b'Norwegian folkWritten and photos by: Eric WatnessMydaughter,AnnDurant,andI went to Dodgeville Wisconsin this past July for a Norwegian folk music camp ontheprairieinmiddleWisconsin just west of Madison. I was there to participate in the fiddle clinic focused on traditional hardingfele (hardanger fiddle) tunes. My daughter attended theworkshoptolearnfolkdance and stev, a form of singing unique toSetesdal,thecentralregionof NorwaynearTelemark,fromwhere our ancestors emigrated. Now,Iliveasplitlifeimmersed part-timeinthefreneticactivity ofBelltown,aneighborhoodin downtownSeattleneartheSeattle Center. The rest of the time we live in the bucolic setting of our home in an isolated oyster-rearing village on the southwestWashingtoncoastwhere thereislittleornoactivity.Visiting Dodgevillewasawelcomebreak from city and coastal life. While our trip to Wisconsin was a whirlwind of travel,wewereabletosettledown toenjoymusic,song,anddancein thecountry.Truthfully,wewentto Dodgeville expecting suffocating heat and humidity with a cover of smoke fromCanadawildfiresexperienced by much of those living in the eastern US.Tooursurprisewhatwefound wasawarmoasisofgreenfoliage everywhere, corn and sugar beets on the rise, gentle breezes during the day andentrancingfirefliesblinkingon, then off, over the cornfields at dusk. Smokethatwefearedblewsouth 10 Fjord Herald Issue #148Fall 2023'