Happy Christmas

Christmas is a time for traditions, and making a new life here in Norway has brought about our very own, new Yuletide traditions; a kind of "Norglish" Christmas.  Whilst we simply can't open our presents until Christmas day, we have embraced the Norwegian tradition of Advent candles, where a new one is lit each of the four Sundays in Advent, and Advent stars, hung in the windows to illuminate the depths of mid-winter.  Though mincepies and traditional Christmas cake are still a must, so too is the Norwegian riskrem and pepperkake (a rice pudding and cream dessert served with raspberry sauce, and gingerbread with black pepper added to the mix, respectively).  Cranberry sauce is replaced by lingonberry (tyttebær) sauce, and I'm really trying to like cloudberries.  Along with the essential roast potatoes we have also adopted the traditonal Norwegian vegetable accompaniments of kålrotstappe and rødkål.  This, coupled with being able to go out and cut one's own Christmas tree, a roaring log fire and real snow, in my opinion combine to create the perfect blending of traditions for the perfect Yule or jul!  I hope you enjoy your own traditions and have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  God jul og godt nytt år!

October.  Don't be fooled by the pictures here; it has rained practically none stop for the past week, but a day like today was the perfect opportunity to take a few snaps.  As you will notice, Sandfjell has a sprinkling of snow already, so we are both relieved that all the sheep are home.

A pastoral scene.

Many years ago, I used to watch the television programme All Creatures Great and Small, and recent events have put me in mind of the episode which features the pig farmer who cries every time he sends one of his pigs to slaughter.  A few weeks ago we delivered eleven of the biggest lambs and, I have to say, it was a very tearful experience for me.  Although I appreciate that this is the life of a sheep farmer, in my defense, they were our first ever lambs and I do find it very difficult not to be moved by their liquid brown eyes.  The rest are due to go during next week and I anticipate a similar reaction!  We do however still have nine ewe lambs, and today they went back outside to join their mothers after a brief separation.

 Constance at the front as usual.

All together again.

Today was also an exciting day for our ram John (Rambo), as he was introduced to his new cell mate, as yet nameless.

 John.

John and friend.

In non-sheep related news, we are looking forward to having a warmer house this winter when we get two sides of the house insulated and re-cladded.  My main job at the moment (besides teaching and looking after Peter) is painting the boards, which are all down in the cellar.  We are both sick of the smell of paint I can tell you!  The colour is rather attractively, if somewhat inaccurately, named "Dark Moss" (i.e. green) and the window frames are going to be "Lily-of-the-Valley" (white with a tinge of green), but unfortunately it will be next spring before they are painted.  Of course, pictures will follow when there is enough progress worth looking at!

It is now the start of half-term, so I am looking forward, if not to getting a rest, at least to not having to get up at six in the morning for a whole week.  Peter has taken a weeks holiday too so perhaps by my next posting we will be rejuvenated and relaxed.  Here's hoping!

Autumn in the mountains - pre snow.

It's already autumn, and I'm desperately trying not to think about the coming winter, but I suppose one of the things about being a farmer is that you are in touch with the seasons and learn to work with them.  It seems the last two years have been a challenge for everybody weather-wise, with two hard winters each followed by late and lacklustre summers.  The amount of rain we have had this year is just unbelievable; it's a miracle we have managed to get both cuts in!  Anyway, we have survived, and one of the reasons for beginning this blog is to try to stay positive, so here goes...

Although it may seem like a rather random time to begin a journal, you could say that it is the beginning of a new sheep year for us.  The sheep have come down from the mountains, it is almost time to wave goodbye to their lambs, and then the whole cycle starts again with the coming breeding season.  Also, we are now just four weeks in to the new school year at the college where I work.  These however, are just convenient coincidences and the truth of the matter is that I simply haven't got around to doing it until now!

I hope in the coming months to report on the various jobs and projects going on at Svoen.  So, until my next post, I leave you with some pictures of my lovely girls on their way back home from a summer in the mountains.