Norway's Puffin Dog

Five hundred or more years ago, people on the northern coast of Norway depended on birds, known as Puffins, to be their major source of winter food. These birds resemble small, flying penguins with big colorful beaks and they nest in the narrow, twisting caves along the rocky sea-cliffs. Those cliffs are so treacherous there is a big problem getting to the Puffins. ----------------------

The Norwegians bred a unique dog for this task which they named ‘Lunderhund’. These dogs are able to scrabble up cliffs and crawl into caves. They have 6 functioning toes, rather than the usual four which allows them to gain purchase and haul themselves along in positions where only the sides of its legs are touching the rock. They also help the dog with traction on steep and slippery cliffs. ---------------------------------

It’s forelegs can bend outwards far enough for the dog to lay flat on its chest, with the legs in a human position The dog’s neck and spine are so flexible it can lay its head back along its own spine, which helps them back out of a cave or turn itself around where there is little room - even with a mouth full of Puffin! The ear structure allows the Lundehund to seal its own ears shut, saving it from getting rock dust and water in its ears. These dogs also have what is known as ‘Lunderhund syndrome’, a condition of digestive disorders involving intestinal cancer, and a loss of the ability to absorb nutrients from food, in extreme cases resulting in starvation. Every Lunderhund has it but some are pretty much symptom free. In the 1940s, these dogs nearly became extinct, with only 5 dogs remaining. The breed has been rebuilt but remains one of the rarest with fewer than 1,000 of these animals worldwide.

Where is Stavanger?

Everyone knows that Stavanger is an important Norwegian name and a famous port. Or is it?!

Carolyn Johnson has just discovered that Stavanger is losing population! Gone is the famous one-room school, the blacksmith shop, and the general store. Only the famous Lutheran church remains a famous landmark in the community, but this Stravanger is not in Norway.

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In 1975, this Stavanger church was visited by King Olav V as he toured the area. However, this area is not in Norway, but in Illinois, USA. Numerous bus tours have visited this Illinois community to experience the famous name-sake and view an active Norwegian church that was established in 1876. King Olav was greeted by a Norwegian-singing childrens-choir.

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At one time, 22 Norwegians from Norway, Europe came on their bus-tour. In the words of one community member "A lot of people are into genealogy, and we get a lot of people who call and ask to go through our old records to se if "great-grandpa was here." Sometimes, visitors will end up in Stavanger by following the route taken by early immigrants. The church celebrated it's 125th anniversary by celebrating a service in Norwegian. The populatin of Stavanger, Illinois at the 20 census was 2053 people. Other than the Norwegian Lutheran Church, little evidence of Norwegian influence can be found in this community located about 30 miles southeast of Chicago. The village is also known as Seneca on an Illinois map. What may be the Norwegian connection? Just 25 miles north of Seneca/Stavanger is a place called Norway, Illinois ,and the Norwegian Settler's State Memorial. Things begin to be even more interesting!

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This memorial commemorates the 1834 settlement at Norway, Illinois.

This plaque marks the first permanent Norwegian settlement in the Midwest. This location became the departure point for many Norwegians, who, after organizing here, then left for other locations in the Midwest. It became known as the "Mother Settlement", honoring the area and its founder Cleng Peerson (1783-1865). Peerson helped many Norwegians immigrate to the US. This memorial is one of five commemorative markers in front of the small Cleng Peerson Memorial Cemetery.

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Cleng Peerson was born a farmer's son in Tysvær, Norway. In 1821, he received a request from a religious group in Stavanger, Illinois, which, was then, a settlement of Quakers and followers of Hans Christian Hauge. He traveled to the little settlement and assisted many immigrants to the area. Cleng was a deeply religious man who was convinced of the religious and social structure of the Illinois settlement. Starting in 1838, Peerson made numerous return trips to Norway , assisting groups of immigrants to the new country. His travels brought him as far south and west as Texas, as he aided Norwegians settling in their new country. Cleng Peerson became known as "The Father of Emigration."

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You want WHAT in your coffee?

Many have heard the old expression of having "Egg in your beer", but you have to be from the Midwest to have experienced egg in your coffee! A recent Vikings Magazine featured an article on the Scandinavian and Lutheran practice of Egg Coffee.

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Judy Block, a Vennskap members says " I remember Mom making this egg-coffee every Wednesday night for their Bible Study/Sing that they held in Richfield, Minnesota. Mom used a camping-type coffee maker, the blue-speckled enamel ,non-filtered, large pot with a handle to carry it. She would line up the refreshments on the workbench in the church basement, and then bring down her egg-coffee.

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Her recipe called for 10 cups of boiling water One and 1/4 cup of cold water

1/2 cup coffee grounds

One egg

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In a kettle, bring the 10 cups of water to a boil. Combine the coffee grounds, and the egg and 1/4 cup of cold water in a bowl. Add the egg/coffee mixture and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add one cup of cold water. Serve hot. The egg protein binds and settles the grounds to the bottom, while it enhances the clarity and mildness of the drink."

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Apparently, others add eggshells to the grounds-egg mixture (through a filter) that has been added to boiling water.

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Another coffee-drinker says" take an egg in the shell and wash it. Crack the egg into coffee-grounds, and mix well into a paste. Drop the crushed egg-shells into the paste..Mix, brew the coffee and serve strained...UMMMM!"-----------------------

The egg shells are an important ingredient in this drink. At any rate, many Midwest church basements have been filled with the aroma of Lutherans drinking their coffee and having their egg in it, too! Can you imagine, lutefisk AND egg-coffee? Google "egg-coffee"....Interesting!!

Don't Miss the Boat!

Looking for a unique winter cruise? The travel industry now offers everything from climbing walls and water parks to bingo, karaoke and dancing girls on their cruises. Then there is Norway’s Hurtigruten line. None of that here! These are working ships which ply the magnificent craggy western coast of Norway. They pride themselves on being "the anti-cruise ship" line. These ships haul things like refrigerators, dryers, lumber and electronics north to tiny coastal communities. Going south, they pick up pallets of fish or maybe equiupment which needs repair. Oil and gas workers, college students, retirees and families are transported in both directions along with cars, bikes and strollers. ---------------------------- Ships can arrive and depart from these little ports in the middle of meals or the middle of night, however it happens. Tourists are allowed to leave the ship to see the sights, but if they don't get back before their ship leaves again, they've literally "missed the boat". Some of these little hamlets have bus or train connections, others not. Best option may be to wait for the next Hurtigruten boat though it will not be able to catch up with the one they are booked on. -------------------------------People must understand the ship’s route doesn’t revolve around them and this is not the trip for them if they can’t stomach fish. It was noted that one buffet included 14 varieties of fish. -----------------------------------So why would anyone be interested in this cruise? The scenery !!! The experience of seeing beautiful Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle, Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, playful killer whales riding the ship’s bow wave as it leaves a fjord... There is the fun of tossing fish in the air to be snatched by sea eagles and being greeted by Sami herders and their reindeer en route to Nordkapp, a plunging cliff at the top of Europe. -------------------------------------------------- If you go: The weather is rough and relatively wild year round so dress accordingly. Twelve-day voyages through fjords cost from $1502 per person. Most popular departures are in winter to see the northern lights, with February being the busiest month.

Oh, But It's Cold, Outside!

"So, is it cold enough for ya?"...

Everyone talks about the weather, and December has been in the news as a tough month. Wisconsin has experienced some nasty wind-chills. So, how cold is over there, in Norway?

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Oslo. Norway’s capital city has not registered a December month as cold as this one in 110 years. So far, the "mean temperature" for the month is 9.2 degrees Celsius. And there are several even colder days left to bring it even lower, if we are to believe the forecasts. The former Oslo "record" is minus 9 degrees, from 1981.

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Now, we, here in the USA measure our temperatures in Fahrenheit degrees, while overseas, the thermometer is in Celcius...

Math problem to solve....To convert Celcius to Fahrenheit requires a bit of math.

1.Take the temperature in Celcius and multiply by 1.8

2. Add 32 degrees

3. The result is temperature readings in our familiar Farenheit.

So, how cold is it?! ( A hint: -12 degrees C is 10 degrees F.)

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This year, all Norwegians enjoyed a "White Christmas" it seems. Southern Norway is in the grip of a cold-spell, with temperatures from around minus 10 degrees, down to minus 30 degrees Celcius at the inland city of Røros. On the West Coast it is also cold, around minus 5.

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And contrary to what one would believe, it is mildest in the North, with coastal temperatures barely below freezing in places, and snow flurries.

I thought it would be colder than that! You, too?

By the way, that -30 degrees Celcius is -22F for us..That's cold enough! Spring will be coming soon.

Long Live The Queen!

It's not a "done deal" but it appears that the Swedish population is urging a Monarchial change! Carl XVI Gustaf has been King of Sweden since September 15th, 1973, when his grandfather died. He is the only son of the late Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla. The eldest child to inherit the throne is a girl! An unusual law concerning heir apparents was passed January, 1980, enabling the eldest child of the King and his wife Queen Silvia, male or female, to inherit the throne. The next Swedish ruler will be Queen Victoria. -------------------- Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree was born July 14th, 1977. Being the first-born of the present King and Queen, she will be next to succeed the throne. June 19, 2010, the Crown Princess wed Daniel Westling, a gym-owner, in a spectacular three-day royal wedding. This was the first wedding of a female heir to the throne in the history of Sweden. The royal couple has been wildly accepted by the Swedish population. --------------------- The latest news report from Sweden finds the people anxiously awaiting her ascension to the Swedish throne. They are urging King Gustaf to retire, allowing Crown Princess Victoria to become the next Queen of Sweden. Stay tuned!

Time for a Ride

Now that the holidays are over, it's time for a new start. Carolyn Johnson found a road that looks interesting. The Atlantic Road ( Atlanterhavsveien, in Norwegian) is a spectacular road that sports an eight mile bridge. This bridge links the coast of mainland Norway and jumps from island to island to reach Averøy. This road is considered the second most visited tourist attraction in Norway. Construction began in 1983, continuing through twelve hurricane stormy seasons. The main attraction is the Storseisundet Bridge, a twisting structure of 853 feet in length. If you wish to take a ride, google "Atlantic Road Norway youtube". You might turn your speakers down during your ride. I suggest clicking on Atlantic Road, Norway, a 2:56 minute classical music tour. Then for a wilder ride, try "Autocam..atlanterhavseien"..1:40 minutes. Loud, short and fast! Enjoy your trip. Happy New Year!