The Domestic Side of Things in Norway

Being a homemaker, I always enjoy seeing how others do things in their homes. I especially love when they are creative and use their role as homemakers to express that creativity. So come along with me and I’ll show you how some homemakers are doing it in Norway.

 We didn’t have much time in the town of Nevlunghavn, Norway. We really only spent a day-and-a-half there but we packed as much as we could in that day, as you read about here.

Our host’s home.

Doesn’t this look so homey and comfortable?

The girls enjoying their breakfast on the porch. The weather was gorgeous and time seemed to move at a different pace here. More laid back and quiet.

The girls needed some laundry done. I did, too, since I was rotating about 2 shirts because of my suitcase being lost. 🙂

 

I always love seeing laundry on the line.

Our hosts took us to meet another couple that they enjoy spending time with and who also love fellowship. It was a beautiful place.

But I’ll let Cat show you around. He’s a British Shorthair and thinks he’s pretty special.

“Hi, my name is Cat. Let ME take you around this place I call ‘Home’. “

 

“We live in an old cabin that’s at least a 100 years old. But it’s comfy!

“The cabin was built in the mountains and the humans that owned this place before I came along, liked it so much that they had it taken apart, the logs numbered, moved here and rebuilt.”

(yawn) “These humans sure like to work all the time. But it’s good for me here because I have so many comfortable places to lay down and stretch.”

(Cozy places everywhere)

“But I absolutely refuse the bath!”

“Just give me a good pillow and I’m content… especially these ones she made.”

 (Elisabeth here butting in on Cat’s tour – This is called wool felting and is made with dyed sheep’s wool. Using no pattern, you press the wool into your own design.)

“My owner likes to paint and give classes to others on how to to do it, too. I’m not too excited about those days because they always want to scratch me and say, ‘Hi, Kitty,’ and all I want to do is sleep (yawn).

“Speaking of sleep, I think I need a nap riiiggghhhttt nowww.” (yawn)

 

Elisabeth here – I guess that means I’ll have to finish the tour since Cat has got to go have his sleep.

Cat missed the little pantry downstairs where there are some interesting wood carvings as part of the shelf supports.

Outside Hilga’s touches are everywhere as well.

Some friends of hers showed her how to make this fence from bushes. Very clever!

Last summer they put in this little gazebo that they eat in occasionally.

There are dishes sitting off to the side just waiting for visitors to come by and be refreshed by what Sis. Hilga offers,

and the chandelier is an actual working oil lamp. Beautiful.

The flowers around the windows were painted by her.

 

Delightful places abound at this little cabin nestled into the hillside but which is only a short walk from the ocean.

We had lunch outdoors in another part of the yard.

Because they believe they are serving God’s children, they want to serve them on the nicest they have. It was a perfectly lovely luncheon.

Her love of cooking was evident.

We enjoyed the beauty of being surrounded by God’s creation as we relaxed and talked and got to know more members of our great big “family” that we hadn’t met before. And it was good.

That night we were spoiled once more with delicious treats.

Candles are very much a part of the Norwegian life and our hosts actually had an very large drawer full of them. During the winter, they may have 10-14 candles burning at a time.

Our last breakfast with our friends was typical Norwegian fare with freshly made bannocks and was served, once more, in a lovely way.

Before we left we were able to see a Norwegian bunad. That was interesting!

As I said before, the Norwegians are very patriotic and on their National Day (May 17) everyone  comes out of their homes to join in the parades as well as dressing in their national costumes (bunads). Our host learned how to make her own which is a big savings because they can cost from $4,000-5,000.

 

Here she is showing how tightly they wind the belt around you once the dress is on. Let’s just say it is very tight. But it serves a function. The dress weighs about 25 pounds. Yes, you read that right. It was unbelievably heavy but the belt, being wound so tightly, helps to carry the weight of the dress so that it doesn’t pull on your shoulders.

 The belt is hand woven and takes an enormous amount of hours to make. Just look at the intricate pattern.

 The cross-stitching on the bunad takes about 350 hours, if I am remembering correctly.

Because Anita, our host, has not mastered embroidery just yet, she did hire this out.

This silver brooch, made of sterling silver, is something they wear with their bunads. Of course, there are a multitude of designs to choose from.

Someone in their church learned how to make these and now they are recognized as one of the best in Norway.

Everything you see here was made from very thin wire. Beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this little snippet of Norwegian life up close.