A Day in Norway

To all of you dear people,

Beautiful countryside, mountains, green trees, blue skies and puffy clouds. They tell us we are enjoying unusually beautiful weather-- not at all like Norway this time of the year. It would often be chilly with rain and fog so a person can't see the mountains.  We brought warm coats and rain jackets and we haven't used them much.

Traveling by ferry on the fjords, three times today. They are an extension of the road.

Flowers blooming everywhere. Lilacs (purple and lilac colored), lupines, rowan trees, azaleas, peonies? Wisteria, Apple blossoms, decorative crab apple trees....

It reminds me of a Thomas Kinkade painting where all the flowers are blooming at the same time - kind of unrealistic. In Norway this year anything seems possible. Warm weather that is breaking records - all the flowers ready at the same time.

We traveled to the valley where Lisbeth grew up, saw her home and her brother's home, school and church. We drove to the sœter where they took the cows in the summer for pasture land. They milked the cows and  made butter, sour cream and also sold milk.

We couldn't go to Trollstiegen because it is closed. So a different route was planned for the day. Very enjoyable!

Olaf and Lisbeth were trying to meet Ben David but his schedule wasn't working out so he suggested maybe we'd like to see his wife and children.  They were at the sea side - bobbing. Here is where my hearing failed me. I thought Olaf said *bobbing* and really he said *bäthing.*

We met Ben David's wife and two small children,  a little boy about 3 1/2 and a baby girl who is a  couple months older than Gracia. It was nice to meet them and see Olaf and Lisbeth with their grandchildren. 

It seems sad to fall asleep as we zip along in the beautiful scenery, but that is exactly what I did. We are so grateful for all the driving Olaf is doing and the meals Lisbeth keeps on producing. Olaf remembers that twenty-two years ago Trenda said something like, "every time we turn around we are eating again." 

I remember having a voracious appetite when we lived in British Columbia. It must be the mountain air and here we have the sea close by. *Ocean front property* It seems we have barely eaten a meal when out come apples and pistachios to crunch on. Like the house keeper in the book, Jane of Lantern Hill, who had donuts or cookies on hand to "stay Jane's stomach," Lisbeth always has something good to eat to keep us away from the brink of starvation. 

Now we are driving through mountains that are spewing waterfalls over the edges and we peer out the windows - first on this side then out the other.

And now we have arrived at the motel. The hotel manager hurries off to put cake and coffee out  to "stay our stomachs" before bedtime.

This ends the account for May 23, 2024.