Danish Festing and Feasting

Denmark for the holidays was a time for family and feasting.    We had lots of wonderful dinners, snaps, and lots of fun with the large family.  We had 35 people for Christmas luncheon on 26 Dec. 

COPEHNHAGEN:  Tivoli, mermaids, shopping, food

ODENSE - great food, hay roofs, horses, and Hans Christian Andersens house

Sus and Bent -- masters of the kitchen

With Moster Kisser, Tina and families in Tivoli

With mormor

Ida with the youngest member of the family Fenja

With Moster Christina and thatched roof

Melita in Odense

my danish cousins

Very excited by Han Christian Andersen's house

 Christmas luncheon -- skål with snaps

Happy Winter Solstice!

The solstice has arrived and we aren't completely insane...at least we seem as "normal" as ever.   The sun rises around 10:30 am and sets around 2:30 pm (14.30).   The sky colors are fabulous with lots of oranges and purples (taken at 14.30 today).  I even saw a rainbow today. 

Solstice in Trondheim glowing orange and purple



Our house and Christmas tree



On a challenging note, we spent the evening at the hospital with my mother who managed to catch lung infection/pneumonia here in Trondheim.  Please send Tove lots of love, healing thoughts and energy! She seems to be responding to antibiotics and will hopefully make it to Copenhagen on our flight tonight without too much distress.  The whole Danish family is waiting for us with limousine service to escort mom and dad to Odense.  The girls and I will stay in Copenhagen for two nights, see my moster Kisser, cousin Tina and her children, visit Tivoli, and pick up my sister Christina on 24th before we head west to join the rest of the family for Christmas.



Regarding socialized medicine, the doctors and nurses were very friendly and helpful, and even good looking, which is particularly good for Tove ;-)  The visit only cost us roughly $60 -- the wonders of socialized medicine.   Parking costs nearly as much as the hospital though.  I'm assuming they want you to bike to the hospital  with your spike tires, like the average Trondheimer does throughout winter.



God Bless Us -- All of Us



Before Tove fell ill, we managed to make it to the girl's Christmas parties and I attach some video and photos of their fabulous acting/singing skills.  This was actually their first play with speaking parts and they both did really well.  Melita had only a few lines as Tiny Tim, as one of the tallest people in her class, which culminated with "God Bless Us." Indeed!  Annaliese had many lines as narrator, fairy godmother, and evil stepsister in a retelling of Cinderella where she chooses a humble jam maker instead of the vain prince and lives happily ever after.  All provided good fun and holiday cheer.



One of the most beautiful Norwegian Christmas songs:  Se Ilden Lyse.

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 Finally, I leave you of a photo of mom and dad with Kjell and Unni, long standing friends of my parents from Minnesota who now live in Trondheim.  Lots of stories and past memories were shared.



Mom and Dad with Unni and Kjell Hagemark-- trust me they go way back



Well,that's all the news that is fit to print.  Merry Christmas, stay tuned.  Trondheim has a very famous boy's choir the Nidarosdomens Guttekor.  We saw their holiday concert at the cathedral and it was powerful!  Check them out on youtube.

New Arrivals, New Activities

Mormor and Morfar have arrived all the way from Minnesota -- what a lovely treat.  They are just in time for Christmas concerts and to see Trondheim decked in winter white.  With their jet lag, they only have1-2 hours to actually "see" nature.  I tell them "yes, we have to get outside, the sun is out." Dad argues that in fact he hasn't seen the actual sun here, but I explain that "the sun is out" means that the sun is above the horizon, whether or not it is obcured by clouds.  

Annaliese cruising in woods

When out skiing in the white snow, everything glows and my eyes see a very bright landscape.  When I take a picture, however, the camera shows twilight and I get surprised.  The human eye with rods and cones processed by the human brain is a much better optical sensor than any of my spectrometers in the lab.  It automatically adjusts  the gain settings to maximize the observed light.  Here are some photos of skiing with Annaliese and some of my healthy outdoorsy  norwegian friends.


Skiing with hearty Norwegians, Heidi, Siv, Erlend, Luiza, and Annaliese

The girls have been busy with their variuos sports.  Melita won her volleyball tournament last weekend (if you can't tell her from all of the other blondes -- she is the tall one, second from the left in the back).  Way to go Nyborg!!  She practices with her team every week and actually thinks exercising that way is really fun.  So, maybe she can try out for WMS Volleyball team when we return. Also, check out her videos on youtube -- she's working towards her goal of earning $1.50 for her first 1000 views (don't worry I won't let her spend it all in one place).

Melita second from left in back row with her Norwegian VBall team

Annaliese is busy with her ski team, but felt a bit overwhelmed this last week now that they are no longer jogging and actually on skiis.  The kids here fly on skiis. Ever competitive, she was not happy be the slow one out there.  But, within 1-2 months, she will be cruising with the rest of them.   They alternate skate skiing and traditional track skiing every week.    I show a picture of a Norwegian daycare, with the cutest little tots that hang out in the woods (and note their tiny skiis in the background).  If I reincarnate, I want to come back as a Norwegian toddler in the woods all day :-)



Look Mom no ropes



Better than skiing, however, is rock climbing.  We discovered a bouldering gym nearby.  Annaliese gets to climb with no ropes at all.  Wow, that might be her idea of heaven.

I end with the first shot of Morfar on skiis - a bit shaken but not stirred.  He probably never thought he would get to skiing in Norway again, but has many fond stories.  



Many generations out exploring on skiis.  



Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The first snow fell last weekend and blanketed the countryside with soft white hues.  Then, it all melted again.  Then it rained. Then it snowed again and bathed the ground in glowing white.  Then it rained.  Then it snowed.  Then it turned to ice.  It's a bit like Rhode Island weather only markedly sloppier.  The incredibly warm Autumn/Winter probably has more to do with my sunny personality than the North Atlantic Oscillation or ENSO cycle.

Apparently, they haven't really mastered the art of plowing here.  In fact, my road, Ovre Sverresborg, is not on the plowing schedule at all.  In the U.S., the plowers get paid by the storm and they start plowing the minute 1 cm (or as the Kansans say - 10 points) of snow falls.  Here, they must get a nice government socialistic salary and have no incentive to move the white stuff around.  My road is filled with ruts and piles of snow in the center.  Good thing I have snow tires and some Minnesota driving experience.  I've made it home ok today, but we'll see in the morning after a long cool night.  I hope the snow lasts this time though...it makes the days brighter.

Today, I went to the woods across the street with Hovland and Siv to chop down the Christmas tree for the marine station.  In the light snow, we sawed the top off of a lovely pine and dragged it down to the water's edge.  In truth, they were much better at sawing than me, but I provided good encouragement.  The Norwegian tradition is to celebrate advent with deep purple candles, tablecloths, and wait until 23 Dec. to put up the Christmas tree.  However, times they are a-changing, trees are lit, and Christmas decorations are everywhere.  I also took advantage of the special moment to cut a small tree for my house, as well.

The girls also got a little sledding in on Sunday.  Here's Annaliese cruising down the hills of Trondheim and the girls with their friend Helena. 

Next, we'll be heading out on skiis.   Stay tuned...