: Lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer

Living in Norway you get used to the unpredictable weather and brief summers. You get uesd to it because you have no choice. But for the past three years or more, the summer weather in Oslo has been more than usually unstable, to say the least. I want to call it flat out schizophrenic.

During the course of a week you are almost guaranteed to experience the whole register of Mother Nature's weather range, save snow. Now, I am not writing this simply to complain. I simply want to point out the urgency and sense of duty with which any healthy, life affirming Norwegian packs their summer gear and throws himself onto a beach, pool side, lawn or similar, whenever a morning breaks accompanied by sunshine and high temperatures. Any Norwegian staying indoors on an a sunny day by choice, is filled with a sense of guilt - I promise you. We simply cannot not with an easy mind draw our curtains to block out the rays. Or nation's collective memory and common knowledge won't allow it. We might do it, but we will feel a sting of guilt.

Back to yesterday. Yesterday was a lovely, warm day - practically a normal summer's day by European standards. So my Love and I did as we have been taught: we grabbed our daughter and ran outside, having packed our bags, stuffed the stroller with blankets and towels and basic necessities for our little girl. Then we headed off to the Frognerbadet - a public outdoor swimming pool in the middle of Oslo's sculpture park.

The bottom of the pool 1

A wonderful place to go if you aren't able to get to the a beach or one of the city islands. Two pools plus one for diving in the extreme (10 metres high), surrounded by large grass areas, a kiosk, a cafeteria. Basically everything you need to enjoy the sun. And it's situated in central Oslo. Excellent!

Here are a couple of snapshots from our day:

Mastering the trick of the drinking fountain on our way through the park

COOL CAT

Therapeutic, gorgeously turquoise water! 

The bottom of the pool 2. Am loving the reflections.

First day of vacation. As you can tell by this self-portrait, I need more than a day to get rid of my workplace's stain on my being.

Out of sorts

My happy little girl, however, is bursting with the blessed immediacy of children.

Happy camper!

In mum's hat:

Cowgirl Lilia

Here's hoping you are enjoying Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer wherever you are! (and please send some more sunny days in our direction if you have any to spare)

♥ tonje

Vi vil ha vååååår!

Jeg har oppriktig gledet meg over den ordentlig gammeldagse vinteren vi har hatt i år. Virkelig. Men nå er det nok! Trusselen om en kald vår, og enda verre: en kald sommer, gir søken etter vårtegn et panisk preg. Jeg kjenner at jeg har fått min dose kulde og snø. Nå er det miserabelt, med is og asfalt og sur vind - for ikke å snakke om livsfarlige fortausturer (som for noen har endt i besøk på sykehus).

Nei, nå fortjener vi en skikkelig lun og lys vår og en sprengvarm sommer! Jeg vil kunne gå i park og i skog og mark med datteren min og faktisk nyte å være der! Tenk så digg å kunne kle seg med ett lag tøy, ikke fire? En liten frøken på ett år ville dessuten hatt lettere for å bevege seg utendørs med lettere påkledning.

Jeg prøver en ny form for affirmasjoner og poster bilder av blomster fra stue og fortid, i håp om at det påvirker værgudene til å gi oss litt tøvær til påske med påfølgende varme, gode sommermåneder.

Orkidé fra min kjære

Fra Botanisk hage i fjor sommer