SOGNDAL

A panoramic view of the former Stenson home in the Barsness area

When we were making plans to got to Norway, there was only one place in particular that I wanted to visit after Førde - Sogn, where my greatgrandfather, Peder Stenson, was born in 1853. It was only about an hour and a half drive from Førde. I had papers from the archives in Norway with information.  Todd borrowed a "farm book" from the library in Førde and studied it.  He found Peder's father's name, Nils Steinsson Barsnes listed as the owner of the farm from1838 to 1855 under Bruk 7, Einehaugen. Nils was married to Gunhild Pedersdotter Kvam in1839.  Next Todd checked for the current owner since 1999, Karina Barsnes.  He got her phone number from information and contacted her.  She invited us to come to her place at six o'clock on Friday.  

We decided to make a two day trip to explore this area of Norway that had been home to our ancestors before they moved to America in 1855.  I can't imagine the trip that must have been in those days travelling with eight children ages fourteen down to two year old twins, Peder and his sister Anna.  They settled in Wisconsin for several years, then moved to Glenwood, Minnesota where they farmed and raised their family of fourteen children. They lived to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.  Nels Stenson, as he was known in the US, lived to be 89 years and his wife 84years.   Having 14 children must have lengthened their lives.  I think they outlived several of their children though.

We decided to make it a two day trip and booked cabins near Sogn for the two nights.  Todd was able to borrow the school van that he drives to volleyball games.  We made good use of it and the seats were full after Nora added all her "kids", making sure they all had their seat belts fastened.

We stopped for a picnic lunch that Kristy had packed and enjoyed  eating with a scenic glacier in the background.

We also visited an outdoor museum at Sogn.  Our guide was Eli, pronounced like our Elly Clara.  She took us around to buildings that had been moved to the site.  We expected to see the buildings that were very old with traditional sod roofs.  What surprised us were the houses from the 1940's, 1960's and 1980's!  We should be preserving some of these, complete with furnishings from those days, in our country.

The cabins we rented were modern with pine interior.  The typical Norsk bedroom had twin beds pushed together, each with it's own duvet ready for us to put on the cover and the pillowcases.  There was a complete kitchen and the cosy living room had a TV on the wall above the table.  The cost was about $200 CDN a night.

On Friday we headed for the Barsness farm and after turning around once, we found the right farm and were greeted warmly by Karina Barsness.  Her son Kjell was visiting from Oslo along with his two young daughters.  It happened to be his birthday so we were treated to coffee with heart shaped waffles and jam, as well as a birthday cake.  His daughters were close to Nora's age so the three girls were soon having a good time together.

Karina took us on a tour to see the house where my great grandpa Peder Stenson was born in 1853,  It is a heritage site and she is not allowed to have it torn down.  It is used mostly for storage now. Note the date on the tall clock.  

Strangely the doorway was much narrower than standard ones as Todd nearly filled the space but the height was more than ample for his 6'5". Note the ornate corners above the door.

Then we went on a tour of the outside.  This is the oldest part of the house.  The adjoining white part is rented out.

View out the living room window.

 The next day Karina, Kjell and his daughters met us in Sogn.  A large gym had been converted into a play area for youngsters so the girls made good use of that.

Nora her new friends

Karina and I looking at pictures on my iPad

When Karina and I were visiting at her farm she told us that she has relatives in Canada.  The next day she brought her family history book along to Sogn.  It was exciting to learn that some of her relatives live in Weyburn, SK, just an hours drive from our farm!  I have been in touch with them by phone and hope to have a visit in person with Karen Barsness soon.  She and her husband George visited with Karina and other family in the Barsness area in 1990.  Clare knows two of their sons so it's a small world!

The drive back to Forde was beautiful even though the weather was cloudy and cool. It was so calm that many views were mirror images.

Now I better update you on current activities here before I sign off.  Alan and I enjoyed a quick trip to Frontier for their threshing bee on Saturday, October 1. The date had to be changed as there was rain the previous weekend, not good threshing weather.  Saturday was a beautiful day, sunny and warm.  Activities began at two with the threshing underway in charge of Vic Vasseur and many helpers.  Two wagon teams hauled in the stooks from the nearby field and guys got to take turns at forking them into the wagon and from there into the machine.

Bedroom in the Nelson house

Kitchen crew supplied goodies at coffee time with a potluck supper.  Yumm!

99 year old Norman Evenson taking it all in
(a van from the care home in Eastend brought
several residents down for the afternoon)

Me beside Grandpa AB Erickson's truck
(restored by Vic Vasseur)

Threshers are hard at it

Hauling in the stooks.

Lots of action here

A country school

Fun rides for the young and young at heart

There was still a rack of stooks left to thresh when it started raining that evening with lots of lightning to go along with it.  Good thing the crew changed the date to Saturday that week or no threshing would have been done that Sunday either. 

A big thank you to all those involved in getting ready for this day - lots of maintenance done out at the museum grounds, cleaning, painting, working on machinery and buildings, getting the crop seeded, cut and stooked and a host of other behind the scenes jobs.  It was a great day and so fun to see people we don't have a chance to see other times we've been "home".  Alan enjoyed meeting Jim and Shirley Palmer who live on the farm where he grew up just east of Loomis.  He also got to visit a few of the guys he played ball with in his younger days.  I enjoyed visiting with Jewel (Jensen) and Curtis Nestegaard back for a visit from their home in Texas.

Monday was Thanksgiving Day in Canada and it was special to have Laurel's, Clare's and Kirk's all home for a turkey dinner and lots of catching up by the eight adults and seven youngsters.  The grandchildren drew names for Christmas so that will be extra special as Todd's will join us in December for an early Christmas celebration.

I will be back with the last post about Norway within the next week! At the end of October we are off on an eleven day bus trip to Branson, Missouri with Stagecoach Tours out of Weyburn.