Family, Farewells, Floods, and Fall

It seems the farm work has taken over and I have had no time to update my blog.  Sorry for that.  Now that summer is over, I have more spare time to relax, and update you all on...everything.

Isra and I returned from our trip to Colorado a few weeks ago.  It was wonderful to get back home and see everyone again.  This trip was different than all the others.  I was showing Isra Colorado, and in the end, I was introduced to a beautiful place I never really realized existed.  I saw new sights and did new things and saw everything from another perspective.  It was 2 weeks of non stop activity and fun.  We drove all over the state, to Pueblo, up to South Park then to Crested Butte, to Utah, Glenwood Springs, and Vail (all thanks to the wonderful Nicole, who loaned us her car).  I had so much fun that I think i've entered some sort of post vacation depression.  To sum up our trip, here is a small montage of photos from our two weeks.

Sushi in Iceland, on our way to Denver

Crested Butte

On our way to Glenwood Springs from Crested Butte

More beautiful driving

Isra's first delivery chinese food in a hotel in Rifle, Colorado

Made our way to Utah. Random, I know.

Then, back to Colorado.

My favorite.  My sister and brother in law have not yet finished their house, but they were kind enough to put together a nice bedroom in their unfinished kitchen.  A few nights into our trip, we found an electric bug zapper.  Isra's favorite thing to do before bed was getting all of the mosquitos out of the room by zapping them to death.  It did not always smell good, but we had no bites.

The rodeo!! I had never been and it was quite the experience.

Calla and Joe's wedding in Crested Butte.  What a wonderful couple to celebrate.  We love you Calla, Joe and Miles!

Mr. and Mrs. and Mini

What a view!

The state fair carnival.  We won a stuffed elephant and named him "Pueblo".

Isra winning.

Our night in Vail, Colorado.

My family gave us an amazing welcome at the airport.  This is only some of the signs.

And the best part, lots of time with the family.  Look at these cute kids I get to call MY nieces and nephew!

Yes, we shot and killed a rabbit at my sister and brother in law's house...then ate it for dinner. 

Go Buffs!!

Isra's first American football game.

After two exhausting but amazing weeks in Colorado, we headed back to Norway.  Isra's good friends were coming to visit, and not long after my dad was scheduled to arrive.  Just 3 days after we got home and the day my Dad arrived from Denver, my home town of Boulder was hit by the 100 year flood.  The worst disaster Boulder has seen in years.  My family home was flooded, as well as many cities and neighborhoods in Colorado.  Over 100 homes were destroyed and others badly damaged.  There was about 6 inches of water in my parents home, and everything had to be trashed.  My dad left Norway early to help with the disaster.  He said he was surprised the house was still standing.  After the water receded, dozens of people started showing up at my parents house to help with the mess.  Together, they cleaned up the hardest and nastiest part of the flood leftovers.  It has been heartbreaking and terrifying to see your childhood home underwater, knowing your things are being thrown away, and watching as the city breaks down and crumbles.  But, knowing that everyone I love is safe and seeing how the community and family comes together to help one another brings some happiness in the sight of disaster.  I am grateful that I have these people in my life and that they can be together to support one another when I am so far away. 

My house, with all the stuff removed.

A car in front of our neighbors house.

The creek in our backyard, normally low enough for my 4 year old nephew to walk through.

The aftermath of my parents house, and my wonderful friends helping to clean.

The houses are being repaired and after a month, my parents are moving out of the hotel and back into their guest house while they wait to complete the repairs on their house.  My sister has moved into a new apartment and things sound like they are getting back to "normal" in Boulder.  It has been difficult to be so far away from my family during this time, but I am so happy every day that they have so many people around them to support them.

While the water fills the streets of Boulder, we have experienced beautiful fall weather in Bergen, with suprisingly little rain.  Last weekend, Isra and I were outside in the sun in our shorts and t-shirts and I even got a little sunburned.  Today, I lit our fireplace because you can feel the chill in the air outside.  It is not raining (yet) but it is starting to feel like fall is over and winter is just around the corner. 

Just hanging out.

The view from the living room.

Enjoying the sunshine with the sheep.

Hi, sheep friends.

Pink sunset on the mountains

Fall leaves

Pretty fall trees

I was surprised this when I woke up to find my car had broken down.  I didn't look at this as a complete disappointment, because it presented Isra and I with the opportunity for a little fall adventure.  We live up a big hill and have had to walk up and down with groceries, early in the morning and late at night.  Every time it is beautiful.

Hiking up the hills with our groceries

It's a long walk

And walking to work in the morning. Yes, it is that dark.

The coming weeks will bring even more adventures.  I'm not sure how long it will take before my car is repaired.  The snow may be just around the corner.  It's getting darker and darker outside. And vacation in Spain is in just 10 weeks.  

I'll be updating again soon!!

    

It's real

Everyone has dreams.  Everyone makes plans in order to make their dreams come true. I wasn't satisfied with my life in Denver, so I moved to Norway.  I spent years dreaming of my prince charming.  And last year, my cousin and I stumbled upon the dream of waking up our old family farm and turning it into something.  We talked about moving into the old farm house, u-pick berry farming, animals, a farm store and restaurant, and bringing Baugtveit farm to life again.

Well...I had a day that made me realize how close to reality my dreams are today.

I woke up in the morning and looked out my old farm house window to see the breathtaking mountain of Baugetveit looking down upon me.  Sitting below, my little farm cafe and shop.  Behind that, I could see the farm ducks hanging out with the pet rabbits while waiting for the hens to come out of their coop.  I gave my sweet boyfriend a good morning kiss, got up and went downstairs to finish my baking for the day (cheesecake, quiche and rosemary and sea salt bagels).  My cousin opened the doors to the cafe and put on a fresh pot of coffee.  We all sat outside, taking care of customers as they walked by on their way to their Norwegian hike.  My cousin went next-door to visit with Grandma while I served sweet tea and whoopee pies to our cafe customers.  In the afternoon, we heard the sound of horses coming up the street and saw our neighbors on their two horses.  So, the boys took them for a quick ride.  In the afternoon, Isra (the prince charming) and I went on a short hike up the mountain in our backyard.  When we reached the top, we were looking out upon the Norwegian fjords and the beautiful sunset.  It is moments like this, all compiled together into one day that make me wonder..."is this real"?

Yes.  It is.  I am a "farmer".  I live with my cousin and boyfriend in the house my father was raised.  I bake delicious American treats, serve coffee and sell tasty and unique Norwegian products.  I collect eggs, chase chickens away from my cafe and pick ticks off of bunnies ears.  If someone told me this is what I would be doing when I was 29, I'd have told them they were crazy.

The best part about this dream coming true is that it wasn't just my dream.  My Aunts glow with happiness to see us working at the farm.  My grandmother has her grandkids next-door and new visitors every day.  She likes to ask us every day what we sold in the cafe, who came by and hear what I am baking the next day.  Her big smile says it all.

The entire process hasn't been easy.  Of course, we have had our own challenges to overcome.  But in the end, I achieved my dream and isn't that what life is all about?

An Evening at BB Farms

It's the 16th of May, which is a big celebration (party) day in Bergen.  We had a party of our own tonight at the farm.  Poured ourselves some wine, put on our rain boots, and went to visit our friends.

First...hanging with the chickens.

Say Cheese!

King of the coop

Next stop...the sheep we call our neighbors.

Last but not least...we had to say goodnight to the ducklings and wish them a good night in their new duck house.

Love every bit of it.

Google farming

I realized today that I haven't posted to my blog in ages.  It comes down to the fact that I have been so busy that time has flown by!!

Two weeks ago, we became farmers.  We bought 2 week old chicks and ducklings and 22 egg laying hens.  I grew up with baby ducks and chicks, but didn't remember how much work they are, and how much they poop!

2 weeks old

2 weeks old

3 weeks old

4 weeks old

While I did have chicks and ducks when I was little, I don't really remember what it takes to take care of them.  And I certainly have never done any farming.  My cousin knows some about farming, having been raised with sheep and such.  Together, we certainly don't know it all.  So, we turn to Google.  A lot.  And it is amazing.

Things we have Googled since we started farming.

• "Ducks on wood chips".  When we first brought the ducks home, we put them on a cozy bed of wood chips.  About 20 minutes later, I noticed they were eating a lot of it and I wondered.  Is this ok?  We went inside and googled, only to learn that it is very bad for their digestive system.  So, we ran back out and changed it for some hay.  Much better.  

• "Chicks sleeping all the time".  We were very nervous when the chicks came home and were so lazy, they looked like they were half dead.  It is normal.  

• "Treats for chickens and ducks".  I have learned that ducks love bananas, raisins and carrots but should never eat undercooked beans.  Who knew?

• "How to produce omega 3 eggs".  When I mentioned Omega-3 eggs to my cousin, he had no idea what I was talking about.  This is big in the states, but unheard of here (so it seems).  When we looked it up, turns out it is as easy as feeding flax seeds to the chickens.  Amazing. 

• "Do foxes swim in water".  Now that the ducks are HUGE, we are getting their duck house ready, and need a safe place for them if the foxes come to visit.  Sure enough, foxes will swim to get a yummy duck dinner. 

• "Can chickens drink milk".  I thought my friend was kidding when he said chickens drink milk.  Sure enough, a number of sources tell us that the proteins are very good for chickens and they should eat some dairy products.

• "How to keep foxes from your henhouse".  My favorite trick google taught me about this is to ask your hair dresser for as many pieces of others hair as they can give you.  Then, stuff old stockings with it and hide them around the hen house.  Fox's have a great sense of smell and think there are many people at the house.  Then, they are less likely to go near it.  

The eggs from the hens has been one of the coolest parts of this whole experience so far.  Chickens are pretty cool.  And it is amazing that they can produce an egg a day.  Every morning around 10am, I hear from my cousin how many eggs we got that day.  it's like Christmas every time.  And the eggs are so much more delicious than normal, store bought eggs.

Bringing the chickens home

The first morning

21 farm fresh eggs!!

Egg Customers

Farm signs!

There have been downsides to farming too. On the first night, we lost a chick.  It jumped out of its cage and into a pool of water and drowned.  Then a few nights later, a chicken died.  The chickens are not the smartest.  They all piled up into one nesting box (16 to be exact) and they squished their friend on the bottom.  Not pretty.

Even with all the farm work, mixed with normal work, it has been very relaxing at the farm.  It is a peaceful place, and always an adventure.  In the next few weeks, we expect to have real farm animals...pigs, sheep and rabbits!!  I hope Google has some information about that, because I really have no idea how to take care of a sheep!