Lori Lahlum

A native of North Dakota, Lori Lahlum received her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho in 2003. She is currently associate professor of history at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she teaches courses on the American West. Lahlum edited Norwegian American Women: Migration, Communities, and Identities (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2011) with Betty Bergland, and she has a chapter on women in rural Norwegian American communities in the volume. She also has published an article on Norwegian immigrant women in South Dakota (2005), a book chapter on growing up in Norwegian American communities (2008), and an article on a Norwegian woman homesteader and photographer (2010). Lahlum is now working on final revisions for a book on Norwegian immigrant women, landscape, and agriculture on the northern plains, as well as doing research for a book-length dual biography of two Norwegian immigrant women in South Dakota.

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 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.

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 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.