A Little Bit of Norway

My daughters want to celebrate Lille Julaften, or "Little Christmas Eve" on December 23rd: a holiday tradition revered by my Norwegian Grandmother.

Leading up to this we will be lefse rolling and possibly making Krumkake or Berlinerkranser, Fattigman or Sandbakkels. My daughters have requested lutefisk. Why?????

And I'd love to put on a lovely Smörgåsbord. Too much for one day! Uff da!

My Grandmother would not understand this American impatience to do everything at once. Her dinners were never over the top spectacles, but simply and beautifully prepared, graciously served love feasts.

Grandma Rebecca and all the Grandchildren

That is why I miss them so much. Why my daughters are tired of hearing about them and want to start their own traditions.

But it will take some doing to get my inner Norwegian jump started. I need to go to Norway. Or the next best thing.

I need to go to the ScanFair just two weeks away! With music, crafts and many Norwegian delicacies.

And to remember Grandma I will need to spend some time by the water. As a child she lived in Southern Norway, on a farm next to the lake where she fished in the summers, and in the winter learned to ice skate by pushing a chair across the ice!

One reason Oregon attracted so many Norwegian settlers is because it is so similar to Norway's rugged beauty. I'm sure we'll find the perfect lake.

Japan Takes the Stage

Big drums. That's all it took to get my interest.

The weekend after our failed attempt to spend a day "in Japan", there was a Japanese-American New Year's celebration and cultural fair in Portland. Why not try again?

Mochitsuki promised a full slate of performances, including two troupes of Taiko drummers. 

But first I needed sushi.

Our grown kids were eager to join us on a staycation experience, so the night before Mochitsuki we watched some Japan travelogues and went out to Tiga Sushi & Asian Bistro in Salem. Even the non-sushi fans at the table had to admit it was wonderful.

The next day we drove in a world of fog to Portland.

Driving through a cloud felt like  being in a plane.
Like magic, the minute we arrived in downtown Portland the fog cleared, and the day was dazzling.

"My" we said, "Isn't this a beautiful day in Japan?"

Ladies in kimonos heading to the event confirmed the illusion.

Mochitsuki was buzzing already when we got there. We grabbed some delicious mochi and took our seats for the dynamic "Utsuki Kai" Ritual Mochi Pounding on stage, followed by a succession of evocative performances.

The performance hall had a wood floor, and the Taiko drums reverberated through our feet. It was even more spectacular than I hoped. 

When the koto players took the stage, I wondered how my family would enjoy this softer music after the excitement of the drums, but my son-in-law remarked: "I got so caught up in the music of the kotos I forgot where I was."

We left Mochitsuki grateful for the experience. If we had wanted to continue the theme, we should have visited the lovely Japanese Gardens just a short drive away.

But one thing that impressed me in the movies we had watched during the week was the importance of family in Japan. Mochitsuki confirmed this by seamlessly including all ages.

So we drove up to visit with our other daughter. We took a walk through her neighborhood to a coffeehouse and other Portland style shops. I bought a book, a loaf of crusty bread and arugula pesto. We admired her small apartment, which reminded us of how Japanese homes make use of every space. We sat around her table and broke bread together.

Back home, we congratulated ourselves for having one of the best vacations ever.

I looked at the little book I had purchased: a  "how to draw" cartoon animals study book.

Now I looked closer and laughed. Of course!

It is by Sachiko Umoto, and was originally published in Japan.

My souvenir.

Keep scrolling to see more Japan ideas.

How Portland Became Venice for a Day

We were so excited to spend the day in "Venice" the next morning.
I researched what to wear in Italy. Scarves are in. Check.
Blessed with perfect weather, we parked close to the waterfront.
Our agenda:

~ walk the waterfront loop. What could be more appropriate?  Along the way we chatted with some friendly fisherman along the river wall. No gondolas, but plenty to see on this popular walkway.  Here's a link.

~ choose an Italian restaurant with sidewalk seating for lunch. Piazza Italia. The entrees were great, but the bread was my favorite. Maybe it's because after walking four miles I was so hungry!

We always buy a Street Roots newspaper when we go downtown. It is a responsible way to help people experiencing homelessness, and an interesting read. Hint: tip them a dollar in addition to the price of the paper.

~ visit the Portland Art Museum's "Venice, the Golden Age of Art and Music", a visiting exhibit of paintings, musical instruments and other artifacts from Venice's era of pomp and splendor.
No pictures allowed of course, but it was magnificent.

~ go to a second Italian restaurant for coffee and dessert. Tiramisu absolutely required.
Mama Mia Trattoria was perfect.

~ find a souvenir. Saturday Market was in full swing, and I found a glass vendor who promised her earrings were made with the same process as Venice's famed Murano glass.

~ take photos of anything that looked remotely Venetian.

 Especially pigeons. In honor of the pigeons in Piazza San Marco.

Keep scrolling to find more Venice ideas