tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72814698711397949922024-02-19T02:41:37.503+01:00Ramblings from the cold northramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-37532763647642259642017-02-05T17:00:00.000+01:002017-02-05T17:00:39.960+01:00Facts of EliWhen your fingers are cold, your smartphone won't acknowledge you.ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-72185154110625862442017-01-08T15:19:00.000+01:002017-01-08T15:19:40.720+01:00Ugh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sick. It sux. I googled whine and google - the bitch - autocorrected my search and gave me wine memes, instead.<br />
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This is me today <br />
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-10411137237706993612016-12-04T15:54:00.000+01:002016-12-04T15:54:59.374+01:00Illegal immigrants...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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...or mice invasion. The war against mice is on up at the farm. I've sort of lost the battle in parts of the house. I've found a couple of places they come in, but the slim hubby has been too busy with his fishy business to close the mice-freeway entries. I can almost hear them dancing their way inside.<br />
So instead I've emptied out the sink and cupboards in the hallway and installed mouse traps.<br />
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The traps need to be checked once a week as a minimum, but that's okay.Even though we don't spend that much time up there during the cold winter months, the place needs to be checked and looked after. Old cottages needs to be warmed up regularly. I'm not quite sure why, but it's what my dad always told me, so I go up there light the wood burner, take care of the traps, go for a hike while the house warms up and have a nice lunch before heading home again. <br />
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Slim hubby the hunter was out deer hunting this weekend. He brought his assistant, Marianne. She takes her job very serious and is absolutely pooped when they get home. She spent the rest of the day and night sleeping and hunting in her sleep.<br />
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I made scented candles and tea lights today. There is no snow around here yet and I struggle a bit getting into the spirit of Xmas. I figured some cinnamon/orange scented red tea lights would do the trick....except that apparently I don't do the color Red. Instead I do orange and/or pink. Go me?! At least they smell the way they're supposed to<br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-1110549887260633462016-12-02T14:29:00.002+01:002016-12-04T15:55:59.967+01:00It lives<a href="http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors42/bela-fleck-quote-its-been-an-insane-year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors42/bela-fleck-quote-its-been-an-insane-year.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>...and so do I. Hello, how are you?<br />
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2016, what can we say about 206? If I was to describe it with one word, it'd be INSANE.<br />
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I went through a lot this year. I lost my dad. Fought a lot of old skeletons hiding in my closet. Illness. I'll blog about that another day. <br />
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Hubby got a new job and a new hobby/job/fun this year. He and two buddies started a fishing project. None of them had any extra money, but they are capable men and know how to fix machines and motors, etc. They used last winter to get all the official, necessary paperwork in order - there is a lot of applications and forms to fill out if you want to become something so traditional and old fashion as a fisherman. Who'd have thunk? Then worked day and night late spring/early summer fixing up two old boats registered as fishing boats and two even older outboard engines and by early July they were in business.<br />
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Salmon farming is a big business over here, but they have problems with salmon lice. Instead of using toxic remedies to get rid of the lice issues, they use smaller fish that feed on lice. This is where hubby and buddies join the circus. They fish what we call "lip-fish" here's a wiki link <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballan_wrasse" target="_blank">Lip fish</a> They live around the coast down here in plenty. And they sell them to the Salmon farmers up north.<br />
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The season for lip fishing is very short and they more or less worked around the clock, combining the fishing with ordinary daytime jobs. They got lots of fish, but they got lots of issues as well. Engine problems. Boats sinking. Rescued by coast guard. First page news. Three became two... the funness goes on and on<br />
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<a href="http://www.marinbi.com/arthropoda/n_norvegicus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.marinbi.com/arthropoda/n_norvegicus.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a>Actually they slimmed down and muscled up quite nicely...I should start calling him my beefcake hubby...snortgiggle, no...uhm, where was I? Right, fishy business. This fall they turned our old blue and white recreational boat into a functioning fishing boat for cray fish. You can fish cray fish all year round and you can sell to restaurants, etc. <br />
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The buddies knows NOTHING about cray fish. The ones they have caught so far have been let out to sea, or been given us wives as frustration-bandaid for never being around to help us anymore.<br />
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The fishing business is a learning process, but it sure is fun to experience. From a safe distance.<br />
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Have a fantabulous weekend <br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-34384682437142483862016-01-05T21:41:00.000+01:002016-01-05T21:42:08.887+01:00goodbye 2015 and welcome 2016Hello 2016, let's be friends<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oog1fUF7WiZzD4k5lXXsw1tLbNmfb1EBaZUBAtHDyfR60xhXUB8XABKhEysOrnHkIvfInSw0KPIj7erPfdZhmQ2oo8xPCPD5OaEuDV2TwWCI2YXritEbe7FpWptWaK1YH0Ugix9PTg8/s1600/2016-01-05+19.34.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oog1fUF7WiZzD4k5lXXsw1tLbNmfb1EBaZUBAtHDyfR60xhXUB8XABKhEysOrnHkIvfInSw0KPIj7erPfdZhmQ2oo8xPCPD5OaEuDV2TwWCI2YXritEbe7FpWptWaK1YH0Ugix9PTg8/s320/2016-01-05+19.34.25.jpg" width="320" /></a>Were babysitting Vera this week while Frida has surgery to open up her airways. It is actually happening this time. She is well enough AND her heart is fully fixed. No more holes. W00t.<br />
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Runar lost his job. We'll likely repeat last year's procedure and go back and forth between the farm and here, resulting in minimum time online<br />
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Mom's 3rd hip surgery proved successful<br />
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King winter has come. Snow. Cold temps. Bluish light. Forecast says it ends next week but meanwhile I'll enjoy it!<br />
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HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKSramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-81017419767019524412015-11-13T09:25:00.000+01:002015-11-13T09:25:32.361+01:00November RambleRegardless of all the tee lights and candles, scented, or not, I feel the darkness. Guess it's that time of the year again. We have had no snow yet. It's only naked bare trees surrounded by the murky darkness of November.<br />
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Every once in a while the sun comes out. On those days, I go outside feeling happy and smiling. And immediately have tears running down my cheeks, because the sun is so low, the glare of the beams hits you directly in the eyes. The reflections off of poodles and wet asphalt aren't helping. It's painful. I'm sure the sun is sending me a message about how hard it it is to come out way up here in the cold north. I almost shout back at her: "Alright I get it. Fine! You go back into hiding you vicious moody bitch!" But I don't, because even though my eyes are hurting, I feel her warmth, barely, on my face, and it is still healing.<br />
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Marianne is no longer a puppy *sad panda face* Now, when grumpy old dogs yell(read bark) at her, she'll reply likewise. She no longer throws herself down crying for mercy at tiny adult dogs we meet. She meets their gaze with a gaze of her own; C'mon, you mofos, bring it on, cause I'm not backing off anymore!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAZyS0aiqQaulN6JQMIqp7Hj-12m4hjzMKdoaRJLWIqcdvj1kCqRIW4wpeZh6n0xOKimi2LZEN_vxbqQ5WAbuV9nCq72SQjJVKsql65gqYL7M9ghKQ0i6pN2qMeVdpBp2bKLFWyfDT6c/s1600/2015-10-31+19.01.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAZyS0aiqQaulN6JQMIqp7Hj-12m4hjzMKdoaRJLWIqcdvj1kCqRIW4wpeZh6n0xOKimi2LZEN_vxbqQ5WAbuV9nCq72SQjJVKsql65gqYL7M9ghKQ0i6pN2qMeVdpBp2bKLFWyfDT6c/s320/2015-10-31+19.01.20.jpg" width="320" /></a>She doesn't get over the top excited by leaves blowing in the wind, anymore, either. It makes me a bit wistful, but at the same time, she's not aggressive towards other dogs, which is good. Nor does she think the neighbour's garden ornaments are dangerous aliens out to get her. She's slowed down, calmed down, heck, she's lazier than I am. " Are we going for a walk, today? No? Goodie! I'll just nap on the sofa a bit more. Lets snore in tandem"<br />
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<a href="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140210021258/creepypasta/images/2/2b/Not_crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140210021258/creepypasta/images/2/2b/Not_crazy.jpg" height="274" width="320" /></a>I did a proper effort regarding quitting smoking this fall. I got Champix from my doctor and started on them in August. It worked. I had cut down to a minimum and got started on the second stage of pills and freaked out. I was aware of the dreaming weird dreams thing, but this was a whole other game. The dreams turned into nightmares that left me exhausted in the morning. Childhood traumas kept popping up like spiders in a cellar. After a few days of total panic attacks with the sweating, shaking, hyper ventilating, I called the doctor and asked for help. The doctor was kind, sent off a request for therapy - which was denied, btw.<br />
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I sat down to think, because I don't normally get panic attacks. I'm usually able to notice them sneaking up and avoid them by change of mind set, etc. This was unfamiliar and scary.<br />
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It finally dawned on me - the damn champix pills. I quit and after a few days, the nightmares and the panic attacks disappeared.<br />
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So, I'm back to smoking, but I'm not losing my mind. I still have issues that sorely needs to be dealt with. I'll have to find a way to get help with that. Someway. Somehow. Sometime.<br />
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I'll just have to quit smoking the hard way, I guess. Ugh! Will have to get my big girl panties on and do it<br />
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Simen shot his first deer last weekend. A nice young buck. Clean shot. I'm happy, he and his dadman are ecstatic. Christmas dinner is now fully provided. Which is a good thing, as we'll be the entire clan Jakobsen this year. Runar and I are cooks, as usual. Dinner is at the inlaws. It'll be fun.<br />
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I taught the neigbour farmer up at Vintland how to knit. We're making a patchwork blanket together. Fun. I'm also chrocheting shawls. I've got to use some of the yarn I inherited. <br />
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<a href="http://orig15.deviantart.net/4486/f/2010/171/f/4/eeek_by_fishbone76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://orig15.deviantart.net/4486/f/2010/171/f/4/eeek_by_fishbone76.jpg" /></a>I've broaden my horizon regarding erotic romances. I've read a few kindle books by someone from my AFP Facebook group and they were a lot of fun. Very sci fi, which I liked a lot.<br />
I stumbled onto some BDSM type of audiobooks by going with some of Amazon's recommendations that had Runar die a million deaths. He'd moan, hide his face and claim" Eli, you're killing me!" when he walked in while it was playing on the stereo. Then he'd stop, look at me with an evil, devilish gleam in his eyes, asking "You're into this!?!" That had me freaked out. We agreed on there being something for everyone, out there. Now I'm using ear pieces. No more speakers. Sheesh! <br />
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My mom fell down and broke her hip this week. She had surgery yesterday. My dad and I are visiting her this afternoon. He wants to ride with me, cause he loves my new car. It's easy for him to get in and out of, and his wheel chair fits easily in the back. He's got issues with his dentures. He's got a denture set for his upper front teeth that keeps falling out while he eats. We've been visiting the dentist at least once a week for a month now, trying to get them fixed. It's tiring for him and painful for my arms/shoulders. He's shrunk a lot this last year, but he's still a big heavy guy and the chair is heavy. We also have to be very careful and mindful with his body, as his meds have thinned his skin to the point where the lightest of touches causes his skin to fall off in big layers. It's scary. He hates being old and fragile. He wants to die, but hangs in there for us girls. I love him. I know it's getting near the time to let him go. I can't talk about that, though. too painful. ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-87745152132749850622015-10-07T13:28:00.000+02:002015-10-07T13:28:27.094+02:00Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Be sad, </div>
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be rad,</div>
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be ravingly mad</div>
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but, do stay around</div>
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go down,</div>
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with a frown,</div>
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go wear a crown</div>
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but, do stay around</div>
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do this,</div>
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do that,</div>
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do it with splat</div>
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but, do stay around</div>
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I see you,</div>
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I feel you,</div>
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I certainly love you</div>
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so, do stay around</div>
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-33515431268785504582015-08-23T01:36:00.000+02:002015-08-23T19:29:11.913+02:00Dear Cat (not a love letter)Dear cat-who-shat-the-shit-in-my-garden-that-Marianne-found-and-rolled-in,<br />
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you are not welcome here, anymore.<br />
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With regards<br />
Eli<br />
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PS! Marianne sends a teary Q from the hall; WHY?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's starting to look like a lawn, right?</td></tr>
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In other news, I've spent the weekend doing yard work and mowing lawns. I've also driven tractor a lot. A Lamborghini.(I just had to say it) If you look at the photo, you can see the infamous Lamborghini. Driving it, or using the tools is quite a work out, I tell ya! We got all the equipment for the tractors, etc stored away in a semi-tidy manner, mowed the lawn and fields, and just got things sorted. Then the red tractor (the 1969 Massey Fergerson) died. In the middle of the driveway. At the most unsuitable place. Litterally between a rock and a rock with no room on either sides. I had to use the Lamborghini and push the hoe to the side enough for another vehicle to pass.<br />
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Nature-wise, there's a Houdini lamb that's settled in our fields/lawn. Today, After having watched it from the steps and hallway for 2 hours and after it stomped at her when she walked past to go pee. Marianne, couldn't resist and ran it off. I was watching and caught her. She stopped and came back to the door. Funny thing is, she doesn't bark.<br />
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The lamb has been escaping enclosures and jumping fences since mid summer, it's not even scared of the dogs. It doesn't really panic and run, it sort of jogs while baahh-ing a muffled mmmhhhumm still chewing. When Marianne stops, it stops. And continues eating.<br />
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I'm fairly ok with it living there as it doesn't eat the flowers, but it shits everywhere...my life is full of shit?<br />
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Oh, Look, roses happened! <br />
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PS! I just became the new owner of an old(2001) Toyota RAV4 2.0 Haven't seen it yet as Runar is driving it home now. It being way late, I'll be asleep before he gets here. I don't know anything about these cars, but I don't care. Life suddenly became much easier, freer and better. . and I'm off to bed.<br />
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PPS! What's going on in your lives, peeps, you've been quiet for too long...or was it me who was hiding? Anywho, what's happening in your neck of the woods?<br />
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<b><u>UPDATE: </u></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkrDddPiUmOjDyI30n7-czgMdZcQ9rqZzrC9kUhcvbB6IPzOzcGS3O3PAC8qeM3PEKFudGyPaYcPYJ6i0_dsSz4GcfoD_HgC8xvNSiUGL1l6h9LnX5piDoF8JpQDfb0rgn6uar4ohlMI/s1600/Toyota+rav4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkrDddPiUmOjDyI30n7-czgMdZcQ9rqZzrC9kUhcvbB6IPzOzcGS3O3PAC8qeM3PEKFudGyPaYcPYJ6i0_dsSz4GcfoD_HgC8xvNSiUGL1l6h9LnX5piDoF8JpQDfb0rgn6uar4ohlMI/s320/Toyota+rav4.jpg" width="320" /></a> Toyota Rav4<br />
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Link (don't know for how long it will be up though.<br />
<a href="http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=63305983&searchclickthrough=true&authrecall=getphonenumber_0" target="_blank">sale ad for the car with lots of pics</a>ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-17699027255403135972015-07-04T11:52:00.000+02:002015-07-04T11:52:25.119+02:00Wheeee!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">He gots a job</span></b></div>
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-47913429297023238822015-06-23T16:13:00.002+02:002015-06-23T16:17:43.763+02:00Project; fixing up at the farmWe've gotten a good start fixing up at the farm. The cellar is DRY! Which means I can actually store things down there.<br />
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Runar is going to put in a water tap and I'll get a new hose. Now I have to use the indoor tap and have the hose running through the house, which is a bother, or I can carry buckets of water, which is heavy and a bother. We'll be storing garden stuff and furniture down there. Now we store those things in the barn and they get covered in goo and bird droppings...yuck!<br />
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The lawn is semi finished. Runar has put up a natural stone "wall" to enable a flat lawn in front of the house. We'll be planting red currant bushes, etc along it on the lower level and a hedge on top of the stones to shield against wind gusts. Also to enjoy sitting out there without staring the neighbours straight in the eye.<br />
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We're planning a masonry natural stone wall up against the barn as well. (to the left of photo, where Marianne is dosing in the shade) We'll have to wait until next year, to let the grass grow properly before driving on it with heavy machinery. Runar is contemplating putting in a natural stone bench - which he saw at some friends' house a few weeks ago. It was gorgeous looking! The reason we need a stone wall there, is to prevent the whole barn from gliding out.<br />
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Next weekend we're putting up stones and filling in dirt for a flowerbed from the steps along the house to the driveway. I'm going to see if I can get roses to grow up there. Because of the lower temps up there, not all flowers thrive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MPODj7p1bGe_wmJrmsmk_WdkDXS5p7I5ZUM5oZcuDuHXPtBPW3GETm18HhErfLrWdl-eLE5Ek5DIESHSVRahS-0Uf0i7bJLLE2bm3ypjDglZ2Nc67robB3QldeCw-dm2CWSQGQNMYJ0/s1600/2015-06-20+15.56.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MPODj7p1bGe_wmJrmsmk_WdkDXS5p7I5ZUM5oZcuDuHXPtBPW3GETm18HhErfLrWdl-eLE5Ek5DIESHSVRahS-0Uf0i7bJLLE2bm3ypjDglZ2Nc67robB3QldeCw-dm2CWSQGQNMYJ0/s320/2015-06-20+15.56.06.jpg" width="180" /></a>We've finished with painting the upstairs hallway and stairway. The difference is huge and amazing. The 150+ old logs were old and blackened. The whole hallway was dark and scary. As you can see on the photos, they didn't use nails, they notched the logs and they insulated with EVERYTHING, like old newspapers, moss, sawdust, you-name-it. The 100+years old dry moss is hell to paint on. I vacuumed countless times, but we still had a hard time putting on paint on those old logs. The floor was easy in comparison.<br />
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The other thing you'll notice, is that they used whatever planks and logs they had available. This cottage was built by folks who mainly got by without much real money. They bartered and swapped goods for favors, etc. There is a wonderful story about the former owner. I'll tell you another time.<br />
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Thomas and I had quite a job using wood impregnation with antiparacitics to get rid of the common furniture beetle that has been eating away on the house up there. It took a couple of weeks to finished the treatment, as we had to do a few parts twice before it helped. But, knock-on-wood I haven't spotted the fine sawdust anywhere afterwards. w00t!<br />
(the photos are from before the second coat of paint)<br />
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Healthwise I kept it up until this week. The new meds <a href="http://www.drugs.com/arcoxia.html" target="_blank">arcoxia</a> my doc has me trying out works wonders, but I can't take them for more than 4 days max. Neither can I use the ordinary anti-inflammatory meds <a href="http://www.drugs.com/vimovo.html" target="_blank">Vimovo</a>, while using the Arcoxia. My arms and neck are killing me this week, so we're taking it easy. Right now I'm even having trouble lifting my cup of coffee without grimacing and it's so hard not getting low. Ugh!<br />
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Listening to audiobooks and crocheting when I can, watching netflix when I can't. Tomorrow I'll be able to take Vimovo again and hopefully I'll be able to avoid fullblown inflammation and fever happening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQK7u_SRUPjVnIxoSMWsNxpjBnSbTPxKxwH5L4N4_27OppyA8yknTamuAgmmLnjixfuZhSWnH5qMzZgQi1cNjYEOIlF9MhX0MDrAm6KRhd1RnoaAc0DN8lkO6UrWtUl3dC_E8tiSLu8c/s1600/2015-06-23+15.30.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQK7u_SRUPjVnIxoSMWsNxpjBnSbTPxKxwH5L4N4_27OppyA8yknTamuAgmmLnjixfuZhSWnH5qMzZgQi1cNjYEOIlF9MhX0MDrAm6KRhd1RnoaAc0DN8lkO6UrWtUl3dC_E8tiSLu8c/s320/2015-06-23+15.30.55.jpg" width="180" /></a>No jobs for Runar, yet. The oil industry is starting to suffer and there is such an increase in unemployed people. With a decrease in available jobs, things are rough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNB-uuASuhRkHGvN1L6X3GzZLHwF1bMxyQaE3jcR19Kn1bjptYjpqeSxoV8sOVCnWKQG0PQeDjpDWJZPJzn-V0xXFykAZKT2QTVQdD1n91iVaa98I4KyxNApgXq7GK2o1CXSBuMMNlNo/s1600/2015-06-20+15.59.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNB-uuASuhRkHGvN1L6X3GzZLHwF1bMxyQaE3jcR19Kn1bjptYjpqeSxoV8sOVCnWKQG0PQeDjpDWJZPJzn-V0xXFykAZKT2QTVQdD1n91iVaa98I4KyxNApgXq7GK2o1CXSBuMMNlNo/s320/2015-06-20+15.59.35.jpg" width="180" /></a>I'm on the last arm on the jacket I'm crocheting for Helene. It was supposed to be for myself, but I've sort of outgrown it... Here's a photo of the back, just to give you an idea of the pattern. I told you about it earlier. There were no pattern available anywhere for the kind of jacket I wanted, so I used the pattern for a wedding-dress bolero and just "invented" the rest of the pattern on the go<br />
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Oh, I proudly present....poppies!!! I dug up a poppie plant last year, from my garden here in Mandal and brought it up to the farm, just to see if it would grow. It did. 3 flowers happened this year. Who knows what'll happen next yearramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-44386620009033207432015-05-14T15:35:00.000+02:002015-05-14T15:35:14.203+02:00spring updateYeah, I'm still alive and kicking and I'm still busy. Time is funny in the way it seems to go by faster the older you get. Not quite true, because if you add boredom into the equation, time stands still. That doesn't really change with age, other than having even more worries to think about when you're bored...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK5TJJsWf6M9J0Gdj1shjsQjzkJP_43DTtHst1yxwROEX0IEhxiANFCCxfAMebSkTxr3ts6gptunEP8Ciq7EHwdxNxbEEeTlyDU4g6WCxFiFS-_8rY8VLX5NddmMElY6R0_96-4t-XdE/s1600/2015-04-12+00.31.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK5TJJsWf6M9J0Gdj1shjsQjzkJP_43DTtHst1yxwROEX0IEhxiANFCCxfAMebSkTxr3ts6gptunEP8Ciq7EHwdxNxbEEeTlyDU4g6WCxFiFS-_8rY8VLX5NddmMElY6R0_96-4t-XdE/s320/2015-04-12+00.31.29.jpg" width="320" /></a>Go away, I'm sleeping. I hate my period, it steals away all the fun in the world<br />
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In short<br />
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<li>Marianne has been in heath</li>
<li>I've suffered from rheumatism and psoriassis, but I'm getting better because SPRING</li>
<li>Runar is still unemployed, but he's been to a few interviews and things are looking up</li>
<li>Got the flat sale money/inheritance and paid debt and credit cards</li>
<li>Started drainage work around the farm house and the field. The basement has been filled with water since last summer and Marianne is showing off "her special swimming pool" to visiting fourlegged friends, like she's bragging...</li>
<li>I've started knitting again</li>
<li>Simen is in the process of moving out. It'll be so weird and empty without any kids around...</li>
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This is how it looks like up at the farm these days. I'm working hard to convince myself there will be grass and pretty again...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaLTnTh_KVGd39jbrbe64uOm7CbSmZ03phxsVh-H49XdY849JfZkQdHUBHUZSXCnxYipGX_n_0_3jxAITMJ1oRy8c6usQNpGAnD396Yv_oUDwyp3DGjyuBuZj1Jt5L6Xp6gbuYBXtz6A/s1600/2015-05-12+10.23.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaLTnTh_KVGd39jbrbe64uOm7CbSmZ03phxsVh-H49XdY849JfZkQdHUBHUZSXCnxYipGX_n_0_3jxAITMJ1oRy8c6usQNpGAnD396Yv_oUDwyp3DGjyuBuZj1Jt5L6Xp6gbuYBXtz6A/s320/2015-05-12+10.23.10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>See the huge rock at the bottom of the picture. We're going to try make it into a stone table. </div>
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<a href="http://www.sandnesgarn.no/images/webshop/EB/Forside_SG_1501_SISU_635554597832632729_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sandnesgarn.no/images/webshop/EB/Forside_SG_1501_SISU_635554597832632729_medium.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a>I've made this dress, but in a different color (sea-green)</div>
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<a href="http://www.sandnesgarn.no/images/webshop/FC/_U8B4317_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sandnesgarn.no/images/webshop/FC/_U8B4317_medium.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Since I had left over yarn, I made a pair of socks and a hat as well. Probably will be making the mittens too. PS! I found a wonderful site that shows how to make pom poms in a much faster and easier way <a href="http://www.handimania.com/diy/2-incredible-ways-to-make-yarn-pom-poms.html" target="_blank">How to make 2 different pom poms - easy and fast</a></div>
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-73970308397495365882015-03-20T13:57:00.001+01:002015-03-23T13:46:33.035+01:00Hello soring(Spring)<div>
(The autocorrect on my cellphone is too funny...not)</div>
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I welcome you with all of me! </div>
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The flat is sold. Just above what we had suggested, which is all kinds of awesome! Flat was put up for sale Monday and we officially accepted an offer on Thursday. We were prepared for a much longer time so I think we're all happily surprised. </div>
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I'm all alone in the house for the first time in months and I can't adequately express how much I needed this. It's raining and rather miserably cold outside. With a hint of scorched stink in the air, because someone burnt grass yesterday and just up and left before reassuring themselves the fire was out...it spread...a lot. The neighbors and us had to monitor and put it out in places where the wildfire would have caused serious damage. It started raining during the night and it's still drizzling so all is well, but still. Some peeps are nuts!</div>
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Anywho , it's definitely spring. The early flowers are blooming. Grass has started growing again and even up here on the farm the bleak colorless winter landscape is changing. </div>
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Yesterday I spent time outside in the sun long enough to gain a couple of freckles. Juhuu!</div>
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Sendt fra min Samsung-enhet at farm</div>
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-34039420461937789822015-02-20T20:09:00.000+01:002015-02-20T20:09:23.192+01:00I should blog, but...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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...I've got nothing to say. I'm whelmed. I lost my funnyramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-48095151864102613872015-01-30T14:02:00.000+01:002015-01-30T14:00:54.075+01:00Alive and kicking<div><br></div><div>I'm still very much alive, just busy. </div><div><br></div><div>My father has been very ill and they had to drain one lung for fluids. He's getting better, but he's still very ill. </div><div><br></div><div>Physically my mother is doing pretty well. It's her mind that's deteriorating and frighteningly fast. </div><div><br></div><div>Her doctor suddenly decided it was a brilliant idea to triple her dosage of one med she's taking and gave the nurses order to start her on them one evening. Her reaction to them was terrifying. She got violently sick and it lasted for hours. Dad managed to get hold of a nurse to come help and she looked in on them throughout the night. Dad didn't sleep at all. Next morning when I got there, he was grey faced and hadn't fully dressed yet. Mom was okay and didn't really remember the night. Then reaction to the morning dosage set in and chaos And sick happened all over again, just this time mom was already dehydrated and it was serious. </div><div><br></div><div>Ambulance and hospital happened. I was so angry at the doctors. They should have hospitalized and monitored closely, if changing meds/dosages. </div><div><br></div><div>My oldest sister and I was with mom. My next oldest sister was with dad. We all agreed that mom couldn't be sent home. Neither of them were able to care for themselves nor each other. </div><div><br></div><div>For now mom is temporarily living one floor down. With other dementia patients getting the care she needs. Two ladies she knew as young are there and she's happy. My dad lives alone in their flat, but nurses drop by daily to check on him. </div><div><br></div><div>There has been meetings, phone calls, mails and tons of worry and planning and more worries. We hope mom gets a permanent place where she's at now. We go visit daily and bring mom up to visit dad. She sits down next to him and lets him pull her close under his arm and they hug and smile and tell each other how they are doing and how good it is to see the other. They look awfully sweet and loving. I can only hope to share the same with runar at their age. </div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow my sisters and I are doing more work at clearing out and dividing stuff at their old flat. We hope to get it put up for sale as soon as possible. It gets postponed time and again because of all the stuff happening.</div><div><br></div><div>Otherwise the kids are good. The rest is the same and too depressing to mention.</div><div><br></div><div>Take care y'all.</div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:9px;color:#575757">Sendt fra en Samsung Mobil.</div></div>ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-4540552423261063342015-01-10T11:04:00.000+01:002015-01-10T11:18:55.188+01:00Storm season<br />
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<u><b>Update:</b></u><br />
Storm's name is "Nina"<br />
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The authorities have issued storm warnings in my region among others. Not sure if it has a name, yet. You know, I think that's something we got from you Americans; the naming of storms. It's silly, like a storm with a cute name is going to wreak less havoc than an unnamed one?!? Late last night when I was outside with Marianne, I could hear the storm out on the sea.<br />
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There is something magical in hearing the sea roaring and the thunder of breaking waves. In my back yard it was eerily silence, no wind, no rain. Still, it was the kind of silence before the storm kind of silence.<br />
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It's reached the shore and the wind gusts are threatening to tear down the windbreakers in the back yard. They're bolted down to the patio, but they are thin and not too solid. Crossing fingers they'll hold. <br />
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We're heading up to the farm. The storm is supposed to be much worse up there. We need to check on things up there and we need to get the water out of the basement. We've had issues with water in the basement for a few years now, but since measures to fix it involves a lot of hard manual work, it never gets done. I suspect it's because Runar has ignored my plee to fix all the ditches up there.<br />
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<b>If ditches aren't fit to carry off water, then water will find new ways to run. </b>(old <strike>indian</strike> Eli-proverb)<br />
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Yesterday I took my mom to see the neurologist specialist. He was pleased and desided she won't have to increase her med dosages, which pleased us a lot. Parkinson meds have nasty side-effects and the less she has to take, the better off we all are.<br />
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While we were off to hospital, Runar stayed with my dad and made Venison roast. The first taste of Vintland's Big Norwegian Red Deer venison. Everyone loved it, except from Runar, who thought the meat was too tough and stringy. It wasn't, seriously, but there were parts that had some tendons, or something and those parts were chewy, but duh...<br />
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When Runar cooks, it means, he'll do the roast, I'll do the rest, which meant he and my dad had a lot of time to sit and chat and drink beer. And nap. When Simen got there, they were both happily snoring. Dad then confided in them, proudly, that he was still in the "MAN-club" because he fooled us(meaning wife, daughters, doctors) by halfing his cortisone pills without telling. Not quite sure what I should do about this, but for now, I'm going to pretend I don't know about it...<br />
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The MAN-club is somthing the trio created back in the days when Simen was old enough to help them cut trees for firewood up at the farm. They'd go up for the weekend, work and have a good time without any womenfolk and usually the neighbour farmer would come up in the evening, they'd have a drink, tell wild stories and be generally obnoxious. They'd all come home happy.<br />
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Dad misses these trips and he is unable to make them anymore. Yesterday was a way to try re-create that and by the looks of it, it worked. While we were sitting down eating, even mom joined in telling wild stories from dad's youth while giggling and laughing.<br />
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Runar and Simen are finally getting over their head colds. I have managed to avoid getting it, so far, I think. I've used my cortisone asthma inhalator whenever I have felt the itch in the back of my throat. I have had a partially stuffed nose and fever has come and gone and come, my body aches like hell, but I'm not sure if it's just the arthritis or if I actually have had the dreaded cold, just not realized it. Because, head colds. Fuck! I decided I didn't have time to get sick when my dad got hospitalized during the holidays and so I haven't. Mind over matter and all that jazz.<br />
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I'm playing with the idea of writing a story. I might be posting a short story or two. <br />
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I keep wishing for a laundry fairy, so bad. I'm half way done with my mountain of dirty laundry, but more dirty laundry keeps on coming... I'm actually contemplating going to the cleaners with the whole lot, just to be able to see an empty laundry room. Just once.<br />
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Marianne wishes everyone a lazy weekend.<br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-65525195938130658662015-01-02T18:43:00.000+01:002015-01-02T18:43:29.163+01:00Welcome Year 2015<br />
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PLEASE, BE A GOOD YEAR <br />
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PRETTY PLEASE?<br />
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I at least hope you are better than the previous, which sucked balls and toefarts<br />
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I'm not doing the new year meme this year, as I hardly have any online time anymore and by the time I get less busy, it'll be too late for that<br />
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Things have been busy for a long time. I thought that when Christmas came around, things would calm down. Hunting season would be over and I would be able to get on top laundry, etc instead of living in bags moving back and forth from the farm. <br />
Christmas was spent at my oldest sister's house Their youngest son with family were there and my parents. We had a wonderful time. Little Sigrid got scared when Santa came stomping up from the cellar and had to sit in Runar's lap, while her older brother; Magnus was not scared at all and even gave Santa a hug.<br />
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It was snowy and icy Christmas Eve and my father had a little mishap and fell while going down the steps to the car. He is on blood thinners and the cortisone makes his skin thin as well. Most of the skin on the back of his hand just fell off and he bled like a pig, of course. We got him bandaged and thought things were okay.<br />
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Turned out things were not so okay after all. Next morning we had to rush him off to hospital and he stayed there until New Years Eve. They drained 1.5 liters from his lungs. His heart isn't strong enough to rid him of excess liquid. He has yet more meds to take and hopefully he'll be around for a little while longer.<br />
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While he was in hospital, my youngest sister stayed with my mother. I stayed one night and day as well, but mostly Hildegunn was there. Bless her heart. She's a real trooper! Runar and my oldest sister had both gotten a bad cold from the kids. My brother in law and I visited my dad at the hospital every other day or so.<br />
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We need to get the old timers more help. My mother is incapable of caring for herself. She has no clue as to what day it is, what time of the day it is, nor when to eat, take meds, etc. She dresses and undresses 6-7 times a day - for no apparent reason, she has just always been into fashion and seem to think it's okay to change clothes all day. I took her with me when I was shopping groceries for her, all she nagged about the entire time, was to get her new stockings, which I did, because I didn't notice the ridiculously huge pile of boxes with stockings in her drawer until we got back - there are stockings for a couple of decades...<br />
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My father is way too sick to care for anyone other than himself. They are both stubborn enough to not want any more help...fun times<br />
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The 30th we drove to Stavanger and helped Helene and her Runar move into their new bought flat. It was only a couple of streets away from where they rented, but it is a much bigger flat and to Helene's delight it has a dishwasher. Wheee! It was wonderful seeing her again, they both looked happy and healthy, which makes the 2 old parents happy pandas. DoubleWhee!<br />
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We aren't broke anymore, since Runar now receives unemployment pay, but we're still poor as heck and we can't afford to smoke anymore. This is a good thing, I know it is, even if I can't seem to see any good in this, yet. When I'm over the worst of the withdrawals I'm sure I will be able to see the good in this as well... <br />
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I hope my own health will improve a bit in 2015. I'll have to get an appointment to see my doctor (I almost get an allergic reaction just thinking about it, my doctor-angst is getting ridiculously bad) I have to ask her for some stronger anti inflammatory meds and hope my stomach can handle it long enough to get rid of my inflamation in my right elbow. It's been there since summer and that is way too long. I want to be able to knit again. Hells, I want to be able to use my arms again without ending up a wreck.<br />
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I gave myself a newYear's gift this morning. I had forgotten to deactivate my alarm and when I rolled out of bed to turn it off, I headbutted one of the big old trunks(the type of traveling suitcases of olden days) They currently litter our bedroom up at the farm, because I was supposed to paint the upstairs hallway this fall. Due to my inflammation, that didn't happen, but all the shite is still stacked in the bedrooms...<br />
I meet the new year with a black and blue cheek. Yowsa!<br />
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-72981640570738055042014-12-11T14:13:00.000+01:002014-12-11T14:13:20.647+01:00Busy bee is cold...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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...and slightly(!) stressed out. Still broke as heck. I've sort of cancelled Christmas. I haven't forgotten you and I miss you guys. By the looks of it, you're as busy as I am, because none of you have blogged either. </div>
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When things settle down a bit, I'll do a proper blog post, promise! </div>
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Take care you guys *huggles*</div>
<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-66037491192922760022014-11-14T11:55:00.000+01:002014-11-14T11:55:14.924+01:00Karma good or bad? I've sort of lost my happy for the time being. Sorry. I see myself as unfit for online socializing, or any kind of socializing, really. It will pass and things will work out, I know. It just doesn't help much, right now...<br />
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I've gotten hooked on Person of Interest. That John dude mm-mm-mm And he's actually old enough for me. It is a type of series that gets me a bit paranoid, though. I now have a sticker across my webcam...<br />
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I'm watching it online, because it doesn't show on any of our channels. I feel dirty for doing it, but not enough to stop.<br />
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I have gotten some sort of shite on my computer and I have pages popping up and all that fun. I need to clean it, but it still takes all of me to get around to do it. One of these days...<br />
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Bad karma?<br />
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I've been down with a stomach flu of some kind since Sunday. I'm keeping down foodstuffs now, but I have a splitting headache and whenever I try to do chores, I start shaking, so, I'm not quite well yet.<br />
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My mother's Parkinson is getting worse. It hurts to see her lose her mind. I was actually shocked to discover how much of her brain has died when she was tested last week. She has absolutely no knowledge about what season we're in, what date, day, week. She can no longer remember the names of her grandchildren/great grandchildren unless helped. She can no longer remember the date of her children's birth. she can't remember her own address, or phone.<br />
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She'll do math equations, etc with brilliance, but parts of her brain simply doesn't work anymore. The only thing they can do to slow down the progress, is using pads. It doesn't really help as in make things better, but they make her calmer - less prone to tantrum fits and angst, which is good.<br />
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They'll scan her brain next week to monitor what they call "The calcification of her brain" They still don't know what causes Parkinson, or what it is exactly, but they think it has to do with lack of blood in the brain resulting in brain cells dying. Or that is what I've understood from what her doctor has told me<br />
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The doctor told us that she agrees in making the move to a new flat in the nursery home now is a wise thing. She said she was confident mom would handle it and that if we waited for much longer, it would be too late and mom would never learn to recognize the new place.<br />
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The big move is happening next weekend. We're all helping. Cross fingers things go well<br />
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I can't afford Christmas this year. Can we just skip it?<br />
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At least we'll be eating well. Runar got two deer a few weekends ago. According to him self he shot one and the other one just stood there, so he shot that one too. It was a sunday evening almost dark. He forgot to think about the deer needing to be slaughtered and prepared, etc. He also forgot that we can't eat that much venison alone. He had to go offer the neigbhour farmer half a deer if he helped skin and slaughter them. We'll be having a whole-grilled deer this summer up at the farm. Should be fun<br />
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The moose team have gotten one big stag deer and one little mooseling - I know that is not a word, but it should be, as it is a perfect name for a moose who isn't exactly a calf anymore, but still not an adult either.<br />
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Lots of venison and yummy dinner dishes in the future.<br />
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It's funny how those things work - bad luck moneywise - good luck huntingwise. When we're really broke, that's when we eat like royalty...Good karma?ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-24435178443352402014-10-21T14:06:00.000+02:002014-10-21T14:06:04.112+02:00Proper coffee and soft toilet paper. Is that too much to ask for?!?So...a lot has been happening and I'm still a bit numb and don't seem to find the words, nor energy to post much.<br />
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Hubby went to bankruptcy court last week. His firm is no longer. He hasn't gotten a paycheck the last two months. He won't be eligible for unemployment pay until December. The young partner put in his resignation notice last month, when it dawned on him that he wasn't doing his job and apparently couldn't do it, either. I have no idea what he thought to achieve, but he has so much stuff going on privately, that I think he just had a severe breakdown and freaked. Regardless, the result is what it is.<br />
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Hubby. Needs. To. Get. A. Job.<br />
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New government, new rules. I'll be losing some of my disablement pay. I haven't had the guts to check just how much I'll be losing. The new government wants to encourage the disabled to miraculously get healed and get jobs by making it nigh impossible to live off disablement pay. Compared to the old rules, where you risked losing all your disablement "privileges" if you worked on the side (You were allowed to work, but could only earn a set amount per year) you are now allowed() to work as much as you like and not lose your disablement status. They will take your money, though...<br />
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I'm getting to the point where I can't even. The most trivial of stuff kills me, these days. Monday morning, when we got home from the farm and discovered there were no toiletpaper in the house and I was stuck on the loo, hubby immediately, with the whole hero-saves-the-day-drumroll, rushed to the store to get some (because he couldn't just go look in the cupboard above the stove for paper tissue, as I asked him to, because he's a MAN - male logic...) he came back with the cheap kind of grayish semi-soft stuff that won't flush no matter what. I just wanted to die. And I couldn't get snappy, because for the first time in HISTORY, the man chose to be mindful of the price of what he bought at the grocery store and was beaming with pride. That wasn't the only way he'd saved the day, he told me, grinning like a madman.<br />
<br />
The other thing he had decided to be price-conscious about was coffee. Cheap coffee. It's like you get punished twice. It looks like coffee. It smells like coffee. It tastes like piss. I'd much rather do without dinner, hells, I'll skip a couple of meals, gladly, as long as I have soft toilet paper and proper coffee. I'm either old, or a luxury whore...maybe both<br />
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I really can't handle having hubby at home all day. His laptop and papers covers all of the kitchen table. The content of his pocketS is covering all of the coffee table in the living room. TV is showing Discovery Channel man-shows all day And night. Volume way high. It makes me batshit crazy.<br />
<br />
So I went on audible and bought kitchen porn on sale. <a href="http://www.jrward.com/fallenangels/books.html#Covet" target="_blank">J. R. Ward's fallen angels series</a> It is pretty awful. I made hubby listen to it too.<br />
<br />
Hubby: I'm bankrupt, we're broke and you bought kitchen porn?!?<br />
Me: uhum it was on sale<br />
Hubby: You'd buy hell if only it was on sale!<br />
Me: Maybe, or maybe it was a case of bad coffee poisoning<br />
The narrator's sexy voice is describing a scene in the shower where a male character is masturbating in front of female character<br />
Hubby: WTF?!<br />
Me: Wait until I make you do shit like that<br />
Hubby: You'll get proper coffee. I promise!<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-80237440428689308182014-10-08T12:13:00.001+02:002014-10-08T12:13:46.897+02:00autumn stormsStaying at the farm this week. Proper autumn storms are making it an adventure. Loving it. Mice are too, but not in a fun way...<br />
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Still no Internet at our farm, but there are spots along the road where I have connection when out walking with Marianne<br />
Happy week, folks!ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-31980395972941488882014-09-18T11:29:00.001+02:002014-09-18T11:29:58.218+02:00Another week gone by<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5jU-xK5cfnmQMPzjVs5wEsUeCL67rvNuJyZs0ToEE11b44oHTXBzBhHgZOrpWVlDE0NMp4dx9WqCsqMQb27sSkkAmlw41zVqrs89n1L57sbFDvvz7sDEGBJ-ixKG2PEEUA4deVXqQaw/s1600/2014-09-13+19.07.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5jU-xK5cfnmQMPzjVs5wEsUeCL67rvNuJyZs0ToEE11b44oHTXBzBhHgZOrpWVlDE0NMp4dx9WqCsqMQb27sSkkAmlw41zVqrs89n1L57sbFDvvz7sDEGBJ-ixKG2PEEUA4deVXqQaw/s1600/2014-09-13+19.07.41.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><br />
We've had a week of beautiful sunny fall weather. I love it. Doors and windows are open all day and night and no wasps *does happy dance*<br />
<br />
Marianne is more or less over the heath-period and is finally allowed up in the sofa again.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure which of these two missed their cuddlesleep more, dog or man<br />
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<br />
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<br />
Took my dad to the ophthalmologist last week and he is now up for surgery to get a new cornea. He is so happy, it's like talking to the dadman of old. He opted for surgery in a different county to avoid the long waiting list in our county, meaning he'll have his sight back before Christmas. Juhuu! Reading was really the only joy he had left, and with his poor eyesight he more or less had to give it up, which made him quite depressed. Now that he knows he'll be able to read his Lee Child and old western books again, he says it no longer matters where he is put to live, he'll be a happy man.<br />
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Mom's parkinson has gotten worse since summer. She is pretty far out, now. We're - 3 of us sisters - my parents and a nurse are meeting up tomorrow to discuss the path forward. The hope is to get them into a nursing home, where mom can take part in social activities, etc and dad can work out without having to fear he'll fall down and not be able to get up again unaided. The way this is going, she'll likely need 24 hours daycare with nurses before long. If they get a flat at the nursing home, that means that mom will just be moved down a floor when the need for 24 hours care comes.<br />
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I'm heading up to the farm today. My sister has errands in town and will pick up Marianne and I afterwards. I'm going for hikes and sleep this weekend. I've not been sleeping well and for some weird reason I keep waking up with my arms above my head. That is not good, as it renders them useless for half the day. The inflammation in the shoulders have spread to my elbows. I guess I'm letting the stress of hubby's job get to me...<br />
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Have a fantabulous weekend, guysramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-68824038830180986962014-09-12T18:30:00.001+02:002014-09-12T18:30:18.940+02:00Fridges hate me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I need an exorcist. Or a magic wand. Or some kind of woodo to rid me of my curse. Fridges and or freezers hate my guts. AAARRRGGGHHH!<br />
<br />
Back in May I struggled to de-ice my freezer. I wrote about it in <a href="http://ramblings-of-the-cold-north.blogspot.no/2014/05/ramble-ramble-ramble-nonsense-and-shit.html" target="_blank">This</a> blog. From then, our Fridge-freezer hasn't worked. <br />
<br />
The fridge isn't that old. It wasn't the most expensive, but neither was it among the cheapest. It is supposed to be an automatic anti ice thingie. The salesperson bragged about this fridge, how effective, quiet, maintenance-free, etc it was. Hah! Liar!<br />
<br />
There is no way of turning off the freezer part. There is no defrost button/option. I checked. I plowed through the manual with magnifying glass. I searched the net. No help. <br />
<br />
As often is the case with brilliant theories, reality is different. The freezer was so full of ice, there was hardly room for anything else. According to the manual, icing would and could not happen. That was all that was mentioned regarding this.<br />
<br />
Since it is impossible to turn off the freezer, only, and because I needed the fridge part of the damned thing, I had to leave the freezer-door open and use bowls of boiling hot water to melt the ice. I mean, I had to do something. The ice was threatening to take over the entire thing. To the point where I worried I couldn't close the door. It took two days to melt the ice, but it got done and I was so happy and proud. Until the next day, when the alarm went off.<br />
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I did not use any knives. Let's get that straight. No. Knives. Yes, I do admit that I did do that to ONE of our previous Fridge/freezer and yes, it killed it. I did it only once. I learned my lesson. I swear. Does hubby believe me? No. He is convinced it's my fault and that I used a knife. He can't hear the incessant beeping of the alarm and doesn't really care.<br />
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Obviously the god of fridges has neither forgiven, nor forgotten, because the freezer part refuses to go lower/colder than minus 10 C and the freezer alarm goes off at minus 11C.<br />
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Since May I have had to go hit off the alarm at all hours of day and night. I have to keep the magic "frost-matic" (I kid you not, there is such a button) active too. It gets the temps down to minus 13C for about 5 minutes, then suddenly rises to minus 10 or minus 9 and *BEEEEEEEP*<br />
It. Drives. Me. Nuts.<br />
<br />
We can't afford a new fridge right now. I do have a huge old fashion freezer in Simen's bedroom, so fortunately no food got ruined. It's taking so much space, that he is pleading with me to get rid of it. I can't do that until I can afford a new fridge/freezer.<br />
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Our car will be fixed next Thursday. We'll have to wait and see what the cost will be. If we're lucky, we'll afford a new fridge/freezer too.<br />
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I'm still not recovered from the inflammation. Marianne is still in heat. Runar is overworked and we haven't had a proper weekend since...I can't remember.<br />
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Right now I just suck at everything.<br />
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ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-26542501563308026992014-09-03T17:18:00.001+02:002014-09-03T17:23:04.937+02:00Recycling of old undies, or poor Marianne...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Å du e sånn ei fin jenta" is dialect for Å du er sånn ei fin jente = Oh, you're such a fine girl</div>
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"Kan du sidda fint" is dialect for "kan du sitte fint = Can you sit (properly). </div>
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As you probably realize, this is why I can't do voice-to-text stuff on my phone, unless I speak English...</div>
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I'm not too happy with these pairs of old Runar-undies and neither is Marianne, but I can't just take one at random, without having talked to Runar first. (There aren't any doggie-pants thingies in Marianne's size anywhere close to my neck of the woods, so old undies it is </div>
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PS! Libresse wings, in case you wondered...</div>
<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-3452755199323491652014-09-03T13:29:00.000+02:002014-09-03T13:37:00.984+02:00Aw Lawdy, I crashed. Books and other sillies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I've been down with a freak bout of inflammations for more than a week. It's my own fault, which made it suck all that more. That exercise class was too much and when I, in one of those I-will-get-this-place-in-order-even-if-it-kills-me type of mood, mowed the lawn, yeah... I crashed. My arms felt as if they'd been through a thresher.[ramble] I had to put away my crochet work, which is a bummer as I only have the sleeves left to do on my jacket project. After I'm done with this one, I am either going to knit or crochet another one - with thicker yarn - a cardigan type, me thinks[/ramble] Marianne, the physical therapist - texted me today telling me I was welcome to try out another easier class. I'm going to try that - hopefully next week. <br />
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I'm better now. Not great, I'm still stiff and achy as hell, but no fever anymore. Huzzah! The last three days I've been able to do some knitting, so I started the jacket to go with the dress I knitted for Frida pre-summer. It's going to be a Christmas present.<br />
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Runar's work has been down in a dump for a few weeks, with several loose strands that he hasn't quite been able to tie together. Until this week. He's in Denmark today. He'll probably leave again on Sunday for another project. Things are picking up. Thankfully, as I have a mountain of bills to pay.<br />
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Oh, you know the car trouble that didn't got fixed, due to the Volvo shop wanting us to pay our souls for something they couldn't guarantee helped? Runar found a shop that could do the job for less than half the price. They knew exactly what Runar was talking about when the called them and had no problems guaranteeing they'd get it fixed. Hah! Take that Volvo! It does mean that he'll have to drive 4 hours to get there, but they'll provide him with a car while the job is getting done. It is SO worth the drive!<br />
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Marianne is officially a young adult. She is in heath and Mother Night, she is one very confused dog. Plus she wants some. Real bad. I swear. She's a friggin' nympho whore. Walks with her is now out of the picture for me alone. Walks without a leash is out of the picture for the boys. It's mindblowing. Another thing that is mindblowing is how much her vagina swells up. I don't know how much you guys know about dogs in heath, but their genitalia swell up a bit. Marianne's swells up A LOT! I swear, she is a vagina with a little face at the other end. Terrifying!<br />
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IN OTHER NEWS:<br />
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<br />
Books<br />
<br />
I've plowed through a few books this summer. Here are some I'd like to point out:<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839976-red-rising" target="_blank">Red Rising </a> by Pierce Brown, a supreme sci fi space opera kind of read. L.O.V.E.D. it!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10790290-theft-of-swords" target="_blank">Theft of swords</a> by Michael J. Sullivan. 1st book in the Riyria Revelations trilogy. It's a classical adventure type of Fantasy read. I totally and completely fell in love with the main characters, but I have to admit that the fact that I bought the audio books, part of why I loved it so much, might be due to the awesome narrator. I am such a sucker for a sexy voice...<br />
PS! There are some free audiobook shortstories on Amazon. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/FREE-Jester-Riyria-Chronicles-Tale/dp/B00HYIVLP4/ref=la_B002BOJ41O_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409739916&sr=1-9" target="_blank">The Jester</a> is one.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19486421-skin-game" target="_blank">Skin Game</a> by Jim Butcher, the latest of his Dresden Files series about Harry Dresden, the licensed Gandalf-on-crack wizard of Chicago, Il. . Seriously, if you haven't read any of the Dresden Files, you are missing out on greatness. The audiobook narrator is soooo sexy [Mm Mm Mmm]. My sister, who had previously read about 10 pages of this series and had decided that she definitely did not like this cocky asshat wizard wonder, changed her mind completely this summer after she borrowed one of the books(I have some actual books in addition to the audiobooks, because signed stuff is so fun), to read on the 6 hours' bus ride home. She is now a Dresden Files Fangirl [evil grin]<br />
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I've also been through some anthologies <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17279560-dangerous-women" target="_blank">Dangerous Women</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15832300-unfettered" target="_blank">Unfettered</a>, which had some entertaining stories in them.<br />
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I'm now listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12652457-the-broken-eye" target="_blank">The Broken Eye</a> by Brent Weeks. It's boy-coming-to-age type of Fantasy with some interesting twists. I have an ambivalent relationship with this series. I hated the main character so much in book 1, that I could hardly manage to read() on, but even though I still disliked him in book 2, there were some interesting aspects regarding Brent's universe and type of magic and I kind of like the baddies. Now, in book 3, I'm catching myself in actually liking the little SOB. Weird.<br />
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I upgraded the kindle version of Shawn's <a href="http://grimoakpress.com/product/the-dark-thorn-by-shawn-speakman/" target="_blank">The Dark Thorn</a> to the audio version. I now have it in all possible versions, but I don't care, it's a good story that I won't mind listening to again, whenever I'm out of anything new to read/listen to. Which sort of leads me to my big problem<br />
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I need ideas for new reads. I'm desperate for some dystopian, steampunk dark awesomness to dive into when the long rainy autumn nights sets in. Help me out, plz?<br />
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<a href="http://funnyasduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/funny-man-shouting-mega-phone-fuck-yeah-caps-lock-pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://funnyasduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/funny-man-shouting-mega-phone-fuck-yeah-caps-lock-pics.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a>PS! Just got a call from Runar. 1. He's landed a new deal. YAY! 2. He got his ass kicked out of the business class area on the ferry, because he didn't see the QUIET sign and was talking on the phone... GROANY SIGH!<br />
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Sounds harsh? Guys, you haven't heard the type of phone-talking this hubby of mine does. Quiet is not a word that abides with Runar. Not even on a good day...<br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281469871139794992.post-61362737607128536762014-08-21T11:35:00.000+02:002014-08-21T11:35:25.024+02:00Wham! Fall is hereI have to blog, or Helene will kill me. Thing is, I don't have that much interesting to say, nor much happy stuff. I'm in a meh-phase and a bit whelmed. <br />
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Rainstorms and everyday routine is a fact. I'm rather relieved to be honest. I'm stressed out, even though the big cousin gathering was postponed to next year. It's nice to get back into the normal grind of work weeks.<br />
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I've started working out with a physical therapist once a week. The workout is specialized for people with neck/shoulder/back issues. P.A.I.N. I tell yah, I am so out of shape it's depressing<br />
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It's been a weird summer. I've sort of been living in transit and I haven't been able to finish any of the projects I wanted to do. That's not new, exactly, but this summer it sort of got to me and stressed me out. I told Runar early on, like in May, that I really needed to stay up at the farm and get the hall upstairs painted and the rest of the farm house deep cleaned. I told him that I was worn out and needed to stay up there long enough to be able to recharge my batteries. That was a mistake. Subconsciously he immediately started working on making that impossible. I honestly don't think he does this on purpose, I just know that the result is that nothing on my to-do-list gets done, while his to-do-list grows daily and they all take precedence. Eitherwho, last weekend he helped me get the hallway upstairs cleared and ready to be painted. The main reason I need to paint, is because of the woodworm. According to my BIL I can get paint with anti-parasite stuff that takes care of the problem.<br />
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The car has broken down a few times during summer, but it hasn't really gotten fixed, because it will probably cost too much. We are now back to the good ole' times where I can't really use the car for long trips, because of the risk of ending up stranded along the road somewhere and it will inconvenience everybody. <br />
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<br />
<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/ilfVjSmCU11ZF6KN9Pt3BFaCkSYCFOGb3kYA*uI7Vm3X0ZuvmkkSq4kv867CetbKzPGTLDFunPciDi-fJN1XyAhjTruxWR3I/IMG_0349.JPG?width=737&height=491" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://api.ning.com/files/ilfVjSmCU11ZF6KN9Pt3BFaCkSYCFOGb3kYA*uI7Vm3X0ZuvmkkSq4kv867CetbKzPGTLDFunPciDi-fJN1XyAhjTruxWR3I/IMG_0349.JPG?width=737&height=491" height="213" width="320" /></a>Runar bought one of these. It really did the work on the fields. We got rid of the fences around the house and we now have a lawn all the way to the creek, which is nice. It was the money I'd have liked to use on furniture and curtains, but hey, the fields have been tended to more this summer than they have since we took over the farm. Nice!<br />
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I hope we get a mild winter. Runar forgot he had promised fire wood to one of the cottage neighbours up there. He gave them 3 pallets of firewood that were meant for our own use.<br />
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He started his swimming pool project. It's a huge project. I told him I was against it, because it wouldn't be finished and we'd end up with a messy mudhole for the dogs to get dirty in. "Oh, no!" he said, "It will be finished by next year, the latest." He said. Results: He has dug up a huge hole in the creek that Marianne loves to take mudbaths in. Yay?<br />
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The neighbour farmer has gotten Scottish Highland cattle. They're ridiculously cute.<br />
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We've been visited regularly by a sheep and her twin lambs all summer. One week they were in our fields 3 days in a row. 3 days in a row, Marianne sat and watched them, but managed to not chase them or try play with them. Then late afternoon the 3rd day, she couldn't help herself. She approached the trio. Mama sheep do not abide with dogs. Of course. She did her best to gore her (read: chase her away from her kids) Marianne thought it a wonderful new game and danced happily around her barely avoiding getting hit. She didn't show aggression and she didn't bark. The two twin lambs couldn't care less. They've seen Marianne from they were born and probably thinks she is just another weird sheep.<br />
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Mama sheep tolerates Marianne at a distance and it seems Marianne has accepted this is how it will be. She hasn't tried to contact them afterwards. The trio still visits our fields regularly. <br />
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Simen has started his apprenticeship with the local electrician firm. He is loving it; the work, the people, the routine. Workhours are 7:30 - 15:30. W00t!<br />
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My dad told my sister they were ready to move into a nursing home. My mother's Parkinson is getting worse and my dad's health is deteriorating at an alarming rate. He's too worn out to take care of her. It's hard to deal with and I can't really talk about it.<br />
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Mom's brother died last week and it has sent her on a downward spiral. Uncle was a character, alright. Extremely smart. Spoke several languages. Active in humanitarian work. Active in women's rights. (His wife was so masculine she had actual beard, that's all I really remember of her, that and her deep manly voice, they got divorced when I was a kid) Active in the resistance work during WW2. He was also an alcoholic who beat his wife to a wreck, who at the age of 70 something, raided houses with teenagers and bullied my mother until she was a nervous wreck whenever my father was away. He had 3 kids, one outside his marriage that I didn't know about until 10 years ago. It's complicated. Funeral will be Friday. <br />
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PS! I have a new wallpaper for the laptop (Thank you Amber) I love it. <br />
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<br />ramblings of the cold northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460733768132459536noreply@blogger.com3