A Day at Work

So, as a job I help out cooking and serving meals at the Gamlestovo (old farmhouse) from roughly the 16th c. with parts that may be older. I get to work with my Dad which is alright and lets face it, its pretty dang cool to work out of a 16th c. building.

First up are some shots of randomness that may or may not interest some of you...

Mushrooms found by my house, the red type was what reportedly (old wives tale if you ask the locals) the Vikings ate before Beserking.

Local "goods", teas, berry syrups, this store is where you can find reindeer meat and cloudberry syrup.

Mushrooms from the region, dried and ready to cook with (see reindeer cooking post)

Dog picture...I warned you about these...I just like that he was thoughtful enough to allow the cat some room on the couch. What a sweety.

Next up, quick tour of "where I work".

My Dad and his Atypical cook work get-up

Foyer area, some original furnishings and utensils

Old stove in Gamlestovo

Very old (and tiny) bed and tiny slanted door I have to get in and out of the kitchen through

Tables set for dinner for 20

After "work" today, I was treated to a very beautiful sunset I could see as soon as I walked out after serving dinner.

=)

More Sunsets...

How to cook reindeer and the glacier close-up

Wanted to try some traditional food and have already tasted the smoked mackerel here (served on toast or with cold, cooked potatoes). This is a simple preparation of the "exotic" reindeer, which is a dish more commonly seen in Northern Norway where the Sami people raise these creatures.

Raw reindeer meat goes in the pan with some onions

After being sauteed with onions, mushrooms and juniper berries, its put in a pot with cream and brunost cheese sauce

Served over a bed of rice or potatoes

Tea makings from wild growing berries, rosehips and juniper berries

Photos from my day-trip to go have a closer view of the Folgefonna glacier I can see from my home. http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Theme/What-to-do/Active-holiday/Blue-ice-trip-on-the-Folgefonna-Glacier/

To get to the glacier we had to cross part of the fjord

Cows on the way up to the glacier

Meditating cow...contemplating the nature of the mountain =)

Mama ewe and her lambs also on the way to the glacier

Glacier up close

Melting glacier water running right off the glacier

Hikers on the glacier

In front of the glacier's beginings

Glacial pool up above the tree-line

You can see part of the winding road down here

Rocks left standing on other rocks from when the glacier receeded

Glacial waterfall and the glacier in the background (note pockets of snow)

Sheep and a little building, also far above the tree line

The color of the ice is actually an aquamarine hue, reason why the pools are also that color

Me and Bamse!

Bamse now being contemplative himself...to the best of his doggie ability

Glacial Waterfall (did collect some fresh glacier water while up there)

Og mer

Didn't all fit into a single post, so here.

Snail on blackberry plant

Pony on hillside

Mushroom in woods. This place is chock full of mushrooms, molds and mosses.

Wild roses, making some tea with the hips

Beautiful rocks by the fjord

Road to Norheimsund

"New" Farmhouse......not very new at all....

Water lily in farm's garden

TROLLS!