Passat!

Passat - we got a car! After test driving several cars and assessing the used car market in the area, we settled on a black 2004 Volkswagen Passat stationwagon. We liked the way it drove, and it was the most practical, safe, and fun one we could find. We pick it up Wednesday since we negotiated a fresh coat of paint. Can't wait! To celebrate, we are thinking of taking a drive to the west coast of Norway to see some fjords.

Baby food - now I know why there is so little jarred baby food sold in Norway. Mothers usually get a year off, so they are able to make the baby food themselves. By the time they go back to work, the babies are eating table food, so there is little demand. We have been making our own food for Charlotte now. Peas, carrots, potatoes, green beans, celery, onion, cauliflower, zucchini mostly. She seems happy with it. Fruit is easy to find, fortunately. She still refuses meat. We have tried chicken, lamb, and beef so far. Maybe turkey or fish will be the magic ticket.

Dugnad - (doog - nahd) this is a Norwegian thing. It is a day, usually once or more a year, when the community gets together to work on something. It could be your neighborhood, church group, family, etc. and the project might be painting a fence, cleaning up a yard, planting flowers, or building something. Everyone is expected to participate. We had a mini dugnad yesterday, cleaning up a property the family is selling. Fun to work together.