Ever sneak a little slice that you thought no one would notice? Were you in a house where the Vinarterta was treasured and tasted so much like home you couldn’t resist? And on the most special of occasions where it sat wrapped and tauntingly tasty; did you ever NOT slice a paper thin sliver, again […]
Culture is all the ways we remember, tell and celebrate our stories. This photo is of a print that was on the wall at Lónkot in Skagafjörður, Iceland (a beautiful Guest House) near where vagabond artist and poet Sölvi Helgason (1820-1895) was born. An interesting character, he called himself ‘Sólon Íslandus’ and believed that he […]
Many Large ‘Amma’ Vínarterta were delivered to Vancouver for a very special event; the Icelandic National League of North America INLofNA Convention. At breakfast on the first morning I heard someone say longingly: “I hope there is Vinarterta.” I realize some people probably know more than I do about Vinarterta, and the power of it […]
“How then are we to relate to our ancestors? How are we to feel ourselves in some meaningful way Icelandic and in a direct line of descent of Icelandic values and an Icelandic way of life? Well, for Western Icelanders here in North America the answer is a practical and pragmatic one. We use food. […]
How can it get any better than that? I love this question. Not can it. How can it? Ask the question and see the shift happen to make any thing or any situation in life better. It always can. Life just gets better in a yummy kind of way when fear is gone and unlimited […]
“Ég kem alveg af fjöllum.” I come completely from the mountains. – Icelandic Saying (Means for example: I have no idea what you are talking about. I did not eat that cake.) Useful especially for people who are known to sneak little pieces of Vínarterta (in little slivers) thinking no one will notice. Well, since […]
“An rud is annamh is iontach.” = The thing that’s seldom is wonderful. – Irish Saying Happy St.Patrick’s Day with a nod to our Icelandic – Irish heritage with a beautiful unexpected green Icelandic wool rose patterned historic textile from Norska húsið (the Norwegian House) Stykkishólmur, Iceland Photo: Arden Jackson
“It’s not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters.” – Mother Teresa Arden Jackson Photo: David Snow
Vínarterta. It is us. Arden Jackson
Icelandic Saying: “Now there won’t do any mitten-takes” = “Nú duga engin vettlingatök.” (Meaning: Now we are going to do it properly.) No mitten-grabbing! If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well! (I hear Amma!) With this level of translation required, no wonder it’s hard to learn Icelandic. And yet, when you think about it, […]