Anne's own page
| My name is Anne Hvidsten, I was born in 1964, and moved out on this island with my parents when I was nearly 10. I was very happy to come here, everybody was extremely nice to me. When I joined school here we were 5 pupils in my class, and the teachers loved teaching us all kinds of subjects. Here I'm together with my mother Astri. | |
The first years on the farm we had to work hard, my parents have built all the buildings by their own, and we had to help in each possible way. Removing stones from the fields were one of the things we did not like very much. Next year there seamed to be just as much as before.
Growing up here has for me meant a lot. I was early fond of animals. Learnt to milk the cows when I was 12, and has been doing that ever since to help my parents. Working with the tractor was also popular. Growing potatoes, carrots, turnips and cabbage for sale meant lots of hours of work, but also time spent with neighbours putting it in the ground, and picking it up.
When I was 19 I had my first child, Ina. Pia came less than 2 years later. Then we moved back to Løkta, Odd Arne had got himself work as a teacher here.
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In 1991 we moved here to our self- built house. 5 years later the extension was ready. In 1994 we built a garage and a cellar to keep vegetables all year around. Odd Arne has put down nature- rocks between the three houses. We have also planted lots of trees around the house. By the garage we have one terrace for breakfasts. On the southwest side of the house we have terraces in two floors, with a stair between. We are now working on a fireplace beside the terrace. It will also be an outdoor kitchen to prepare food in the sun. We have made everything here by our own, I love to plan and draw my ideas. We will not be done in many years, hopefully not ever, new ideas pop up all the time. |
| In 1995 we had Silje. Ina and
Pia love taking care of her, and she loves when they come
home now for holidays and weekends. This picture was taken just south of Steinkjer. |
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| Marius came to us when he was 7, in 1998. We are his foster family, and he has lots of contact with his mother and father. He is an active boy who likes to do many things. |  |
The year 2000 we took over the farm my parents had run since 1974.
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It is exciting to have the responsibility for everything but can be tough because we do not have a person to help us when we want a day off. Ina and Pia have learnt to milk and feed, and that helps us. We send the cows out in June and have the first calves in August each year. That means we can go on holiday in the summer, and home- exchange is one of the best things that have happened to us. We love the excitement each time we have a mail from possible exchangers. We have seen so many beautiful places, and especially living in a real home and not in a hotel or cottage is good for all of us. Silje loves playing with new toys. The first days in a new house she does not want to go anywhere. |
| When I have some time of my
own, I love reading books. Norwegian writers are good,
but John Irving is my favourite. He always surprises me. Spending time outside makes me relax after busy days. The mountains around us often change colours after the weather and time of the day. |
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The summer of 2003 we visited Liverpool, a wonderful time! The people in England are so warm and including. And the house we stayed in were perfect to make a big family relax. Next summer we are returning to France, in a small place called la Fresnais near the coast west of Paris. We will be companied by Odd Arne's sister and her family. Hopefully we will spend much time in and around the pool, and also walking in the small towns nearby. It feels very good to have made up our mind early, a long time to dream of what's coming!
Anne.