Hans, my father Hans in Hulvik, summer family place in Norway Hans with his far, Hans Heinrich after a hike up Bitihorn, Norway I just finished a double batch of Verdens Beste Kake, Norway’s newest traditional cake that is frequently made for celebrations. It’s November and it seems a ..read more

Tradition!!  Not for the 'now' experience and feeling, but saving for a future date, be it a holiday, fest, or just to give us that warm feeling of a past memory to keep us going, to ponder on and enjoy. Today everything seems to be for the 'now' feeling and experience. NOW I need to do this or that to have the immediate experience or feeling of accomplishment, enjoyment, thrill. What do we look forward to? Traditions are what we create for ourselves and others to experience for a later date. We create, and then, experience again later and later and later...  We hear a song, it elicits a memo ..read more

I have often wondered why Norwegians use hearts for so many different ways. Hearts on doors. Hearts in every department in the stores! In the homes. On the outside of the home. Carved in churches and old buildings. Even in the WC. Then there is the conclusion of a letter...Hjertelig hilsen or heart full of greeting, and Hjertelig Velkommen or with heartfelt welcome. And, hjertelig takk, or, heartful of thanks. Hearts in photos using the outdoors, with the hands in the sun...And then of course, making sweet heart waffles! I have asked a few Norwegians themselves what makes the heart so importa ..read more

There is a little bit of Heaven that comes to my life this Jule time..... Today i visited my almost 95 year-old mother, along with my daughter and grand-daughter. Four generations of beautiful women in a photo opportune. It was an emotional time for me. My mother does not speak much anymore, she has a quiet, sweet disposition with her dementia. But I know deep in her soul, she's aware. Her eyes widen as I sing to her, 'Her kommer dine arme små', and 'Jeg er så glad hver Jule kveld'. A few months ago she sang with me, but now she is quiet. A little bit of Heaven has come down today as I ponder ..read more

In the moment, "My name is Terry." Friendship begun,  Terry and Terje Time together, 500 meters underground. I had a repeat traveler write this quote on a post travel note to me.  She has now been on two of my tours. There were also two others that came again on my tour as well. I was humbled with gratitude and wonder when they signed up to come. Living a distance ..read more

In a few days I will be going home, then in six weeks I'll be going home again. Home in Norway and home in the US. When I was 12 years old, apparently I had to make the decision as to what nationality I wanted to keep. Of course my mother made the decision for me to become a U.S. citizen. I was born in Norway at Ullevål hospital in Oslo. I also had my tonsils out there and I can even remember it.  At that time, the hospitals were overly sterile and I only had white walls and floors to look at. Even the saucy porridge I ate was white. Alone at 10 years old, it felt like a grown-up experience ..read more

Linda Spencer, with young skandia dancers, Norway, 2006 You've likely read that Norway is voted one of the most beautiful places in the world. It also gets high marks for best places to live.  I have no question in my mind to these statements being true. Many people are gravitating to this country to visit, explore, live, work and indulge in its overall beauty. I am even tempted to move there months out of the year myself.   I have fond memories of when my 'Young Skandia Dansers' folk dance group was touring in Norway in 2006.  We were visiting Ulvik ..read more