when it´s gone. I mean, pretty as it is, it is cold. And I freeze easily. It´s a good thing electricity and floor-heating has been invented!

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As I said, enough with the romance. I went to a concert tonight. A Pink Floyd  tribute band. Boy, those guys didn´t PLAY rock-stars! The concert was great! I mean, not just did they play great, but they had a whole concept. Lights, lots of lights, a film set-design, part live and part pre-recorded, sometimes at the same time. It was just way cool. Loud enough to totally get absorbed into the music, but not so loud that you couldn´t hear the details of all the instruments and voices and sound-effects. So I´m totally putting this on my 41 things-list!

They made me re-discover pink Floyd´s music. And finished with a totally not-commercial song called “The trial”. Seriously. I though I was the only one who liked crazy-weird music like this. The music is so visual, there are loads of pictures just waiting to come alive!

This is Mr. Snowy, and Bjørn, our neighbour. 

As the night falls, Mr. Snowy warms himself on the fire.

After all the snowman-making, it´s time for a real snowball fight!

Girls against boys… 

Girls are winning… I think…

Noooo… not at all crazy!!!

Here is a picture of Axel and Karoline, visiting his parents house, getting the last presents ready.

There are so many ways to decorate a Christmas tree. Here is mine.

When I was young I read an article about a couple who was travelling around the world, and had decided to buy a small souvenir from every country they visited, to hang on their Christmas tree. That way, they could re-live a little of their exotic trip every year. I thought that was an excellent idea, and ever since, whenever  I go to a newcountry, I buy a little something to put on my tree.

I have greek-ortodox cross from Athen, a tropical fish from the jungle in Guatemala, a laughing Buddah from China, a little house from Prag, wooden shoes from the Netherlands, to mention some.

Here is the little bell-bearer, one of my new handmade swap-ornaments of the year.

And here is Michelle´s snowman hanging in front of the Eiffel tower.

This little girl, who I have always believed to be the virgin Mary, was painted by either me or my sister way back in 1980, when we first moved to New Orleans. In the back is a chinese ornament.

This first one is from Michelle Allen, my dear, creative clockmaker-wizard. I just absolutely adore this whimsical snowman! She made a couple extra ones, and sells them on ETSY, if you´re interested. The snowman-magnet next to the ornament is painted by Jessica, her 11 year old daughter. How cool is that!? I mean, look at all the beautiful shadowing she´s done!

Karla Dornacher is Michelle´s Mom, and she made a snowman too. He is just so lovely, with little sticks as arms and glass-beads as buttons. Adorable!

Mystele Kirkeng made this cute little bell-bearer. This little creature is so sweet, with lovely details. She makes a lot of colorful stuff, lots of lovely paintings. 

Deirdra Doan made these beautiful, wintery ornaments. I met her at Artfest too, and I am glad to call her my friend. She´s painted both the ice-princess and the nisse. In fact, she is writing a whole book about nisse. I am so looking forward to it being released!

April Sytsma-McCrumb made this funky little bug from recycled Christmas light-bulbs. So it is both a great ornament and it´s green! I just love the way his eyes are crossing, like he is slightly near-sighted

These are all great and inspiring women, please visit their blogs. You´re bond to be inspired by all their ideas!

Snow! A foot of snow in one night!

My youngest sister´s boyfriend and his family has an old farm on one of our neighbouring islands, and he had invited us all to go Christmas-tree hunting. I´ve never-ever done this before, and was super-excited. And then with all the snow… they couldn´t have been made better on film even if they tried!

Taking the ferry and meeting up with the rest of his family, 19 of us all together, we had rice-pudding, forgot to save some for Nisse (the Norwegian Santa), who lives in the barn above, dressed up in all our warmest winter-gear and then we wandered into the snow…

… and up the hill…

… into the woods…

… and sometimes under the woods… (Randi, my youngest sister in front)

But what´s that?! I can see it!

A Christmas-tree!

Where?

There! Can´t you see it?! It´s perfect!

Shaking off the snow, I get to saw the tree. (Can you see how happy I am?)

Yes, the perfect tree is ours!

My parents looking for their tree.

On the way back.

And this one is for Lisa Mertins: 

a real snow-angel!

And after we came back to the house, look who decided to drop by. Even if we ate all his rice-pudding.(but maybe this is his American cousin who doesn´t know about the pudding)  The kids were thrilled of course, but were very curious to which one of the adults were missing…

What a wonderful, WONDERFUL day!