Genie and I watched the July 3 parade go by while we were sitting on the lawn in front of Zion Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The NRHEG Marching Band kept a lively in-step march as they went by. Morgan, on drums, did a good job of keeping the band in step.
Our vote for the most humorous parade entrant was the old vehicle with an outhouse on the back. The outhouse door was partially open, with a man using catalogue pages as the finishing touch!
A classic example of “making lemonade out of a lemon” was the hot dog stand in front of Zion Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The parade and all the parade watchers made it impossible to use the church facilities – thus the refreshment stand in front on the lawn. Did Genie and I make a purchase? You bet your Hormel Hot Dog we did!
How about this for “making lemonade out of a lemon?” I listened to two farmers discussing how it was too late to plant beans or corn. They were going to plant radishes as a cover-the-ground crop. Thy both planned on letting 4-H clubs harvest the radishes and sell them at local farmer’s market with the 4-H club keeping a percentage of the sales. Both farmers planned on letting people dig and keep radishes for a fee. Who said local farmers only have corn and soybean mentality?
We listened to the 4th of July Over-60 Band perform in the band shell by Fountain Lake in Albert Lea. After observing who some of the band members were, we now know why they’re so long-winded in speaking. They’re just performance practicizing!
Following the band was the 45-minute fireworks. I counted about 275 individual shootings with the last 20 being the best and loudest. We noticed a few people left just before the end, due to the noise that would cause irregular heartbeats by their pacemaker.
I took a drive on July 4, 2012 to look for corn about knee high – couldn’t find any. I took a drive on July 4, 2013 to look for corn about knee high – couldn’t find any. (In fact, I had a tough time finding cornfields!) I’ve been told only about 40 percent of the planned planting in this area was actually planted.
Ah, yes, how sweet it is – the season of the local county fair. We plan on attending the Freeborn County Fair in Albert Lea beginning Tuesday, July 30. We try to attend the country music shows in the grandstand. I will be working the Lions Bingo stand on Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3 in the evening. Stop by and say “Hi!”
Instead of going out for coffee and talking smart Saturday morning Aug. 3 – get your nourishment at the Old Thompson Boat House at Beaver Lake starting at 9 a.m. It is guaranteed there will be nourishment for both the mind and the body. The conversation will be both fact and fiction with pictures to back it up. Anyone who has ever been to Beaver Lake is most welcome even if Saturday, Aug. 3 is your first time.
Here’s an ad read on TV’s “Good Morning America” newspaper goodies (as appearing in the International Falls, Minn. newspaper): “Native Floridian moving to your town, looking for fully furnaced apartment.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. 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. Bob says if you enjoy his column, 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.