If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 53

Jonsokkbryllup, Aurland, Sogn, Norway
[Summerfest wedding postcard:  courtesy of Lorraine Becker]

Last week the Gimlets and I took a trip to visit my mother’s sister.  She brought out some photo albums and among the things she had was this postcard.  It is more recent than previous cards I have posted on Thursdays.  I think Dick Thompson purchased it in the 1950s when he took a trip to Norway. 

We are well past midsummer but the picture is quite charming from the children dressed up in costume to the dog riding on the back of the Fjord horse.  The dog looks so relaxed it made me wonder if he often rode up there.  The bride is wearing a crown and two of the little girls are wearing the local skaut headdress of a married woman.  The boys in the photo look dressed up but not necessarily in the local bunad.

The caption at the lower left says “Jonsokkbryllup”-- St. John’s Day or Midsummer wedding.  Midsummer festivities have been held in many countries for hundreds of years.  They usually include a large bonfire, dancing and singing.  A tradition from the area near Bergen, Norway (I’m not sure if this is done in other parts of the country) includes mock weddings sometimes between adults but more often between children.  These weddings symbolize a new beginning with the rising of the sun on the longest day of the year and can be held between the 20th and the 25th of June—the Summer Solstice.  The children dress up in the area bunad and get a ride in a horse or pony drawn wagon as seen on the card.  Perhaps the cart ride may be enough of an incentive for the children to get dressed up?  They do look extremely cute.

I wondered a bit why it was called “John’s” wedding but then realized that the birthday of John the Baptist was supposed to have been six months prior to the birth of Jesus.  The holiday is also sometimes referred to St. Hans Day in Norway.  The name Hans is another version of John.  Although the holiday has a Christian name I suspect Midsummer celebrations predate Christianity and were just incorporated into the religious calendar for convenience since the people were accustomed to having it.

The postcard is from Aurland north of Bergen in Sogn Fjordane county.  The white church at the right side of the top card and shown below on a second postcard is called Vangen Church built in 1202.  Dick had cousins living in Aurland but I have not yet been able to identify them.  His mother came from Sogn og Fjordane so perhaps these cousins are from her side of the family although we do know that his half-brother Gjert Didriksen lived in the general area as well.  Dick did mention that he had two brothers but did not indicate if he had met them.  His father’s family came from Rogaland south of Bergen.  Enørett Mittet & Co published both of the cards shown. 

Vangen Church, Aurland, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
[postcard:  courtesy of Lorraine Becker]

 I thought it was interesting that this church is built in an early Gothic style that shows English influence.  Apparently English merchants used to stay in Aurland and they are suspected to have helped in the building of the church, perhaps even as the master builders.  Two of the stained glass windows, one of the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the other of Jesus Christ, the Savior, were made by the multi-talented Norwegian artist Emanuel Vigeland.  Vigeland was mostly known for his paintings but he did frescos, stained glass, and sculptures as well.  His younger brother Gustav Vigeland was also an artist.  Gustav Vigeland’s famous sculpture garden in Oslo depicts the life cycle of mankind. 

The scenery in all of Norway is very beautiful.  The picture below is of the Aurlandsfjord.

Aurlandsfjorden, Aurlandsvangen, and Flåm
[photo:  Wikipedia—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurland]

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 52

Narada Falls, Rainier National Park

The Lees entertained not just with indoor evening dinner and card playing parties but also family picnics that included the other extended families—Landaas, Hillevang, Oliver, Lorig, and good friends.  Favorite Saturday and Sunday drives were to places like Snoqualmie Falls and Rainier National Park and often included extended family members in one or more cars with a promise of a picnic at journey’s end. 

At the lower left the above shown photo postcard is identified as Narada Falls in Rainier National Park.  Printed in the lower right corner is Copyright 1907 by L. G. Linkletter.  The back of the card is divided for the address and a message dating it as printed after December 1907 when divided backs were first legal in the United States.  No publisher information is printed on either the front or back of the card. 

The falls are located near Paradise, there is a public parking area nearby but to get up close it is necessary to follow a short walking trail to the viewpoint.  Today the trail is paved but it is still too steep for wheelchairs.  Prior to 1893 the falls were known as Cushman Falls then renamed by Frederick G. Plummer as Narada Falls.  Narada is a Hindu word meaning uncontaminated or pure.  Sometimes the falls are mistakenly called Nevada.  The falls are 176 feet in height and have two drops with an average width of 50 feet but at peak water flow can reach 75 feet.  A spectacular view but subject to more or less a constant water spray according to reports so visitors will get wet.  Because of the spray when the sun is shining rainbows are also common sights. In the winter the upper falls freeze and become 150 feet of icicles that attract ice climbers.

I.C. Lee liked to have a new car every couple of years, shiny black with white walled tires.  Everybody dressed up for these country drives.  The women wore lovely dresses, often white or light colored, hats, gloves, veils, the men were in suits with vests and ties, hats were either caps or bowlers (also called derbies).  My mother used to tell us about one of these trips to Rainier Park.  It would have been in the early to mid 1920s.  The trip up to Rainier was a fairly long drive and the car would be packed with people.  Her Dad was all dressed up and had a brand new bowler hat that he was quite pleased with and was driving a new car.  Mom had a tendency to get car sick and when Lee looked back at her and saw that she was getting green and moaning a little he gallantly sacrificed his brand new hat to save the interior of the brand new car!  Even though all the adults were sympathetic, most kind and understanding she, as the only child in the car, was mortified, embarrassed and felt so bad about spoiling her Dad’s new hat.  She never forgot it.  

Petra & I.C. Lee

Beware of the Rug Anniversary

 Orchids, Volunteer Park Conservatory

I just realized that the blog had its one-year anniversary on 11 August.  Thanks to all of you who have visited and contacted me with additional stories, photos, comments, and connections.  I appreciate hearing from everyone.

I started writing and posting things here mainly to share family history, postcards and photos that I thought extended family members might enjoy.  It didn’t really occur to me that others would stop by and visit as well but they have.  There have been visits from many different countries and over 12,500 page views or slightly more than 1,000 views per month.  That amazed me.  I hope you have found some interesting things here and will continue to look in from time to time.  A modest little blog that helped me get through a year of grieving for the loss of my sweet husband has turned into an almost full time rewarding experience.  I’ve met several new “cousins” and made some new friends too. 

The blog would never have come into being without the help of my daughter who got me started, did the layout, and showed me how to do a tiny bit of editing of the code.  I cannot thank her enough for all the many, many things she has done to help me this past year and not just with the blog.  Also my sons who keep in close touch and help with all sorts of things too.  Papa is smiling down on all of you from heaven.

Thank you everyone!

New beware of the rug--visual and aural slips: 

Piracy is not a victimless crime became Privacy is not a victimless crime.

She doesn’t have any claws, her teeth are small and blunt became She doesn’t have any flaws; her feet are small and blunt. 

Put the pouch on a plastic tray before microwaving became Put the pouch on a magic tray before microwaving.

Kjeragbolten

 Tuva on Kjeragbolten

[photo:  courtesy of Rune Jensen]

On a recent trip Rune Jensen and his family went to Kjeragbolten.  He sent this amazing photo of his youngest daughter on the “boulder bridge” Kjeragbolten near Stavanger in Rogaland, Norway.  I asked him if I could share it here and he generously agreed. 

Kjeragbolten is a popular hiking destination and attracts many visitors.  The big boulder caught in the crevasse between the mountainsides is thought to be a remnant of the ice age.  It is supposed to bring very good luck to climb out on the boulder but all the things I read said DO NOT look down and if you are afraid of heights you may want to take a pass on this activity altogether.  Getting safely off is apparently more difficult than climbing or crawling on to it.  If you fall off you will take a small bump about 240 meters down (just a little ledge, probably not even a tree branch to grab onto to slow or stop the rest of the fall) and keep going another 700 plus meters for a total of 984 meters before splashing into Lysefjorden.  That is over 3000 feet for those of us who cling to a non-metric system!

The hike to this spot takes about 2½ to 3 hours from the visitors center.  It has become a BASE jumping destination where people jump off and use a parachute to slow the descent.  In the years between 1994 and 2010 there were 29,000 jumps and 10 fatalities. That takes high diving or cliff diving perhaps to a whole different extreme level. 

 Kjerag is the name of the mountain Kjeragbolten is the name of the boulder.  One definition I saw said that the name might be a combination of the Norwegian words for kid “kje” (young goat) and goat’s hair “ragg” since the rough surface of the mountain has been compared with shaggy goat hair. 

I also found a couple of YouTube videos showing people getting onto the rock.  It is a bit hard to imagine climbing out on that thing (I’m terrified of heights and would definitely take a pass even if it meant giving up a little good luck) so I found the videos interesting a bit scary and a little funny (amusing) as well.

If this works here are the videos, if it does not I'm including the links to the videos.  They are short and worth watching.  Another link provides a little more information. 
 
http://www.kuriositas.com/2011/12/would-you-stand-on-kjeragbolten.html



 
http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2010/10/15/afraid-of-heights-kjeragbolten-will-make-your-knees-buckle/
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kjerag

Thanks Rune & Tuva!

Bopa has a bench!

It has taken six months not the two or three originally estimated by the Parks Department to install the bench for Bopa.  A month or so ago the foundation space had been cleared and then about two weeks later the bench was in the ground but still needed the cement platform and the plaque.  Today everything is in place and all that needs to be done is the removal of the caution tape.

 

 Near the bench site in the Spring it will bloom with blue bells . . .

Thing Two and I walked down to check out the site and we found . . .  the bench will be a little bit north of the original suggested place.

It will be right there . . .

This is progress . . .

Looking good we can hardly wait for the tape to be gone . . .
A very nice spot!

It’s hard to read at this angle but the plaque says: 
                       
                        Dedicated to
                        Tony McKay
                        32,000
                        2012

Every day is important, each day has value and you lived every one of those 32,000 days well.  “I carry your heart with me.” 

.................................................................

The bench is located on the east side of the Burke-Gilman Trail south of NE 65th Street near the north end of the National Archives building.

 One day later and the caution tape is gone.  Looking south from the bench site.

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 51

The Guildhall, London, England

St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England

Like some of the rest of you I have been staying up at night to watch the London Summer Olympic Games.  Since I did have these two postcards sent from London in 1907 I thought it might be a good time to share them. 

As mentioned previously, early 1900s postcards were often used for more than just notes such as as calling cards, invitations and as advertisements.  Edward Cheasty was a friend of I.C. Lee but he was also the owner of a haberdashery (men’s clothing store) located on 2nd Avenue and James Street in downtown Seattle.  Mr. Cheasty made regular trips abroad to purchase and order items to be sold in his store.  On at least one such trip he sent a series of postcards to I.C. Lee with a little note at the top stating where he was, that he was buying novelties for his shop and inviting Lee to come into the store and see these new items. 

The top card of The Guildhall was sent in January 1907, the lower card was sent in September 1907 and they could very well represent more than one trip to England.  The cards are divided with a space for a message and address on the backside but the United States did not start doing that until December 1907 so Mr. Cheasty has continued to write his message across the picture on the front side as was the custom and the law in the States. 

Here is just a little historical trivia about The Guildhall—During Roman times there was a large amphitheater on the site the partial remains of which are on public display in the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery.  When I first thought of “guild” I thought of the various trades that had their own professional guilds or organizations not “gild” meaning money or gold.  Although I guess “trade” does suggest money or gold as well.  However, it is thought that the term Guildhall refers to the Anglo-Saxon word gild-hall or a place where taxes were collected. The first mention of the London Guildhall is dated 1128.  The current building was begun about 1411 and is the only stone building not belonging to the Church that survived the 1666 Great Fire of London.  It is part of a large complex that contained medieval crypts, a library, and a print room. 

Several historic trials have been held there such as that of Lady Jane Grey.  It also contains memorials to many famous persons including Admiral Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill.  Today administration offices for the City of London are no longer housed in the older building but are located in a modern building immediately north of the Guildhall.  The historic interiors of the Guildhall itself are open to the public once a year.  In addition to the Guildhall Art Gallery there are also the Clockmakers’ Museum and the Guildhall Library.  One of the events still held there is the Lord Mayor’s Banquet.

For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildhall,_London

Very well known, St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most famous sights of London and has been a part of the London skyline for 300 years.  It is located on the highest point in London, Ludgate Hill.  There was another church on this site dating from 604 AD that was remodeled and rebuilt several times the most recent replacement in 1677 as part of a major rebuilding program following the Great Fire of 1666.  The architect at that time was Sir Christopher Wren.  St. Paul’s is still a busy, working church with daily services and where Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, 80th birthday and the Diamond Jubilee services were held.  There are supposed to be postcard images of the dome standing amid the smoke and fire of the Blitz of World War II that were used as morale boosters during the war. 

For more information about St. Paul’s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 50

Novelty postcard used as party invitation

Novelty postcards such as the one shown above were popular in the early 1900s.  They were used as advertisements, holiday greetings, sometimes in place of smaller traditional calling cards, and in this case as a hand delivered invitation to a birthday party. 

Edw. Stern & Co., Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania published the card identified and numbered as Art Series No. 227.  The front of the card has the title:  “In Disgrace” with the copyright by R. Hill dated 1903.  Undivided cards like this were in use in the United States from the end of 1901 to 1907.  Until 1907 messages were written on the front across the picture side of the card with the backside or verso reserved for the address and stamp only. 

At the bottom the invitation says “Cards without Music.”  The Lees were well known for entertaining, often played cards, bridge or whist primarily, with music an important part in the activities—I.C. Lee, Harald Landaas and Didrik Thompson were members of the Norwegian Male Chorus.  Both Petra Lee and Wilhelmina Landaas were members of the Helpmates the organization for the wives of the chorus members.  Several other members of the extended family played musical instruments, piano, violin and guitar.  The invitation suggests that after the party for one-year old Hans the adults would retire to play card games but in this instance no musical entertainment was to be expected. 

Helpmates:  front row:  3rd from left, Petra Lee; middle row, 1st on right, Wilhelmina Landaas

I can remember my grandmother going downtown to play cards when she lived with us.  She would have been in her late seventies at the time.  She often won small jackpots and was delighted whenever she did.  Note that Miss Topsy, the Lee’s well beloved dog, is also included in the invitation.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that Topsy was a great favorite among the family and friends of the Lees.  She went everywhere with them, even birthday and card parties it seems. 

Miss Topsy