Sometimes I like zipping up in order to regain my energy and just be me for a while. Other times I enjoy unzipping, being social and pour out energy on projects, family and friends.
The best part is that I am in charge of the little zipper.
ON A DESERTED ISLAND
– If I had to pick just one thing to bring to a deserted island, it would definitively be the Brazilian Getz/Gilberto album, a girlfriend told me the other day. I couldn’t have agreed more. This magic bossa nova album was released in 1964 and is one of the biggest-selling jazz albums of all time including songs like the classic “The Girl from Ipanema”. Last year it celebrated its 50th anniversary. “Bossa nova” is a genre of Brazilian music, a lyrical fusion of samba and jazz. The words mean “new trend” and it was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s. The music magazine Rolling Stone has chosen the album to be one out of 500 greatest albums of all time.
The great musicians; the Brazilian singer and guitarist João Gilberto and the American jazz saxophonist Stanley Getz are featuring the Brazilian songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim lyrics. “The girl from Ipanema” is sung by João’s wife, Astrud Gilberto, who had never performed outside of her own home before she did this song which made her famous.
Luckily I am not on a deserted island, I am home in Norway where it is cold and rainy at the moment. However by listening to this music I can literally feel the sun at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro warming me up.
Just play from here and you’ll know what I mean.
A SMILE
drawn by QUINO
According to health writer Jennipher Walters there are 7 good reasons to smile.
1. Smiling can make you happy (even when you’re not)
2. Smiling can make others happy
3. Smiling makes you more attractive
4. Smiling can help you de-stress
5. Smiling can make you land a job
6. Smiling can lead to laughter
7. Smiling just feels good.
GIFTS FROM THE SEA
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
Why do I display my shells in the window sill in the living-room? Why do I cherish and collect them? Probably because to me they represent the jewels of the nature and one of the greatest wonders. Maybe they remind me of floating face down in tropical water snorkeling long time ago, or the inner peace when wandering alone on the beach picking them. Each and every self-collected shell brings back a good memory.
Of course now there are restrictions for picking shells, rules we must respect according to the laws of nature. But luckily there are still places where it is possible to collect.
Some years ago a friend recommended this beautiful, meditative book “ Gift from the sea” and I was thrilled when I finally got hold of a used copy in Norwegian. The book has followed me since.
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
In this beloved and wise book from 1955 the author Anne Morrow Lindbergh is drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore. She shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down during a vacation by the sea. The book is translated into 45 languages.
“When you love someone, you do not love them all the time in the exact same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships.” GIFT FROM THE SEA
“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.” GIFT FROM THE SEA
The book can be ordered (used) in Norwegian “Gave fra havet”, Swedish “Gåva från havet” and Danish “Gaven fra havet” from the Nordic antikvariat.net. English versions “Gift from the sea” (new) from here.
Enjoy!
BOOKS FOR INSPIRATION
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
I love reading because good books tend to give me inspiration, a change of direction, new opinions and more creativity.
The painter Randi Kvilaas made this beautiful picture of a moonshell after reading the book above “Gift from the sea” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. And the best part is, she gave it to me.
WORD OF WISDOM
Painted by SARK
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
I used to have this reminder hanging on a wall in my studio, now I have given it to a good friend. Often I tend to do all the things I think I need to do, and quite often forget what I like to do. Let us all do more of what we enjoy this year !
“FLOWER POWER”
Some friends on their way on vacation left us five bulbs of Hyacinths (Hyasinter/Svibler) in a box yesterday. I have never had them in the house before although they are regarded as the Christmas flower. That will probably change now because I simply love their fragrance besides the fact that they come in all kinds of colors. I put the bulbs in two vases and I think they make a nice decoration in the living-room. By the way, I just read that it is just the roots which are supposed to be covered with water, not the bulbs.
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
The name Hyacinth has an interesting origin. In Greek mythology Hyacinthus was a very handsome prince from Sparta admired and loved by the two Greek gods Apollo and Zephyr. Apollo was the god of art and sun and Zephyr the god of the west wind. The two competed for the boy’s love who ending up choosing Apollo something which drove Zephyrus mad with jealousy. When Apollo and Hyacinthus were playing with a discus, Zephyr blew west wind at them causing the discus to hit the boy’s head and he was killed. Grieving Apollo made a beautiful flower spring up where the boy’s blood stained the earth. He named it Hyacinth.
MY STAR FROM THE SEVENTIES
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
I grew up with this Christmas star from the seventies. Now it is hanging in our living-room and it takes me right back into my childhood Christmas. We are four noisy children running around all excited, the smell of turkey in the house, the sound of angel chimes, the little white church on the shelf and the thrill when Santa Claus is coming with the presents. The fact that we know it is our uncle doesn’t really matter.
However with this star and the fabulous song version of “Mary Did You Know” by the Pentatonix, an American a cappella group, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!
MARY AND JOSEPH
I have put out our nativity scene (krybbe) in the living-room. These figures have followed us since the children were small and this year I have adopted the Spanish tradition to set up the scene two weeks before Christmas.
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
Mary and Joseph’s ride to Bethlehem has always interested me. What if they had known that they were to change the history forever and that artists from all over the world the next two thousand years would try to re-create the moment of the birth of the Child Jesus.
I also find it fascinating to compare the young Mary on the back of a donkey with the holy Madonna in gold and glitter who we meet in the Catholic church.
If you have time for a little break in your Christmas preparations I will recommend you to read my article “Fra Maria til Madonna” on pages 8 -10 and then look and listen to the Norwegian artist Ole Paus’ fabulous story about Joseph. (Both in Norwegian).
24 HOURS A DAY
Photo: Kristin Bae Mysen
The first of December I always put out my lamps with candles next to the front door, and I have them burn day and night till Christmas Eve. They create a great athmosphere outside the house, and whenever we get home the burning candles welcome us back. Traditions like this make me happy, there are actually those small things in everyday life that count.
Yesterday late afternoon when I took this picture, I had the “blue light”, a beautiful light you’ll find in the southern part of Norway at this time of the year, but only on a clear day.
Now I have started to play my Christmas music, another dear tradition during this time of the year. Here is one favorite at the moment “Home for Christmas” with Maria Mena. Although it is well-known it is worth listening to over and over again. Enjoy!
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