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

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