Happy New Year!!!

Hope your Christmas was Merry!

The leftovers are done with. The extra cookies and rolls are frozen, and tomorrow the menu goes back to normal. The Christmas tree will stay up for another week or two. Then winter begins in earnest.

I don't take pictures at Christmas any more, but others do and so far, these are the memories that have been posted on Facebook so far. Somebody counted 19 in the house -- I have no idea. One grandson was not feeling well, and a granddaughter and her family including the Christmas baby from last year were visiting in South Dakota. Two other granddaughters and their families who live in different states were also not with us this year.

Norene is sitting in front of the window, my daughter Chris is in front of her,  and the little boy is her son  Dylan, the lady in the green sweater is my daughter Cheryl, and Riana is sitting at the table. Someone has been busy opening a present. We begin this part of the evening by each person opening a present and they have to decide who the present goes to -- then that person opens a present and gives it to the person they think should have it. Sometimes it gets pretty funny. Christine received a set of bed risers, and every time somebody received something they weren't quite sure what they would do with, Chris would wave the bed risers and say "Could be worse!" and more laughter would erupt. 

My daughter-in-law, Tricia, received a photo of Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz. This will have a cherished spot in her office.
Norene's saffron rolls on the left are almost gone! They are the highlight of our Christmas Eve dinner.

This is Oscar who hid under the tablecloth on the dining room table, hoping the littlest girls wouldn't find him and his toy.

Over the years I have been given Swedish tomtes who sit on my chandelier all year long. They look particularly festive and happy this Christmas!

And when the night is over, the little ones are done!

Elle Mae couldn't make it to the car

This one is Alanna

This one is Kalea

And even 8 year old Dylan was fast asleep on the way home. 

For Those of Us Who Are Older

Mary Ann sent me an email this morning with a link to

Bob Hope Christmas

Part of every Christmas growing up was listening to the radio for the Bob Hope Christmas Show for the troops, and later watching them on television.

As I watched, it brought back so many memories and sometimes brought tears.

Merry Christmas from our past!

God Jul! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Norene, Doug and I would all like to wish our wonderful relatives and friends around the globe a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It's been a hectic couple of weeks for all of us. Norene has had an infection that has been bothersome and she has had to have extra doctor appointments for, the weather in Beloit has been bothersome for Doug not only with extra snow but icy streets as well, I have been busy finishing projects for Christmas, and Riana and I have been enjoying the Christmas parties for mentally, physically and emotionally disabled adults and children at Courage Center where we volunteer each week.

We missed celebrating Lucia Day (December 13th) this year for the first time in 10 years.

Lucia Service at the oldest Lutheran Church in Minnesota in 2012

The Altar

The church has no electricity, is lit by candles, and warmed by body heat

Riana as Lucia at Gammelgarden in 2012

'Lussekatts'

Riana about 6, serving in the morning before going to school

Wonder if she is praying that her hair doesn't catch fire!

Lucia Day is the first day of Christmas, saffron rolls, ginger cookies, and love

For more information about how Christmas is celebrated in Sweden, you can find it here.

            http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml

Along the left side, you can find links to information on how Christmas is celebrated around the world. 

Many of my family will gather here on Christmas Eve, and we will have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner consisting of Lutfisk, Swedish Potato Sausage, Swedish Meatballs, potatoes, rutmos (mashed rutebages), pickled herring, beets, and my favorite -- saffron rolls. We will end our evening with rice pudding and lingonberries, and platters of Christmas cookies and fruitcake. One lucky person will get an almond in their rice pudding and an extra Christmas present along with good luck in the coming year.

I'm ending this post with a Swedish photo from a relative of my mother's. She stated that she often doesn't notice the beauty of the view from her bedroom window since she sees it every day. Winter in Sweden looks a lot like the winter views in Upper Michigan and in Minnesota where I live. 

And another one of our younger relatives and her cat on the Lundwall side

Anna, and Linus the cat, daughter of Lisbeth Martinsson from Falun, Dalarna, Swedem

Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas! God Jul!

Updated Information on Ekeqvists in Sverige (Sweden)

The following is from my second cousin on my mother's side in Sweden (Mycket tack, Dagne!) I am sending it to you the way she sent it. First, her note on what she is sending:

About the documents I am sending.

Jan and Johan is used as the same name during at least this time period.

After the two Johan Ekeqvist I have written their birth year to try not mixing them up.

If there are more than one child with the same name in a family the first one has probably died. I have not had time to follow the whole families so there are at least two girls with the same name and no date of death for the first one.

The last period I have found Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is in Längbro 1851-1855. For the year 1852 is a note that Johan Ekeqvist has been punished for theft for the second time. Johan’s wife dies 1855. After that I know nothing about Johan Ekeqvist or Anders Gustaf. If I have time later on perhaps I can try to follow Anders’ sisters and brothers in the records. Earlier I have sometimes found parents (and sisters and brothers) by their married children. Perhaps Johan was in prison, I don’t know. As he was very poor I am sure he had no money for paying fines and I would guess the poverty was probably the reasong for stealing. As I understand many people were very poor during this time.

Johan Ekeqvist (1811) left for Nora 1827 but I have not been trying to find him because I don’t know where in the parish to search.

After the period 1851-1855 next time I have found Anders Gustaf is 1866 when I have found him in Fellingsbro, Munktorp (as Sue also has found him) and after that in Gävle (Gefle= the old spelling).  So between 1855 (or perhaps earlier) and 1866 Anders has disappeared. Of course he is some place, probably in Örebro län, but I have no idea where.

--------------

Next, in chronological order:

Ekeqvist

Örebro Gällersta C:1 Födde 1732-1815

Jan born Sept 4 christened Sept 9 1781

Father: Jan Andersson

Mother: Stina Petersdotter in Södra Bro

Family Jan Andersson (1740)

Jan Andersson born Ekeby 1740 Nov 15

Wife Stina Persdotter born 1741 Gällersta

Son Anders born 1773 Oct 2 Gällersta

Daughter Stina born 1776 Febr 22 Gällersta

Son Per born 1778 Oct 5 Gällersta - 1794 moving to E Bankekind¹⁾

Son Jan born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Daughter Cathrina born 1784 March 14(?) Gällersta – dead 1796 July 28

^{1) -} E Bankekind (difficult to read so I am not sure. E could be the letter for Östergötlands län and there the parish Bankekind)

1791 –

Jan Andersson (1740) to Fattighuset ²⁾

Son Jan f 1781 to Klockarbord (Klockarbord - a village or a place in the parish)

²⁾ Fattighus=poor house, shelter for the poor

1800

Son Jan (1781) to work at Erik Larsson in Gällersta

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1781) – called Jan (or Johan) Jansson earlier

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Wife Lena Gustafsdotter born 1780 Almby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1805 Sept 4 Ekeby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1810 Jan 17 Ekeby

Son Johan born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Daughter Anna Sophia born 1816 July 11 Ekeby – dead 1818

Son Anders born 1819 Nov 28 Ekeby

Johan Ekeqvist (1781) dead 1822 June 29

Lena (Helena Gustafsdotter dead 1855 Oct 17 in cholera.

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1811)

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Wife Ulrica Sophia Larsdotter born 1806 March 10 Ånsta – dead 1855 Oct 17 from cholera.

Daughter Anna Maria born 1830 Febr 25 Vintrosa - (A note that she is the wife’s own daughter. No name of the father).

Daughter Charlotta Carolina born 1832 July 29 Ånsta

Daughter Sophia Lovisa born 1835 Nov 8 Ånsta

Son Carl Johan born 1838 Febr 2 Ånsta

Son Anders Gustaf born 1840 May 25 Täby

Son Per August born 1843 Febr 14 Glanshammar

Daughter Mathilda born 1848 Oct 5 Längbro

1841

The whole family moving from Skeppsta by, Täby to Södra Palmbrohult, Mosjö.

1842

The whole family moving to Husby, Glanshammar.

1844

The whole family moving to Längbro. In Längbro they are noted as “Husvilla”, which means they had no place to live in.

In Längbro, after 1851, they are noted as “På socknen” which means the parish has to give them food and living.

1852

A note that Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is punished for theft for the 2^nd time.

1855

Oct 17.Ulrika Sophia (wife of Johan Ekeqvist (1811) dies from cholera

----------------

Ekeqvist

Örebro Gällersta C:1 Födde 1732-1815

Jan born Sept 4 christened Sept 9 1781

Father: Jan Andersson

Mother: Stina Petersdotter in Södra Bro

Family Jan Andersson (1740)

Jan Andersson born Ekeby 1740 Nov 15

Wife Stina Persdotter born 1741 Gällersta

Son Anders born 1773 Oct 2 Gällersta

Daughter Stina born 1776 Febr 22 Gällersta

Son Per born 1778 Oct 5 Gällersta - 1794 moving to E Bankekind¹⁾

Son Jan born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Daughter Cathrina born 1784 March 14(?) Gällersta – dead 1796 July 28

^{1) -} E Bankekind (difficult to read so I am not sure. E could be the letter for Östergötlands län and there the parish Bankekind)

1791 –

Jan Andersson (1740) to Fattighuset ²⁾

Son Jan f 1781 to Klockarbord (Klockarbord - a village or a place in the parish)

²⁾ Fattighus=poor house, shelter for the poor

1800

Son Jan (1781) to work at Erik Larsson in Gällersta

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1781) – called Jan (or Johan) Jansson earlier

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Wife Lena Gustafsdotter born 1780 Almby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1805 Sept 4 Ekeby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1810 Jan 17 Ekeby

Son Johan born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Daughter Anna Sophia born 1816 July 11 Ekeby – dead 1818

Son Anders born 1819 Nov 28 Ekeby

Johan Ekeqvist (1781) dead 1822 June 29

Lena (Helena Gustafsdotter dead 1855 Oct 17 in cholera.

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1811)

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Wife Ulrica Sophia Larsdotter born 1806 March 10 Ånsta – dead 1855 Oct 17 from cholera.

Daughter Anna Maria born 1830 Febr 25 Vintrosa - (A note that she is the wife’s own daughter. No name of the father).

Daughter Charlotta Carolina born 1832 July 29 Ånsta

Daughter Sophia Lovisa born 1835 Nov 8 Ånsta

Son Carl Johan born 1838 Febr 2 Ånsta

Son Anders Gustaf born 1840 May 25 Täby

Son Per August born 1843 Febr 14 Glanshammar

Daughter Mathilda born 1848 Oct 5 Längbro

1841

The whole family moving from Skeppsta by, Täby to Södra Palmbrohult, Mosjö.

1842

The whole family moving to Husby, Glanshammar.

1844

The whole family moving to Längbro. In Längbro they are noted as “Husvilla”, which means they had no place to live in.

In Längbro, after 1851, they are noted as “På socknen” which means the parish has to give them food and living.

1852

A note that Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is punished for theft for the 2^nd time.

1855

Oct 17.Ulrika Sophia (wife of Johan Ekeqvist (1811) dies from cholera

Leo Molinaro

The husband of Eileen Osterberg Molinaro (Aunt Ida's daughter), Leo Molinaro died at one minute after midnight on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. He had slipped the day before and hit his head in the bathroom. He never regained consciousness. And poor Eileen asks where he is every five minutes, and when they have to tell her, again, that he died, she says “Oh my—I have to take this in.” And then a few minutes later she has to ask again. She wasn’t there—she was in the hospital recovering from a broken hip.

Leo was 91 years old. As of now, a Christmas memorial service is being planned. 

Eileen and Rhoda Hoaglund are the only remaining children of Ida Ekquist Osterberg.

Word was received from Judy Buck-Glenn and Ron Osterberg. 

Yulekaka or Yulekaga, or Scandinavian Christmas Bread

Mary Ann shared two recipes for Yulekake (Norwegian breads) she received from a friend. The first one can be made in the bread machine:

YuleKake Recipe 

Scandanavian Bread

Ingredients:1 cup 1% low-fat milk, plus 1 T. 

1 egg
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 1/8 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup candied citron
1/4 cup raisins golden

Directions:  Place all ingredients except for the citron and raisins in the order given into the bread machine. Coat the citron and raisins very lightly with whole wheat flour so that they do not clump together. Use a 1.5 lb., light cycle. Ten minutes before the first knead finishes, add the raisins and citron.
NOTES : Check for proper dough consistency after 5 to 10 minutes of kneading; add up to a tablespoon of milk or a tablespoon of bread flour as needed. Use more or less citron as desired. 

12 servings Nutritional Info (per serving): 188 Calories (kcal); 3g Total Fat; (12% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 23mg Cholesterol; 129mg Sodium 

The second one is begun in a mixer:

Yulakake  (second recipe)

Ingredients:41/2 to 5 cups unbleached flour

2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup mixed candied fruit
1 cup golden raisins

Directions:In large mixer bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of the flour with the yeast and cardamom. In saucepan, heat together milk, butter, sugar, and salt just till warm, stirring occasionally to melt butter. Add to dry mixture in mixer bowl; add egg. Beat at low seed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. By hand, stir in fruits, raisins, and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn out on lightly floured surface; knead till smooth, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover; let rise till double, 1 1/4 to 1/1/2 hours. Punch down; divide dough in half. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Shape in 2 loaves. Place in 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. (I run a strip of greased, waxed paper along the bottom of the pan so that the bread will come out easier.) Cover; let rise till double, about 45 minutes. Combine one slightly beaten egg yolk, and 2 tablespoons water; brush over loaves. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes (until loaves are golden and bottom sounds hollow). Remove from pans; cool. Drizzle with thin confectioners' sugar icing and garnish with sliced almonds and red adn green cherries, if desired. Makes 2 loaves

--------------------

My mother didn't like citron very much, so she made hers with candied fruit -- and she always made hers round loaves rather than using standard loaf pans. 

Gavle -- the part of Sweden the Ekekqvists Immigrated From

Sue has also shared the following website with us:

Gavle Photos

This shows the city where the Anders and Lovisa left in Sweden to come to Florence, Wisconsin, for the promise of free land to be homesteaded in "Amerika." Over the years, the oldest settlement was called Gavle-ägarna, which means "Gavel-owners". This name was shortened to Gavle, then Gefle, and finally Gävle.

The Swedish Christmas Goat made of straw was first made in Gävle, and this ornament is sold worldwide at Christmas time.

About 20 years ago, I began collecting Vinranka dinnerware, known also as Swedish Flow Blue, and which is made in Gävle.

Today Gävle is well-known for the coffee called Gevalia, produced by Kraft General Foods Scandinavia and exported under multiple brand names. Gevalia is particularly popular in the United States. 

Enjoy!