Squirrel

Sunshine in the garden

I don't remember the name of these flowers, but they are pretty and like small suns in the garden. :o)

Eriophorum

To Eriksbu

This sign leads you to Eriksbu. Eriksbu is one of the Norwegian Trekking Association's many self-service cabins, and it is located at Blefjell in Rollag.

These self-service cabins are equipped with all that trekkers need for cooking and sleeping. Firewood, gas, kitchen utensils, table linen and bunks with blanks or duvets and pillows (hut sacks, also known as hut sleepers, are required!) The cabins are also stocked with provisions including tinned goods, coffee, tea, rye crispbread and powdered soup packets, but the selection can vary from cabin to cabin.

Here trekkers look after themselves: fetch water, cook food, wash up and chop wood. In high seasons, some cabins have wardens that assist in organising work. You can pay by direct debit single authorization or by a bank giro drawn on your account.

Forest

About 37 percent of the surface area in Norway is covered by forest. The total forested area amounts to 12 million hectares, including 7 million hectares of productive forest. 15 percent of the productive forest has been estimated as non-economic operational areas due to difficult terrain and long distance transport, which means that economical forestry may only be operated in 50 percent of the forested area. The most important species are Norway spruce (47%), Scots pine (33%) and birch (18%).

Read more about the Norwegian forest here.

Chives

Rhododendron

This is summer! :o)

Fireweed

A mystery

Last summer this chair suddenly showed up at the roadside, not far from my parents place. Nobody knew who placed it there, or why. One year after - and it is still standing there! And still nobody knows where it came from! A real mystery! :o)

Confirmation

Confirmation is a rite of initiation in many Christian Churches. This picture is taken outside Rollag church after this years confirmation ceremony. The priest gives the youths a copy of his speech. After the ceremony in the church they go home and continue the celebration separate, whith their families and friends. :o)

The grocery store

This is the entrance to the grocery store in Rollag - a small, but very nice grocery store! :o)

Lupins

Rollag by air

Another picture of Rollag from the air. This picture is a couple of years old. It gives you a closer look of the civic center. :o)

LN-BDL

And this is the plane we flew. It's a Cessna 172p Skyhawk II that belongs to Ringerikes Motorflyklubb. Translated to English, the text under the wing "brannvakt", says "fireguard". :o)

Looking for wildfire

There has been several wildfires in the south part of Norway this week. High temperatures and no rain the last weeks have made everything extremely arid.

In Norway wildfire surveillance happens as a cooperation between the municipalities in each county, and airplane associations. In clear weather, smoke from campfires and small wildfires is visible in a long distance from a plane. The planes usually have contact with the firebrigade in one of the biggest municipalities in the county.

The surveillance happens in two ways. First: when arid, the planes fly defined routes, looking for smoke. When extremely arid they fly the routes several times every day. If observation of smoke or fire, they contact the firebrigade. They describe the fire and guide the firefighters to the right place. The second: If the firebrigade recive messages about observed smoke, the plane gets into the air to locate the fire, and to assist as described above.

A friend of mine is a pilot, and he participates in this wildfire surveillance every summer. I've joined him a couple of times, and this weekend I took this picture of Rollag from the air. Luckily we didn't see any fires that day! :o) (The picture is not as sharp as I wished for though, the plane was shaking a bit...)

Old building

Old building at a farm in Rollag.

The roof

Another view of Rollag church.

Detail of a stabbur

This is part of a door - it's a keyhole and a doorknob. The door is placed on a stabbur. Not the ones I posted in May though, but a similar stabbur.

Julehuset - The Christmas House

In Rollag you can find the farm shop "Julehuset gaver og hobby". They sell arts and crafts made in Numedal, and of course trolls and "nisser" (small alves, the traditional Norwegian Santa Claus).

They are usually open every day - even in the summer! And these funny alves are sitting on the stair to welcome the customers! :o)

Rollag stave church

We have a stave church in Rollag. A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts (stafr in Old Norse) have lent their name to the building technique. Related church types are post church and churches with palisade walls.

All of the existing stave churches except one are found in Norway, but related church types were once common all over northwestern Europe.

Rollag School

This is Rollag School. It is an elementary school. I spent my first six years at school in those buildings, from the age of seven to thirteen. I have lots of good memories from this place! :o)

Snow on Vrågå ll

Another picture from my Dad. :o)

I am going to Italy tomorrow, and will not be able to post for some days. But I'll be back next week - see you then! :o)

Snow on Vrågå

This picture is from May 17th too. Notice how green it is, and how the trees and bushes are blooming...and the new snow on the top of the hill. It's a beautiful view, but we really don't want that snow now! We want summer! ;o)

The hill with snow on is called Vrågå.

My Dad took this picture! :o)

More from the parade

It must have been very cold to play in the corps yesterday!

The local newspaper has 20 more pictures from the celebration in Rollag here.

Photo: by my aunt.

Hurra!!

Happy Birthday, Norway! :o)

Today is May 17th! The Norwegian Constitution Day, and all over Norway, children's parades with flags and banners have formed the central elements of the celebration. :o)

Today was the coldest May 17th in 50 years in this part of Norway. Its been a cold, snowy and rainy day in Rollag. Notice how the new snow covers the hill behind the parade! Brrrr...

My aunt took this picture of the children's parade in Veggli.

On fire

Last week the parish in Rollag arranged a voluntary work-evening, to fix the old cemetery by Veggli church. Volunteers from the fire brigade burned down all the old grass and vegetation in a controlled fire.

You can slightly see the church through the smoke.

My aunt took this picture. :o)

Last night

Last night had a red sky! :o)

Shadows

Stabbur

A "stabbur" is a house on a farm. It is built in wood, and raised from the ground by pillars to avoid the access of rodents.

Today has been a very warm and sunny day - the summer has arrived Rollag!! :o)

A May evening

Sorry about the silence this week! I have been to Barcelona for a couple of days, and then I had a lot to do at work.

I am going to Rollag this weekend, (as some of you may have read in my first post, I don't live there right now), and I promise you only new pictures for the next days! ;o)

I wish you all a nice weekend!

Fiskeløysen II

Fiskeløysen seen from another angle.

New life

May 2008 Theme Day: Numbers

Birthday cake: "Congratulation - 85 year" :o)

Those are all participants in May 2008 Theme Day:
Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Fiskeløysen

This mountain lake is called Fiskeløysen.

Anemone nemorosa

Reflections

Another lovely evening at the small lake called Stabekktjønn.

Anemone hepatica

Art of nature

Melting ice! :o)

Evening

Low water ll

Another cellphone picture from my brother.

Low water

Hydroelectricity is produced by hydropower, and most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. Djupdal Kraftverk, you can see the dam in "the end of the river" at the picture, is an hydroelectric installation located at Djupdal in Rollag.

This week they had to open the dam, and let the water in the reservoir fall. This is a very unusual view! Ashore there are traces which show the normal height of the water. Later, when the height is back to normal, I will show you a picture of that too. :o)

My brother took this picture with his cellphone yesterday.

Crested Tit

The Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) is also a comon bird in Norway. I think it is a cute little bird. :o)

Flowing water ll

Flowing water

Water flowing over the rocks.

Spring Snowflake

The Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum) grow in a rough environment!

Great Tit

Since we are into birds - the Great Tit (Parus major) is a very comon bird in Norway.

Bullfinchs

My aunt has given me promision to use one of her pictures of the Bullfinchs (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) that often visit her porch. :o)

Photo: by Kari

Where is the spring?

This cute little flower, called Sukkertopp, is one of the first flowers that shows up in the spring. Unfortunately there is still too much snow in Rollag this year, so there is no flowers yet. Which really proof that the seasons changes every year...this picture was shot april 6th last year! :o)

Middle school

I spent three years in this building! The middle school in Rollag is located in Veggli.

Cabins