3rd time's the charm

Victory!

I have officially made some candy. And it is delicious. Dangerously delicious.

I tried three times before I made anything edible. I was using a recipe from Ann Asher, the mom of one of my favorite friends. Turns out I was impatient; I didn't have a candy thermometer (which as it turns out, is not a necessity) and just plain 'ol didn't cook the business long enough. Her recipe was not flawed, I just hadn't honed my skills yet. Anyway, I read most likely 50 different recipes on the net and ended up making my own that went a little something like this--

Almond Roca

• 2 cubes butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp water

• some sliced, chopped or hacked toasted almonds
(use more or less to your taste, I used about two cups)
(if you're tempted to use untoasted almonds go ahead, but you'll miss out on some serious flavor)

• chocolate, broken into bits
(chocolate chips would be awesome)
(if of course the country you are living in has those !$%&# and then a bag or so will suffice)

Melt butter, add sugar and water. Make sure to mix well together. Have a wooden spoon and be prepared to get your stir on from the time this mixture comes to a soft boil until it turns caramelish brown. I read this can take anywhere from 5-12 minutes so see what happens for you--but whatever you do--WAIT until it turns color. Seriously, WAIT...

Then add most of your almonds and stir. Pour onto a greased baking sheet (I actually used parchment paper underneath just in case). Let it sit for some seconds (like 18) sprinkle on your chocolate bits or chips or chunks. Let those sit for some seconds as well (more like 30) and then spread them to cover. Sprinkle with the rest of your almonds and then wait. Seriously, WAIT. Be patient, let it sit.

Then you should be able to break it apart no problem. If you are like me the first two times I attempted and you didn't cook it long enough, it won't harden and it will taste like elf poo.

But the third time, after some heartache and some wasted butter, chocolate and sugar I was patient and there was Roca. And it was good.

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Christmas Changes

Having Christmas in Norway means a lot of changes for me. Instead of opening presents Christmas morning (stockings first!) in our pajamas, we open them Christmas Eve in fancy clothes. Instead of going shopping the day after Christmas to take advantage of great deals, we'll take it easy at home and maybe go skiing. Instead of hoping for a white Christmas, you just hope it's warm enough outside to enjoy the snow. Instead of the Gilberts and noise and craziness, I get the Kindølshaugs and coffee and cakes!

OF COURSE I miss a WA Christmas...but I did get a dose of it right before I left! My family surprised me with a flood of gifts--Christmas came in early November, two days before I got on my plane! Ha! But as cool as it was to be showered with presents (that I somehow managed to pack) that isn't really what I miss about Christmas at "home". I miss the night before where the entire family gets together to exchange pajamas--the one tradition that has never died--and then play trivial pursuit and argue and eat pie. I miss the morning of where everyone is awake sooner than they want to be, nibbling on Costco muffins, Dad's cooking bacon and drinking mamoses, nieces and nephews making a mess of the living room floor with shredded wrapping paper, grandma sitting quietly picking away at her stocking stuffers, sisters, brothers-in-law...the whole gang together. Ah. That's what I miss.

But don't feel bad for me. Really, it's a win win situation. Yes I am nostalgic and would love to have both Christmas experiences, but really some things about the holidays never change for me, no matter where I am. There is still lots of love shared and I am still lucky enough to be with a group of people I adore and consider to be family. I just have too many families :D; it's impossible to be with all of them at once!

Like the extension of my family in Reno, for example--my biological mom, little sister and little brother (Susy, Emily and James, in that order). I can't remember the last time when we were all together at Christmas! But this year, they sent a little bit of Christmas our way.

Honestly, how exciting is it to get a huge box with Christmas goodies inside? The box was seriously STUFFED TO THE BRIM with presents for me and Lars. . . and seeing as how it came all the way from Nevada it means that it cost almost as much to send that box as it did to fill it up! International mail is NOT cheap, this I know from personal experience!

Check out the little Santa and elf that came from Reno's Santa:

Pretty darn cute, right? And thanks to this Santa and her elves our plastic Christmas tree has a much more appropriate smell--PINE!

Now, there is snow on the ground, pine scent in the air...I guess it really is almost Christmas!

P.S. It's -4 °F and there is snow on the ground. Wouldn't expect it is going to melt anytime soon!

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So much to learn...

...about my early Christmas present!!

I am beyond excited to refine my craft and get to know this new machine. Lars is seriously way too good to me. This was OUR present to US (that he bought). Well I bought the memory card? Haha. He's the best!

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Fy faen i helvete!

I saw this on another American's blog (who also happens to be in Norway). Look out, inappropriate (and hilarious) content:



I'm curious how this guy manages to be so likable while saying really "nasty" things. I wouldn't expect the American version of this video would be as charming.

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Enough about Obama, let's talk about me

As I am sure everyone knows, Barack Hussein Obama the American President and the acclaimed most powerful man in the world was kind enough to spend a whopping 26 hours in the humble Northern European country of Norway in order to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. He perhaps summed up my opinion better than any other could (including myself) later that evening when he said that the opening speech almost convinced him that he deserved the award. My opinions on Obama, the peace prize, Afghanistan, war etc. are many, but this is not the time or place to get into that and this pales in comparison to the true nature of his visit, which I will of course indulge now.

My dear friend Martin recently posted on my Facebook wall the following:

Latest news: President Barack Obama will ask the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, to give the U.S. citizen Lisa Gilbert a job in Norway. They'll meet in Oslo today when Obama will receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This will increase the aggregate Norwegian productivity and improve the Norwegian tax base, says the President in a press release.

Great! But I have not yet heard anything from Stoltenberg. Perplexing. Shouldn't the job offers be flocking in by now? Hasn't UDI received notice that I should be granted a work permit med en gang (right away)?

Alas, there has been no news. So I inquired further with Martin. I responded via the incredibly professional Facebook website explaining that I hadn't heard anything from Stoltenberg. I asked Martin if he thinks there might be more than one Lisa Gilbert in Norway, which of course could supply the simplest explanation to the confusion.

Martin's reply was equally as professional as his first report, and more than satisfied my curiousity. He posted this:

Resultat av navnesøk

Du søkte på kvinnenavnet: Lisa Gilbert Det er 4409 kvinner som har Lisa som første fornavn. Det er 2443 kvinner som har Lisa som eneste fornavn. Det er 79 som har Gilbert som etternavn. Det er 3, 2, 1 eller 0 kvinner som har Lisa som første fornavn, og Gilbert som etternavn.

This says that there are only 2,443 woman in Norway who have Lisa as their only first name, and 79 that have Gilbert as a last name. Therefore this website predicts that there are 3, 2, 1 or 0 women named Lisa Gilbert in Norway. I know that it is a legitimate source and estimate because it came with its own chart.

So that explains it. Those 3, 2, 1 or 0 women just got offered my work permit that Obama went out of his way to secure for me. You don't think he traveled all the way here just to accept that gold medal do you? Oh no, he had bigger fish to fry! Too bad those 3, 2, 1 or 0 other Lisa Gilberts got in the way. Guess it just isn't meant to be just yet...

... so the search continues!

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It's beginning to look a lot like...

Well I can't completely say Christmas. True, Lars has been to two work-related Christmas parties, we had the Christmas beer tasting, we have put up our little tree, AND I have wrapped all the presents we've bought so far...

...and taken out the hand-made doilies that one of Lars' aunts made us last year and the little Santa statues that are our entire collection of Christmas decorations. I've even started baking cookies and trying to make fudge.

All the shops have Christmas stuff everywhere and I am daily popping some chocolates out of my advent calendar. I am also lucky enough to be trying my luck on an scratch ticket calendar as the days tick down to the 25th, courtesy of Lars.

(No big money yet.)

There is til og med a huuuge Christmas tree up in Østre Torg...but I have to admit something fairly important is still missing. Maybe I am spoiled but, um NO SNOW!?? What is Christmas in Norway without snow? Blasphemy, I tell you. Blashpemy!

(This picture was taken over a week ago, even that snow is GONE)

This time last year I was practically snow-swimming to and from my Norwegian classes and now I am instead greeted with the slush and mud of a typical Pacific Northwest winter. Varmegrader is the name of the game lately (which literally means warm degrees) That's the term Norwegians use to describe any temperature above freezing.

(Even if it's not much.)

The point is--I actually want it to get COLDER so the slush can turn back into snow and it can hang around for awhile! Who would've thought? But regardless of what the weather situation here in Hamar is, I am confident there will be snow waiting for us in Tynset and that's where we'll be for Christmas, and most likely New Year's too!

Even without the snow, I can't help but get in the spirit. I frickin' love Christmas.

(Although I do still maintain that Halloween is my favorite holiday.)

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Resemblance?

This is mormor, or my grandma on my mom's side. I totally dig that in Norwegian you rarely have to ask to clarify which side of the family grandparents come from, by the way. It is seldom that Norwegians use the generic grandparent words (bestemor in this case also means grandmother); instead they use mormor (mom's mom) or farmor (dad's mom) to make it known who is who. This, coincidentaly, can give a lot of Poulsbohemians insight into what the heck that restaurant downtown is called and why (Mormor Bistro and Bar)!

Anyway, her name is Corinne Self, and this was taken in June 1948 when she graduated from Wayne State University. Think we look alike?

My memories of Grandma Corinne are few, but precious. I remember once she was driving me in Poulsbo and I mean to ask, "Grandma, are we going to the antique store?" And instead it came out as, "Grandtique..." and I caught myself and we both started laughing. I have called her Grandtique ever since.

I also have a decent sized box of really old grandtique-ish gowns and dresses that she used to wear and gave to me once when we were visiting. And I also remember puking all over her nice clean carpet in her condo.

That's about it. Good 'ol Grandtique.

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You Decide!

Honestly, this blogger has said it so much better than I have ever been able to. Check out this post on My Little Norway and decide for yourself whether it is easy or hard to get a job in Norway.

I am leaning towards hard, fyi. Or at least time-consuming, frustrating, and ridiculous at times.

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Check, and check!

(Norway's national stadium, Oslo)

I have checked two professional sports events off my list of "I've nevers" in the past month! The soccer game Lars and I went to in November was technically my second pro experience, but the first one we didn't even have seats in the stadium (we stood behind the goal) and all I really remember is how damn cold my toes and fingers were. So the check is officially made now. :)

This experience was a lot more fun; Lars and I had great seats (compliments of his employer Norsk Tipping) and the game was the Norwegian Cup Finale. Needless to say, the energy in the stadium was tangible.

(Fans of the winning team Ålesund)

On Tuesday, it was ice hockey, again compliments of Lars' company. Now soccer is my game, I know it inside and out and have been playing it for years amidst various cultures. Baseball I feel like I have an intimate understanding of, and most other sports I get, but hockey, I must admit, is a game I admire but know embarrassing little about (I know you are cringing Melissa). But that sure didn't make it any less fun to watch. Even though Storhamar (team from Hamar) ended up losing 5-3 I actually thought they played really well. Not that my opinion should really matter at all, since I have already admitted that I am completely ignorant of the subletites of the game. Hmm.

But even if you have no idea what was going on during the action you could have just showed up for the opening festivities. We are talking cheerleaders (slightly sarcastic here), lights, music, fireworks, flags, cannons and a flaming dragon. I mean this was NBA caliber showmanship. And the rink was used for ice skating in the '94 Winter Olympics.

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BRR.

Well folkens, it's getting cold here. Yesterday was something like 8.5° F. Today it's warmed up though--it's about 25° F. Haha, "warmed up". Well, I guess winter is finally here.

The beauty of the Norwegian lifestyle is that winter doesn't ruin your day (most days). It can be much below freezing outside and you just put on more clothes and get out for a tur. Lars' mom always says that it is important to air yourself out a bit! And I can only agree, after spending many cozy nights inside by the roaring fire with candles lit and good food and drink...it is good to air yourself out once in awhile! Especially after a huge turkey feast the night before. So Sunday, home in Fåset/Tynset that's exactly what we did.

(Stine walking Raja)

(Randi with the neighbors' new dog Tira)

Tira is exceptionally timid, and didn't like me much at first. But...she couldn't avoid me forever. I plan on being around that part of the woods fairly often for ...uh ever I guess. So I dedicated a few extra minutes to letting her run skittishly around me, sniffing me etc. She licked my face and hung around enough for me to get this blurry but endearing shot:

I think we'll get along just fine.

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Gobble, gobble

Lars and I took off Friday afternoon to make a Thanksgiving feast in the house he grew up in. We made the now familiar three hour drive to Tynset and relaxed that evening, making some dinner and catching up. I also made some layered jello salad and my grandma's famous cheese pie in preparation for the feast the next day.

(Downtown Tynset)

The next morning it was into town to pick up some last minute fixings and of course to visit Waagans for some coffee and cakes. I ordered the same thing I do every time there--a latte and Napoleanskake. The cake is seriously the most delicious treat and it goes really well with coffee. I am not sure if it has another name in English (it literally translates to Napolean's cake not Bonaparte's but Napoli's) or if any of you have tried it before, but man oh man I hope I can learn to make it. Although I do think trying to compete with Waagans' version is a bit of a lost cause. Lars and I have done a bit of Napoleanskake sampling and honestly no bakery can compete.

And then it was back to Fåset to get our gobble on. Normally in the Gilbert household the turkey gets prepared and into the oven nice and early in the day to prepare for a 4pm ish meal. This year we were shooting for a 7pm ish evening launch. I worked on the stuffing while Lars made the green bean casserole. Randi had taken charge of the turkey (and later made some awesome gravy from the juices). Stine set the table and Jan tidied up the place to prepare for our guests. It was truly a group effort; it made the preparation seem so easy when everyone pitched in (and all the shopping was done beforehand).

Gjertrud and Vidar arrived around 7 and the food was ready to go. After accepting their generous contributions of wine and chocolates we all sat in the living room for a pre-meal toast of...apple cider. That's right, APPLE CIDER. Last year Gitta and I searched and searched and searched to find some of the fizzy beverage that reminded us so much of our childhood Thanksgivings. We thought it was just another piece to really make this American holiday abroad complete, but we had no luck. This year we had it aplenty (guess I just didn't know where to look). But enough about the cider--on to more important things. While everyone was waiting patiently in the living room Lars and I could finally dish out our big surprise: turkey hats!

Oh yeah, we are that cool spending much more time than necessary crafting construction paper turkey head bands for everyone (names included). Let me tell you, this made for lots of laughs. Imagine trying to take someone serious with a turkey plastered across their forehead? It's really not possible!

(Me, Stine, Gjertrud toasting before dinner)

The dinner was a total success. Everyone was happy with the food, and helped themselves to seconds! Now that's the American spirit! The pie was also warmly welcomed, with coffee, drinks, laughs and games galore. It was the perfect Norwegian-American Thanksgiving. The only thing that was missing was the cranberry sauce (plus about 14 other family members, but who's counting?).

I must say that I never would have thought that I would be expressing what I was thankful for in a foreign language. But I guess no matter what language it is in the list stays the same...and I must add that I am beyond grateful to add this group of Norwegians to that long and growing list.

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