Reflecting

It has been a quiet little space between Christmas and New Year. Was planning all kinds of projects, but with a sick four year old time has really slowed down.


Although last year has been a year of beginnings, it has also been a year of ends. Big ends. And 2012 will be a fresh and different year for me and the boys. A lot of beginnings.



I hope I can look back this day in 2012, and reflect on the year gone, happy where I am in life.


Because one thing is sure. Everything changes for the better, if I consider my heart in the choices I make.



My year is going to be filled with photography, my boys, a new home, swimming, yoga, walks, friendships old and new, great food, good coffee, inspiration, dreams, love, energy and all the other positive things I can't think of right now.


Wishing everyone a beautiful fresh new start at life. Blank pages as we say in Norwegian. Sending my love to you and your close ones.

Happy Friday

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for ...

... wood fires and
... houses in winter storms
... holidays (when four year olds are sick again)
... recorded kids shows (see above)
... coffee
... my parents (they dropped some lobster off here this morning)

What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday: Stokka

Matt from Australia

19 and care free.

This is the fourth installment in a series about the men who keep a place in my heart. Read about Oscar from Sweden here, Anders from Denmark here and Jan from Canada here.

Matt took me by surprise.

When a guy likes me I'm usually taken aback. I've always been flirty, but never that cool calculated girl, and I always end up suprised that someone likes me for me.

And when I'm in I'm all in. I'm horrible at hiding my crush.

Let me set the scene.

I'm in my second semester at the University of Newcastle studying Environmental Science. I live in Evatt House. Mostly for Aussies, with a few international students mixed in. I'm known as the Crazy Norwegian, and my hair alternates between purple and red.

I hustle a couple of my house mates into going to this local concert. A day thing with several bands, and we get to know these local Newie boys. I reckon one of them is really cute. It's not Matt.

But Matt turns up in my Biology lecture and approaches me. I see it as a chance of seeing his cute mate again. We end up hanging out a bit.

Then on the 17th of May (Norways national day) there is this thing at the lawn bowls club in Newcastle. I remember Kangaroo is on the menu. I'm still veggie, and I get into a discussion with Matt. It ends up with passionate kissing in The Grands basement club.

I'm hooked. And my surrogate brother Grant has to drive me a few times to Jesmond in his old Datsun.

I meet the sister (terrifying), the parents (pleasant) and we go to an environtmental conference together before I leave the country for good.

Lets just say there are some poems dedicated to Matt as well. And I did go back to see him agan.


Next time: Simon from England

Monday Walk

Silent Sunday: Happy

Happy Christmas

In Norway we celebrate Christmas Eve, not Christmas Morning. And all the kids have to pine all day and open their presents after dinner tonight.

When I was a kid, and we celebrated in Australia, we opened on Christmas Morning.  I always thought Santa only lived in Australia, because we put milk and cookies out for him, and that he came with our stockings during the night. My sister actually insisted she saw him one night. I'm pretty sure it was our Auntie Gwen.

Later we'd go to Budgewoi Beach for a picnic and a swim.

This present is for my newest niece, Linnea. She's celebrating her first Christmas. Funny how I have boys, but my siblings only make girls.

Happy Christmas to everyone, and I hope you all are happy and around the people you love.

Love,

A. xxx



.... and I'm doing a series on boyfrends past. If you missed out the latest one is here.

Johnny and Jan

This is the third installment in a series about the men who keep a place in my heart. Read about Oscar from Sweden here, and Anders from Denmark here. (And make sure you read the comments after Oscars post)

Jan from Canada.

I have just graduated from High School. My hair has just been blue, orange, and is now supershort (thanks Mum for trying to cut all the orange out). I am in total bliss from finally being set free from the shackles of I.B. (anyone who has attended that programme knows what I'm talking about). I'm free. If only for a month till I move to Australia.

My cousin Tom is visiting from Montral with his mates Phil and Jan. As per usual we shack them up in our cabin just five minutes from where we live. During the week it's up to my BFF and I to entertain the guests.

And entertain we do. Drinking and playing records into late nights. Laying on the grass and fishing in the fjord during the day. Without realising it I'm drawn to Jan.

And it's all the cute stuff. Holding hands. Laying close. Totally knowing that it can't last. Being all of a year older than me Jan decides we have to break it off before it gets too serious.

Tears.

And after some expert drama on my behalf we spend the rest of the week together in tragic love.

Me? Overly romantic? Noooo.

He leaves the country wearing my jacket and holding a poem I'm written about us.

To this day I can't listen to my Johnny Cash in San Quentin record without thinking about Jan from Canada.


Next time: Matt from Australia

Happy Christmas Friday

Making Traditions

He's at that age where everything about Christmas is magical. Where little things become important, and queastions about Santa are frequent.

He's opening his advent calender and counting the days till Christmas. We're making kakemenner and presents. He's designed our cards.

But most importantly. We're making traditions together. I guess I'm setting the standard and will have to repeat it all next year.

And ten years from now I hope we're still doing the same things, and he still tells me he loves me and gives me those big hugs.

Stavangerscapes in December

Christmas Projects

My first ever polaroid shot with my Morfars old camera and Impossible film. With my favourite teachers looking tough.

Doing a polaroid project over Christmas. Theme: Old becomes new. I have no clue where to begin, so I have to a real brainstorm. Any suggestions?

After the anitclimax of the final presentation and portfolio exam I've been catching up with laundry, bills, sleep and Christmas preparations.

I'm also making all my Christmas presents this year, and really having heaps of fun doing it! I'm taking pictures, and will post soon as not to spoil it for my family. The traditional (for me) photo book will be late this year due to me missing the shipping deasdline, but they'll get my hand crafted goodies under the tree with a book promise.

And I even got in an order for Christmas cards! For my Aussie family they'll be New Years cards.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy.

A. xxx

Happy Friday

Thankful Thursday: Late Edition

Tonight I'm thankful for ...

... Dad
... Mum
... my boys
... school
... and that it's almost Christmas holidays

... 

First. Write your post, calling it Thankful Thursday and listing up a few things you are thankful for. Put a link in that post to my post today. Then get the link from your post and add it to the comments below. 

If we're lucky, then we get a chain of posts expressing the things they love in life, all listed right here. (... and for those of you who are thankful, but don't have a blog, you can write it in the comments. Or you can add it to my Facebook page.) 

White Monday

Got a busy couple of weeks doing this kind of work.

Shooting Dad in the studio, portraiting friends, using loads of flash. Presentation this week, then portfolio from all semester next week.

And there's snow outside! Big Brother was extatic this morning, and I could just see him experiencing the same magic I felt as a kid.

Silent Sunday: Sacre Coeur

Cementen

Happy Friday

... with my beautiful cousin Silje.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for ...

... quirky shopwindows
... new friends and great sushi
... December (only two more weeks of school before the hols)
... sick days (I just can't seem to shake this one off)
... teachers, and that they put up with me

... 

First. Write your post, calling it Thankful Thursday and listing up a few things you are thankful for. Put a link in that post to my post today. Then get the link from your post and add it to the comments below. 

If we're lucky, then we get a chain of posts expressing the things they love in life, all listed right here. (... and for those of you who are thankful, but don't have a blog, you can write it in the comments. Or you can add it to my Facebook page.)