Saturday, June 25, 2011

A Few of my Pet Peeves!

Here are a few words/phrases that simply annoy me:

Hot Water Heater
Really?   Why are you heating hot water?
Water Heater is sufficient.

Overhauls
What are you talking about?
Someone overhauling the engine on your car?
If you are referring to something to wear...
Let's say it together:
OVERALLS!

Real-a-tor?
Realtor, please.

Fisical
Every year, at the end of the
FISCAL year,
someone has to pronounce it like
they are having an exam at the doctor's office.

I would like for you to. . . .
I HATE this phrase!
Can't you just say,
"I would like you to. . . ."

What are some of your vocabulary annoyances???

Friday, June 24, 2011

Halldis

A number of years ago, I visited Norway.
Besides seeing all the wonderful, beautiful, sights
of mountains, fjords, & waterfalls,
I met some relatives!

Halldis was my grandmother's niece.
Halldis' mother was grandma's half-sister.

When we got to Norddal by ferry
we disembarked at the foot of Sylte Mountain.
Here was Sylte Kirke (church)

It was here, in the cemetery, that I met Halldis.
When I met her, it was as if I knew her aldready,
even though I couldn't understand a word she said
(I don't speak/understand Norwegian)

She pointed out the graves of some of my ancestors
and we went inside the church.
(Her daughter translated for us.)
In the church was the very font
that my grandma was baptized at.
The altar railing was that same as it was in
1884 when grandma knelt for her confirmation vows.
The pews had rosemaled doors on them;
years ago, family names were printed on them,
designating "their" pew.

When my grandmother was 7, her mother was buried here.
When she was 19, her father was buried next to her.

After our tour of the cemetery and church,
we went on to the Gjerde farm, where my grandma grew up.
Halldis's mother also grew up here.
We enjoyed a huge feast and visited, with the
help of the translators.

Halldis showed me a book that my great uncle,
Rev. Mons Gjerde had written.
She showed me a shoe that was found in the
ruins of the foundation of the house where grandma lived,
with it's little nails visible in the sole.


We exchanged a few details about each other
and before you knew it, it was time to leave.

Halldis cried when we said "good-bye"
It was sad, since I felt like I was leaving someone
I had known for a long time;
I can't explain that.

A year or so later, Halldis visited Minnesota.
My Mom and her sisters had a great time with her,
reminiscing - and they were even speaking Norske!
When they left, Halldis cried.
It was obvious she had a tender heart.

A few years ago, we got word that Halldis died.

I'm so glad I had a chance to meet her...twice!
Here are the Gjerde relatives.
Halldis is at the bottom left.
At the bottom right is Trond.
He was not related, but he is a friend of
my niece & husband, and he was our chauffeur.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

My Spring Flowers



Pansies!

 Hollyhocks!
 A close-up of the hollyhocks - I just planted these this year,
and they are different than the usual variety.
 Iris - This purple/white varity was planted by Mom
 Iris
 Coral Bells
 Petunias!
I think the fine details on the flowers is just beautiful!!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

A Bit of Nostalgia



Here is one of the photos we found that we thought was really cute.
My mom is at the right.  Photo is probably from about 1916.

H
Today, my sisters and I went through all [well, not all]
of Mom's old photographs.
It took some time to sort through them,
but we probably spent more time looking than sorting.




Some were old with the edges worn.
Some were faded, some were torn.

Some were of people we did not know.
And some that we remembered from long, long ago.
We found uncles and aunts, cousins, and brothers
grandpa & grandma, and great-grandmother.
There were pictures of babies, toddlers & teens,
Pictures of brides and even some queens.

Wedding pictures, baby pictures, they were all there,
Pictures of travels from everywhere.

Reminded how quickly time passes by. . .
Others have aged, but we all said, "not I!"

We divided the pictures for each of us nine,
Others were marked to be copied in time.

The rest of the pictures are really not junk,
So Laurie will put them away in her trunk!






Saturday, June 4, 2011

Letters to Grandma & Grandpa

When my kids were little, we lived in Forest Lake.   They were pretty good about writing letters to Grandma & Grandpa, and my mom kept most of them.  They are so much fun to see now.    We moved to Dalton when Amy was in first grade, so she didn't write so many letters!

The first letter shown is from Lee.
"Dear Grandma, How are you? It rained and thundered today. 
I love you.   Lee.

 Here is a letter from Pam, written when she was 8 years old.
It was written to her grandpa Melby for Father's Day.
The second page is pretty cute!


I am guessing the "letter" below was from Amy when she was
abour 4 years old or so.
The picture below was sent by Pam when she was 6. 
 The letter below was a thank-you letter for a birthday gift received in the mail.



The last two are from Lee.