After the Celebration of Life service, Genie and I attended the fellowship honoring Russ Reistad in the Fellowship Dining area at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. After no longer being a summer resident at Beaver Lake for the last seven summers, the gathering was an “old home visit.” As is usual when people haven’t seen each other for a few years, the conversation turned to who has aged and who hasn’t.
Arlen Brekke, of the “I build ‘em, you sell ‘em” team with CEO Coleen Brekke, remarked that the only change he noticed was the nails he pounded weren’t as sharp as they used to be—thus they were harder to pound.
Ginger and Jerry Thompson both chimed in, stating that the nails were just as sharp as before. It was Arlen that wasn’t as sharp!
Genie and I thank all of you who recognized us. A special thanks to First Lutheran for continuing to send us your church newsletter.
Genie and I enjoyed the Fourth of July parade the evening of July 3. Once again, we had our chair for two facing Bridge Street from in front of Zion Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The members of Zion once again had a very convenient snack bar (hot dogs, treats and pop along with great conversation) and had an excellent float in the parade, with many of the parade watchers clapping loudly as they passed Zion Lutheran Church.
The NRHEG Panther Marching Band made me feel proud of my alma mater!
The Fourth of July fireworks on Fountain Lake were even better than last year—especially the ending. We sat by the same Lake Mills people as the last three years. It rained just before the end like the previous three years; just enough to open our umbrella.
Comment from the local weatherman, “Everything is not peachy keen when the weather is mean.” This comment was made after all the rain in Olmsted County.
Fact or fiction: one of the most popular ladies in the U.S. is fictional—namely, Betty Crocker.
Just when I think I’ve seen it all. I didn’t think a hummingbird could be hand-fed nectar. Buy a couple of what are called nectar dots (Albert Lea Seed House has them for sale.), fill with hummer nectar and place by your current hummer feeder. Once a hummer starts drinking out of the nectar dot, hold it in your hand and viola: you now have a hand-fed hummingbird. (The nectar dot is about the size of a milk cap.)
The hot conversation in the fishing world of Minnesota is the 61 ½ inch Muskie captured, photographed and released by biologists at Mille Lacs Lake this spring. For verification I refer you to the Mille Lacs DRN fisheries manager, Carl Klimah.
As of July 1 the big Muskie had not been caught. Genie and I plan on fishing with piano wire in the morning for the Muskie and deer hunting in the afternoon during the Minnesota deer hunting season this November.
P.S. Betty Crocker is a fictional character, thus the answer is fact.
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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.