Up at 7am for a delicious cold smorgas of bread, butter, cheese, cukes, and tomatoes. Per Arne was out trying to collect the sheep that got out of their appropriate field and who needed to be fed. Joining us this morning were our relatives Ingalill and Ulf from Figeholm – and before you could say ‘run away sheep’, we were on our way southwest to Crystal Country. At Orrefors Glasbruk, we toured the glass museum that showcased the complete table setting for the Nobel Prize winners as well as the gold, silver, and bronze glass medals awarded at the Goteborg Olympics. Sweet. Closest I’ll ever get to wear one of those medals …
Then off to Boda not knowing that Boda was having their opening day of “Kultur-Revolutionen-I-Boda.” A complete renovation of their glass factory had taken place. We were one of the first wave to experience their ‘revolution’ in glass display, production, and marketing. We sat and watched first hand while master glassmakers produced their new modern designs right before our eyes. Molten glass rolled, formed, reheated, blown, reheated, shaped – fabulous. But that wasn’t all. A first class museum and exhibition plus upper-end merchandising of quality items for the home. It was like being in La Jolla, but more hip. These items will definitely be in Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom by winter.
Off to a local restaurant for a lovely luncheon, then the one-hour return drive to Monsteras. One last look at Boo Gard, the ancestral home of Diane’s great grandmother’s sister, and then Diane and I then followed Ulf and Ingalill’s car. First stop at her parents’ gravesite, and then to their home in Figeholm where we then greeted our cousin Ulla Britt. Such a lovely home and the garden is gorgeous. Flowers everywhere, in every imaginable spot. Soon Anna Lena, Per Arne, and the kids joined us to enjoy a lovely dinner prepared by Ingalill and Ulla Britt and special summer desert with wild strawberries picked fresh by Ulf from their backyard. Diane and I were so surprised when we were presented beautiful Kosta Boda crystal bowls by our family. Very unexpected, very Swedish, and sincerely appreciated.
With the table cleared, Ulf and I attempted to retrieve genealogy information from church records recorded on CD. We were soon joined by Ingalill’s friend who quickly found the records that were eluding Ulf and I. Amazing information on Diane’s maternal great-great grandparents and family! Off to bed with my head swimming with information!
The next morning we enjoyed frukost in the outdoor atrium surrounded by flowers and our freshly laundered clothing blowing in the outdoor breeze. We then drove to Stensjo, a preserved village of red stuggas, barns, and working buildings dating from 1351. By the end of the 19th century 176 individuals lived there. By 1950’s, the last farm closed and the village had fallen into disrepair. Thanks to donations, the village was preserved as a historical site and has two families who live there. We loved looking at a bit of the ‘old way of life’, as well as practicing stringing fresh wild strawberries on long bits of straw. Get it? Straw – Berries. Fun stuff for Swedish kids and American adults!
But then, arriving home, Ingalill told us that Diane and I were to learn the art of making kromkakor (I’m going to fix the spelling – I know it’s wrong, sorry). Old potatoes, riced. Old potatoes, boiled and mashed. Salt and water. Salted, ground pork. Allspice. Put a ball of the potatoes into the palm of your hand. Place the pork into the middle, fold the edges over and roll into a large ball like a meatball. Drop into simmering water and watch it sink. After about 10 minutes it floats to the top. Cook approx 20 minutes and remove from water. Serve on a bit of fresh cream with lingon on the side. Heaven in a ball of potatoes. Made a video so we can do it at home. Ingalill is a wonderful cook – hope some of her skill in the kitchen rubbed off on Diane and I!
Fika that afternoon was lots of fun as Ulf & Ingalill’s family and grandchildren joined us. More genealogy, translation of old postcards from Nanna (Diane’s great grandmother) dating from 1906 – 1915 when she was a newly immigrated domestic worker in her new home of America. Later that night, we enjoyed another wonderful dinner with Ingalill, Ulla Britt and Ulf, a heavenly desert of ostkaka, and burned the midnight oil with further genealogy work. Now we must say goodbye after tonight to our ‘maternal’ relatives with sadness. We’ve had a wonderful time with them and they have been so very gracious to us while we stayed in their two homes over the past 4 days.
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