To be a turtle

Passing through Danemark last month, I met a beautiful women who gave me a gift and a lesson : a little jade Turtle. 

Being hyperactive on a daily basis, this gift was, at first, a bit frustrating. Until I started to understand it… 

To be a turtle is to be patient and present. Things take time, but a turtle doesn't sit on the side of the road, waiting for it to happen by itself. Nor does it try to rush things out in order to meet the end. A turtle simply knows. It knows that time is necessary. It knows when to act. It knows how to be here and now. Little by little, slowly, it goes forward on its journey, living each step as a precious moment. I wish I could be fully here and now, as the turtle is. 

Nature takes time to grow, to evolve, to live. We, as humans, have « found » ways to make it grow faster and bigger, but can you still call it nature ?

A garden will grow in its own time. You can't expected it to be ready and plentyful just because you wish it now. It will grow and bare fruits and vegetables, but you have to be patient. Nature is a patient process and I think it is arrogant of us to try to bend the rules to fulfill some egocentric economic purposes.

How many times have I been frustrated because I wanted to change my life « now » ? To stop buying what we don't need and live a different life ? How often have I been angry at myself and others to see that the world should take a turn now but I/we can't make the one big step ?

Then I realised that the so-called « one big step » is in fact a million of small deeds that at the end of the day, do make a big difference. Yes, drastic changes and impuslive acts are heroic. Who hasn't ever wished to be unique or a leader, even spiritually ?

It's so easy to call yourself something. But daily acts are were the revolution can live a long life. By no mean, I diminish the impact of a clear protest, either in the streets or on the web. We all agree that on the right circomstances, it's better to rip a plaster quickly in one go. But lasting homes have been built one steady foundations, stone by stone. House, relationship, education, developpement, creativity, we all know that whatever you want to build, you have to allow it the time it needs to blosom and last.

Besides, the good news is, when you take the time to build and walk slowly, you enjoy much more the sight. Indeed, you allow yourself to enjoy every tiny bit of existence because you don't only focus on what after the next bend. Future will be there in good time, no need to be over-anxious about it. 

In one way, I guess it's why road-trips are so different from taking a plane. 

These are only the few teachings from that small jade Turtle. Surly, there are others waiting to be discovered and lived. I can only guess what this little friend will teach me in the future and how his simple lesson will sink in more and more as time passes. 

Let peace come into our life. A peace of mind, of heart, of the full self. Let it shine from within into the world. 

C as Cabin, Currant, and Cutting planks

As I've mentioned in the last post, Morten and I went to the cabin. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, let me explain in a few words. Norwegians, and scandinavians more generally, have a cultural habit of flying their home during holidays to go hiding in little houses in the woods, mountains or by the sea. Some of these houses are often barely two rooms and, because of the location, have neither electricity, nor tap water. 

For the past 12 years, Morten and three of his friends have rented one of those cabins in Finnskogen. It's a 440 years old log house situated deep in the forest, where not even the mobile signal can disturb you. 

In all, no electricity, no water (besides the one you bring with you), no mobile and naturally, no internet. Instead, wood burners and fire place for the heat, oil lamps and candles for the light at night, gas for the cooking, water collection from the roof for washing and a barrel of drinking water for all the foodish uses and as an extra, a good book, water colors, notebook, plenty of time to relax and meditate and a magical surrounding.

Once in a while, Morten and I take the car for an hour and reach that remote place for a couple of days. Although it sounds idyllic, we've been so used to technology and, for my part, using internet daily (not always for the most interesting thing) that, by the end of the second day, it feels good to know that we're going back home. Maybe a week there would help changing some unnecessary patterns…

Back from the cabin, it was delightful to find the house and the garden overfilled with new and old tasks waiting to be done. The currant were ready to be picked to make jelly, the grass needed cutting, the woodshed had to be fixed, the fire wood was to be cut and split, nettles were still chocking wild raspberries…(and I'm not even mentioning what awaits us inside the house). 

With renewed energy, Morten and I started, one by one, the jobs in the garden, starting with the tall grass. While we were at the cabin, I'd spotted a scythe in the corner of the shed. It was still functional so we borrowed it and brought it back to the house to sharpen it. Needless to say it was a fantastic tool.

The result was not pitch perfect, but blo*** amazing ! 

Then, as before, I took care of the fruits and and my dear friends the nettles while Morten went on with the woodshed. I leave you enjoying the few pictures. 

It's almost unbelievable both the amount of currants those bushes are producing and the size of the berries. Since it was to make jelly, Morten advised me to take the once that were on the edge of being ripe. In other words, they had to be red, but not the juiciest. It would help the jelly settle he said. For me, currants brings back old memories of my grand-mother garden. Each summer, we would come and pick the currants and black currants so that she and my mom could make jam. Of course, as any kid would probably do, I used to eat currant while collecting them. To do it today is like living a Proust moment from "À la recherche du temps perdu" (translated "In search of lost time"). The sweet and sour taste of the currant becomes a time travelling experience flying back in that momento as if it was yesterday.

Hmm, 1.2 kg ready to be mixed with the black currants to be reborn as jelly. 

Meanwhile, Morten works on the shed. When he arrived here 6 years ago, there was no place to store the fire wood during winter. In hurry, he therefor built a small shed out of wooden palets and a tin roof. So far, it was satisfactory and nearly enough. But this makeshift construction had to be fixed at some point. The walls barely stop the heavy snows of winter from entering and wet logs covered in snow don't make good fires. So, as this year wood is drying in the sun, Morten cuts planks and put together the side walls. 

To keep it neat and in harmony with the house and garage, he used the same staggering technic.
Two and a half wall done, under the stoning sun.

Another good day has past, leaving us tired but happy.

Abundance

Abundance comes in many different shapes and forms and I like to think that most of them are not related to a bank account.

The summer has blessed us with bushes filled with berries (some even overflowing) and the swamps around the house are quite promising as well. 

For now, the currants are not quite ripe yet. The black currants, on the contrary, shine big and dark on the east side of the bank. The black birds have noticed them too and eat its share before they're been harvested.

Although, a lot needs to be done and our "garden" is far from practical. Wilderness is one thing, seas of nettles is another. So first things first, we had to be able to actually reach the berry bushes.

This is what it looks before : 

And now that it has been weeded. 

All has been done by hand and with simple old fashion tools : a glove, a (hand) scythe and a hedge trimmer. No oil or electricity required, just a bit of elbow oil and personal time and energy. And most of all, no heavy trimmer noises to disturb anyone around. 

The scythe got the most, the leftovers were cut with the hedge trimmer and finally the nettles were uprooted from within the bushes. 

About half of the bank has been taken care of so far. Farther, you can find some raspberry bushes struggling with, guess what, more nettles. I don't mind nettles and intend to make some soup out of it one of these days, but I would much like it not to choke the rest of the plants around.

Once a path was opened and the main black currant bush accessible, the harvest could start. And indeed, the bush was overflowing with black gold.  

I try to be as careful as possible while collecting the currant, especially not take the one that are not ripe yet. Besides, Morten and I have more than we need for ourselves. 

After barely one hour, there's already 1 kilo and 275 grammes !

Of courses, 1.275kg to clean first…

… but it's all worth it !! 

And just for the fun of, i LOVE this scale ! It's fantastic. It doesn't need any battery as it works with  levels and weights. Three weights, one on top and top below the measure, which when aligned properly, gives you the balance at the load wished. Here for instance, the top weight is set on 0.5kg which means the weights stars above 0.5 kg. The two others are, from left to right, the amount wanted (500gr) and the basic weight that you have to adjust before you put anything on the scale so that you obtain the balance at 0gr. Therefore, on the picture below, we have 1 kg of berries on the scale. *

It may sound a bit tricky at first, but once the principles have sinked in, it's a marvel !

* It would have been the same if the first weight was on 1kg and the second on 0 gr … 

……………………

There are also a lot of wild berries in the area where we live. But if I have to talk about one, it's the cloud berry. 

The cloud berry, or multebær in norwegian, looks like a orange raspberry that grows like a wild strawberry. It's particular to the northern part of the north hemisphere and is very popular. It grows mainly in the swamps or nearby wet area. They are of cours delicious, but you have to be precise on when to collect them. In fact, the cloud berries are ripe for a very short period on time only after what they go wasted. 

But be careful not to pick them to early either. The colour is your main ally to chose when to collect. Besides, being so cherish and popular in Norway,  it's not rare that people go on walk a couple of weeks before the peak ripe moment, just to spot where to come back when the berries are ready.

I had never tasted, seen nor heard of the cloud berries before now. We gathered a small box of it from the swamps down hill in front on the house. Walking nearby swampish places is always funny as you are kind of swallowed by the vegetation on the ground without being in the swamp. The wild nature around us is mostly covered with mosses, rocks and tiny plants which makes the ground uneven and soft.

Thank you life for having so many small treasures ! 

Now, I'm off to even a deeper place in the wood : the cabin. 

See you in a few days and enjoy life ! 

A peaceful revolution

I am sick of my society today. 

I feel ashamed by what governments do and what politicians say in my name.

I am tired of fighting the common knowledge that dictates there is no way out and no possibility to direct your own life as you will.

 — We are told to follow our dreams but only as long as they fit some pre-made frame of what is normal and accepted to pursue. 

 — Artistic skills are a great value for yourself and for the community but don't dare to think of making your living out of it.

 — You can choose between what they have already decided.

 — No matter what, money rules over everything and everyone.

I am furious to feel and being told I am so powerless at the beginning of my life.

But, what the hell.

Between surviving in the cities and living in nature, I prefer a meaningful life. The Universe of coincidences brought me deep in the woods in Norway and this is what this blog will be about. 

For now on, I wish to embrace a simple but full life. Full of sensations, emotions, wonders, experiences, learnings, truths. In other words, a life full of those little things that society teaches us to forget so we can be more easily bolted to a job with the promise that once we've spent 40 years working, we might be able to finally enjoy life. 

I envy those who love their job, those who find meaning in what they do and have the confidence that they are contribution to our world. For my part, I still hope to find an employment that wouldn't reduce itself to the growth of someone else's vain wealth. And yet, there I am told I 'ask too much' … 

I don't pretend understanding what life is about. As soon as I do, Life reminds me swiftly that, eventually, it holds the dices and will have the last word. 

So, I'll simply walk on the road peacefully. I consider myself extremely lucky for the chance I have now to live without the pressure of society and am deeply thankful for it. Living in the forests of the eastern part of Norway introduced me to a new daily routine and taste more delightful day by day. The tranquillity is barely disturbed by a few planes and a couple of seasonal lumberjacks. The house sits in a clearing, on the bank of a hill with a lake at its feet. Our closest neighbours are a couple of Ospreys, Ravens, Red Deers, Mooses, Rabbits, Foxes, Mice, and a lot of different singing Birds and probably some that I've forgot. The first 'human' neighbour is two kilometer away, and the first asphalte road is 9 kilometers away. There we are, far from town, in nature with the confort of modernity, in our little yellow house on the hill… 

My partner and I aren't self-sufficient … yet. But we are working on a better way, a different way of living, closer to nature.