White House Revisited.

My man has a profession that requires him to routinely spend days, occasionally weeks and once in a while even months (sigh) away from home.
And away from me.

Currently he is away for ten days, the longest time we have been apart since we met and although I dislike this separation with all my being, I decided to stop obsessing about things I can not change and turn them into something positive instead. These departures of his will inevitably become part of my life, as they are a part of his. It is an occurrence that I will have to get used to and accept, because he has chosen this profession, one that he does with dedication and great skill and one that defines who he is.
A courageous man whom I love with all my heart and soul.

Determined to use my time alone the best I could, I opted for a day, an evening and a night on my own again, back at the white house.
My old home these days stands so abandoned and neglected, still for sale, but due to the frozen real estate market light years removed from the possibility of selling - thus it is in a desperate need of love and attention.

Working outside in the warm autumnal weather, bringing my terraces back to their former glory, felt as a vital therapy. Later in the evening, I enjoyed the warmth of the fire, that one single thing that I miss deeply in my new home. Inhaling the scent of burning wood and incense, while watching the fall sun set in my westbound views brought on moments of soothing tranquility and deep relaxation.

Yet, the experience very quickly lost its allure and as soon as darkness enveloped the world, I felt a strong urge to drive back home - as certainly my white house no longer felt as such for me.
Instead, it has become now a residence away from home, a tranquil retreat, one that can bring me seclusion if I ever yearn for it. It can offer a time for me only, a solitude that is unforced and chosen, one that is only temporary - long enough to be enjoyed, but short enough not to feel too impeding.

When I left the house the next morning, it was with a sense of satisfaction, not sadness. Even though I enjoyed this momentary solitude, I knew without a doubt that my life was no longer there and I had no desire whatsoever to retaliate to my old existence again. I would never want to wish it back - it has become my past and my entire being longed passionately to return to my loving present.

I smiled with amusement as I locked the door, glancing back at my former home, pondering that one single fact - despite being currently as poor as a church mouse, I feel as the richest woman in the world.

Flame Fascination.

March is most likely the last month I get the pleasure to enjoy the flickering warmth of the fire on regular bases.
Soon, as the spring sun will grow stronger and when the winds settle down, my terrace will once again become my favorite spot to relax, retiring my fireplace for the season.

Fire has always held my fascination. Perhaps it is the connection I feel with the ancient man, when fire truly meant life. It offered so much to our predecessors in terms of safety, warmth and companionship.
The scientist in me is also endlessly intrigued by the consistency of the amber coloured flames, which resemble nothing else one can recognize. An airy magma, a fleeting, burning shape, that alters and changes within a microsecond, to disappear and reappear rapidly, a hypnotic show, that causes us to get lost in in time and space.

Everyone who has ever tried to photograph a fire knows it is not an easy task. To capture the dancing flames, as they jump back and forth is a true undertaking. But if one is persistent, once in a while the camera lens immortalizes an enchanting moment.
Brushstrokes of light, science and natural art combined in one.

Solitude By The Fire.

Even though overall I prefer to be around people, such as my friends and my family, I will not deny that I also like being on my own. I enjoy my own company and I need - almost crave - moments of solitude.

Being alone is at times essential I believe to every human being. What I dislike however is the sensation of being lonely. This can become very palpable for many as we near the Holiday Season, which at all times instigates the idea of family and companionship and is often perceived as a difficult period for those who lack both...

I have many favorite places in my home where I like to sit and daydream my hours away, relaxing, reading, writing or just contemplating life's grand purpose, while getting lost in scents and sounds around me.
Currently, with the onset of late fall and the imminence of winter, this place is near my fireplace. The crackling of the fire, the scent of burning wood and the comfortable atmosphere generated by candle lights convey tranquility and a sense of rest, which invigorates my mind and soul, despite the twilight that rules my days.

Back To The Fire...

The days are getting considerably shorter and even though we have had some gorgeous fall weather so far, full of sunshine and blue skies - today Lady Autumn shows her darker, more menacing side. Her melancholy can be felt in the wind and the low, threatening clouds. Indeed, fierce fall storms will soon be our reality.

This is thus the time when my fireplace becomes once again the center point of my house. In the evenings and in the weekends, the crackling and the scent of the fire creates the most relaxing atmosphere. The dancing warm light creates shadows on the walls and the orange flames makes me pause, having my mind wander in time and space. I relish those moments when everything feels still and tranquil...
And safe. Despite the weather conditions outside.

In those times I can not help but feel a connection with my primitive ancestors, to whom fire was vital; a source of protections as well as unity, sitting around ancient campfires, feeling a sense of familiarity and home...

Heart On Fire.

It is cold, it is snowing and more snow is on the way. So, I can either decide to be really upset about that or choose to ignore the weather all together.

I am opting for the later, going into a weekend of hibernation with Batcat - this includes good books, relaxing music, feel good movies, comfort food and of course - cosy fire.

The below is what my Saturday fire looks like. Perhaps even if you can not feel the real heat, you can get a virtual joy from it. After I filmed the clip, I noticed that one of the logs looks a lot like a heart - how very appropriate for the occasion.

And to those of you who actually do decide to watch the below, look for Batcat appearance about seven seconds into the clip - at least in sound, showing his approval of the fire.
We are wishing everyone a lovely weekend and a happy Valentines Day tomorrow.

"Golden Nerves".

Those two words make up an expression in my language, meaning something similar to "Nerves of Steel". Basically, this is used to describe someone who can stay calm even during the most trying situations. It can also be used as an exclamation, when things get tough, meaning one would love to have "Golden Nerves" in that moment.

However, it can also apply as a description of someone who knows how to relax.
Like Batcat. The way he can shut out the world is amazing. And highly contagious. The below is taken this weekend as he managed to escape into the dreamworld for hours, while lying in front of the fire.

Imminence Of Winter.

This week was again cloudy, windy and rainy. The sun has been absent for two weeks, but today the cloud cover was slightly lighter and a hazy glow appeared for a minute or two in the southern skies.

This would in no terms be described as sun. However I guess it ends the all time record that the first two weeks of November has bestowed upon us. On average, we receive around 50 hours of sunshine in Denmark in the beginning of this month. However, until now, we have only had 3 hours of sun. This is the lowest amount ever on record. And the few sunshine hours occurred only in the southern and northern part of the country. Some of us (like me) have not seen the sun for 14 days. And let me tell you, it has stated to effect me. It effected my mood and I have never been so tired as this past week. Novembers are dark as it is, but the cloud cover made the last 14 days feel like one long night.

Some changes have also taken place in nature; foliage is now almost absent and the air is damp and cold. The other day when I stopped by the ocean on my way to work to watch it's raging beauty, I could sense winter in the air for the first time this season.

In November the best place to be is in front of my fireplace. Starting now, the fire will be lit very often in my white house on the hill and both me and Batcat will enjoy its warm glow.

My Favourite Spot.

My favorite spot in my house, throughout fall and winter is on my favorite chair in front of the fireplace. I can sit there for hours reading, or just leaning back, drinking something warm, looking into the flames, with Batcat sleeping on the warm sheep skin at my feet.

Immediately to my right are my large windows facing west. They offer some sunshine in the early hours of the afternoon, at least until the late fall. Right now, I can gaze at the open space beyond, which is bursting with warm colours against the blue sky.

We have had one of the most beautiful fall weeks on record. Sunny, cool days and clear, very cold nights, bringing the first frost of the season. Of course this is an ideal weather to light the fire in the afternoons and evenings.
My biggest problem is at all times to have enough firewood. I really do not have a large terrace, therefore I can only store limited amount of wood outside. Thus the only way to get firewood is to purchase it in home improvement stores, where it is sold in sacks. It is somewhat pricey, but the wood is of superb quality, pre-cut and already dried and ready to be used. I often wait until the stores offer it on sale and then I buy as much as my little Toyota will carry. I store it in my basement and every time I bring fresh wood home, I take much pleasure in stacking it. There is something infinitely calming, at least to me, in arranging the firewood. Furthermore, it spreads wonderful scent throughout the house. Batcat of course loves to assist me at all times, hiding in the piles and hunting the discarded plastic sacks.

I love when the basement is full of wood. It gives me a certain comfort to know that no matter the weather, I can always keep warm.

Time For Chimney Sweeping.

I can not believe it is almost a year ago that the Chimney Sweeps came by last time. This morning they payed me their yearly visit and cleaned and inspected my chimney, making my fireplace ready for another year of fire burning.

I find myself completely fascinated by these men in their dashing black uniforms. To me it is almost like being transported back in time, as very little or almost nothing has changed about them through out history. They still wear black, they climb roofs and use similar instruments to clean the chimneys, with perhaps an exception of a powered vacuum cleaner. What strikes me about them today is their happiness. Incredible joy in their smiling faces, that is so rarely encountered these days. They were laughing, while soot was soiling their hands, exposing their white teeth in broad smiles in such a contrast to their ashy cheeks, while they kept telling me about their craft and how much they enjoy being outside at all times of the year. In return I think they relished my fascination with their profession and I made sure to touch the buttons of their uniform this time around, something that I forgot to do last year; in my culture this brings good luck.

The demand for Chimney Sweeps has been in decline over the last few decades, but interestingly, it is rising again. This might be due to many reasons; the financial crises being one of them, thus wood burning fireplaces and furnaces becoming an alternative heat source.

However, I'd like to believe that we are perhaps also trying to return to a simpler way of life. In today's world, when technology changes every second, bringing advances each day, our reality feels at times overwhelming, leaving us disconcerted and confused, perhaps even anxious and tired. Therefore it is comforting to occasionally return to something very familiar and basic, such as the simple act of lighting a fire in a fireplace.

Fire equals life and already the primitive man regarded it as a divine gift. Today, watching the flickering of flames can be instrumental in bringing us back to times of campfires, when we felt unified and safe and the connection with nature was ever so palpable.

My Mexican Oven.

I love open fireplaces. There is something very cosy about a fire. Who doesn't remember fondly the camp fires from our childhood, which unified us and made us feel safe and happy in a company of friends or family.
I also love to sit in front of a fire in solitude, such as my fireplace at home. A few years before I actually had it built, I was able to enjoy a fire outside using my "Mexican Oven".

I obtained it in an unexpected way. One day, when I came home from work I saw a strange looking thing made of clay next to the garbage cans in the parking lot. It looked like some sort of an oven. Upon talking to my neighbors I realized that it was once a property of the temporary occupants of a house that is now being renovated next door, which they rented briefly from the current owners. When they moved, they left the clay object behind and gave it to one of my neighbors. Now it was though not wanted anymore and my neighbor was getting rid of it. "Do you want it?" his wife asked me when she saw the puzzled look on my face. "It is a clay oven, a Mexican oven and it would be a lovely addition to your terrace " she added. "Yes!" I exclaimed imaging immediately cosy summer evenings in front of a crackling fire. "Then just please take it", she said and this is how I became the owner of the "Mexican Oven".

At that point, I knew nothing about the origins of this lovely outside fireplace, which looked more like a piece of art than an oven. Upon a search on the net I quickly realized that this was a somewhat expensive piece of clay and most likely I would not have been able to afford buying one, should I have ever chosen to do so.

Correctly called "The Chimenea", this is what is written about its origins by the wikipedia; "Originally, all clay open fire garden heaters imported to the U.S. from Mexico were known as chimeneas. As the story goes, chimeneas originated hundreds if not thousands of years ago by Mexican tribesmen who developed the chimeneas as a means of providing heat for their family as well as a vessel for cooking and baking. The original chimenea was designed to keep the rain off the fire and the family warm using merely a couple of sticks".

I love this wonderful clay oven, which prolongs the precious Scandinavian summer days into wonderfully warm and cosy summer evenings.

Lazy Saturday.

This last Saturday in January was cold and cloudy.
I parted with the first month of this year in the
company of a good book, a hot cup of coffee
with white chocolate (send from Ireland) and relaxed
in front of the fireplace with Batcat.
This is my kind of day.
Happy Saturday everyone.;)

"With Every Christmas Card I write..."

Another tradition day in my white house on the hill is on the 2nd of Advent, which is today. As soon as it gets dark, I lit the candles and my fireplace. In North Carolina I would drink some eggnog, but that I cannot purchase here, so I settle for a glass of hot spicy red vine (gløgg) and write Christmas cards while listening to my favorite Christmas music. Ok, I know this sounds so corny, please do not hate me, but I truly enjoy this little tradition of mine. And yes, I am one of those people who still write cards, even in the age of Internet and emails. I personally love receiving cards and I will never stop writing them. I appreciate that someone takes the time to sit down and writes me a few lines, wishing me wonderful holidays. I usually take this opportunity to write to friends and family, who I have not spoken with for a while, letting them know that despite the distance, they are in my thoughts.

My Fireplace.

I woke up to a really cold winter morning; subzero temperatures and frost. It would be a perfect day for curling up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate in front of my fireplace.
When I lived in North Carolina, I lived in a second story apartment with a large fireplace. I LOVED my fireplace. When I moved back to Europe, a fireplace was what I missed the most. Finally, after months, even years of thinking and planning, I had a fireplace built in December last year in my house. It was the best thing I ever did. Even though it was costly, the company I hired did an incredible job. It is almost a piece of art. It took them (2 professionals) no more than 2 days from start to finish. The final product is a fine example of German engineering (Spartherm) and Danish craftmenship. A combined fireplace - steel convection oven, it is a perfect addition in my airy, brick house; warm and very, VERY cosy.

Lazy Sunday.

Winter Is Just Around The Corner.

Today was one of the first days of the autumn when the temperature during the day did not go above 0C (about 32F). That means it was freezing cold. Inland and in the east part of the country the first snow has fallen. Therefore I decided to haul in large quantities of wood, so I would be set for at least the next month with enough firewood for my fireplace. This took most of the afternoon and most of my energy. It is at times like these I wish my Irish roommate was a permanent one.
The sunset occurred at exactly 4PM, making the day not just cold, but also very short. I managed to capture the setting sun just before it disappeared. Winter is truly knocking on the door.

The Chimney Sweeps.

The other morning I had a very curious encounter. I had my fireplace built last year and this was the first time the chimney sweeps came by to clean it, since it was constructed. I have had fireplaces before, especially while living in the US, but I never saw anyone cleaning them. As I guess the property managers took care of it while I was at work.
I think I was mostly amazed by the fact that chimney sweeps still do exist. This strikes me now as a bit ignorant on my part, as of course how else would the chimneys get cleaned? I remember seeing them as a child, as I remember reading the fairytale by H. Ch. Andersen, "The Shepherdess and The Chimney Sweep".
But I have no idea why I have never seen them since. Perhaps I never paid enough attention. They wear the same uniforms they have worn for ages, black with golden buttons, cap or hat on their head. And they still use - mostly- the same equipment they always have. They climb the roofs and use long brushes in chimneys and are all covered with ashes and sot in their faces. It was an amusing and pleasant encounter. Where I come from, the encounter with a chimney sweep is considered to be a lucky one. It is encouraged to touch the buttons of their uniform for luck. I almost did it, but then changed my mind, as they would most likely consider me a bit odd. But perhaps that would have made their encounter with me unforgettable as well.