Apple Picking in Massachusetts

Whoa! Massachusetts!? That's right - we left Norway to go to a wedding in California, but stopped on the way in Boston. Cousins! I have a cousin named Josh, also, and his wife Deb, and kids Lucy and Marta, housed us for a long-weekend visit. Joshua's mom, Judy Moody, came down from Maine and visited with all of us, too. We played Apples-to-Apples, Jewish Edition, and walked around the neighborhood. And one day we went apple picking. I have never eaten so many apples - they were delicious. I was basically sick with apples by the time we left.

Lucy and I have been best friends since she was two

Cousin Josh

Kids these days

mmmmmmm, good apple

Ramona, Lucy, Marta

They also had pumpkins. And Lucy balanced hers on her head...

St. Michaelsmas

We celebrated with the Norwegians, back in September, a little holiday called St. Michaelsmas (link to Natalia's blog post about it). The story goes something like a hobbit tale - a terrible dragon was terrorizing a village. St. Michael came down and saved everyone, and now we make dragon bread! Something of a harvest festival, so the table was made up with a harvest tray that Joshua and I gathered and arranged. Each kid (Ramona & Natalia included) made a dragon, Joshua and Noa collaborated. Then we asked Anders to figure out who made which one, and he guessed correctly. Then we ate them! Noa, Lea, and Jasmin wore crowns and capes and fancy dresses. Yes, even Noa - he insisted on wearing a dress like his sisters.

Dragons!

Before We Left Norway

We had a lot of fun during our 2+ weeks in Norway...  Natalia and Anders manage to get out with their three kids every day, more than once, rain or shine. They get them dressed up in little rain suits with rain boots, or if it's sunny they wear a couple of layers of wool and tiny little hiking boots. There are fresh rolls most mornings, and beeswax candles glowing when it's dark out. There are little munchkins running around almost all the time, and it couldn't be lovelier.

Just a walk/ride up the road is a good time...

Joan of Arc! and Noa

Visiting the elf shelter, leaving them some nice rocks and pine cones

Not a bad view from up on the hill

Hanging around the house picking clover:

And riding the bike or trike up and down the driveway...

 

No brakes!

 He comes in fast, but manages to take the turn like a pro

No, you stand there!

Goofin' in the back yard.

Noa successfully knocks Joshua off the lower rope

Back in September

Three More Big Bites posted a recipe for a Greek Yogurt Tart, and being in Norway, eating lots and lots of creamy Greek yogurt, I decided to try it out. I know this is not a food blog, but I had to mention this because it was so fun. And delicious.

Sorry about the poor photo quality. As you can see, I managed to float some blueberries by not heeding the instruction to carefully spoon the custard onto the fruit. I used blueberry jam mixed with frozen blueberries. I wish I could blog about riding a bicycle, but as you probably know, I can't ride right now. Soooooon!