Paper Tiger

knitting, baking, and reading in Norway


back to it

Magical light on a forested path. The setting sun shoots rays through the trees ahead, casting a warm glow and soft shadows over the vegetation on the ground.

August. The fireweed (willowherb) is almost done, the thistle is going to seed, the students are arriving in town again…that back-to-school feeling is definitely creeping its way into Trondheim. Seems like an appropriate time to dust this thing off, yeah?

I didn’t intend for the blog to go quiet, but between the pandemic, working on a PhD, and then having a baby (something I chose not to share online until after the fact), it simply became harder to make time for. That baby is now a toddler and I have less than three months remaining on my PhD contract, if I needed evidence of how much time has elapsed. Although to be honest, time has been a little funny ever since 2020, the year that felt like time stopped.

Becoming a parent has been transformative, to put it mildly, and the first year of my kid’s life was marked by frequently setting myself on the back burner in order to nurture and care for this new small being. A lot of the things I usually write about in this space–knitting, sewing, even long photo walks–got put on the back burner. And I am slowly, slowly finding my way back to them, when I have time and space for it. Time and space for myself.

I have things to share here when I can find the time! Snippets of it here and there. So I’ll see you again soon here in this space–today’s just me dipping my toes back in the water. Hi, hello, I hope you’re well.

Trondheim fjord at sunset in the summer. A warm rosy glow on the horizon is reflected in the water. Wildflowers appear dark in silhouette in the foreground.


12 responses to “back to it”

  1. I am so glad you will be writing here again!

    1. I am so pleased to see your post as I had been wondering if all was well & love your knitting patterns & snippets about Norway. My, you have been busy. Many Congratulations on becoming a Mom. You will love it. 😀

  2. I well remember when I raised my two, how much less time I had for my passions although my kids were my passion too. Eventually I took them to daycare three times some weeks and the third day was mine to sew. Since I made most of our clothes, it really helped and it filled my creative needs.
    You will find snippets of time and cherish it❤️

    1. We find space here and there when we can, don’t we? My little one won’t be little forever (in fact I can’t believe how fast it goes, even though everyone says exactly that) so I’m soaking up the present and not worrying about what I’ve set aside for now. It’ll be there when I have time to come back to it!

  3. Welcome back, and congratulations on becoming a mom!

  4. Looking forward to reading from you again!

  5. I hope you completed your Ph.d. 🌹

    1. I’m in the home stretch!

  6. Congrats on becoming a mother – the best job in the whole wide world! Congrats on completing a PhD too, no easy task! Looking forward to your future blog posts.

    1. Thanks so much! I’m not quite done yet, but getting closer by the day. I’m planning to submit the thesis by the time my contract is up at the end of October!

  7. rebelflairsnowbird Avatar
    rebelflairsnowbird

    Hi Diana,

    <

    div>Congratulations

  8. Congratulations on your new arrival! Best of luck for the home stretch of your dissertation. I hope your defense goes smoothly!

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