Bliss

One (of the many) great thing(s) about having a baby is that whenever I buy a magazine, I never have time to sit down and read it and I eventually forget that I've bought it. Then, one day when the baby is sleeping, I find the magazine that I'd forgotten about, and I have time to sit down and read it with a cup of coffee. A blissful break, just to myself!

Woodanemone

Woodanemone (hvitveis) has always been my favourite spring flower, and ever since I was a small girl I have been searching the ground in the woods to find the first one in spring. Having never found these in England, I had resigned to the fact that they probably didn't exist around here, until one day this view opened up in front of me on one of my long morning walks with F. What a sight! I was so excited. Since then I've been making a trip up to the woods every day to pick a nice bouquet.

Lately

I took an unintentional break from blogging, but now I am back and I'll show you what I've been up to in the last month!

We went back home to visit friends and family in the blazing sunshine, and had an amazing time introducing F to everyone.

I loved being by the sea again and I savoured every moment, breathing in the fresh air and watching the open horizon.

I had the first ice cream of the year.

I celebrated my birthday, got some lovely presents and ate lots and lots of cake.

We enjoyed the sea some more.

And when we came back spring had finally arrived, and with it lots and lots of flowers. I was particularly excited to discover that the woods were full of forest anemones, as I didn't think they grew in this country. Oh, so pretty!

Two years ago...

My birthday is in the beginning of April, and two years ago I spent my birthday lying in the garden on a picnic blanket, drinking champagne. It was so hot I could barely move, and I fell asleep under my parasol. I had friends around for an afternoon tea party and we sat in the sun eating cake, drinking wine and putting sunscreen on to avoid getting sun burn. This year, however, I doubt we'll be having a garden party... It's been snowing almost every day this last week, and it looks a lot more like Christmas outside than Easter! 

Either way, I am happy that the holidays finally are here, and I get to spend som quality time with friends and family. And when you're with people you love, it doesn't matter whether it's outside in the sun or inside in front of the fire place with a cup of hot chocolate.

Happy Easter to you!

First Mother's Day

This Sunday was my very first Mother's Day! And a lovely day it was too. It started with Husband and F serving me breakfast in bed: pancakes and coffee.

I got a bouquet of my favourite flowers.

We had macaroons and Danish pastry for afternoon tea.

And I got a new tea cup for my collection.

What did you do this weekend?

Soon...

The weather suddenly got colder again, but here are a few Instagram pictures I've taken recently. Not long now!!

Things that make me happy on a Friday

- it's Friday again!
- spring is definitely in the air. I can feel it
- I saw a cherry tree in bloom yesterday
- we're going to Norway in a month's time
- I had my first baby- free evening outing this week, which was lovely
- baby F is five months old today!

About missing home

It's been six and a half years since I left Norway now. I never thought I would be gone for this long.

I left life as a student in Bergen, where we would stay up all night, drink a lot, go dancing and walk home at dawn, to live as a student in London, where the tube stops running at midnight, you're always looking over your shoulder after dark, going out takes a lot of planning, and I found myself studying at a big, competitive music college where taking care of your voice took precedence over anything else.

I left the open sea to live by a dirty river. I really missed the wide open horizon and the fresh breeze on my face.

I grew up near the sea, next to the forest and the hills, and suddenly I was living in a busy city where there was nowhere to escape the great masses.

The English are not the easiest to make friends with. They are very friendly, and will invite you out for a drink, but it's hard to get past their polite exterior. Norwegian people will invite you into their homes, English people will generally not. It takes time and perseverance to get to know the English well. At times I was yearning for a good old waffle in someone's living room, or a proper Norwegian- style 'vorspiel'.

But then again I met some wonderful new friends, and Husband, of course! I lived in a city with the best shopping in the world (when I had the money for it), wonderful museums and markets, world class concerts and wonderfully tasty food. I had some amazing opportunities and experiences whilst doing my music degree. I would stroll along the Thames on a Sunday afternoon whilst sipping my coffee and holding Husband's hand. I would become bilingual. And most importantly, I would have a wonderful baby daughter.

It is as it is with most things in life: you win some, you lose some. But right now I am really missing home.

Valentine

We didn't do much for Valentine's day, I'm not a big fan of the whole thing, but as I do like things heart shaped, I will take any excuse to make little hearts. So I made brownies, served on a Wedgwood 'Queen of Hearts' plate. Very tasty they were too! I used this recipe.

Alice in Wonderland

A friend of mine bought me these earrings, and I absolutely love them! 

Weekend breakfast

I realise I'm writing a lot about food these days, and this might be (or rather certainly is) because I find myself craving sugar and carbohydrates these days, more so than I ever did when I was pregnant. Breastfeeding and sleepless nights will have that effect on you. This weekend I made French toast for breakfast. Not just French toast, but heart shaped French toast, which is even nicer. Served with cinnamon, banana and maple syrup.

My favourite kind of breakfast; pretty and tasty! A very happy Sunday to you!

Cambridge is only an hour away from where we live, and as Husband is on winter half term we went there the other day. The sun was shining, birds singing, people were enjoying their coffee outside and it felt just like spring. Bliss!

Literature baby

I recently got a few books for little F, adding to her little library. I have always loved reading books, as a child I loved being read to, and I really want to pass on that to my daughter. This book about Audrey Hepburn is so lovely, with beautiful illustrations. And this Pride and Prejudice counting book is just great!

Rocket pesto

I have written about this recipe before, but it is worth repeating. Rocket pesto (or ruccola pesto) is so tasty, and lot cheaper to make than basil pesto! This recipe is from 'The Vicar's Wife's Cookbook' by Elisa Benyon:

50g pine nuts (roasted in a dry frying pan)

1-2 cloves of garlic, peeled but left whole

zest of 1-2 lemons

125g rocket (I use less than this)

ca 100ml olive oil

70g grated Parmesan or Grana Padano

Put the ingredients into a food processor (or a pestle and mortar) and put it on full speed until you have a sloppy pesto (not runny). I never follow the measurements to the point, it all depends on how you prefer it- I prefer more garlic and less lemon. Taste it and maybe add some more olive oil until it looks and tastes right. 

This pesto is lovely with spaghetti and prawns, or on bread with ham and avocado. Or cut open a couple of chicken breasts and fill them with it, and bake in the oven with a bit of mozzarella on top. 

Yum!

Weekend

 I found some clothes in my closet that I haven't worn in a very long time, so it felt a bit like wearing a brand new outfit!

 Pretty Valentine's roses on half price offer, and I thought 'Why not?'. It would be a shame not to buy them, really.

Husband had started making bread again, and now the house is filled with the most wonderful smell every Sunday. He makes the best sour dough bread from his very own starter, and it is very impressive and very tasty!

Did you have a nice weekend?

Things I look forward to

I love my daughter more than anything, and I really love the connection we have because of me breastfeeding her, but there are still a few things I haven't been able to do for a while, that I'm looking forward to doing again. Here are a few:

- wearing clothes that don't have convenient openings for breastfeeding.
- drinking more than half a glass of wine.
- leaving the house for a few hours on my own, without worrying about feeding when I'm gone.
- that she might learn to take a bottle of breast milk, so that I can get a bit more rest at night.
- not having to breastfeed in public. British people can sometimes be a bit awkward and weird about me getting my breast out in public to feed my baby.
- wearing pretty clothes and not worrying about getting vomit all over them (one can at least hope!)

Weekend

I love weekend breakfasts. When you have time to do that little bit extra because you're not on your own looking after the baby..

Brambly Hedge

I first encountered Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge books when I moved to England, and I have grown to love these books so much. If you haven't read these lovely children's stories yet, I suggest you do! Not sure if they exist in Norwegian translation. This cup with pictures from the Winter Story is one of my favourite cups these days!

Fat Tuesday

You're tired after too little sleep, the baby is screaming and feeling unwell after having vaccinations the day before, your attempt to give her painkillers ended up with her throwing up all over you and all over the carpeted floor, and you're still in your pyjamas at 2 in the afternoon.. What do you do? Put the baby in a sling and make 'fastelavensboller'. The baby is entertained, and you have something tasty to get you through the rest of the day!

Dreaming..

I love winter. I love freezing cold weather, wrapping up warm, snow, frost and ice. But I also long for more daylight, warmer weather and to be outside all day. I dream of:

 - wearing bright colours again.

- not having to wear warm coats and scarves.

- wearing pretty dresses I haven't worn for a couple of years because of pregnancy. Oh joy!

- not wearing tights, but feel the breeze on bare legs.

- having most meals outside.

- the smell of barbecues everywhere.

- feeling grass between my toes.

What are you dreaming of?