Before we head to Norway, in the here and now, Hurricane Dorian was a non-event with barely two inches of rain, less than we often get in afternoon rain storms. For all the folks who were not earning a paycheck during this last week due to business closures, I feel so bad. It was a week of anticipation, and then nothing happened.
On the other hand, just when everyone was breathing a sigh of relief that our siege had ended, last evening the phone rang after 9:00. I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom, but from there I could hear Bruce saying things like, "that is so awful!" You can imagine how nervous that made me, however, when I walked into the living room he was motioning for me not to worry. Once off the phone, he told me it was Michelle and David who, while driving down Michigan on their way home, witnessed a hit and run accident right in front of their car!!! Apparently Michelle could see it coming and was screaming to Dave that the girl ahead of her was going to hit this man at 40MPH. Which she did, and then drove away. Stopping the car, Dave ran over to the body and called 911. It will be a long time before they can get this horrible scene out of their minds. People came out of their homes to help, including a doctor and nurse. Once they were home, the police called asking if they would return to talk to a detective and we accompanied them. When we returned to the scene, there were 11 police vehicles, and as many officers who had closed off the road. To date there is no word whether the older man, who was crossing the road after getting food at the taco place, survived, but it seems unlikely.
And then there are the folks in the Bahamas who lived with that terrible storm for days and now must literally pick up the pieces.
Life is not really very predictable is it?
I have to thank Matt once again for planning this whole trip, and especially the Norway in a Nutshell experience. Here's a link to what it might have looked like. That, as you know, is not what it looked like on our trip, but I am not complaining a bit because, well, you shall see. This was me for most of the time,
not wanting to miss a moment of the experience. The waterfalls!! Everywhere.
And of course the rocky coastline that actually had some lovely purple growth that might have been heather.
To review what a fjord is---a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley. In this fjord, the mountains are said to be a mile deep!
Believe it or not, the above is not a black and white photo! When we got closer to shore, or I used my zoom lens, the green appeared.
Another waterfall! Can you imagine having a home set on the mountain like that? Our boat was also a car ferry so every now and again we would head to shore where the colorful houses were so charming.
Here's that same stop once we resumed cruising.
I kept inwardly shrieking with delight when I would see the waterfalls which were so numerous I quit counting. These little settlements rely greatly on the boats for supplies and the mail, or so I learned.
The clouds hung low making this shot of water, mountains and clouds very dramatic. That is, if you know what you are looking at! It is no wonder they paint their structures colorfully is it?
Another ferry stop.
Can you imagine this same landscape in late Spring when those waterfalls must be crazy full of water from the melting snow? The presence of a small ship provides context.
Just before the end of the cruise we traveled through a crazy narrow passageway that everyone rushed out to photograph.
Damp and with very tangly hair, we took leave of the ferry in the charming little town of Flam.
After lunch and a short walk around, we boarded the Flam Railway. For more information, click on the link, but suffice it to say, it was spectacular seeing the landscape up close.
And yes, more waterfalls! And the Flam River from above.
By now the rain had stopped, and although it remained a bit gloomy, how could you not be thrilled to be seeing this kind of view? Especially if you are a Floridian where the landscape is flat as a pancake.
I took full advantage of the operational windows on this beautiful train. A special treat is a stop at this amazing waterfall which includes a "maiden of the mist,"
where most everyone gets off for a photo op. Climbing higher, the train ends at Myrdal, Norway where we resumed our train journey on the Bergen Railway across Norway, and ending in Oslo. Spectacular scenery everywhere we looked.
We rose higher and higher in the mountains, seeing rocky barren landscapes,
and on the other side of the car, glaciers.
When we first boarded the train we were in the wrong seats which we rectified soon thereafter. Before that happened, I was seated next to a young woman who was clearly amused at my astonishment of my surroundings. We would go by a glacial lake prompting me to be jumping up with my camera. She sweetly informed me that I would be seeing plenty of that in the next five or so hours as she travels on the train from her home near Flam to Oslo for school. Always listen to a local, right?
I love those shingles. Well, the green house is great too, isn't it? Surely it must be lonely here?
Look at that--blue skies finally!!! And a rainbow!
Arriving in Oslo at 10PM, after beginning the day at 7:30AM, tired and happy, we checked into the Thon Hotel, a Norwegian chain, just across the street from the train station.
Have I told you the garden centers around here are jam packed with gorgeous flowers? Oh, yeah, I probably already did. BUT, it bears repeating! So many flowers, so few places to plant them is my only lament. A big storm, earlier this week, with heavy wind and rain, was a welcome occurrence, however, I'd have been a wee bit happier if it had not mangled my flowers.
They were so bright and cheery before taking a beating. Furthermore, a pot of fantastic dahlias toppled, breaking off one of the blooms. :(
I told you it is fantastic! Fortunately there are more blooms to brighten the walkway towards the side door.
So, Saturday, during my morning bike ride, I stopped at a garage sale. Surprise, surprise! NOT. You know the drill, I'm on my bike, with nothing but my camera, and a jacket. BUT, once home, I rushed in, telling B about my possible find. Because he was going over to work at Bill's house, he could stop on the way? Why, yes, that is just what he did. He's just so good to me.
Here is what he bought for $2.00. Minus the paint job, of course.
A real bird with a fake bird. Do you think Mr. Cardinal is afraid of the big boy? Why, no he is not.
Just what I was hoping would happen--a little bird perch; not to mention a jolt of back yard color that requires no weeding!
Speaking of $2.00 finds, I picked this up at another garage sale.
I have a few antique cameras, making this one more for the mini collection. Here's a video I'm watching to learn more. Of course there is the matter of locating useable film.......
While Bruce was helping Bill, I was watching college football. As in, most of the day! Normally I could never sit still for so long, but on this day I was hand quilting a baby throw made from some of my vintage fabric!! We talked about chain stitching the other day, here is a good image of it.
It's a darn good thing I had something to keep my hands busy during the FSU-Miami game! Had I not been busy I would have been pacing the living room because it was a heart stopper! Seriously, I know that sounds crazy, but for a big fan, such as myself, those dramatic moments are enough to make a sane person crazy! I have no idea how Coach Jimbo Fisher can maintain his cool. The team keeps on winning, posting a 26 game streak to date, however, this year the wins are hard to come by. Can they repeat as National Champions? Only time will tell. In any case, the game kept me up way past my bedtime, but I did manage to nearly complete the quilting.
Not only was I up late, but once in bed, it took me who knows how long, to get to sleep. B let me sleep in as late as possible before the market, which, although a gorgeous day, was not nearly as busy as I'd hoped. B. did put up my bunting though. Care to see it? Well, of course you would!
Isn't this a funny shot? So fun that I caught the girl's reaction to one of the greeting cards I sell.
The rain was intermittent on Wednesday, finally letting up in the middle of the afternoon, leaving dramatic skies in the wake of a serious cold front. As in, 43 degrees overnight!!
Leaving Clemons Produce the other afternoon, while walking to the car, look what I saw atop said car!
Then too, this lady in purple (!), started up a chat about photographing birds. She told me that some years ago she took a prize winning shot of a Great Blue Heron that was on display at Epcot for a year. How about that for a random chat? Once I was beside said car, after taking a few shots, I figured it was time for both me, and the Snowy Egret, to get a move on. Except he was not buying that. I spoke nicely, however, he stayed put. I then tapped on the car top. No dice. In his own sweet time, he finally flew off, landing on another unsuspecting motorist's vehicle.
Some folks move away after growing up, and then some folks are like us, staying close to home for their entire lives. How close am I talking about? Well, I grew up behind this shopping center, so, real close.
Around our home, the majority of our furniture is used, and not just by us. Between thrift stores, garage sales, and my current favorite, Something Different, I generally prefer to buy used for several reasons, one of which is scale. Old stuff just suits an old house better. The thing is, I've paid for it all. That, however, is now going to be not entirely true because I have now become a trash picker. That's right--a trash picker. Riding down Appleton early one morning, I saw in the dim light what appeared to be a trunk out for trash pickup. Pulling over, I sized it up, thinking good thoughts. It was B that required some convincing. Riding right back from whence I came, I rushed in and asked B to follow me down the street. Skeptical, he helped me carry it home, and good thing, because it was darn heavy even with the two of us carrying it! It took days before we actually brought it inside, but I'm kind of liking this trunk, with drawers no less!
And there he is, where you will find him pretty much five days of the week. Please note I said five days a week, not the seven he had become accustomed to! Things are going well for him. Not so much for a whole bunch of his co-workers who were let go on Monday, including his super close friends, Steve and Jeff. The hedge fund that took over the board at Darden is doing what Jeff called, a blood-letting. We are so sad...
That said, we know there is life after Darden! As you well know---that is, if you are one of the ones that I've been keeping posted. :)
