Summer Update: Part 4

 On August 1st, my husband and I climb aboard our flight to Norway! About a year ago, we had booked a voyage on Havila Voyages from Bergen, Norway to Kirkenes, Norway and back - a 12 voyage! Our total trip with travel days was 15 days!

My husband was born and grew up in Norway and it has been a Bucket List item for many years. 

After a day visit in beautiful Bergen, Norway, we boarded the ship, Polaris with our close friends On August 3rd. 

Note: We took hundreds of photos but I will limit to one or 2 per day. If you are interested, head to my Instagram page for more from each day of our voyage.

Bergen harbor

We set sail and on our first day, we sailed into Geirangerfjord, a famous fjord on the west coast of Norway. 

On Sailing Day 2 we spent some time in Trondheim, Norway where we took a city walking excursion along the Nidelva River to the Nideros Cathedral.

Sailing Day 3

We spent a relaxing day on the ship enjoying the beautiful sites along the coast of Norway! Sunset in Rorvik, Norway

Sailing Day 4

We passed the Arctic Circle today! We also sailed the magical Trollfjorden. What a beautiful site!

Arctic Circle marker

Sailing Day 5

Today we took an excursion to the North Cape where we saw reindeer herds owned by the Sami people. I also surprised my husband with arranging a trip to the bridge to meet the Captain!

North Cape marker

Sailing Day 6

Today we are in Kirkenes, Norway's most eastern town. We did some visiting but it was early and most things we closed. 

We start on the southern route back to Bergen. Although there were many more days, the ports are basically the same but at different times. I will share some of the wonderful food we had aboard the ship!

Norway is an absolutely beautiful country and the Havila Voyage cruise are a delight! Go check them out!  

Just when you think...

...that life is going to slow down...it keeps throwing punches! With my full time teaching assignment coming to an end just before Christmas, I thought...after the Christmas and New Year's Holidays, I will be able to do 'my thing'...meaning of coarse, spending time quilting and getting back to blogging. 

Well, things didn't work out quite that simple.  Just before Christmas, we got news that my MIL wasn't doing well and needed to have surgery. To complicate things...she lives on the family farm in a remote area of Norway. She was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital and then transferred to a bigger hospital due to her situation. She ended up with 2 surgeries and after a good time in the hospital, was transferred to a nursing facility near the family farm. News did not sound good as she was very weak and on many medications.  To further complicate things, my DH and I have been planning a trip to Hawaii for about a year and we were to leave at the end of January. So, a decision was made that we would make a extended weekend trip to Norway to see her. 

We made our travel arrangements and the very next day, we got a call that our DD1 was hurt and that we needed to go to the ER. We spent the rest of the day in the ER with her waiting on the physician, tests, and results before she came home with us to be 'watched.' The next day she was not doing better so a call to the ER resulted in a return trip, more tests and a referral to an ophthalmologist. Then a second opinion and being fitted for a temporary correction device until her brain can heal. Yes, it was scary and she is doing better but complete healing could take a year. Thanks to our great friends that took her for a second opinion and helping out, we were able to go to Norway to spend time with my MIL.

Winter in Norway isn't the best time to travel. We arrived on time in Stavanger and my SIL picked us up from the airport. We headed directly north to the family farm only to find the ferries stopped due to bad weather. We turned around and spent the night at my SIL's place. We set off north again Saturday morning to once again find the ferries stopped. The ferries didn't start running again until late Sunday afternoon...too late to go north. My SIL was able to take off work on Monday and we headed north, stopped at the family farm and then headed to the nursing facility. We finally were able to get to visit with my MIL! It was good to see for ourselves her condition. Although she is very weak and can not get out of bed without help or walk, we are hoping she can regain enough strength to move to less than 100% managed care. It was a marathon day as we all needed to get back to Stavanger that night. It was well past midnight when we got back to the city for an early 6am start to the airport to fly home. On a positive note, we had time to visit with our nephew's and their families. 

Arriving home, we had 3 days before we left for Hawaii! Packing once again and off to the airport for 2 weeks in beautiful Maui! More on Maui later. 

When I got home, (to cold and snow) and finally picked up the mail (my battery was dead after so long in the cold without being started)...it was a glorious mail day! Not just one but TWO surprises from Annie! Annie is a fellow quilter, blogger and just so talented. I can't remember exactly when I started following Annie's blog (http://freezeframe03.blogspot.com/) but it has been a while! At the beginning of 2013, while reading Annie's blog, I was introduced to the 365 day calendar journal challenge. Annie's pages are fantastic but some of my favorite pieces Annie creates are her postcards. 

Here is the one Annie made for me!

Isn't it just lovely! The details are amazing and the quality of Annie's work is impeccable. I did mention 2 surprises! Annie also does fantastic envelope art. She has this fantastic stamp...the Sissy stamp...that she creates with. 

Absolutely gorgeous!

A mail day that put a smile on my face!

Well, all the travel and watching the Olympics when I can, allowed me to get quite a bit done on my hexie quilt (shown above). I hope to show you more soon. Thanks for sticking with me on this very long post.

Norway Part 2

As promised, I'm back to share pictures from the 2nd half of our time in Norway...the time we spent in the country. Warning: Heavy picture post. 

My DH's parents live on the family farm. They do not own the main farm property but have a house on the farmland. My DH's grandfather divided a portion of the land to each sibling except the oldest (he inherited the main farmland). Long ago they built a small summer house. When they retired and decided to live on the farm, they added on to the house and made other improvements. 

The farm has old houses like the old farm house.

The date on the stone stoop...1864

And the main farm house

Several of my DH's aunts and uncles also have summer homes on the property and there is a boat house down at the fjord, a mill house, barn and other buildings.

We hiked all around the farm, picked wild blueberries and wild flowers, skipped stones and enjoyed the beautiful days.

We took a day trip into Bergen. 

Our DD1 studied in Bergen during her sophomore year in college. We were able to meet up with her friend.

Vage ~ harbor where we catch the ferry to Bergen

Much of the transportation in Norway is by ferry.

Old Bergen

Bryggen from across the harbor

 On another day, we took a trip to Folgefonna Glacier. There was plenty of snow up in the mountains!

Driving to Folgefonna

That high peak is the highest peak on the family farm as seen from across the fjord.

DH hiking in the snow

DD1 & DD3 on top of a big boulder

It was truly hard to pick just a few pictures among hundreds to give you a taste of the beauty of Norway and the great time we had. 

We had some great family times and it was hard to say goodbye.

Our 3 beautiful daughters down at the boathouse. 

Our family!

Hope you enjoyed the sites.

I'll be back in a couple of days with some finishes!

Norway!

If you read my blog, you know that in June/July our family vacationed in Norway! 

My DH grew up in Stavanger, Norway and my sister-in-law and her family live there and his parents live on the family farm on a small island south of Bergen, Norway. 

We spent part of our stay in the city and part in the country. Norway is the land of the midnight sun and is known for its beautiful fjords and mountains. Although pictures can't capture the true beauty, here are a few pictures from our time in Stavanger.

view from my SIL's home

park in downtown Stavanger

Old town Stavanger

Sverd i Fjell (three swords monument)

During our time in Stavanger, we took 2 hiking trips. The first to Manafossen, a beautiful waterfall. 

The day started a little overcast. 

(me, DH, SIL)

on the trail

This was our son-in-law's first time in  Norway!

Manafossen

Can you see him? 

The troll hiding in the forest? 

Norway's folklore is full of troll stories and you can find them lurking in the forests.

Our second hike was a big hike to Preikestolen, also called Pulpit Rock. This is a very popular tourist destination and it was crowded. The hike is strenuous,   however, the view is breathtaking!

A view of Lysefjord from the top of Preikestolen

It was hard to pick just a few pictures among hundreds but I hope you can sense the beauty of the country of Norway! I will be back with pictures from our time in the country.