The weather here is damp – dark mist and rain – spring

has just begun to arrive at last – but the ice

still lies intact without holes or cracks – it is thick

yet soft – it will probably remain for another 14 days

and before it disappears, there will be no warmth in

the village, – the snow has for a few days now receded

halfway up the slopes only a few patches of ice remain –

we have been almost without contact with the outside world,

almost an entire week passed with no mail; this was due not

only to the bad road conditions but also to mistaken shipments at the dis-

tribution centres; – due to the difficulties with coal

the boat runs only once a week on Söndfjord.

Here there is still a lot of frost in the earth, so one can bare-

ly begin working the earth, – it is doubtful it will be

a good year for farming, – everything is delayed – but spring

has finally arrived – my "sod farms" as people here call

my terraces are turning green – the wagtail

and the other spring birds have arrived, "sùsvorta" and the song thrush

compete with their mating calls in the birches below our cabins, and

the magpies have now built their third nest on the farm, I caught

the neighbour’s boys and gave them a sound scolding, because

they ^had been up in one of the magpie nests and thrown out the eggs.

I am plagued by my choking fits – though to a lesser degree than before

otherwise we are all well. Hope You are all well too and are

Your devoted N. Astrup

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