Pages

Monday, March 18, 2013

Farm Life in Bergen

A fireplace, a cozy blanket, fresh banana bread in the oven, and 5 generations of family history.  It is all too surreal to fully grasp yet.  Since moving into Bogetveit, things have just gotten better and better.  In the last 10 days since moving in, we have had more family visits than months of living in Edvardsens.

My two Aunts and cousins looking at pictures


There are so many aspects of living in the "country" of Bergen that I didn't realize I would love.

First off, the people are different than in the city.  Everyone is so friendly and happy.  I was shocked when a woman smiled and said hello in the grocery store parking lot.  The neighbors are always coming over for a nice chat and there are loads of hikers and visitors that walk by and smile.

It isn't far from the city and is very close to a big shopping center, but when i'm here, I feel like i'm ages away from anything.  It is quiet and still and at night you can see every star in the sky.  There is a calmness in the air and you can't help but feel relaxed.  I can't help but think this might change once we have animals to feed and berries to pick!!

Relaxing in the sunshine with my morning coffee


The kitchen.  Oh, how I love the kitchen.  I think the boys do too, because I can't seem to stop cooking and baking tasty treats (My cousin is up 4kg since moving in...oops).  Some of my favorites so far....well, I will have to make a list with pictures.

"Inside out" iced coffee = frozen coffee cubes topped with milk

Goat cheese and date stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in proscuitto

Homemade Chicken Broth

French toast with berry syrup and homemade yogurt

Taste tester

Banana chocolate crunch muffins

I have lived in many places, but can easily say this is the most beautiful.  I can't get over the view from my bedroom window every morning when I wake up and from the front door when I leave every day.  It is like the Taj Majal.  The view of the mountain changes depending of the time of day, and each time is so amazing.  And yes, I did just compare my front yard to one of the 7 wonders.  I just think it is that beautiful!!

A snowy morning
Evening
Sunny daytime

The most amazing thing about living here is the history.  The house feels like a home because you know what and who has been here.  My Aunts came over for dinner and talked about living here as kids.  My Great Grandpa left his initials all over the place, as we've found "NB" scratched into the wood. I talk to my dad on Skype and he was telling me the different names of each room.  I think if a house had feelings, this one would be overwhelmed with joy.

The cousins checking out an old picture of polar bears that used to scare us as kids when we used to visit.





Thursday, March 7, 2013

Moved to Boogie!!! The most beautiful place in the world.

Baugetveitvegen "Boogie"
I have moved more times than I can count.  Each new place has brought it's own adventure.  I was taking a trip down memory lane the other day, thinking about the places I lived over the last 10 years.  Out of all of them, all over the world, with all kinds of crazy people, this one is the BEST!

2003. 834 19th street
My house in Boulder, Colorado where I lived through college with my best girlfriends.  Only a lot of studying and no craziness in that house (because CU is well known for being a study school).

2005. The MV Explorer
I lived on board a cruise ship that was converted to a University and sailed around the world...then got hit by a 60ft rouge wave and nearly capsized the ship.  My room was a tiny box, but it didn't matter when a brand new country to explore was right outside the the front door.


2006. Bangkok, Thailand
I had the cutest little studio apartment.  But, it would get so hot and air conditioning was expensive, so I had 3 fans and would regularly wake up and sit half asleep in the dark for 10 minutes with the AC on, just to cool off a little.

2007. Uptown Denver roommates
I found the cutest house in Denver but with two quirky roommates I found on craigslist.  They loved hoola hooping in the front yard, burning man and burned incense constantly.  Loved the house, and also loved moving out!

2008. My own uptown apartment
The first time and only time I ever lived alone! I loved my little one bedroom.  Everything was perfect, except for the neighbor in the apartment building next to mine.  Randomly in the middle of the night, he would go outside and yell profanities over and over and over again, while picking up gravel and throwing it at his building.  I called the cops a few times, until they gave me the non emergency number and said I should try them.  Great.

2009. Sarajevo, Bosnia
Very interesting.  I was terrified every time I took the elevator because I could see the rope through the cracks and was pretty sure it was weakening each time the elevator was used. We had a couch in our kitchen and mortar shell scars covering the outside of our building!

2010. Wash Park roommates
I took the risk again and found a place on craigslist.  2 girls and a brown lab.  One of the best risks every because they are still great friends of mine.  Lots of great times in that house!!

2012. Edvardsens gate, Bergen, Norway
The majority of my family has lived in this apartment at some point.  It feels like a right of passage.  And living with 3 boy cousins was always an adventure.

2013. BAUGETVEITVEGEN!!!
I am now sleeping in the house my grandparents lived in.  My father was born and raised here with his 4 sisters, brother and mom and dad.  My Grandma still lives at the farm in a cute apartment right next door.  The house sits at the base of a mountain and is surrounded by beauty everywhere.  The house is old and full of character.  I love every squeak and crack.  At night you can hear the house talking to you. There is no true way to describe how it feels to be in a place with so much family history.

There is only one good way to describe the move here...and that is through pictures.

My little kitchen bed where I stayed between moves. Not sad to say farewell to this.

My stuff

My cousin's stuff

Just a "quick" trip to IKEA
The house

Another picture of the beautiful house

The barn entrance
If I'm going to be a farmer, I have to have a tractor

Inside the barn. It needs a little work...and this is only 1 of 3 levels!

My BIG, beautiful kitchen that overlooks the mountainside!! 

I'm ready for some cookin'

The old wooden staircase


My farm bedroom
Cozy living room/dining room

I am in love with it here.  I just want to hang out at home and organize, decorate and farm.  I know there is already so much love in this house, and SO much history.  I can't even imagine how much the next few years will bring!!  I can't wait for the family get togethers, farm life and new adventures!!