|
Norway 2002 |
||
Picked up our rental car, after a little
hassle with a lost reservation, and headed off into Norway. First
stop was the Tønsberg train station where we were to meet our neighbors
from Minneapolis, Kaare & Inga.  They
lead us from the station to their home which was along a puzzling set of
twisty roads. They have a lovely little house up on a hillside
just right for a retired  couple.
After lunch and conversation, we went out to see the area nearby where
Inga grew up, a small farming community named Fon. They then led
us to the road we  needed
to reach Sharon's relatives and, to soon we said goodbye. -----» |
Just up the road near a town called
Hvittingfoss is the farm where Sharon's grandmother came
from. The family still lives there and plans to stay.  Per is finishing his studies in technical school but would like to take
over the farm in the future. At the moment they board horses,
raise some grain crops, and 10,000 chickens in a very modern automated
facility. The house has been
remodeled as the years have gone by, but they have maintained the same
basic look and structure it was designed with over a hundred years
ago. Sharon's grandmother was born on a neighboring farm
(pictured in the foreground below which is now gone) but moved to the
above location later in life. (Background in picture) |
|
|
||
| They shared a wonderful family supper of good
solid Norwegian foods like boiled red potatoes, roast moose (I think we
call it elk), dark gravy, mixed greens, breads, jams and a very special whipped
cream with cloudberries dessert. For a short drive and a bit of a walk we went up to see the family sæter 300 meters up the mountain behind the farm. This is where Sharon's grandmother spent much of her summers tending the livestock, making cheese, picking berries, and generally -----» |
enjoying herself. The sæter, now refinished on the inside as a summer cabin, is over 150 years old and still looks great. A small barn nearby also still stands but has needed more repairs over the years due to use and weathering. It is about an hours walk up to the sæter from the farm (three hours with the livestock). We drove! | |
|
|
||
| We returned to sit around the coffee table
talking late into the night while eating lefse, kromkake, and a special
"Welcome to Norway" layer cake filled with whipped cream sliced
bananas & strawberries, and covered with marzipan. In the
morning after the normal family breakfast we had to
leave. Thanks again for everything!-----» |
Sometime during the night a local "Nisse" managed to fill the gas tank on our car. It wasn't until much later the next day that we realized that we were getting awfully good mileage with that little vehicle! Tusen Tak! | |
