Saturday, 11 January 1986
Dear ones,
The others are still in bed so maybe I can get this started. What would you think about passing my letter on after you have read it? The news may be a little old that way but you may hear oftener.
We had a good uneventful flight. The tedious part was waiting in airports for our next flight. Luckily, we stuck in Dawn’s portable luggage cart. Our carry-ons were heavy, and we would have worn ourselves out going from one terminal to the next. We were bused to our plane at O’Hare Chicago, and in London we were bused to the next terminal. The security was beefed up at London airport – we saw military in “camouflage” suits, carrying a rifle, patrolling the area. Vince was frisked there at a metal detector site. Jené and I weren’t but I saw some women that were.
We had supper on our flight to London – about 9:30 our time. When we finished with that we watched a movie – saw Cocoon. By then it was about 1 a.m. our time and the pilot announced it was now 7 o’clock London time and we would be having breakfast in an hour. We landed in London about 10 a.m. and our flight to Goteburg left at 3:15. We sat and napped, watched people, etc. We got to Goteburg about 6:30, but we had lost another hour. We picked up our luggage and went thru customs. We had nothing to declare so that didn’t take long. One of Jené’s suitcases didn’t come in – she was devastated. Her curling iron was in it, or was it her shampoo. We took a taxi to this hotel – with our 5 large suitcases, and 3 carry-ons. The reservation clerk kept calling the airport for us to check on Jene’s suitcase – no luck yet.
The Volvo Co. limosine picked us up at 11, and took us to the Tourist Delivery service. The driver gave us a mini tour of Goteburg on the way. So we got the car – got everything situated and left for Oslo. It was a pretty drive – Sweden had had a big snowfall about a week before and it still lay thick on all the trees. We stopped for supper just outside of Oslo. Our map wasn’t very good so it took some doing to find our spot. But after asking at a Texaco station, and then having a fellow customer offer to show us the way, we made it.
Our apartment is in a complex of apartments. Think there are 24 apt in our building. There is a shopping center just next door. Our bedroom is good sized, has lot of drawer space, good closet space, large desk-writing area. Jené is kind of in the other 2 sleeping rooms – the one is just a small bedroom – the other one has a lounge chair, a large desk, and built-in bunks. The bottom one is fixed up like a lounging area. The kitchen is big enough for a tale to eat at – has an electric dish washer, apt. size stove and refrigerator. We already have had boiled fish. The other room is good sized also – has a couple of seating areas, one kind of for TV watching, the other by the book cases.
We met an American lady at the grocery store on Thursday – her husband works for Esso. Guess there are a lot of Americans living in this area – both with oil companies and with the military (Nato). She offered to help us whenever we need it; and offered to take me to the American Women’s Club which meets at the American Lutheran Church. Last night, a knock at our door – it was a fellow from the apt. 2 floors below (Oh, I forgot – we are on the 3rd floor – what an effort to lug the suitcases!) – he is on a Fulbright from Indiana University; he invited us down for coffee so we met his wife, who teaches at a small private college outside of Bloomington, Ind., and their 8 yr. old daughter. They have entered their little girl in regular Norwegian school – she says its easier. Their school days aren’t as long. Yesterday she got out at 1 p.m. Jene may take a Norwegian class at the same time as Jill (the Mrs.)
We are going to find out about her classes on Monday. Thursday we opened a bank account. Yesterday we bought snow tires – last night we had 3-4 inches of snow. It was 4 below 0℉ yesterday so is cold. Tonight we are invited over for dinner to the Koppang’s - Rolf and Hanna – they are the couple who were in Iowa City for 6 months 4 or 5 years ago.
Think we will look up the church today and find out what time services are. There is one here in Osteras so it shouldn’t be far.
Monday we also have to report in to some office, so they will know we are here. Anyone staying longer than 3 months has to do that. We aren’t tourists but we aren’t permanent residents.
Jené’s suitcase was located and delivered right to our door – that helped the situation, but we either have to find a converter or buy a curling iron. The electric cycles are 60 here, well, anyway they are different so our appliances can’t be used without a converter or transformer.
We got such a giggle out of Katie, the little girl downstairs, last night. She said it's against the law to strike a child. Vince asked if that was at school. And her father said it included parents, too. It’s against the law to use corporal punishment. I don’t think she’s one who has been beat a lot. But she thought that was a neat law.
Guess we will have to start using a clock - we are still sleeping by Iowa time, I think.
Oh, I forgot to tell you about the bathroom. The shower stall, the stool stall, a sink are in a room between the entry way and the kitchen. There is also a washer and a dryer in there. The washer has an agitator and a separate spin-dry section. The dryer is a floor-to-ceiling ‘closet’ with an electric heater on the floor and rods at various heights on which to hang the clothes. The clothes get dry in a day. There is a mangle in the basement. I haven’t been down to see it yet. There is an iron and board up here. There is a garbage drop to the basement. However, bottles or glass have to be hand delivered. So far we haven’t found a coffee pot. Think they drank tea more and used instant coffee.
Guess I’ll get this ready to mail, and find the post office. Think it is at the shopping center.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 13, 2016
February 12, 2016
Lolly-gagging
Saturday, 18 January 1986
Dear ones,
We are lolly-gagging around again this morning with nothing special on the agenda. It is about 20 degrees F. (heard you had it warm – a January that?) and snowing again. It is easy to sleep late. Daylight comes about 8:30 or so and dark about 4 p.m.
Jené and Erling Oluf, a son of the Koppang’s also 19 went to a movie in the sentrum (down town, loop) last night. It was an American one; they even had a coke at a McDonald’s. Jené enjoyed that. She is less adventuresome – gets bored with watching TV you can’t understand, looking at newspapers you can’t understand, looking for things in the grocery store not being able to read the labels. She has registered for an intensive 6-wk. Norwegian language course, meets 4 times a week in 2-hr. sessions. That starts on the 27th. We were watching an American movie on the TV when she got home – it had Swedish subtitles. That helps us learn the language, too.
Vince went in to the University yesterday. Was introduced around, etc. He has been given 2 offices to use, because he will be at 2 different locations. They even brought in an IBM computer for his use. He told me I could come down and use it, but I didn’t bring my softwear with me. And I haven’t learned the Basic Language.
Got a letter from Robyn last week, and one from Steve yesterday. Anxiously waiting for more. Jené got her grades from UNI – she was a little disappointed. They were about the same as the semester before, and she felt she was doing better.
We had a really good time at the Koppang’s last Saturday. Hanna served us mutton with cabbage (faar i kaal) and boiled potatoes. Our next course was rice in whipped cream with a raspberry syrup. Then we adjourned to the living room – oh I guess we had a tour of their flat – it is rather like a duplex or a 3-plex. They have 3 floors: 2 sleeping rooms and 2 “offices” on top floor, and bath, living room, dining area and kitchen on the middle floor. A work bench and room, laundry facilities and large TV room are on the bottom floor. Hanna keeps asking us if we have enough room – she knows our house is bigger. Then we sat at the coffee table where she also had quite a spread: coffee, of course, cookies, a fruit similar to a tangerine (called clementine) and finally a layered cake with whipped cream, bananas and pineapple between the layers. And it was 2 a.m. when we got home.
Sunday we walked to the church here in Osteras – I recognized the Lord’s Prayer and The Apostles Creed, but I didn’t get much out of the sermon.
Monday we attempted to report into the Police Station. This is required of anyone staying longer than 3 mos. The address we were given was right downtown – you can imagine what it was like – we can’t read the signs, most of the street signs are small placards on buildings, the roads don’t go like the map looks like, the traffic is bumper to bumper. We asked a couple-three times before finding it. When we asked one fellow if he spoke English, he said “Nei – what are you looking for?” When we got to the right building, and then to the right office, we found out the papers had been sent to Sandvika, because we live in Osteras. Vince was a little upset. He can’t figure out why they sent us the downtown address on the application. Oh well, Oslo bureaucracy, I suppose. That did us in for the day – we went home after getting to Sandvika and getting our passports stamped.
(I’ve) Written cards about our Holmenkollen ‘trip’ on Wednesday. Thursday we checked out where we got on the tram (rail) to go downtown. It’s maybe 3 blocks from here. Vince has been trying to decide if it is cheaper to buy gas or to use public. The bus stops close by, too. Gas is equivalent to $2.59 a gal. so it is expensive; but to take the tram downtown is about $3.00 round trip.
Think I have finally found a way to make my coffee. At first, we couldn’t find a coffee pot so decided they must use instant. Then one day back on a high cupboard shelf I found an old electric percolator. The inside was all coated with black and I didn’t [?] some scrubbing. Finally bought some edikk (vinegar) and percolated that through. That seemed to clean it up pretty good. Don’t think it has an automatic shut-off so now a I have to learn how long to let it perk and how much coffee to use. But I’ll figure it out – just give me time. Next I’ll tell you the story of the electric frypan.
Love to all – whoever gets these last should maybe save them. Might make an interesting chronicle.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
We are lolly-gagging around again this morning with nothing special on the agenda. It is about 20 degrees F. (heard you had it warm – a January that?) and snowing again. It is easy to sleep late. Daylight comes about 8:30 or so and dark about 4 p.m.
Jené and Erling Oluf, a son of the Koppang’s also 19 went to a movie in the sentrum (down town, loop) last night. It was an American one; they even had a coke at a McDonald’s. Jené enjoyed that. She is less adventuresome – gets bored with watching TV you can’t understand, looking at newspapers you can’t understand, looking for things in the grocery store not being able to read the labels. She has registered for an intensive 6-wk. Norwegian language course, meets 4 times a week in 2-hr. sessions. That starts on the 27th. We were watching an American movie on the TV when she got home – it had Swedish subtitles. That helps us learn the language, too.
Vince went in to the University yesterday. Was introduced around, etc. He has been given 2 offices to use, because he will be at 2 different locations. They even brought in an IBM computer for his use. He told me I could come down and use it, but I didn’t bring my softwear with me. And I haven’t learned the Basic Language.
Got a letter from Robyn last week, and one from Steve yesterday. Anxiously waiting for more. Jené got her grades from UNI – she was a little disappointed. They were about the same as the semester before, and she felt she was doing better.
We had a really good time at the Koppang’s last Saturday. Hanna served us mutton with cabbage (faar i kaal) and boiled potatoes. Our next course was rice in whipped cream with a raspberry syrup. Then we adjourned to the living room – oh I guess we had a tour of their flat – it is rather like a duplex or a 3-plex. They have 3 floors: 2 sleeping rooms and 2 “offices” on top floor, and bath, living room, dining area and kitchen on the middle floor. A work bench and room, laundry facilities and large TV room are on the bottom floor. Hanna keeps asking us if we have enough room – she knows our house is bigger. Then we sat at the coffee table where she also had quite a spread: coffee, of course, cookies, a fruit similar to a tangerine (called clementine) and finally a layered cake with whipped cream, bananas and pineapple between the layers. And it was 2 a.m. when we got home.
Sunday we walked to the church here in Osteras – I recognized the Lord’s Prayer and The Apostles Creed, but I didn’t get much out of the sermon.
Monday we attempted to report into the Police Station. This is required of anyone staying longer than 3 mos. The address we were given was right downtown – you can imagine what it was like – we can’t read the signs, most of the street signs are small placards on buildings, the roads don’t go like the map looks like, the traffic is bumper to bumper. We asked a couple-three times before finding it. When we asked one fellow if he spoke English, he said “Nei – what are you looking for?” When we got to the right building, and then to the right office, we found out the papers had been sent to Sandvika, because we live in Osteras. Vince was a little upset. He can’t figure out why they sent us the downtown address on the application. Oh well, Oslo bureaucracy, I suppose. That did us in for the day – we went home after getting to Sandvika and getting our passports stamped.
(I’ve) Written cards about our Holmenkollen ‘trip’ on Wednesday. Thursday we checked out where we got on the tram (rail) to go downtown. It’s maybe 3 blocks from here. Vince has been trying to decide if it is cheaper to buy gas or to use public. The bus stops close by, too. Gas is equivalent to $2.59 a gal. so it is expensive; but to take the tram downtown is about $3.00 round trip.
Think I have finally found a way to make my coffee. At first, we couldn’t find a coffee pot so decided they must use instant. Then one day back on a high cupboard shelf I found an old electric percolator. The inside was all coated with black and I didn’t [?] some scrubbing. Finally bought some edikk (vinegar) and percolated that through. That seemed to clean it up pretty good. Don’t think it has an automatic shut-off so now a I have to learn how long to let it perk and how much coffee to use. But I’ll figure it out – just give me time. Next I’ll tell you the story of the electric frypan.
Love to all – whoever gets these last should maybe save them. Might make an interesting chronicle.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 11, 2016
A Busy Week
8:30 a. m. 1/25/86
Dear ones,
Just plugged in the coffee pot so that should give me about ½ hr. to write this. It is daylight, nearly sunrise, about 0℃ (32℉) so looks like it will be a nice day. We are going down to Sandvika this morning – it looks like a larger shopping place than our Senter and yet not the zoo that downtown is. This afternoon we are going cross-country skiing. There are large open spaces not too far from us, with ski trails, marked, some places even lighted.
Oslo has had a lot of snow even since we’ve come. They are running out of places to put it.
Thursday afternoon Jené and I went over to Jane Smith’s for coffee – she’s the one we met in the grocery store whose husband works for Esso. They have a lovely house a couple of blocks from here, with a spectacular view of those wide open spaces I mentioned, rented for them, or at least found, by Esso. She showed us how the ovens work and also converted some oven temperatures for us.
Wednesday Jené and I took the trikk (street car) downtown. We found the book store where she bought the text for her language class which starts on Monday. Then we walked around some – saw the Parliament building. Found the McDonald’s so had a hamburger. Walked some more. Went thru the City Hall (Rådhuset) – that is a prominent tourist point. The wall hangings and the murals painted on the walls were fascinating. Then we walked past the palace (Jene wants to see the King!) Next we walked blocks to Majorstua, a transfer point for the trikks – there we got on and went back home. That last part of the walk took us past a lot of small shops. We even went in a couple and looked.
Monday I washed a couple loads of clothes, and the same on Tues. It was so foggy on Tuesday, we could hardly see across the street.
Sunday when we went to church, the usher who was handing out hymn books said, “God morgen” – Jené answered, "Good morning." That started a conversation. Some Norwegians can’t speak English, but many others are anxious to practice it. So when the pastor shook our hands after the service, we greeted him in English. Then he was curious as to where we were from, etc. He invited us to stay for coffee, which we did even though we had dinner on the burner. He introduced us to his wife and 3-4 other people sat at our table. The gentleman who sat next to me was Odd Giving – he spoke good English, and was translating for me some of the announcements – they were welcoming the choir director, organist and youth director. I think they were “installed” during the service.
We went for a ride in the afternoon – out NW of Oslo – got your maps? We headed towards Hønefoss. It started getting dusk before we’d gotten that far. We drove along a beautiful fjord – it is different seeing them covered with snow. Took a few pictures – hope they turn out. With so much snow, there isn’t a lot of contrast.
Wednesday night we got a phone call from Oddvar Bjerke – inviting us down to Kråkstad for church this Sunday and to his place for [?]. That is where Vince’s great great grandfather is buried. Oddvar is a cousin thru both his father and his mother, with the common ancestor being 8 and 9 generations back. We are looking forward to that. Kråkstad is about an hour’s drive south of Oslo.
On Thursday afternoon the phone rang. I answered but heard only Norwegian, enough so I knew I was talking to Ottar Wardenær. He is a cousin on the Hoganson side. I said, “Jeg heter Verla Williams,” so he knew he was talking to me. I asked him if he spoke Norsk (English) – Nei. I told him in my little Norwegian that I spoke little Norsk, my husband was better and he wasn’t here. He rattled off something more – all I could say was, “Jeg ikke forsta.” (I don’t understand.) So he hung up. Boy, I wondered how we would get in touch again. He apparently doesn’t have a phone – he’s not in the phone book. But in a few minutes the phone rang again. It was a granddaughter of Ottar’s saying he wanted us to come for dinner on Feb. 2 at 2 p. m. Boy, do I have to study Norsk this week!
Our car (my car – did I tell you Vince put it in my name?) works fine, I think. Vince takes it to school. I still haven’t driven it – my choice. It is red, deep red with beige interior. I think the black would have been prettier, but probably hotter in Iowa’s summer. It has some nice features that are standard – we only got 2 added: a AM/FM radio and cassette player, and some good floor mats – an intermittent windshield wiper once every 7 seconds, I think, heaters in the front seat (bun warmers), good heat thrown to the back seat, all the doors are locked by the lock in the driver’s door, etc. Gas costs about $2.50 a gallon but think we get pretty good mileage.
We heard it takes 11 days for mail to get to the states from Scandinavia because the Postal authorities in N.Y. are inspecting it all for pornographic material. Did mine take that long? Think I must have given Dawn the wrong address or else she’s broken her arm.
If you don’t like my idea of this round robin style of letter, let me know. Just think you might hear oftener, even though the news will be older.
I’d better get dressed – breakfast is finished and we have to get going. Bright and sunny today, but a little windy. We don’t often have much wind.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
Just plugged in the coffee pot so that should give me about ½ hr. to write this. It is daylight, nearly sunrise, about 0℃ (32℉) so looks like it will be a nice day. We are going down to Sandvika this morning – it looks like a larger shopping place than our Senter and yet not the zoo that downtown is. This afternoon we are going cross-country skiing. There are large open spaces not too far from us, with ski trails, marked, some places even lighted.
Oslo has had a lot of snow even since we’ve come. They are running out of places to put it.
Thursday afternoon Jené and I went over to Jane Smith’s for coffee – she’s the one we met in the grocery store whose husband works for Esso. They have a lovely house a couple of blocks from here, with a spectacular view of those wide open spaces I mentioned, rented for them, or at least found, by Esso. She showed us how the ovens work and also converted some oven temperatures for us.
Wednesday Jené and I took the trikk (street car) downtown. We found the book store where she bought the text for her language class which starts on Monday. Then we walked around some – saw the Parliament building. Found the McDonald’s so had a hamburger. Walked some more. Went thru the City Hall (Rådhuset) – that is a prominent tourist point. The wall hangings and the murals painted on the walls were fascinating. Then we walked past the palace (Jene wants to see the King!) Next we walked blocks to Majorstua, a transfer point for the trikks – there we got on and went back home. That last part of the walk took us past a lot of small shops. We even went in a couple and looked.
Monday I washed a couple loads of clothes, and the same on Tues. It was so foggy on Tuesday, we could hardly see across the street.
Sunday when we went to church, the usher who was handing out hymn books said, “God morgen” – Jené answered, "Good morning." That started a conversation. Some Norwegians can’t speak English, but many others are anxious to practice it. So when the pastor shook our hands after the service, we greeted him in English. Then he was curious as to where we were from, etc. He invited us to stay for coffee, which we did even though we had dinner on the burner. He introduced us to his wife and 3-4 other people sat at our table. The gentleman who sat next to me was Odd Giving – he spoke good English, and was translating for me some of the announcements – they were welcoming the choir director, organist and youth director. I think they were “installed” during the service.
We went for a ride in the afternoon – out NW of Oslo – got your maps? We headed towards Hønefoss. It started getting dusk before we’d gotten that far. We drove along a beautiful fjord – it is different seeing them covered with snow. Took a few pictures – hope they turn out. With so much snow, there isn’t a lot of contrast.
Wednesday night we got a phone call from Oddvar Bjerke – inviting us down to Kråkstad for church this Sunday and to his place for [?]. That is where Vince’s great great grandfather is buried. Oddvar is a cousin thru both his father and his mother, with the common ancestor being 8 and 9 generations back. We are looking forward to that. Kråkstad is about an hour’s drive south of Oslo.
On Thursday afternoon the phone rang. I answered but heard only Norwegian, enough so I knew I was talking to Ottar Wardenær. He is a cousin on the Hoganson side. I said, “Jeg heter Verla Williams,” so he knew he was talking to me. I asked him if he spoke Norsk (English) – Nei. I told him in my little Norwegian that I spoke little Norsk, my husband was better and he wasn’t here. He rattled off something more – all I could say was, “Jeg ikke forsta.” (I don’t understand.) So he hung up. Boy, I wondered how we would get in touch again. He apparently doesn’t have a phone – he’s not in the phone book. But in a few minutes the phone rang again. It was a granddaughter of Ottar’s saying he wanted us to come for dinner on Feb. 2 at 2 p. m. Boy, do I have to study Norsk this week!
Our car (my car – did I tell you Vince put it in my name?) works fine, I think. Vince takes it to school. I still haven’t driven it – my choice. It is red, deep red with beige interior. I think the black would have been prettier, but probably hotter in Iowa’s summer. It has some nice features that are standard – we only got 2 added: a AM/FM radio and cassette player, and some good floor mats – an intermittent windshield wiper once every 7 seconds, I think, heaters in the front seat (bun warmers), good heat thrown to the back seat, all the doors are locked by the lock in the driver’s door, etc. Gas costs about $2.50 a gallon but think we get pretty good mileage.
We heard it takes 11 days for mail to get to the states from Scandinavia because the Postal authorities in N.Y. are inspecting it all for pornographic material. Did mine take that long? Think I must have given Dawn the wrong address or else she’s broken her arm.
If you don’t like my idea of this round robin style of letter, let me know. Just think you might hear oftener, even though the news will be older.
I’d better get dressed – breakfast is finished and we have to get going. Bright and sunny today, but a little windy. We don’t often have much wind.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 10, 2016
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.
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!
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
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.
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| 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!
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| 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
February 9, 2016
Longer Days
7:00 Saturday, 8 February 1986
Dear ones,
The length of our daylight has improved considerably in the month we have been here. I’m up a bit earlier than usual. I usually get up about 8 – it is just beginning to get light out now and we will have daylight until 5 or a little after.
Today we are planning on going downtown to see the Resistance Museum. And Vince wants a McDonald’s hamburger. Last Saturday he and I took the trikk downtown – he had never done it so I was showing him how. We went to one of the big book stores to get that book on Norwegian Resistance. We bought 3 – he has read them all, I’ve read 2 1/2 . Two were quite small.
Sunday was another fun day. We got to Ottar’s at 2 – actually at 5 or 10 after – we missed a couple of turns. I’m the map reader. Ottar’s grandmother and Mom’s grandma Hoganson were sisters, which makes me and his daughter third cousins. His daughter, Bjorg and son-in-law Arnulf Stenfoss and their 2 daughters were also there. Berit is 17 and Bente is 19. The girls had or are having English in High School (gymnasium) and Bjorg and Arnulf had it 25 years ago when they were in school so with their English and our (Vince’s) Norsk we got along. Had a good dinner – roast reindeer, boiled potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, and then multeberries in wh. Cream. After seconds of everything, we retired to the coffee table, where we visited; Ottar showed me pictures of the old homestead which he still has and uses for a summer home. It wasn’t long before we were served coffee and an ice cream dessert with krumkaka and cookies. Ottar’s wife, Signe, had served potato chips at dinner (she probably heard that all American eat them) – they were passed again as was a basket of fruit and a smaller basket of candy. Whew! It was after 7 when we left. Jené is going with Bente (she is working in Oslo –her folks live in Kongsvinger, a small town an hour NE) to Kongsvinger next weekend. And they asked us if we would like to come out so suppose we will get an invitation some time, too.
Monday Jené trudged off to class and Vince off to the Univ. I was attempting to write a couple of letters and do 2 loads of laundry. I finished the letters and got them mailed, but I didn’t get the 2nd load of clothes done. I took the noon trikk downtown to meet Jené when she got out of class. She got a pair of warm winter boots and then we walked to McDonald’s for a hamburger. Then we went back to the station (downtown it is a subway) and went out to Blindern, where some of the Univ. is. The lecture (in English) class for foreigners on Norwegian life and culture started at 3:15 – goes until 5. We were at least an hour early but watched people and read the mail (which I’d grabbed on my way out). We had a letter from Eleanor (Peggy) – she is teaching this semester at a small college in Stephenville, Texas. She is the only black faculty member and the only female faculty member in the Speech Dept. This first lecture was an introduction and was on the geography of the country. I liked it – Jené thought it was boring. Vince gave us a ride home. He went to choir practice after supper and I finished the second load of clothes and did a third. I’m wondering if Mrs. (Fru) Gjonnes does a load a day – that way there would be room in the “dryer”.
The week seemed like it was going to be fairly quiet, and it really was. Vince decided to stay home to study and write on Tuesday. Before I had a chance to get at anything, the phone rang – it was Jane Smith inviting me to go with her to LCW at the American Lutheran Church. That was fun – met a young lady who graduated from Luther in “78 and knew who Mark was. Her hometown is Madison, MN. Her husband is in Foreign Service. Visited with the preacher briefly – he’s from Madison, Wis. And knew Gerhard Naeseth. The speaker had been to the North Cape (the furtherest north in Norway) in Jan. and showed slides of her trip. Think they were still in sunless days. We heard sometime in Jan. that Tromso had celebrated because they’d had 1½ minutes of sunlight. Tromso is north of the Arctic Circle but south of the North Cape. It would be depressing to live there!
After I got back, decided we needed groceries. Vince has been going along with me – to buy the fish, I think. We carry the groceries home in plastic bags, which we purchase at the store. We can bring them along and re-use them – (we also use these bags for our garbage disposal). And we pack the groceries into them ourselves. It’s not hard to spend 4 or 5 hundred kroner a week – that’s equal to about $60.00. But it feels like more because you peel off 5 hundred kroner bills, and your mind thinks of hundred dollar bills.
Vince stayed home again on Wednesday. Wed. nite Hal (from downstairs) came up to see if I was going to be home around noon on Thursday. Katie their 8-yr.old gets out of school before Jill, her mom, gets home from class – Jill and Jené go to the same Norsk class. So I was. Katie was only here for about 20 min.
We watch quite a bit of TV in the evenings. Jené picks out all the American and English films. We do get 5 minutes of news each hour on the Armed Forces radio station so suppose we get the most important stuff. Vince likes to watch the music shows – and he gets quite a bit out of the commentary.
We still haven’t had any thawing weather but we haven’t had much snow since that 2nd week or so when it seemed like it snowed every day. It hangs around 20-25 F.
Will try to answer some of the questions – Holmenkollen is the big ski jump – if you watch ABC or NBC Sports in mid-march you should be able to see the international ski jump competition. We have talked about getting tickets. Guess the King even goes to that. This week they have been having Norway ski jump competition.
I think Norwegians like strong coffee – but mine gets like I usually make it. Except this neat percolator I discovered isn’t really automatic – it just keeps perking away so I have to remember to time it. Think a lot of people make boiled coffee and others have the coffee makers – like Bunn or Norelco.
Guess I make meals similar to what I’m used to. We do have fish (boiled) 2 or 3 times a week. Had Torsk (cod) from Lofoten Island the other night – that was exceptionally good. We have had roast beef, (not as tender as I make at home), hamburgers, pork chops, lamb stew, homemade beef soup with dumplings. Norwegian pancakes (more like crepes).
Well, we’ve eaten breakfast and the rest are ready to go so I’d better hurry along. Heard from Dawn a couple of times – guess she was just waiting to hear from me first. She sent some pictures of Heather taken when they were at our place. Guess they haven’t seen any snow since they were in Iowa – at least they hadn’t when she wrote. Haven’t heard from the boys so assume no news is good news.
Got a letter from the Norse Club – they each had written a line or 2 at their meeting. That was fun.
We’re going back to Kråkstad tomorrow – we”re taking our camera this time – and hoping for sunshine – it is cloudy today. We are invited for coffee to another cousin.
Thanks for the mail – got 3 letters from you in the same day.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
The length of our daylight has improved considerably in the month we have been here. I’m up a bit earlier than usual. I usually get up about 8 – it is just beginning to get light out now and we will have daylight until 5 or a little after.
Today we are planning on going downtown to see the Resistance Museum. And Vince wants a McDonald’s hamburger. Last Saturday he and I took the trikk downtown – he had never done it so I was showing him how. We went to one of the big book stores to get that book on Norwegian Resistance. We bought 3 – he has read them all, I’ve read 2 1/2 . Two were quite small.
Sunday was another fun day. We got to Ottar’s at 2 – actually at 5 or 10 after – we missed a couple of turns. I’m the map reader. Ottar’s grandmother and Mom’s grandma Hoganson were sisters, which makes me and his daughter third cousins. His daughter, Bjorg and son-in-law Arnulf Stenfoss and their 2 daughters were also there. Berit is 17 and Bente is 19. The girls had or are having English in High School (gymnasium) and Bjorg and Arnulf had it 25 years ago when they were in school so with their English and our (Vince’s) Norsk we got along. Had a good dinner – roast reindeer, boiled potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, and then multeberries in wh. Cream. After seconds of everything, we retired to the coffee table, where we visited; Ottar showed me pictures of the old homestead which he still has and uses for a summer home. It wasn’t long before we were served coffee and an ice cream dessert with krumkaka and cookies. Ottar’s wife, Signe, had served potato chips at dinner (she probably heard that all American eat them) – they were passed again as was a basket of fruit and a smaller basket of candy. Whew! It was after 7 when we left. Jené is going with Bente (she is working in Oslo –her folks live in Kongsvinger, a small town an hour NE) to Kongsvinger next weekend. And they asked us if we would like to come out so suppose we will get an invitation some time, too.
Monday Jené trudged off to class and Vince off to the Univ. I was attempting to write a couple of letters and do 2 loads of laundry. I finished the letters and got them mailed, but I didn’t get the 2nd load of clothes done. I took the noon trikk downtown to meet Jené when she got out of class. She got a pair of warm winter boots and then we walked to McDonald’s for a hamburger. Then we went back to the station (downtown it is a subway) and went out to Blindern, where some of the Univ. is. The lecture (in English) class for foreigners on Norwegian life and culture started at 3:15 – goes until 5. We were at least an hour early but watched people and read the mail (which I’d grabbed on my way out). We had a letter from Eleanor (Peggy) – she is teaching this semester at a small college in Stephenville, Texas. She is the only black faculty member and the only female faculty member in the Speech Dept. This first lecture was an introduction and was on the geography of the country. I liked it – Jené thought it was boring. Vince gave us a ride home. He went to choir practice after supper and I finished the second load of clothes and did a third. I’m wondering if Mrs. (Fru) Gjonnes does a load a day – that way there would be room in the “dryer”.
The week seemed like it was going to be fairly quiet, and it really was. Vince decided to stay home to study and write on Tuesday. Before I had a chance to get at anything, the phone rang – it was Jane Smith inviting me to go with her to LCW at the American Lutheran Church. That was fun – met a young lady who graduated from Luther in “78 and knew who Mark was. Her hometown is Madison, MN. Her husband is in Foreign Service. Visited with the preacher briefly – he’s from Madison, Wis. And knew Gerhard Naeseth. The speaker had been to the North Cape (the furtherest north in Norway) in Jan. and showed slides of her trip. Think they were still in sunless days. We heard sometime in Jan. that Tromso had celebrated because they’d had 1½ minutes of sunlight. Tromso is north of the Arctic Circle but south of the North Cape. It would be depressing to live there!
After I got back, decided we needed groceries. Vince has been going along with me – to buy the fish, I think. We carry the groceries home in plastic bags, which we purchase at the store. We can bring them along and re-use them – (we also use these bags for our garbage disposal). And we pack the groceries into them ourselves. It’s not hard to spend 4 or 5 hundred kroner a week – that’s equal to about $60.00. But it feels like more because you peel off 5 hundred kroner bills, and your mind thinks of hundred dollar bills.
Vince stayed home again on Wednesday. Wed. nite Hal (from downstairs) came up to see if I was going to be home around noon on Thursday. Katie their 8-yr.old gets out of school before Jill, her mom, gets home from class – Jill and Jené go to the same Norsk class. So I was. Katie was only here for about 20 min.
We watch quite a bit of TV in the evenings. Jené picks out all the American and English films. We do get 5 minutes of news each hour on the Armed Forces radio station so suppose we get the most important stuff. Vince likes to watch the music shows – and he gets quite a bit out of the commentary.
We still haven’t had any thawing weather but we haven’t had much snow since that 2nd week or so when it seemed like it snowed every day. It hangs around 20-25 F.
Will try to answer some of the questions – Holmenkollen is the big ski jump – if you watch ABC or NBC Sports in mid-march you should be able to see the international ski jump competition. We have talked about getting tickets. Guess the King even goes to that. This week they have been having Norway ski jump competition.
I think Norwegians like strong coffee – but mine gets like I usually make it. Except this neat percolator I discovered isn’t really automatic – it just keeps perking away so I have to remember to time it. Think a lot of people make boiled coffee and others have the coffee makers – like Bunn or Norelco.
Guess I make meals similar to what I’m used to. We do have fish (boiled) 2 or 3 times a week. Had Torsk (cod) from Lofoten Island the other night – that was exceptionally good. We have had roast beef, (not as tender as I make at home), hamburgers, pork chops, lamb stew, homemade beef soup with dumplings. Norwegian pancakes (more like crepes).
Well, we’ve eaten breakfast and the rest are ready to go so I’d better hurry along. Heard from Dawn a couple of times – guess she was just waiting to hear from me first. She sent some pictures of Heather taken when they were at our place. Guess they haven’t seen any snow since they were in Iowa – at least they hadn’t when she wrote. Haven’t heard from the boys so assume no news is good news.
Got a letter from the Norse Club – they each had written a line or 2 at their meeting. That was fun.
We’re going back to Kråkstad tomorrow – we”re taking our camera this time – and hoping for sunshine – it is cloudy today. We are invited for coffee to another cousin.
Thanks for the mail – got 3 letters from you in the same day.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 8, 2016
A Quiet Week
Sunday evening, 16 February 1986
Dear ones,
I started this an hour ago, but then Jene came home from her weekend at Kongsvinger, so we’ve been listening to her. Sounds like she had a good time. We’ve practically had a blow-by-blow account.
This has been a quiet week – Wednesday I felt lousy – achey, chilled, figured it was 24-hr. bug. And I did feel better on Thursday. But Friday I came down with a head cold. It was in my eyes yesterday . Did go to church this morning, but that’s about it for today. It was poor attendance today – the fellow handing out the hymnbooks said it was because this week is a vacation from school. So suppose everybody headed to the mountains to ski.
We went to the English lecture again last Monday – it was on history this time. He said he was going to cover from 8,000 B.C. to 1800 A.D. in an hour and half. He explained where the First Norwegian was from – Remind me to tell you. He also said the Viking Age was their shining hour, their national pride, the only time they were top dog!
Well, I had another sneezing spell so I gave up and took myself to bed. Now maybe I can finish this while I’m waiting for the rest to get up.
Last Sunday, the 9th, we had planned to go back to Kråkstad with our cameras if the day was bright and shiny. Oddvar had called us midweek and we decided to meet him at the church at 1 p.m. The sun wasn’t shining but the sky looked lighter in the south so we thought it might clear or even be clear down there. Oddvar had also said we would go to coffee at his cousins after we took pictures – so you hate to back out at the last minute. We went to church here, and left after the sermon so we could get on the road. We took pictures, or Vince did, of the church, the minister’s house, the view from there. Then we went to a farm where on of the greats grandmother had lived and took pictures. The house was built in the early 1900’s but the old stabbur was old. The people who own it now are not in the family but that doesn’t seem to matter.
We took pictures of several more places before coming to the farm where Vince’s grandfather Williams was born. The fellow who lives on it now is a grandson of the fellow who bought it from Vince’s great grandfather. (He left the area in 1854, went about an hour N. of Oslo and then in 1864 came to the states). The house was (is) very old like 200 years, but it sounds like it had been moved on to the place. That could have been when Grandpa Webjornsen moved off, or before or after – I don’t know. The old blacksmith still stood, and an old pig house. Every farmer was his own blacksmith – each farm was self sufficient and once or twice a year they would travel to Oslo or maybe another town to get what they needed. Think the fellow who lives there now only plants crops – but the old barn was there, and had some old equipment – like an old ditch digger for laying tile – a long narrow shovel. That was used after a trench was dug – by hand. And in a nearby building stood a hugh tractor. How times have changed!
We were invited in for coffee. The house had not been modernized – it had lights – and guess the people are going to tear it down and rebuild. It would cost more to repair than to build new. It was a log house, but covered both inside and out with siding or something. We saw there the old corner fireplace in the kitchen was – like the houses in the Decorah Museum. There was an old kitchen range there now, fired with wood. She also had a small electric stove. The 9th was a traditionally celebrated day in Norway and evidently celebrated or observed still in the country – the Sunday before Lent. It was a feasting day before the 40 days of fasting. The traditional food is buns, of various kinds and fillings. This couple had made 5 doz. the day before – she put some in a freezer. One kind was raisin, the other was filled with wh. Cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Needless to say, we spent a little more time there than planned and were running late on getting to the cousins. We were also running out of daylight so we only took a couple more pictures. Oddvar said we would just have to come back again.
So we went to the cousin’s farm. He was milking cows so before we went to the house, we visited the barn – Jene was overwhelmed, mostly by the smell but watching cows doing their think in the gutter didn’t thrill her either. So we went to the house. There we saw the lady of the house and her 2 little boys – we had met them at the church the first time we were there, and of course, Oddvar’s wife and 2 girls were there. And also 3 other couples: the parents of the farmer, who live in another house on the farm; and his (the farmer’s) brother and wife; and sister and husband, we think. They had gone ahead with their coffee – but we were served coffee, the traditional buns. These were filled with berries and wh. cream. And also 2 other fancy desserts, or was it 3? We visited, were shown old family pictures, a beautiful old heating stove – we saw one at the previous farm, too – indescribable, you’ll have to wait for the pictures. Then we were served supper – rice, meat casserole, jello salad, a tossed salad. I wondered if it was a customary meal, or if she had tried to Americanize it.
Decided to wash bedding and towels on Friday: Jene has a single bed – they are not as big as a twin. The foam pad mattress is about 28 inches wide – about as wide as a crib. Our double bed is 2 single frames together. We each have our 4-in. foam mattress, 28 inches wide. On top of that is a 2-in foam pad rippled on one side. We put the ripple side down – maybe that should be up. Anway, then there is a double size bottom sheet. Our covering is a feather tick – dyne. The mattresses are each in a ‘case’ and so are the dyner. Vince has one and I have another. Jene has hers, too. They are not as wide as the bed – each wide enough to cover one person and tuck in a little on each side. Are they ever warm! The first time I did the bedding, I did the cases for the dyner, the pillow cases, and the sheets. That is a job and almost too much to dry in one day. So I decided then and there, we are not dirty people and that bedding doesn’t need washing very often. Friday I did just the sheets and pillow cases.
Found a typewriter the other day and it wasn’t locked, so figure Prof. Gjonnes doesn’t care if we use it. I may try that next time, I don’t know. We burned out the toaster the other day. Don’t know if it was old an due to die or if it was something we did. We could let them take it out of our Apt. deposit, but will probably buy one. We want toast while we are here. One of the things we didn’t do was empty out the crumbs – the bread is really crumbly. We looked for a skillet or frying pan but could see none anywhere. I fried our hamburgers in a kettle. But we did find an electric fry pan, so decided to use it. When we brought it out of the cupboard, it looked as if it had been used a million times and never been washed. We scraped off the first layers, but no way was it clean enough to use. We soaked it overnight – that didn’t help much. I heated it withvinegar in water. That had helped the coffee pot. But still our fingers got black when we rubbed them across the bottom (the inside). So for about a week, it sat in the cupboard and I stopped to scrape every time I went by. I used a metal spatula, and a chore boy. Guess we finally got it clean enough to use. In the meantime we found a small 7-inch crepe pan. It is a small frying pan but the sides are only ¾ in. high- I’ve used that both for Norwegian pancakes and for hamburgers. Now I’m wondering if Mrs. Gjonnes had that electric fry pan well seasoned for her rosettes and fattigman, and we’ve ruined it for her?
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
I started this an hour ago, but then Jene came home from her weekend at Kongsvinger, so we’ve been listening to her. Sounds like she had a good time. We’ve practically had a blow-by-blow account.
This has been a quiet week – Wednesday I felt lousy – achey, chilled, figured it was 24-hr. bug. And I did feel better on Thursday. But Friday I came down with a head cold. It was in my eyes yesterday . Did go to church this morning, but that’s about it for today. It was poor attendance today – the fellow handing out the hymnbooks said it was because this week is a vacation from school. So suppose everybody headed to the mountains to ski.
We went to the English lecture again last Monday – it was on history this time. He said he was going to cover from 8,000 B.C. to 1800 A.D. in an hour and half. He explained where the First Norwegian was from – Remind me to tell you. He also said the Viking Age was their shining hour, their national pride, the only time they were top dog!
Well, I had another sneezing spell so I gave up and took myself to bed. Now maybe I can finish this while I’m waiting for the rest to get up.
Last Sunday, the 9th, we had planned to go back to Kråkstad with our cameras if the day was bright and shiny. Oddvar had called us midweek and we decided to meet him at the church at 1 p.m. The sun wasn’t shining but the sky looked lighter in the south so we thought it might clear or even be clear down there. Oddvar had also said we would go to coffee at his cousins after we took pictures – so you hate to back out at the last minute. We went to church here, and left after the sermon so we could get on the road. We took pictures, or Vince did, of the church, the minister’s house, the view from there. Then we went to a farm where on of the greats grandmother had lived and took pictures. The house was built in the early 1900’s but the old stabbur was old. The people who own it now are not in the family but that doesn’t seem to matter.
We took pictures of several more places before coming to the farm where Vince’s grandfather Williams was born. The fellow who lives on it now is a grandson of the fellow who bought it from Vince’s great grandfather. (He left the area in 1854, went about an hour N. of Oslo and then in 1864 came to the states). The house was (is) very old like 200 years, but it sounds like it had been moved on to the place. That could have been when Grandpa Webjornsen moved off, or before or after – I don’t know. The old blacksmith still stood, and an old pig house. Every farmer was his own blacksmith – each farm was self sufficient and once or twice a year they would travel to Oslo or maybe another town to get what they needed. Think the fellow who lives there now only plants crops – but the old barn was there, and had some old equipment – like an old ditch digger for laying tile – a long narrow shovel. That was used after a trench was dug – by hand. And in a nearby building stood a hugh tractor. How times have changed!
We were invited in for coffee. The house had not been modernized – it had lights – and guess the people are going to tear it down and rebuild. It would cost more to repair than to build new. It was a log house, but covered both inside and out with siding or something. We saw there the old corner fireplace in the kitchen was – like the houses in the Decorah Museum. There was an old kitchen range there now, fired with wood. She also had a small electric stove. The 9th was a traditionally celebrated day in Norway and evidently celebrated or observed still in the country – the Sunday before Lent. It was a feasting day before the 40 days of fasting. The traditional food is buns, of various kinds and fillings. This couple had made 5 doz. the day before – she put some in a freezer. One kind was raisin, the other was filled with wh. Cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Needless to say, we spent a little more time there than planned and were running late on getting to the cousins. We were also running out of daylight so we only took a couple more pictures. Oddvar said we would just have to come back again.
So we went to the cousin’s farm. He was milking cows so before we went to the house, we visited the barn – Jene was overwhelmed, mostly by the smell but watching cows doing their think in the gutter didn’t thrill her either. So we went to the house. There we saw the lady of the house and her 2 little boys – we had met them at the church the first time we were there, and of course, Oddvar’s wife and 2 girls were there. And also 3 other couples: the parents of the farmer, who live in another house on the farm; and his (the farmer’s) brother and wife; and sister and husband, we think. They had gone ahead with their coffee – but we were served coffee, the traditional buns. These were filled with berries and wh. cream. And also 2 other fancy desserts, or was it 3? We visited, were shown old family pictures, a beautiful old heating stove – we saw one at the previous farm, too – indescribable, you’ll have to wait for the pictures. Then we were served supper – rice, meat casserole, jello salad, a tossed salad. I wondered if it was a customary meal, or if she had tried to Americanize it.
Decided to wash bedding and towels on Friday: Jene has a single bed – they are not as big as a twin. The foam pad mattress is about 28 inches wide – about as wide as a crib. Our double bed is 2 single frames together. We each have our 4-in. foam mattress, 28 inches wide. On top of that is a 2-in foam pad rippled on one side. We put the ripple side down – maybe that should be up. Anway, then there is a double size bottom sheet. Our covering is a feather tick – dyne. The mattresses are each in a ‘case’ and so are the dyner. Vince has one and I have another. Jene has hers, too. They are not as wide as the bed – each wide enough to cover one person and tuck in a little on each side. Are they ever warm! The first time I did the bedding, I did the cases for the dyner, the pillow cases, and the sheets. That is a job and almost too much to dry in one day. So I decided then and there, we are not dirty people and that bedding doesn’t need washing very often. Friday I did just the sheets and pillow cases.
Found a typewriter the other day and it wasn’t locked, so figure Prof. Gjonnes doesn’t care if we use it. I may try that next time, I don’t know. We burned out the toaster the other day. Don’t know if it was old an due to die or if it was something we did. We could let them take it out of our Apt. deposit, but will probably buy one. We want toast while we are here. One of the things we didn’t do was empty out the crumbs – the bread is really crumbly. We looked for a skillet or frying pan but could see none anywhere. I fried our hamburgers in a kettle. But we did find an electric fry pan, so decided to use it. When we brought it out of the cupboard, it looked as if it had been used a million times and never been washed. We scraped off the first layers, but no way was it clean enough to use. We soaked it overnight – that didn’t help much. I heated it withvinegar in water. That had helped the coffee pot. But still our fingers got black when we rubbed them across the bottom (the inside). So for about a week, it sat in the cupboard and I stopped to scrape every time I went by. I used a metal spatula, and a chore boy. Guess we finally got it clean enough to use. In the meantime we found a small 7-inch crepe pan. It is a small frying pan but the sides are only ¾ in. high- I’ve used that both for Norwegian pancakes and for hamburgers. Now I’m wondering if Mrs. Gjonnes had that electric fry pan well seasoned for her rosettes and fattigman, and we’ve ruined it for her?
Love, Verla and Vince
February 7, 2016
Drive Down the Coast
Sunday p.m.
Dear ones,
Yesterday was full – we decided to drive down the coast on the west side of the Oslo fjord. Get your maps out? The first touristy thing we encountered was a tunnel to the top of a ridge. It was built in a spiral of six levels – real interesting construction. The view from the top was, of course, spectacular. There is a restaurant on top but we didn’t eat.
We drove on to Horton after wandering through the streets of Holmestrand – stopped at a unique church, from 1674 built in the shape of a Y (it was locked). Horton was formerly the Navy’s headquarters, and still appeared to be an active base. Wouldn’t you know the museum was closed on Saturdays until May. We may drive down there again. Sitting in the ice in the harbor was the three-masted schooner, the Christian Radich. That would be fun to see in full sail. Vince says it is one of few schooners left in the world, and that Norway is the only country that still teaches its sailors to sail.
The church at Horton was interesting – not so old, built in 1854; an resembled First Lutheran some. Just a little ways south was another community, Borre with an old church – from the Middle Ages. Think that is 1500, give or take a hundred years. That church too was locked – think Saturday is a poor day to visit churches.
From there we went on to Tonsberg which is supposed to be the oldest city in Norway, founded in 900’s, no – at end of 9th century, would make it late 800’s. Supposedly there were ruins of 2 old castles there, one 1276 and the other 1503. It took us awhile to find the way to the ruins; we had to park the car and walk and climb. The ruins were on the top of a mountain (a little one) overlooking the town. We saw foundations, some were covered by snow, and even climbed on some of the stones; Jene wanted to find a loose piece but didn’t succeed. The climb was exercise enough to keep us warm.
From there we drove to the end of the world – Verdens ende. We didn’t stay on the main highway and drove to the end of the little road. There were huge rocks on which we could walk aways – and out there on the horizon was the North Sea. We saw a couple ships or tankers steaming on their way out there. All hard to describe – but impressive. By then, the sun was about set so we turned around and came back home. Guess it was almost seven when we got back.
The rest of the week was rather quiet. My cold didn’t get worse and didn’t settle into a cough. I’m fine again. Wednesday I decided to go back to the University Library – the walk from the trikk to the Library wasn’t as bad as the other time – only about 2 blocks were icy this time. The book I thought I would read wasn’t on the shelf so I found a different one. Did find a few names and dates I didn’t have before. Oslo had a fairly big fire on Wednesday – a couple of buildings downtown burned. Took 7 hours to bring under control. Vince could see the smoke from the Univ, which is some distance. Jene had to walk right by it on her way to class. It was cold – the water froze!
We went to church at Osteras this morning – it was communion. I could understand “Dette er Jesus legeme; deter er Jesus blod” so guess that was all we needed. Vince probably understood more. When we got home, we had a phone call from Oddvar – we arranged to meet him close to Krakstad at 4:30. He took us to meet a lady who makes bunads. I may get another one – from that area. This one has a lot of hand embroidery on, so it seems wise to let a native make it. This lady served us coffee, cookies and apple tarts, as close to apple pie as you will get in Norway. It was good but probably not a good substitute for super. We got home before 9; I heated up some homemade soup – such was our dinner.
Tomorrow I order tickets for the World Cup Ski Jumping Competition on Mar. 16 – on Holmenkollen. Watch for us on the Sports show – who knows?
Heard from Mark and Amy last week – they sound busy.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
Yesterday was full – we decided to drive down the coast on the west side of the Oslo fjord. Get your maps out? The first touristy thing we encountered was a tunnel to the top of a ridge. It was built in a spiral of six levels – real interesting construction. The view from the top was, of course, spectacular. There is a restaurant on top but we didn’t eat.
We drove on to Horton after wandering through the streets of Holmestrand – stopped at a unique church, from 1674 built in the shape of a Y (it was locked). Horton was formerly the Navy’s headquarters, and still appeared to be an active base. Wouldn’t you know the museum was closed on Saturdays until May. We may drive down there again. Sitting in the ice in the harbor was the three-masted schooner, the Christian Radich. That would be fun to see in full sail. Vince says it is one of few schooners left in the world, and that Norway is the only country that still teaches its sailors to sail.
The church at Horton was interesting – not so old, built in 1854; an resembled First Lutheran some. Just a little ways south was another community, Borre with an old church – from the Middle Ages. Think that is 1500, give or take a hundred years. That church too was locked – think Saturday is a poor day to visit churches.
From there we went on to Tonsberg which is supposed to be the oldest city in Norway, founded in 900’s, no – at end of 9th century, would make it late 800’s. Supposedly there were ruins of 2 old castles there, one 1276 and the other 1503. It took us awhile to find the way to the ruins; we had to park the car and walk and climb. The ruins were on the top of a mountain (a little one) overlooking the town. We saw foundations, some were covered by snow, and even climbed on some of the stones; Jene wanted to find a loose piece but didn’t succeed. The climb was exercise enough to keep us warm.
From there we drove to the end of the world – Verdens ende. We didn’t stay on the main highway and drove to the end of the little road. There were huge rocks on which we could walk aways – and out there on the horizon was the North Sea. We saw a couple ships or tankers steaming on their way out there. All hard to describe – but impressive. By then, the sun was about set so we turned around and came back home. Guess it was almost seven when we got back.
The rest of the week was rather quiet. My cold didn’t get worse and didn’t settle into a cough. I’m fine again. Wednesday I decided to go back to the University Library – the walk from the trikk to the Library wasn’t as bad as the other time – only about 2 blocks were icy this time. The book I thought I would read wasn’t on the shelf so I found a different one. Did find a few names and dates I didn’t have before. Oslo had a fairly big fire on Wednesday – a couple of buildings downtown burned. Took 7 hours to bring under control. Vince could see the smoke from the Univ, which is some distance. Jene had to walk right by it on her way to class. It was cold – the water froze!
We went to church at Osteras this morning – it was communion. I could understand “Dette er Jesus legeme; deter er Jesus blod” so guess that was all we needed. Vince probably understood more. When we got home, we had a phone call from Oddvar – we arranged to meet him close to Krakstad at 4:30. He took us to meet a lady who makes bunads. I may get another one – from that area. This one has a lot of hand embroidery on, so it seems wise to let a native make it. This lady served us coffee, cookies and apple tarts, as close to apple pie as you will get in Norway. It was good but probably not a good substitute for super. We got home before 9; I heated up some homemade soup – such was our dinner.
Tomorrow I order tickets for the World Cup Ski Jumping Competition on Mar. 16 – on Holmenkollen. Watch for us on the Sports show – who knows?
Heard from Mark and Amy last week – they sound busy.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 6, 2016
Beautiful weather
Saturday morning, 3-1-86
Dear ones,
We have had beautiful clear weather, or mostly so, for quite a spell. We even had 2 or 3 days this week when it got up to freezing – so imagine we have had a little melting. It doesn’t show much except we see a few bare spots on sidewalks. And it is sloppy downtown. Do you suppose when it melts it runs down all these hills thru town to the fjord?
With the dollar value dropping, we keep losing buying power. Our January rent was the same as $533 and our March rent will be the same as $578. It is taking more of our dollars to equal the kroners – We’ve been trying to figure out these past couple of days if we will have enough for our traveling in May and June. I may have to write home for more money. When we talked last fall about this apartment, I think it was in Oct., it would have cost us $480. Supposedly, it is good for the country’s trade, but if tourists are like us, it means they buy less, so the foreign countries don’t gain. However, maybe foreign trade between countries is not comparable to tourist spending. Oh well, we have our tickets, we can always come back.
It’s good to hear that Ryan has grown! Will that rate, well that’s a dumb question – he obviously won’t grow that much every month, right?
Hey, Mom, suppose I’ve read that verse before but didn’t remember it. I take it to mean foolish genealogies, and I don’t think mine is. We are talking about Titus 3:9 (for the rest of your information).
I’m not sure what we are doing today. Vince said something about getting the car washed. It is quite dirty. They told us at the factory in Sweden that Norway doesn’t use salt – but they do – at least here in Oslo. Yesterday, we took it to a Volvo garage for its first service. We have almost 1200 miles on it. We paid for only the oil, the filter, grease or whatever. It still cost us 280 NKr (or $40.00). The bus route for getting home again or go someplace else (for most of the day) was so complicated, we took a taxi home, and then back again when it was done.
Vince had such a good day at the University on Wednesday – getting the experiment ready to go, etc. that he announced when he came home that he wasn’t going back till next Tuesday. This experiment and research has to do with denture adhesives. He has read all the papers and research and information (well, if not all, a great deal), so he has gained another area of expertise. It’s a bit out of his field as a fixed (Crown & Bridge) prosthodontist since it is in Removable (Partials and Full Dentures) Prosthetics; but there is talk at Iowa of making the 2 just 1 department, anyway. Have I written that before? He was told again on Wednesday how good his presentation on acid-etch bridges the previous Friday had been – the Prosthodontists here had poor results with the technique so had given it up. But now since Vince’s talk, they are going to look at it again! It made him feel really good.
Thursday Vince and I decided to see a couple of things downtown – we rode in on the trikk with Jene when she went to her class. We went to the Defense (Forvarsmuseet) Museum and looked at the weapons of Norway from the 900’s on. It was interesting, but very little in English. Even with a map, we had to ask directions on just exactly where the building was. We must have spent 2 hours walking through 2 floors of exhibits – then we had a sandwich in the cafeteria, and then walked to the National Gallery. It was 3 (15:00) p.m. when we got there and it closed at 4; but an hours was long enough for us to walk through 3 floors of paintings and sculptures. We almost skipped the first floor because it was ‘modern art’ and that’s usually pretty abstract. But in that section was the only painting that really struck Vince’s fancy. We didn’t see any that we particularly liked done by well-known artists or Norwegian artists. Now we don’t know if we will go to the Munch (Norway’s most famous artist) Museum. He willed all his paintings to Oslo – well, not all – but I suppose all that hadn’t been sold to or done for others. We just aren’t “arty” people, I guess, though I was able to explain some of the paintings to Vince because of the lecture I went to on Norwegian artists.
By the time we got to the trikk I told Vince that the hardest part of the day would be to walk from the trikk to the apt. after sitting down for awhile. My feel were killing me – if I’d seen a T-shirt that waid “I walked my feet off in Oslo” I would have bought it, I think. But it was rush hour and the trikk had standing room only, so I didn’t have to worry. Vince stayed home on Tuesday, and read/studied here. I ironed the shirts. In the afternoon, we went to the grocery store. He can’t figure out why I let him go long here, when I don’t want him along at home. He decided a cake would taste good so bought a mix, also a box of frosting mix (I thought). I baked the cake maybe on Wednesday evening (I had gone down to the Library on Wednesday – the walk wasn’t so bad – most of the sidewalk was clear of ice). I didn’t find a cake pan but used a bread pan. It wasn’t a 9 x 6 – more like a 3 x 12. So I got a long narrow load cake. What I though was frosting was filling (pudding) so I sliced the cake in half, put filling between the layers, more on top. We ate it!
We are invited out tonight – to the home of the head of the Prosthetic Dept. Jene is invited for pizza to the couple downstairs. She has ‘baby’ sat for them a couple of times. All for now –
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
We have had beautiful clear weather, or mostly so, for quite a spell. We even had 2 or 3 days this week when it got up to freezing – so imagine we have had a little melting. It doesn’t show much except we see a few bare spots on sidewalks. And it is sloppy downtown. Do you suppose when it melts it runs down all these hills thru town to the fjord?
With the dollar value dropping, we keep losing buying power. Our January rent was the same as $533 and our March rent will be the same as $578. It is taking more of our dollars to equal the kroners – We’ve been trying to figure out these past couple of days if we will have enough for our traveling in May and June. I may have to write home for more money. When we talked last fall about this apartment, I think it was in Oct., it would have cost us $480. Supposedly, it is good for the country’s trade, but if tourists are like us, it means they buy less, so the foreign countries don’t gain. However, maybe foreign trade between countries is not comparable to tourist spending. Oh well, we have our tickets, we can always come back.
It’s good to hear that Ryan has grown! Will that rate, well that’s a dumb question – he obviously won’t grow that much every month, right?
Hey, Mom, suppose I’ve read that verse before but didn’t remember it. I take it to mean foolish genealogies, and I don’t think mine is. We are talking about Titus 3:9 (for the rest of your information).
I’m not sure what we are doing today. Vince said something about getting the car washed. It is quite dirty. They told us at the factory in Sweden that Norway doesn’t use salt – but they do – at least here in Oslo. Yesterday, we took it to a Volvo garage for its first service. We have almost 1200 miles on it. We paid for only the oil, the filter, grease or whatever. It still cost us 280 NKr (or $40.00). The bus route for getting home again or go someplace else (for most of the day) was so complicated, we took a taxi home, and then back again when it was done.
Vince had such a good day at the University on Wednesday – getting the experiment ready to go, etc. that he announced when he came home that he wasn’t going back till next Tuesday. This experiment and research has to do with denture adhesives. He has read all the papers and research and information (well, if not all, a great deal), so he has gained another area of expertise. It’s a bit out of his field as a fixed (Crown & Bridge) prosthodontist since it is in Removable (Partials and Full Dentures) Prosthetics; but there is talk at Iowa of making the 2 just 1 department, anyway. Have I written that before? He was told again on Wednesday how good his presentation on acid-etch bridges the previous Friday had been – the Prosthodontists here had poor results with the technique so had given it up. But now since Vince’s talk, they are going to look at it again! It made him feel really good.
Thursday Vince and I decided to see a couple of things downtown – we rode in on the trikk with Jene when she went to her class. We went to the Defense (Forvarsmuseet) Museum and looked at the weapons of Norway from the 900’s on. It was interesting, but very little in English. Even with a map, we had to ask directions on just exactly where the building was. We must have spent 2 hours walking through 2 floors of exhibits – then we had a sandwich in the cafeteria, and then walked to the National Gallery. It was 3 (15:00) p.m. when we got there and it closed at 4; but an hours was long enough for us to walk through 3 floors of paintings and sculptures. We almost skipped the first floor because it was ‘modern art’ and that’s usually pretty abstract. But in that section was the only painting that really struck Vince’s fancy. We didn’t see any that we particularly liked done by well-known artists or Norwegian artists. Now we don’t know if we will go to the Munch (Norway’s most famous artist) Museum. He willed all his paintings to Oslo – well, not all – but I suppose all that hadn’t been sold to or done for others. We just aren’t “arty” people, I guess, though I was able to explain some of the paintings to Vince because of the lecture I went to on Norwegian artists.
By the time we got to the trikk I told Vince that the hardest part of the day would be to walk from the trikk to the apt. after sitting down for awhile. My feel were killing me – if I’d seen a T-shirt that waid “I walked my feet off in Oslo” I would have bought it, I think. But it was rush hour and the trikk had standing room only, so I didn’t have to worry. Vince stayed home on Tuesday, and read/studied here. I ironed the shirts. In the afternoon, we went to the grocery store. He can’t figure out why I let him go long here, when I don’t want him along at home. He decided a cake would taste good so bought a mix, also a box of frosting mix (I thought). I baked the cake maybe on Wednesday evening (I had gone down to the Library on Wednesday – the walk wasn’t so bad – most of the sidewalk was clear of ice). I didn’t find a cake pan but used a bread pan. It wasn’t a 9 x 6 – more like a 3 x 12. So I got a long narrow load cake. What I though was frosting was filling (pudding) so I sliced the cake in half, put filling between the layers, more on top. We ate it!
We are invited out tonight – to the home of the head of the Prosthetic Dept. Jene is invited for pizza to the couple downstairs. She has ‘baby’ sat for them a couple of times. All for now –
Love, Verla and Vince
February 5, 2016
What To Do
Sat a.m., 8 March 1986
Dear ones,
The coffee is perking – I’m the only one up yet. Supposedly we are going to do something today, but no one has decided what yet.
We have had several days of melting weather with temperatures in upper 30’s and lower 40’s F. Think the 3-4 inches more of snow that we got on Tuesday is melted, plus more. I can visualize rivers of water running down the hills toward the center of town to the fjord.
Trying hard not to get my hopes up that spring is just around the corner – we were told last Sunday that spring comes end of April. Yet Oddvar told us he does his planting the last week or 2 in April and first couple of weeks in May.
Last Saturday night’s dinner at the home of the Head of Prosthetics Dept. was interesting and fun. There were 2 other dentists from the department and their wives there, so there were 8 of us. We had cold smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, creamed potatoes and toast. For dessert we had multeberries in whipping cream. That is a real Norwegian delicacy; think this was the first time we had coffee and dessert while we were still at the dinner table. But we did adjourn to the coffee table to visit and it wasn’t long before a bowl of fruit was passed and then a dish of candy. They all tried to remember to speak in English for our benefit – once in awhile they forgot. One of the wives had spent 2 or 3 years in United States. She told of getting hungry for fish, and finally when she got to San Francisco she thought she would get some good fish at Fisherman’s Wharf. But all there was was braised, or broiled, or stewed, or fried. So she asked if she couldn’t have some plain boiled fish and boiled potatoes. Guess she got it.
Sunday morning Vince was busy. The church choir was the special music at the chapel service out at the Federal Prison – it’s only about a 15-min. drive from here. Then the choir also sang at the service at the Osteras church. He found out at the prison that there had been an escape the day before; and also that a Norwegian who had been caught giving information to Russia had been at the chapel service. On Monday night, the choir sang for the annual meeting at the church. While there, Vince found out this escapee is a drug smuggler. And somehow, with the aid of some one on the outside, the high snow banks had aided in the escape.
Jene and I went to the lecture course on Monday; Vince picked us up afterwards. A girl came and talked to us – she had overheard us and figured we were Americans. She graduated from St. Olaf in 1977. Her parents are missionaries in Japan. She is back in the states for a month visiting relatives in – Mason City and Osage?
Jene’s first six weeks class finished yesterday; now she has a week break before the 2nd 6-week courts starts. She keeps saying she’s not learning much but she sure knows a lot more than when she started.
Thursday afternoon we decided to do something so drove down to a center down the road a little ways. Think we walked around in almost every shop. Did see a food store that is quite a big larger than the one we go to here. But we didn’t see a fresh fish counter. We ended up in a konditori (bakery) for a roll and a cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound exciting!
Wednesday while Vince was at the Univ. and Jene was at class, I worked around here. First, I pressed the blouses and shirts. Then I decided to make choc. Chip cookies. What a mistake! They are edible but not good. I guess I won’t try that again. First, my measuring cup is in liters: 1 cup equals .24 liter or 2.3 deciliter; second: Norway doesn’t have brown sugar as we know it – theirs is almost damp and mixed with molasses. I used it half strength; their: vanilla is not the same – it can be gotten in a small packet in essence and suppose that is liquid. I bought vanilla sugar. Then you have to adjust the sugar amount or add a small amount of liquid; Fourth: Norway doesn’t have chocolate chips, so I cut 2 choc. bars into bits. I did find some shelves (not racks) which fit in the oven, and used them as cookie sheets. All in all, it wasn’t a good idea. Now, I don’t know if I have nerve enough to try pie. Did find smult the other day which is Norwegian word for lard; it says on the outside marent fett so I suppose it is made from whale blubber!
Worked on our income tax yesterday. Think I have about all the figuring done. So will fill out the forms and get them sent in.
Well, Vince is up so better get started on the day. Sounds like you all enjoyed Sharon’s birthday. I vote for a repeat for next year – you don’t want to be 41 anyway, do you, Sharon?
We have been working on a tentative itinerary for our travels after 17th May. Vince is worried about driving in Germany – he tells me to study German. Would be fun to see some of Luther’s location but they are mostly in East Germany – and we aren’t about to wander around there without a tour guide.
Thanks for the letters!
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
The coffee is perking – I’m the only one up yet. Supposedly we are going to do something today, but no one has decided what yet.
We have had several days of melting weather with temperatures in upper 30’s and lower 40’s F. Think the 3-4 inches more of snow that we got on Tuesday is melted, plus more. I can visualize rivers of water running down the hills toward the center of town to the fjord.
Trying hard not to get my hopes up that spring is just around the corner – we were told last Sunday that spring comes end of April. Yet Oddvar told us he does his planting the last week or 2 in April and first couple of weeks in May.
Last Saturday night’s dinner at the home of the Head of Prosthetics Dept. was interesting and fun. There were 2 other dentists from the department and their wives there, so there were 8 of us. We had cold smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, creamed potatoes and toast. For dessert we had multeberries in whipping cream. That is a real Norwegian delicacy; think this was the first time we had coffee and dessert while we were still at the dinner table. But we did adjourn to the coffee table to visit and it wasn’t long before a bowl of fruit was passed and then a dish of candy. They all tried to remember to speak in English for our benefit – once in awhile they forgot. One of the wives had spent 2 or 3 years in United States. She told of getting hungry for fish, and finally when she got to San Francisco she thought she would get some good fish at Fisherman’s Wharf. But all there was was braised, or broiled, or stewed, or fried. So she asked if she couldn’t have some plain boiled fish and boiled potatoes. Guess she got it.
Sunday morning Vince was busy. The church choir was the special music at the chapel service out at the Federal Prison – it’s only about a 15-min. drive from here. Then the choir also sang at the service at the Osteras church. He found out at the prison that there had been an escape the day before; and also that a Norwegian who had been caught giving information to Russia had been at the chapel service. On Monday night, the choir sang for the annual meeting at the church. While there, Vince found out this escapee is a drug smuggler. And somehow, with the aid of some one on the outside, the high snow banks had aided in the escape.
Jene and I went to the lecture course on Monday; Vince picked us up afterwards. A girl came and talked to us – she had overheard us and figured we were Americans. She graduated from St. Olaf in 1977. Her parents are missionaries in Japan. She is back in the states for a month visiting relatives in – Mason City and Osage?
Jene’s first six weeks class finished yesterday; now she has a week break before the 2nd 6-week courts starts. She keeps saying she’s not learning much but she sure knows a lot more than when she started.
Thursday afternoon we decided to do something so drove down to a center down the road a little ways. Think we walked around in almost every shop. Did see a food store that is quite a big larger than the one we go to here. But we didn’t see a fresh fish counter. We ended up in a konditori (bakery) for a roll and a cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound exciting!
Wednesday while Vince was at the Univ. and Jene was at class, I worked around here. First, I pressed the blouses and shirts. Then I decided to make choc. Chip cookies. What a mistake! They are edible but not good. I guess I won’t try that again. First, my measuring cup is in liters: 1 cup equals .24 liter or 2.3 deciliter; second: Norway doesn’t have brown sugar as we know it – theirs is almost damp and mixed with molasses. I used it half strength; their: vanilla is not the same – it can be gotten in a small packet in essence and suppose that is liquid. I bought vanilla sugar. Then you have to adjust the sugar amount or add a small amount of liquid; Fourth: Norway doesn’t have chocolate chips, so I cut 2 choc. bars into bits. I did find some shelves (not racks) which fit in the oven, and used them as cookie sheets. All in all, it wasn’t a good idea. Now, I don’t know if I have nerve enough to try pie. Did find smult the other day which is Norwegian word for lard; it says on the outside marent fett so I suppose it is made from whale blubber!
Worked on our income tax yesterday. Think I have about all the figuring done. So will fill out the forms and get them sent in.
Well, Vince is up so better get started on the day. Sounds like you all enjoyed Sharon’s birthday. I vote for a repeat for next year – you don’t want to be 41 anyway, do you, Sharon?
We have been working on a tentative itinerary for our travels after 17th May. Vince is worried about driving in Germany – he tells me to study German. Would be fun to see some of Luther’s location but they are mostly in East Germany – and we aren’t about to wander around there without a tour guide.
Thanks for the letters!
Love, Verla and Vince
February 4, 2016
Taking a Ride
16 March 1986
Dear ones,
Did I write Saturday morning last week? I’m thinking I did, but its hard to remember what I’ve written to you and what I’ve written to the kids. Anyway, if the following paragraph is old, you’ll just have to read it anyway. Vince and I went for a ride – Jene got ready too, but didn’t feel super so decided to lay around home. It was a bright sunshiny day – the last one we’ve had I think. It was a sloppy day to drive with the melting. We headed n.w. toward Honefoss, and just before we got there, Vince saw an old church and turned off to take a look. It was old and locked. However, there was a monument to Anna Colbjornsdatter, and also a museum across the road. There were a couple of cars there so we decided to go see if it was open. It wasn’t – it’s not heated – but the care taker was outside and we visited (Vince visited – though he spoke some English) with him. He invited us in to look around if we didn’t mind the cold. He unlocked a few doors for us. We saw a good W.W. II collection. The Germans overran most of Norway in two weeks, and there was no outright resistance after 2 months. The underground resistance is another story. The caretaker apparently lives in the back rooms. He popped out and wanted us to see another room. It was called the Swedish room; and there were still bullet holes in the wall from a battle with 500 Swedish soldiers in 1716. The legend goes that Anna C. (the minister’s wife) helped set an ambush for these soldiers. The building used to be the parsonage – part of it was from the 1600’s, part from 1700’s, and part from 1800’s. In the oldest part was a collection of Jorgen Moe’s possessions. He evidently was a minister and we are supposing there; he was also in on the compilations of Norse folk tales by Asbjornson and Moe. His things appeared to have been elegant in their day. The ministers in the 1700s were wealthy.
Then the caretaker wanted us to go down the basement to see something else. Behind a door he opened electronically, and then behind bars chained and locked were Russian icons. You’ll have to look the word up in a dictionary or encyclopedia. I only have heard enough to know they are quite valuable – he said they were worth a million kroner. There were also paintings of the Russian czar’s family done by a Norwegian artist who had been there. In that same room, but not behind the bars was a runestone from the Viking Age - 900-1050 A.D. – the inscription was something about “Guttorm the good”. There were also 2 stone ‘hammers’ that were 4000 years old.
From there we drove into Honefoss – and walked around the town. We were looking for a café to eat lunch. The town was lively – a woman was giving a speech in the square. The sings were advocating boycott of South Africa in protest of apartheid. Suppose she was talking about that – Women’ Lib day is Mar 9, so it could have been that. We only found a “fast” food place for a sandwich. By the time, we had eaten, the speaker was done and the town was about folded up. Stores close at 1 p.m. and don’t open again until Mon. morning. So we drove on a little farther and then headed back to Oslo on a different highway. Lots of pretty views.
We talked about taking the trikk downtown on Sunday and going to the worship service at the Cathedral, but it was cloudy and damp so we decided to drive to Haslum, the next little ‘suburb’, for church. The main part of the church had been built by 1200. The walls were about 4 ft. thick. Wings had been added later as had the pulpit and pews. The pews seated 4 people each and there was probably 16 rows front to back on each side of the aisle; the wings had 6 on each side so I figured it couldn’t seat more than 200 or so. The chandelier hanging in the center had candles, 12 of them, but electricity and heat had been put in. We hung around a little afterwards to take pictures. The asst. pastor came to talk to us as we were looking at the baptismal font – it was dated 1643. He pointed out the original font which had been found out in the grave yard. It was a large rock with the ‘bowl’ for the water hollowed out. He asked us where we were from – he was from N.Y. – the only other thing Norwegian about him was his wife. He had lived in Norway 9 years.
17 March 1986
Wednesday I met 2 ladies downtown at noon. There are nieces of Sverre Hornseth (he lives at Ovre Rendal) who is a first cousin to Elise. We went to the Theater Café, had lunch and visited until 4. It was interesting and I didn’t know about these until they called. I had been writing to Sverre now and then and he told them to contact us.
Tuesday I tried to make an apple pie. It was better than the choc. chip cookies.
Thursday we left on a little excursion – drove up to Hamar. Found the jewelry store where Vince bought the ear rings 10 years ago. I have lost one and he was checking to see if he could find a matching one. We couldn’t. Then we tried to find the store where we bought our sweaters. We hoped we could find such a good deal again. Think the stores have changed; not as many of them carry those kind of sweaters. Guess mostly tourists buy them. We didn’t find any. So we had a cup of coffee and then drove up to Elverum. We saw the building where the constitution had been signed – that must have been before we got to Hamar because it was open from 12 – 2, and we were about an hour early. At elverum we found a place to stay for the night and then drove downtown. The stores were closed but Vince saw a sweater in a window that he thought was pretty. We got up early the next morning so we could check out that store before we looked for a (?) checked out a couple of touristy things. When the clerk told Vince the price of the sweater, he decided it was too expensive. He couldn’t find any other he liked; and we were in a husfliden where all the sweaters are hand knit – they are handcraft and bunad stores. The clerk decided to take the one out of the window – then she saw it had last year’s price on it. He thought it was maybe a bit big, but decided to get it anyway. So he was done shopping – Jene and I never did find anything we wanted to buy.
We did find a monument – built on the spot where King Haakon told the Germans (nei) when they asked him to agree to a government run by Quisling (Norway’s traitor). And we got close enough to read the inscription even though we trudged through snow over our knees. Traveling in Norway in the winter has a few drawbacks. We also visited a Forestry museum which showed the history of lumbering; there was an aquarium there, too, with a lot of different kinds of fish.
Then we drove up to Lillehamar and got ourselves a room. It was about six or so. Jene wasn’t feeling good – so she climbed into bed – think it was trudging through the snow – Vince and I went down for (?) and then went out for a walk along the main street. We found a few stores we wanted to check out in the morning. Jene’s friend at home wants her to bring something back so she’s been looking for a made in Norway gift that doesn’t look like a “souvenir”. We checked out of the hotel by noon, and then went to find Maihaugen, an outdoor museum with a collection of old buildings. The buildings are furnished, too, I guess, but are only open in the summer time. Paths were cleared though so we could walk through the area.
From there we headed in the general direction of Oslo, driving through Eina. That’s where Vince’s grandpa W. and great grandfather lived for 10 years before coming to Iowa in 1864. The little old hotel we stayed in 10 years ago wasn’t open. Could be they use it only in the summer. We drove by the farm so Jene could see it. Guess we didn’t stop after that until we got home.
Had some soup, read our mail. Didn’t stay up too late because Sunday was Holmenkollen. That will wait until the next letter!
To answer some questions: Palme’s assassination was big news – of course, we don’t understand a whole lot. We get a couple of Swedish channels, too. But it gets to be a lot of watching the pictures and trying to get the drift. The Nato exercise up north where 16 Norwegian soldiers died in an avalanche was also big news. Guess there is controversy about whether they should have been ordered in there.
The people in the house called once – the battery on the Cutlass died and they were wondering what to do. Everything else seemed to e fine. The little boy is enjoying the big yard to play in, and had been sliding down the hill. It must have been still Jan. or early Feb. when they called. We will have to write them soon – some of the mail that they have been forwarding has taken six weeks to it must be coming by boat.
Dawn did call, in fact twice. We weren’t home the first time so she talked to Jene – then she called us later. Sounds like Heather is growing and changing!
Heard about the buzzard cake but not about the Elvis one.
Time to fix breakfast. Need to go to the store for bread and milk. Jene starts her second six-week session today, but it is in the early p.m. instead of late a.m. She will like lying in bed a bit longer. She had last week off. Think she gets next week off for Easter break. We’ve been told every one in Oslo heads to the mountains for Easter vacation.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
Did I write Saturday morning last week? I’m thinking I did, but its hard to remember what I’ve written to you and what I’ve written to the kids. Anyway, if the following paragraph is old, you’ll just have to read it anyway. Vince and I went for a ride – Jene got ready too, but didn’t feel super so decided to lay around home. It was a bright sunshiny day – the last one we’ve had I think. It was a sloppy day to drive with the melting. We headed n.w. toward Honefoss, and just before we got there, Vince saw an old church and turned off to take a look. It was old and locked. However, there was a monument to Anna Colbjornsdatter, and also a museum across the road. There were a couple of cars there so we decided to go see if it was open. It wasn’t – it’s not heated – but the care taker was outside and we visited (Vince visited – though he spoke some English) with him. He invited us in to look around if we didn’t mind the cold. He unlocked a few doors for us. We saw a good W.W. II collection. The Germans overran most of Norway in two weeks, and there was no outright resistance after 2 months. The underground resistance is another story. The caretaker apparently lives in the back rooms. He popped out and wanted us to see another room. It was called the Swedish room; and there were still bullet holes in the wall from a battle with 500 Swedish soldiers in 1716. The legend goes that Anna C. (the minister’s wife) helped set an ambush for these soldiers. The building used to be the parsonage – part of it was from the 1600’s, part from 1700’s, and part from 1800’s. In the oldest part was a collection of Jorgen Moe’s possessions. He evidently was a minister and we are supposing there; he was also in on the compilations of Norse folk tales by Asbjornson and Moe. His things appeared to have been elegant in their day. The ministers in the 1700s were wealthy.
Then the caretaker wanted us to go down the basement to see something else. Behind a door he opened electronically, and then behind bars chained and locked were Russian icons. You’ll have to look the word up in a dictionary or encyclopedia. I only have heard enough to know they are quite valuable – he said they were worth a million kroner. There were also paintings of the Russian czar’s family done by a Norwegian artist who had been there. In that same room, but not behind the bars was a runestone from the Viking Age - 900-1050 A.D. – the inscription was something about “Guttorm the good”. There were also 2 stone ‘hammers’ that were 4000 years old.
From there we drove into Honefoss – and walked around the town. We were looking for a café to eat lunch. The town was lively – a woman was giving a speech in the square. The sings were advocating boycott of South Africa in protest of apartheid. Suppose she was talking about that – Women’ Lib day is Mar 9, so it could have been that. We only found a “fast” food place for a sandwich. By the time, we had eaten, the speaker was done and the town was about folded up. Stores close at 1 p.m. and don’t open again until Mon. morning. So we drove on a little farther and then headed back to Oslo on a different highway. Lots of pretty views.
We talked about taking the trikk downtown on Sunday and going to the worship service at the Cathedral, but it was cloudy and damp so we decided to drive to Haslum, the next little ‘suburb’, for church. The main part of the church had been built by 1200. The walls were about 4 ft. thick. Wings had been added later as had the pulpit and pews. The pews seated 4 people each and there was probably 16 rows front to back on each side of the aisle; the wings had 6 on each side so I figured it couldn’t seat more than 200 or so. The chandelier hanging in the center had candles, 12 of them, but electricity and heat had been put in. We hung around a little afterwards to take pictures. The asst. pastor came to talk to us as we were looking at the baptismal font – it was dated 1643. He pointed out the original font which had been found out in the grave yard. It was a large rock with the ‘bowl’ for the water hollowed out. He asked us where we were from – he was from N.Y. – the only other thing Norwegian about him was his wife. He had lived in Norway 9 years.
17 March 1986
Wednesday I met 2 ladies downtown at noon. There are nieces of Sverre Hornseth (he lives at Ovre Rendal) who is a first cousin to Elise. We went to the Theater Café, had lunch and visited until 4. It was interesting and I didn’t know about these until they called. I had been writing to Sverre now and then and he told them to contact us.
Tuesday I tried to make an apple pie. It was better than the choc. chip cookies.
Thursday we left on a little excursion – drove up to Hamar. Found the jewelry store where Vince bought the ear rings 10 years ago. I have lost one and he was checking to see if he could find a matching one. We couldn’t. Then we tried to find the store where we bought our sweaters. We hoped we could find such a good deal again. Think the stores have changed; not as many of them carry those kind of sweaters. Guess mostly tourists buy them. We didn’t find any. So we had a cup of coffee and then drove up to Elverum. We saw the building where the constitution had been signed – that must have been before we got to Hamar because it was open from 12 – 2, and we were about an hour early. At elverum we found a place to stay for the night and then drove downtown. The stores were closed but Vince saw a sweater in a window that he thought was pretty. We got up early the next morning so we could check out that store before we looked for a (?) checked out a couple of touristy things. When the clerk told Vince the price of the sweater, he decided it was too expensive. He couldn’t find any other he liked; and we were in a husfliden where all the sweaters are hand knit – they are handcraft and bunad stores. The clerk decided to take the one out of the window – then she saw it had last year’s price on it. He thought it was maybe a bit big, but decided to get it anyway. So he was done shopping – Jene and I never did find anything we wanted to buy.
We did find a monument – built on the spot where King Haakon told the Germans (nei) when they asked him to agree to a government run by Quisling (Norway’s traitor). And we got close enough to read the inscription even though we trudged through snow over our knees. Traveling in Norway in the winter has a few drawbacks. We also visited a Forestry museum which showed the history of lumbering; there was an aquarium there, too, with a lot of different kinds of fish.
Then we drove up to Lillehamar and got ourselves a room. It was about six or so. Jene wasn’t feeling good – so she climbed into bed – think it was trudging through the snow – Vince and I went down for (?) and then went out for a walk along the main street. We found a few stores we wanted to check out in the morning. Jene’s friend at home wants her to bring something back so she’s been looking for a made in Norway gift that doesn’t look like a “souvenir”. We checked out of the hotel by noon, and then went to find Maihaugen, an outdoor museum with a collection of old buildings. The buildings are furnished, too, I guess, but are only open in the summer time. Paths were cleared though so we could walk through the area.
From there we headed in the general direction of Oslo, driving through Eina. That’s where Vince’s grandpa W. and great grandfather lived for 10 years before coming to Iowa in 1864. The little old hotel we stayed in 10 years ago wasn’t open. Could be they use it only in the summer. We drove by the farm so Jene could see it. Guess we didn’t stop after that until we got home.
Had some soup, read our mail. Didn’t stay up too late because Sunday was Holmenkollen. That will wait until the next letter!
To answer some questions: Palme’s assassination was big news – of course, we don’t understand a whole lot. We get a couple of Swedish channels, too. But it gets to be a lot of watching the pictures and trying to get the drift. The Nato exercise up north where 16 Norwegian soldiers died in an avalanche was also big news. Guess there is controversy about whether they should have been ordered in there.
The people in the house called once – the battery on the Cutlass died and they were wondering what to do. Everything else seemed to e fine. The little boy is enjoying the big yard to play in, and had been sliding down the hill. It must have been still Jan. or early Feb. when they called. We will have to write them soon – some of the mail that they have been forwarding has taken six weeks to it must be coming by boat.
Dawn did call, in fact twice. We weren’t home the first time so she talked to Jene – then she called us later. Sounds like Heather is growing and changing!
Heard about the buzzard cake but not about the Elvis one.
Time to fix breakfast. Need to go to the store for bread and milk. Jene starts her second six-week session today, but it is in the early p.m. instead of late a.m. She will like lying in bed a bit longer. She had last week off. Think she gets next week off for Easter break. We’ve been told every one in Oslo heads to the mountains for Easter vacation.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 3, 2016
Snowing and Windy
22 March 1986
Dear ones,
It almost looks like an Iowa winter day – it is snowing and windy. I haven’t been out yet, but the thermometer says 2 degrees C (35-36 F) so it isn’t real cold.
Vince and I went to a concert at a church downtown on Thursday night – it was a large orchestra, a chorus and 3 soloists. It was snowing big wet flakes when we left here and by the time we got off the trikk downtown it was barely sprinkling. Good thing! – we had a 5 or 6 block walk to the church. The music critic (Vince) said it was good – the music was quite modern considering the composer (and conductor) looked to be a man of 60 or 65 years. The orchestra was quite loud – could have been from the acoustics of the church. I fight the temptation of not listening because I don’t understand the words. For instance: when we got off the trikk downtown, I told Vince I was going to the “damer rom” – I knew there was one in the station. When I got there, it had pay toilets (toilette) and not just a measly Crown (krone) like one of the dept. stores but 5 crowns. Luckily I had one, so I inserted it in the door, went in. When I came out, and headed towards the sink, I didn’t think about closing the door behind me so it would be locked for the next one. I started washing my hands when I heard some Norwegian – I paid no attention, couldn’t understand it anyway. The lady washing her hands next to me, after just a bit, went out and closed that door. As I was drying my hands, I glanced around and there behind a window sat a couple of people – caretakers I assume. I decided they had told me to close the door. Oh, well. So I’m deaf. We have decided we must look like Norwegians. Yesterday we were stopped by a lady and asked something. The only thing we understood was Steen and Strom, the name of a dept. store. So we pointed the direction it was. Wonder if she found it?
Jene has Easter break this week and so does the Univ. I asked at the Post Office – they are closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The grocery store is too, except they are open Sat. morning. Guess half of Oslo goes to the mountains for the week. We are talking about, but haven’t decided yet, going over to Stockholm for 2-3 days.
Monday night I got a phone call while Vince was at choir practice. He said it was Ottar; he may have asked for Vince – I told him he was at church. Then he said, "Onsdag," so I said, "Onsdag, ja." Then he said, "Klokken fem," so I said, "Klokken fem, ja." Then he said, "Kaff," and I said, "Kaffe, ja." We repeated that whole thing and then he said OK (or some such) and hung up. When Vince got home, I told him I thought we had been invited to Ottar’s for coffee on Wednesday at 5.
On Wednesday Vince went in to the U. in the morning but came home early afternoon. We allowed 1 ½ hours to drive to Ottar’s that time of day and we needed it. Vince wanted to know what I was going to do if I was wrong and I said just be embarrassed, apologize and leave. We rang the doorbell, and sure enough they welcomed us in. Vince asked if this was the right day, they said ja ja. The coffee table was set – for 5. Jene had agreed to babysit for the people (Americans) downstairs so she didn’t go along. I really believed they would have someone else there who could speak English – neither Ottar or Signi do. But Vince’ Norwegian carried us through. We had 2 kinds of cake and cinnamon rolls with our coffee. After we had second, and some candy or sugar lumps, Ottar shoved the cups aside, and went to the hallway and got my books. (I almost didn’t bring them). Then he tried to find the pages his family was on – he gave me names of his brothers’ families and of his aunts and uncles, some birth dates and death dates, addresses, etc. When I got down all he knew, then he said, (Na, vi ha mer kaffe”. So the cakes and rolls were passed again. It was nine o’clock before we left. They were leaving on Friday for their summer hytte at Rendal. But they will be back in April some, and go again in May. Think they spend most of the summer there. He will be 72 soon; she is 69. They are a neat couple. She gave us 3 jars of jam, one tyttebear, the other 2 currant (rype) jelly.
I left Holmenkollen Sunday for this letter, didn’t I? We took a couple of trikks to get there – it was easier than using the car. We just followed along with the crowd, and reading the signs and arrows to find the section where our seats were. When we got to the place where we would start the downward climb – we were in row 48 of about 80 rows – it was roped off and wehad to stand aside. It didn’t take us too long to figure out that it was time for the King to arrive. Sure enough, in a few minutes he came walking slowing in – he is 83 – followed by his son and daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren and their friends. Both Vince and Jene got good pictures – so for once we were in the right place at the right time. Jene has been wanted(?) to see him and was afraid it wasn’t going to be. Think she was disappointed he didn’t look more kingly. He went to this heated box while we climber down to our snow covered cement bleacher seats. Luckily, we had bought 3 pieces of plastic foam to sit on! It was snowing, a little breezy, and very foggy. We had seats directly across from where most of the jumpers were landing. Next time (ha) we will get from across from where they leave the jump. We couldn’t see them until they were soaring thru the air and then we had to look up behind us. Suppose the mountain side was used to its best advantage to build the seats, but for the spectator, there could have been a better design. In spite of freezing, we were still glad we had seen it. There were 80 jumpers – the top 50 jumped twice. Think it was an Italian who was followed by a Finn. You wouldn’t believe the halftime entertainment.
There was a good sized plane flying around overhead during the first half – the fog covered him half the time – I don’t know how the pilot could see anything. The fellow in front of us told us that sometimes the Airlines offered flyovers of the Jump as part of a tour and he thought that might be what is was. But then later he told us they just announced over the loud speakers that there would be sky jumpers during the half. Sure enough – we heard the pilot’s voice over the intercom say he was approaching – then we saw him break thru the fog and at least 12 parachutists jump out. They all steered their chutes so they landed on or close to the X at the bottom of the ski jump. As the last one landed, the big airplane took one last low pass over the arena, tipped his wings and disappeared into the clouds. Dumb Norwegians – our airports would have been closed in such a fog! We were so cold we didn’t wait for the presentation of the medals; but began the climb up the steep, high steps to the 80th row again. We got warmed up, however by the time we got to the trikk. The one down downtowned (?) was mobbed with people, but there was a sign pointing to a walkway to the second line we had to take to get back to Osteras. We decided we would do that – it would probably be easier than waiting in line taking the other trikk downtown, transferring, etc. Wrong! We walked down a sidewalk that was snow covered, ice covered, almost straight down, and it must have been more than a mile. Actually, I didn’t walk – I slid, and held onto Vince. But after asking 2 or 3 times we finally found it, and rode the rest of the way home. And we did get warmed up! Monday and Tuesday we were all so stiff in our meg muscles, we could hardly move. We think it was the climb up the steps though and not the slide down the mountain side!
Guess I’ll mail this and see what the weather is like.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
It almost looks like an Iowa winter day – it is snowing and windy. I haven’t been out yet, but the thermometer says 2 degrees C (35-36 F) so it isn’t real cold.
Vince and I went to a concert at a church downtown on Thursday night – it was a large orchestra, a chorus and 3 soloists. It was snowing big wet flakes when we left here and by the time we got off the trikk downtown it was barely sprinkling. Good thing! – we had a 5 or 6 block walk to the church. The music critic (Vince) said it was good – the music was quite modern considering the composer (and conductor) looked to be a man of 60 or 65 years. The orchestra was quite loud – could have been from the acoustics of the church. I fight the temptation of not listening because I don’t understand the words. For instance: when we got off the trikk downtown, I told Vince I was going to the “damer rom” – I knew there was one in the station. When I got there, it had pay toilets (toilette) and not just a measly Crown (krone) like one of the dept. stores but 5 crowns. Luckily I had one, so I inserted it in the door, went in. When I came out, and headed towards the sink, I didn’t think about closing the door behind me so it would be locked for the next one. I started washing my hands when I heard some Norwegian – I paid no attention, couldn’t understand it anyway. The lady washing her hands next to me, after just a bit, went out and closed that door. As I was drying my hands, I glanced around and there behind a window sat a couple of people – caretakers I assume. I decided they had told me to close the door. Oh, well. So I’m deaf. We have decided we must look like Norwegians. Yesterday we were stopped by a lady and asked something. The only thing we understood was Steen and Strom, the name of a dept. store. So we pointed the direction it was. Wonder if she found it?
Jene has Easter break this week and so does the Univ. I asked at the Post Office – they are closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The grocery store is too, except they are open Sat. morning. Guess half of Oslo goes to the mountains for the week. We are talking about, but haven’t decided yet, going over to Stockholm for 2-3 days.
Monday night I got a phone call while Vince was at choir practice. He said it was Ottar; he may have asked for Vince – I told him he was at church. Then he said, "Onsdag," so I said, "Onsdag, ja." Then he said, "Klokken fem," so I said, "Klokken fem, ja." Then he said, "Kaff," and I said, "Kaffe, ja." We repeated that whole thing and then he said OK (or some such) and hung up. When Vince got home, I told him I thought we had been invited to Ottar’s for coffee on Wednesday at 5.
On Wednesday Vince went in to the U. in the morning but came home early afternoon. We allowed 1 ½ hours to drive to Ottar’s that time of day and we needed it. Vince wanted to know what I was going to do if I was wrong and I said just be embarrassed, apologize and leave. We rang the doorbell, and sure enough they welcomed us in. Vince asked if this was the right day, they said ja ja. The coffee table was set – for 5. Jene had agreed to babysit for the people (Americans) downstairs so she didn’t go along. I really believed they would have someone else there who could speak English – neither Ottar or Signi do. But Vince’ Norwegian carried us through. We had 2 kinds of cake and cinnamon rolls with our coffee. After we had second, and some candy or sugar lumps, Ottar shoved the cups aside, and went to the hallway and got my books. (I almost didn’t bring them). Then he tried to find the pages his family was on – he gave me names of his brothers’ families and of his aunts and uncles, some birth dates and death dates, addresses, etc. When I got down all he knew, then he said, (Na, vi ha mer kaffe”. So the cakes and rolls were passed again. It was nine o’clock before we left. They were leaving on Friday for their summer hytte at Rendal. But they will be back in April some, and go again in May. Think they spend most of the summer there. He will be 72 soon; she is 69. They are a neat couple. She gave us 3 jars of jam, one tyttebear, the other 2 currant (rype) jelly.
I left Holmenkollen Sunday for this letter, didn’t I? We took a couple of trikks to get there – it was easier than using the car. We just followed along with the crowd, and reading the signs and arrows to find the section where our seats were. When we got to the place where we would start the downward climb – we were in row 48 of about 80 rows – it was roped off and wehad to stand aside. It didn’t take us too long to figure out that it was time for the King to arrive. Sure enough, in a few minutes he came walking slowing in – he is 83 – followed by his son and daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren and their friends. Both Vince and Jene got good pictures – so for once we were in the right place at the right time. Jene has been wanted(?) to see him and was afraid it wasn’t going to be. Think she was disappointed he didn’t look more kingly. He went to this heated box while we climber down to our snow covered cement bleacher seats. Luckily, we had bought 3 pieces of plastic foam to sit on! It was snowing, a little breezy, and very foggy. We had seats directly across from where most of the jumpers were landing. Next time (ha) we will get from across from where they leave the jump. We couldn’t see them until they were soaring thru the air and then we had to look up behind us. Suppose the mountain side was used to its best advantage to build the seats, but for the spectator, there could have been a better design. In spite of freezing, we were still glad we had seen it. There were 80 jumpers – the top 50 jumped twice. Think it was an Italian who was followed by a Finn. You wouldn’t believe the halftime entertainment.
There was a good sized plane flying around overhead during the first half – the fog covered him half the time – I don’t know how the pilot could see anything. The fellow in front of us told us that sometimes the Airlines offered flyovers of the Jump as part of a tour and he thought that might be what is was. But then later he told us they just announced over the loud speakers that there would be sky jumpers during the half. Sure enough – we heard the pilot’s voice over the intercom say he was approaching – then we saw him break thru the fog and at least 12 parachutists jump out. They all steered their chutes so they landed on or close to the X at the bottom of the ski jump. As the last one landed, the big airplane took one last low pass over the arena, tipped his wings and disappeared into the clouds. Dumb Norwegians – our airports would have been closed in such a fog! We were so cold we didn’t wait for the presentation of the medals; but began the climb up the steep, high steps to the 80th row again. We got warmed up, however by the time we got to the trikk. The one down downtowned (?) was mobbed with people, but there was a sign pointing to a walkway to the second line we had to take to get back to Osteras. We decided we would do that – it would probably be easier than waiting in line taking the other trikk downtown, transferring, etc. Wrong! We walked down a sidewalk that was snow covered, ice covered, almost straight down, and it must have been more than a mile. Actually, I didn’t walk – I slid, and held onto Vince. But after asking 2 or 3 times we finally found it, and rode the rest of the way home. And we did get warmed up! Monday and Tuesday we were all so stiff in our meg muscles, we could hardly move. We think it was the climb up the steps though and not the slide down the mountain side!
Guess I’ll mail this and see what the weather is like.
Love, Verla and Vince
February 2, 2016
Three Days in Sweden
29 March 1986
Dear ones,
Norway goes on Daylight Saving time tonight so we will be 8 hours ahead of Minn. Time until you go on Daylight time. Think Vince and Jene are getting their extra hour of sleep this morning. I decided to make my coffee and get started on the day.
We got back last night from 3 days in Sweden. It was fun and we packed in a lot of sight seeing. One thing begins to look like another after awhile. We buy little souvenir books at some of the places; but we should study them before we see the place. All we find out when we read them is what we missed seeing. We got to Mariefred, a small town outside of Stockholm, (there is an old castle there) mid afternoon on Wednesday. We had about an hour to go through it before it closed – it was 3 floors and 50 rooms. So we didn’t have a whole lot of time to dawdle. There 3000 portraits hanging in the rooms, hallways, etc. of kings and queens and other important persons – we saw one of Martin Luther, one of Calvin, of Thomas Jefferson. One of the kings had built himself a theater in one of the towers – that was quite neat. Out in front just before you crossed the moat was 2 runestones – we’ve seen several of those. They are from Viking times and I guess someone is able to decipher them. To us it just looks like picture language. Hope I’ve kept good enough record of our slides so we will remember where we took which pictures. After that we went over to the little town and walked thru some of the shops. The stores in Sweden seem to stay open till six, though a lot of them close over the noon hour. (Here they stay open during lunch hour but close at 5. The majority of the shops close at 1 on Saturday p.m. excepting the food stores which re probably open till 4. Very few if any stores are open on Sunday – some gas stations and sometimes they will have some grocery items, etc.) Jene is going to try to add to her shoe collection so she was looking for a shoe made in Sweden. She finally lucked out – a wooden clog; we found it in a little shop called Sussi’s and as we were walking around looking at things, a lady (clerk) walked up and said, “It’s good to hear my native tongue.” It turned out she was she was ‘Susie’ the shop owner, from England. She said we were a little ahead of the tourist season. She talked and talked. She has a retired gentleman make these wooden clogs for her, then she wood burns a design and paints them. So ‘Sweden’ as well as her name is on the bottom. She’s lived in Sweden 17 years, married a Swede. That was interesting!
From there we drove to the outskirts of Stockholm, got a hotel room, and settled in. We ate our supper there at the hotel. After breakfast the next morning we took a bus to the subway stop. We were having a time finding the correct bus, we asked to(?) of the drivers – neither one spoke English. We finally asked a fellow who was waiting for the bus – he spoke English. When we got off the bus we weren’t sure where to find the subway – the fellow we talked to came to our aid and told us to look for the T for tunnel (in DC it is M for Metro, right?) We bought a 24-hour ticket which got us on subways or busses without further cost for the rest of the day – it was quite a savings. So we headed for Old Town and the Palace and an old church, a large cathedral type. On the way to the Palace we walked by an old church – it was open, so we decided to go in, too. It turned out to be a Stockholm Cathedral. Big, ostentatious, gaudy – places (boxes) for the royalty to sit. It was built in the 1200’s, added to, remodeled, etc. and of course, before the Reformation was Roman. It had small chapels around the outside of the main nave; people of importance buried in the floor in these chapels. There was a big sculpture of St. George slaying the Dragon. Descriptions can’t begin to do it justice. From there we headed to the Palace – people were standing waiting so we figured something must be about to happen so we joined the crowd. It was about a 15-minute wait before they had the changing of the Guard. These were more like Swedish militia than like the English palace guards. After that we went into the Treasury to see the Crown jewels. They were about 2 floors below ground level. It’s difficult to imagine the wealth of the monarchs – one crown had hundreds of diamonds; some of the others had many kinds of gems. There was even a silver baptismal font.
After that we went to find the other old cathedral, but it was closed for construction work of some kind – so that was that. We stopped for a smorbrod (sandwich) at a bakery near the T, then rode to another stop, transferred to a bus and went to the Wasa museum. Here we saw the restoring, still in process of the old Swedish man-of-war ship. It overturned on its maiden voyage and sunk while it was still in the Stockholm harbor in 1628. In 1956 it was located, finally raised to the surface in 1961. It was in amazing condition considering the length of time it had been under water. They have been working at preserving and restoring it ever since. It was interesting – we had a guided tour, first in Swedish, then in English. By now it was 5 o’clock and we had seen enough for one day, so it was the bus back to the T back to the bus to the hotel. We decided to stay over another night. Holy Thursday is not a national holiday in Sweden like it is in Norway, but Good Friday is; we weren’t sure how much would be open anywhere.
So Friday morning we checked out, and drove up to Uppsala – it is a University town and the see of the Swedish bishop, so it has a huge cathedral, with chapels all around the outer aisle, and many people buried there. It was large and beautiful. They were having a Good Friday worship service at 11:00, so we waited and went to it. Vince even understood some of the sermon. The cathedral was filled, and a lot of visitors and tourists. Then we drove to Old Uppsala where the earlier cathedral had been. Part of it remains and it is still used as a place of worship. Quite close by are 3 huge mounds, royal burial grounds. From excavations done, they are believed to be from the 5 or 600 A.D. time period. And are thought to be of 3 kings told about in the sagas. Now that’s old! There was a little eating place open there, so we had smorbrod og kaffe before heading back to Oslo. It was at least a 6 or 7 hour drive, so it ws close to 10 before we got home. Luckily, I have bought some books which tell about these places – after awhile they all run together in your mind. We never did get to the newer part of Stockholm, nor did we attempt to visit the grave of Oluf Palme. I guess Swedes are still stopping and throwing flowers both at his grave and at the place where he was shot.
Last Sunday we went to Hobol to an old church. Oddvar met us and went, too. Did I write this before? We went to his house for dinner and an afternoon of visiting. It was fun again and they are nice.
Guess I’d better shampoo so my hair will get dry. We are invited for cheese and crackers at 7 to Hanna & Rolf Koppang’s. There is services at the churches tonight – Vince sings with the choir at Osteras. It is a 11 o’clock Easter Eve watch. They also have a worship service at 11 a.m. on Monday (second day Easter) besides the service tomorrow.
Don’t know when this will get out – P.O. closed from Thurs. thru Monday. But will drop it in the box anyway.
Love, Verla and Vince
I don’t do any fancy cooking for us here, so none of us are gaining weight! Don’t worry, Mom!
Dear ones,
Norway goes on Daylight Saving time tonight so we will be 8 hours ahead of Minn. Time until you go on Daylight time. Think Vince and Jene are getting their extra hour of sleep this morning. I decided to make my coffee and get started on the day.
We got back last night from 3 days in Sweden. It was fun and we packed in a lot of sight seeing. One thing begins to look like another after awhile. We buy little souvenir books at some of the places; but we should study them before we see the place. All we find out when we read them is what we missed seeing. We got to Mariefred, a small town outside of Stockholm, (there is an old castle there) mid afternoon on Wednesday. We had about an hour to go through it before it closed – it was 3 floors and 50 rooms. So we didn’t have a whole lot of time to dawdle. There 3000 portraits hanging in the rooms, hallways, etc. of kings and queens and other important persons – we saw one of Martin Luther, one of Calvin, of Thomas Jefferson. One of the kings had built himself a theater in one of the towers – that was quite neat. Out in front just before you crossed the moat was 2 runestones – we’ve seen several of those. They are from Viking times and I guess someone is able to decipher them. To us it just looks like picture language. Hope I’ve kept good enough record of our slides so we will remember where we took which pictures. After that we went over to the little town and walked thru some of the shops. The stores in Sweden seem to stay open till six, though a lot of them close over the noon hour. (Here they stay open during lunch hour but close at 5. The majority of the shops close at 1 on Saturday p.m. excepting the food stores which re probably open till 4. Very few if any stores are open on Sunday – some gas stations and sometimes they will have some grocery items, etc.) Jene is going to try to add to her shoe collection so she was looking for a shoe made in Sweden. She finally lucked out – a wooden clog; we found it in a little shop called Sussi’s and as we were walking around looking at things, a lady (clerk) walked up and said, “It’s good to hear my native tongue.” It turned out she was she was ‘Susie’ the shop owner, from England. She said we were a little ahead of the tourist season. She talked and talked. She has a retired gentleman make these wooden clogs for her, then she wood burns a design and paints them. So ‘Sweden’ as well as her name is on the bottom. She’s lived in Sweden 17 years, married a Swede. That was interesting!
From there we drove to the outskirts of Stockholm, got a hotel room, and settled in. We ate our supper there at the hotel. After breakfast the next morning we took a bus to the subway stop. We were having a time finding the correct bus, we asked to(?) of the drivers – neither one spoke English. We finally asked a fellow who was waiting for the bus – he spoke English. When we got off the bus we weren’t sure where to find the subway – the fellow we talked to came to our aid and told us to look for the T for tunnel (in DC it is M for Metro, right?) We bought a 24-hour ticket which got us on subways or busses without further cost for the rest of the day – it was quite a savings. So we headed for Old Town and the Palace and an old church, a large cathedral type. On the way to the Palace we walked by an old church – it was open, so we decided to go in, too. It turned out to be a Stockholm Cathedral. Big, ostentatious, gaudy – places (boxes) for the royalty to sit. It was built in the 1200’s, added to, remodeled, etc. and of course, before the Reformation was Roman. It had small chapels around the outside of the main nave; people of importance buried in the floor in these chapels. There was a big sculpture of St. George slaying the Dragon. Descriptions can’t begin to do it justice. From there we headed to the Palace – people were standing waiting so we figured something must be about to happen so we joined the crowd. It was about a 15-minute wait before they had the changing of the Guard. These were more like Swedish militia than like the English palace guards. After that we went into the Treasury to see the Crown jewels. They were about 2 floors below ground level. It’s difficult to imagine the wealth of the monarchs – one crown had hundreds of diamonds; some of the others had many kinds of gems. There was even a silver baptismal font.
After that we went to find the other old cathedral, but it was closed for construction work of some kind – so that was that. We stopped for a smorbrod (sandwich) at a bakery near the T, then rode to another stop, transferred to a bus and went to the Wasa museum. Here we saw the restoring, still in process of the old Swedish man-of-war ship. It overturned on its maiden voyage and sunk while it was still in the Stockholm harbor in 1628. In 1956 it was located, finally raised to the surface in 1961. It was in amazing condition considering the length of time it had been under water. They have been working at preserving and restoring it ever since. It was interesting – we had a guided tour, first in Swedish, then in English. By now it was 5 o’clock and we had seen enough for one day, so it was the bus back to the T back to the bus to the hotel. We decided to stay over another night. Holy Thursday is not a national holiday in Sweden like it is in Norway, but Good Friday is; we weren’t sure how much would be open anywhere.
So Friday morning we checked out, and drove up to Uppsala – it is a University town and the see of the Swedish bishop, so it has a huge cathedral, with chapels all around the outer aisle, and many people buried there. It was large and beautiful. They were having a Good Friday worship service at 11:00, so we waited and went to it. Vince even understood some of the sermon. The cathedral was filled, and a lot of visitors and tourists. Then we drove to Old Uppsala where the earlier cathedral had been. Part of it remains and it is still used as a place of worship. Quite close by are 3 huge mounds, royal burial grounds. From excavations done, they are believed to be from the 5 or 600 A.D. time period. And are thought to be of 3 kings told about in the sagas. Now that’s old! There was a little eating place open there, so we had smorbrod og kaffe before heading back to Oslo. It was at least a 6 or 7 hour drive, so it ws close to 10 before we got home. Luckily, I have bought some books which tell about these places – after awhile they all run together in your mind. We never did get to the newer part of Stockholm, nor did we attempt to visit the grave of Oluf Palme. I guess Swedes are still stopping and throwing flowers both at his grave and at the place where he was shot.
Last Sunday we went to Hobol to an old church. Oddvar met us and went, too. Did I write this before? We went to his house for dinner and an afternoon of visiting. It was fun again and they are nice.
Guess I’d better shampoo so my hair will get dry. We are invited for cheese and crackers at 7 to Hanna & Rolf Koppang’s. There is services at the churches tonight – Vince sings with the choir at Osteras. It is a 11 o’clock Easter Eve watch. They also have a worship service at 11 a.m. on Monday (second day Easter) besides the service tomorrow.
Don’t know when this will get out – P.O. closed from Thurs. thru Monday. But will drop it in the box anyway.
Love, Verla and Vince
I don’t do any fancy cooking for us here, so none of us are gaining weight! Don’t worry, Mom!
February 1, 2016
Nothing Spectacular
5 April 1986
Dear ones,
This has been a quiet week with nothing spectacular going on.
Last Saturday we had snow and rain. It helped melt some of the snow. Downtown Oslo has very little snow left. Up here we still have piles along the streets and in places where its been piled that are from 3 to 5 feet high. I noticed yesterday that on the roof of the garages which we look down on it is down to about 3 or 4 inches. It had been at least a foot ever since we came. The days this week have been in the 40’s; today the weatherman said it would be 50. Noticed on the SE side of the bldg, the other day that there are some small flowers blooming.
Last Saturday evening we went to Koppang’s for cheese and crackers. She had a variety of cheeses, most of which I’ve forgotten the names. She offered to get Vince some gammel ost, but he said he’d pass. We left at 10 so we could drop Vince off at church for choir practice. The choir sang at the 11 p.m. Easter Eve service. There were six in the choir and about 20 in the congregation.
Sunday morning we went to the American Lutheran Church – it was the first English service we had been to since we came. In the evening Vince and I went downtown on the trikk and went to the Oslo Cathedral to hear Bach’s Easter Oratorio – sung in German with a Norsk translation printed in the program. The cathedral doesn’t compare to the ones we saw in Uppsala or Stockholm. But then Norway has been the step-child for a long time. It was under Danish rule from 1300’s to 1814, and under Swedish rule from 1814-1905. The church was full; people stood in line to get in.
Mark called Monday morning – we went on daylight saving time last weekend, so it was 7:30 Mon. a.m. here (he thought it would be 6:30 and we would be getting up for school.) Monday was still a national holiday so there was no school, no stores, banks or post office open. It was fun to hear from him – they sound busy. He had auditioned for a couple of summer jobs and was waiting to hear. Amy is finishing her Master’s and applying for jobs.
Did I tell you Vince has been invited to be a guest lecturer at the Royal Dental College at Arhus, Denmark. His fame continues to spread. A student from there had been at U of I last year, and guess he recommended Vince. So now we will or he will try to work that into our schedule. We may do it on our way to Germany in May.
Have I told you Lyle and Exene are flying over May 2 – 12? Vince has planned a trip to the fjord country for about 6-7 days while they are here.
Checking your letters to see if there are any questions to answer. On Tuesday when the mail was finally delivered again, we got letters from most of you.
Hey Mom, I’ll give you something new to dream about – Vince made me step on the scale the other day he was also concerned about my weight. And he was right – I’d lost 2 or 3 pounds.
Guess our loss was your gain – glad you all enjoyed Dawn and Heather. It’s hard to understand how anyone could choose to visit Minnesota instead of Oslo. No one mentioned struggling with the weather while she was there so it must have presented no major problems.
It’s a nice bright day, so we should decide to do something here in Oslo – think the stores close at 1 p.m. so shopping might be out. Shopping doesn’t mean buying.
Heard from Laurene – Terri wrote, too. She wants some stuff about Norway she can take it(?) school. So I’m collecting a few things and will get it in the mail soon.
Now that I started a new page, I’ve read through your letters. But just checked the mail and had a letter from Laurene. Sounds like she’d enjoyed seeing Dawn and Heather, too.
Also got another form. We needed to file our tax. Hadn’t brought it along – a business expense form – so called the Embassy. They had the forms and sent me one. So will have to get busy and finish it – wonder if the April 15 postmark is valid even if it’s from Norway.
Better get going on the day – it is slipping away.
My Dec. perm is beginning to look pretty shabby. But don’t think I want to try a perm here. So will have to start setting it more often or something. Maybe I should have Jene cut it – she gave Vince a haircut, and when the fellow downstairs heard about that, he asked her to give him one, too. So she did!
Love, Verla and Vince
P.S. Thanks for the pictures of Heather, Sharon. She is growing up!
Dear ones,
This has been a quiet week with nothing spectacular going on.
Last Saturday we had snow and rain. It helped melt some of the snow. Downtown Oslo has very little snow left. Up here we still have piles along the streets and in places where its been piled that are from 3 to 5 feet high. I noticed yesterday that on the roof of the garages which we look down on it is down to about 3 or 4 inches. It had been at least a foot ever since we came. The days this week have been in the 40’s; today the weatherman said it would be 50. Noticed on the SE side of the bldg, the other day that there are some small flowers blooming.
Last Saturday evening we went to Koppang’s for cheese and crackers. She had a variety of cheeses, most of which I’ve forgotten the names. She offered to get Vince some gammel ost, but he said he’d pass. We left at 10 so we could drop Vince off at church for choir practice. The choir sang at the 11 p.m. Easter Eve service. There were six in the choir and about 20 in the congregation.
Sunday morning we went to the American Lutheran Church – it was the first English service we had been to since we came. In the evening Vince and I went downtown on the trikk and went to the Oslo Cathedral to hear Bach’s Easter Oratorio – sung in German with a Norsk translation printed in the program. The cathedral doesn’t compare to the ones we saw in Uppsala or Stockholm. But then Norway has been the step-child for a long time. It was under Danish rule from 1300’s to 1814, and under Swedish rule from 1814-1905. The church was full; people stood in line to get in.
Mark called Monday morning – we went on daylight saving time last weekend, so it was 7:30 Mon. a.m. here (he thought it would be 6:30 and we would be getting up for school.) Monday was still a national holiday so there was no school, no stores, banks or post office open. It was fun to hear from him – they sound busy. He had auditioned for a couple of summer jobs and was waiting to hear. Amy is finishing her Master’s and applying for jobs.
Did I tell you Vince has been invited to be a guest lecturer at the Royal Dental College at Arhus, Denmark. His fame continues to spread. A student from there had been at U of I last year, and guess he recommended Vince. So now we will or he will try to work that into our schedule. We may do it on our way to Germany in May.
Have I told you Lyle and Exene are flying over May 2 – 12? Vince has planned a trip to the fjord country for about 6-7 days while they are here.
Checking your letters to see if there are any questions to answer. On Tuesday when the mail was finally delivered again, we got letters from most of you.
Hey Mom, I’ll give you something new to dream about – Vince made me step on the scale the other day he was also concerned about my weight. And he was right – I’d lost 2 or 3 pounds.
Guess our loss was your gain – glad you all enjoyed Dawn and Heather. It’s hard to understand how anyone could choose to visit Minnesota instead of Oslo. No one mentioned struggling with the weather while she was there so it must have presented no major problems.
It’s a nice bright day, so we should decide to do something here in Oslo – think the stores close at 1 p.m. so shopping might be out. Shopping doesn’t mean buying.
Heard from Laurene – Terri wrote, too. She wants some stuff about Norway she can take it(?) school. So I’m collecting a few things and will get it in the mail soon.
Now that I started a new page, I’ve read through your letters. But just checked the mail and had a letter from Laurene. Sounds like she’d enjoyed seeing Dawn and Heather, too.
Also got another form. We needed to file our tax. Hadn’t brought it along – a business expense form – so called the Embassy. They had the forms and sent me one. So will have to get busy and finish it – wonder if the April 15 postmark is valid even if it’s from Norway.
Better get going on the day – it is slipping away.
My Dec. perm is beginning to look pretty shabby. But don’t think I want to try a perm here. So will have to start setting it more often or something. Maybe I should have Jene cut it – she gave Vince a haircut, and when the fellow downstairs heard about that, he asked her to give him one, too. So she did!
Love, Verla and Vince
P.S. Thanks for the pictures of Heather, Sharon. She is growing up!
January 31, 2016
Another Quiet Week
12 April 1986 – Sat. a.m.
Dear ones,
This seems to have been another quiet week – we did take the trikk downtown last Saturday p.m. and went to the Historical Museum. We hurried some because it closed at 3. They had an interesting collection of things found from the Viking Age (800-1050 A.D.). The age of those things still is hard to comprehend. Their collection from the Middle Ages was good – a lot from the churches of those times (1500’s). They also had collections from Africa, Asia, Far East; a coin and medals collection. We walked along the streets some afterwards, but the town gets pretty dead – all the stores close at 1 or 2 on Saturday and don’t open again until Monday. We did stop for a cup of coffee and piece of cake.
Went to church here in Osteras on Sunday. It was baptism Sunday and 2 little babies were baptized. One cried the whole time it was his turn. Have I told you how are ushered in just before the baptism, the babies wear the really long dresses; the congregation stands for their entry and turn to watch (much as they do for a bride). Many of the women (mother, grandmother, sponsor) wear bunads.
Monday I met Jene downtown after her class – we had hamburgers at McDonalds. Then checked out some stores. There was a portrait schetcher working on the sidewalk so Jene decided to be sketched. She didn’t think it looks like her – so she gave it to us. As we were wending our way back to the trikk (to go to the lecture at the U – the first since Easter break) there was another artist doing landscapes in chalk. She decided she wanted one of those, too. So we stopped – he was working on one so we had to wait a bit. He smeared chalk on the “tagboard” or whatever, then took a wet rag and really smeared it around. It was amazing how he finally got it to look like something. Vince wasn’t feeling good on Monday so stayed home. Don’t know if it was a flu bug, or stomach upset. He did come to pick us up after our lecture, however. Jene baby sat for the Indiana couple downstairs, and needed to be there by 5:30.
Tuesday I finished the laundry; about all I can get dry in a day is 2 loads which I had done on Monday. Ironed the shirts and blouses, got the groceries. Got pictures of Heather in the mail from Dawn – that’s always fun. Also read a small book here of Mr. Gjonnes, a British one.
Wednesday Vince and I went to see about getting the snows (tires) off. They could do it the next morning. I looked up enough words in the English to Norsk dictionary to be able to look up a shipping firm in the yellow pages. The tires are good ones, and we will need snows back in Iowa. We can leave nothing in the car when we ship it. And even if we could, we need the space for our suitcases while we are traveling. Well, we could buy 4 tires for what it would cost us to ship them, so that’s out. The station (we bought them there) won’t buy them back and re-sell them. So then I called a newspaper to put an ad in. The big newspaper in Oslo (plus hotel workers, and hospital workers and oil workers) are all strike over here. And the little newspaper is really busy. But I mailed in an ad. Don’t know if they will translate it to Norsk or print it in English. We hope we can sell them and recoup some of the cost. (By the way, the rate exchange on the dollar has gone up must a bit, so it’s not quite so bad.)
Vince had been told to be at the station by 8 to get the tires changed, on Thursday, so he woke up bright and early. He left here some before 8, got into a little traffic, but probably wasn’t very late. Guess what? The mechanic doesn’t get there until 9. It’s things like that that are so frustrating sometimes.
Guess Vince thought that he’d (?) should give me something to write home about – so he did some work here at home, some writing, (after he got back from the station) and then suggested we drive up to Jevnaker – about an hour away – to the Hadeland Glassworks. The demonstration of glass blowing was closed – one of our tour books says open daily – but the outlet store was open. So we nosed around. We finally found out that the vases, candle holders, etc. were all seconds; I suppose if you didn’t know you might not notice – little bubbles in the glass, but once you start looking, you see them all. There is another glassworks in the same town so we went over there. Theirs are second also, and both places sell them for 40-50% less than the perfect ones you find in the retail stores. Did buy a candle holder for me – that wasn’t a second – she got it from the warehouse – and bought a vase for Nitzy. She’d given me $50.00 to buy something for her.
Got a couple of empty boxes from the book store the other day. We plan on sending home some of our winter stuff, when it gets warm enough to quit wearing them. We certainly can’t wear our winter boots home in June; and I haven’t worn them much here the last couple of weeks. The snow has melted enough so the sidewalks are clear.
Guess I’d better move along, Vince is up for forenoon lunch, and I need to write another letter before the post office closes (that’s at 1 p.m. today). I’ve already emptied a couple pens since we got here.
Love, Verla and Vince
Mom – thanks fo the obits – which of Elsie’s boys was the one she didn’t know where he was for awhile?
Forgot to include what Jene and I did yesterday. We went downtown and got to the Palace for at least part of the Changing of the Guard. We were trying to figure out if some of the other watchers were also tourists, or Norwegians visiting Oslo. After the guards had retired, we noticed that one fellow pushing a child in a buggy was still hanging around. I had heard that the band was going to play from 2 - 2:30, if the King was there. His flag was flying so that means he is there. The fellow with the buggy walked directly in front so Jene and I ambled there, too. Then we noticed a car in the portico and soon the chauffeur got out and helped a couple of people in. And as the limo drove out and right past us, we saw one of the persons was the King. The fellow with the buggy doffed his hat as the King went by. They drove down the street 2 -3 blocks, turned left on Univ. Ave. It wasn’t very long before the limo came back, minus the King. We debated waiting around, but eventually decided it might just be a waste of time. As we walked past the University, there were 2 police cars out in front and a red carpet up the steps. We didn’t hang around to see if the King came out, so we will never know. But it would seem to be a logical conclusion.
Checked out some shops we hadn’t seen before and some we had before comig home. Now it is time to go.
Dear ones,
This seems to have been another quiet week – we did take the trikk downtown last Saturday p.m. and went to the Historical Museum. We hurried some because it closed at 3. They had an interesting collection of things found from the Viking Age (800-1050 A.D.). The age of those things still is hard to comprehend. Their collection from the Middle Ages was good – a lot from the churches of those times (1500’s). They also had collections from Africa, Asia, Far East; a coin and medals collection. We walked along the streets some afterwards, but the town gets pretty dead – all the stores close at 1 or 2 on Saturday and don’t open again until Monday. We did stop for a cup of coffee and piece of cake.
Went to church here in Osteras on Sunday. It was baptism Sunday and 2 little babies were baptized. One cried the whole time it was his turn. Have I told you how are ushered in just before the baptism, the babies wear the really long dresses; the congregation stands for their entry and turn to watch (much as they do for a bride). Many of the women (mother, grandmother, sponsor) wear bunads.
Monday I met Jene downtown after her class – we had hamburgers at McDonalds. Then checked out some stores. There was a portrait schetcher working on the sidewalk so Jene decided to be sketched. She didn’t think it looks like her – so she gave it to us. As we were wending our way back to the trikk (to go to the lecture at the U – the first since Easter break) there was another artist doing landscapes in chalk. She decided she wanted one of those, too. So we stopped – he was working on one so we had to wait a bit. He smeared chalk on the “tagboard” or whatever, then took a wet rag and really smeared it around. It was amazing how he finally got it to look like something. Vince wasn’t feeling good on Monday so stayed home. Don’t know if it was a flu bug, or stomach upset. He did come to pick us up after our lecture, however. Jene baby sat for the Indiana couple downstairs, and needed to be there by 5:30.
Tuesday I finished the laundry; about all I can get dry in a day is 2 loads which I had done on Monday. Ironed the shirts and blouses, got the groceries. Got pictures of Heather in the mail from Dawn – that’s always fun. Also read a small book here of Mr. Gjonnes, a British one.
Wednesday Vince and I went to see about getting the snows (tires) off. They could do it the next morning. I looked up enough words in the English to Norsk dictionary to be able to look up a shipping firm in the yellow pages. The tires are good ones, and we will need snows back in Iowa. We can leave nothing in the car when we ship it. And even if we could, we need the space for our suitcases while we are traveling. Well, we could buy 4 tires for what it would cost us to ship them, so that’s out. The station (we bought them there) won’t buy them back and re-sell them. So then I called a newspaper to put an ad in. The big newspaper in Oslo (plus hotel workers, and hospital workers and oil workers) are all strike over here. And the little newspaper is really busy. But I mailed in an ad. Don’t know if they will translate it to Norsk or print it in English. We hope we can sell them and recoup some of the cost. (By the way, the rate exchange on the dollar has gone up must a bit, so it’s not quite so bad.)
Vince had been told to be at the station by 8 to get the tires changed, on Thursday, so he woke up bright and early. He left here some before 8, got into a little traffic, but probably wasn’t very late. Guess what? The mechanic doesn’t get there until 9. It’s things like that that are so frustrating sometimes.
Guess Vince thought that he’d (?) should give me something to write home about – so he did some work here at home, some writing, (after he got back from the station) and then suggested we drive up to Jevnaker – about an hour away – to the Hadeland Glassworks. The demonstration of glass blowing was closed – one of our tour books says open daily – but the outlet store was open. So we nosed around. We finally found out that the vases, candle holders, etc. were all seconds; I suppose if you didn’t know you might not notice – little bubbles in the glass, but once you start looking, you see them all. There is another glassworks in the same town so we went over there. Theirs are second also, and both places sell them for 40-50% less than the perfect ones you find in the retail stores. Did buy a candle holder for me – that wasn’t a second – she got it from the warehouse – and bought a vase for Nitzy. She’d given me $50.00 to buy something for her.
Got a couple of empty boxes from the book store the other day. We plan on sending home some of our winter stuff, when it gets warm enough to quit wearing them. We certainly can’t wear our winter boots home in June; and I haven’t worn them much here the last couple of weeks. The snow has melted enough so the sidewalks are clear.
Guess I’d better move along, Vince is up for forenoon lunch, and I need to write another letter before the post office closes (that’s at 1 p.m. today). I’ve already emptied a couple pens since we got here.
Love, Verla and Vince
Mom – thanks fo the obits – which of Elsie’s boys was the one she didn’t know where he was for awhile?
Forgot to include what Jene and I did yesterday. We went downtown and got to the Palace for at least part of the Changing of the Guard. We were trying to figure out if some of the other watchers were also tourists, or Norwegians visiting Oslo. After the guards had retired, we noticed that one fellow pushing a child in a buggy was still hanging around. I had heard that the band was going to play from 2 - 2:30, if the King was there. His flag was flying so that means he is there. The fellow with the buggy walked directly in front so Jene and I ambled there, too. Then we noticed a car in the portico and soon the chauffeur got out and helped a couple of people in. And as the limo drove out and right past us, we saw one of the persons was the King. The fellow with the buggy doffed his hat as the King went by. They drove down the street 2 -3 blocks, turned left on Univ. Ave. It wasn’t very long before the limo came back, minus the King. We debated waiting around, but eventually decided it might just be a waste of time. As we walked past the University, there were 2 police cars out in front and a red carpet up the steps. We didn’t hang around to see if the King came out, so we will never know. But it would seem to be a logical conclusion.
Checked out some shops we hadn’t seen before and some we had before comig home. Now it is time to go.
January 30, 2016
Volvo on its Side
Sat. a.m.
Dear ones,
I have a little over an hour before the Post Office closes so will attempt to get this written – otherwise, it won’t go out until Monday.
It has been a full week and I will start with the least desirous news to hear. We skidded on icy and snowy roads, put the car into the ditch on its side. Luckily, neither one of us got a scratch, and the car is drivable though it is estimated to have about $1000 damage. It won’t be able to be fixed until May 13 and then the garage will need it for 3 days. Every once in awhile I say or think if only – this or if only that, but then I think about how much worse it could have been! It was scary and it is inconvenient, but -!
A week ago tonight we went down to Oddvar’s mom’s for supper. She lives in As, not too far from where Oddvar farms. His brother, wife and little girl where there, too. Also, the pastor of the As church and his wife. Their English was very good – he had been an exchange pastor in a small town in N.W. Iowa (Inwood) a few years ago – for a year, I think. He has visited the states other times, too. He has even lectured at Symra in Decorah. Small world! He was also a courier for the Norwegian Resistance and carried messages to Stockholm to be relayed to the exile gov’t in England W.W.II. He also escorted 20 some Jews to safety in Sweden. I guess he is one of Norway’s war heroes.
Mrs. Bjerke started the meal by serving sea trout, scrambled eggs, spinach, and crescent shaped rolls. Seconds were passed – we’d had a similar meal except salmon instead of trout. Imagine our surprise when she next passed a platter of meat – pork and carbonade (a hamburger mixture) – and a fresh vegetable salad. And that was passed again. Then we had strawberries and tyttebaer and a cookie-cracker. Shortly after, it was suggested we go see the church – this was a new one, for a change. And it was suggested we walk – think we all needed it! The church was very pretty – knotty pine interior. When we got back to the house, we had coffee, the typical layer cake, kranskaka and cookies. We had eaten enough for 2 days, but we were invited out for 1 p.m. luncheon on Sunday – this time to a relative of Vince’s grandpa Johnson’s mother’s line. She is an only child, but she had also invited 2 of her first cousins, and some of their family. We had smorbrod (the famous Norwegian sandwiches), and then coffee with layer cake. There was lotza visiting! We were really glad it was a lighter meal. We were home again by 6 or so.
Monday Jene had class and I met her afterwards for a McDonald’s before we went to the lecture. We were walking along the street when we happened to see the same young fellow we had talked to on the palace grounds on the Friday before. He recognized us and came over to visit with us again. Vince stayed home all day – he may have eaten too much, or it is his hiatal hernia acting up or something. Think he did some studying or writing at home.
Wednesday Vince and I drove out northeast of Oslo – we stopped at Arnes to inquire as to the whereabouts of the old Husmofarm. The road was even called Husmovegen. We knocked at a couple of doors but got no answer. One of them had a nameplate “Husmo”. So we were on a Husmo farm and a lady bicyler we stopped and she though it was called “south” Husmo which is the one we wanted. So we are assuming we were on the right one. From there we drove thru Kongsvinger to Brandval area – we found the Sander farm (Vince’s Grandma Johnson was a Sander) according to a picture in the old ‘bygdegok’. Then we continued a little further north and came to the Grue church. Here we were looking for a Huseby farm, but had no real maps to go by. So we stopped at the city hall, figuring there might be an office there who would have records. The women working in the office knew where this farm was and attempted to give directions. They ended up by saying it was too difficult – they would show us. It was close to 3:30, closing time. By then it was beginning to snow just a little. They drove out to the farm – we followed. And they went to the door to tell or ask if this was the right place. The lady invited us in, and the 2 women as well; she got out her history book – and told us which of the farms were which – there were 5 or 6 all Huseby – divided for several sons maybe. All we wanted were pictures – we ended up with the neighbor lady who lived also on a Huseby farm being invited down to visit with us, too. And all the while snowing more and more. The 2 women left after about an hour. But we were offered coffee and donuts. The farms were sold out of the family when they came to the U.S. and so far we haven’t traced any for distant relatives in the area. It was six o’clock before we got away. Vince snapped 3-4 pictures and we were on our way. It must have been 7 or 7:30 when we slid into the ditch. Needless to say, that set us back for awhile – guess it was 11 p.m. when we finally got home.
Thursday we spent finding out what to do about getting the car repaired – it always seems to take several phone calls. We went to a Volvo garage for an estimate, and then downtown to the insurance company for their estimate.
Friday night (last night) the church choir gave a concert – but Jene and I were invited to coffee at a ‘cousin’ from Grandma Hoganson’s side. Their daughter had called Jene about a week ago, and they had met downtown on Tuesday. The cousin (Aase)’s husband works for Customs, and knows and uses English. Aase said she understood us when we talked, but it has been so long since She’s used her English that speaking it was difficult. We had waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. They were served cold – Jene and I used our forks but I noticed that they picked them up in their fingers (the smorbrod they use a fork). Then we had a layer cake. After some visiting and looking at pictures and checking family history, etc. we were served cheese and crackers. It was another interesting evening.
We haven’t decided what we will do or where we will travel from here. Guess we will wait and see what develops. Norway seems to be safe – we will see about Germany and England later on. We could spend the time seeing more of Norway, stopping longer in Denmark, or in Sweden.
See I missed a side, but guess I will let it go. Dawn called while we were gone on Wed – she talked with Jene.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
I have a little over an hour before the Post Office closes so will attempt to get this written – otherwise, it won’t go out until Monday.
It has been a full week and I will start with the least desirous news to hear. We skidded on icy and snowy roads, put the car into the ditch on its side. Luckily, neither one of us got a scratch, and the car is drivable though it is estimated to have about $1000 damage. It won’t be able to be fixed until May 13 and then the garage will need it for 3 days. Every once in awhile I say or think if only – this or if only that, but then I think about how much worse it could have been! It was scary and it is inconvenient, but -!
A week ago tonight we went down to Oddvar’s mom’s for supper. She lives in As, not too far from where Oddvar farms. His brother, wife and little girl where there, too. Also, the pastor of the As church and his wife. Their English was very good – he had been an exchange pastor in a small town in N.W. Iowa (Inwood) a few years ago – for a year, I think. He has visited the states other times, too. He has even lectured at Symra in Decorah. Small world! He was also a courier for the Norwegian Resistance and carried messages to Stockholm to be relayed to the exile gov’t in England W.W.II. He also escorted 20 some Jews to safety in Sweden. I guess he is one of Norway’s war heroes.
Mrs. Bjerke started the meal by serving sea trout, scrambled eggs, spinach, and crescent shaped rolls. Seconds were passed – we’d had a similar meal except salmon instead of trout. Imagine our surprise when she next passed a platter of meat – pork and carbonade (a hamburger mixture) – and a fresh vegetable salad. And that was passed again. Then we had strawberries and tyttebaer and a cookie-cracker. Shortly after, it was suggested we go see the church – this was a new one, for a change. And it was suggested we walk – think we all needed it! The church was very pretty – knotty pine interior. When we got back to the house, we had coffee, the typical layer cake, kranskaka and cookies. We had eaten enough for 2 days, but we were invited out for 1 p.m. luncheon on Sunday – this time to a relative of Vince’s grandpa Johnson’s mother’s line. She is an only child, but she had also invited 2 of her first cousins, and some of their family. We had smorbrod (the famous Norwegian sandwiches), and then coffee with layer cake. There was lotza visiting! We were really glad it was a lighter meal. We were home again by 6 or so.
Monday Jene had class and I met her afterwards for a McDonald’s before we went to the lecture. We were walking along the street when we happened to see the same young fellow we had talked to on the palace grounds on the Friday before. He recognized us and came over to visit with us again. Vince stayed home all day – he may have eaten too much, or it is his hiatal hernia acting up or something. Think he did some studying or writing at home.
Wednesday Vince and I drove out northeast of Oslo – we stopped at Arnes to inquire as to the whereabouts of the old Husmofarm. The road was even called Husmovegen. We knocked at a couple of doors but got no answer. One of them had a nameplate “Husmo”. So we were on a Husmo farm and a lady bicyler we stopped and she though it was called “south” Husmo which is the one we wanted. So we are assuming we were on the right one. From there we drove thru Kongsvinger to Brandval area – we found the Sander farm (Vince’s Grandma Johnson was a Sander) according to a picture in the old ‘bygdegok’. Then we continued a little further north and came to the Grue church. Here we were looking for a Huseby farm, but had no real maps to go by. So we stopped at the city hall, figuring there might be an office there who would have records. The women working in the office knew where this farm was and attempted to give directions. They ended up by saying it was too difficult – they would show us. It was close to 3:30, closing time. By then it was beginning to snow just a little. They drove out to the farm – we followed. And they went to the door to tell or ask if this was the right place. The lady invited us in, and the 2 women as well; she got out her history book – and told us which of the farms were which – there were 5 or 6 all Huseby – divided for several sons maybe. All we wanted were pictures – we ended up with the neighbor lady who lived also on a Huseby farm being invited down to visit with us, too. And all the while snowing more and more. The 2 women left after about an hour. But we were offered coffee and donuts. The farms were sold out of the family when they came to the U.S. and so far we haven’t traced any for distant relatives in the area. It was six o’clock before we got away. Vince snapped 3-4 pictures and we were on our way. It must have been 7 or 7:30 when we slid into the ditch. Needless to say, that set us back for awhile – guess it was 11 p.m. when we finally got home.
Thursday we spent finding out what to do about getting the car repaired – it always seems to take several phone calls. We went to a Volvo garage for an estimate, and then downtown to the insurance company for their estimate.
Friday night (last night) the church choir gave a concert – but Jene and I were invited to coffee at a ‘cousin’ from Grandma Hoganson’s side. Their daughter had called Jene about a week ago, and they had met downtown on Tuesday. The cousin (Aase)’s husband works for Customs, and knows and uses English. Aase said she understood us when we talked, but it has been so long since She’s used her English that speaking it was difficult. We had waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. They were served cold – Jene and I used our forks but I noticed that they picked them up in their fingers (the smorbrod they use a fork). Then we had a layer cake. After some visiting and looking at pictures and checking family history, etc. we were served cheese and crackers. It was another interesting evening.
We haven’t decided what we will do or where we will travel from here. Guess we will wait and see what develops. Norway seems to be safe – we will see about Germany and England later on. We could spend the time seeing more of Norway, stopping longer in Denmark, or in Sweden.
See I missed a side, but guess I will let it go. Dawn called while we were gone on Wed – she talked with Jene.
Love, Verla and Vince
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