You've probably seen rosemåling before, even if the word is new to you. It's a style of Norwegian folk painting that features leaves, flowers, geometric patterns, and lush scrollwork. Since my family is very proud of its Norwegian heritage, and since both my mom and nana were really interested in folk painting when I was growing up, I've been surrounded by rosemåling for as long as I can remember.

Her low bed, oak dresser, and toilet-table could be tucked out of view with a flick of her wrist. In the main area, a plain, solid table with four decent chairs took up one wall, the cast-iron stove and window the other. Crockery, china and linens;...

I pulled over on the shoulder, and when there was no traffic either way, pulled a U-ey across the road.

There exists significant doubt about the practicability of an antibathing and antiworship campaign in a country with 800 million practicing Hindus who come to the river by the tens of millions each year to bathe and worship.