Voss, Norway

My great-grandmother Helena (see earlier family tree post) was from Voss. She left Norway at 18 for America. It doesn't appear as though Helena was her birth name, but was the one she adopted after moving country.

I am traveling with my parents, and this was the part of the trip my mom was most excited about.....even though she didn't really know her grandmother very well. Due to economic hardships my grandmother was given up for adoption as a young girl. My mom loved the woman who adopted her mom. Loved her very much, and was very close to her. My grandmother, who I loved very much, never held a grudge. Ever. She tried to maintain close relationships with her birth mother, and other family members.

My grandma always told me I look just like her mom. She might be right, but I think I have the personality of my other Norwegian great-grandmother - Kaja.

End of the additional family tree stuff....

We didn't spend much time in Voss, but it is lovely. Beautiful lake and picturesque mountains.

Lefse

Lefse is a Norwegian delicacy. Some describe it as a flat bread, but it is closer to a tortilla. But lefse is made with potato. My Norwegian grandma used to make lefse. I love it!

Most put butter and sometimes sugar on their lefse. I only like brown sugar on mine; so of course grandma would make special rolls for me....her only granddaughter.

I purchased lefse from a grocery store last night. It wasn't great, but it was lefse. I don't regret trying it, but I won't buy more.

Family tree

The older I get the more interested I am in my family tree. And I want to gather as much information as I can from my parents while they still remember. The short summary:

2 Swedish great-grandfathers
1 Norwegian great-grandfather
1 German great-grandfather

None of them were still alive when I was born. My father never met one grandfather and the other died when he was very young.

My mom never met either grandfather. One died when her father was a boy. Her other grandfather died when she was young, but she never met him.

2 Norwegian great-grandmothers
1 Swedish great-grandmother
1 German great-grandmother

All 4 of them were alive when I was born. My Norwegian great-grandmothers were Kaja and Helena (top picture). Kaja died when I was an infant. Helena died when I was in college. I met her once when I was about 5 years old.

Bertha (bottom picture) was my German great-grandmother. I remember her trying to teach German to me. She died when I was in high school.

Clara was my Swedish great-grandmother. She died when I was little. I have a picture of her holding me at my first Christmas.

My grandparents were all born in the US. None of their parents were.

Las Vegas June 2011

Family trip to Vegas. It was short but memorable.
Sun
Pool
Shopping
Cirque du Soleil "O" at Bellagio
Sleep
Sun
Tequila
Pool
Tequila
Sun
Shopping
Celine Dion
Champagne
Pool
Sun
Tequila
Great food
Excellent people watching
Sun
Bellagio Fountain
Sore feet
Great laughs with my cool cousin Kerry

Arizona

Palm trees
Sun
73 degrees in January

I love palm trees!
I love sun!

I am visiting my parents for the weekend, where happy hour is celebrated every afternoon. These retired people really know how to party and relax.