During the month of April, I participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. That is 26 posts in one month, for each letter of the alphabet, time off for good behavior on Sundays. Over 1800 bloggers are participating this year. Last I checked, I was #864. This year, Millie and Willie Cottonpoly, my sock puppet creations, are here to tell you their story and share reviews, ideas, and inspiration with you. They’re also helping to teach theatre classes for kids in the Brainerd area, and continue to view and review theatre productions and some books. This retired couple doesn’t just sit around watching reruns on MeTv. (Although, Willie does like to put up his feet whenever Petticoat Junction comes on. It’s that sound of the train whistle. Millie makes no apologies for watching the Lassie marathon while holding her dog Tillie on her lap.)
N is for Nancy, my sister, and our Norwegian/Scandinavian Heritage. She is unofficially participating in the A to Z Challenge because she is brand new to blogging, teaching full time, and not sure if she would be able to do all the letters. She’s been posting old photos and poems. In her H post she has a cute photo of the two of us on a horse, that she begged to have. For I Day, she posted a story about our grandpa Siberg, and a poem. Her blog is called The Wild Plums of Good Hope Township. (I see she has caught up a bit with the letter challenge. Her L Day includes another alphabet!) She’s a great photographer and poet, and is working on a novel. Here is our mom on her Birthday, which was also Easter, and her three daughters. Mary, Nancy, Joy (who is extra tall because she’s wearing boots), and Jane.
Willie: I’m a little more Norwegian
Millie: And, I have a little more Swedish on my side.
Willie: But, we get along pretty good just the same.
Millie: I make cardamon buns for the holidays.
Willie: I eat cardamon buns.
Millie: I make lefse with my sisters for special occasions.
Willie: I eat lefse at any occasion.
Millie: We had a Kransekake for our wedding, an almond ring cake that is stacked like a pyramid.
Willie: I enjoyed sharing that with you, Millie.
Millie: Other Scandinavian treats I like making are kringle, krumkake, and rømmegrøt.
Willie: I’m good at sprinkling the sugar on the krumkake, and eating all those delicious treats. Tusen takk, Millie. Jeg elsker deg!
Millie: You’re welcome, Willie, and I love you, too.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: What’s your heritage? Do you have special food that you make for the holidays or special occasions?
I’m a mutt, primarily Scottish, Irish, and English, but recently discovered some Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. I’m just at the beginning of exploring it! Many of my ancestral lines came to the U.S. in the 1600s, so we don’t observe any ethnic traditions. I guess they all got lost somewhere along the way.
I’d love to introduce you to lefse!
awww. That was sweet. 🙂 so nice to discover the heritage if there is something to discover that is – I am of one country descent, nothing interesting there 😉
awww. That was sweet. 🙂 so nice to discover the heritage if there is something to discover that is – I am of one country descent, nothing complicated there 😉
(very sorry, had trouble posting a comment and there we go… 🙁 )
Sorry you had trouble posting. It is slow to process the comments.
I married someone of Swedish ancestry. Learned a lot and even wrote a book using the old culture as a base. 🙂
That’s really cool, David. I need to check that out!
Loved this Mary thank you! I too have Norwegian ancestry – my paternal grandmother! But I honestly don’t know too much. Also a mix of South African, Scots and English. Do Willie and Mary have a cook book?
Willie and Millie I meant – a recipe book is also what I meant!
Well, Millie is my alter-ego. Perhaps the Biker Chef and Mary will come out with a recipe book one of these days.
Hahahah – oh – as a full blooded Norwegian of course I loved your post today! We have relatives in US also, and I remember them visiting us some summers ago. Amazing how they kept the traditions, food – made v¨me very proud and happy:-) Wonderful happy post:-)
Thank you, Eli!
Good looking family.
Willie just likes to eat!