Tillykke med fødselsdagen

It has been incredibly busy here's a few belated updates. Rita had a nice birthday. Two birthday cakes and lots of candles (and no boyfriends all candles were blown out). Unfortunately, Rita was a bit under the weather around her birthday so we had to postpone the celebration with her friends. But on the upcoming Friday we will party!!!!! Rita looks so much forward to it.

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Rita Næstved

Bad hair day

I wonder if there is an equivalent bad baking day. Tonight I had planned a tarte tartin for dessert. Well the tartin ran out of the pie dish so all we had left was crust and baked apples and an oven overflowing with caramel goop. Afterwards the pumkin bread literally exploded in the pan and all the good stuff petrifying on the cookie sheet. No more baking projects that day but instead quite a cleaning up job. Hrmf!

Visit Norway

Last week when I was busy with work, Ellen, Rita and Axel went on a 40 hour cruise to Norway. The fjord was packed with ice. They had a thrilling visit to the technical museum. Axel got so enmeshed with a set of electric drums that he could have stayed there, Ellen said. Everybody frollicked in the pool on the ship and had fancy drinks in the nightclub. From what I hear it was an excellent 2 day substitute for a winter's vacation.

Happy New Year!

December 23

The snow keeps coming. We had about 10-15 cm. last night. At places there were snowdrifts 2-3 feet deep. It is awesome. And a lot of fun.

December 22

We measured it right. It hits the ceiling! We are now all done decorating the tree. With all the traditional ornaments: The Santa vampire, the turkey, the weird German porcupine, the love birds we got at our wedding, Russian napkins and and and... What wonderful memories this tradition brings into our house.

December 21

Today we went around Copenhagen looking at the Christmas lights. It has become a tradition to finish our tour at the Julehus. It's amazing how they keep adding on.

December 20

Bummer, they only had small trees this year! Rita wanted one that could reach the ceiling in our new living room.

December 19

Oh no here we go again. Two Christmas trees from 1.000.000 DKR, a candle from 100 and it will probably be nothing!

December 18

It's been thawing the last couple of days. But wonder if this bush ever will stretch up again. It used to hide the shed fully.

December 17

A fine Christmas tradition. Each morning we read a chapter in the book about Iqbal Farooq and the Christmas swines. It's a weird story about gangsters wanting to buy Copenhagen so they can build a nuclear plant!

December 16

Mmmmm....

December 15

Fortress of solitude.

December 14

Rita in the traditional Santa Lucy parade. All the girls in the 2-4th grade were invited to participate. It was very spectacular with all the lights and all the girls.

December 13

Something else has been growing too. Man, look at that icicle. It's all the way from the roof to the ground. A whopping 2 meter and 10 cm. Isn't amazing!

December 12

Do you remember this post? It was just 3 months ago. Now look what's happened! So there is a reason after all for all the food Axel puts away.

December 11

No it's not something out of Hansel and Gretel. Axel is following Charlotte's advice to use a candle to create an icy crust to make the igloo more sturdy.

December 10

Don't look at Axel. He is just in it for perspective. Naturally it's the icicle in front, that is the center of attention. It's 175 cm or 5" 9 and still growing. I wonder if it will reach the ground. There is no - what do you call it when it is in ice - stalagmite growing underneath it.

December 9

Christmas sweets in marcipan.

December 8

Santa's workshop. Christmas decorations on the way. Don't you almost hear the accompaniment of good Olde Bing?

December 7

St. Nick! He showed up last night and had the most interesting things- yuca chips, basil seed soft drink and green curry mayo. Seems like he's been all around the world which may account for him coming a day late.

December 6

More snow!

December 5

A little garden project Axel and I've started on. Some one told me we have to bring a candle into the igloo to melt the snow on the walls into ice and get them more sturdy.

December 4

Cool outlook from the terrace.

December 3

Axel and some of the other boys in the band was asked to play at the lightning of the local Christmas tree. They did quite well considering it was freezing cold. They had brought the score for 2 songs and they got to play them a lot since Santa was late...

December 2

"The disappearance of Santa's beard" was the title of a terrific show Rita's class did at school. Rita both acted and played the flute.

December 1

I know it's a bit political uncorrect but I've always wanted Christmas lights for the house. Now we have a house and the lights to go with it. I enjoy it every evening when I return from work. It really brings the Christmas spirits to the neighbourhood - I think.

Adventurous Rita

From our fall vacation in Sweden. Rita just loves to climp trees. The higher the better.

Bacon

A little projekt I have been tinkering with. A while back I read about some one making home made bacon. If he could, I could - I thought. The meat was cured with two different kinds of salt in 4 days. Then cold smoked for 36 hours in the Weber grill. The latter part was a bit difficult because the embers in the wood chips kept going out. The result: Very salty but nice. It was fun, so I will try it again sometime.

And then snow

Apart from the mishap with the car it was an excellent fall vacation. What better way than to end it with jostling in the snow.

Kåldolmer

Axel making stuffed cabbage. Vacation is a great time to experiment with the recipes.

Stubborn girl

Fall vacation in Sweden. Rita with stick. Stick on two mile walk. Stick in car. Lars smacks door. Window fracture :-(

It was heavy and long but Rita carried it all the way by herself.

Another room done

It's not a fashion statement but great teamwork putting up shelves in our coat room. Couldn't have done it without my little helper.

And the final result:

Rainy day

Typical Axel!

Faster Ellen

Last picture from the visit in Canada. Faster Ellen is now 99 years old. It was great seeing her again.