photo sampler

A Christmas street scene in Stavanger, Norway. (Photo taken December 14, 2001.)

Gunleif Seldal and Keith in front of the famous “3 Swords” on the outskirts of Stavanger. These huge bronze swords overlook the Hafrsfjord where legend says that King Harald Fairhair fought the last battle to unify Norway into one kingdom in 872 AD.

Stavanger Domkirke or Cathedral. Here it is seen with the traditional Norwegian white Christmas lights illuminating some of the trees. Our friend, the statue of the famous Stavanger author Alexander Kielland, is in the foreground.

After the Stavanger Quaker meeting and luncheon, Keith and Peg pose with the warm and gracious Hans Eirk Aarek, philosophy professor and researcher on early Norwegian Quaker history.

Super Slooper Service Senter Special Suite!!! Our bedroom in the Slogvik home was recently remodeled for an emigrant theme. Our very comfortable “himmelseng” (or traditional box bed) is the center point of this photo with just one of the 2 Santa Nisse dolls showing on our pillows.

While searching for the cows on a frosty morning, Peg could not resist taking this picture of a copse of trees in early Tysvær light. She reflects that this picture reminds her of paintings by the famous local artist, Lars Hertivig.

An enjoyable visit from Knut from Odda. Here in the Slogvik living room are Keith, Knute, Einar, PC the dog and Rotraud. Keith and Knut met on the Norway List. Knut visited us and our big redwood trees last November.

After the delightful Christmas concert in the Haugesund Church, Keith meets with the star of the performance, the
wonderful singer Hanne Krogh. (We also learn that she will soon have her own web site!! URL coming soon!)

Slogvik sunrise. The view out of our bedroom window on our second morning here. No, that is not snow on the ground, but a half inch of frost.

Tysvær historical society group meet and eat at the Slogvik home. Here (L to R) are Eli Ubøe Marvik, Harald Dag Halvorsen, Keith, (new found "cousin") Emily Aarvik and Einar Slogvik. Not shown in this photo, but present are: Sigmar Myhre (AKA "Cleng Peerson"), Alf Aarvik, Rotraud Slogvik and Peg.

Ingvar Frøyland, Cultural Officer, Tysvær kommune, and Keith pose by an exceptional original portrait of the famous Cleng Peerson (1783-1865) who became known as the "father of Norwegian immigration." Cleng is Keith's 3rd cousin 5 times removed!

Einar and Peg stand by the "bautastein" or stone monument outside the seasonally closed Second World War Museum at Førdesfjorden. Keith and Einar are now scheming to transport a bauta to Napa, California, for Jakob Slogvik's grave.*

The crowd stands to applaud at the conclusion of the Chirstmas Cantata at the 750 year old Olaf's Church at Avaldsnes, Karmøy.

Einar's mother, Laura, displays the Nisse dolls she recently made.

We visit downtown Haugesund on the Saturday before Christmas.

Peg helps Rotraud in the sheep barn.

After a big Christmas Eve dinner, everyone poses by the tree -- (L to R) Ellen, Einar, Sonja, Terje, Peg and Rotraud. Soon the presents will be opened!

Keith captures another sunrise -- this one over the Slogvik home on Christmas morning.

On the second day after Christmas Peg and Keith hike north on the Slogvik farm and take this photo to the northeast of the fjord that is just starting to freeze.

Einar takes us to Nedstrand/Stuvvik where Eli Ubøe Marvik and Sigmar Myhre from the history group show us the extensive Vatland and medical collections in the old Ungdomhus, now turned museum.

NRK Rogaland regional Norwegian TV comes to interview Keith for a historical piece about religion and the early emigrants from Tysvær. Here Keith tries to open the door to the old Quaker meeting house -- alas, the door is frozen shut.

High noon over Årvik. The mid-day sun shows through the frigid clouds as Alf Aarvik show Einar and Keith around the Årvik farm at the southern edge of Tysvær kommune.

Here neighbor Berit Slogvik welcomes us into her home, but first we stop to admire the dolls (2 Nisse & 1 Billy goat) sitting on a beautiful old chest just inside their door. Also evident are some of the hand weavings Berit has done.

Trying to anticipate next year's Christmas card photo, we pose on the Slogvik farm with Hervik fjord and the island of Borgøy in the background. (Photo & mittens by Rotraud.)

Einar, Keith, Peg and half a cleaning lady pose with too many suitcases at Sola Airport, Stavanger … and we had good intentions of traveling light! (Photo by Rotraud.)

As the time nears to bid farewell to the Slogviks and board our plane for home, we are greeted with another spectacular Norwegian sunrise.

Just west of the Canadian Rockies, British Columbia, and shortly before we land in Seattle, Keith checks his watch and takes this photo from our plane. It is Monday, Dec. 31, 3 PM Pacific time, but midnight back in Norway. We silently wish our many dear friends back there a very --- Happy New Year! --

Enlarged Photo Sampler from Peg and Keith's December 2001 trip to Norway.