Smuk morgen -- Beauty in the Morning

Vores udsigt i morges, da det lige var blevet lyst -- Our view at the break of dawn.

Sne! Det betyder snevafler. Og de blev da også bagt. -- Snow! This means waffles. They got made.

Søndagsbilleder ~ Stadig sne :: Sunday Selection ~ Still Snowy

Endnu et par dage, i dag søndag og i morgen, mandag, formiddag får vi smukt vintervejr. Så vender det kedelige "ingentingvejr" med skyer, regn og gråt tilbage. Bare se på vejrmeldingen her ... suk. Alle sneuglerne sidder trist tilbage og tuder. 

Men i dag kunne vi nyde det!

Data: DMI, Grafik: BedreVejr

Today and tomorrow, Monday, we will still be treated to nice winter weather. Then it ends, and grey, dreary, low clouds and rain will be taking over. MotherOwl and the other SnowOwls are quite sad. Look at what's in the future according to DMI.

But today we enjoyed.

Hov, hvor er fuglene? Jeg står og ser på dem, længe. Men i det øjeblik, jeg tager mit kamera - vupti, ikke en fugl i syne!

And where are the birds? I stand for long, just looking at them. But the second I grab  my camera. Voila, not a bird in sight!

Snefeer danser på engen.

The snow fairies are dancing in the meadows.

--- ❅ ---

Og byens juletræ. Det er pænere med lys på, indrømmet. Men hvorfor katten kan vi ikke bare få et rigtigt træ?

And the tree in town now lit, which absolutely is an improvement. But drat it, why can't we just have a real tree?

Og lad os ende med noget smukt. Mere sne og en sjagger

Let's end on a positive note. More snow and a fieldfare!

Glædelig 4. søndag i advent -- Happy 4th Sunday of Advent

Sunday selections :: Let it SNOW!

Sidste uge - 🕯🕯- Last week

På indkøb - Vores rådhus. - 6. december - Shopping - Our Town hall!

Kvart i fire - på vej hjem med bussen - 6. december - A quarter to four - on my way home by bus

Det sneede! - 7. december - Let it snow!

Snefnuggene blev hængt op - 7. december - Someone hung the snow ornaments

og vi fik snevafler - 7. december - and we had snow waffles

Dem her kom indenfor. Der var is i sodavandene
- 7 december -
I took these inside, the soft drinks were partially frozen.

Torsdag var det fuldmåne og koldt. - 8. december - Thursday the full moon shone and it was cold.

Jeg foldede og flettede et par numre af Ugeposten til at stille planter på
- 8. december -
I folded and wove together some issues of the local paper. Making "trivets / mats" for the plants.

Yuzutræet kom også ind. Det skulle nok have været ind sammen med laurbærrene, jeg håber det overlever. Nu har de i hvert fald begge en avisflettet ting at stå på.
 - 8. december -
The yuzu plant has joined the laurel inside. I should probably have taken it inside earlier, and hope it survives. At least both now have a nice newspaper mats to stand on.

En dejlig solnedgang - 8. december - A most delicious sunset

Ved mit gamle Vejen hjem-træ, månen ser stadig fuld ud
- 9. december -
At the On my Way Home-tree. The moon still looks full.

Det sneede igen, og vores æbler var et tag selv bord
- 10. december -
Again snow. Our apples were a buffet for birds.

Solsorte - 10. december - Blackbirds

og sjaggere - 10. december - and fieldfares

Den er også flot bagfra - 10. december - It's also pretty from behind.

Sneuglejubel :: Snow Owl Happyness

 I morges så verden sådan ud.
In the morning the world looked like this.

Kardebollerne på terrassen - som jeg fangede i et smukt øjeblik tilbage i juli - var også fulde af sne.

The wild teasels - which I last showed off back in July - also had their snowy moment.

Jeg elsker sne!   -- ❅ --  I love snow!

I dag -- Today

I dag er det årets korteste dag ... eller den længste nat om man vil. Solen står op klokken 8.41 og går ned igen 15.37. Dermed er dagen hele 6 timer og 56 minutter lang og vi har mistet 10 timer og 43 minutter siden vi havde den længste dag.
I dag er Ugleungerne til virtuel juleafslutning.
I dag bliver det måske snevejr.

-- 📆 --

Today is the shortest day .. or the longest night if you prefer it that way. The sun raises at 8:41 and sets again at 3:51 pm. We have all of 6 hours and 56 minutes of - mostly murky - daylight. At midsummer we had 19 and 3/4 hours more daylight. It is a bit scary.
Today the Owlets have their last - digital - school day before Christmas holidays begin.
Today we might have snow.



I dag er jeg nået så langt med kaleidoskop-kuglen

--

Today I made it this far with the kaleidoscopic bauble

Næsten færdig -- Almost there

Sunday Selection -- Snow and Colours

We had snow:

A bit like Narnia; don't you think?

And those three ice cold beings came visiting - they have already left again.

Inspired by HeyJude at Life in Colour, I found my kaleidoscope.

And a bunch of multicoloured tea bags for folding baubles.

Sne, haveuglen og vafler.

Snow, GardenOwl and Waffles

Endelig lykkedes det Haveuglen at opleve snevejr. Men nu er han båret væk. Han tåler nemlig ikke frost særligt godt.

-- ❄ --

Finally GardenOwl experienced snow. He is now put away, as frost is conming.

-- ❄ --

     Den 1. december sneede det - meget passende for den første vinterdag. TIl vores store glæde var jorden helt dækket af sne. Det betyder snevafler. .
     Så Uglemor producerede et veritabelt bjerg af opvask, helt præcist en gryde, to spiseskeer, en gaffel, en kniv, tre skåle, en dejskraber, en bagepensel, to piskeris, to decilitermål og to vaffeljern.
     Og så bagte Uglemor selvfølgelig en masse snevafler. Det lykkedes oven i købet at bage den næsten perfekte snevaffel! Der manglede kun en lille bid.

-- ❄ --

  December 1st is the first day of winter. To prove this we had snow. Not much, but enough to cover the ground, which made us all mile in anticipation, as this means snow waffles!
   Thus MotherOwl produced a veritable mountain of dirty plates and cutlery. To be exact: one pot, two tablespoons, one fork, one knife, three bowls, one spatula, one basting brush, two whisks, two measuring cups, and two waffle irons.  By using all this MotherOwl made a lot of waffles, enough for all the inhabitants of the Owlery. She even produced an almost perfect waffle.  Only a tiny bit was missing.

Og her er opskriften:

Vafler
190 g mel
5 spsk sukker
8 spsk hvidtøl
4 æg
175 g smør
1½ dl piskefløde
     Rør mel, sukker, æggeblommer og øl sammen - det bliver tykt. Smelt smørret og bland det i. Pisk fløden. Rør flødeskummet i dejen. Varm vaffeljernet op, og pensl det med lidt smør. Pisk hviderne stive. Når vaffeljernet er varmt vendes æggehviderne i dejen. Vend jernet og hæld knapt en dl dej ad gangen på midten af jernet, vend det efter ca to minutter, og vend igen inden næste portion kommer i. Der bliver 10-12 vafler af denne portion.
     Serveres rygende varme med syltetøj, æblemos, kanelsukker eller ahornsirup efter smag.

-- ❄ --

And the recipe:

Waffles
190 g flour
5 tbsp sugar
8 tbsp malt beer
4 eggs
175 g butter
1½ dl whipping cream
     Mix the flour, sugar, egg yolks and beer together - it will be thick. Melt the butter and mix it in. Whip the cream. Stir the whipped cream into the dough. Heat the waffle iron(s) and brush with a little butter. Beat the whites until stiff. When the waffle iron is hot, fold the egg whites into the batter. Turn the iron over and pour just under 1 dl of batter at a time onto the centre of the iron, turning it after about two minutes, and turning again before putting in the next batch. This will make 10-12 waffles.
     Serve piping hot with jam, applesauce, cinnamon & sugar or maple syrup to taste.

Den allersidste vaffel er altid Uglemors! Nam-nam.

-- ❄ --

The very last waffle is always eaten by MotherOwl - Yummy.

Snevafler -- Snow Waffles

     I går var jorden dækket af sne. Det betød at vi skulle have snevafler. Snevafler er meget lækre, så det er noget, vi altid ser frem til.
     Men i går havde stakkels Spiril jo brækket sin tå, og var ikke så frisk. Uglemor havde været tidligt oppe for at være med Spiril på hospitalet og var lidt træt, og værst af alt, Skribenten var ikke hjemme. Så derfor blev snevaflerne udsat til i dag. Og i dag producerede Uglemor så et veritabelt bjerg af opvask, helt præcist en gryde, to spiseskeer, en kniv, tre skåle, en dejskraber, en bagepensel, to piskeris, to decilitermål og to vaffeljern.
     Og så bagte Uglemor selvfølgelig en masse snevafler. Det lykkedes oven i købet at bage den næsten perfekte snevaffel! Der mangler kun en lille bid.

-- ❅ - ❄ - ❅ --

When it snows, and the snow covers the ground, MotherOwl bakes snow waffles. But yesterday, when the snow fell, no waffles were made. Poor Marsupilami and his broken toe were a bit off colour, MotherOwl was sleepy from being at the hospital with him early in the morning, and worst of all, the Writer was not at home. Snow waffles were postponed.
But today MotherOwl produced a veritable mountain of dirty plates and cutlery. To be exact: one pot, two tablespoons, one knife, three bowls, one spatula, one basting brush, two whisks, two measuring cups, and two waffle irons.  By using all this MotherOwl made a lot of waffles, enough for all the inhabitants of the Owlery. She even produced an almost perfect waffle.  Only a tiny bit was missing.

Bump midt om natten og SNE!

 Things that go bump in the night and SNOW!

    Midt i nat, eller måske tidligt i morges, i hvert fald på et tidspunkt hvor alle anstændige ugler har hovedet under vingen, blev Uglemor vækket af nogle høje BUMP!-lyde. Og nej, det var hverken hekse eller spøgelser, det var stakkels Spiril der var faldet ned ad trappen. Og han havde brækket en tå. Kun en af de der små tæer der ikke har sig eget navn.
     Normalt har Uglemor i den situation bare klæbet tåen sammen med den ved siden af og så fortsat. I hvert fald de to gange, det har været hendes egne tæer, det var gået ud over.
     Men ikke nok med at denne tå absolut var brækket; den sad altså også i en sjov vinkel.
     Uglemor tog med Spirillen til nærmeste sygehus, hvor vi var næsten helt alene og blev fint behandlet. Spirillens tå blev røntgenfotograferet, og tåen så også mærkelig ud på det billede.
     Så blev tåen bedøvet - til Spirillens store skræk med indsprøjtninger - og lige så nydeligt sat på plads med kraftigt håndarbejde af den unge læge. Så klæbede han tæerne sammen, tog et nyt billede, hvor tåen nu var fin og lige igen - den så også fin ud udefra - og sendte os hjem igen.

     Spirillen hinkede omkring og skræmte næsten livet af os med sine hop. Så ringede de fra hospitalet igen, det var vi blevet advaret om, kunne ske. Han skulle komme ind og få en "støttefod" på.
     Det klarede han heldigvis alene, og nu kan han med forsigtighed vandre omkring i huset uden at være ved at vælte sig selv og alle andre.

Da han var på vej hjem, begyndte det at sne. Sådan rigtigt med store, hvide flager, og snevejret kom da heldigvis med ham hjem.

-- 👻 --

In the middle of the night, or the wee hours of the morning - in any case - at a time where all decent owls sleep with the head beneath their wing, MotherOwl was awakened by a BUMP! The bump was neither a ghost nor a witch, but Marsupilami. He fell down the stairs, and told us his toe might be broken.
It was one of the small ones not having a name of their own. MotherOwl is known to brutally tape (her own) broken toes to its neighbour and that's it. But Marsupilami's toe was broken for real, jutting out in an awkward angle. Nothing doing but a visit to the nearest ER.
We were almost the only ones there, and after an x-ray showing a bone jutting out. A nice and competent young doctor anaesthetized the toe, using injections to Marsupilami's chagrin, and set the bone. One more X-ray showed the bone in a normal position. It looked fine from the outside as well. Then he taped the toe to its neighbour and sent us home.
Later the hospital phoned us again, as the doctor had warned us might happen, and told us that Marsupilami had to come back and be fitted with a supportive device. Great idea as his method of locomotion was a hazard to him and his surroundings.

On his way home with his foot enclosed in a charming black sandal, he met some snow. Real big snowflakes falling and dancing in the wind. And he brought the mini-snowstorm back home with him.

Sneuglejubel - Snow Owl Happiness

      Når man vågner op til en verden med hvidt på alle flader og tindrende sol. Og når vejrmeldingen oven i købet ser sådan her ud. Så er der kun ét ord der dækker

❆ ❅ ❄ ☃ 💙 ☃ ❄ ❅ ❆

When MotherOwl awakens to a world where every possible thing i covered in white, and where the sun is glinting in a zillion snowflakes. And when the weather promises to continue to look like this. Only one word is able to describe it.

SNEUGLEJUBEL

SNOW-OWL-JUBILANCE

DMI

Advent 2017 - del 3

     Tidlig mandag morgen så vores adventsvindue sådan ud. Nu er der blevet hængt op hver dag i 1. uge i advent.
     Og som måske kan ses på billedet, kommer den heldige Ugleunge i dag til at trække den grønne pose og hænge snefnuggne op. Der er faldet sne. Ikke meget, men det er sne!

*   *   *

*   *

*

Early in the morning today, our window looked like this. Every day in the first week of advent, an ornament was hung in the window. And as can maybe be seen from this photo, today the lucky Owlet will hang the snowflakes from the green bag. Not much snow, but snow it is!

     Uglemor har som sædvanligt fået en idé og foldet 105 thebreve. Hun har bare regnet forkert, og nu mangler hun godt 60 theposer! Suk. Regning er ikke Uglemors stærkeste side.

*   *   *

*   *

*

As always MotherOwl had an idea. She has been folding and joining 105 teabags. But arithmetics, spherical geometry and MotherOwl never became friends. Now she's missing a bit more than 60 teabags. Sigh.

Sne! Snow!

    I dag er Uglemor glad * * * * * Det har nemlig sneet. Det er bare så meget nemmere at stå op om morgenen, når sneen oplyser hele verden.
     Krydderuglens skilt , der fortæller at det er her, man kan købe sæber, vegetabilsk vaseline og af og til honning, var blevet smukt pyntet af sneen.
     Da Uglemor fulgte Ugleungerne til bussen var det hvidt og glat. En af Ugleungerne skulle naturligvis lige tjekke, om det nu også var glat. Han fik en øm bagdel som bevis for sagen.

* * * * *

Look it has been snowing! MotherOwl is happy. It's so much easier getting up to a snowlit world. And look at the "HerbalOwl" sign, showing it's here you can buy soap, un-petroleum jelly and sometimes honey, it is beautifully decorated by snow.
When MotherOwl walked with the Owlets to the bus it was white and frozen. One of the Owlets had to try, despite MotherOwl's admonitions, and now has a sore behind.

Bare nyd billederne fra det tilsneede og frosne land.

Enjoy the photos from a snowy, frosty morning.

Ud over markerne - Across the fields

Det normale På vejen hjem-sted - The normal on my way home-spot.

De her stokroser viser at det er frossen tøsne, eller måske slud
These frozen stalks show that it's frozen sleet, not real snow.

     I går aftes, da det begyndte at sne, var Uglemor ude og kaste et par snebolde. De var tunge og våde og sagde sjask da de ramte skiltet.

    Yesterday evening, when it started snowing, MotherOwl just had to throw a few snow balls. They were wet and heavy and went splash as they hit the road signs.

Ugens ugle -- 2 -- Owl of the Week

     Ugens ugler er uldugler (Woowlies kommer herfra, men er modificeret på flere måder af Uglemor siden). De er laver af nogle poser der rummede chokoladekaffebønner. Den lille hedder Espresso og den store Cappuccino.
     De to står som repræsentanter for en stor flok uldugler, der alle bor på en hylde i Uglehulen og minder Uglemor om ferier, udflugter og hverdage i de forgangne år.

- o 0 o -

The owls of the week are Woowlies. Originally from Moonstitches, but modified through several steps by MotherOwl. These two are made from bags that contained coffee flavoured chocolate beans last Christmas. They're called Espresso and Cappuccino, and represents a flock of woowlies living on a shelf in the Project room where they remind MotherOwl of happy holidays, outings and everyday life through the years.

     I tilgift får I lige vejrmeldingen for den  kommende uge. Hvem bliver ikke glad i låget over klar frost og et lille drys sne ind i mellem? Tid til at lave ahornslik, islygter og bare have det sjovt med sne og frost.

Some happy weather report. In the Owlery we all receive a weather report like this with smiles. This means that the snow that fell yesterday morning will stay. Time for maple candy, ice lanterns and general fun in the wintry weather.

DMI

En snemands skæbne -- The fate of a Snowman

I går sneede det. I dag spiste vi snevafler og byggede snemænd. Snemænd er smukke, men de er ikke skabt til varmen i vores stuer. 
 --
Yesterday it snowed. Today we had snow waffles and build snowmen. Snowmen are pretty, but not made for the living room.

Hej, verden! --  Hello world!

Pyh, her er varmt! -- Wow, it's hot in here!

Nu er den her ikke mere. -- There and gone again.

Vejen hjem -- 43 -- On my Way Home

     Lørdag aften kom der sne - meget sne. For en gangs skyld boede vi i det heldige hjørne af landet, hvor sneen faldt.

Saturday nigth it snowed. And it sure did. We were outside throwing snowballs and building a snowman in the dark. Sunday it still snowed, we stayed home from mass. It has been very pretty all over wiht cold nigths, 10 below zero, but now normal Danish winter has returned and the thaw has set in. By tomorrow the snow ewill be gone, but still it's pretty.

Sneflokke kommer vrimlende,                           Snowflakes come all a-tumbeling
hen over diger trimlende,                                   The trees all stand a-mumbelling
det knyger ud af himlene,                                   The load of snow is humbeling
det sluger hegn og gård,                                     Feels like it'll never cease.
det ryger ind ad sprækkerne                              It creeps in through the cracks in all
til pølserne på rækkerne,                                   It covers all our victuals
og fårene ved hækkerne                                    And sheep and other animal
får blink i pelsens hår.                                        Has scintillating fleece

Og poplerne bag mønningen                              The trees beyond our watermill
de duver dybt i dønningen,                                 Is bendings down against their will
og over stakke-grønningen                                 And over fields and over hill
omtrimler kærv og neg,                                      The sheaves come tumbling down.
det klaprer én om ørene                                     The doors and gates are clattering
fra portene til dørene,                                         The children are a-chattering
bag hvilke de små Sørene'                                  And gloves and scarves are scattering.
har rustet sig til leg.                                             They're going out of doors.

Og gammelmor i klokkerne                                And granny in her woollen skirts
med huen og grålokkerne,                                  Will tell us- as we often heard -
hun haler op i sokkerne                                      That snow and blow is getting worse.
og ser forsagt derud,                                           Beware the rimy grass!
for nu er kålen liggende,                                      She tell us that the kale will freeze
og nu står tjørnen stikkende                                That snow blowing througe hawthorn leaves
og spidder sne på piggene;                                  And children that at morning sneeze
og nu kom Kjørmes-knud!                                  Bode snow till candlemas.

Jeppe Aakjær 1916 (Written when Danes were still farmers, keeping their sausages etc in the attic or in a dedicated building)

Solopgang/solnedgang: 8:05/15:47, dagens længde 7:42, aftaget 9:51

Vejen hjem -- 6 -- On my way Home

     I morges klokken halv otte lå Uglemor i sin varme seng. det er jo vinterferie tænkte Uglemor. Næste tanke var, det er jo tirsdag. Hvad gør man ikke for sine læsere, Uglemor stod op og trak i tøjet og var henne ved lygtepælen til sædvanlig tid, ca. kvart i otte, for at tage det ugentlige billede af vejen hjem.
     Det var frostvejr, men det er en dårlig idé at tage billede mod øst ti minutter før solopgang. Himlen var skønt lyseblå med småbitte drivende hvide skyer, græsset var hvidt og knasende og luften klar og bidende. Lige da Uglemor puttede kameraet tilbage i lommen, fløj otte svaner hen over landskabet med lydelige vingeslag.

 - - - - -

This morning at half past seven, MotherOwl was still in her cosy bed thinking: "It's school holiday, I don't have to get up just yet." The next thought was: "Well MotherOwl, its Tuesday, get up and snap a picture for your blog. What I do for my readers!" MotherOwl got up, dressed in her woollen cloak - it was sub-zero temperature, went to the lamppost just in time to snap the weekly photo at the usual time; a quarter to eight give or take a few minutes.
 It was cold, clear and crisp. Taking photos towards east not ten minutes before sunrise manes for bad pictures. Imagine the sky pale blue with small fuzzy cloudlets, the air crisp, and the blades of grass slightly white and crunchy with frost. As MotherOwl tucked away the camera a flock of white swans flew over her head, their beating wings humming loudly.

Snemand Frost og frøken Tø
gik en tur ved Søndersø ...
(Halfdan Rasmussen) 
Snowman Frost and Lady Thaw
Took a walk around the lake ...

Stadig ikke helt solopgang, men næste uge måske.

Still not quite Sunrise, but we'll be getting there.

Solopgang/solnedgang: 7:50/17:00, dagens længde 9:10, tiltaget 2:20

- - - -

      Og så kunne jeg ikke dy mig, men måtte oversætte hele verset om den bittersøde kærlighedshistorie mellem Snemand Forst og Frøken Tø.
     En hyldest til Halfdan Rasmussen, der ville være fylde 100 år den 29. januar i år.

I just could not leave it be. I had to translate the whole bitter-sweet poem of Lady Thaw and Snowman Frost.
A tribute to the author Halfdan Rasmussen, whose 100 year's birthday was on 29th of January.

Snemand Frost og Frøken Tø                         Snowman Frost and Lady Thaw
gik en tur ved Søndersø                                  Took a walk around the lake,
fandt en bænk og slog sig ned,                        Found a bench where they sat down,
talte lidt om kærlighed.                                  Talked of love, of Kings and crowns

Snemand Frost, som var lidt bleg,                  Snowman Frost in whispers low,
spurgte:" Må jeg kysse dig?"                          Begged a kiss from Lady Thaw.
Men da frøken Tø var varm                           But the Lady Thaw was warm
smeltede hans højre arm.                                Melted off his nearest arm

Da han kyssed' hendes kind,                           When he kissed her rosy cheek,
svandt han ganske langsomt ind.                     He grew slowly less and weak
Da han kyssed' hendes mund                          When he kissed her glowing lips,
blev han væk i sammen stund.                        Off he went in tender drips.

På en bænk ved Søndersø                                On the bench beside the lake
sidder stakkels frøken Tø.                                Lady Thaw now keeps her wake.
Snemand Frost er smeltet op.                          Snowman Frost has melted, but.
Hun må ha ham i en kop!                                She has caught him in a cup!

Tekst: Halfdan Rasmussen
Oversættelse: Uglemor - Translation: MotherOwl

Vejen hjem -- 5 -- On My Way Home

I dag slukkede gadelamperne medens vi var på vej ud ad døren - og det sneede! Uglemor ved godt at det faktisk var kyndelmesse i går, men verset her passer til i dag. Så er der efter gammel bondeskik den halve vinter tilbage - ikke til vinteren faktisk er slut, men til at dyrene igen kan slippes på græs. Hvis der var mindre end halvdelen af vinterfoderet tilbage på kyndelmisse, måtte man måske slagte et eller flere af dyrene.
 Godt nok er det altså ikke særligt koldt i dag, kun lige under frysepunktet, men vi har fået herligt meget sne det forgangne døgnes tid.

Today the street lamps were put out as we came out the door, and snow was falling!  MotherOwl knows perfectly well that Candlemas was yesterday - and we celebrated it Sunday, but this old poen about the hardest, coldest time of winter is very appropriate. Well, it is not that very cold yet only just below zero, and the days are longer by 1 hour 49 minutes - still most of them are in the evening, and only 41 minutes in the morning.
At candlemass winter was half  past. That is to say, that half the time where the animals were stabled and had to be fed, was behind us at candlemass. And if less than half the hay, oats etc. was left, you might have to consider slaughtering some of the animals.

• Det er hvidt herude, kyndelmisse slår sin knude ... (St. St. Blicher, 1838)
• It is white out here, Candlemas is Winter's deep ... 

Solopgang/solnedgang: 8:04/16:44, dagens længde 8:40, tiltaget 1:49 (Kilde: DMI)