Mountain getaway, July 10 - 12

Today is my 7th workday in a row. The price I pay to get a weekend in the mountains. The weather forecast was for rain, and Husband, wasn't sure if he wanted to go. But I needed to get away, if only to sit by the wood stove, read and play cards.
The two room cabin, which belongs to MaryAnn and Nils N lies on a point of land that sticks out into the Vinster lake, 1080 meters above sea-level, in the Jotunheimen mountains. There is neither elektricity nor running water and the outhouse is out in the barn of what used to be a summer farm. Up and down along the lake there are still summer farms in operation, milking goats and cows, both of which come to graze on the point of land where Skarstølen lies. It's a wonderfull place for the dogs, as they can run freely around the cabin most of the day, fenced in as they are by water on 2 sides and the fence on the third.

It actually didn't rain very much that weekend, though it was chilly when we arrived. Husband chopped wood and kept the fire going. I made sour cream porridge and in no time we were cozy. Time seems to stand still at Skarstølen. We read, played cards, took long naps and went for long walks. Lucy had her first encounter with goats on our first walk. On the second we saw a large flock of reindeer quite close by. On the open mountain moors, just dotted with occasional boulders Lucy just had to run. She would run and run in a big circle and suddenly she would be out of sight, which was a little scary as there might be sheep in the hollows, and we have no idea if she would try to chase them. She came back of course but we had to put her on a leash where the landscape was so open. Back at Skarstølen the cows from a neighboring summerfarm had gotten in by going between the end of the fence and the water and so we let the dogs chase them out: Lucy on leash, directing Topsy by voice.

We also had some nice visits with MaryAnn and Nils. MaryAnn has made an amazing flower garden with a stone terrace, waterfall and pool, little steps going up and down. It is quite wonderfull. Nils N is getting older, 81 now, and not very good on his feet anymore, but sharp as a whistle. It was good to see them.