Advent Candles

The time for crafting Advent Candles has arrived. Making Candle decorations is a Danish tradition I have adopted to our family, since I moved here in Copenhagen for 19 years ago. 

Making Advent Candles is easy and fun! 

You need some candles, clay, acorns, pine cones and other things you have collected from the nature during the fall.  

I like to use ribbons and other decorative elements, this year I have dried some flowers and roses to use as well. 

Pine branches, moss and mistel are to be found in the local grocery stores here in November - December, together with clay, to use in the Advent Candle decorations.  

And finally - you need small trays, plates or clay pots, where you build your Advent Candle decoration.

The process is very simple - You take a clump of soft clay, and put it on your plate or in the pot. Then you plant the advent candle in the clay, and decorate it with the things you have, as you wish.

We got snow last weekend, which kick-started my Christmas mood.

We listened to Carols and had some ginger bread-cookies, while making the Advent Candles. This is how out Advent Candles -making looked like in 2012.

Advent candles from Nina Jensen on Vimeo.

The snow has melted, but the Advent Candles decorate our home ... 

We're lighting the candles tomorrow, the first Sunday of Advent.

This year we have a special joy, when lighting the Advent candles - 

My mom is visiting us this weekend - 

and celebrating the first Sunday of Advent with us!

Wishing you a joyful weekend,

Nina

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Photos: iPhone 5S, Camera+, Snapseed, VSCO & Faded Apps

Heather Flovery Valentine's Day

Thank you French Kiss Collections for this pretty photo mask

My mom has heather flowers outside her porch - they look so pretty when covered with snow. As you may have guessed, we have spent our winter break visiting my mom in Finland - The week flew by so fast, I'm grateful for each moment! 

The Great Outdoors with slalom and cross-country skiing, playing in the snow, walking ... Breathing the crispy air, watching the squirrels play and enjoying being in the Winter Wonderland.

Our boys fancy the thin, small rye pies, that are salty and filled with rice, a Finnish speciality caller Karjalanpiirakka. Mom baked a whole bunch of them, and we got some of them home with us ... So delicious! We spent a lot of time in the kitchen together - cooking, baking, having tea and coffee - Enjoying the dishes we rarely get home in Denmark.

Saying farewell is not easy - It takes a few days to adjust ... phone calls, Skype and text messages are great ways of keeping contact. Yet I feel a bit like I've left "my soul" behind: I'm waiting for it to arrive from the woods of Finland back to me ... Feeling a bit lost here in the city. 

Travelling with aeroplane makes everything go so fast - Had we driven by car and ferry all the way, we had gotten an opportunity to be "on the way" a bit longer, thereby adjusting to the change from the quiet life in the countryside back to the city. 

Well, it is Valentine's Day, or as the Finnish tradition goes: The Day of Friendship - A day to cherish one's friends and loved one's ... Some snail mails have been written, some e-mails and texts are yet to be send - and already in the morning, some lovely greetings were waiting for me ...

So life goes on ... A part of loving is to feel longing, as well as a part of living abroad is to meet the family a bit seldom.

Well, my kitchen is calling ... Wondering if I should bake a banana bread or chocolate muffins? :)

...Wishing you a lovely Day of Friendship / Valentine's Day,

Nina

PS. Thank you for all the delightful notes on my two former posts - Lovely surprises that made me really happy! 

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A Rainy Day at Tivoli Gardens through the Old Camera App

We had the pleasure of having my dear mom visiting us during the Fall Break. The Tivoli Gardens is beautifully decorated during the Harvest Market - Halloween season, and we spend a lovely afternoon - with our umbrellas - in Tivoli. 

These photos are taken with my iPhone, using the Old Camera Application. I chose the Kallitype Mode, out of 6 different black and white options in the Old Camera. I like the soft, grey tones and the strong vignette effect in the Kallitype mode. The Old Camera does really add a touch of vintage to the photos ... and a silver lining to a rainy day. 

I love especially the portrait of my mom in the cafe - the light falls softly to her beautiful face, capturing the dreamy look in her eyes. 

Another favourite of mine is the 2nd picture, where mom is standing in the mist with her umbrella.

Should I mention one disadvantage in the Old Camera App, it would be the fact that the app does resize the photos to a size around 200 - 250 KB. Since I want to use these photos in a photobook, I used the Filterstorm App to upsize them to around 3000 KB. 

We said farewell to my mom yesterday - She has had a safe trip and is back at home now. We're thankful and so happy for the moments spend together ... Looking forward for Christmas when we'll meet again!

With Rainy Day Greetings,

Nina

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Getaway to Sejerø

We had a lovely getaway to Sejerø with some good friends of ours. Sejerø is a charming, tiny island (12,4 km2) in the Kattegat sea. It takes about 40 minutes to sail to Sejerø from the town of Havnsø in Zealand. 

There is only 400 inhabitants in Sejerø - in the summertime though more, since the summer guests, staying in the summerhouses and in the sailing boats in the harbour, are visiting and staying in this beautiful island.

The island is long and narrow ... We visited the eastern tip of the island - finding interesting stones and also a small skeleton - of a fish, a rabbit or a 

bird? We saw a deer running across the narrow road - also many swallows that had build their nests on little holes on the top of the sandy hills.

Our friend picked up this stone: What does it remind you of?

Birds started their evening concert, as we sat outside and had a barbecue ... Witnessing the sun go down behind the fields was beautiful, while hearing the waves from the sea, and feeling the warmth of summer & fellowship.

 ...Weekend greetings,

Nina

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African Rhythms and Summer Landscapes

The weather has been sunny and warm this week - Thursday was the warmest day this summer, the temperature reached up to +30 C / +86 F. 
I have enjoyed the summer feeling on the evening walks - either in the forest, where my husband and the boys are running, or by the nearby lake.

It's been rather warm in the office - Open windows help a lot, thought. 
On Thursday morning I invited my colleagues to a "Farewell-Breakfast" - It was so nice that many had the possibility to join ... 
I cherish the nice words and speech I received - hiding them in my heart - Being thankful of the people I have gotten to know,  and everything I have learned and been able to experience during the last 5 years.

I received a beautiful bouquet from a sweet colleague of mine on Friday - She had bind it together herself! (I'll post a picture in colours next week :) Packing the office down in Friday took longer than I expected, sorting out what would be important to save, what should be thrown out takes time.
New adventures at the new work are awaiting after the summer holidays ...

We celebrated the 16th birthday of our oldest son in Friday, eating out at his favourite restaurant Wagamama, which has a Japanese kitchen. He invited some friends along ... Cake and family celebration continued on Saturday. 
I'm thankful for our boys - the time goes so fast! ... Watching them and their cousin yesterday - A bunch of lovely & wonderful teenagers :)


We listened to lively rhythms and special instruments yesterday at Skt. Hans Square, where King Ayisoba from Ghana played with his band at Copenhagen Jazz Festival:

"King Ayisoba is one of Ghana's most powerful music profiles. He is touring this year for the first time in the West with a full band of singers, musicians and energetic dancers home. 
The traditional music is based on a stringed lute called kologo. Accompanied by his brother, who plays on a special North Ghanesian hunting horns, King Ayisoba has created its own bony kind of blues filled with occupied rhythms, call and response vocals and raucous beauty."(Jazz.dk)

The weather took a drastic change to rain and cooler temperatures - well, I have a few good books that I've been looking forward to read - books and rainy days are a very good combination!

Wishing you a lovely weekend and happy holidays!

Nina

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Finds in the Forest {Phone Snapshots}

 

 

• Last weekend was warm and sunny - we took a long walk in the forest...

• ... It was wonderful to see the awakening of trees and listening to the birdsong.

 

 

• Pussy Willows remind me of the Easters of my childhood - we used to decorate them with colorful paper and feathers.

 

 

 

• The sun is low at the horizon at 5 pm. On my way home I have stopped the car, taken a few pictures, breathed the fresh air and just enjoyed the sun.

 

 



• The flowers are thriving in the sun ... The light reveals pretty details and beautiful textures in the petals.

 

 Sunny greetings,

Nina

 

 

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PS: Pictures are taken with iPhone. I have added textures Present from Kim Klassen and Avignon from  the Olde World Collection by Love That Shot . The vintage frames are from Pixelberrypie.

iPhone snapshots from my week

Hipstamatic App

 

I visited our local cafe with a friend of mine the other afternoon. We found many new, funny things - like the two birds above! The Bruxelles-traffic sign is nostagic to me, reminding me of the 3 years I studied there. I met my husband while we studied at the Continental Theological seminary - we should take our boys there, it would be nice to see how everything looks now, 14 years after we graduated!

 

Hipstamatic App

 

It is always a pleasure to catch up with my friend. This time we shared a cheesecake ... I had to take a picture of the pretty spoons and the saucer!

 

 

VSCO Cam App



 

Our boys have spent hours with the Warhammer figures. Painting many layers, creating light and shadows, does make the capes look like they're made of real leather.

 

VSCO Cam App

 

The boys are planning to make a whole army of the figures, so that they can start playing with dizes on a real landscape-map ... I look forward of seeing, what that type of game is all about.

 





 

Hipstamatic App

Listening the keyboard on the background is cozy and relaxing in the evenings - our oldest son has started piano lessons. I have also played just a little, awakening my rusty fingers ...

 

 

This week has flown by so fast - I'm enjoying the slow life this weekend :)

 

... Wishing you peaceful moments,

 

Nina

 

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This Year - Written in My Heart

I have taken this photo with Camera+ -App in iPhone 4S, the text with Rhonne Designs App, Softly-texture with the courtesy of Kim Klassen

Some moments pop into my mind as I look back in 2013:

- Sitting in a rowing boat and fishing . . . our youngest son was learning to cast and he caught a mussel - He smiled so proudly! This experience kept him practising until he learned to cast the line until it flew smoothly through the air and swopped perfectly in to the water.

- Preparing my mom's 70 year birthday - the week in Finland with my parents, meeting family and catchin up.

- The valleys of concern and worry for the loved ones, who'se been caught in the middle of challenging circumstances - carrying both these precious people and my worries, giving them to God, who is able and does answer our prayers ... Most of the worry and pain have been transformed to tears of joy and relief - God does work in His time, which never fails!

- The happy moments in everyday life - they're like pearls that lighten our way, small drops of laughter, a smile, someone opening the door, and unexpected greeting ...

:   :   :

I want to share these thoughts with you, as we're about to enter 2014:

My goal for 2014 could be formed as even more peaceful and unhurried everyday life - where there is place to listen and see, feel and notice ... the small and big things taking place in and around us:



Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
 
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
 
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.
 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

:   :   :

Wishing you a Joyous and Happy New Year,

Nina

PS. I have not been very active on the blog-sphere during the holidays, but I look forward of catching up and popping by, very soon!

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The Country of the Heart

Texture Still by Kim Klassen and Avignon from Olde World Collection by Love That Shot

Every First Advent Sunday our family gathers around the dining table, that is filled with branches of pine and juniper, acorns, clay, candles and tiny Christmas balls. We spent the afternoon crafting Christmas Candle decorations, chatting and listening Carols ... not to forget the ginger bread cookies and chocolate treats.

As we sat by the table this Sunday, I was happy that our boys, now teenagers, still wanted to join us. I hope that they'll carry these memories in their hearts, along the moments from our everyday life ... That our family would be the homeland of their hearts, a safe harbour, where they can sat sails, to go and explore the world.

Every December I get a bit nostalgic, seeing how the time passes by ...
You notice it so clearly in your children as they mature and get older!

:  :  : 

 

... Happy Tuesday to you,

 

Nina

 

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Friday Afternoons

 

It's Friday afternoon ... the weekend is about to start. I come home from work and - what is the first thing I do? Well, I boil some water, because it's time for a cup of tea or coffee.

This moment, chatting with my hubby in the sofa, is a time of the week I appreciate a lot. Letting go off the thoughts related to work, just being here and now, settling down. Enjoying the warmth of the tea  cup in my hands, togetherness ... 

A small, yet meningful and important tradition for Friday afternoons.

 

 

What marks the beginning of a weekend for you?

Is there a moment or something you look forward to during the week, that usually takes place on Fridays?

 

 

Wishing you a happy Friday ...

Let's enjoy the weekend!

 

Nina

 

 

 

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Summer feet {Hipstamatic style}

 

I took a bunch of snapshots during this summer with my cell phone.

I used mostly an application called Hipstamatic,

which has many different lenses and films you can combine.

 

I'm fond of the Doris lens and Sussex film, which together give clear, bluish tones.  I find the vintage-like frame also charming, adding an old photo-effect.

 

:  :  :

 

Summer is....  
  The sand beneath my feet
A warm beach
And hope

Summer is.....
Peace of mind
As the sun sets on another day

Summer is.....
Solitude
A moment
Of perfect silence

Summer is...
The days getting longer
And my son reaching out for me

 

Beauty is translucent
Time consuming life
I find myself
Bit by bit
Uncovering the woven web

 

"Sand Beneath My Feet" by Sherri Steadman

 

:  :  :

 

Happy Tuesday to you!

 

Nina

 

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Letting go of the lazy summer days

The Lazy Summer Days are coming to an end ... 

the feeling of time standing still is still lingering over us.

 

Lovely  10 days with my parents ...

Nature, fishing, silence and just being.

 

 

 

Breakfasts with fresh berries in the garden

- we were spoiled by mum :)

 

 

Starting slowly the routines ...

My low back rustyness and stifness in the morning is gone

after 4 session at the gym!

 

 

We celebrated our 18th anniversary this week -

So thankful for my sweetheart!

 

: : :

 

Thank you for your sweet notes

you've left on the blog while I was away-

I look forward of popping by this weekend:)

 

Nina

 

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