Old family treasures

Firstly, I should mention that this is not my book. Not yet, at least, and hopefully not for many years still.

Secondly, I have a fondness for old recipe books, and so far I have collected a few. The effort and time the ladies put into them back in the days and over the course of years make them special. Some young women continue to write in the same recipe book for fifty years or more, making it more similar to a diary showing the passing from unmarried to married, to being a mum or to become a grandmother.

This particular one belongs to my dad's mum. She brought it out from its hiding place when I asked if we could bake prior to Christmas. The book is almost 50 years old now. It was a fun day - and I got to spend wonderful hours with my grandparents. I love being home for Christmas.

My granny's old recipe book

A bonfire and a cave

My friends asked me to join them in camping out in a glitter cave this weekend. It was snowy outside, a bit cold - and yet, sitting in the cave at night, watching and listening to the bonfire after all the rest had gone to sleep, I loved it. I had some tea left, I had my book - and for a little while there was enough light from the flames to read by before it all got too late and I had to get some sleep as well.

An inspiration

Clumsy words

“You know that place between sleep and awake where you’re still dreaming but it’s slowly slipping? I wish we could feel like that more often. I also wish I could click my fingers three times and be transported to anywhere I like. I wish that people didn’t always say ‘just wondering’ when you both know there was a real reason behind them asking. And I wish I could get lost in the stars.

Listen, there’s a hell of a good universe next door, let’s go.” - E.E. Cummings

Picture source

Credit to this blogger, where I first found this quote.

In memoriam ♥

~ Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there. I did not die ~

                                                                  Mary Elizabeth Frye

A Cobwebby poem

Cobwebs can be magical things. The glittery strands you can see an early morning often seem to be out of this world...like as if maybe faeries really do exist.

Sometimes you find old treasures hidden in old, dusty shops - this little book with nature poems for children truly is more than it looks ♥

My library contains more than books

Amongst the books residing in the shelves of my library you can find a great many other things. If I like something, it will fit in here somewhere - that is the greatness of a room full of rare, strange or funny items. My library is a testimony to my somewhat eclectic taste - a sanctuary for all the weird things I have collected over the years.

Some items, like this puzzle, are perhaps not so eccentric, although very pretty in itself. 

A puzzle with the most vibrant colours!

A surprise!

Today, the 4th of November, I could actually go outside and cut another couple of roses from my garden. This is a novelty. Normally, sitting by the kitchen window at this time of the year, the garden flowers are pretty much gone and there are only some vague reflections of the glorious summer colours left.

A quote that appears almost too true

Sometimes I find interesting quotes or tidbits in the beginnings of my e-books. This is a quote by Dante that I had to share with you:

"In that book which is my memory,

 On the first page of the chapter

 That is the day when I first met you,

 Appear the words, 

'Here begins a new life'." 

― Dante Alighieri, Vita Nuova

Oh dear...I am getting short on space in my shelves!

Another browsing on another travel led to this collection...

A sunny day

Pretty colours make any day bright...

...and my diary is always close by.

Breakfast time...at another airport.

I'll admit this is cheating, but oh, so nice!

Book hotel - such a nice idea

One of my preferred hotels in the city of Stavanger, Myhregaarden, has these fantastic shelves filled with books tucked away in the halls and around corners. I love perusing unknown shelves of books, and so make sure I stop by all the ones I have found so far. Even if that equals standing there literally in the middle of the night in the otherwise quiet and sleepy hallways.

Friends?

All of a sudden I find myself assigned to a new work place. I do not know a single person here, so tonight my only friends are these two:

Should I mention that it is freezing out here? That cuppa should have been bigger!

Wishing you guys a toasty night - enjoy your blankets. I cannot wait to get off shift so I can cuddle down into mine for a few hours. 

Spine Poetry is fun!

I got the wonderful idea from here...and I just had to give it a go. It was great fun wandering around in my library looking at titles and trying to make them fit together - almost like solvng a puzzle! It was an entirely new way to utilize my books. Do give it a try yourself - you will be surprised by the sheer joy when you find that perfect something to finish off your brand new poem.

Without further ado - here is the result of my first ever attempt at spine poetry:

"The Colour of Magic"

This one turned rather dark, which quite surprised me. I have never done anything even remotely similar in the past, so this is an exciting new way to test my boundaries.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Time for an e-book teaser! Last week I started on a book I downloaded for free some time ago. It looked interesting and sounded funny, so I figured I would give it a try. Honestly - who would not, given that title, right?

After reading out the first book in no more than a day or two (at work, mind), I decided I had to buy the rest of the series. I really enjoyed reading about Jolie and her world that was all normal one day and suddenly turning upside-down the next. Throw in some romance, otherwordly creatures and magic - and this was great fun! 

Obviously, the more Jolie learns about her new life, the messier it becomes... Phrased in her own words: "Life was so much easier when all you had to worry about was your cat."

Mind, I do not recommend this for younger readers as the story turns a bit erotic from time to time, and some of the war-descriptions are anything but sweet. 

Here is today's teaser:

"That is the beauty of fairy magic. We can be whoever you want us to be. You should take that as a lesson, child; you too can be whoever you want to be. As a witch, you can choose to be great or good. It is all up to you."

pp. 85

A series worth reading!

More teasers?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

What a cake!

Cake, anyone? I think this comes quite close to the most amazing cake I have ever seen!

Source

I have been browsing again...

...this time in airports! See, when there is still a little while before my flights are due, and there are bookshops around...well, I simply cannot resist! I am terrible, I know. It is a wonder my handbag has survived this long considering the heavy loads it has carried, really. 

This time I browsed my way through two airports - Oslo and Edinburgh. I am rather excited about the resulting finds! Now, my only minor problem is choosing which one to read first... 

Oh, by the way - did you see my new bookmark?? The Spoon Man made it from an actual teaspoon! Cute, right?

My newest treasure!

I do love Arthur Rackham's pictures! Whenever I come across a new book with his illustrations in it I have to take a closer look... This one (and a couple of others) simply had to come back home with me from Edinburgh - there was no way I could leave these treasures behind ❤

Roaming bookstores in Edinburgh!

"The Moon" by R. L. Stevenson

My new ibook - I love love love it!

My ipad has never looked this great ♥ 

50 questions that will free your mind

These questions have no right or wrong answers - as sometimes, asking the right questions is the answer.

Give them a go:

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Source

Source

Det er den draumen

Det er den draumen

Det er den draumen me ber på

at noko vedunderleg skal skje,

at det må skje -

at tidi skal opna seg

at hjarta skal opna seg

at dører skal opna seg

at berget skal opna seg

at kjeldor skal springa -

at draumen skal opna seg,

at me ein morgonstund skal glida inn

på ein våg me ikkje har visst um.

                                                                                                         Olav H. Hauge (1966)

It is that dream

It is that dream that we carry

that something wonderful will happen,

that it must come to pass -

that time will open itself

that the heart will open itself

that doors will open themselves

that the stone will open itself

that springs will arise -

that the dream will open itself,

that we, one morning, will glide in

on a bay we never knew before.

                                                                                                  translated from Norwegian
                                                                                                                         by myself

Source

Do you believe in Father Time?

One of Mitch Albom's newest books states that Father Time is real. He is no myth, no work of fiction...real.

He has been banished for an eternity for the crime of trying to measure time, listening to the people of the world always asking for a little more of it - a few minutes, a few hours...a few more years - as punishment. The whispers and wishes never stop. There are too many people in our world asking. Too many voices.

Now he is on a mission - he has the chance to redeem himself at last. All he has to do is teach two people the true meaning of time. An easy task, you may think?

We humans seem to believe that we have all the time in the world. That there will always be a tomorrow where we can fix things, do things, make dreams come true. That it will never be too late. We also seem to think there is never enough time. Never enough time to stop by a friend, have that cuppa or make that call. Never enough time to stop and simply be - be in the moment or take that deep breath while doing absolutely nothing. We are such strange creatures.

Have you tried to imagine a life without timekeeping? Yes? No? Can you? Have you realised that man are the only ones on earth that actually tries to measure it? And by so doing we all fear something no one else fears.

You see, mankind invented the fear of time running out.

The book "The Time Keeper" by Mitch Albom really makes you think. And when you are finished reading it it may have changed your perception of time, too. At least I sincerely hope so.

"The Time Keeper" by Mitch Albom

A book in every nook?

Are you guys like me - always reading more than one book at any given time?

I have books spread throughout the entire house... and when at work I am usually reading three books: one in my room, one at my desk and one on my iPad kindle app! Reminds me a bit of this guy:

Chris Gall

Close to the perfect holiday

A little while back we jumped on a plane to the Caribbean. We had no plans, no thoughts as to where to go - apart from the date on the return ticket. What a joy! We roamed about around the British Virgin Islands - and visited 7 different islands in the area. We absolutely loved a few of them - they were so tranquil, so beautiful and in general amazing places to spend some time!

Needless to say: I brought books! And a hammock. You do not need much to make some pretty perfect days on the beach ♥

A book I found down there:
A Trip to the Beach 
by
Melinda and Robert Blanchard

Another book from the amazing "Black Jewels"-series!

Luxurious days!

Nom!

"Bright Young Things"
by
Scarlett Thomas

I really have to plan another trip - perhaps to a different part of the Caribbean this time. Although I must say that I will have to drop by "Ivan's Stress Free Bar & Campground" on Jost van Dyke - that place was the closest thing to paradise we found ♥

A Peculiar teaser

Sometimes you see a book that has such a colourful and fantastic cover that you simply must have it. This is one of those books.

"The Peculiar", as it is called, is indeed a peculiar book, although the creature the title references to is so much more.

As a creature of two worlds, Bartholomew is hated by both. This story begins the day he got himself noticed - which, he knew, he ought not to be. The wise saying of the area he lives in clearly states:    

"Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged."

Now what? Next thing he knows he has to flee for his life - and gets himself tangled up in a sinister plot where he must gather all the courage he can to try to set things right... before it is all quite too late.

My teaser:

"You didn't simply go places. It was unwise to leave the house, dangerous to go into the street, but it was mind-bogglingly foolish to venture out of the faery slums. Bartholomew had not needed to be mind-bogglingly foolish until very recently."

pp. 268 

"The Peculiar" by Stefan Bachmann

I enjoyed the story, and I am eager to get home so I can start on the second and possibly last book, "The Whatnot". I might even treat myself to the short-story collection Bachmann has made in collaboration with a few other authors.


More teasers:
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

Incredible book art

Sometimes art can be so detailed and beautiful - and what better material then books to make it out of? A book that has seen better days might turn into this perfect project. I especially marvel at the pictures and drawings of this book - they are truly magnificent when displayed like this.

"Modern Painters" by Brian Dettmer

Meeting Neil Gaiman!

I cannot believe I got to meet one of my favourite authors!

A Book Bench

In my personal opinion every park out there should have one of these beauties.

Source

A poem for today

                                 Fire and Ice

                                                  Some say the world will end in fire,
                                                  Some say in ice.
                                                  From what I've tasted of desire
                                                  I hold with those who favor fire.
                                                  But if it had to perish twice,
                                                  I think I know enough of hate
                                                  To say that for destruction ice
                                                  Is also great
                                                  And would suffice. 

                                                   Robert Frost     

I'm a chain reader

Indeed I am. I always have my next book with me or nearbye somewhere!

Source

A readomatic? Oh yes, please!

How clever an idea is this! I love it!

This would be the perfect supplement to any public place where there are no book stores. Anyone of us could simply choose the book we wanted - come day or night!

No more panicking if you are down to those last few pages of a great read - the salvation would be right around the corner.

"Exercise your mind"

Now, if you put one of those vending machines with snacks and chocolate in them next to it, along with a hot drink-machine that gives for example tea or hot chocolate, we would really be in for a treat...right? ♥

An uncharacteristic teaser

So, I picked up this book a few months back. It was called "The Boy who could see Demons" - which I thought sounded vastly interesting. The blurb on the back reads:

"... I can also see demons. My best friend is one. He likes Mozart, table tennis and bread and butter pudding. My mum is sick. Ruen says he can help her. Only Ruen wants me to do something really bad. He wants me to kill someone."

It was an interesting book - only not for the reasons I thought it would be. I was in for a real surprise. I am not going to tell you much more, though, as I want you to keep an open mind if you decide to read this book.

My teaser:

"Michael leaned back in his chair, his gaze turned to a poster on the wall by my bookcase. 

          'Suspicion often creates what it suspects,' 

he said, reading the poster. There was a question in his tone."

The Boy who could see Demons, p. 25

However, I can tell you that I was not impressed in the beginning and was getting concerned that this would be a disappointment. It started out rather slow, and the story confused me as it was not what I expected it to be (the last part would be my fault, of course, as I thought I had already placed the book in its appropriate athmosphere - and clearly got it all wrong). The grammar and language were also barriers that threatened to throw me off the hook.

Luckily, these were all minor issues that could be ignored as the story unfolded. The book simply got better and better, and towards the end I was so anxious to see where it would end up I found it difficult to put it down at all!

It is a thought-provoking book. It also gave me some small insight in matters I had no knowledge about, and that alone was worth the read. I believe the story deserves to be read. If you decide to pick it up, I hope you enjoy it.

The Boy who could see Demons
by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

More teasers?
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

A trip to the beach...

The perfect combination?

This is what heaven must be like

"My heart is too full for words." from "Shalador's Lady" by Anne Bishop

Stjerner og steinar - a Norwegian poem

This is a picture of a poem printed on a wall in one of our airports. I loved it when I first saw it, and wanted to share it with you. It is beautifully written in Norwegian, but I will attempt to translate it for you - although I am sure I will not be able to do it just.

Stjerner og steinar
by Odveig Klyve

Stars and stones

are hidden beneath scabs and tissue

in our black fields

pushing up through the pores

stars and stones 

We lift stones

and get lured by

stars 

Our bodies are illuminated and heavy

Stars and stones by Odveig Klyve
(translated from Norwegian by myself) 

Hide and seek......

So, Saturday night  - and the guys at work figure they want to play a trick on me. They hid my iPad TWICE tonight! This is where it was the last time I found it... I must admit this was rather inventive - and quite telling, too. Such a neat place to hide it, right?

Do you see it?

It was a laugh - and I still do not know who did it. They all point fingers at someone else... Boys!

Maybe we should all dress up?

Sometimes Cosplay actually seems interesting - just look at this!

Source

A new game, anyone?

Source

Something to relate to?

This is so true, in my personal opinion. I loved my cats and miss them terribly. The house still feels empty without them. Though I at least still have my books for comfort ❤

Source