Well, here it is my first hardanger piece! I have always wanted to learn hardanger and finally took a class with my friend Melissa! I will definately be doing more, and have a ways to go to perfect it! Just wanted to share!! Thanks!

Heidi

Olden Days

I have been thinking alot about how so many of the big influences in my life are gone now. The people I grew up loving. The above picture is me with my Dad on the right(your right), and my uncle Ralph on the left(your left). These two were quite the characters. Silly until their end days. My uncle Ralph was a legend storyteller. I think I heard most of his stories 1000 times, but I loved every second of him telling me them. They are forever embedded in my heart. He also taught me some of my limited Norwegian! I loved him to my very core, as I think anyone who knew him did. A heart of pure gold! He had no kids but yet had 50 of them. All his neice and nephews adored him! It has been 3 years I believe since he has been gone and I miss him to this day!

My Dad, Tamer, was a quiet, dry sense of humour guy. He loved to have fun though! One of my fondest memories of him is how when we were sitting around the table at suppertime and I would say *Pass the Peas* or something...he would start rhyming. So that became the big thing, was to rhym as many times as you could! So silly, but dear to my heart now. At my Dad's funeral my uncle said that Dad used to go to the barn to pray for his kids. I guess this was his alone, quiet time. I never ever knew that. I can only imagine how many times he prayed for me. I am so blessed to have had such a caring God fearing father. I miss him so much still.

Another one of those special people was my aunt Thelma. ANYONE who knew her loved her. She had a special gift of hospitality, much like my own Mom. I always felt extremely special in her eyes. I think she made everyone feel that way. It is 2 Years this month since she has been gone. She was such an inspiration in her last days. She could not wait to go home to be with God! She wanted everyone to be happy for her! I remember standing by her bedside and starting to cry....she shook her finger at me and said not to be sad for her because she KNEW where she was going. She was one in a million.

My Mom and her were the bestest of friends! Mom has never been the same since Thelma passed on. I think her lonliness for her is just SO deep. She is really aging, but manages very well! She is 82 now. The thing she enjoys the most is having her family around her, and especially the 2 little babies! Many times I miss the *olden days* where all my loved ones were here and well. But how can I be sad when they are at home in heaven, probably having coffee with their dear friends and family......and maybe even some Kompa!!! (we can only wish) haha.

Just a little trip down memory lane! Thanks for reading! *huggs*

Heidi