Something that made me laugh today...

...on the topic of parenting, exercising authority lovingly and firmly:



I've read this book a couple of times before, but it's always fun to re-visit. It's called "Families and how to survive them" (oh, yes). By Robin Skynner and John Cleese. The cartoons are by Bud Handelsman.

Nesodden midsummer nights

The view towards Oslo on Friday night/Saturday morning.

Midnight in our garden yesterday. It looks like the white wall has some kind of projected image on it but it's just the shadows from the hedge. Not really visible to the naked eye, but the camera picked it up at 1600 iso. (Shame about the camera shake.)

Nordic capitals - a vintage book find

The most wonderful illustration of Oslo with the tip of Nesodden pointing into the fjord. I found it in this book:

The book is from 1966 and features Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The Oslo text and illustrations are by Odd Brochmann. I will probably come back to this book to show you some of the other capital highlights.

Please click on the images to see their full glory, by the way...

Examples of Oslo architecture.

This one I dedicate to my blog friend Lisa. If you read her blog Krims Krams you will understand why :-)

I find this one funny. The trams look different today, but the weekend skiers are just as mad. (That's my opinion, anyway.)

Nothing beats a beautiful Norwegian summer. Next week is St. Hans eve (midsummer night). I wish we still celebrated it as stylishly as in this drawing.

An extra treat for my Norwegian readers - the text that accompanies the illustration above:

Amen.

Video for the weekend

I just love the video graphics for this. Music by Norwegian band Røyksopp.

Have a nice weekend all!

Fleamarket finale

Oh, what a thrill today has been! Two local fleamarkets in one trip and here is what I found...

I'll zoom in on some of it for you:

Gustavsberg melamine cups and Emsa melamine plates in mint condition.

Teak salt and pepper shakers shaped as vikings. Another bargain that I initally thought I'd put on Etsy but changed my mind as soon as I unpacked them at home. Sorry guys!

Small vase from Strehla Keramik, Germany.

Big, heavy candleholder for hanging on the wall. Possibly the work of Konrad Galaaen.

Isn't she sweet? I think it was her glasses that did it for me. I might not have brought her home if it wasn't for those specs :-) It's a litho titled 'Selvportret' (Self portrait) and signed K. Axels. Danish, I presume. The jam jar is from Arabia, Finland, and the vase is from Germany.

I found a whole lot of plates, cups, serving platters and sugerbowls in this pattern (Safran)... I just couldn't get it all (sigh) and was going to settle for one item. I contemplated a lidded sugerbowl. Then there was this (above) - a huge serving bowl in exactly the same design as the sugarbowl, only forty times bigger. (OK - slight exaggeration, but it is BIG.) I thought I'd be as bold as the dish and went for it. The price? NOK 75. That's a bargain in my book.

Finally, some 50's halos for Christmas tree lights. Perfect for a kitschy winter holiday. Not an obvious choice when it's summer at it's best with hot, sunny weather like today.

I was thrilled putting all these items in the car and drive home through the beautiful countryside, sun roof open and some favorite tunes on the stereo. The last fleamarket of the season was a great finale.

Vintage glass items

Smoked glass has been a favorite of mine for many, many years. These three items are the latest additions to my collection. I don't know what their makes are, but I think the tall vase at the back might be from Hadeland, Norway.

This little minimalist owl is often listed as a paperweight, and I can confirm that it is a Hadeland product. I guess the tiny crystal ball is also a paperweight.