San Diego & House of Norway

A few years ago while my better half lived in the States (and I was able to visit a few times), I visted my friend Deanna in San Diego. 

There are heaps more photos but below pictures are from the Balboa Park where House of Norway is located (and a lot of houses from other countries). A great place to learn about other nationalities and to visit if you are a tiny bit homesick.

The other day I sent a few photos from last visit in 2009 and got a message back that they were going to visit the same house the next day! What a coincidence! Today I received a photo from the house with greetings. It made my day! :) Thanks Deanna!

Deanna and I in front of House of Norway in 2009

Deanna with greeting by the house in 2012

Oslo next

I have had three lovely weeks so far with family & friends at home.
Weather has been so so, but today we have had a lovely sunny day starting with a nice walk and ending up with gardening and pizza making. Couldn't be any better!

On Thursday I am off to visit my friend Jette in Oslo. Almost two years since last visit so will be good to catch up again. Shopping guide has already been made and hopefully there will be time for a little sightseeing as well. Can't wait. Will be good too see the big smoke again.

Below are pictures from previous visits.

Oslo Opera House

View from the Opera House

Back home....

We are back in Norway now, have been here a week already. Love to be back to see family and friends again. We have met dear friends and will spend more time with good friends during the next few weeks.

The other day we had a nice walk at the beaches by Sjøsanden in Mandal. A lovely place I spent a lot of time walking and sunbathing while living here many years ago. Unfortunately, the summer has been and gone and we were too late to enjoy it, but the air is fresh and crispy so early autumn is not bad either.
Nice to be back again.

House & garden *August*

It is still life at our place, even though the blog has been in hibernation for a while.

The spring is slowly starting up again, flowers are blossoming and the temperature is not scaring us inside to the heat pump anymore.

We have had a lovely, sunny weekend so today it was time for project Garden Centre. It has such a great selection and the vegetables can be planted already so no reason to wait anymore.

Got some broccoli/cauliflower mix, lettuces, strawberries, beetroots & also some seeds. Just have to try if we have better luck this year.
Also got some grass plants and one lily plant. Will get more later. We just have to test a little bit and see how much space we have.

A few weeks ago the flower boxes were lifted and later painted. I think it looks great and it is very user friendly as you do not have to get too far down to work in the garden. Great for the back... :)

Before adding height to the boxes

Height added, but not painted yet

Lazy Monday

The weather is grey and rainy. What a perfect day to stay at home from work.
Nah...I haven't taken a sicky, just a couple of days off work to stay home with our dear four legged bundle of fur. She is fine though but a week ago life was tough with a collar and body band and a very unhappy cat that had to be hand fed the first night.
The next few days she went back at the vet's day care and they took care of her while the stitches were healing and we were at work.

She is now a lot happier. The body band is off and she can walk again herself, but a lot of time is used for rest and she is spending hours in the beanbag by the heat pump. I can't blame her. Who wouldn't after such an operation (spayed)?

A couple of weeks ago we started on project "heighten the flower boxes". Extra planks were added, and later more dirt and new plants / vegetables will be added to the boxes. We are not there yet though.
Work is keeping my hubby away from the garden project and the weather is not always on our side either.
But one day I will have more pictures for you all.

Project "heighten the flower boxes"

Temperature has been down to +5C here and it is cold in kiwi land.
Have a nice day and stay warm. Another day by the heat pump for me.Bliss.

At the vet

A week ago, little Bella had to visit the vet to be spayed (it is part of the contract and this way she would be free to roam around outside during daytime). At the office, the vet asked if they could do a few tests and later had to take even more tests as they were abnormal. Serious illnesses could be the result (liver and bone diseases) and we were all a bit worried what would come next.

A whole week went by with worry and a few tears.
However, on Friday we got the good news. Bella's tests were fine but she has to do some new ones in a months time. Just to be sure everything is fine.
On Monday she will be back at the vet to be spayed. Hopefully it will be fine and she will be a happy cat who can run around outside, spy on the birds and catch flies and other insects.

..and we are happy again...

Bella on the sheep skin

House & garden *April*

 Hello again!

We haven't had a lot of activities around the house and garden the last couple of months (hence no updates in February and March). Most of the hours have been spent at work. Yeah. I know. It sucks... :)
One thing has been done though and we are very, very happy with it.

During the Easter weekend all three handymen (husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law) in the family turned up to work in our backyard.
The cobblestones were moved so it could be leveled and a patio made.


Luckily, they all knew what to do. The machines were running for a couple of days, a lot of noise and dust, but hey! it looks good.

The next job will be the plant boxes along the walls.

Here are some photos:

The backyard after its face lift