Kräftskiva 2025 & Children's Club

We started off the second half of our year right with two gatherings on Sunday, August 3!

Twelve (12) children and eight (8) parents came to Children's Club to learn the three songs they will sing in Swedish. John Seest and Annette Johansson taught the children and led the sing-a-long. It is forecasted that as many as seventeen (17) children will be attending the next three months in preparation for our annual Lucia Fest performance on December 7th at the Athenaeum downtown.

Hattie Bloomquist, a Children's Club (Svea Skolan) member, also shared with the Club her fun experiences she had at the Concordia Language Camp this summer. How fun and would be nice for more club members to go!

Our craft activity this month was weaving. Brenda Miller displayed, taught and guided the children in making their own yarn bracelet. Many did well and several asked for a second weaving kit to do another project. Big success. Thank you for coming.  See you all next month!!

After Children's Club, 27 members and friends gathered at the Latvian Center to celebrate our Annual Kräftskiva (crayfish) party. Everyone brought their favorite homemade pie and delicious summer salads. Wow!  What a feast! Judi, as usual, made her smörgåstårta which is always a crowd pleaser!  It looks so yummy with the eggs, cucumber and the artfully placed shrimps. And of course, the reason for the event is the main attraction, the kräftors! There were plenty for all.

It is the opening of the Crayfish season in Sweden as shared by Judy McBride.  She led us in a Kräftskiva Quiz. We learned so much about Kräftskiva trivia. Judi, Carin, Judy and Ingrid led us in all of the traditional Kräftskiva songs. Topped off with aquavit toasts. Thank you to all who helped make this a fun and successful party. Thanks also to Juan Lago and the Youngs for their help in the kitchen. Also to Judy McBride and Anne Highway for putting up all the Kräftskiva decorations.