21 years and a re-post

Below is the post I wrote on this day last year. It’s now been twenty-one years. I continue to be thankful for the fact that I’m among the survivors and for all that I’ve learned in the process.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

©Billy Howard Photography
(1994) from the art show & book
Angels & Monsters: A Child’s Eye View of Cancer
(find it HERE on Amazon)

 

Twenty years ago today, my oncologist confirmed that all of my scans were clear. Thirteen months of chemotherapy behind me, and loads of possibility and unknowns ahead. I was officially in remission, off-therapy, and a cancer survivor*.

Continue reading 21 years and a re-post

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting the new home of Notes from Norge!

NOTES from NORGEWe are excited to continue to share coffee, culture,
and the day-to-day of an American family living in Europe.

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Kaffetur 27 / Coffee Tour #27: Playground Coffee, Hamburg Germany

This week’s coffee tour is a bit of a throw-back.
While Zack was visiting friend in Germany last year, he had the chance to pop into Playground Coffee.
Playground is housed inside Otto’s Burgers, a very popular spot for burgers, and weekend brunch.

As it turned out on his visit, Otto’s had recently endured a fire. As such, the windows clearly explained,

NO BURGER
Just Coffee

Then again, coffee was exactly what Zack was looking for.

Playground’s set-up is no-frills. A quality third wave coffee shop with some playful splashes of color and chalkboard design thrown in. After all, you gotta find a bit of vintage style when you find yourself with prime real estate in a university neighborhood.

The barista behind the counter was from Australia. He had vast experience and really knew his stuff.

Zack thoroughly enjoyed his pour over.

Playground’s coffee packaging is almost as enjoyable as its coffee. Be sure to check it out on their website.

Learn more about Playground by visiting
https://www.playground-coffee.com

The Stories Behind the People / The People Behind the Stories

We want to invite our Notes from Norge followers on a new journey…Notes from Norge is not going anywhere – we will continue to share about coffee and cultural insights via this blog.

But if you have not already heard, we have started a new site, focused on storytelling. We are seeking to create a platform that has several purposes:

  1. It allows us to get to know more people where we live in and work
  2. It gives us the chance to help support local businesses
  3. It tells personal stories that will encourage and empower those who follow along
  4. It creates a place where people can connect and support one another
So we hope you will continue to follow along here, but will also join us as we share the stories of those around us – and a few of our own as well. We believe that everyone has a story. And everyone needs a chance for their story To Be Told.

www.ToBeTold.net

Kaffetur 26 / Coffee Tour #26: Higher Grounds, Braselton, GA

We were searching for a lunch spot to meet up with my dad and step-mom. It really was more about location than anything else. Of course, the word coffee did appear in our search criteria…Tucked away in the second floor of what was once a community bank building, Higher Grounds is not in the most prominent of locations.

And yet, the customer traffic suggests that location isn’t a hindrance.

A cute breakfast and lunch spot, their menu offerings were fresh, creative, and enticing. I was definitely more interested in the food options than the coffee, at least initially.

But while ordering food, Zack asked the girl at the counter if they offered any sort of hand brewed coffees. She admitted her lack of coffee knowledge, but called her coworker from the back.

Out from the kitchen came a young man – emphasis on young. My first thought was, ‘how can this guy know anything about coffee?’ Seriously, I’m certain I’m old enough to be his mom. And I’m not THAT old.

Caleb smiled and offered to prepare a pour-over for us. We asked for a coffee recommendation. Turns out, the kid not only knows how to prepare coffee, but he also roasts his own beans.

Caleb De Avila and his brother Josh got the ‘roasting bug’ after watching the Travel Channel series Dangerous Grounds. So about a year ago, they began roasting their own beans. And in the last six months, Caleb has begun doing even more.

While most college kids spend their hours outside of the classroom in more traditional or conventional ways, Caleb spends the majority of that time with coffee. Whether he’s perfecting his roasting game, preparing coffee at Higher Grounds, or working at the company’s other shop 2 Ladies in the Attic, Caleb is all about the beans.

On the day we visited Higher Grounds, Caleb prepared two pour-overs for us: one Ethiopian and one Brazilian. Both were quite enjoyable.

His roasting skills are quite impressive, particularly given his age and the brevity of his roasting experience. And he’s also expanding his skills through experimentation with nitro cold brewed coffee.

 

In addition to good coffee, Higher Grounds is worth a visit for the food: definitely as delicious as it looks.

If you happen to be driving on I-85 just north of Gwinnett County, Georgia, take a break at exit 129. Turn one way and you’ll find Higher Grounds. Turn the other, and you’ll get to 2 Ladies in the Attic. Either way, if you happen to meet Caleb, tell him his new friends in Norway said hi!

De Avila Roasting Co.
Twitter or Email

Higher Grounds
Facebook
6700 Georgia Highway 53
Braselton, GA 30517

2 Ladies in the Attic
Facebook
9924 Davis Street
Braselton, GA 30517

Three Years in Norway?!?!

On February 1, 2013, four weary travelers arrived in Oslo. Tired, jet lagged, and quite overwhelmed, yet relieved to have made it. And ready for whatever was to come.Well, we thought we were ready. What was to come was a lot. Ups and downs. Good days and frustrating ones. But through it all, we’ve come to love living here.

Happy Three Year Anniversary to us!

Then
Now