We're Off to Oslo

Hi Ben and other grandkids or family

Grandma and I flew the polar route to Oslo, Norway.  The flight took 9 hours and Norway is 9 hours ahead of California, so when we arrived it was 18 hours since we left California.  So- we don't know what time to follow- our minds have trouble sleeping when the clock says go to bed.  Our first surprise in Norway was to wake up at 5 AM- too early- to enjoy a wonderful variety of delicious breakfast foods. Norway is famous for their smorgasbord-  but have a look at some of our choices.  Since we are from California we thought we should try a little of each! How much breakfast can you eat?

Our hotel breakfast room filled with food!

Monday we walked to the train station and purchased our Oslo Pass that includes admission to most museums and transportation (subway, trolley and buss).  They might consider adding bikes to the package because lots of people ride to work in Oslo.  We took a boat across the fjord to the Folk Museum where they brought old farm buildings from different parts of Norway- starting in 1895- to preserve some of the historical way of life.  Norway is famous for stave church buildings- built from wood with decorative carving- maybe we should try making a tall cabin at Love Creek from some of our redwood trees?

We can't imagine how cold and hard life was for most people on earth- God has blessed us because we live in modern times with all necessities and many conveniences.  Having a house with a fire and a bed box- I know you would have been thankful compared to living in a tent or a cave!  One or more kids would sleep together with blankets and reindeer fur piled on top of you.  Maybe you and Mike would like to convert your bunk-beds to bed boxes- ask your dad about nailing some boards around your posts.  Then ask your mom for some bear or reindeer furs.  

On Tuesday we visited some museums near our hotel- the art museum and the historical museum.  At the art museum they have many paintings showing Norway landscapes- so we could see most Norway by walking through the rooms in one museum.

Our next surprise was a special exhibit of an artist-designer from about 1900.  He used all sorts of imaginative drawings and colorful paintings- many looked like illustrations from fairy tales or fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings or Narnia.  

Ben- I think your drawings are colorful and imaginative and I encourage you to continue drawing and maybe try watercolor or oil paints- to mix unusual colors- or see what you can come up with using a computer drawing program.  Here are a couple of paintings by Gerhard Munthe. 

After lunch we took a bus to the maritime museum where they had lots of paintings of ships and ocean landscapes as well as many scale models of ships.  Looking at the stormy seas and thinking about the hard and lonely life of a sailor- away from home for long trips- we are thankful that we are not fishing or traveling on a ship or pirates.  We saw many other interesting things today and we are thankful for all of the beautiful pictures and buildings that other people have made. We decided that we are very happy that God made us who we are and where we live and when we live.  Ben- look around as you travel the "roads of life" that God gives to you- to see what you can do with your life and energy and creative thoughts and drawings or inventions.

Love, Grandpa and Grandma.