weekday dinners lately

Portobello mushrooms sautéed in garlic butter, spinach, feta and spring onion



Lasagne made with aubergine instead of pasta (maybe I should rather call it moussaka? But then again, it has no lamb in it), a salad of mixed lettuce and pomegranate.

Pasta with sautéed mushrooms, onion and garlic in a sauce made of cream and soft goat cheese (Snøfrisk) with chanterelles, topped with spring onion, parsley and freshly ground pepper

Baked salmon with salt, pepper and butter, and a couscous salad with mango, spring onion and coriander

Tortellini filled with cheese, pasta sauce with basil and cheese, ham, spring onion (one of my pregnancy cravings) and parmesan plus a simple salad of lettuce, tomato and balsamic creme

- - -

Yes, pasta makes for prefect weekday for this little family!

- - -

More dinner ideas: what's for dinner // the dinner project
Also: my pantry essentials // thoughts on dinner planning and grocery shopping

life, week 26

Can someone please send me the wand that will make all this magically disappear? Thank you.

She was bummed that we didn't have our usual egg and bacon brunch on Sunday, so breakfast for dinner on Monday was in order.

June 23, 8 am // finally sandal weather plus last day of work

School's out and my 7 weeks summer holiday has just started!

So happy to have my sister and little mr S here!

The painting is on!

Practicing her big sister skills.



First rhubarb harvest from our garden.

I'll most likely make Molly's roasted rhubarb like I always do, because it is so good. But maybe I should try a rhubarb strawberry crumble instead too?

Happy to have these beauties in our garden.

Pregnant woman watching husband paint house

I have become one of those early birds who prefer to get the grocery shopping done when the shops open in the morning. It's me and all the grey haired retired people.

Perfectly cooked for my taste.

Dilemma: It's dinner time and she is playing so well by herself. Should I interrupt her play and make her sit by the table and have dinner (I know it will cause and argument and loud voices) or should I simply let her play on and have dinner for supper? I chose the latter.

My mum bought me roses to celebrate the start of my summer holiday.

I hereby declare the Norwegian berries season for open!

Morning swim in the local outdoor pool. Overcast and refreshing, but the kids loved it. Of course. Thankful for my friend T for inviting us.

Sara and grandpa have been out stealing and their trophies are displayed on my legs. As you do when you are a baby thief.

A little break from the painting - just before the rain came.

- - -

Week 26: June 22-28

life, week 25

Monday 7 am // a good start to the last full workweek before school is out

Afternoon agenda: accompany Sara to a birthday party

Best part of accompanying Sara to birthday parties: seeing other people's (super cool) houses

My mother-in-law brought rhododendron from their garden.

The light that makes me pause.

9 pm bedtime. Pregnancy bliss.

Week 26 belly table and rice pudding to celebrate the end of midterms grading.

More of that light that makes me pause.

A summer gift from my sweetest students. Still two days of school left, but the work is done.

The first of many garden parties.

Slept until 10:30 am. Can't remember the last time I slept that long.

The staircase tea party

According to Sara we have to hurry up, because we are all flying to America. That includes the pile of toys too, of course.

Growing a human can be quite exhausting. An after breakfast nap was just what I needed.

Our basement apartment is finally ready for tenants // Sjekk Finn-kode 60853409 his du er nysgjerrig

- - -

Week 25: June 15-21

things I like lately

summer 2010 // Kodak Portra 160vc, Canon EOS 500N

- my 7 weeks summer holiday started after a short day at work on Tuesday - I don't think I have ever been so ready for a holiday than now!
- slow mornings with Sara before taking her to kindergarten
- more time with Sara in general
- a visit from my dear sister and her 7 months old son - so, so good to see them again (they live far up north, in Tromsø)
- seeing Sara with her cousin - practicing her big sister skills
- getting more and more excited about meeting our baby boy in September
- looking forward to organise his room some time this summer
- Tips & tricks: learn how to take great family pictures
- first rhubarb harvest from our own garden
- apple raspberry juice
- the peonies in our garden are blooming - just as the lilacs are fading away
- we are very happy with the color we chose for the exterior of our house
- my hard working husband for making our house look pretty
- the radio series Sommer i P2
- Vigdis' custom made leather covered bench
- Jeanine Stewart's instagram
- hard boiled egg on buttered oat bread for lunch
- tomato mozzarella salad
- Norwegian strawberries

- - -

Things I don't like lately

- I'm trying to stay positive, but I really do not like painting the house (I really should not complain; being pregnant, I hardly do any of the work)

things I like lately

summer 2009 // Kodak elite chrome extra color 100, Canon EOS 500N

- I have finished grading all the midterms (85 in total)
- my summer holiday starts on Tuesday after a short work day
- the first weekend in a long, long time with no work
- my sister and her 7 months old son is visiting this coming week
- listening to Sara play in the bathtub - she's really into role play these days
- Sara playing by herself for more than two minutes
- fresh lapper (also called svele, a kind of sweet pancake) from Madla Handelslag
- this question from my mother-in-law: do you mind if I clean your windows?
- we finally have curtains for our big living room windows - sewn by my super sweet mother-in-law
- this wild idea Instagram
- a new lipstick in a more orangy shade of red than my usual Dior 999 - perfect for summer
- Mariell's list about the 50 things that make her happy - who doesn't love a list like that?!
- this post by James of Bleubird
- the first garden party in our garden - Sølve grilled a whole lamb - it was a big success!
- Elisabeth's new dining area
- Ingvild's photos make me long for camping

- - -

Things I don't like lately

- no self control when it comes to staying away from sweets

summer days at Voss

Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

It is June 17 and it has still not been warm enough for sandals and bare legs. We spent the whole school day outside in the rain today, getting cold despite layers of wool. I regretted that I did wear a beanie and gloves. I heard on the news this morning that this spring and summer so far is the wettest and coldest in years.

The photos above are from summer last year at Voss. It was the hottest day recorded in nearly a 100 years. Talk about contrasts!