Norsota

Coming next month: Norwegian Cultural Adventure

Norsota — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:31:06 +0000

The Norwegian Cultural Adventure will be happening at Norsota’s March 10 meeting. Things happening include tasting goro crackers, lefse, kranse kake, krumkake, rosettes and flatbread. Some of these events will be happening live with delicious aromas tempting you. Rosemaling and oil painting and turned bowls can be viewed, discussed, and admired. You’ll be able to pick up a hand-crafted knife, play a Viking game or two, and practice spinning the Snurre game! All of these things to be experienced come to you by our very own talented members.

Be prepared to inhale delectable aromas, taste crispy Norwegian cookies, touch and feel and try game pieces, and visit with painting and writing artists. You will be delighted and amazed at the variety of things happening! Come join us Saturday night, March 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

Gary Gundrud on the King and Queen’s visit

Norsota — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:45:16 +0000

Dick Enstad introduced Gary Gandrud, Honorary Consul General of Norway, who talked about the King and Queen’s visit to Minneapolis in October last fall. It had been 15 years since their last royal visit. They came and visited specific places at the King’s request.

Gary spoke of three things the King wanted to do: (1) meet with the head of the National Guard exchange program, (2) visit several Norwegian-based colleges, which included Luther in Decorah and St. Olaf and Augsburg Colleges in Minneapolis, and (3) visit Vesterheim, the Norwegian American Museum in Decorah.

Some rest days were spent in the St. Paul Hotel, where Queen Sonja would take walks down to the Mississippi River. They also visited Duluth and Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Gary told several stories that were heartwarming about the royal pair, how the trip was carried out flawlessly and down to the minute in arrival times, and how the King and Queen felt the warmth of the people in Minnesota and Iowa during their visit. It was such a success, Gandrud is hoping they choose to come back again in a couple years.

The tale of two bridges

Norsota — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:26:34 +0000

Hans Sandom will present a slide show created especially for Norsota. It depicts removal of the old bridge to the family farm in Norway, followed by the construction of the new bridge. The old bridge to their home was built by their father in 1949, to cross the North Atna River in North Atnadal. Hans and his brother, Einar, replaced the bridge in the summer of 2011.

Julebord

Norsota — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:33:19 +0000

In December we celebrated the season with our annual Julebord.

Long before the introduction of Christianity, a festival was always held in Norway during the midwinter season. From it Norwegian Christmas got its name, “Jul.” It is the biggest holiday of the year in Norway.

Special recipes for this time of year have passed down for centuries from generation to generation. The special foods definitely showed up at our annual Norosta Julebord celebration. The main dishes were tasty with plenty to go around, and the pastry table was incredible. Kransekake, the famous Christmas tree-shaped dessert, also made its appearance. All who put on the event should get a Saint Olaf medal.

A special thank you to all lodge members that made this year’s Julebord so outstanding. Tusen takk for maten!

Phil Lacher, woodcarver and artist

Norsota — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:12:20 +0000

Woodcarver Phil Lacher presented the November 12 program. Phil displayed several examples of his excellent work.

Phil is a native Minnesotan. His grandmother taught him the art when he was 12 years old, and he has been carving ever since. Phil draws inspiration from the natural world, Norse and Celtic heritage, and humor.

Some of Phil’s work was flat plane carving of caricatures. The Scandinavian flat-plan style of woodcarving is a style of figure carving. The figures are carved in large, flat planes, primarily with a carving knife. Tool marks are left in the carving and very little, if any, rounding or sanding is done.

Phil’s informative web site (http://www.vikingwoodcarving.com/) has links to books and organizations. Best of all, he shows much of his work.