• Oct. 12, 2007
Visiting the Past
For part of Kelli's Show & Tell Friday, I thought I would share a bit of what I've been working on this week. In the 1970's someone in my mom's extended family put together a nice genealogy of her mother's family, who were originally from Norway. The booklet is already looking old and faded, and parts of it are a bit hard to follow, so I thought I'd use some genealogy software to organize it all on the computer.
For Show & Tell, I'd like to introduce you to my great-great grandmother, Guri. She came to the US from Norway as a very young woman, and at some point met her future husband at a picnic in North Dakota.
I love this excerpt about her childhood: "Guri went to school, and helped with the cattle and sheep in the mountain pastures in the summer. The winter was spent learning to spin, weave, and knit."
After her marriage, Guri and her husband Esten began farming in North Dakota. Her first 2 children were born in a sod house. She went on to have 6 more children and lived to be 85 years old. Here is their homestead, apparently by the time this was taken they've been able to build a house.
I've been to North Dakota-- it can be pretty harsh there, and I can't imagine it without central heating and electricity. And a car!! (I also can't imagine giving birth in a sod house.) I always marvel at how people lived way back when. I bet if our ancestors could meet us, they'd find us a pretty soft bunch.
Comments
• Oct. 12, 2007
Show & Tell
Posted by Anonymous
I can't do without water, or electricity for a day!!! We are soooo spoiled!
Susan - Penless Writer
• Oct. 12, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Hi Karen :) Thank you for sharing a part of the story of your family. Your grand sounds like a lady who was quite special! Blessings, Q
• Oct. 13, 2007
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Posted by Danielle
Neat post. That time period has always extremely fascinated me. I agree with you though, that they would definitely think we were "soft". Too bad the pic of their homestead didn't come up for me, it said it was unavailiable from flickr for some odd reason...
• Oct. 13, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
What a neat picture!
Sharon
• Oct. 13, 2007
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Posted by woolwinder
At one point in my life I might have been about to "rough it", but now I don't even go camping without a refrigerator, air conditioner/heater, refrigerator and a microwave. Not to mention a real bathroom.
• Oct. 13, 2007
I'm not anonymous -- I'm 3 to get ready!
Posted by Anonymous
How interesting! I have incredibly sturdy Norwegian ladies in my past too. That's how my dad ended up in Norway, IL. In fact, I was at a Scandinavian Festival in Atlanta today, and the Sons of Norway had a table there. I'd never heard of them, but as I was telling my mom about it, she said, "Oh sure! Your grandma and all your great aunts were very involved in the Sons of Norway!" So, go Norway! I love those old stories!
• Oct. 13, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
Very interesting. Sure makes us appreciate what we have now!
Katherine
Yellow Rose Arbor
• Oct. 15, 2007
family history
Posted by Anonymous
I've always wondered how people could withstand the cold of winter in places where the wind blows through your bones and it snows deep. Did they just shiver through the winter or did they just develop much thicker blood? I know when I was in my twenties I was hardly ever cold, now I'm cold all the time.
It's cool that you know about your family history.
• Oct. 16, 2007
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Posted by psalm127
Oh how wonderful. My mom's family is from Norway as well. It is so fun to look back and read about what our families have done and been through.
• Oct. 21, 2007
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Posted by Anonymous
I so love getting a glimpse of other people's family histories. Very interesting!
hakucho :)
• Oct. 21, 2007
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Posted by SimpleFolk
WOW! Now how did I miss this one?! You know how I love family history (even if it isn't mine, lol). Thanks for sharing! :o)
Amy
