Pheasant hunting season in Minnesota has ended for 2023. This was the 82nd year in a row the American Legion provided pheasant dinners in December to veterans and guests at the Five Minnesota Veterans Homes.
Prior to 1980 Legionaires went pheasant hunting and donated pheasants they and others harvested for the Big Feed. (I was one of the hunters many years.)
Two problems have happened. 1. There aren’t as many pheasants. 2. The pheasant hunter numbers have declined mainly due to aging (myself included.)
The question became how to solve the problem and keep up the tradition. The answer was “Buy the pheasants!! Yep, that is just what the American Legion did!! 400 frozen pheasants at about $25 per pheasant were purchased from the Oakwood Game Farm by Highway 169 just south of Princeton, Minnesota.
(I suspect many of you have seen all the pheasants on the east side of the road as you’re traveling north into Princeton.)
True Story: An old military veteran from England was visiting his military buddy in Albert Lea. His first observation became, “Why do you have many water closets on the lake ice?”
With all the sunny cold weather, I hope you noticed the two bright sun dogs opposite each other, especially at high noon. If you saw a 3rd sun dog between the two bright sun dogs – that was Ole’s bright bald head reflection!!
If you want to see a busy assembly line production, stop in any Friday or Saturday evening of the week at about 7 p.m. and observe at Domino’s in Albert Lea.
Genie and I are going out to Big Island State Park just outside of Albert Lea about 7 a.m. Friday, February 2, 2024. We will purchase breakfast to go from Taco John’s in Albert Lea on the way.
We know where the groundhogs live just west of the pavilion in the middle of the park. We’re hoping it is overcast and cloudy; thus, no more winter. (To encourage him to stay out of his hole even though it’s cloudy and overcast, we will bring two Taco John’s tacos – one for him and one for her.)
As a group of old timers, we’re having our early a.m. coffee hour at Hy-Vee in Albert Lea, solving all the local problems plus who should win the next U.S. presidential election. The topic turned to age of a U.S. President.
All of the old timers were over 65, but under 90 in age. They all agreed there should be an age restriction with 85 the max for a U.S. President.
The group puts a dime in a big coin jar every time one attends. The money is used to treat an attendee the day of or a few days either way of their birthday to coffee and a breakfast goodie. My birthday was January 23rd, so I was treated that day. On that day the birthday person is to tell their current health problems (old guys tend to talk about their health problems), so I did. I was then asked if I qualified to be the U.S. President. My answer was, “No,” as per all of us agreed no older than 85 and I just turned 87!!
P.S. For those of you wondering, a water closet is an outside building used as a toilet in England.
P.P.S. I am pleased to let you know the water closet is inside Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. It is easily accessible when you’re attending the Valentine party 6 p.m. Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 with Norwegian Bingo. Call 373-8655 Bob Hanson to attend.
— — —
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 New York. 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.