I'M A ONE WORD KIND OF GIRL!

Today my sweet friend Gracie over at A Touch of Grace has given me this Award! I'm so excited and super happy!

The hard part is that I have to answer all these questions with only ONE word! And if you know me, you know that I'm not a ONE word kind of girl... Usually words just fall out of me like marbles out of a broken bag... unstoppable and very uncontrolled. So here we go:

1. Where is your cell phone? Table
2. Your hair? Brownish
3. Your mother? Dead
4. Your father? Spain
5. Your favorite food? Any
6. Your dream last night? *blush*
7. Your favorite drink? PepsiMax
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. What room are you in? Livingroom
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Sickness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? travellingtheworld
13. Where were you last night? movies
14. Something that you aren’t? skinny
15. Muffins? Anytime!
16. Wish list item? House
17. Where did you grow up? Oslo
18. Last thing you did? Eat
19. What are you wearing? Undies++
20. Your TV? On
21. Your pets? Invisible
22. Friends? Fewbutwonderful
23. Your life? Sweet
24. Your mood? Content
25. Missing someone? US-friends:-(
26. Vehicle? Merecedes
27. Something you’re not wearing? Bikini
28. Your favorite store? Ikea
29. Your favorite color? Hotpink!
30. When was the last time you laughed? Now!
31. Last time you cried? Tuesday
32. Your best friend? Husband
33. One place that I go to over and over? Spain
34. One person who emails me regularly? Anne
35. Favorite place to eat? Table

There! Okay, I know I cheated a couple of places. Cut me some slack!

Now I have to pass this award on to 6 others:

Nanni at Nannis Verden

Kristen at All in a Mom's life

Alicia at It ain't easy being cheesy

La Belle Mere at Confused musings of a Stepmother on the Edge (talk about not being a ONE word kind of girl...)

Ecko over at Ecko and More

Marit at Som Mine dager er

So congratulations on your Award! Looking forward to seeing your answers.

I love you because....

I love you because...

• you make me laugh - often and loud!
• you are patient and slow to anger.
• you are selfless and always thinking about what is best for your family.
• you make a great tacosalad (and so many other meals too).
• you love me for who I am and have never tried to change me.
• you are calm and levelheaded.
• you are wise and kindhearted.
• you get up with the kids most mornings and never complain about it.
• you are loyal and trustworthy.
• you are truthful and honest.
• you always give me the top half of your dinner rolls (the best part!).
• you believe in me.
• you do everything you can to provide for us and spare me from worrying.
• you are friendly with everyone.
• you are just a likable guy.
• you love God and want to live your life serving Him.
• you do your work with excellence and always strive to be better.
• you put up thousands of christmas lights just to make me happy.
• you have the most beautiful hands I know.
• you scratch my back so that I can go to sleep.
• you don't complain that I stay up too late at night.
• you want me to have the best of everything.
• you watch chick-flicks with me and enjoy it!
• you have been a rock in times of trouble.
• you are strong when I am week.
• you are not afraid to be vulnerable.
• you have made my family yours and shared your family with me.
• you encourage me to follow my dreams.
• you think that I am good at my job.
• you compliment me as a mother and woman when I feel like crap.
• you make me a better person.
• you are a wonderful dad.
• you're a good kisser.
• you show me that you love me in everything you do.
• you have never made me feel unworthy of your love.
• you want to make me happy.
• you are my soulmate.
• you make this journey called life so much sweeter.

As we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary I just want to say to you that I love you more each day. Thank you for loving me and sharing your life with me. The best is yet to come!

My first time on a sailboat and a little history lesson from WW2

I feel embarrassed to admit it. I'm 40 and have never sailed until yesterday... I have been aboard sailboats, but never actually sailed. Yesterday I was invited by friends to spend the day in their beautiful sailboat and I had a blast. It was just a perfect day!

Leaving Hvitsten

Let's raise those sails

Arriving at Oscarsborg, a 350 year old fortress in the Oslo fjord.

Oscarsborg has such an interesting history that I want to share a small portion of it with you all. So here is today's history lesson:

The 9th of April 1940 the german heavy cruiser Blücher sailed through the Oslo fjord not stopping after warning shots further out. Watching the ship approach the commander at Oscarsborg, colonel Birger Erikesen, made the most important decision in norwegian military history. He did not have time to consult his superiors. He did not act on an order, but decided that the large german warship gliding through the water had to be stopped. He gave the order to strike with full force even though Norway was not at war. He had no time to check the nationality of the ship, but gave the order to fire. Blücher sunk, the conquest of Oslo was delayed, the king and government managed to escape and about 1000 soldiers died in the cold waters of the fjord. Nazi-Germany lost one of its most powerful war machines at sea.

What a difference ONE man can make!

One of the canons at the fortress.

The view of the Oslo fjord from the fortress is awesome.

At sea even the simplest lunch tastes like a gourmet meal.

Relaxing.

Back at Hvitsten

Saying goodbye!

I ♥ Faces in blue

This is the first time I'm hooking up with I ♥ Faces. This week's challenge is to find a photo that features the color blue. I chose this one. It's one of my favorite photos of my son fishing crabs down by the pier. Some of you might have seen this picture in black and white on my right sidebar. He is smart, kind, funny, wise, bold, handsome, cool and thoughtful. He's just the greatest kid EVER and I am so proud of him!

Nantucket Lobster Chowder

Autumn is here and every day nature is changing. Bring your camera when you are out walking and take lots of pictures. I took this picture when we had a picnic at Sagvollen in Hadeland, Norway.

After a long walk in the woods it's time for some comfort food. This soup is easy and wonderful - my favorite combination!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup Chardonnay
• 2 (3/4-pound) fresh or frozen, thawed lobster tails
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)
• 1 pound small red potatoes, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Preparation

Melt butter in a 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth and wine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut top and bottom lobster shells lengthwise down the middle. Carefully separate shell halves, and gently pull lobster meat in 1 piece from shells. Cut shell halves in half crosswise, and add to broth. Cut meat in half lengthwise, then slice it crosswise into bite-size pieces. Refrigerate meat.

When shell mixture has simmered 20 minutes, add corn, potatoes, salt, and cayenne pepper. Return mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 12 minutes. Remove shells, and discard.

Add lobster meat, chives, and tarragon to broth mixture; simmer 6 minutes. Stir in cream, and cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Serve it with fresh bread and a nice glass of Chardonnay. Perfect!

The recipe is from Coastal Living Magazine.

The Autumn by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,

And turn your eyes around,

Where waving woods and waters wild

Do hymn an autumn sound.

The summer sun is faint on them --

The summer flowers depart --

Sit still -- as all transform'd to stone,

Except your musing heart.

How there you sat in summer-time,

May yet be in your mind;

And how you heard the green woods sing

Beneath the freshening wind.

Though the same wind now blows around,

You would its blast recall;

For every breath that stirs the trees,

Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth

That flesh and dust impart:

We cannot bear its visitings,

When change is on the heart.

Gay words and jests may make us smile,

When Sorrow is asleep;

But other things must make us smile,

When Sorrow bids us weep!

The dearest hands that clasp our hands, --

Their presence may be o'er;

The dearest voice that meets our ear,

That tone may come no more!

Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,

Which once refresh'd our mind,

Shall come -- as, on those sighing woods,

The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind -- view not the woods;

Look out o'er vale and hill-

In spring, the sky encircled them --

The sky is round them still.

Come autumn's scathe -- come winter's cold --

Come change -- and human fate!

Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,

Can ne'er be desolate.

Cakes from Dubai on a Pink Saturday

It's Saturday and again there's a Pink Party going on over at Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound. Visit her to find more lovely pink posts this Satuday.

Today I was all out of pink ideas, so I googled pink to see if anything interesting caught my attention. I found something that was just amazing:

The most incredible cakes I have ever seen - and they are made in Dubai! Who knew... Having spent about an hour browsing their website I can safely say that they have a cake for everyone.

For the fashionista:

Juicy couture

Louis Vuitton

or Chanel?

For the crocklovers:

For the coffee lover

For a birthday girl:

A cake inspired by the mad hatter...

For the babyshower:

For the sleepover party:

For your husband?

For the rich and famous:

A pink Bently!

A pink bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne

You HAVE to check out more of their cakes at HouseofcakesDubai.com. Really, you HAVE to!

I would also like to introduce you to another one of Pink Saturday's participants: Suzanne at The Shabby Tiara. I saw her blog for the first time last week and loved her blog. Please take the time to visit her today!