Once upon a time, a romantic couple went to Norway on honeymoon, fell in love and never went back......

This may sound like a strange thing to do but, after many years of searching, Norway was the only place we felt we could live our dream of running a small farm. So here we are.

We bought our farm at Svoen just before Christmas 2009, and, after an agonizing wait to make sure nobody else who might have prior claim on the place wanted to take the farm (complicated Norwegian law), we moved in on Norway's national day, 17th May, 2010. And so the work began.

The farm had not been run for almost twenty years, but at least part of the barn was in good enough condition to allow us to buy 25 beautiful spælsau (old Norwegian breed of sheep) in the autumn of 2010. This autumn we plan to keep a number of their ewe lambs to increase our flock. They will, I am sure, feature regularly in this blog.

We feel very privileged to be able to build up this farm again and, despite the hard work, occasional disappointments and battles against the weather, we don't regret our decision for a moment and know that it will all be worth it!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

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.
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