little-shack-in-the-boondocks: September 2021

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Norway

Last summer our children gave us money to go to Europe. For our 40th anniversary. They have been listening to us talk, put their heads together and came up with this idea. Surprised us is putting it mildly.

The other day I saw a picture of a couple fast asleep in a gondola with the caption, *Don't wait to travel until you retire.* Something like that. Not the exact words ... (on Facebook)

I thought of our anniversary September 6, 2021. We took a boat tour in Chicago, an Architecture tour. Both of us fell asleep as the tour guide explained the different styles of buildings. We didn't fall asleep at the same time. Ellis woke me up and then I attempted to wake him up when he dozed off. I don't think we snored. I hope not anyway.

The tour guide was doing an amazing job and the info was extremely interesting. I got some interesting pictures of many different buildings.

This is one of them. I'm sorry, I can't remember anything more about this clock, who built this or what style the building is.

Back to our future travels - the first thing we need to do is update our passports. Mine expires later this fall and Ellis's in January of next year. We should get on that.

We are hoping to go to Norway and Great Britain, more specifically, James Herriot's Yorkshire.

Ellis already read a travel guide from the library - traveling for dummies. No, I'm just kidding. We need to do some more homework, ask a bunch of questions, read some more books, etc.

We want to visit the house my ancestors lived in. The Skrivseth house overlooks a fjord. "They left ocean front property to move to North Dakota!" This is a quote from one of my cousins who was looking at my parents pictures after they came home from Norway in 2003.

In preparation for this adventure I downloaded an app to my phone to

learn Norwegian. Duolingo it's called. I'm learning to spell the Norwegian language.

It's a lot of fun so far.

I will keep you updated.

Saturday, September 4, 2021

August 2021

Ellis found a clock that reminds me of the clock in our church at Graceton MN. We even have to wind it every few days just like my Dad used to wind the clock in Graceton.

August 22, 2021

A cute little library close to Krysta's house.

August 23, 2021

Goldfish or crackers? Coffee or tea? Water or soda? Choices - marvelous choices ... the difference between traveling in March 2021 and August 2021. This picture of goldfish in tomato soup brings back memories.

August 24, 2021

Lefse - I am getting hungry for lefse.

August 25, 2021

Thursday August 26, 2021

Mexican food in Blooming Prairie MN

. We got 6+ inches of rain in one week!

August 27, 2021

A sign in a local bookstore. So true!

August 28, 2021

The church where Hans and JoAnna attend.

August 29, 2021

Zucchini Quiche That time of the year again.

August 30, 2021

We went camping last summer with our family. I hope we can do that again this fall.

August 31, 2021

Thursday, September 2, 2021

August 2021

August 14, 2021

Earthquake in Haiti

Picture borrowed from my niece, Jaimie Weber, when she asked for prayers for her country.

August 15, 2021

Roses from Texas

Krysta took this picture in January 2020

August 16, 2021

An old fashioned root cellar, still in use today.

We have hills at our place. I wonder if we can make one. One more thing to add to Ellis's *to do list.*

August 17, 2021

Speaking of old-fashioned, travel by train is stepping back in time. When I wrote to my friend and told her Ellis and I went by train to Williston ND she replied, "Twelve hours to get from the Twin Cities to Williston ND! You could have been in Norway by that time! Or Amsterdam at the very least!"

August 18, 2021

After snipping green beans and getting a canner started we went to Newport for pie and ice cream with Hans, JoAnna and family.

Not to be compared with JoAnna's cooking which we enjoyed immensely during our visit, this place showed great hospitality at 10:00 pm after traveling from Spokane WA to the Twin Cities, MN. We thought they were open, the door was certainly unlocked. Mom and I walked toward the gal at the cash register. She looked sideways at her co-worker and said. "We have two lovely ladies walking toward us. I think the door is still unlocked!"

I said, "Oh, are you closed?"

"The drive through is still open, but our dining room is closed. What can I get for you?"

I said we could go through the drive through but she said, "No, no, no, our door was open. We'll fix something for you."

Our hamburgers and fries tasted wonderful! We ate outside at a picnic table. It was very warm and muggy after getting used to 55° - 60° in the evening in WA.

August 19, 2021

My friend who told me we could be in Norway or Amsterdam in 12 hours. Anne Marie grew up in Austria, married a Mennonite man named John Harshbarger and we still have not found if our husbands are related. We are still curious about that even after 30+ years of being pen pals. I got side tracked a bit.

This is my Grandma Martin and the first half of her children (almost). I don't know if I took this picture at Aunt Grace's place or if my Aunt Rhoda took it and sent it to me. Here is Gladys (Byers) Martin with Lester, Ray, Grace, Mary and Martha.

August 20, 2021

The story of the moose. We went for a ride with Hans and JoAnna to see a fire. We saw this moose instead who crossed the road several times trying to get her calf to follow. The calf was tangled in a fence, but finally burst through, landed in a heap then scrambled to its feet and tottered across the highway. We cheered it on its way and breathed a sigh of relief when it melted into the woods.

August 21, 2021