No Sunshine

Saturday, 1 February 1986

Dear ones,

No sunshine this morning – it’s been mostly cloudy for several days. But the snowfall has been pretty light. It’s a good thing – Oslo has run out of money for snow removal and out here they’ve run out of places to put the snow. Guess they’ve had no thaws since winter began and that is unusual. But it’s been good for the skiers.

One of the ministers from the Osteras church came to visit us on Wednesday evening. He is an interesting fellow, maybe about 10 yrs. older than us. There are 3 ministers for 2 congregations, so every Sunday they have off. He and his wife left yesterday for the weened at their mountain hytta (cabin). He was a part of the Norwegian Resistance during WWII – had some interesting stories to tell.

Sunday was a bright sunshiny day and he we headed out of Oslo about 9:30. Got to the Kråkstad church about 10:20 – we were to meet Vince’s ‘cousin’ Oddvar Bjerke at 10:45.

Kråkstad church

He usually goes to a church closer to his farm. Each car that drove in we wondered if it were them. Finally a young couple – he’s 38 – with 2 children walked over to the car. He said he recognized Vince from his picture. They have 2 girls, Mari, almost 2 and Kirsten, 5½. His mother came to church there, too. Oddvar had told the minister we would be there so he welcomed the American visitors whose ancestors had worshipped in that church hundreds of years ago. He read one of the verses of the Scripture in English; and the children who sang 3 or 4 songs, sang one in English for our benefit. It was both Children’s Day and Bible Sunday. He (the minister) had several Bibles on display – one from 1765. There was also a baptism – it was really pretty – hung at least a yard beyond the baby’s feet.

Oddvar had called about to 2 of the 3 farms that Vince’s grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather had been born on. After church his wife and mother went home to make dinner – he rode with us to show us these places (would you believe we all forgot our cameras?) None of those farms are still in the family, but the people were very gracious in showing us around. We also saw a 4th farm – this one the oldest known ancestor lived on – it would be Vince’s great great great great great great grandfather. It hasn’t been in the family continuously, but the wife of the man who has it now is related to Vince. He is the 3rd generation on it. There we had coffee and rolls!

Skotbu farm

Think Oddvar had told his wife we would be there for dinner by 2. It was a quarter of 3 when we got there but she served us a delicious dinner: roast elk (moose), boiled potatoes, gravy, carrots and brussel sprouts. For dessert we had krumkaka with a-berries-in-white-cream dish. Oddvar had to do his chores and we visited with his wife Malfrid and his mother and watched the antics of his 2-yr. old. Jené was so frustrated at not being able to understand her or talk to her so she could understand. We shared some family information with Oddvar when he came in – and then it was time for coffee. We had anise flavored lefse (I’m going to get the recipe) and a blotkake (soft cake) it was layered, and had lots of whip.cream but not the same as we had at Hanna Koppang’s. This one is traditional for festive occasions, birthdays, etc.

By this time we suggested it was time we should go home. But Oddvar first had to show us some of his antiques. They have a good sized house but usually use just the kitchen which has a ‘family re’ at one end, ( didn’t go in there so I didn’t see it) an the bedroom. But they had opened and heated a ‘great room’ for Sunday – it had a large table, buffet, hutchtype china closet, 2 sitting areas with perhaps room for seating 6 in each area. Some of this furniture was very old – this room was to the right of the entry hall. But straight ahead of the entry was 2 room full of old furniture. I don’t even remember all I saw: table, chairs, large desk, trunk. Leather covered davenport and chairs, corner cupboard. They re living in a second house on the farm – he is remodeling the other one. Think one is for the parents to live in when the son takes over the farm. But his did died 3-4 years ago, and his mother has moved into a new house in town, so I think when they moved out of this house, they will rent it out. Guess they rent out the upstairs now. During the war, Jews were hid from the Nazis in their basement – the Jews were being sneaked (snuck?) over into Sweden.  It was a fun day and we got home by 11 p.m. We had a little trouble finding our vei (road) to get us from downtown out to here. Eventually we will learn the town. Think we need Dalen to drive us around. We remember how good he was 10 years ago.

Last Tuesday I rode down with Jene on the trikk (street car) and then walked to the Univ. Library – it was a 20-25 minute walk. Suppose I could have grabbed a bus if I could read which bus to grab. Walked past the U.S. Embassy. Thought about dropping in and introducing myself. Did some reading in the bydeboker or farm or community history. May have found a few dates I didn’t have before, and a little information on one of Grandpa Roe’s great great grandmothers. (Oddvar thinks we should buy the bygdebok for Kråkstad area.) If we bought all the books our ancestors are in, it could be quite an investment, but maybe a good one. Well, after I read for about 3 1/2 hr. I decided I’d better walk back and catch the trikk. Made it home by about 4. Would you believe I would be ambling around Oslo by myself?

Thursday I went down about noon and met Jené when she was out of her class. We looked around in the 2 large department stores and in the husflid “craft” store. We saw the Oslo Cathredral from the outside. (that’s on our tour list) Found a pair of boots like she saw at Sandvika – but didn’t buy these either – I didn’t have enough kroner with me. I probably didn’t tell you about our trip to Sandvika last Saturday. It used to be a town by itself until Oslo expanded. It has a lot more stores than little Osteras, so we went to find Jené a pair of winter books. After visiting every shoe store, she found pair she like. We didn’t have enough kroner, an this particular store didn’t accept MasterCard or Visa or travelers checks. So they lost a sale. We were going skiing (cross-country) when we got thru shopping, but it was quite breezy and blowing snow out in the open so we changed our minds.

Vince worked here at home on Wednesday – when Jené got home from class, they went skiing just here in the neighborhood. Jené used my ski boots and the skies that Koppangs loaned to us.

Jené seems to be enjoying her class – I’m amazed at the amount of language they’ve given her in this week. It takes awhile to assimilate it all; I’m hoping she takes the II level, another six weeks. It is good for her to have something to do. Monday she starts another class – this one at the University. But she was unable to register as a student because she doesn’t have enough American college yet. However, this lecture is in English and is open which means she can sit in and listen. It is on Norsk life and culture and history. I told her I'm thinking about auditing it, too. So I will meet her again at the trikk station downtown and we will take another line out to Blindern. Then Vince will pick us up on his way home. She said this will be new – going to college with her mother.

Jené made omelets for our supper last Sat. nite. Vince thought that would be a good idea for every Sat. night. I made sure I bought eggs yesterday.

I’d better not make this any longer – you won’t get through it all. We don’t like an empty mailbox, so thanks for the letters.

We saw pictures on the news here 7:30 p.m. Tues (1:30 p.m. Eastern time) of the Challenger explosion – awful! Tomorrow we go to Ottar’s.

Love, Verla and Vince