Posts

Returning Home: Reflections and Hopes

Image
The last night that we were in Norway was the eve of Vivi’s birthday. We very much wanted to celebrate that event with her. We planned a dinner at the restaurant at the Akerhus, a special location for celebrating special days among Oslo’s residents. Vivi called her elder sister, Randi, to join us. Randi was delighted. Randi spent a few years in upstate New York starting a retail business for fishing and other outdoor pursuits. She came to visit my parents with her mother when she was in New York. Ken and I were living in Melrose; Kurt was just 3 and Steven was 6 months old. Randi is the first Norwegian cousin I had met so she was the first cousin who helped me understand and appreciate the Norwegian heritage we share. Randi now   lives near her daughter Tanya and grandchildren in a flat about 30 minutes outside Oslo.   We arranged to meet her near the entrance to the Akerhus park. Kaelen was so interested to meet Randi. They had such an easy conversation as we made ou
Post a Comment
Read more

Chores at Homborsund

Image
At least some part of each day at the cabin in Homborsund was spent doing the many chores that are necessary for this cabin by the sea. Kaelen was very eager to help with the lawn chores as well as with the laundry. But her favorite chore was walking Rex, especially when he led her along the fields where daisies were blooming as far as you could see. Picking those amazing wild-flowers  and arranging them in vases in the cabin was a special chore!
1 comment
Read more

On the Sea

Image
Since we have been in Homborsund, we have been focused on the sea. We watch its many moods sitting on the terrace; the sea from that vantage point can seem milky gray and calm early in the morning and in the long twilight. It can be deep blue with impressive white caps or sparkling azure when the sun is high. So of course we were all quite excited when we were preparing to go boating. Erik keeps the boat moored at a marina a short drive from the cabin. Vivi packed a lunch and we set off with food, water, fishing gear and plenty of sunscreen. The coast of Norway always stuns me with its shapes and colors. To say the coast is rugged is hardly capturing the size and shape of the many stone “islands” that give character to the coast. From a distance they are predominantly grey. But when you are close to them in a boat you can see a variety of colors and patterns in white, quartz, pink, and beige. The rocks along the coast toward Lillesand, a small town 2
1 comment
Read more

Travel Day and Wildflowers

Image
Tuesday was a travel day; we traveled from Oslo to Homborsund on the south coast.   Vivi and Erik have a cottage there overlooking the sea. Erik and Kaelen had a conversation about country music and Erik found the country station in Oslo on the car radio . So it was   three and a half hours of country music traveling along E-18. We arrived at the cottage in a light mist, but Wednesday began with a cloudless sky. Vivi, Kaelen and I walked across the rugged stone paths to view the light house and the harbor from the peninsula. The wild flowers were amazing. They grow in the crevices of the rocks, along the sandy paths, just everywhere. The colors are so vivid and clear. We picked so many interesting blooms to fashion bouquets and sketch them.  Here is the view from the deck at 10:30 PM
2 comments
Read more

The Viking Skiphusset

Image
The trip to the History Museum yesterday and a glimpse of Viking artifacts just whetted our interest in seeing more. Erik and Vivi took us to the Viking Skiphusset this morning so we could see the ships that have been found under burial mounds during the 19 th century. I was so pleased that Kaelen was going to have the chance to see these remarkable ships and this lovely building that houses them. The visitors to the building are so hushed and respectful. It gives the whole enterprise a feeling that one is entering a cathedral, seeing hallowed pieces of a storied and unique past, revealing the very soul of this proud and brave people. The ships need further restoration and preservation. There are petitions before the national congress to dedicate more money and resources to use more modern techniques to continue to preserve the ships that are over 1,000 years old. After enjoying refreshments in the café of the Skiphusset, (Kaelen had a hot dog) we went along to the water
Post a Comment
Read more

The Museum of Viking Lore

Image
Turid thought that Sunday was the day that would be ideal for Kaelen to meet   5 more cousins. She planned a morning of seeing a collection of Viking artifacts on display at the History Museum in Oslo. Her 5 grandchildren are Mats (14) Caroline (12), Ella (10), Theodore (8) and Anika (6). We met at her flat in the Ullern district of Oslo and took the tram into the center of Oslo and walked to the Museum. The Museum system is being reorganized in Oslo. A new museum/gallery complex is being constructed in the center of the city. Many of the paintings that are currently in the National Gallery will be moved to the new location along with artifacts from the history museum. In the current exhibit, we viewed examples of crafts and weaponry that were a thousand years old. Here were also runes and jewelry, a Viking battle helmet (without horns please!). The history lessons embedded in the visit were interesting, but clearly the reason for the event was so that the cousins could m
Post a Comment
Read more

Saturday Stroll in Norway

Image
Saturday appeared as a bright blue day, just right for a “stroll” (read hike) along the community paths. These paths lead into the wooded areas for hiking in the spring, summer and fall and for cross country skiing in the winter. When we saw Erik bringing out the walking sticks from the hall cupboard, Kaelen and I knew we were going to be tested for stamina! According to my Activity App, we walked a total of 4.5 miles. Our destination was a 17 th century farm which had also been the home of the first prime minister of Norway after Danish rule. The farmhouse is a stately manse with a view of a lake; the grounds are a lovely swath of green, with small wooden playhouses for children and picnic benches. It is so good to see a community that enjoys being outside and that creates spaces that welcome all ages and stages to participate. Plenty of active “seniors” were along the hiking trails. Families with children stopped along the route to swim, pick wildflowers, read and ha
Post a Comment
Read more