Kindness Continues

"Maybe you'd like
to wash clothes?"

Tora said
continuing
the home tour.

She led us down
the steep steps

into the cellar
and showed us

a brand new
washing machine
waiting to spin
its first load.




This morning
I rose early

to follow
her directions

for collectively
cleaning clothes.



Using the lower door,
I carried

the laundry basket
outside –




as

the

sun

rose

over

Bjørga –





to the
laundry
post
where I
hung up
our wear






for a
fragrant


Trøndelag


outdoor
freshness!



(How 'bout
our ladies'
photo humor
here?)

Our House

"We
bought
you
a house,"

Tora told
us

when
we
arrived

earlier
today.




"We thought
you'd be
more
comfortable
staying here

all together

than
spread out
among the
relatives."






Then she smiled

and went on
to explain

the incredible
circumstances

of the purchase

just two
months ago.





The owner –

Tora's school-
days classmate –

had recently lost her
husband and desired
to move into town.

Tora and Kjell
had been considering
moving to Verdal to
spend retirement
in their childhood
hometown.















This home's location – with the Trondheimsfjord view – as well as its spacious living areas and multiple bedrooms enticed the couple to buy the home now, giving them time to fix the place to fit their future needs.

As a bonus, they could house us – their six family members visiting from America – for a few days in August.





Kjell told us

he had just

one qualm

with the

whole plan.



He asked us to write a letter of recommendation to the neighboring farmer explaining why it's essential for him to sell a piece of the barley field to Kjell who needs space to build a proper garden.

To Bjørga

Shortly
after
6 PM,

our driver
hopped
into
the van
and
prepared







to

take

directions










for
transporting
us












around

the

hills











hugging

the

fjords






past

the

golden

grain

fields










To

Bjørga –
















The


Hillside.

Better Homes and Gardens

Following our
afternoon snack

and later
after dinner,

Tora encouraged
us to relax

before the
next leg of
our journey.





From the deck,

we strolled

into the

living quarters,








and
realized


that
this
place –








inside
and
out –



would
make

be a great
feature










for

Better
Homes
and
Gardens!

Verdens Beste

Out on the deck, Tora served afternoon "kaffe," including not only cups of the dark, hot beverage,
but also a
delightful dessert – whipped up by their grown son – for us, their American family.



As we tasted this light-meringue cake filled with pudding and topped with slivered almonds,

we understood why the recipe is a famous one from the Trøndelag region...






...so
scrumptious,

it's know
simply as:

The World's Best.






(Click on photo to enlarge recipe.)

Gargantuan Gardeners

Cousin

Tora


and


her

husband

Kjell









overwhelmed
us


with
their


gardening
talents.









From
the
lush
hedge

enclosing

thriving

plants







to

the

backyard

orchard









with


ruby
red


cherries.











Puttering
in


his
vegetable
garden,







Kjell
pulled

long
orange
carrots

for
our
dinner...







...and
credited
Tora








with
the
flower
fettish











extending
from



their
home's
walls








to
the
pots


and
even


in the
furniture
fabric





of their
cozy home

that
long ago

served
as the
village
store.

The Rental Van

Alas,
it was time


to walk to
the AVIS office,


fill out
paper work


and get
the keys


for our
rental van.



Then we
walked
farther

toward
the river,

past
Peppe's Pizza,

to a service
station lot


for a
BIG
surprise –

a nine-
passenger
vehicle

with lots
of room

for luggage.



With such space,
all eight of us
hopped in
to ride to the
train station,

gathered our
luggage from
the storage
lockers,

packed up,

got Kjell's car




and

hit

the

road


going

north






through
tunnels –


some
even


a mile
or more

long –




to our
first stop –

where Avis
had her photo
taken with
the AVIS van –

at our
hosts' home.