About this Blog: Bread making recipes, knit and crochet projects, wood working, gardening, digital imaging, travel, cruise ships, Labrador Retrievers, and more....

About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our four Labrador Retrievers.

Click the header image to see most current posts.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Syttende Mai - Norway's Constitution Day

Happy Birthday to the Kingdom of Norway!

Today, May 17, is Norway's Constitution Day.   Click on the link to see how the day is celebrated in Norway with parades of celebrants in national costumes, wonderful food, and lots and lots of flags.

The image above is of a model that sits in our living room.  That's the Norwegian Sail Ship Christian Radich that was my husband's first ship, a training ship, when he left home at age 15 to join the Merchant Marine in Norway.   He shows the grandchildren the mast he climbed and where his bunk was on the ship.  When my husband and I were sailing on another ship in Norway we saw her many times docked next to us in Oslo.  The Christian Radich is absolutely gorgeous to see in real life.

The Christian Radich launched in 1937 has a long history as a training ship, in movies, a visitor to the United States to celebrate our bicentennial, a tour ship, and is still in use.  Click on the link to read more about this very impressive ship.

The model was a gift from me to my husband several years ago. 

Happy Birthday, Norway!  We are sending you best wishes from across the pond.  :)
Lois

PS - I have been asked about My Honey's education since he left home at age 15 to go to sea.  At that time, higher education was the original co-op program for seamen who worked hard.  Unlike the proverbial seaman who spent his money on booze and women, each time My Honey came home for vacation over many years at sea, he went to engineering school to complete his various levels of education, then study for and complete the many exams for licenses that lead him to the top of his profession as a Maritime Marine Engineer and the position of Chief Engineer. Needless to say, I am very proud of My Honey.  :)

14 comments:

Libby said...

Happy Birthday, Norway!

What a great ship (and a nice present)!

It looks like something from a by-gone era...

Marit Johanne said...

Thank you, Lois! We have been watching the children parade today, I always get touched when I see all the children. And we have seen a lot of beautiful "bunads". I have also my bunad on.

TexWisGirl said...

wow! 15 yrs. old!

Lois Evensen said...

Hi,

Thank you, Libby, Marit Johanne, TexWisGirl, for stopping by. I've been asked about My Honey's education since he went to sea so early. I've added a PS to the post regarding education.

All the best,
Lois

Bob Bushell said...

Happy birthday to all that live in Norway.

momto8 said...

oh my goodness so interesting!!! I have a 15 yr old son...can't even imagine this for him!!

Diana said...

You have every reason to be proud Lois. That is quite an accomplishment!!
Love Di ♥

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Lois and Kjell, that is a very impressive ship and reminded me of the Coast Guard barque, Eagle, which seems much much smaller by comparison. And I know how proud you are of your honey's achievements, Lois, they are very impressive as well.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Great post, Lois and what a fantastic gift to your husband! It must have meant such a lot to him

Montanagirl said...

Beautiful ship - and very impressive, as is your honey!!

Betty Manousos said...

happy belated birthday to Norway!

what an accomplishment!

Hootin Anni said...

I would be proud of him too if I were you. Wow...what a great bunch of stories he could tell us all with the life on the ship. And what a super gift!!!! Is it from a ship building kit? Did he make it and then encase it in glass?

Awesome.

VP said...

Happy Birthday to Norway! Great ship, by the way...

Sherry said...

Tried to comment on this at work today and twice it failed - kept getting error messages. Anyway, I'm impressed with that beautiful model and the story of Kjell running off to the sea at 15!