How do I know when fall is over and winter is on its way, fast. The tyttebær or as the Swedes call it lingonbær, is ready to harvest. When we harvest the tyttebær here in the Arctic, we know we have seen the last of pleasant weather, the last of the daylight ruling more hours than the darkness. The fall equinox is this month, but for us, here in Norway, true winter will be here October 14th. And summer will come around April 14th. There is no spring or fall. Ofcourse all this is according to the old long forgotten calendar. But the tyttebær remember and keep up to date, no matter when the times are. Winter is on its way to the Arctic. So here is my calendar in the Arctic. The tyttebær. I'm trying to give them as much time as i can on the plants to get as dark as they can. But i think i'll have to go and harvest them tomorrow. Here you can get a good idea just how big or i should say how little they are. For those who don't know about tyttebær, it is in comparisin to the cranberry. Not as sweet tho. Its truly a northern berry. We make jam out of it or syrup, saft. Its used here for accompaniment to meats. Or on bread, toast or in hot cereals. So now you have met my seasonal calendar that lets me know my summer days are limited. Winter is right around the corner.... See the skys are darker now faster in the evenings. Won't be long until we have no light at all. The tyttebær has never failed me yet!
And you are wearing a sweater!!!!! Here I sit in shorts with the doors open to get as much of the cool wind we are having inside the house. This will be the first day since mid-May that the central AC has not been on. I love the way you write the narratives with your pictures. You are so connected to the earth and it's life cycle, sometimes I feel like a plastic figure when I think about the difference in your daily life and mine.
Tyttebær are yummy! I like the colours you've got up there, I just wish they would stay there and not wind themselves down here eventually. And I need to go lingonberry picking.
Ohhh i love tyttebær! On meat or pannekake (pancakes) it works for it all. I have to pick them tomorrow, its getting to cold now and they are going start to fall off and i won't have any,,, Thank you Toni. Were all connected in our ways. Believe me when i say, if i was in Texas you could probably show me quite a few things or two. Your connected in a way that i can never be, and it all comes down to where we live. Basically we do only have 2 seasons here. So do you, hot and hotter. lol. j/k. But thank you for the compliment, it all comes from the spirit of the land, no matter where we live. Its all in how you listen, and learn.
They look lovely, such a fab colour. An I also noticed you wearing a sweater. Mind you, I was working today in 2 ladies gardens, and altho I was in my t-shirt, the breeze had a chill to it. Also, the kids played out in the garden after school and when they came in their cheeks were freezing, and they smelt of autumn...if you know what I mean.
Your Northern tales are so wonderful to read, Biita. I sometimes wonder how you Actic beings survive the winter. Maybe that can be your next narrative. I can see how your growing season and harvesting is so precious to you. The photos are wonderful. The berries must be a taste of summer. Gardengater
I love your pictures Biita. That last pict. is gorgeous. I thank you for writing about your season the way you do. It sure helps me to understand that its a whole differant way of living in the artic. I did notice your trees are turning color too. Thanks for sharing with us.
This was another good show and tell from you, Biita. It's so nice to see the nature and the landscape. I could feel as though I were right there.
Great shots Biita - I love the sunsets! Summer seems to have just arrived here ...30° was the high today.
Yes, even here in the desert we are noticing the difference in the temps. While it still gets hot during the day the evenings and early mornings are getting quite chilly. Of course, not like the Arctic.I am not a cold weather person. I would probably sit with my coat on all summer. We used to go to a place in Sister Bay, Wisconsin that had Swedish pancakes with lignonberry syrup. They were great. Now, Brian discovered a recipe for pancakes like that and he loves them. They were made in an oval and covered with lignonberries and rolled up and frosted with powdered (confectioner's) sugar. I'm glad to see how they grow. dooley
Thank you all! I do know the smell of cold weather comming in. Up here it smells like snow mixed with sea salt. A very clean fresh cold smell. Altho we have no polution up here to compare a good to a bad smell. Growing season is just a short 2 months. We can usually push it to 4 months because alot of us winter sow. But to honestly know when the season is done there are certain wild flowers that bloom, berries, trees that start to loose their leaves. All that usually takes place in Aug. The birch is almost bare or all yellow. Those pancakes that you describe Dooley, are the kind we make here. Very thin and can be rolled. Altho we just kind of fold them into a triangle then eat with soups or like you said, as a dessert. I also had gloves on, but took them off so i could take the pics....lol....its cold here. Its sunny still, but its cold.
wow biita, such beautiful pics! we have one lone 5 year old Lingonberry plant that produced for the first time this year. i wasn't sure when to pick the berries. they were red and now are a deep purple...but aren't falling off yet. i think i'll pick them and try some of your ideas...thanks so much! i too enjoy hearing about your adventures up there. please continue!
as i was reading the post and looking at the pix, i was thinking if those berries could be eaten...hehehe now i guess, i really want to taste some of those lol!
Ohhh believe me those berries will be eaten! I make jams, syrups and syrup for drinks called saft ut of it. When i was in America, the 2 places i know have them is a place called Ikea, and IHOP. International house of pankakes. They call them lingonberrys tho. Ikea is the swedish answer to walmart, ofcourse with a skandinavian twist.
For those that wanted to taste the berries I kinda hate to admit this for some reason but the dish at Ihop is called "international passport" & you have to ask for swedish...(how do I know? cause thats all I eat there.) you can buy lingon berries/tyttebær at ikea to take home one of the Main reason I go there. My fridge is well stocked with lingon berries/tyttebær
