Art, Dharma, Photography, Spirituality, Yoga

Clear mind, pure heart

ladakh1

What buddhism and the dharma means to me

These past couple of days, my mind has been spinning in the direction of motivation and inspiration towards writing and painting. I feel creative again, after many, many months of having a huge creative blockage in my system. I’m painting and writing letters to people I care about. I’m not feeling as critical towards my own ability to create, and therefore I am able to play around more without being too hung up on the result. I even found the courage to go ask an art studio and a gallery in town if they wanted to display my paintings, and they did! What an adrenaline kick.

Anyway. I felt like writing about my buddhist path. Two nights ago, I was at a small get-together, a moving-in-party at a buddhist friendΒ΄s place, and the conversation steered towards spirituality and religion. Me and this friend were the only practicing buddhists in the room, and it became evident to me that there are a lot of assuptions about buddhism that I just don’t find true at all, in my personal experience. For example that the (historical) Buddha Shakyamuni is looked upon as a God, above other people/followers, that enlightenment/buddhahood is something mystical only available to certain people and that spirituality is only empty rituals.

To me, it only makes sense that since we all have a mind, that means we all have the ability to transform it, to step out of the wheel of suffering and confusion. And since we all have a heart, we all have the potential to open it towards all living beings, and develop a compassionate heart without disrimination. The Buddha Shakyamuni showed us it’s possible, and so did many other dharma practitioners and teachers, such as Yeshe Tsogyal, Padmasambhava and Jetsun Milarepa – to mention a few. 

I think it’s important to remember that when we are practicing dharma, it is not to become a part of Tibetan or Indian culture, or to belong to any other culture with a strong tie to buddhism. It is “simply” to be a kind of scientist who looks closely at our own minds, and to be able to use the samsaric (cyclic) mind as a tool to transform it into an enlightened one. Training our minds through meditation. In this sense, I feel buddhism has much more of a spiritual approach to it, than a religious one. There is a lot of religious and cultural baggage attached to buddhism that I personally don’t agree with; for example putting young children in monasteries, away from their families, blindly believing something just because a robed person said it without using common sense to check it for yourself, and the still-existing patriarchy that’s still going on in some areas of buddhism.

Despite this, I still call myself a buddhist, or dharma practitioner, because I feel a strong devotion in my own heart to practice the dharma following the buddhist approach and a motivation to transform my mind using the buddhist teachings. I feel lucky to not live in a poor country and to have time to practice and to be able to go on retreats 3-4 times a year with a wonderful sangha and a very capable teacher. I also feel like the basic buddhist principles of ethics, honesty and being of help and benefit to others is such a beautiful and transformative thing which one can implement in one’s daily life.

Having been doing yogic practice for about 7 years now, I definitely feel like I have a more clear mind and a more pure heart. Still long ways to go, but feeling progress is golden. If you’d like to check out the tradition I am practicing in, go to openheart.fi πŸ™‚

KalosFilter_2017-05-03-10-03-47 – Kopi

Adventure, Culture, Landscape, Photography, Spirituality

Riddu Riddu 2018

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Noen blinkskudd fra Γ₯rets Riddu Riddu-festival i Manndalen! Herrefred, kor Γ¦ kosa mΓ¦ πŸ˜€ Topp fem mest minneverdige ΓΈyeblikk fra festivalen:

1. Tyva Kyzy – et tuvansk strupesanggruppe. Fikk sett de hele 3 ganga; en intimkonsert i en yurta, en gang pΓ₯ hovedscenen og enda en gang under frivilligfesten.
2. DJ Shub + Classic Roots, de spilte pΓ₯ fredagen (sjanger: pow wow dub). Du kan sjekke ut en av de beste sangene her.
3. MΓΈte med andre urkulturer.
4. Koselige stunder rundt bΓ₯l.
5. Alle de vakre koftene som var Γ₯ se.

Sewing

Fra duk til veske

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Oransje og blΓ₯ er muligens min favoritt komplimentΓ¦rfargekombinasjon, og jeg har lenge lurt pΓ₯ hva jeg skal sy ut av denne bordduken jeg aldri har brukt. SΓ₯ da ble det til en enkel og fin – og veldig sommerlig tΓΈyveske med gullknapper som dekorasjon pΓ₯ hver side. KjempefornΓΈyd med resultatet, har brukt den sΓ₯ og si hver dag siden jeg lagde den. Har stoff nok til Γ₯ lage Γ©n til, sΓ₯ om noen er interessert, let me know! πŸ˜€


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Landscape, Photography, Poems

Stormy weather

20.mai2018

THE WELL OF GRIEF

Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface on the well of grief,

turning down through its black water
to the place we cannot breathe,

will never know the source from which we drink,
the secret water, cold and clear,

nor find in the darkness glimmering,

the small round coins,
thrown by those who wished for something else.

– Poem by David Whyte

Art, Photography

Monotypi

Perspektivet museum har de siste mΓ₯nedene hatt en fantastisk fin postkortutstilling med samiske motiv (samlet av Alan Borvos mellom slutten av 1800-tallet og til midten av 1900-tallet), og nΓ₯ nylig hadde de et foredrag om nettopp denne utstillingen, samt at man kunne fΓ₯ lov Γ₯ prΓΈve monotypi (maleteknikk). Sykt morsom teknikk, absolutt noe jeg blir Γ₯ prΓΈve hjemme selv!

Utstillingen "Med Blikk for det samiske" pΓ₯ Perspektivet Museum
Bilde tatt av Perspektivet Museum sin fotograf
Utstillingen "Med Blikk for det samiske" pΓ₯ Perspektivet Museum
Bilde tatt av Perspektivet Museum sin fotograf

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Tok noen bilder av utstillingen med mobilen. SΓ₯ mange fine postkort/fotografi!

Utstillingen "Med Blikk for det samiske" pΓ₯ Perspektivet Museum
Bilde tatt av Perspektivet Museum sin fotograf

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Monotypi: legg en glassplate over et motiv (postkort, foto etc.), mal pΓ₯ glassplaten etter motivet og deretter ta et avtrykk av glassplaten med papir. Voila!

Likte litt at hun ble ansiktslΓΈs (da jeg ikke er noe flink Γ₯ male ansikt), fΓΈler det representerer pΓ₯ en mΓ₯te den undertrykkelsen og anonymiseringen av urfolk som har vΓ¦rt – og enda er, til en viss grad. NΓ₯r man ser pΓ₯ henne (min versjon til hΓΈyre), kunne det nesten vΓ¦rt “hvilken som helst” urkvinne.

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Art, Dharma, Jewellery, Yoga

Mother of compassion

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Tara πŸ’Ž ‘She who liberates’

‘She is considered to be the deity of universal compassion who represents virtuous and enlightened activity; a female bodhisattva.

The word Tara itself is derived from the root ‘tri’ (to cross), hence the implied meaning: ‘the one who enables living beings to cross the Ocean of Existence and Suffering’. Her compassion for living beings, her desire to save them from suffering, is said to be even stronger than a mother’s love for her children.

The story of Tara’s origin, according to the Tara Tantra, recounts that aeons ago she was born as a king’s daughter. A compassionate princess, she regularly gave offerings and prayers to the ordained monks and nuns. She thus developed great merit, and the monks told her that, because of her spiritual attainments, they would pray that she be reborn as a man and spread Buddhist teachings. She responded that there was no male and no female, that nothing existed in reality, and that she wished to remain in female form to serve other beings until everyone reached enlightenment, hence implying the shortfall in the monk’s knowledge in presuming only male preachers for the Buddhist religion. Thus Tara might be considered one of the earliest feminists.’

Everyday life, Music, Outfit, Pets

PΓ₯ska 2018

PΓ₯ska har sΓ₯ langt vΓ¦rt ganske chill for min del, har stort sett vΓ¦rt hjemme Γ₯ slappa av, lada opp. Spist godteri. Tatt tvangs-selfies med kattene. PrΓΈvd meg pΓ₯ litt hjernetrim i form av kryssord. Blitt sint fordi jeg ikke er noe flink pΓ₯ kryssord. Drukket litt for mye kaffe, og hΓΈrt veldig mye pΓ₯ Lord Huron. Legger ved en fin sang av dem! Ser ikke ut til at det blir sΓ₯ mye skitur eller sol i Γ₯r, da vi har snΓΈdd ned her oppi nord, men hΓ₯per alle har en nydelig pΓ₯ske lΓ¦ll ❀

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Books, Culture, Dharma, Spirituality

Books

Some books I 1) have read and loved, 2) plan to read and 3) am currently reading πŸ™‚

1)

* Stones to Shatter the Stainless mirror: The fearless teachings of Tilopa to Naropa:

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Excerpt from the book: “…I suppose that is the secret and the point of this Vision. In every situation, there is the relative view; where there are others and a world to serve with loving-kindness, compassion and generosity. And there is also the Ultimate view; where there are no others and no world. Only the mind of clear light, manifesting in the various illusions.”

This book really hit home for me; it’s easy to read,Β  is filled with wisdom but also some funny parts that I could recognize from my own path. It’s written in a way that shows Naropa’s own point of view and the hardships he went through to humble himself enough to receive the teachings of Tilopa. Also, there are some direct “pointers to the moon” by Tilopa at the very end of the book.

* The Life of Milarepa

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“It presents a quest for purification and buddhahood in a single lifetime, tracing the path of a great sinner who became a great saint. It is also a powerfully evocative narrative, full of magic, miracles, suspense, and humor, while reflecting the religious and social life of medieval Tibet.

I have heard this book three times on audio, and it actually only gets better each time. The words are collected and written down by TsangnyΓΆn Heruka (“The madman Heruka from Tsang”), and tells the story of Milarepa‘s physical and spiritual journey towards enlightenment. It’s written in quite a humorous way, I think, and has been very inspirational for me. Actually planning on hearing/reading it again very soon!

2)

* White Lotus: An explanation of the Seven Line prayer to Guru Padmasambhava

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“Mipham Rinpoche’s famous explanation of the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche. In this remarkable text the author explains the Seven Line Prayer in the context and application of the main practices of the Nyingma school, including TrekchΓΆ and TΓΆgal in an exceptionally clear and accessible manner. ”

Actually found this book as a free pdf file HERE!

* Lady of the Lotus-born: The life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal

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“This classical text is not only a biography but also an inspiring example of how the Buddha’s teaching can be put into practice. Lady of the Lotus-Born interweaves profound Buddhist teachings with a colorful narrative that includes episodes of adventure, court intrigue, and personal searching.”

I ordered this book from AmazonΒ about a week ago; patiently waiting for it to drop into my mail box! I have been fascinated by, and feel very close to, Yeshe Tsogyal for the last 6 months or so, so am very excited to start reading this book. I normally order books to my Kindle app, but there is something very nice about having the book physically in your hands too πŸ™‚ Especially if you are in a coffee shop reading, which I often do.

* Sky Dancer: The secret life and songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal

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Another book on Yeshe Tsogyal. Not much on this book when I google it, but still seems worth reading and easy to order for my Kindle app. The cover shows a picture of Vajrayogini/Naljorma – one of Yeshe Tsogyal’s aspects.

* The Life of Longchenpa: The Omniscient Dharma King of the Vast Expanse

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“Compiled from numerous Tibetan and Bhutanese sources, including Longchenpa’s autobiography and stories of his previous lives and subsequent rebirths, The Life of Longchenpa weaves an inspiring and captivating tale of wonder and magic, of extraordinary visions and spiritual insight, set in the kingdoms of fourteenth-century Tibet and Bhutan. It also reveals for the first time fascinating details of his ten years of self-exile in Bhutan, stories that were unknown to his Tibetan biographers.”

Since I loved The Life of Milarepa so much, I have been looking for more biographies on spiritual teachers to read, and stumbled upon this one on Longchenpa, a teacher from the Nyingma lineage. These kinds of biographies seems to be very inspiring and motivational for my own path, and I just generally enjoy reading about other people’s path, and the way they deal with hardships and challenges. Still have not ordered this one, but it’s on my list!

3)

* The Heart of Compassion: The thirty seven verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva

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“What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself? This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions, a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme, here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse.

Only just started on this one, think I am on page 4. I have been meaning to read Dilgo Khyentse’s autobiography Brilliant Moon for some time, but then I stumbled upon this book instead and will finish this before I start on the other. Dilgo Khyentse is by far one of the most inspirational buddhist teachers I know of, so looking forward to see if I like this text.

* Wild Ivy: The spiritual autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin

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“Hakuin Zenji (1689-1769) is a towering figure in Japanese Zen. A fiery and dynamic teacher and renowned artist, he reformed the Zen Rinzai tradition, which had fallen into stagnation and decline in his time, revitalizing it and ensuring its survival even to our own day. Hakuin emphasized the importance of zazen, or sitting meditation, and is also known for his skillful use of koans as a means to insight.”

I am, unfortunately, a very slow reader and have spent a few months on this book, but I really do like it and plan on finishing it. It’s filled with personal accounts of Hakuin and also some lovely calligraphy paintings.

* More than Two: A practical guide to ethical polyamory

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As the title implies, this is a book about polyamory. As a person who is relatively new to this kind of relationship structure, I thought I could use some pointers. Only read the introduction so far, but it seems promising.

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If you have any books to recommend, please do not hesitate to comment or link it to me πŸ˜€

Adventure, Everyday life, Landscape, Photography

BlΓ₯tt vΓ¦r

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Litt bilder fra de siste ukene. Ramfjord, Ersfjord, Storelva og Lyfjord πŸ™‚ Jeg har til og med vΓ¦rt pΓ₯ skitur; tre ganger! For fΓΈrste gang pΓ₯ fem Γ₯r. Selv om det tar all energien jeg har, og krever mye planlegging bΓ₯de fΓΈr og etter, sΓ₯ fΓΈles det verdt det Γ₯ komme seg ut og bruke kroppen. Jeg elsker jo Γ₯ vΓ¦re utendΓΈrs, skulle virkelig ΓΈnske jeg kunne gjΓΈre slike ting oftere, ja – faen heller, hele tiden! Springe pΓ₯ fjellet, gΓ₯ lange skiturer, klatre pΓ₯ berg og i trΓ¦r..:) Naturen, ass.

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Art, Landscape

Hamperokken

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20 x 40 cm – akryl pΓ₯ lerret

Malte Hamperokken for en liten stund siden. Uten tvil min favorittfjelltopp, spesielt nΓ₯ pΓ₯ vinteren, dekt i snΓΈ. Har vokst opp med dette fjellet som utsikt og bare Γ₯ se pΓ₯ det bringer fram minner og fΓΈlelser jeg setter pris pΓ₯. Var absolutt pΓ₯ tide at jeg fikk malt det i mitt bilde!

Art, Landscape

SnΓΈ

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“Svalbard” 10 x 15 cm, akryl pΓ₯ lerret

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“Polarstjerna” 20 x 20 cm, akryl pΓ₯ lerret

*Β  Β *Β  Β *

PrΓΈvd meg litt pΓ₯ Γ₯ male vintermotiv i det siste. Syns snΓΈ er litt vanskelig Γ₯ fΓ₯ til Γ₯ se ekte ut, men det er vel bare Γ₯ ΓΈve videre πŸ™‚

 

Landscape, Outfit, Tattoo

Blackwork friday

Har lenge tenkt pΓ₯ Γ₯ gjΓΈre en cover-up av den tatoveringen jeg har pΓ₯ hΓΈyre overarm som jeg dessverre ikke er sΓ₯ fornΓΈyd med, og har bestemt meg for Γ₯ bare gjΓΈre halve armen helt svart. Har alltid elsket blackwork, syns det ser utrolig kult ut. I gΓ₯r satt jeg tre timer og fikk gjort ferdig et svart bΓ₯nd nederst, resten blir nok Γ₯ ta noen timer til πŸ™‚ Regner med Γ₯ bli helt ferdig i lΓΈpet av neste Γ₯r en gang!

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Nydelig novemberlys ute, forresten. Sola har takket for seg for i Γ₯r her i nord, men av en eller annen grunn sΓ₯ liker jeg mΓΈrketida. Nordlys og stearinlys. Hvitt pΓ₯ bakken og nakne trΓ¦r.

HΓ₯per alle har en fin mΓΈrketid og jul! β™‘

Everyday life, Photography, Poems

MΓΈrketid

 

 

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Bildene er tatt i SpΓ₯kenes.

*Β  Β *Β  Β *

Av og til
mΓ₯ noe vare lenge,
ellers mister vi vel vettet snart,
sΓ₯ fort som allting snurrer rundt med oss.
Store trær er fint
og riktig gamle hus er fint,
men enda bedre –
fjell.

Som ikke flytter seg en tomme
om hele verden enn forandres
(og det mΓ₯ den snart),
sΓ₯ stΓ₯r de der
og stΓ₯r og stΓ₯r
sΓ₯ du har noe Γ₯ legge pannen inntil,
og kjΓΈle deg
og holde i noe fast.

Jeg trives med fjell.
De lager horisonter
med store hugg i,
som de var smidd av smeder.

 

Utdrag av Rolf Jacobsens dikt ‘Mere fjell’

 

Art, Landscape

Waves and clouds

 

 

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I am currently working on a bigger piece (60 x 60 cm), but I needed a small break for it, so I decided to do some wave and cloud painting studies/practice. Turned out pretty okay, but I see many places where improvements can be made. Things don’t have to be perfect at first try, and the practice of different techniques is key. I did, however, really like the colors. Blue, pink and orange – and a bit of purple inside the peaks of the waves. I see many more wave paintings in the future, for sure! πŸ™‚

Art, Spirituality

Rainbow

 

This was a very fun project to do. I got an order to make a rainbow body/sambhogΓ£kaya representation in the form of swirling rainbow light in primary colors (the five elements), with a simple black circle. It was a challenge to get the different colors in the same size and had to do most of it freehand, but it turned out super nice and whole image seems to have movement which was the goal. It took about 7-8 hours in total, and each color has 4 layers to not make it look streaky. The person who ordered it seemed very pleased with the result and seeing someone else appreciate my work is priceless. Thank you.

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50 x 50, acrylic on stetched canvas. Simple yet powerful.

Pets, Photography

Birthday girl

My sweet, sweet, weird cat Kali turns 4 years this Spring. A bit unsure of the exact date, as she was found in a box in a ditch with her two siblings in BodΓΈ. They have also found good forever homes, and I am so grateful that Kali is still with me, as I have lost two other cats while having her (car accident and illness). She has the funniest personality, and acts more like a dog than a cat at times. Her company is priceless, especially since I am home quite a lot. She always reacts to her name and makes the cutest sounds if you talk to her. She loves to sleep on my chest, and sit on the chair across to me at breakfast. Her eyes cross a little which makes her too cute to be angry with her when she does shenanigans – which is quite often. Happy birthday, little weirdo! ❀

Adventure, Everyday life, Photography

Min pΓ₯ske

I Γ₯r hadde jeg en helt super pΓ₯ske! Har ikke vΓ¦rt pΓ₯ hytte-pΓ₯sketur pΓ₯ masse, masse Γ₯r, men nΓ₯ hadde jeg overskudd nok til Γ₯ bli med pΓ₯ en aldri sΓ₯ liten ekspedisjon til MΓ₯lselv og Faksfjorden sammen med en gjeng raringer πŸ˜‰ Badstu, scooter, brettspill og veldig mye god mat. Kanskje en god del vin. Ikke noe skigΓ₯ing pΓ₯ meg, men var koselig med litt alenetid ogsΓ₯ i helt fantastiske omgivelser. Tusen takk ❀

Art, Landscape

Snowy

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Had a little break from painting in the Easter, but today I felt like making something again. Have not bought any new canvases, the only ones I have are these tiny cute ones, and they are veryΒ fun to work with because you can hold them in your hand.

The weather here is absolutely amazing these days; clear blue sky all the time and very much snow in the mountains. So this was inspired by that πŸ™‚

Beauty, Everyday life, Outfit, Pets

BlΓ₯, lilla & grΓΈnn

Etterhvert som jeg har vaska hΓ₯ret, ser det ut til Γ₯ bli mer og mer lilla enn blΓ₯tt (som det opprinnelig var), noe som egentlig ikke gjΓΈr noe, da jeg ogsΓ₯ er noksΓ₯ glad i lilla. Har fremdeles ganske mye hΓ₯rfarge igjen og tenker Γ₯ freshe det opp sΓ₯ snart jeg fΓ₯r dreadsene mine i posten (har bestilt sΓ₯nne hΓ₯ndlagde syntetiske dreads – igjen)!

Idag var jeg i en tur i byen for Γ₯ handle litt og kom over en veldig fin mΓΈrk blΓ₯ kajal med glitter samt en blΓ₯ ΓΈyenskygge. Vanligvis kjΓΈper jeg kun sminke pΓ₯ salg, fordi jeg syns alt er overprisa, og idag var intet unntak. Kajalen kosta 10,- og ΓΈyeskyggen 20,- – pΓ₯ salg pΓ₯ H&M πŸ™‚ SΓ₯ da jeg kom hjem mΓ₯tte jeg prΓΈve de sammen med en lilla matte lipgloss jeg fikk i bursdagsgave. Syns det ble en fin look sΓ₯ tok ‘noen’ bilder. Mini photoshoot med KaliπŸ’™πŸ’šπŸ’œ

Pets, Photography

Nils

Nils, eller Nikodemus som han het da jeg adopterte han, er en ca 5 Γ₯r gammel storΓΈydΒ mons fra Dyrebeskyttelsen.Β Han kom til meg som en veldig skeptisk liten kar, men har etter lang tid blitt godt vandt med bΓ₯de meg og min andre katt, Kali. Han hilser til og med noen ganger pΓ₯ gjester. Selv om han fortsatt er litt skeptisk, er forandringen ganske stor fra da han kom til nΓ₯, og det er herlig Γ₯ se at han trives hos oss. Her er noen bilder av klumpen:

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Nils sin hverdag bestΓ₯r av Γ₯ ligge pΓ₯ gulvet, spise, se ut av vinduet, gΓ₯ ut en tur, sove, leke med Kali og ligge mer pΓ₯ gulvet Γ₯ rulle.

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Dette er Nils sitt slipp-meg-ut-tryne, akkompagnert med klagende mjauing helt til jeg Γ₯pner vinduet.
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Aah, endelig ute…Ingenting Γ₯ gjΓΈre der, gΓ₯r inn igjen πŸ˜‰

Hvis du ΓΈnsker Γ₯ adoptere en katt som trenger et nytt hjem i Troms-omrΓ₯det, kan du sjekke ut hvilke katter som er til omplassering her:Β http://dyrebeskyttelsen-tromso.no/info-om-omplassering/katter-til-omplassering/Β 
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Art, Landscape

The eagles of ManwΓ«

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“The eagles of ManwΓ«”, 50 x 40 cm, acrylic on canvas

“The Great Eagles were beings of Arda said to have been “devised” by ManwΓ« SΓΊlimo, the leader of the Valar, and were often called the Eagles of ManwΓ«. They were sent from Valinor to Middle-earth to keep an eye on the exiled Γ‘oldor, and also upon their foe the evil Vala Morgoth, and later yet upon Morgoth’s lieutenant and future Dark Lord, Sauron.”

Art, Landscape

Himalayan peaks

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20170228_161500-kopi

Finally made something new and fresh, and it feels really good to make something that comes straight from a joyous place. It’s been a long time since I was in such a creative mode. I have a thing for mountains and peaks, especially if they are covered in snow. Growing up in Northern Norway (Troms and Finnmark), I have been spoiled with mountain views all my life, but for some reason I decided to make a mountain peak how I imagine it looks like in the Himalayas, a place I’d much like to visit one day πŸ™‚