norway – part 3

Finally, the last in the Norway series!
We spent the last few days before returning to Oslo in the Flam / Laerdal region. Driving along these narrow fjords is exciting, but the region also featured a 25km tunnel through the mountains which was quite an experience. Instead of taking the tunnel, one time we took the alternativ route over the mountains instead, the Aurlandsfjellet road. It takes you up high over the mountains, snowy even in the height of summer.




It’s a breathtaking route, not least of all because it’s all serpentines going up and down the mountain. The region itself was just beautiful, with lots of old norwegian houses I loved to capture.




We would be ending our journey in Oslo so we decided to drive down in one day and spend the last two days exploring the city. Bye bye, beautiful fjords!


Hello Oslo! Such a sweet and cozy city. I’m not much of a city person but I really liked Oslo (though we had a hard time finding a warm dinner that was also bordering on affordable each night).


We spent the first day just perusing the city but for me the museum island Bygdoy held most interest and I had a great time visiting the Kon Tiki Museum (I now have a crush on Thor Heyerdahl), the polarship museum ‘Fram’, the viking ship museum and most of all the norwegian folk museum. Lovely place!




I loved learning more about norwegian culture and life in the country in times gone by (I’m a big history buff and for me travel isn’t complete without learning at least some background of the country and people). Thank you for showing yourself in the best light during our two weeks, Norway! I can’t wait to go back some time.

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shop opening

It’s finally open, my brand new print shop on Etsy!
Ever since I registered my photography business over a year ago I dreamed of being able to sell my travel photography as prints. I got quite busy last year and the shop idea took a back seat.
During the long winter months I was able work on it again and I have been very hard at work since christmas. Opening a shop is so much more time consuming than the shop front suggests, but I’m super proud to announce today that it’s open for business! I am still in the process of stocking it, but I didn’t want to wait another week or two with the announcement.
So hop over to my Etsy Print Shop to check out some stunning Travel and Landscape Photography, including some much loved prints I shared on this blog!
Also, to keep up with the shop and promo deals (and who knows, maybe even an opening discount…) sign up for my newsletter.

If you’re on Etsy too, let’s connect! I’ve been on Etsy with another username but decided to start afresh for this shop, so unfortunately I lost all of my feedback and connections and I’d love to get in touch with other Etsy users and seller.

a very late easter post

So sorry for disappearing for weeks and not even managing an Easter post! I have no idea where the time went, I meant for this post to go up right after Easter but then work and stuff got in the way and now it’s the middle of April already! I’ll try and be a better blogger, promise. And I can tease and tell you there’s a big announcement coming up pretty soon photography-wise.
But first, Easter weekend! I spent the long weekend on the beautiful dutch island Ameland with friends (yep, just like last year).
We were looking forward to a few days of rest and outdoor time and enjoyed every minute of it.


Even though the weather didn’t always cooperate (no, it still isn’t spring yet over here, yes, that is snow on the beach), we spent hours every day just walking the island, resting at the beach café’s every now and then for a nice slice of cake or some fries. Working inside most of the time makes me forget just how hungry some outdoor time makes.
Or how good it is for body and soul. Walking is a bit like yoga, you move your body while completely resting the mind with the added advantage of fresh air.



In the evenings we ate delicious home cooked dinners, mostly fish we had picked up fresh from the day’s fishing in the village, and settled down for some creative time. Somehow, between us four women, we worked on two sweaters, a pompom-rug and I knitted a tiny baby vest for my friend who is four months pregnant. To be shown here on the blog as soon as it’s washed and blocked and has some cute buttons added.




We even colored some eggs on Easter sunday before setting out again.



I have some more images from our beach trails up on my photoblog.
The rest and workout was much needed after the long winter and I’ve decided I really enjoy walking and hiking so I will try and find some nice trails in our surrounding areas to keep it up on weekends.
Now, wishing you a resting weekend!

scotland – first impressions

Whew, so many photos to sort through in this real summer heat we’re having here! I’ll be giving y’all a full account of where we went, what we did and how we liked (loved!) it, but for today there’s a preview on my other blog with the most beautiful landscape shots from our journey:

There’s also even more photos to be seen on my Facebook Page, so do head over there until I get myself (and my photos) sorted out for good. I can’t wait to tell you all about our vacation! And yes, there’ll be a video too in a while 🙂

winter walk

No text, just photos from last weekend today.

rainy summer days

Our unusually hot spring has been followed by a cold, rainy summer. For days we’ve had fog and drizzle and heavy rains with only few bits of sunshine in between. And the forecast says much of the same is to follow in the next days and weeks.

I’m not complaining.

Living in a top floor apartment, hot summers can be hell. We had some unbearably hot weeks last year . I actually like a fresh wind and though I could do without constant rain, I don’t really mind that much. I have a good rain coat and on barn days both the pony and I are much more eager to work when it’s cool.

Other than that we’ve been lying low at the weekends, sleeping a lot and trying to catch up on emails and friends and ideas (oh, the ideas…). By the way, I got on Pinterest and now I’m hooked. And so inspired. More and more ideas.



This is the best tea I’ve had in years: Fresh peppermint leaves, fresh ginger or ginger syrup, limes, honey and candy sugar. Heaven.

I couldn’t resist another photo of the kitties. So sweet those two.

twilight

The days are getting longer of course. I now get to the barn with the last bit of light of the day.

My mood is lifting which might be definitely is related to the fact that we have had full sunshine for two days in a row and I got to soak it up for a whole hour yesterday at work.

Here’s to a sunny weekend with lots of resting and planting and welcoming spring.

foggy

But at least no more snow and ice.

Truth is, I don’t really mind bad weather all too much. Sure, a heavy rain on a cold day is never nice, but foggy with a soft drizzle is still beautiful to me. I actually stopped three times on my way to the barn this weekend to take pictures.

With a fulltime office job in winter I only really get outside on sundays and I relish every minute of being out in the light (however dull the day) and the fresh air.
And the funny thing is, that the duller the day the brighter the little flecks of color still left everywhere appear to be. We went out riding in the woods and there was all shades of brown and bright mossy green and I regretted not taking my camera.

You see so much when you start looking.

snow and horses

Ok, I’m strongly suspecting I’m boring y’all to death with snow and horses, but really, that’s all there is to my life these days! I can safely promise a little more diversity soon though, as I will be juggling hospital visits and business trips this week and won’t have much time for either snow or horses.
In the meantime, hope you still enjoy this:

snowed in

Not really, but friends in other parts of the country were! We just got to enjoy landscapes like these while still being able to go out and about.