Better late than never?

 I am so late in getting this post up, sorry. I started this post on Monday, but since Runar and I are sharing my laptop for the time being, I don't get to spend more than a few minutes at a time with it...

Last weekend and week spent up at the mountain farm was pretty awesome. So, the kitchen sink was frozen the first two days, but, pfft, everything in the bathroom worked fine, so it was a minor problem. Temps were below freezing most of the week, but the sun was shining and the wind wasn't too harsh. The boys cut down a lot of trees and pulled them out to the lot by the road where they'll chop and pack them, ready for next winter's firewood season.

We went hiking one day and spotted droppings from roe-deer, the shy, much bigger red deer, moose, wild hare(mountain hare) and also droppings from the majestic capercaillie and his smaller cousin the woodcock. I always feel better when I've made certain these beautiful animals are still around in the woods. Even though the forest is legally mine, it truly does belong to these animals a lot more than me or anyone else.

One morning we woke up to see a stout had been checking out Georg's food bowl. Its little tracks were all over. I was very glad to see it, because even though it's quite the little rascal, it is also a terrific mice catcher(read eater) and maybe I can thank this little fella' for the empty mouse-traps indoor.

Thursday came and we decided to spend it without any cigarettes. We did good - or at least I did good, Runar drove down to the valley to get some groceries and may or may not have smoked his lungs out while away - until Helene texted us she was coming home for the weekend after all and could we pick her up by the bus stop at noon. Runar's face went through various representations of joy, longing, fear and sheer terror in a matter of seconds;

"Helene IS coming home! I've missed her so...Oh-my-god-if-she-sees-us-while-in-the-throws-of-nicotine-withdrawals-she'll-freak-out-where-is-the-cigarettes-we-need-to-start-smoking-again-RIGHT-NOW! *breath* Helene is coming home! Text her back and say I'll be there to pick her up!"

We went to bed happily excited about the weekend and woke up to a snowstorm. We dug our way to the car and headed home. There isn't much you can do up there with that much snow and still more coming down. Helene's bus was delayed by hours as there was complete chaos on the main road. The snow kept coming nonstop until Sunday, but we had a nice and fun weekend at home and I made a proper moose stew before she left, Sunday.

Since it had stopped snowing, we decided to take a chance and headed back up to the farm. We figured we could clear the snow, do some chores, check on equipment AND pretend to be teenagers for one more night. At 3am I woke up to the most insane storm I've experienced in a long time. It was raging outside.

It is difficult to explain, the experience of a severe winter storm in a logbuilt cottage up in the mountains, for someone who hasn't ever experienced it before.

There is the sound of it. You don't just only hear it with your ears, you feel it. The howling wind raging outside is loud enough to scare you, but there is also the ghost of it that can be felt wafting through the room inside, letting you FEEL the closeness to the north pole. (old logbuilt cottages are not as airtight as modern built houses).

There is the astonishing loud sounds of walls, beams and roof creaking and moaning under the strain of the strong winds and you can't help but fear the entire house will just take off with you inside it. You literally feel the house shuddering on its foundation and it feels freakishly grand and terrifying all at once. I have to admit that I sent grateful thanks to the folks of time past, that really knew how to build strong houses and where to put them, where they could stand their grounds through countless raging storms. The house consists of two small log cottages built together. One is from the late 1800, the other from early 1900. I bet it'll stand for another 50 years at least.

Found this on google and it gives a good idea how it is up there

Next morning when I woke, the storm was still raging, but it had stopped snowing and the sun came out every time there was an opening in the clouds. Temps were minus 8, but with the added wind chill, who knows how cold it really was. The house was so freezing cold, that we had to settle for warming up the living room with the wood burner and acknowledge the rest of the house as uninhabitable.

Georg refused to open his eyes until the living room was cosy and warm and he only agreed to do his necessary outside after I lured him out with a slice of ham. He loudly demanded to be let in immediately afterwards. He even refused water, only gulped down a few mouthful of snow, which means he planned on staying indoor the entire day without moving an inch - actually I think he planned on staying indoor until spring. He had that look about him...

See the sand-devils?

The wind had sculptured the snow in eerie patterns and the cold temp made sure those pattern stayed like that. It is a bit like looking out on a sea of white. You know the way the sand has waves under water on a beach? Yeah, that is how the snow looked like outside. Or like a white desert. I haven't ever been in a desert, only watched docus on TV, but the snow forms like sand dunes. And there were snow-devils. I know, that is not a real word, but it ought to be. You've heard of sand-devils? whirlwind of sand that dances down the dunes? Yeah, that is what snow-devils are and they are magnificent. When the sun shown through them, the snow crystals glittered like diamonds and you could sort of hear the tune they were dancing to. Wild, feisty, energetic. Mother nature showing her powers and the elements declaring the joy through their storm dance. For realz you guys. It. Is. Magic.

Runar spent most of the day under a thick duvet, nursing a bad back - the dadman-of-the-year had played with the kids and thrown Helene over his shoulder as he did when she was little...and he was younger. I spent much of the day thawing and flexing my fingers, aching like crazy. Old age certainly caught up with us fast. I mean, yeah, maybe we did deserve it for stretching our luck and wanting to pretend we were young again...okay, no maybes about it, but sheesh, did it have to rub it in our face this bad?!?

The strong winds and cold temps continued most of the week. Old Man winter seems to have a score to settle with us this year. Grumpy ol' bastard!

Runar had the first meeting at his new job, yesterday. I asked him how it went and he said it was just as good as he had hoped and it was like he'd come home. Bodes well.

Next week is Easter holiday and will be filled with family and friends get-togethers. If weather allows, there will be bonfire and egghunting in the snow up at the farm. Whee!

Cousin Jesper

Whee! I iz happy dog!

First night went well. Jesper slept all night and woke me at 8:30 with a couple of barks, letting me know he needed to go out.

I found something interesting; shrubbery!

After breakfast and a little breakfast nap, the boys took Georg with them up to the mountain farm to work in the woods, while Jasper and I stayed home.

We had to keep the dogs separated last evening. Georg is very intrigued by Jesper, but seems confused about his gender. Georg is a young boy who wants to play non-stop, while Jesper is an old man (he's 7) who prefers to nap while indoors. 

We went hiking on one of the dirt roads through the woods, down to the sea. it's minus 11 C and sunny. Jesper has had no training in leash walking, so I had to pick the shortest route to the woods where I could just let him off leash, or I'd have lost both of my arms. He reacts to my calls well and it was no problem letting him roam free.

" When all the ponds are frozen, I eat snow. Here, let me show you: "

I've still got a fever and the whole world started swirling and becoming blurry on the way back home. It's nap-time. Jesper is sprawled on Georg's blanket. I'll be sprawled on the couch in a couple of minutes. Bliss!

Sounds of Georg

Cheer up!

Heading up to the farm for the second round of moose hunting. We've got 3 on this year's quota, one adult bull and two young ones (below 150 kg) We got a young bull last weekend. Here's to hoping we manage the two left, this weekend *cheers*

Georg and I won't be taking part in the chase this time. He's a bit under the weather these days. He's got worms. Poor boy. I've got him on meds, but he'll need to take it easy for a few days.

Georg, Hildegunn and I. We use vests to avoid being mistaken for a moose...

Actually he won't be coming along on any more moose hunts, periods. Last weekend's chase with Georg was such an epic fail it became funny. I forgot one important thing that makes an ordinary hike in the woods very different from a moose chase. Time. Okay, two things; time and route. In a moose chase you've got your route pointed out for you and you have to follow that come steep mountains, creeks, or FENCES. Georg don't jump fences, I knew that. Apparently he doesn't crawl underneath them either. It took two of my sisters and me to pull and push him through the hole in the fence. Thankfully my sisters were walking next to us and I was able to call them over for help.

The fence-adventure was at the start of the chase. In Georg's mind that set the tone for the entire chase. This was scary. What does Georg do when things looks scary? Oh, he instantly becomes the biggest wuzz ever. The dude CRAWLED down every semi-steep hill. He whimpered and cried for EVERY tiny little creek he had to cross. He suddenly became unable to walk faster than at crawl-speed. etcetera and so on.

The others were already eating hotdogs and drinking hot chocolate.

Needless to say we got behind. Naturally I lead us(my sisters and I) astray. Funny how those things go - when things start to go downhill, it escalates into complete chaos. I wouldn't feel so bad if I had been in the middle of the woods, didn't recognize where we was in the crazy storm that we had last weekend minimizing vision to a minimum, but I didn't do that. No, I picked the wrong forest ROAD. I kid you not. I can't logically explain how I did that. I was tired, I didn't really look up from the ground, being too busy finding an easy route between trees and shrubbery. There was a road, easy to walk on and screw the entire moose hunt I wanted to walk on a road. We were already behind, the chase would be over, I knew that. The rest of the team would be gathering at the bonfire spot, drinking coffee and making fun of everyone being late.

The young man in a red knitted hat, making a face, is our rescuer

When I finally looked up to get my bearings, it was too late. We were in the correct area, but there was a marsh and a lake between us and the place I was certain was the bonfire spot. (I was right about that, btw) I had no clue as how to get to the right side of the lake the quickest route. My sisters had lost all faith in me and refused to take my words for granted at this stage. We argued. Loudly. One of the other team memgers, a young man who'd been sent out to look for us, heard us and rescued() us :P

Our neighbour farm lady is comforting Georg. He's telling her about how unfair life is...or perhaps begging for hotdogs

I will never be allowed to forget, ever.  But, pfft, who cares. That's the beauty of our way of hunting. Someone always messes up and we always have something to laugh at, no matter the weather or how many moose we get.

Have a fantabulous weekend!

Autumn hiking

It's fall and the weekend is coming up. Hope you guys get to enjoy some awesome autumn colours

This is from earlier this summer. Enjoying a snack and a cup of coffee on top of a nearby mountain top locally called 'Kua' (The cow) I don't know where the name came from, but the slightly smaller mountaintop next to this one, is called 'Kalven' (The calf) The Mandalites like silly names, I guess :P

Marianne and Lotta on the left. Georg and I on the right. The black doodle belongs to Eva who refused to be photographed

Georg and I are going hiking with Marianne and Lotta tomorrow. Fun! I doubt the weather will allow us to enjoy coffee and snacks, seeing as the autumn rain storms have set in, but I know we'll be having a good time regardless of weather.

Next weekend we'll be moose hunting. I'll bring the camera along and if they don't come out crap, I'll share