17th June - Icelands Independence Day

Today, the 17th of June, Iceland celebrates it's independence day - independence from Danish Rule in 1944, see we used the fact that they were then under German occupation to say na na na na na... we are going to rule ourselves now. Well, what a great job we have done so far.

Nevertheless, today was a good day in Sauðárkrókur.. Across the road the Madams had their little shop open where folk could come and sell their home made goods (too pricey for me - but rather lovely), they all dress in pseudo traditional dress.

Kaffi Krók had it´s official opening and the madams helped out by baking the cakes and breads that made up the coffee buffet - all you can eat for isk 1.500. Twas rather tasty and nice to sit out the front of KK pity though that the interio decor is not in keeping with the style of the house, hence no photos from inside.

Some of the madams hanging outside the front of KK waiting for customers ????

Another event of the day, my darling brother came and replaced another window in the house

The view is so much nicer now I think...

Another painting job this weekend...

More family

Today we were at my cousin Jóhannas daughter's place celebrating her graduation yesterday. She is now a proud bearer of the title Bachelor of Science in Business... Well done Steina! I really admire her as she has two kids and a full time job at Delloite and has been doing this degree part time for what I think she believes has been forever! Ofcourse delicious foods were to be had and as a bonus I created a decorating committee for the upcoming wedding, Steina, Þórdís and Guðný will be responsible for the decor at Mælifell for the coffee and cake reception - all very traditional with a nature theme, ie lots of Icelandic wild stuff... No major flower arrangements with imported roses and the like, just the farmers rose from ma´s garden, violets, daisies and mosses, birch and other nice things from nature. I love my family - always ready to pitch in!

This is the crowd enjoying the sunshine - pity there was a bit of a north wind.

Lots of young cousins - all boys, except ofcourse Victoria!

Nothing like a bit of tractor action.

Family, baby birds and painting windows

My nephew Kristinn has arrived from Australia, it´s really great having him here and as he is an avid photographer - it is great that the weather is performing - although the wind could turn itself off...

Am currently painting the window that was installed last week, will post photos once I have completed the job, two coats so far - but I think that a third will do the trick.

Also, I found a baby duck down near the foreshore, far away from the rocks and no parent birds in sight, I wasn´t sure what to do so brought it home. Mum then promptly sent me back to the foreshore with it - know that it would be doubtful that we could keep it alive and that it would have a better chance of survival with other ducks

Then we received a visitor from Canada, we share the same great grandmother, so there was a bit of a family gathering with her - Svava, her husband Gerry, my first cousin Sirrí her mum (mum´s sister - Maja) and another cousin that also shares the same great grandmother and lives here in the fjord - her name is Sirrí also (Sirrí like Sigga is a diminutive of Sigríður - our common great grandmother was also called Sigríður - Sigríður is a very common name!!) and Sirrís husband Jón.

Svava, mum and Jón - Sirrís husband

Maja, Sirrí, Gerry and Maggi

Jón and Sirrí. We had a great meal of salmon fillets, baked in the oven with a majones, dijon mustard, dill sauce thingy... yumm.

sea swimming in the nth atlantic.. surely only seals do this??

Tonight on our walk we encountered the new sailing club in action. Well kayakers.. so out they were with canoe and kayak, looking good, a brilliant non breezy evening - still temp around 10°c then they decided that a swim in the ocean would be appropriate...

A tad cold, but hey, young hearty folk like these..
Actually I was tempted to join them - just to check it out. Mind you as I was thinking this my hands were so cold... one day I will give it a go

No clever quote today

I am sooo excited, my brother - the hero of the day has put in one of my new windows. Ofcourse the window first replaced was the one damaged by an icicle this last winter...
Here is the hole in the wall:

Nice view into the dining area and kitchen

This is what the inside of my walls looks like. My house was originally built in 1898, since then three different exterior claddings have been added - one on top of the other. Luckily there is not too much rot, so I can breath easy about the structural integrity of the outer and inner shell.

A view out to the garden...

Window in and doing some adjustments

The man at work. He did all this in one day. Which was just as well, cos there still is a rather cool breeze blowing from the north.

And now for the main event - mums place is finished - doesn´t it look great!

He has done such a great job. Don´t know what we would do without him (pay heaps and heaps of money for unreliable trades folk no doubt!)

There is no cure for laziness but a large family helps. ~Herbert Prochnov

I looked everywhere for a quote about a big brother - seems that none exist.. Strange that, lots about younger brothers, sisters the lot, but not big bro. Anyway my big brother is a great guy - he is here at the moment putting new frontage on mum's place. He had already changed the windows a few years back and now for the finale. So here are a few photos from this weekends work effort (he also had help from my nephew - his son - Maggi - the best TA ever)
but before we get picture from the house here are some from our walk to Glerhallavík (Glass cave bay)

the walk out there is quite difficult in that it is very rocky - basically the shore line along a coast that has high muddy cliffs full of rocks ready to fall down on you

At the end there is this wonderful little water fall

and this great little bay. The reason why it is called Glass cave bay is because of the quartz rocks that are in the shore, apparently they are covered in basalt but because they are rolled around in the shore the bassalt comes of and what you have are lovely little white rocks

if you increase the size you can see three big examples...

The bay is just near Reykir, which is near the island of Drangey.

Now for some shots from the house:

Day one, side bit done

half the front finished


Tonight, almost all done, they have done a brilliant job.

PS I mowed the lawn for the third time this summer! also cleared out one room in the cellar. - Depending on the ambient temp - it will be where I start my attempt at home made wines.... hey its a depression.