wanderingquilter

This was one of those days when you didn’t know just what would happen next – at least with the weather.

It started out with scattered clouds, and about 10 degrees………. and I had some planting to do. But first, Snoopy and I set out for a good long walk – with a stop at the grocery store. The mallards must be sitting on their nests now, as only the males are in the stream.

I saw this bird that looked like a pigeon – but there were two identical…… I’ve never seen two pigeons that had the same markings.  Later on, I saw a third one.  After checking my book, and photos on the internet, I discovered it is a Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus).

Back home, and outside to plant my three poor heather plants that had waited two weeks for this moment. Next, I transplanted my globe basil seedlings.  My green thumbs have been itching to gat out and into the flower beds.This reminded me so much of the spring I worked in a greenhouse north of Calgary.  It was my dream job. Look at the lovely tulips –Snoopy and I set off again, for the garden centre which is a 10 minute walk away.  I went for herbs… and came back with roses – three miniatures…… and also thyme and lavender. Here they are with the orchid that a friend gave me when she came for dinner.

I love roses – and with the ones in the garden, that makes 14.

Here is the sky when we were returning from the garden centre –

I need cache pots to put my plants in, so I headed off again, alone this time, for Europris.  The forecast said it shouldn’t rain until 2 pm …….. if I hurried I might make it, but the umbrella went into my bag just in case.  In the park again – another lovely colourful bird… Again, between the book and Google, I discovered that I have a very good sighting of a male Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)… and he sat obligingly still so I could get a good photo.

No pots, but coffee on for half price, and some sweet little socks for my granddaughter.  A few drops of rain as I was scurrying home…… but look outside by the time I’d hung up my coat –

And a couple of minutes later –

Soon over – and hesitant sunshine again.  It’s only 3:35, so anything could still happen today. Between emptying boxes and cleaning a bit, I’ve lots to keep me inside until nightfall.

sparkled on my lawn this morning.

Or, in other words, we had a fairly hard frost.  I think David was glad that he parked in the garage last night.

It was pretty crispy when Snoopy and I set out for our morning walk.  We walked along the stream, and the steam was rising into the air.The daffodils were not very happy.  but I had my warm scarf and hat, so I was just fine….. rosy cheeks never hurt anyone, right?We took a different path today – up behind some houses, and then back down into the stream valley.

We walked all the way to the “sun” – it is right across from the nearest grocery store……It doesn’t open until 9 am, so I decided to try one downtown – but it isn’t open until 10.  We were back at the Coop just before 9 – and I got my lettuce – and also two herb plants.

Company tonight, so I have to try and locate the dining room table.  So the stories from the weekend will have to wait.

Just a brief “whine” amid my unpacking of boxes, as our container came last Thursday/Friday, and we spent most of the weekend out.  Fabric is mostly on the shelves, albeit, NOT in any order at all.  The kitchen is pretty well organized, although I’m still looking in many cupboards before I find a lot of things.

Last week, the temperature hit 17C.  Saturday, it was sunny, although the breeze was a bit cool.  This morning, we woke up to snow on the ground!  My daffodils don’t know what hit them.

I’m told that this is when the weather begins to get nice – so, “I’m waiting”.

Bring on the sun!

One Friday, David discovered that there are a couple of places where you can walk your dog off-leash – at least in the winter and fall.  One of them is really close to our house, so the following Sunday morning, we decided to give it a try.

Would it be sunny???  We had a bit of sun Saturday afternoon,  so it was anyone’s guess.  On thing we have learned already – you don’t put things off just because the sun isn’t shining.  You could be waiting a long, long time.

Snoopy, of course, was just happy to come in the car with us.  He had no idea what a treat we had in store for him.

After missing the corner twice, we finally started down the narrow road to the trails.  They call it the “Dog Forest”, because so many people take advantage of being able to walk their dogs here off-leash.  The dogs love to run and sniff at their own pace – and to meet the other dogs along the way.  At first, Snoopy stayed pretty close to us…… he had never walked off-leash in the forest before.  Not much opportunity in the desert.

Logs cut along the road – fairly small. Wonder what they will be used for?

Half way up. OK – whose idea was it to take this path?? Gasp, pant, wheeze?

Almost at the top, a style over the fence for the humans, and a pet door for the dogs.

Down again, to a tiny lake.

Through trees – balancing on rocks to cross a stream…

An open area.  Suddenly, Snoopy seemed to realize that he was free to run – and run he did.  You could see the sheer joy in every muscle as he leaped over streams and standing water.  He was running to quickly to get a photo.

We wandered back to the main road, then down to a fairly large river.

Back toward the car.  The sun had come out, making it a wonderful day for a walk in the forest.That was a couple of weeks ago.  I’d love to go back now and see the changes in the trees and other plants.

When cloudy was the weather…..”.

So begins a nursery rhyme I remember from when my children were small.  I was reminded of it as Snoopy and I walked in the park yesterday morning…. only, it wasn’t cloud – it was thick fog. This morning, it was thicker.

After being away for only 2 days (I guess 3 morning walks, as Snoopy was already at the kennel last Friday), I was amazed at the new flowers that had emerged. This plantscape is a total unknown to me and I am always surprised at what has popped out.

These, I think, are Dutchman’s Breeches –

And a tiny columbine, just about to open –

But I have no idea what this is…… a mystery just waiting for me to solve it.And there are so many of them!

The drops of water on these twigs are from the fog –

I love the reflections of the tree trunks in the water here.and here –

Here are a few other photos I took in the mist.  I hope you enjoy them.

By the way – the sun has broken through the past two afternoons….. so I can deal with a little mist and mystery.

And yesterday, Snoopy and I went farther – all the way around the lake. It was about a 5 1/2 mile trek.

The park by our house has a display on the solar system.  It begins with the sun – at the downtown end of the park.

The 9 planets (yes, they have Pluto included, but do say that it is no longer considered a planet) are distributed along the walkway to and partway around the lake, Stokkelandsvanet – and the distance between the stations is proportional to the actual distance between the orbits.

Here is Mercury – they give a write-up about the planet, and also show it’s symbol and how big it is compared to the sun. Also included, at the bottom, is it’s mass compared to that of the earth.  And they tell you how far it is to the next planet.

This is what the sun looks like from Mercury –

It’s only 1/2 minute walk from mercury to Venus… and the same from Venus to Earth……

We have Mars;

And Jupiter –

And then a longer walk to Saturn.  Our house is about level with Saturn, but up on the hill.

It seems like a long way to Uranus.

And that you are NEVER going to reach Neptune.  By now, you are along the lake – they say 15 minutes, but it’s almost a mile.  I’m not sure how long it would take if you just walked there – both times I stopped often to take photos, and Snoopy had to make his stops as well. Look at these gnarly old oak trees.

Pluto – finally.   It sure is tiny!

And just before I got here, the sun almost broke through the clouds. I think it was March 4th the last time it really shone.

On Sunday, I was feeling really tired, and so we just returned home again.  Yesterday, Snoopy and I carried on all the way around the lake – what a lot of incredible views.

Clearly, this trek will remain one of our favourites while we are living here in Sandnes – what a treat to have a park like this at our doorstep!

We’ve had some lovely weather lately – almost made up for not being able to get the internet set up. The nearby park was lovely, and it was a joy to take Snoopy for a walk, or wander downtown to pick up a few of the bits and bobs that you never remembered to pack – or had room for when you move.

Oh oh – the view our the living room window-Why do dogs still need to be walked in cold weather?  Where ARE my gloves, boots and warm Norwegian hat? And the warm wool scarf that my friend Jo wove for me in Muscat?

Away we go to the park to see the transformation. The snow had just dusted the upper branches of the cedars

and dogwoods.

The rhododendrons looked quite frozen

although the trees took it in their stride.  I love the look of snow balancing on branches,The huge trees had protected the round, so underneath it was still quite bare.

The ducks didn’t look too excited about the change.  They flopped into the water if we got too close, but looked as if they would much rather be back in yesterday’s warmth.

This tree has always intrigued me – I wonder who decided that it should have a scarf to keep it warm.  This was the right day to take it’s photo.

I love these trees – the branches reach out where ever there is a bit of free space.I love this park – how lucky to live so close that I can walk here every day!

Isn’t it funny how much of a difference the little things make?

Like being able to wash my face in warm water in the evening…. sounds pretty ordinary, but in Muscat, the hot water took so long to come through the pipes that I always had to use cold.

Clean eggs with hard shells… in every carton.

Like a postcard from a dear friend in your mailbox when you first move in to a new home….or a card when you least expect it, and for no reason except that you are friends.

Getting our new passports only two weeks after we sent the applications.. Wow! I was so afraid they wouldn’t be here in time to go to Aberdeen on March 23.  Now, I can finally get my Norwegian ID.

The wonderful feeling of being cold outdoors and warm inside – instead of the other way around.

Warm slippers, fireplaces, and heated bathroom floors.

A beautiful sunrise –

The smell of fresh coffee in the morning.

Raindrops hanging from bare branches and old flowers like jewels after a rain –

A purring cat on your lap – and a dog that is so happy to see you come home that he almost beats himself in the nose with his wagging tail .

Snowdrops peeking out from under melting drifts of snow –

Flowerbeds full of rosebushes, and pots just waiting to be planted-

Not being able to see where you just replaced a patch without searching –

Living in a place where I can use an umbrella – they have always fascinated me, but I’ve never really lived anywhere that it rained much.

Raindrops on my face ………. and sunshine when there has been a bit too many raindrops –

Looking at things from a different angle and seeing a whole new world open up –

The joy of being alive and having a story to tell – and the freedom to do so.

Stavanger is a very cloudy city – and often those clouds leak.  Other times, they just reach down to kiss the ground, leaving you wondering just what the blob across the street really is.  Being on the North Sea, that makes sense, but for someone who has spent her whole live in sunny places, it still is a bit of a shock to the system.  On Sunday, we discovered that everyone here takes advantage of a bright, sunny day. We went for a walk around Store (Large) Stokka Lake – us and half the other residents of Stavanger!

Stokka Lake is billed as 8.2 km around – so we decided to drive to one of the parking lots near it for our hike.  Snoopy is always happy to go for a car ride, and even happier to go for a walk.

We arrived around 11 am – and were surprised at how many people there were already – walkers and cyclists and joggers….young and not so young…. strollers and baby buggies and dogs galore.

The sky was blue, the leaves were green, there was a bit of ice still on parts of the lake.

An abandoned row boat by the shore –

In some places the trees were so dense that you could imagine yourself in a deep forest..

I love the shadows the trees cast. Here, along part of the path was a stone wall separating it from the neighbouring field.

Here is an old boat house  –

Rest stop along the lake – would you believe Snoopy laid down in the water?  Crazy dog!

Clear water –

We came upon the Stavanger Rowing club – members had pulled rowing machines onto the pier so they could exercise in the sunshine and fresh air.

Look at the rocks in this field –

And the deer in this one –

We passed this golf course – take a look at this green and tee off!

And those Norwegian golfers must be tough – it was only 2 degrees C, and there was still frost where the sunshine hadn’t touched the grass.                                                                 Even dogs were allowed on the course for the game.

People lined a small bridge, throwing bread to the ducks and swans –

And here, some black (and gray) birds were joining the mallard ducks in the feast.

This old boat shed had a boat partially inside – don’t think I’ll ask to rent it though.

Little Stokka drains into large Stokka – we were surprised at the difference in elevation.  We walked around Little Stokka one weekend day amid ice and snow.  

Back where we had first arrived at the lake, there was a greater gathering now.  This family had brought lunch, and made a small fire to roast hot dogs.

At the end of the path, back near the parking lot, is a series of ponds that serve as a filtration system for run-off water entering the lake. Very pretty on it’s own accord.

By the way – our total walk was 6.4 miles.  That’s a long way – and even Snoopy was ready for lunch and a nap.

There are quite a few museums in Stavanger – David found a list of them and their open hours on the internet Saturday morning. In the off-season, they have quite short hours – some only open for 5 hours on Sundays.  That’s OK – we didn’t have anything momentous planned for today, so we decided to start the list at the top.

The museum building is old – the first part of it was built in the 1800’s.  The exhibit in the basement – Grinning Skeletons – is made up of stuffed animals dating back to the very first exhibits.  David had commented on the poor taxidermy job – I guess that’s why it wasn’t up to modern standards.  right at the bottom of the stairs, guarding the exhibit, was a human skeleton standing inside the jaw bone of a sperm whale….. I didn’t get a photo because there were always so many people standing by it, but it was impressive. This is one of the whale skeletons.

And one of the birds – they are so colourful.

On the first floor was a temporary exhibit called “Deeper Than Light”.  This give you a general idea of how it was set up.

There was a model of a deep ocean trench, and videos about how they are collecting data about the life and conditions under the sea, as well as a video set up where you could pick the park of the undersea landscape you wanted to explore, and which type of life.

Along with these, there were many examples of art, both photographs and drawings, ancient and modern, of sea life.  This photo of a jewel squid by David Shale really caught my eye.  The colours, teal and burgundy and gold, had my quilting brain working instantly. This squid was found 500 meters below sea level, and is also called the cock-eyes squid, as it has one large eye which it keeps pointed up toward the sun, and a small one with which it looks down into the depths for prey.

Upstairs, there were a lot of exhibits detailing the history of Stavanger – like the burning of witches in the 1600’s –

The 13th century cathedral –

A tableau about the brisling – small fish of the herring family which were caught and canned in Stavanger in the 1800’s – colourful tin lids –

The drying process –

There were also tableau of life in Norway, mostly in the 17 and 1800’s – like Andrew Smith who did the intricate Norwegian Baroque carvings in the cathedral

carved wooden bowls –

painted design on the walls and furniture –

A wonderful sleigh – it was so very narrow – the gentleman owning it was definitely NOT fat –

three old sewing machines –

I really love this one – wonder how old it is –

There was a lot more about the history of Stavanger area – I would love to go again – there was so much to take in.