LIFE IN HOLSEN

We awaken every morning to see the mirror-glass lake and the mountain across the water.  We check out the waterfall that is diminishing daily due to the lack of snow now on the mountain top.  There is still a line of water and we can faintly hear it.  We eat at a table full of food every morning at 9:00.  Fish, eggs, breads, cheeses, jam, sometimes cereal ( oh we Americans!) scrimp salad, liver pate, etc.etc.etc.  We do not go hungry.
We drive to Forde where we shop for groceries and the like.  We visit family members.  We met many at a farm in Haukedalen where they gathered folks to meet us.  I remembered a few that were children when we were here in 1970.  The younger people now own the farms.  They had a lovely long table set under the shade trees and we ate fish caught from their lake ( smoked and yummy) several salads and lefser and other desserts.  Currants are ripe now, so there were two different currant dishes.  We picked red currants a few days ago on the mountain farm across Lake Holsen.  They are good to eat as is with a bit of vanilla sauce on them.  I think jam will be made with most of them.  I learned to make Natronkake from one of the family.
Her name is Turid and is a master of this delicious biscuit.  It is served with brown cheese ( often goat cheese) or with jam.  I can hardly wait to make this for my family and my church family.  Dan caught two fish in Holsen Lake two nights ago and plans to catch more.  We swam in the lake yesterday after a hot day and hike up to the cabin on Gulefjellen.  Hiking on big rocks is a norm here, but I must say it was a challenge at times.  There is marshy, mossy grass fields we walked through, also.  Keep in mind that the cows and sheep are grazing up high in the mountains now.  They are stepping into mud up to their middles in some spots.
We saw and dodged big holes in the mud where their footprints are and also cow pies. Many people have summer cabins up on this and other mountains and along the lakes.  They are kempt and beautifully painted.
One could spend much time in these spots.
We eat the biggest meal ( called middag) at around 3:30 or 4:00, and eat another meal later in the evening.
The light remains from early morning until 11:30 p.m.  Indeed, we are now seeing the light lessening earlier this past week.  It seems we are going from morning to bedtime being busy every minute in between.
We are enjoying it here immensely.  It will be hard to leave here on Monday morning 28 July.
We have seen 4 Stave churches on little trips around Sogn og Fjordane.  This is where the longest fjord is and the most fjords are.  It seems idyllic to me, and I think Dan, also.  We won't buy property here, but there is an urge to do so.  This quiet life seems inviting.