It’s hard to say what makes something resonate with you, isn’t it? It’s an elusive combination of comfort, family, sentimentalism, history, and straight up feelings. I have something to share with you all tonight that may make you all go, “HUH?!?” but it is -for me- a little bit of everything that something should be.
You may or may not know I’m originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It’s one of those places that sticks with you. It’s a way of life and an attitude and all sorts of feeling superior. Being FROM the Upper Peninsula of Michigan makes you feel like you’re part of lore. You’re born with “Sisu”; the Finnish word that means something along the lines of “determination, bravery, resilience, and ability to persevere.” When you are in and amongst raw, unsettled areas with dramatic weather that puts you in your place on a regular basis, you kind of feel like Sisu is your birthright.
What you may not know, too, is that your Sisu is often commensurate with the gear you have to deal with the weather. The Original Stormy Kromer Cap is the unofficial Yooper headgear uniform. Invented by Ida Kromer -wife to the namesake Stormy Kromer- to keep her railroad engineering hubby’s ears warm, these toasty wool Stormy Kromers are able to stay put in even Lake Superior gale force winds. Nothing takes this cap off your head but your own hands, friends. And when you’re facing down a blizzard, this is a very good thing indeed.
So to celebrate Thanksgiving, the impending weather, your steadfast friendship here on Foodie with Family, and inject a little Sisu into someone’s life, I’m giving away one Original Stormy Kromer Cap to a member of the FWF family.
Stormy Kromer Giveaway
The Prize
One Original Stormy Kromer Cap in Red/Black Plaid (an alternate colour scheme may be substituted if the winner’s size is unavailable.)
How to Enter
Visit the Stormy Kromer site and use their instructions on how to determine your hat size. Leave a comment telling me what YOUR Sisu is and what your hat size is!
The Details
I’m sorry to say this is only open to my friends in the US due to customs and duty issues. I will draw a winner’s name on Friday, November 28th, 2014! I’ll contact the winner by email and they will have 24 hours to get back to me. If more than 24 hours go by, I’ll select and notify a new winner.
This is my twenty fourth post in my commitment to post every. single. day in November for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), or NaBlahBlahBlah as I prefer to call it. Follow the craziness all month as I share recipes, family anecdotes, and throw a couple of giveaways in for good measure!
DISCLOSURE: This giveaway is sponsored by Foodie with Family. Stormy Kromer is not affiliated with me in any way even though I wear their hat all winter long.
Reader's Thoughts...
IrishJenn says
My sisu is the combination of my Irish-American heritage and my years as a military kid and spouse.
My hat size is 7.
Vinnie says
My sisu is my strong will . My size is 7 1/8
Patty Jones says
Hello , I am proud to say my sisu is everything Irish and Native American. My hat size is 7 1/4
Thank you
Beth S. says
My Sisu is my strong, independent spirit… might just be the red hair… 😉 My hat size is 7 1/8.
And I just learned about Stormy Kromers last week. I complimented a friend on her hat (a cute little pink & grey number) & the first thing she said was, “It’s a Stormy Kromer.” I said, “A who?” She educated me!
Marilou Lacy says
My son has sisu due to the wonderful father that we lost 3ys. ago. They had a love of being outdoors and hunting but mostly just enjoying guy time together. Also he has a smoker and we made your canadian bacon 2 wks. ago. I now have both of my grown children as addicted to your site as I am. hat size is 7 1/2.
alayna says
I’ve never heard of Sisu, but I have to say, just reading it made me think that Texans have that too, but for different reasons. I’ve often marveled at how the first Texans would have had to face the intense heat (without AC!) blowing dust, extreme cold (although usually short-lived) and of course all the venomous snakes and spiders and scorpions and wild animals. And obviously, if you’ve ever met a Texan, we do have a superiority complex, so, I feel like I’ve got some Sisu from being a Texan. But right now, my personal Sisu comes from having 6 children (two of whom are foster children) and trying to start us on a real food journey as much as possible. It takes perseverance, determination, planning, and an ability to block out whines from kids who miss their processed food. I will forego entering this contest although that hat is pretty cute, but I feel that in my part of Texas it would only get used a handful of times in the year, so it should go to someone who could use it more often (although I do have a poor brother and sister-in-law who have left the beautiful heat of the Promised Land of Texas for the frozen land of Nebraska who would use it I’m sure!) Plus, about a month ago I won a $100 JCPenney card from your blog – yippee! It’s the first time I’ve even won something from a blog giveaway, and it was right at the time we got the new foster kids, so it couldn’t have come at a better time – thank you!
Audrey says
7 1/4 please, and thank you.
Audrey says
Whoops…hit “enter” too quickly. My sisu are my family and friends.
Margaret says
LOVE the hat!
My sisu is my puppy. My hat size is 7 1/8
Sarah says
My sisu is from my lovely Finnish family born and bred in the beautiful U.P. I didn’t know you were from there – so cool. What town are you from?
Rebecca says
My dad lived in Champion until very recently, but I’m from near L’Anse.
Sarah says
My mom grew up in Houghton and my dad in Hancock! My husband and I got married in Eagle Harbor. We’ve been to L’Anse several times. Beautiful area. We hope to vacation up there next summer.
Mary says
Size 7 3/8 I live in the highlands of the snow country in the UP and have never had a Stormy Kromer. I would love to rock that when out plowing or shoveling the drive and also when I trek to the grocery store!
Bonnie (BornInaZoo) says
I don’t need to go to the site to know my size! I have (had … left one in a hotel room) two. I wear a 6 3/4. My Sisu is being a Yooper since I was 6 months old. 23 of those years I lived just up the hill from the shores of Lake Superior. I’ve been on the shores of Lake Michigan for the past 14 years. The other 10 years I lived inland. I know a lot about Sisu … my step-grandfather was a full-blood Finn.
Peggy in MN says
My Sisu is the recipe box I inherited from my Polish/Bohemian grandmother. She was a caterer, and once I got past the “feeds 200” in most of the recipes, I cook soups and stews all winter long. My hat size is 7
Sandra Dennison says
My Sisu is my ability to embrace and thrive with change. My hat size is 7.
christopher sorel says
My SISU is french Canadian and polish heritage with some UP mixed in. My size is 7 5/8
Cassie S says
My sisu is my Irishness. My hat size is 7. Thanks
Rita T says
My Sisu is my German heritage. My hat size is 7-1/4. Thanks for the giveaway.
jessie says
My New Sisu is the help I get from my happy lights, and a yoga practice based on balance and equanimity through the winter months My Stormy Kromer size would be a 7. Great giveaway!
David @ Spiced says
Yay! What an awesome giveaway, Rebecca! My hat size is 7 1/4″. 🙂
sharon says
7 7/8 please & thank you. My sisu is living on the hill alone in the winter.
Debbie S. says
Thank you for this opportunity. My Sisu is my Polish Heritage and my hat size is 7-1/8