the sheltering sky

time for me

2009-06-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Another lovely image of Liv Ullmann.

Daughter is away at her grandmothers house for a couple of weeks. Husband is away diving and sailing. I'm going to be all by my self over the weekend. I love my family dearly but I love to have some time just for me. I bought three books this afternoon.....ohh joy

hugo

2009-06-16T13:49:00.001-07:00

This is my daughters favorite book to date....she cried through the last hundred pages. It's a beautiful book. We both recommend this to booklovers everywhere.

http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/intro.htm

Light

2009-06-15T13:44:00.001-07:00

Stayed home from work with a stomachflue today. Felt a little better in the afternoon so I played around with the camera in my kitchen for a little while. I also find time to order some books online. I will share with you all later if they are any good. Hope you are healthy and well wherever you are:-)

Sheltering sky

2009-06-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love these photographs my husband took while away in Slovakia a couple of weeks ago?

to be inspired

2009-06-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Image from houzz.com via the paris apartment.

…to live differently, to love differently, to think differently, or to try to. Is the danger of beauty so great that it is better to live without it (the standard model)? Or to fall into her arms fire to fire? There is no discovery without risk and what you risk reveals what you value. Inside the horror of Nagasaki and Hiroshima lies the beauty of Einstein's E=MC squared
-Jeanette Winterson-

This is how I feel today

2009-06-09T22:42:00.000-07:00

Image by Lina Scheynius from Lolita

I don't wont to go to work today. I want to stay home, drink coffee, blog, read my book, nap and listen to Claire. My house is so pretty now. I've taken good care of my garden. Flowers everywhere. Lovely. I'll pull out my camera again this afternoon. It's been tucked away during all the craziness.

today

2009-06-08T12:56:00.000-07:00

It’s truly been a journey to remember going through this teachers training. All the hard work is done and everyday life is back. My body is sore and I feel emotionally vulnerable. My hamstring is not well. I’m going to my acupuncture man, that makes magic with his needles Wednesday. And I need him. I pushed too much in my practice in the last couple of weeks. But now it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m ready to slow down my practice for the summer. I’m getting ready to finally tune into my breath and listen to my body. Ashtanga yoga, and some teachers are really into pushing it (and my ego goes along with that really easily). But I don’t believe that’s what’s yoga should be about. Are you a better yogi for doing this or that asana? I do not believe so. For me yoga is the journey to awaken your inner voice and spirituality. It’s a journey to opening your mind to other people around you and to see them with compassion and love.
I’m setting aside time to read and write these days. I’m spending time watching my beautiful daughter growing up playing in the sun. Summer is a wonderful time of year. I hope you’re all enjoying wherever you are.
Pictures is of Madonna, taken by Steven Klein for W magazine.

angus and julia stone

2009-06-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

I love their beautiful music. You can listen to them here. ....and I love the beautiful images at their website. Enjoy.

a trip on the boat

2009-06-01T12:52:00.001-07:00

I’m finally done with my teachers training. Luckily I passed all my exams so I’m pleased. Patthabi Jois, the Guru of Ashtanga yoga sadly died the first day of the training. We were informed like an hour after he passed due to our teachers close relationship to his Guru. We had a gathering in his memory the same afternoon. It felt really strong and sad. I never been to India nor had any kind of relation to him as a person, but I’ve dedicated a lot of my life to this sacred practice. At one point we weren’t sure if we would be able to complete the entire course before our teachers had to go back to India for a memorial on the twelfth day after his passing but luckily it all came through in the end.
I’m glad I’ve dedicated myself to this practice, and this teachers training, but it has been really hard on my family and me. I’m so happy today. It’s been lovely summer weather here in Norway for the past couple of days and I’ve spent the entire weekend with husband and daughter out on the boat and on the islands right by our house. It’s been absolutely lovely.

coco and igor

2009-05-17T19:45:00.001-07:00

Longing for the release of this movie. I read the biography of Coco Chanel a little while ago. Adding the wonderful actors Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis and I think it will be perfect.

On another note, this has been a crazy weekend. Norway won the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow this weekend, see our hero here. 17 of May are also Norway’s national holiday. We start of with marching bands and all the kids walk in parades with Norwegians flags early in the morning. It’s really nice. In the day it’s entertainment, refreshments and games for the children in different parks and schools (a lot of which was my responsibility this year. One of the reasons I’ve been absent lately).

At the moment it’s 4.40 in the morning here and I’m getting ready to leave for my teachers training. I check in when possible in the two coming weeks. Wish me luck.

Helena's appartment

2009-05-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with Helena Christensen's rather eccentric, shabby chic style....(pictures taken from French Vouge)

Chanel

2009-05-12T14:40:00.001-07:00

I'm working day and night getting ready for my teachers training on monday. This new ad for Chanel put a smile on my face....so lovely. Featuring Audrey Tatou directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

watching

2009-05-10T13:47:00.001-07:00

Loved this movie.

Love

2009-05-05T15:01:00.001-07:00

The sun is shining a norwegians are out and about with a smile on their faces. Life is pretty good. I just finishes another thesis due before my teachers training in two weeks. I'm rocket high on all the coffee I've been drinking to pull me through so I'm gone lay down on the couch with a book I got myself while waiting for the bus this afternoon, "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts. Anybody read it?

feather

2009-05-03T14:22:00.001-07:00

I feel better, so I think I'm ready to get back to my creative work her on my blog. And I've missed you all so much. My practice is getting a little better every day now, but it's been a rough ride. I've been coughing so bad I sprained a rib (and it's been hurting like hell, pardon my language). And this happens just two weeks before I'm starting up on the last part of my teachers training. Just my luck feels like.

Apart from that I'm really frustrated with blogger at the moment. Seems like I've been having all kind of bugs lately. It feels like I've been having some kind of trouble every time I've been posting since long before Easter. Like, all of a sudden everything I've just written is in Chinese. Anybody else been having this kind of trouble? Anyway, I'm now considering moving my blog over in another format. I'm working on it so I'll get back you on that shortly.

sorry, I've been a bad blogger this last week

2009-04-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've caught a terrible cold on my trip to the states. I've been coughing non stop for two weeks. My practice has gone down the drain and I'm tired. I just want to sleep.

teachers training

2009-04-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

my favorite store in New Orleans....

2009-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

I got my daughter some tiny chandelier ear-rings, with blue gemstones.....

Come for a walk.....

2009-04-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

New Orleans-the Venice of North America

2009-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

"New Orleans is North America's Venice; both cities are living on borrowed time. Here we are fighting the mud, the heat, the rain, and the insects, trying-if you squint your eyes a bit-to create a Paris in the swamps. Our architecture, and the way we live, are here because of a particular attitude, an attitude about time that is different from the rest of the United States. New Orleans won't change-this is the source of the decline-and yet it does change: but somehow, layer after layer, it stays the same. New Orleans doesn't want to be practical, or to follow the trends in the rest of the country, yet it still works as a place to live; I don't know how. And it sure is fun living here!"

-Joel Lockhart Dyer- artist and New Orleanian-

art

2009-04-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

(Pictures from the New Orleans Museum of Art Sculpture Garden).

The nature of a work of art

is not to be a part, nor yet

a copy of the real world

(as we commonly understand

that phrase),

but a world in itself,

independent, complete, autonomous;

and to possess it fully

you must enter that world,

confirm to its laws,

and ignore for the time the beliefs,

aims, and particular conditions

which belong to you

in the other world of reality.

(Oxford lectures on poetry: Professor Bradley: 1901)

I'm back

2009-04-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

The river starts like a spring and the story just came out. The river starts like a spring and he's like a newborn baby, tumbling and spitting, and one day, attracted by a puddle, he starts to run. He scurries and scampers and wants to get to the marsh, and, after being followed by a big bubble, he does, and at the end of the run he goes into the meander. Then he skips and dances and runs until he's exhausted, and he lies down by the lake- all horizontal lines, ripples, reflections, God made and untouched. Then he goes over the falls and down into the whirlpool, the vortex of violence, and out of the whirlpool into the main track of the river. He widens, becomes broader, loses his adolescence, and down at the delta, passes between to cities. Like all cities on the opposite sides of the deltas, you find certain things in one and not in the other, and vice versa, so we call the cities Neo-Hip-Hop-Cool Kiddies’ Community and the Village of the Virgins. The river passes between them and romps into the mother- Her majesty the Sea-and, of course, is no longer a river. But this is the climax, the heavenly anticipation of rebirth, for the sea will be drawn up into the sky for rain and down into wells and into springs and become the river again. So we call the river an optimist. We'll be able to play the ballet in any church or temple, because the optimist is a believer.

-Duke Ellington-

I'm back from my trip. I've been enjoying the heat, the food and the mood of New Orleans. I've read loads of books and worked on my practice while the heat was healing my body after a long and hard winter. I want to share one read, that you should read if your ever plan on going to New Orleans or if you just feel like reading a great story who really does great justice to this endlessy fascinating city. The sound of building coffins by Louis Maistros is a wonderful read.

It's good to be back....

my trip

2009-03-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

I’m all packed up and ready to go. I’m going to my mum and dads house directly from work tomorrow afternoon. I’m travelling by train to Oslo and my dad’s gone be there to pick me up. My parents live close to Oslo airport, which is good. My plane takes of at 6.30 in the morning so I have to be there super early. I’m really excited about going. It’s been snowing again so the warm weather in Louisiana is going to be a treat for me. I’m bringing stacks of books, my yoga mat and my camera. I crave some peace and solitude. I’m gone buy myself a pretty journal and just write and try to centre my thoughts. I need to figure out what my next step is going to be. This winter has been way to busy, so I definitely need to pace down. I want make time for more fun and laughter in the coming moths. Hopefully it’s going to be a beautiful summer for us all.

This picture of me is taken at the studio last summer.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to post, but hopefully I’ll see you all soon.

2009-03-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

My daughter made this drawing for my blog. I think she did wonderful work (it’s done by free hand).

Daughter's spending the night at a friend’s house. My sweet husband and me are spending an evening alone listening to music, drinking wine and talking. He made me a lovely shrimp dinner earlier on. What more can a girl ask?

Yesterday all three of us went out to eat. We celebrated our 10-year anniversary. We’ve been married ten years. Can you believe it? I’ve got 60 tulips delivered at work. My darling husband is the best.

sleeping beauty

2009-03-25T01:03:00.003-07:00

Daughter this morning....and she's so proud of the new loop earrings her mother got her.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2009-03-24T15:39:00.001-07:00

Just watched this movie. I liked it a lot. Good story, I'm a sucker for the bohemian feel of the movie and I thought the acting was superb. And I’m a huge fan of Woody Allen, that goes without saying.

Going to Oslo for a big party tomorrow. Will be back on Friday.

the impotance of living

2009-03-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

The importance of living is a sweet little book written by Lin Yutang in 1936. This book focuses on the importance of laziness and conversations, of drinking tea with friends, of sitting in a chair or just lying in bed. I love this. I have so many friends who feel guilt lying in bed doing nothing, taking a nap during the middle of the day or reading for that matter. I have none of this guilt. I love to sleep, and I can spend hours looking into thin air with a book on my lap. I need this time to focus. This is when I realise if I’m close to some kind of balance or if I’m completely of my mark.

dafur now

2009-03-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

(images by lynsey addario)

If you haven’t seen this movie, Dafur Now, I think you should, especially in the light of the events that are taking place at the moment.
The documntery follows the lives of six different people who is determined to put and end to the sufferings in Dafur. It's truly a documentary that tells a story that needs to be told but at the same time manages to inspire.

Other reading material that can give insight is "The shadow of the sun" by Ryszard Kapuscinski and "Emma's war" by Deborah Scroggins.

bergen

2009-03-20T23:47:00.001-07:00

(images from goeurope)

I had the best of times in Bergen. The sun was shining throughout my whole visit. Considering Bergen is known as the city of rain, this is not a given. And what a beautiful city it is. Sadly I had little time to myself. Wednesday I was stuck in meetings until six in the evening. Then it was of to a lovely three-course dinner at the docks. It was a great evening. I didn’t know anybody but sure enough, you able you find the sweetest and strangest people wherever you go in this world. This is the strange thing about me; I’ve been home in my apartment, with my books, yoga and paperwork throughout this looooooong winter. And coming to Bergen, the sun warming my pale skin for the first time in months, I was big time social, getting to know most of the people who joined the party this particular evening. It’s so refreshing to meet new people and hear their stories.

I went for an early morning walk Thursday morning and took some pictures to share with you. Sadly they’re all lost so I found some online instead. Hopefully I’ll be able to take some pictures tomorrow. I’ve been told the sun is expected to arrive on my little fairytale island and I have a made arrangements with my sweet neighbours to meet out on the patio for coffee.

spring

2009-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

(image from day through sweethomelondon)

Spring is in the air…it’s so wonderful. We had a nice, sunny day today. I felt so much better in today’s yoga class. I really feel like I’ve been juggling so many things through the last couple of weeks that I created a major energy block. Last week after practise I cried in the car all the way home. And the day after I was much better. Ever since I’ve really been having a nice flow in my practice and I’ve been getting a lot of stuff done that’s been stealing my energy.
Tomorrow morning I’m leaving for Bergen on the west coast of Norway. I’ll be gone for two days on business. I hope to bring some nice pictures home with me.

magical light in the mountains

2009-03-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

We spent the whole weekend in the mountains with good friends. Saturday daughter and me took the camera and got out in the slopes. The combination of the fog and the light was fantastic....

The spirit of New Orleans

2009-03-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

(images by Bruce Weber for W)

The Gita

2009-03-13T00:25:00.000-07:00

(image from Malawi)

My personal (and humble) interpretation of The Bahavagad Gita .

It is more than a year ago I read this massive, poetic work for the first time and I must honestly admit that it has taken me time to approach the essence of it. BG begins with Arjuana and his cousin getting ready to fight a war. Arjuana feels doubt and asks Krishna for advice. Krishna then encourages him to go to war. A solution viewed in the context of our own time seems quite remarkable. It took time before I got an understanding that this is not a question whether he is for or against war, but it is a question of following your truth and to do your duty. There are also other foreign concepts. Atma (Am I really God?) And Avatar (God in human form?). I have found that Atma is a version of my soul, a concept that is more tangible for me, which in principle do not belong to any form of organized religion or faith. I still have my spirituality. My belief is associated with a greater spiritual whole, which I believe we all are a part of and that we are all affected by. I read therefore BG more as a philosophical and poetic text, rather than religious. This is still a strong text, and with widespread use of symbols. BG tells us that life is a constant internal battle. The real struggle in life is not against an external enemy, but the inner struggle against our desires, our anger and greed. The full text is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuana that stretches over 18 chapters. These chapters can be again divided into three sections. The first six chapters discusses the importance of getting in contact with the self and the importance of carrying out your worldly duties effectively to ensure the community's welfare. The next six focus on God's nature and the love that comes out of having an intimate and close relationship with him. The last six chapters have focused on the purpose of our existence here on earth. BG describes how we can free ourselves from pain and sorrow through seeking spirituality.
The first part of the book discusses the importance of correct knowledge (Jnan yoga) and karma yoga (selfless action). Proper knowledge is to be able to distinguish between prakriti (nature) and purusha (the spiritual). The concept of Karma yoga means union with God through action. To get closer to God, it is important to act independently of your own wants and desires. If you are able to free yourself the mind will clear and you can easily fix the focus on God. If, however, you are concerned with the outcome of your actions it will manifest it self in fear.
But what does this mean in my life today? In light of the ongoing financial crisis that characterizes our global economy and the climate change this brings up some important questions. Many believes that the crisis is fundamentally represented in precisely these factors that BG emphasize that man's biggest enemy namely lust, greed and anger. This is the wheel of karma tangling people into their own destiny. It is according to the BG not God that is underlying our actions and results. It is we in the power of our ignorance that is responsible for these consequences - God is only the origin of nature, not our actions.
And as long as man's strongest force is his own ego and his own desires, represented by the market economy that has been the prevailing philosophy in the West for decades, this development will be difficult to reverse. The term altruism is well-debated term in philosophy. How can human beings act without having their own gain in mind? Krishna has the answer: we must seek knowledge, knowledge that we are more than nature, we are something more than money in the wallet, our job and all the things that we surround ourselves with, and if we come to this recognition, we will also see other in ourselves, or will no longer differentiate between you and me, and instead could trade for society and the whole of humanity rather than just the desire to meet our own needs. For Krishna stresses the importance of action. There is no solution to apply the correct knowledge without action. Proper knowledge is of little value without action. We must do our duty for the community's best.
People, who act unselfishly, as the Dalai Lama or Mother Teresa, are widely considered to be abnormal. Selfish people are the most common. We are most committed to meet our own needs. This constant chase fills us with fear, fear of losing job, money, or our home. We are afraid of being robbed of our possessions, or someone to go to physical attacks on us. So there is the fear that controls our actions. The fear is directed towards the unknown, towards other cultures, other people who we feel can threaten our existence. This leads us even further from the goal of selfless action for the common good and not towards the individual's liberation.
The lesson that Krishna gives Arjuana through the section 18 are different forms of yoga such as empathy and to surrender to God, which brings with it clarity in the mind, a clarity that you need to make better decisions. Many use their entire life to escape from unpleasant situations, rather than creating a distance to the mind and the fear by accepting life's up and downs as they are and to meet all situations with a smile.

haruki

2009-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."

— Haruki Murakami

I love this fantastic author. My favourites so far are South of the border, west of the sun, Sputnik Sweetheart and Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world.

pippi and daughter in the snow

2009-03-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

Daughter and me went to my mum and dads house for the weekend. We had lots of fun during the day playing in the snow. In the evening we looked at old pictures. I found some really great once of my mother and father when they first met. They look like they were really in love, and the sweet thing is, they still are. They hold hands and kiss when they think nobody is looking. I scanned some of the pictures so I hope to share them with you this week. My father promised to email them to me, but he’s not that great with the computer, even though he likes to think so☺

hello again

2009-03-05T13:18:00.001-08:00

(images from Bali)

I've so missed blogging this week. I've been working all day and all night, but things are looking up. My dressing room is done. It's really beautiful. I'll post a picture later on. I think my teacher is happy with my written work so far and I got my ticket for New Orleans. I'm so exited about my trip. I'm leaving on the 1st of April. I can't wait.

basia

2009-03-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Basia got a hole new website going. Go check it out here. She's such a wonderful artist and teacher. I hope to go see her in Oslo next weekend.

My second thesis is done and I got my ticket to New Orleans. Finally things are coming together. I'm exhausted but happy.

If you want some good tunes for your yoga practice you should check this out.

saturday

2009-02-28T06:03:00.003-08:00

I'm home alone for most of the day. It's so lovely. Started of with a lovely yoga practice, had a bath, breakfast and blogging. Took my time in the bathroom beautifying myself. At noon a friend came to pick me up. A friend from work got married this afternoon so we went to see them at the church. After church we went to a really nice coffee shop in town where this picture is taken. My excuse for staying home while my husband and daughter is shopping groceries in Sweden is that needed to work on my thesis. So I better get going. This is one of my many talents. I mess around the house for hours without getting anything sensible done...like cleaning for instance....

Maia's sketchbook

2009-02-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

Maia's working on this fantastic picture inspired by my daughter. We are so flattered and inspired. And this gave me a reason to post about Maia’s fantastic blog Une Envie de Sel . I love this blog. She's an amazing artist that continues to inspire me.

7 random facts about me.....

2009-02-26T10:42:00.001-08:00

(all images from Bali)

I’ve been tagged by Apriliniowa of Mezzanine to write seven random facts about myself.

I played soccer for more than ten years.
I love french movies.
My favorite food is sushi.
I have malaria.
I love going to the library.
My favorite book in my teens was "The unbearable lightness of being" by Milan Kundra.
I love anything old and rustic. Anything that tells me a story.

Oscar night

2009-02-23T13:43:00.001-08:00

I forgot all about the Oscars this year, but I I saw this on the news today. I love you Sarah, and I love that dress. There is so much going on here at the moment. With the water leak and everybody being sick I feel like everything is spinning out of control. But the good news is, the bathroom will be done this week and so will a lot of paper work (hopefully). I got a lot of stuff done today, and the sun was shining for the first time in weeks, so I was feeling so much better. I'm so looking forward to sitting out in the sun with a book in my lap and boat rides in the afternoons.

Rilke

2009-02-22T03:19:00.001-08:00

(image Filippa K)

“If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator there is no poverty and no indifferent place.”

Rainer Maria Rilke

saturday

2009-02-21T15:59:00.001-08:00

Up at seven. Yoga. Then spent most of the day driving to my mother in laws house to pick up daughter. Baked a cake and went to a lovely dinner party. Ate, drank, laughed. Lovely.

my diary

2009-02-20T10:58:00.001-08:00

My diary is one of the things I love.... I write things that make no sense at all. And I don’t care. I write to gather my thoughts, I write to be inspired, I write to set goals or I write when I’m sad.

first thesis done, one more to go

2009-02-19T11:12:00.001-08:00

(images from domino)

I practiced yoga for two hours this afternoon and I'm going to a mysore class tomorrow morning. I need to sleep so I'm heading for bed early.

The curious case of Benjamin Button

2009-02-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

(images from filmweb)

I love this movie. It's set in New Orleans, my darling city. I actually lived for a year just around the corner from the main house featured in this movie. And Cate Blanchett, what can I say, she so talented and beautiful.

The snow is still falling from the sky and I'm trying to get some more work on a thesis. No progress so far.

tag

2009-02-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by the always inspiring Hila to post the fourth picture in the fourth file on my computer and to tell you a little bit about it.

Well here goes. This picture is taken before I started redecorating my apartment a couple of years ago. I live in an apartment, not a house. And here in Norway everybody should get a house at one point or another. We put a lot of money and energy into our homes. That’s how we tell each other how successful we are. So not wanting a house is considered outside the norm. This is not the only thing about me that’s outside the norm, of course, but this is one of the more obvious for the outsider. But I don’t want a house. I want time and money to read, write, breathe and travel. So right about the time this picture is taken we started major work in the apartment. I wanted it more functional so I would not need a house. It worked, but we didn’t have a plan beforehand so we’re doing the last finishing touches this coming summer (we thought we would be done about a year ago). But I’m still happy with my choice to stay on. I’ll post some more pictures of what we’ve done to the place later on.

Anyone who wants to look into their file to see what you find consider yourself tagged☺

I also want to share some lovely music by one of my favorite norwegian artists, Silje Nergaard. Check out some of her lovely new tunes here.

my latest shopping

2009-02-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

Jacket by Bruuns Bazaar, blouse by Designers Remix Collection. Check out the spring collection. I think it's safe to say I have an infatuation with danish design at the moment.

the opera house in oslo

2009-02-15T07:26:00.001-08:00

An opera house is like a kaleidoscope to me. I enter a world of beauty, sound and movement that swipes me away.

I'll take my daughter to see Swan Lake in May.

I'm back (rev)

2009-02-13T10:15:00.001-08:00

I'm back from a cold, cold trip to Oslo. A two-day seminar is over. Wednesday night I went out with some people from work that wanted to watch a soccer game at a sports bar. Well that's just my thing. Soccer, beer and men shouting at the television set. Well I leaned back, ordered myself some red wine and studied the scene unfolding. The whole thing is kind of interesting really. A group of kind of heavyset men in their 50's dominated by the bar, even loader then the rest of the crowd. They we're eying the kind of voluptuous waitress every time she passed. Well I told one of my male friends, "Watch out, I'm going to the restroom, see how many of them is going to stare at my backside". I came back, and he said, "Well Sølvi, I'm sorry to inform you. Non of them even turned their head, but if it is any consolation I watched you". Well there you go, I guess I’m not the kind of girl truckers paint on the side of their vehicles or gets tattooed on to their chests. What a let down.

I had a beautiful hotel room though, right next to the new opera house. I think I managed to take some nice pictures that I will share with you tomorrow.

And if your in the mood for a little Love story, check it out.

My husband made me switch pictures for this post. He said it was the worst picture ever.

my dog

2009-02-10T07:50:00.001-08:00

This is my darling dog. She's the sweetest thing in the world and I love her to death. She's been living with my mom and dad now for a couple of years. What happend was that I stayed at home for about two years studying for a sociologi degree. Well me and the dog had the best of times. We would go for a little morning walk, than read for a couple of hours an then go out in the middle of the day for a long walk in the woods. The place where I live is so beautiful. I walk by the water and the scenery gets to me every time. That’s the reason why I moved here in the first place, to be closer to nature. I was living a life with a high power career and money. I chose this instead.
But I was telling you about my darling dog. When I went back to full time work she went into a depression. After weeks of her being totally out of it I loaned her to my parents. Well they bonded instantly. After weeks of going back and forth I just had to let her go. She was happier at my parent’s house. It truly was a match made in heaven (hard to believe considering my mom used to be scared of dogs). She still comes to visit me....and yes she is the most beautiful dog ever.

Well tomorrow morning I'm going back to the city to visit. I will not be able to blog, but I hope to bring back some nice pictures.

perfume

2009-02-09T10:04:00.001-08:00

My favorite at the moment.

winter wonderland

2009-02-08T03:50:00.001-08:00

This is the view from my garden. And the sad thing is, I don’t have time to go out and enjoy it all. I’m stuck inside writing. Not one but two papers are due tomorrow. Blogging should be the last thing on my mind. Please don’t tell on me, I’m being a bad girl.

Danica at Coccoinelle tagged anyone how felt like striping a few layers by listing ten honest truths about oneself. Well here goes:

1. I drink way to much coffee. I cannot pass up my beloved Gaggia machine without making myself a cup.
2. Sometimes I think I’m just too happy with my own company. I’ve hardly done anything social, other than work, since X-mas.
3. I never thought I would marry, but I did.
4. I never thought I would have children, but I did.
5. I wish I danced the ballet when I grew up. But I grew up in the countryside where there where now classes. So now my daughter is taking classes. Kind of pathetic, but she loves it.
6. Books are my drug. Any shape or form.
7. I’m the worst vegetarian ever. I eat whatever I get served when I’m out. I can’t bring myself to say I don’t eat it.
8. I’m a socialist and feminist.
9. When I travel, I don’t want to look like a tourist. Which is hard most of the time considering I’m blond, white skinned with a broad American accent ( I lived in New Orleans for three years).
10. I hate reality television shows. I watch documentaries and proper English crime series like Poirot…and I listen to radio channels that play no popular music at all……. And I eat oatmeal for breakfast. I’m like and old person in a 35-year-old body.

Well I’m not sure how much I like myself after all of this…but I tried my best to be honest. I would like to tag “The wandereres’ daughter” and “apriliniowa”.

white snow

2009-02-07T03:06:00.000-08:00

White, soft snow is falling to the ground. The muted sound of the cars driving past my house. A blazing fire in the fire place. It's peaceful.

I want to nominate the these fabulous blogs for the a double blog award:
Coccinelle
Eye poetry
Une Envie De Sel
My Marrakesh
Lumiére
Sofia Baráo
La Porte Rouge
Red Aprons & Lunchboxes
Lobster & Swan
Pia Jane Bijkerk

I humbly want to give you all these awards. You're the reason I took the leap into this wonderful world of blogging in the first place. You might have received these awards before, but still I just wanted to show my appreciation of your lovely work. Thank you for lighting up my days.

atonement

2009-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

(image from filminfocus)

This movie takes my breath away...I love every scene, the plot, the light, the wallpaper, the actors……and most of all I love the green dress.

sofia

2009-02-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days I been crazy with work. I just wanted to share a lovely image of the always inspiring Sofia Coppola on the cover of Paris Vouge ( via Black Eiffel). I need to get some sleep now. Good Night.

monday

2009-02-02T09:40:00.001-08:00

I talked about cleaning up my look in a previous post. This is how I picture myself during spring this year, Filippa K.

But more important news is that I've been given an Blog award by the Fabulous Mary-Laure over at Aurea.

Like I already posted as a comment in her blog. I was on my way to a really early mysore class this morning. I hardly slept at all last night and I was dragging my feet. I was late, but I still took the time to sit down with a cup of coffee and get online. My heart jumped when I saw that I've received an award. Thank you!! It made my early morning so special.

I have some work that needs to be done this afternoon, but I'll be back shortly with some nominations of my own.

awake

2009-02-01T02:44:00.001-08:00

Are you awake?

mindfulness

2009-01-31T00:46:00.000-08:00

I discovered that the camera is a perfect tool to practice mindfulness. I woke up this morning feeling agitated. I went to an office party last night. Many of my colleges got really drunk, but they were having fun. I was just not in the mood for it all and left early. I woke up this morning, and still not feeling rested, sat down at the computer to read your blogs. Then I grabbed my camera to play around a little bit.
As I was pulling my attention away from yesterdays party and into the little details I was trying to capture with the camera in my kitchen I had a smile on my face.

wedding New Orleans 2007

2009-01-29T13:13:00.001-08:00

I love New Orleans. I'm planning to bring my daughter over for easter to see my uncle. Maybe I get some tickets this weekend. I love the spirit of the place and I love the food, the drinks, the garden district, the french quarter, to go antique hunting on magazine street and to practice yoga at Melanie Fawer's studio, uptown.

sunset in Malawi 2005

2009-01-28T12:54:00.001-08:00

I'll tell you why I never forget the people of Malawi another day.

inspiration

2009-01-27T05:47:00.000-08:00

My daughter is sick again, and I have a ton of workers in the house fixing my flodded bathroom. But I found some things that inspired me today, and I want to share them with you:-)

Nureyev- The life, is for me an obsessive read. He was just totally consumed with ballet and the arts in general. I know the feeling to well. I have trouble putting it down.

I also made a little collage, and I noticed in the process that I chose images with a lot cleaner look than I used to. I’ve been totally into the romantic, shabby chic look for years actually. But I think maybe I'm on a new path esthetically.

Word of the day:
It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strenght to live and our reasons for living.
-Simone De Beauvoir

And the soundtrack ( and video) for this post you can find here.

"The painted veil"

2009-01-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

(images from Berlin diaries)

I’m in love with this beautiful movie. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and I love the costumes worn by Naomi Watts. They reminde me of one of my favorite scandinavian brands "Noa Noa"

studio

2009-01-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

I went to the studio this morning to practice......I did some but ended up taking pictures....

weekend

2009-01-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

Well everybody else is sick so I’ve been working my ass of with yoga classes all week. I came home last night and was totally exhausted and the second I lay down on the sofa there is water running through my bathroom ceiling. I have water everywhere because of the above neighbors’ washing machine. I’m telling you this is a mess, thank god I’m insured. But I just wanted to show you, the beautiful snow that’s been falling for the last couple of days. We rarely have snow because I live so close to the sea so this is really special. I hope to post more soon, when I get my place dried up. And I have a new Mac. The old one broke down again. I was so excited when I got it, but right now I'm just frustrated. I cannot make the spelling or Photoshop work.

dance dance dance

2009-01-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

I’m finally feeling better and life is getting back to normal. My daughter had her first ballet lesson of the year yesterday afternoon and she was totally excited. I love it myself. I never danced ballet, but I love taking her to her lessons. Just before x-mas they dance the ”Nutcracker”. Every year when the rehearsals in early autumn starts up I get the chills. I love the fantastic music, I love the costumes and I love the hours of endless rehearsal. The dancers in the most exquisite costume eating a burger and reading a book waiting, waiting, waiting to get back up on stage.

I went to my first yoga class this afternoon. I felt a little bit heavy but it was lovely to get back on the mat. And it truly was a lovely escape after two crazy days back at the office.

Since the theme of the post is dance I want to share with you a little obsession of mine, Lykke Li (picture below) and her song Dance Dance Dance. Enjoy.

Image from Blackbookmag

perfection

2009-01-19T10:18:00.001-08:00

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis shot for French Glamour aug 2008, shots by Chris Craymer, via This is glamorous

larimeloom

2009-01-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

My new stuff arrived yesterday. U like? If so visit Larimeloom for more beauties:-)

knitting

2009-01-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

I know it’s not much, but I did it. This is the first thing I've finished knitting. The red tube thing my daughter is wearing. You see, I´ve never been really good in the creative department. I’ve diagnosed myself as creatively challenged. I always wanted to do stuff, I mean anything creative, but always raised the bar to high. If I was going to do anything at all it had to be absolutely brilliant. If not, better do nothing at all.

Well I lowered the bar. It started with yoga. Then I started to write, just for me in my journal. I wrote a lot that made no sense at all. But I didn’t care, because things started to happen. I wrote about all I wanted to do, and after enough writing I actually started to do it. I write, I make collages, I blog, I draw and paint, photograph, bake, knit- and these are all things I really didn’t think I could do. But this is one of the important lessons from yoga….just practise and all will come…….

mac

2009-01-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

I’ve been to the doctor today. I’m not sick. Well I got the flue, so I need to take it easy for a few more days, but I do not have the kissing disease. I'm soooo happy. And as you might notice, my mac is back in action, and now I have a new tablet. I can now draw and write in my pictures. It’s really hard but a lot of fun.

gift

2009-01-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

This gift from a dear friend was left at my door yesterday afternoon.

The card:
"We should be better at showing love while we are strong and healthy, considering we begin and end this life needing the care from others".
-Dalai Lama

etsy

2009-01-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

I´m feeling better today and I spent some time on Etsy. I´m already awaiting an order from this wonderful Etsy shop called Larimeloom

I also found these at Ellita´s flying snail. I might need some of these to cover up my funky, swollen neck:-)

sick

2009-01-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

I´m sick, something called kissing disease in norwegian, I have to figure out what it is in english. I´ve been in bed with a fever since Saturday, and worst case senario I will be sick for a while. I´m really upset about all of this. I have classes with more than 130 students, and I might not be able to teach at all for a long time. On top of this the bluetooth om my beloved mac is broken, so I will not be able to post any pictures for a couple of days. But trust me...I will be back....this is pretty much all I have to look forward to at the moment.

daughter

2009-01-08T11:41:00.001-08:00

yoga

2009-01-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

The semester started again yesterday. I had more than 70 students yesterday. It's so inspiring and exhausting at the same time. We have all ages attending our classes. It so rewarding when students come up to me to share the importance the practice has made in their lives. When I say exhausting it's because you give a lot. You're counting the class, adjusting and trying to make sure that everybody gets the most out of their practice at that particular day. Some take serious illness with them to the mat others tight muscles and stress or others again just sorrow or worries. But it all comes in to play at the yoga mat.

Pictures from Bali, I'll post pictures from shala when I get some good light:-)

blouse

2009-01-07T04:36:00.001-08:00

Picture by me, blouse by Malene Birger. See more at malenebirger.com

Liv Ullmann (3)

2009-01-07T01:04:00.000-08:00

Picture from NRK

Follow this link for more lovely images.

I was planning on writing this post about some of my favorite work by Ullmann, when Mary-Laure left me a comment yesterday asking me about my favorite work by Ullmann. This is for you.....:-)

Ullmann is most famous for the 8 films she made together with Bergman. My favorite, as well as her own, I've been told, is "Scenes from a marriage" (1973).

But she's directed a lot of wonderful movies as well. "Trolösa"(2000) is written by Bergman and directed by Ullmann. Lena Endre has the lead in this exquisite movie. English tittle "Faithless".

Picture from Cinemazone

I also love this book written by her daughter:

Picture from Fantasticfiction.co.uk

family

2009-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mother in law ( with the bucket) with her two sisters.

Liv Ullmann (2)

2009-01-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

I found this in my library yesterday. I had forgotten all about this little treasure. It was published in 1976. It's called "The change".
I will try to translate what is says on the back cover.

"To Linn

Your skinny, little body is the closest I’ll ever get to life it self.

You who are like life when I touch you and you get heavy and warm when you lean up against me. When you pat my chick and say "little mummy", and understand more then I know. When you tell me not to be sad, because you are with me. When you make may life richer
just by being you.

A connection without words or touch.”

2009-01-05T13:31:00.001-08:00

the island

2009-01-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

We brought my husbands cousin ( the one visiting from NY) home with us. He was kidnapped actually. We gave him no choice. And today we made him cook dinner for us:-) We spent the last couple of days talking and catching up (they haven't seen each other in ten years). It's been so nice. Here's some pictures from the island today when my husband took him for a little roundtrip. I hope you enjoy it.

Liv Ullmann (1)

2009-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

this is a picture of liv ullmann, the wonderful norwegian actress

mellow people

2009-01-03T02:44:00.000-08:00

I'm going to my mother in law for the weekend. We're having relatives over from NY.
I'll leave you with this picture from Bali. We hired a driver and guide for the day. When they picked us up at the hotel they had a hole lot of things lined up for the day. I had to take the guide aside, and I said " You have to understand, we are norwegian and we are mellow, slow-moving people. Three stops will be enough". He looked at me for a long time and then he nodded.

I think he kind of got after we spend about to hours at this coffee plantion, where my husband smelled everything that it was possible to smell.

the journey

2009-01-02T04:56:00.000-08:00

Pictures by norwegian photographer Julia Pike. Se more of her work at http://www.juliepike.no/.

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice-
though the hole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles
"Mend your life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen branches and stones.
But little by little
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as you own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world, determined to do
the only thing you could do-
determined to save
the only life you could save.
-Mary Oliver

fashion

2009-01-02T02:39:00.000-08:00

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.
- Coco Chanel

Picture from Une fille comme moi www.garancedore.fr

a new day

2009-01-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
- Leo Tolstoy

reading

2009-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Books are my religion. Books like yoga opens my mind, shows me new horizons and teaches me about the world and my fellow human beings. Books help me help me to meet people with compassion and understanding. I'm currently reading four different books. This is one of my flaws; I can't ever pass up a bookstore (even when I go to the states I dive into Barnes and Nobles for hours. I cannot help but just love the place...) and I read tons of books at the same time. You see when a book enters my house I get so excited. I will sit on my coach smelling it and leafing through it randomly until, all of a sudden, I'm reading another book.

Two of the books in the picture I'm reading as part of my teachers training. I've read both the “The Bhagavad Gita” and the “sutras” many times and every time I find something new. In January I'm going to write no more than 4 papers based on these books so I figured they need another reading. Chasing the flame is a biography about Sergio Vieiro De Mello. I love it. Like it says on the back cover "The best way to understand today's messy world is to appreciate the inspiring life and diplomatic genius of Sergio". He worked as a UN high commissioner until he was killed tragically in Iraq in 2003. It is a fascinating portrait of a philosopher trying to save the world.

In “Sashenka” I’m in St Petersburg, snow is falling in a country on the brink of revolution. Need I say more??

decorations from yesterdays party

2009-01-01T04:51:00.000-08:00

We had some friends over. My sweetheart made the best dinner ever...and we had lots of red wine:-)

daughter and fireworks

2009-01-01T02:04:00.000-08:00

happy new year

2008-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

This picture is taken at the back of my house this afternoon. The colours and light today is really beautiful…..this brings me hope for the coming year.

I always like this time of year. The feeling of finishing up and starting up again with a clean slate. I take time to write and read a lot in these quite days between x-mas eve and new years. We only went to one x-mas party this year. We chose this because I really crave the peace and the stillness. I’ve gone deep into my practise this week. I love moving and just observing the knots and openings I find in my body. This is the importance of yoga for me. To listen to my body and reflect over the obstacles and triumphs I meet. I feel more in touch with my self this way, and I believe this makes me a better mother, wife and friend. My hope for 2009 is to continue on my path without to many derails……Happy new year if anybody should stumble across this humble little blog!!

daughter

2008-12-30T11:47:00.001-08:00

stella nova

2008-12-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

I have the day of and I am delighted. A whole day with no plans. My daughter got the flue last night. I have been up with her numerous times through the night so I'm a little short on sleep. I hope to finish " The angels game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafron, I tell you more about this wonderful book tomorrow. I understand that it is not translated into English yet. But if you loved “The shadow of the wind” you will love this one. I will also try to write down my goals for 2009 in my diary and make out a plan how to accomplish them. First and foremost I hope to be certified to teach ashtanga yoga this year. This has been my dream for more than 5 years. I'm currently in the middle of a really demanding teachers training that I will fill you in on later. Speaking of yoga I will try to do the primary series in ashtanga yoga in the middle of my living room with a blazing fire going in the fireplace this afternoon.......and maybe just maybe run by my favorite store, located just five minutes from my house, on this beautiful island that I live. They stock "Stella Nova", a Danish brand that I just love love love. I can't make the link work, but you can pay them a visit at www.stella-nova.dk.

welcome

2008-12-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

I’m finally going to throw myself into the game again. There is really no good reason why I haven’t been blogging for more than two years (and then just for a couple of months), because I’m really a passionate blog reader. I love all your beautiful blogs and now finally I have decided I will join in. Since this is my debut blog entry I will take the time to introduce myself. I’m a 35-year-old Norwegian girl, living on the east cost of Norway with my beautiful daughter (10 years old) and my sweet husband. We’ve actually been married ten years in a couple of months. During the day I have my office job, and at night I teach ashtanga yoga, take pictures and gobble down one book after another. I’m also a passionate diary writer and I love making collages with my daughter. I will leave you with some photographs from my vacation this summer to Bali.