A churn is a device for making butter

Yesterday was the county fair, held in the equestrian centre just outside of town.  My contribution on the day was to churn butter in the traditional way using a replica of a butter churn used in Iceland from Viking times to the early part of the 20th century.  Next to me was Ásdís who was demonstrating the art of making skyr.

 Our little set up, Eirikur and Eyþór getting ready for the days events.  Brynja from the office baked rye bread the night before so that people could taste the butter on fresh home made bread.  Needless to say this was much appreciated.  

 Ásdís starting the separation process.  First you warm the raw milk then put it in the separator and turn...

 On one side you get cream and on the other skimmed milk.

 The day before she had made 8kg of skyr from 30 litres of milk.  It´s a fairly simple process but time consuming.

 Serious discussion regarding sheep and farming.  Eyþór (on the left) was the mc for the day and walked around with a head set letting everyone know what would be happening next.  As we were busy churning butter and cutting bread, we didn´t get to see too much.

 However, I did manage to snap some shots for the ram judging competition.

 This one is called Ostur (cheese) and he is from my Uncle's farm at Tunga.... such a sweety.

 This one belongs to Fjóla - my work colleague..... he apparently scored well for being well behaved.

 Eirikur (another work colleague) with his favourite ram.

Hrefna and Jón with their ram.... He wasn´t that keen on the walk to the judging area.


It was a great day.  I churned 8 litres of cream into about 3kgs of butter.  The cream was given to us from the local dairy - it was so good, very thick and probably had a higher fat % than the cream that I am used to using.  This meant that towards the end of the churning process things got a tad hard.  Had to enlist the help of fit and strong looking men as they walked past.   It was quite amusing to see their faces when they realised how hard it really was.  But, it was a hit, the butter tasted excellent and I had a great time - can't wait till next year!

Now that it's all over, what did you really do yesterday that's worth mentioning? ~Coleman Cox

Another week over, last week was full of work and a start to the meeting season, but the weekend brought with it Gæran - a local music festival.  I scored some free tickets from my lovely neighbour across the way as she is one of the festivals organisers.  Before going though I invited folk for dinner.  Guðný and Heiðdís as well as Olga and Ross and ofcourse mum.  Guðný is ofcourse related to Henry Thor.... so she took great delight in getting to know him better.

Have I mentioned recently what a lovely little man he is...

 Nina, got to come as well.... She was quite impressed.... she looks at me and sees food.  I tend to be a bit lax about removing Freyja's food bowl before she comes.  

 Unlike most days after a big night out, Saturday was all about painting.... Maggi had bought paint and cement filler to touch up the concrete base on mums house and also paint to paint the steps.  A job I have neglected for far too many years..... It was actually quite beneficial, rather than lie in bed or be super lazy around the house, we were out in the cold wind making ma's place look all shiny.

 There was a little bit of sun shining from the west, but as I was mainly working on the west side I felt the first feelings of autumn.  It got sooo cold.  

See shiny stairs and me lying underneath touching up the concrete below.
We ofcourse rewarded ourselves with a beer or two.


Have a great week folks.

No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. ~Christopher Morley

Another busy week, another good week, so hard to remember what I did yesterday let alone last weekend... However, it is slowly coming back to me... I should take my camera everywhere with a date and time stamp just to remind me... Anywhooo.  Sigga sister in law and Helgi big brother came for a surprise visit.  Helping Maggi change the gutters on his house, Sigga took the opportunity to check the main man... such a cutie.

 My nephew Gunni, his wife and two boys also journeyed north... This is Aron, showing that he is the BOSS... nah, sweet boy, getting worried that so far all the greats are nephews... no great nieces as yet.  Still, there are a few to go in the procreation stakes within the Jonsson family.  Jacqui, Maja, .... the rest of you..... we await a balance in the gender scales.....  

 My contribution is ofcourse the ultra female Freyja, pity she's a dog, which means according to English nouns, she is a bitch..... hey, she's mine!  She is currently malting... I think that I have mentioned this before on my blog... I hate it, I hate it soooo much, but this is what happens twice a year, the whole surface area of my house is covered in fine - very fine - dog hair.  I am trying my best this year in doing a daily sweep, and brush down of the sofa, but still they persist..... Still she is the most beautiful little bitch in the world.

 She is also very well aware of this and will only rest her head on pillows.... two at least but not bad to have a selection..
In other news this weekend is Gæran, a local music fest that started last year and is held in the tannery in our small light industrial area.  I scored some free tickets and will be checking it out.  Might even try to remember to take my camera and take a few photos and videos of the event.  Pity it's not smellavision as that would make it even better, but you can do it at home - wet your dog or if you have one a sheep... you will know what I mean. 
In other news, my brother Jon has taken the Freyjamobile for a spin, so far they are in Hólmavík in the western region of Iceland.... now I have no more excuses... I will be taking mum out of the fjord at some stage.
And finally... the main man, Olga and Sigga..... so adorable.

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Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing. ~Adolph Monod

Been another busy week, another good week, another week in a life that is blessed with so many good things.  My sister told me that I have a new readership - her class at Roleystone Primary or is it called a Junior school.  Anyway - a big hi to the kids in Mrs H's class.  She used this to demonstrate what having a diary was all about.  Kind of makes me a little worried about self editing.. about diction... about appropriate punctuation... Then, I remind myself - this is a diary.  Not a work of literature, it's for me, my family and my friends and now if they want the kids in the class.  The above photo is of my aunt Sigga, she is my dad's younger sister, to us in the fam she is known as Sigga stór frænka (which literally means Sigga the big relative - big as in "great" as is "strong" as in the one that rules the roost.  She hates having her photo taken - as can be seen by the expression she is giving.  I love her to death, she is so formidable, can have such a scathing way... but underneath she is as soft as the rest of us.  She loves her family and she loves her husband Þórð.

My wonderful brother Jon Bjorn is here on the rock at the moment with his lovely wife Lóa, they too are a couple that love and respect each other.  It's good to know that these sorts of relationships, like all those my sibling have, my parents had and my aunt Sigga has exist.  Makes you believe that it is possible to marry for love and to live and learn with your best friend.  Soppy, I know - but inspirational.

 Here is Sigga trying to avoid the camera, pretending to be deep in conversation with me - the conversation was about how much she hates having her picture taken.  
Then you have three people that are not at all averse to being photographed - and just as well.  Ross, Henry and Freyja - so beautiful.

 Mum got to sit with great grandson H and Freyja showed that she could be non jealous for the little one.

 Such a great little man is my great nephew... I know my sister misses him so much, but she can now start to plan and look forward to her next visit.  It will be even more exciting.

 The little family from up the street.... so great.

In other news, we took the Freyjamobile for a drive on Sunday - were planning to camp in Hofsós on the other side of the fjord.  We were going to have dinner there in the one and only restaurant in Hofsós.  So, we took no provisions, thinking that all would be well..  Anywho, the restaurant was fully booked, no room for me and ma.  Which meant that we drove right on home again.  Still, we did spend a couple of hours at the camp site, got the gas and water working in the car and basically know that all will be well for our next excursion.  It was just as well, as we had to do a bit of a dash half way to Akureyri and I needed the sleep.  I have to do something to my bed in the van to make it a little less hard and lumpy.   Freyja was also extremely happy to be home.


Today was the 18th anniversary of my fathers passing.  I still miss him so much......