On July 13, a young lady had her golden birthday (13 on the 13th). We were lucky enough to be part of her birthday brunch held at the Kernel’s Restaurant in Owatonna. Happy Birthday and many more to come, great niece, Anna Marie Combs.
When Grandpa Joel introduced me to his granddaughter, Savannah, he was beaming! Savannah flew from California to water ski on Beaver Lake for the second time in her young lifetime. Grandpa Joel even drove the boat!
DNR personnel put three live traps plus one gill net last week (two consecutive days) in Beaver Lake. The number of walleyes and their size was unbelievable for a lake so small.
They also caught a number of good sized sunnies. By the time you read this, the results should be available online. It bothers me when a gill net is used, as there is no survival.
The three young redtail hawks have returned to their nest where they were born here at Beaver Lake. They remind me of grown-up youngsters that return to the nest. Many moms and dads know what I’m referring to.
Some of you have wondered if I’m the Bob Hansen on the Steele County Park and Recreation Board. No, I’m not. Same name, different person, different spelling.
Papa and Mama Canadian honkers hatched five babies that they are raising on Beaver Lake. The babies are now the same size and look just like the parents. When swimming, they line up one after the other.
I’m certain one parent is the leader, but where is the other parent in the line? Second, last or somewhere else. Genie says last. I say second. What do you think?
For some reason, it quit raining. Genie and I tried all the usual ways to make it rain.
We washed both HHR vehicles – no rain. We watered the flowers – no rain. We washed the cabin windows – no rain. We left the car windows down – no rain. We hung up the wash outside – no rain. We prayed – no rain. ‘Twas then that we gave up.
As we left Hy-Vee in Albert Lea on a dark, cloudy, overcast, looks-like-rain evening, we spotted Farmer Craig Williams. He was with some of his Harley biker friends from Alden under a tree by the entrance to Hy-Vee.
I asked Craig what they are doing. He replied, “We’re going to make it rain. We have no helmets, no rain gear, and our best riding clothes. That always makes it rain.” We drove away shaking our heads. No way.
Did they make it rain? Yes and no. Yes, it rained one-half inch in Albert Lea. No, it didn’t rain in Alden!
We attended the Hanson Family Reunion on Broad Street in Mankato. We met at the house where Great Grandpa “Hans” lived when Mankato was first mapped.
Great Grandpa Hans was on the town council when the mayor announced it was time to name the streets. The mayor had a map with the streets beginning with Main Street. Each street to the side was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and so on.
Hans got very excited when he realized he would have to tell all his Norwegian friends that the street he lived on was “T’ird” Street. The mayor asked Hans if he had a better idea.
To which Hans replied, “Yes, name my street ‘Broad,’ just like my shoulders.”
Readers, now you know why there is no 3rd Street in Mankato and Broad Street can be found between 2nd and 4th Street.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.