Norwegian summer

Coming home to around 10 degrees C - brrrrr - it was cold, after having had 2 whole weeks of sun and warm weather.
3 days after we returned home we drove to Trondheim (mid-Norway)  to bring home our youngest student daughter and all her belongings.
She now has a degree in Interior Design after 2 years of studying and is currently applying for a full time job.
We are crossing our fingers that she gets a nice job soon.

On our way south again, we had a nice visit with family up at the west coast.
I love the view from their balcony - the mountains and the fjord.

 

My hexagon box has been travelling a lot lately - a stitch here and a stitch there adds up :-)

 

On Saturday night up on the west coast we attended a Country Rock concert by a famous Norwegian group called DDE.
See the midnight sky?
The light summer nights is one of the reasons we endure the long, dark winter in this country!

More beautiful midnight sky :-)

Hanne

Vacation time

The day after my last blog post, my dear husband and I left for our favourite place in Turkey, Alanya, to live 2 lazy weeks on the beach, charging the batteries.

For handwork I brought my hexagons + some stitchery.

Sitting in a restaurant at lunch time doing a few stitches while waiting for my Turkish coffee sparked a very interesting conversation with the waiter about Turkish mosaics, antiques, traditions, and places to visit in Istanbul (must be another time ).
Did you know that handwork of all kinds are very respected in Turkey?

Turkish Cai (tea) on the beach is my favourite morning drink. The tea is strong and good and not out of a bag.
Some prefer it sweet, I take mine without sugar.

Speaking of mosaics - this one looks doable with English paper piecing :-)

This arc is in front of a hotel - inspired by quilts, or the other way around ?

We were surprised by friends having booked their vacation at the same place as us, arriving a few days after us - they knew we were there, but had managed to keep their plans from us.
We had so much fun, the four of us, going to the beach together, going on daytrips together, sharing meals together, laughing a lot, and we decided we will repeat the success, next year.
I am counting the days!

The last day on vacation  - meet the beach cat under my sun bed.
We did not touch her, as we did not know if she has fleas,  but I do speak cat in every language, and so does she by the looks of it :-)

We'll be back!

Hanne

Life in the fast lane slowing down

Where did the weeks go??

Between Norwegian Quilt Festival, late summer vacation and family, the weeks has just disappeared so fast.

Just back from a week in Marmaris Turkey, loaded with sun, relaxing, eating well and sleeping well.

Turkish pavement mosaics are great for inspiration too :-)

Not so much sewing going on, but I did get a few stitches in, sideways.

Freshly made lemonade on the beach was nice reading refreshment, daily :-)

Back on the straight and narrow - enjoying sewing in the new Quilt Corner again!

Hanne

A late summer vacation - good moments in the sun :-)

After a long cold and wet summer, it was so good to travel south, to Alanya, Turkey!

At the airport - one for the road :-)

A week passes so fast, but with the very best travel company, we enjoyed every minute.

The Turkish bread we always gets for a starter when we eat is so good, and the Turkish beer is nice and refreshing. I am usually not much of a beer drinker, but the Efes beer is Good.

We had the pleasure of visiting a former colleague of DH, who is living in the Alanya area with his wife the best part of the year. The apartment building where they live is all covered in mosaic. A cute quilt pattern, don't you think ?

Lillian took us to her favourite sewing shop and her favourite knitting shop.

The knitting shop is run by a cat lover :-)
I guess his furry friends are doing their duty keeping the mice away.

We also had the pleasure of visiting the fish and veggie market. The smells of all the fresh goods are so nice.

Fish Spa for the feet was so fun - and quite tickling for the first minutes :-)
After a few minutes it was very comfortable, like a foot massage. 20 minutes went fast.

All in all we had a lovely week, with lazy hours on the beach, nice walks, good food and excellent company. We even got a thread of stitchery done, in the early morning hours when DH was still sleeping, or in the afternoon after the beach.

I am already looking forward to go back next year!

Rules for Happiness:
something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.

Hanne

Back in business - catching up :-)

Vacation happened, and I am not fond of telling online before I am home again :-)
Alanya, Turkey, again, again!
It was nice to come somewhere familiar when on 2 crutches, and we like Alanya a lot.

Warm weather, cold drinks (who can resist a Strawberry Daiquiri ?), good food :-)
Sun every day, all day, and after a very wet summer at home, it was so nice!.
Like balm to both the body and the soul, warming up all stiff and achy muscles.

I love the down town pavement mosaics in Alanya :-)

Not a stitch was taken on vacation!
I think it is the first time I have not brought any hand work when leaving home, since I was a little girl.
I did bring my IPod though, and listened to several books while relaxing on the beach.

Since arriving home 10 days ago, I have not got so much done, as an AC cold got the best of me. The plane home was so cold (and windy) from a hyper active air condition system.
Right after the cold was done, a stomach bug going around here stopped by too.
I guess this cold, wet summer has been a party for all kinds of bugs........

Slowly I am getting back in business though, and some sewing have been done too.

Another pair of Dresden flower potholders are nearly done, only lacking the centre circle :-)
The flower fabric you see underneath is the backing fabric.

The first Dresden flower potholders I made need mending after have been used by someone in my household holding a hot bread roll in the potholder, using the big bread knife, also cutting into the centre circle. I have to search for the right fabric, or change both centres.

DD2's makeup / coin purse is in the finishing stages. Maybe tomorrow?

I am doing a bit of knitting too. I love this bolero jacket and I want one!
I have chosen a cotton wool blend, so I can use the bolero as a warming vest through the winter.
I must admit I do not find knitting as fun as it was years ago, so I will not make it a habit to make bigger things. After this bolero I will stick with my occasional socks and baby hats :-)

"In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy."
-- Albert Clarke, photographer

Hanne