Pick your Faovourites

 There have to be some advantages to getting old(er).  The worries about slipping on ice or the slowness of mind in learning a new language are not on that list, but having an abundance of experiences or items to choose from to deem as 'favourites' is something that I appreciate.  Some people I know have their favourite as whatever they are currently appreciating, and that is a great attitude if it results in gratitude for what one has.

But sometimes, I want to choose something specific because it is so unique or so much better in my opinion that all the others of that category.

Today's lunch reflected some of that.  The pear is a Conference pear.  It comes from the Netherlands and it is, in my opinion, the best pear around.  It has a smooth texture (some pears can be quite gritty), it is juicy without astringency, and at it's peak in flavour while still a little firm.  I am hoping to plant a Conference pear tree in our 'orchard' (6 trees qualify as an orchard) in Chippawa.

The brown lump on the side is Norwegian Brown Cheese.  It originated when regular cheese was so expensive that ordinary people couldn't afford it and yet they mixed milk with the whey and then produced a brown, carmelized substance which I would describe as a dessert cheese.

The roll is probably not the best that I have had as it came from a supermarket, but it is the type of sweet bread that I enjoy most, and this one even had marzipan and almonds.  My Mother made cinnamon rolls often and they were substantial but also a treat -- a perfect way to start a day.

These are a few of my favourite things:

Winter done differently

 Yes, winter is done differently here.  It doesn't stop normal life.  The bikes have studded tires; the paths are  cleared  before the roads; instead of salt, everyone spreads little granite gravel bits (somewhere between the size of rice and a soybean) which get swept up in the spring and reused the next year; and people are just more cautious.   Jenn and Richard loaned me a set of walking poles which have come in very handy in the spots where there is ice, just to keep me safe.  They recommended that I not ride a bike on the ice as it is quite tricky even with the special tires.

So I walk.  Today it was to Hemlingby, the outdoor recreation centre at the southern part of the city.  It was tricky in spots, but the 4.4 km only took an hour.  Lunch was amazing as always -- mushroom soup that definitely did not come out of a can.  I walked back to the shopping centre close by and found that ICA Maxi had not changed much since I was there 8 months ago.  But laden with groceries, I opted for the bus, even remembering that I wanted the 4 bus, not the 14 which came to the bus stop first.  Evidently, you can get different tickets -- some one way and others where you have 2 hours to ride wherever.  Convenient!

The hens laid their eggs outside.  

The sun did not rise above the trees, even at mid day.  And this is already significantly more light than a month ago.

Rich and Jenn went for a cross country ski this afternoon while the girls and I played games and Lego.

There is lots of skiing planned for the weekend.  Embrace winter!

Old and New

 Old and New

The last few weeks, we have spent time in Chippawa, getting to know the town where we will live, hopefully by the end of the year.  It is strange because I grew up just outside of Chippawa on the farm, and so I know what the bridge used to be like, which stores sold ice cream, and what that building used to be.  I guess that what comes from getting old and revisiting places you have known before.

Today I got that feeling here in Gavle.  I have been enough times that now I notice changes -- Kapphal has moved out of the central mall, ICA has put in a store above Intersport.  There are numerous open spaces in the mall and washrooms are now free.  I learned how to navigate the local bus system and have a money loaded card.  The bistro at Sylvanum is, sadly, closed.  

The organ concert at the big church was all Bach and great-- amazingly there was a live video feed from the upper organ console to a screen at the front of the church so we could see the organist.

Old and new, life goes on.