Oslo Graffiti 39

Gilels&Szell

The Possibilities for Madcap Pictures Are Endless

No other camera in sight, and this is what happens :D - oh dear ... !! Plus one grammatical and at least three spelling errors in the title the first few hours the posting was published. Growl!

Apply for a Car? Yes, please!

Maybe I'm becoming Ms. Grump, but after a call to Oslo's garbage collectors costumer's service, I'm having serious doubts about a few issues.

Oslo's inhabitants have started sorting their garbage, we use different bags for scraps of food, plastic and everything else. They must not be larger than a carrier bag, though, otherwise the garbage trucks could get damaged (!), and if I want to turn in glass I have to walk to a usually full container and possibly dump my jam jars outside it. For dangerous garbage I need to have a car or travel for 45 minutes to deposit - which means you have to be highly motivated to do so. I'm also one of those somewhat nutty people who don't want a car due to not wanting to support an infrastructure I find almost scary. I travel by bike or public transport. There should be more carpools, having the possibility of taking out a car when in need of materials or for the weekend, not owning one when living in the city and having access to public transport. Actually I think we should have strict criteria for owning a car - like being walking impaired or elderly when living in the city. We need more exercise and seeing a line of cars standing on the highway in the morning with one person in every car when the public transport is running like it should, makes me a bit sad.

The green garbage bags are for food and the contents will be turned into bio gas, which will be used for fuel (!) and heating. We are not allowed to put old plants into the garbage as they are not good for the plant that makes the gas. The girl I talked to at the costumer's service did not know what will happen to the parts of the food that will not turn into gas either. And making bio gas! It seems a reflection of what we are already doing, how our infrastructure is not serving us, but is just being a monument to our thoughtlessness. We behave like we are endlessly rich when one billion people are starving. But  then, we will not turn around before we are forced to do so and our politicians may be more concerned about winning the next election than making some unpopular decisions. Do they not have children?

Ad for the Norwegian State Railways: Raise you hand if you vote for taking the train

Well, Mr. Cravan, I think we may have a case of the blind leading the blind again. But then I don't know everything, do I.

Oslo Graffiti 38

"There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world the've never learned to live in this one"

Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

Oslo Graffiti 37

Oslo Graffiti 36

Pic taken by VE

Family Portrait

(Link to picture)

Be Happy Lentil Soup

This one is nice, I just had two bowls and the truffle oil just made it nicer.

Canola oil for sautéing an onion, four cloves of garlic and a leek
2 carrots
2 stalks celery
400g brown lentils
2 tomatos
3 cubes of vegetable stock or to taste
0,5 teaspoon ground coriander
0,5 teaspoon ground cumin
filtered water (Anna mug is good) to cover the vegetables and lentils
1 tablespoon truffle oil
some nice, green garnish - and, by the way, I did put a little splash of white vine into the soup as well

Saute the onions, garlic and leek until tender, add the spices, then the rest of the vegetables (cut into pieces) and cubes of vegetable stock, let it all boil until tender, puree and add the truffle oil, taste to see if more salt, possibly some pepper or more spices are needed. It looks a bit brown, but is tasty and a green garnish livens it up. Maybe even serve with some good bread? Enjoy!

Based on a recipe in Color Me Vegan, a cookbook that has proved very enjoyable so far.

Ola

Nina&Pick Me Up Tofu Patties

My darling friend Nina's idea of heaven would be to throw magnificent dinner parties all the time, something she does to perfection. She must have a streak of Karen Blixen's Babette. I remember walking in the mountains with her, spotting a magnificent stag, I pointed it out saying: "look at the beautiful stag", she said: "what a roast!"

Nina and her mother on national day. Nina wearing bunad (nationa costume, like an Austrian drindl)

These patties are quite nice, if a little bit eccentric, I tend to nibble the finished ones when making them though. Do not go totally over board when it comes to garlic, a little goes a long way here. I also don't use a recipe when making them, so the measurements are very happy-go-lucky.

block of cotton tofu - you don't really need a gourmet variety here
one onion
2-3 tablespoons of flax seeds - preferably ground ones
maybe 4 tablespoons of hemp flour
the same amount of soya floor
some egg replacement (not sure if it works without it, but haven't tried it out)
some oatmeal
some soy milk to make a good consistency
a little ground cumin
some rosemary (I'm bats about rosemary and put it into everything that I hope will taste well with it added, so maybe for the especially interested?)
sea salt to taste
one clove of garlic
Mix in blender

Make patties (they don't keep well enough together to make good burgers) and fry slowly in canola oil or olive oil. Enjoy! Ketchup is strangely nice with these.

Ola Relaxing on a Warm Day

Noor

Contained 5

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Contained

Today

Pull Myself Together Soup

I made this today, it turned out well. 

Saute onion and garlic in canola oil

Cook cauliflower, one tart apple, 1 tablespoon curry and one or two potatoes in the same pot as the onion/garlic mix with vegetable stock until tender, leave for 30 minutes (makes tastes set, according to recipe and it really was good) and then puree. Makes a fairly thick soup.

Enjoy! I did:)

Trial

I don't know if I can write this blog any more, but I am trying

Thank You

This blog has been a monument to the people I love. But now almost none are left. My family consists of two guinea pigs, however lovely. My mother is in the hospital and my partner decided his grief after his father's death and hassle at work is enough. My bestest friend may be gone. I do not know if I can continue writing. I do not want to do anything anymore. Blogs are supposed to be upbeat, I have no heart for it anymore. Thank you, you are all very kind leaving lovely comments. Laurent, P. Gayle Tapp, Curtis Roberts, Elizabeth Avedon, Davis Toms, Gésbi, Kay L. Davies and many more - thank you!

"Careless words take lives"

from sign in the London Underground during WW2

"Do nothing because it is righteous or praiseworthy, or noble, to do so; do nothing because it seems good to do so; only do that which you must do, and which you cannot do in any other way." Ursula K. Le Guin

Guinea Pigs in Stereo

This is guinea pig no. 2. Hopefully he and Ola wil like each other. He has a delightful personality and is called Noor

Haori - One Year Shopping Hiatus VII

The shopping hiatus makes me look more. Today, a rather delightful haori. It scares me to see how much of our economy that's been built by purchase a little item here and a little item there. We seem to have to make our homes more shabby chick, cuter, softer, whatever. Is it a kind of protection? Does the shopping work like a drug? What about the people who have very little?

I strongly believe in "museum quality utilitarian" that will last for years. Things that will give the greatest pleasure every time we use them - and good friends and a nice guinea pig to share my home. Ola the guinea pig may well get a little friend soon, by the way. They are social animals and we want the best possible life for him. He gives us great joy and relaxation every day. 

Link to Kimono Fleamarket Ichiroya

Guinea Pig Night with Bach

Ola the guinea pig and I are twirling:)

Oslo Graffiti 35

Oslo Graffiti 34 - Frost

It was almost bitterly cold. We are in need of slightly warmer weather.

Muskat

THE tail - what else could it be - Muskat under a pillow, please don't ask, she's a diva

Gardian cat

I Definitely Did Not Feel Like It - one year shopping hiatus VI

Today I got a belated birthday present, I had to buy it myself and I disliked the buying very much. Of course, getting a new garment is nice, but it felt like breaking my vow. It seems like I have to keep this up properly, I really like the process.

Erik Bruhn's Answer to the Perennial Question: "How are you?"

"I am, only more"

(picture)

One Year Shopping Hiatus V

Just watching the bustle feels like relaxation. I think I see more clearly not seeking the rush of buying and I enjoy deciding what I do like and do not like without thinking of buying it. I do not like much, respect for the Earth demand a high skill in the artisan, so I'm becoming a difficult customer. Flowers are a temptation though, and yarn. A friend might want me to make her a cardigan. I do not miss clothes buying, I'm off ETSY and will cancel Amazon today together with Paypal. I window shop and get shocked by how easily I used to get into the rush of a t-shirt here and a top there just because it was cute and then loose interest in it quite quickly.

A few days ago I read that it is practically considered bad form to have heating in the bathroom floor when living in Berlin. It makes me hopeful. Here it is very usual and I've been worried about not having it. Somehow comforts that are expected can be just too much. We need to get closer to nature. 

Brave New World - one year shopping hiatus IV

My partner and I talked it over, again. He thinks it is a good idea. No more little gifts for him, but he is fine with that.

Today I went past IKEA, took a look inside and got a very real Huxley moment. "Get the IKEA card, spend now, pay later (you bet we charge interest, but we don't tell you that, at least not right now)" Cups and pans, not the kind made to last for years and years in abundance. This year's colours in gift wrapping, so easy to buy as it might come in handy - upbeat, cute and inexpensive. I got four packages of paper napkins. It is something I actually have to have for work. When having pupil's concerts we always have cakes afterwards. I've horded five packages. I wanted to get a stemmed up rosemary tree, but decided it would be shopping for shopping's sake, so no little tree. I do love the availability of beautiful things, and maybe the not so beautiful things too, but it is nice to try not to be part of the shop, throw away "garbage", shop again circle. I wish I could avoid buying the napkins, but I find it somewhat difficult to produce linen napkins for 60 people.


I think I'll stick with my grandmother's iron frying pan though. It is at least 50 years old and quite sturdy.

I Don't Feel Like It - one year shopping hiatus III

Today is a marvelous day. I'm finally rested enough to rest properly, but that is not my subject. 

Lately, due to my vow of doing my very best to have a one year shopping/spending hiatus, I went window shopping, considering, among other things, how much improved H&M's designs are now, and  thinking about what I'd like if going on a shopping spree. I also thought of an acquaintance who does quite a power play to be able to do his bit of getting what he wants at any given time. I remember suggesting some cucumber on his glue - sandwich (white bread and lots of cheese, reminds me of glue somehow). No, he didn't feel like it. What was I to say? It was the very best way to get someone to shut up once and for all, one just knows that there is no way of getting the point through. The king had spoken. It was all very entertaining, if not so sad.

So what I would like are a pale pink linen dress and a whole bucket of these - but then - I don't really feel like it, do I?

Monday Sermon

It is everywhere, this is nothing. I see huge pieces of cardboard and plastic bags. Are we blind? I try not to become too sad. Is this an example of the theory of abundance? We must be blind, thoughtless and blind.

The Perfect Guy VII

After a little bath that unfortunately was absolutely necessary, as he seemed to have been jumping up and down on pieces of  banana - among other things ... Awfully sticky fur. I did not enjoy it, but he adored the drying, making little "I love" sounds for an hour while I massaged his fur with a towel. Somewhat spoilt? Yes! But it suits him very well.

A One Year Shopping Hiatus II

It is shopping hiatus time. All of a sudden it occurred to me that I can't knit, because then I would have to buy yarn (I almost wrote "yearn" here, that pretty much sums it up). I did count the homemade cardigans, and there are quite a few. I'm finishing a last carding now, soft, soft alpaca wool - I love wool and textiles far too much. I will have to feast my eyes on pictures of haute couture in the mean time and imagine the touch of silk yarn. Luckily I have a vest made with a collar made from sari silk cuttings - how's that for being spoilt?

(picture)

 Somehow I imagine I will get much more time on my hands to do gardening, take photographs, read and jog if I get off ETSY, do not buy movies and get off Amazon once and for all. I also will have more money if I do not buy t-shirts on impulse, stop eating out and just stop buying my partner (sorry for that!) and myself little gifts. I will also have to empty my stash of tea, and that is about time. The general idea is more time on my hands, less money spent, less clutter in the house and a greener, less egoistical life style. Let's see how it works out. I start on the 14TH.

Spring Geese

Richmond park spring geese from M in London