Bloomster – Valerie's Voice

While staying at Brita’s house, we were able to connect with more relatives. There was a large gathering at the house, and we were also able to visit many homes in the Kaldestad area for a more personal touch.

Our first day in Kaldestad additional second cousins, and their families, gathered around the large, dining room table in Brita’s house.

My second cousin, Sigrun, made Sodd, a national dish mainly associated with the Trondheim region. It consists of sheep and beef meatballs, cooked carrots and boiled potatoes. It was delicious. And the conversations were sweet.

Sigrun’s (in green) husband and middle son were not able to attend this gathering. We enjoyed visiting with her oldest son, and her youngest son (first person on left in the photo) and his family.

I’m trying to say how much I appreciate being together with everyone in Norway.

Fortunately, it was a beautiful day and we were able to move outdoors, to a patio near the summer kitchen, for dessert. The dessert table was bountiful. There was a Norwegian cream cake, an almond cake, a fudge cake, ice cream, and… Valerie‘s apple cake.

Gunnvor (she made the delicious desserts) and her husband, my second cousin, Jostein.

In the 70’s when I was in Norway I made my mom’s apple crisp recipe for the relatives and everyone liked it. The recipe was then modified to the metric system and they’ve been making this recipe in Norway for the last 40+ years and they call it Valerie‘s Apple Cake. How fun is that?

The following day at Kaldestad we visited folks in their homes.

First we went to the home of my second cousin, Sigrun, who’s yard is meticulously manicured and beautiful. Her father, Sigurd, was a bloomster (gardener) and ran the nursery in the Kaldestad and surrounding area. I assume Sigrun acquired her love of gardening and her amazing gardening skills from her father, and by helping with the plants in the gardens and greenhouses while growing up.

Sigurd (the bloomster) was a first cousin to my father and his house and nursery were just up the hill from Brita’s house.

An old photo of Sigurd, the bloomster, in his garden with his greenhouses in the background.

Jostein and Gunnvor’s house. The greenhouses were to the left of the house before they were removed.

My second cousin Jostein (Sigrun’s brother) and his wife Gunnvor, have lived in this house (Sigurd’s) for many years. The greenhouses are long gone, but they have pretty flowers growing everywhere too. We enjoyed coffee and desert with them.