Snow, glorious snow

This was taken in the morning, so imagine it after five more hours of snow.

Just the other day Arlo asked what a snowstorm was.  I defined it as being so much snow that when you finish shovelling your walk, it is time to do it again.  Lucky for him he got to experience it first hand.  We must have shovelled a dozen time in the last 24 hours!  Maybe we didn't have to shovel quite so much, but there was the novelty aspect having not had to shovel in over five years.

Photo by Arlo

Even the bike path plows couldn't keep up with the snow, and I was very proud that Robin was able to get herself to and from her Julemandens vaerksteder/Santa Claus workshop on public transportation.

Ooh - a Volvo bus!

More Christmas

Signs have been hanging outside the art room and woodworking room announcing that parents and siblings are forbidden from entering.  Not only are the children making gifts, they get to wrap them and use a wax seal to make sure no one has peeked.

It is not event without coffee.  This time of year peppernodder (very small cinnamon and cardamom shortbread cookies not shown) are served, too.

Today the art room was open to all so traditional decorations could be made.  Some people brought fancy candles, but I used the one provided, which made for a nice Thanksgiving decoration.

My creation (Arlo was downstairs playing Wii)

A country of meat eaters

Can you imagine a class of American nine-year-olds being taken to a game preserve, having a deer killed for them, having the deer skinned in front of them, and then bringing back the skull, skin, and a couple feet?  It sounds a bit like the digression in a Tom Lehrer song.  You may remember an earlier post showing the people at the after-school program dealing with the skin.

Now the skin is dried and is hanging in the entry way with helpful labels showing where the bullet went in and where it came out.  There is also a full set of photos as reminders of the field trip.  Just like the self-serve wine sampling station, I don't see this tradition making its way to the U.S.

Did I mention that a very kind woman, a woman who works at a university in Copenhagen, said I was the first vegetarian she had met?

Jul

I am not sure why marzipan pigs are part of the tradition here, but it may be related to the days when a family's wealth was related to the size of its pig.  You can also buy marzipan logs so you can make your own pigs or other treats.

A little more snow

The seven-day forecast does not show it going above freezing, but one day at a time we are doing just fine.  Here you can see that the bike paths were cleared first.

It is dark on the way to school.

Rosenborg Slot

To the left you might be able to see the changing of the guard

We were excited to visit a real castle today.  We were amazed by the throne room, which looks just like you would see in a picture book.  A clock that tells the time, season, and astronomical information played a wonderful song and we even saw a royal high chair.  In a basement vault we saw the intricate crown of Christian IV and the crown jewels.  Outside the grounds have been turned into a public garden, but we decided we would enjoy exploring the area in spring.

First snow

It was wonderful and exciting, especially since there wasn't quite enough to shovel.

Our backyard