The Ellendale Days parade has always impressed me, not for it’s grandeur but because of hometown effort with people and floats and other attractions from their own community.

I know it's the fun thing for the children, but throwing candy has always been debatable for me. It could be a safety issue, plus I think that treats should be given out by hand. I question the practice of throwing candy in the street. What are we teaching the children? 

We are told to remove our shoes at the door in people’s homes because of the high rate of bacteria they bring into our homes. We also teach our children not to pick up food items from the floor and eat it.

When we take them to a parade  we allow them to scoop up goodies by the handful from the dirty street. Yes, I know they are wrapped and clean, but it is contrary to what we teach our children. Isn't it?

The kids are so busy looking for the candy that may be thrown that they are not looking at and appreciating what is in the parade.

In an effort to stop childhood obesity, we tell them that candy isn't good for them because it is loaded with sugar, and yet we allow them free candy as a part of the parade. We also send our kids out trick or treating on Halloween for candy.  Yes, we can ration out the treats over a period of time. But do we? 

Also, depending on where we let them go (and one should always go with them) what does, "Don't talk or take anything from strangers," mean? Yet, in a sense, we often break the rules so to speak because we may know the people that are offering them treats but the kids don't.

Once again, the kids get so interested in the candy treats that are being offered to them they don't really acknowledge the person handing it out. We could try giving something inedible and safer, but those little beggars or scavengers have been brain washed since toddlers to expect sweet treats.

I have noticed that the stores have been winding up with an over abundance of goodies. Are they buying more or selling less? Are people acknowledging the not-so-healthy eating habits?

Kids will think I am a real killjoy, spoiling their fun, but I haven't even started in on the qualities of soda pop. How do we teach them to appreciate the good taste of sparkling water? 

A good science project would be showing how much sugar is in flavored beverages and how much damage that sugar can do — and I am not talking about the added weight it way cause. 

Save those things for a treat? Never call them a treat. It makes them think it is something special; an award.

In the old days, the rule was to clean your plate. That has changed for the better. We tend to put smaller portions on plates and only suggest that our children eat bites to try. 

When a friend of mine had problems with her picky little eater and asked the doctor what she should do, he told her not to worry. Better to have good food available and limit it to that.

He said they’ll eat when they are hungry. The more fuss we make about eating habits, the kids will use their powers that be to push us.

Children aren't dumb. You can talk to them and they understand why some foods aren't their best bet. The waitress almost dropped her teeth when my little granddaughter, Morgan, ordered broccoli for dinner.

Never say, “Ick," about food you want your kids to eat. If papa doesn't want it, junior won't either. 

Same thing goes for things they should eat. If mama makes it and papa eats it, more than likely princess will too. But of course we catch ourselves serving things we like best!

When the kids wouldn't eat something my mother always said, “I guess you aren't old enough to like that yet,” thinking that they would want to try it. The child answered, "I'll just wait ‘til I am old enough."

It is no surprise that we have to look to the younger generation for help with electronic devices. They've known since birth how to manipulate Mom, Dad and the grandparents. 

It just comes natural and let's face it — we love it! Nothing is more precious than your children except their children.

Habits too! Don't expect kids to clean up their mess, put things and clothes away, brush teeth and hair and go to bed on time if you don't. If you want your child to drink water, do the same. It isn't going to hurt you! 

Then there is that little one who is anxious not to leave her parents lap so she sits quietly watching the others having a free for all. Meanwhile, everyone tries to coax them from their security lap to join the others. Adults at the same time are admonishing the livewires to be quieter and less aggressive.

Let's face it: there's only one perfect child in the world, and every family has it.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. 

If you have news please contact me via e-mail,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405

 • Thursday, August 9th: Warren & Solveig Sorenson, Aaron & Mickki Heimer, Linda Wayne, Mavis Knudtson, Steven LeRoy Christensen, Cherie Halla, Karen Holmes, Amber Nordland, Angie Reichl, Dustin Jepson, Sierra Ellen Misgen, Josiah Jeffrey Schei, Christopher Quentin Haberman.

 • Friday, August 10th: Lynn Arends, Linda Weckwerth, Teresa Wright, Jeff Olson, Vernon Cornelius, Michelle Brandt, Richelle Butler Chapman, Melisssa Cornelius Large, Dustin Dobberstein, Thayne Nordland, Cheyenne Bergerson, Ross & Kathie Lein, Steve & Kathy Nelson, Darrin & Linda Stadheim.

 • Saturday, August 11th: Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga.

 • Sunday, August 12th: Linda & LaVerne Stieglbauer, Shawna Robertson, Tessa Christensen, Kristine Schroeder, Cindy Oswald, Cindy Nelson, Cynthia Crabtree, Thomas Smith, Ross Swearingen, Genie Hanson, Amy Tasker.

 • Monday, August 13th: Dennis Deml, Tim Enzenauer, David Haddy, Bob Brandt, Lisa Dummer, Megan Dummer, Janet Hope, Kellie Petranek, Sylvia Jepson, Saxton Chad Ritz.

 • Tuesday, August 14th: David & Carrie Paulson, Mark Sorenson, Lucille Nechanicky, Gretchen Oswald Thompson, Peter Kasper, Leah Berg, Wes Neidermeier, Alison & Chad Muilenburg.

 • Wednesday, August 15th: Roger Wayne, Obert Osmundson, Kaye Dee Hanson, Nancy Nelson, Stephanie Peterson, Rhonda Shelton, Cade Shelton, Brian Warnke, Dorrie Horan, Michael Suelter, Larry & Kathleen Jensen, Kellie Benning, Brian Warnke, Maverick Harold Knutson.

Wishing you much happiness on your special day!

Who doesn't like garage sales, rummage sales, used a bit sales — whatever you want to call them?  Oh, I know there are some who don't, but for many it is a fun-filled adventure. 

One can find more variety at a rummage sale than any department store could possibly have on display. It is seldom the shopper who will be able to walk away from the sale without finding something that is calling his or her name and many of these things become favorite treasures.

Vintage items turn up now and then at rummage sales and sometimes collectors can enjoy a profit. I know one lady who found a valued picture behind a picture she bought for the frame.

You will always find cookbooks at garage sales. My mother was fortunate to find a tattered copy of a cookbook from the Oak Street Club. Cookbooks are like reading material. What a good time we had reading not only the recipes but also the names of those who submitted them. Most of them are now gone, but my mother recalled them in memory. Sometimes the names of the people who submitted the recipe are as enduring as the recipe itself.

The most memorable recipe I'll ever know is in the old Methodist cookbook that my mom got years ago that contained a recipe from Mrs. Ferguson for chicken soup. It was one chicken, one carrot, etc.  It was like soup used to be years ago. It had more broth and wasn't like the soup that we tend to make now that almost gets to be a hotdish as it is so thick. 

No way could one use all those cookbook collectables, but every book will have a recipe you've never used. They come from far and near and though you may always go back to your “Better Homes and Garden” cookbook, especially if you are in a hurry, you'll also find favorites written in the blank spots in these great cookbooks. Interestingly enough — look for the tattered copies that in essence tell you they have really been used. Everal Lageson used to say, "Show me your dirty recipes,” the ones spattered with flour and egg yolks and other ingredients, as it showed which were the favorite recipe that were often used. 

Collectors always find the special little things that find a place in their hobby or maybe something they don't need but can't resist. Salt and pepper shakers, cups and saucers, books, and teddy bears are good examples. And then there are the needlework items that took so much time, money and relaxing hours to produce. They are prime finds for those who aren't needlework inclined. 

Don't forget about the toys: the dolls, trucks, puzzles, etc. Talking books and other battery toys often need the batteries replaced, but kids like noise and musical toys and there are plenty out there. Don't forget to look at the books. There are usually some really good books that you can share with your children or grandchildren.

Of course, no child could or should ever be unclothed with the abundance of others’ outgrown attire available for sale for a small price. Many times you also see clothes that still have the original price tags on them. Sometimes they were bought for others and they were either too small, too big, or something someone didn't like, and they were never returned, or couldn't be returned.

Best clothes are always available too because they were used so little, and I guess the same is true for a large amount of baby clothes, too, because we forget how fast they outgrow them. The same is true for shoes so tiny and cute and unneeded but too adorable to resist buying them. 

There are always some big items at the garage sales, and some are really a bargain. Don't forget to check out the hardware, woodworking, or garden-type items. Who doesn't need an extra screwdriver, hammer, or rake? And if there is nothing great, you at least had the fun of looking and enjoying the visit.

How do you pass up not picking up some precious or heritage items? Take a picture and let it go. I had a neighbor who had a rule: if it wasn't used in eight months, it was put on a surplus sale. Another rule was always give away, sell or dispose of the same number of items you buy. Buy a new sweater, remove an old one out of the closet — that way your closet, cupboards or drawers never got too full.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405

• Thursday, August 2nd: Kolten Aaron Michael Hanson, Tara Cromwell Lembke, Cole Lehmberg, Vivian Dulas, Cora Lynn Harpel, Ryan Nelson, Scott Sommers, George Wangsness Jr., Carol Lein, Melissa Marlin

• Friday, August 3rd: Arianna Elizabeth Pence/Ortiz, Jo Lerberg, Kristine Dummer, Cynthia Nelson, Kent Swearingen, Jean Molenaar, Matthew Wayne, Nicholas Wayne, Gerald Flugum

• Saturday, August 4th: Madysen Grace Waage, Karen Edwardson Loge, Harold Jensen, Bryce Ingvaldson, Terry Vaith, Ryan Wangsness, Michael Hanson, Tom Lang, Bethany Cooper, Rachel Reichl, Gary & Kathy Reichl, Warren & Ilsbeth Wayne

• Sunday, August 5th: Wayne Schimek, Corey Wangsness, Gabriella Lynn Olson, Gladys Johnson, John Ramlo, Annette Thostenson, Jennifer Broskoff Dutton, Andrea & Kane Malo, Christopher & Kristen Hanson

• Monday, August 6th: Lynn Nechanicky, Rick Cook, Matthew Miller, Andy & Mary Lerberg, Wendell & Connie Kuehni

• Tuesday, August 7th: August 7th: Shelly Mangskau, Zachery Vangen, Lori Titus, Dylan Waltz, Jack Jensen, Dakota Wayne Heideman, Kaityn Quimby, Cheyenne Bergerson, David Arbogast, Darren Casper, Allen Wacek, Tom & Katie Marlin

• Wednesday, August 8th: Ian Matthew Wayne, Luke Wangsness, John Vander Stoep, Jamie Walworth, Kathy Born, Scott Crabtree, Jessica Marcus, Sharon Miller Jensen, Barb O'Conner, Gary Peterson, Emily Jensen, Marc Collins, Matthew Swift, Don Gould, Mya Glienke

  Sending you heartfelt wishes for a lovely day!

The ongoing heat and drought we have been plagued with this summer is no laughing matter. But, since there is little we can do about it, maybe that is what we need to do — laugh a little.

Like Bob Hanson says, "Is it fact or fiction?" You be the judge."

When life gets too serious the days can get a little tedious. Read with me an e-mail I received from a friend in Texas:

It has been so hot here that we have discovered some new situations such as...

 .....the birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground.

 .....the trees are whistling for the dogs.

 .....the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

 .....hot water comes from both taps.

 .....you can make sun tea instantly.

 .....you learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

 .....the temperature drops below 90 F and you feel a little chilly.

 .....you discover that in July it only takes two fingers to steer your car (one on each hand).

 .....you discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

 .....you actually burn your hand opening the car door.

 .....you break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 5:30 a.m.

 .....your biggest motorcycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?”

 .....you realize that asphalt has a liquid stage.

 .....the potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter.

 .....the cows are giving evaporated milk.

 .....farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

It is so dry that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling. The Methodists are using wet-wipes. The Presbyterians are giving rain checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water!

Also, you may not find this if your dictionary is a little on the old side, but while "Googling" for definitions for some of these electronic device terms, I came across two that might interest you.

The first I discovered, Ineptocracy, is a recently coined word found on t-shirts on eBay.  Ineptocracy is a singular word, which is being used to describe our current political situation.

Read this one over slowly and absorb the facts that are within this definition. 

I love this word and believe that it will become a recognized English word after the 2012 elections come to a close.

Ineptocracy is a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with good and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

The second word is pedant. A pedant is a person who emphasizes trivial points of learning, showing a scholarship lacking in judgment. It also means a narrow-minded teacher who insists on exact adherence to rules.

In other words, pedant is what you are when you know something, be it ever so trivial, and you insist on sharing it with others who may not be interested and find it boring.

Enough said!

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. 

If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405. 

• Thursday, July 26th: Clara White, her 102nd birthday; Jordyn Marie Wobschall, Kristine Broskoff Routh, Mark Bartness, Jane Osmundson, Amy Radke, Jean Smith, Scott & Cheryl Christensen.

• Friday, July 27th: Ben Groth, Lori Dirksen, Nita Dooley, Mark Helmers, Nicki Spurr, Rick Spurr, Rhiannon Farr, Alison Underland, Dave Schulz, Kory Klecker, Lillian Rose Olson, Steve & Jinny Nielsen, Travis & Ashley Broskoff, Marguerite & Milton Nelson.

• Saturday July 28th: Mike Luhring, Kari Wayne, DeWayne Jensen, Dennis Jensen, Penny Jensen, Eric Lee, Christian Burnes, Donnie Turvold, Jim & Maryalice Hanson, George & Sue Stieglbauer, Gary & Emily Ayers, Melissa & Scott Michie, Ellie & Chad Schutrop.

• Sunday, July 29th: Randy Dokken, Doug Flugum, Candie Underland, Jennifer Huber, Dory Hunt, Jim Misgen, Brent Jepson, Lorrell Beaber, Todd Wangen.

• Monday, July 30th: Tregg Hagen, Sarah Underwood, Levi Horvei, Trevin Andrew Stollard, Scott Briggs, Amy Hohansee VanderSyde, Gary Sloan, Cindy Vaith, Larry Jensen, Kay Cassen, Shane Christensen, Cindy Esplan, Dani Layland, Kurt & Kelly Krumwiede, Nathan & Lindsey Schlaak, Jerry & Tanya Blouin.

• Tuesday, July 31st: Zane Andrew Miller, Michelle Eaker Stevens, Coni Misgen Evenson, Lorie Paulson, Joan Mast, Adena Berg, Brian & Pam Muri.

• Wednesday, August 1st: Wendy Schultz, Dale Mrotz, Karen Vaith, Stanley Jensen, Lonny Thostenson, Tad Cornelius, Karen Brockman, Rick Christensen, Larry & Carol Spear.

Hope you have a day filled with things that make you smile!

Back in the day when there was a wash day, there was something called a clothesline. 

I can hear some folks say, “Of course there was,” but I also realize not everyone on the planet may know that, as some grew up with nothing but clothes dryers.

Actually, the clothing line was a device strung between two objects, usually posts, that were anchored to the ground. Sometimes, the clothing lines were hung between trees when poles weren’t available.

The lines could be cotton, but more often metal was used. It was stretched tight and consisted of a number of lines. 

Metal lines required one to wash the line well with a wet cloth or rag before hanging the wet clothes, or one was apt to have dirty, dark spots on the clean clothes when they took them off the line. 

This is also true of the clothespins, the pinch-type gadgets that left their mark if they had been left outside on the clothesline. It was best to remove them from the clothesline every time they were used. 

Clothespins came in a gripper style with a coil spring center. There were wooden ones too, without springs. Typically, the wooden ones ran cheaper but usually weren’t as sturdy and capable of their job. Many times the side of one item shared the side of another to save on clothespins.

Whites were usually washed first, and then the sheets. The sheets were discreetly hung on the outside lines so one could keep their unmentionables hid, or even less white articles from being seen by the neighbor.

Properly hung, shirts should be hung and pinned by the shoulder seam or the upper part of t-shirts hung over the line and pinned under the arm pit, but most often they were hung by the tail, which caused knit garments to sometimes attain a weird bottom shape. Jeans were hung unzipped and with the pockets turned out so they would dry faster.

Back in those good old days, clothes were hung out in the summer and winter. In the winter, they supposedly froze dry and were often taken into the house like stiff planks. 

Particularly funny were bib overalls and long legged, one-piece underwear that could literally stand alone. Once thawed, they were still considerably damp like when they came from the wringer washer. Cottons like shirts and blouses were just right for ironing.

The prudent housewife kept her eye peeled for inclement weather. When it started to rain there was a mad dash to the clothesline for the almost dried clothes. Sometimes items had to be caught before they blew away in the wind.

Catastrophe struck when a line broke and all the clothes fell to the ground and had to be rewashed.

Monday was wash day. Tuesday was for ironing. Then, the clothesline could be used for drying dish towels or airing out clothes or blankets during the remaining portion of the week. Lucky kids got to make tents by putting old bedspreads or blankets over the clothesline so they could play house or maybe even sleep under them on nice summer nights just for fun.

There were some dangers involved with clotheslines, like if someone took to chasing after a ball and forgot the clothesline was there or they were outside after dark for whatever reason and ran into them.

One thing is for sure, no chemical concoction could ever smell as good as clothes brought in from the clothesline, especially in cold weather.

When dryers first came on the market, many the housekeeper denied herself the ease of drying clothes other than on the clothesline. Hanging out the laundry on the clothes line was just another example of free exercise.

There was the hauling of the clothes basket up the stairs and outside, bending over and picking up each item, lifting their arms to hang the clothes on the clothes line, taking the clothes off the line and folding them and bending over again, putting them back in the laundry basket, then carrying the basket back into the house and delivering the laundry to each room.

Enough said about clotheslines. Washing clothes today has come a long way from the old wash board and hand washing to the old wooden tub washers, and of course the mighty square tub Maytags which had a dasher and a wringer. 

The laundress would use a stick to pull pieces of clothing out of the wash tub, arranging it carefully on the wringer. There were many tales of hands, arms and hair getting caught in the wringer. Passing clothing through the wringer so many times was dangerous, especially so if time and attention were considered into the mix.

The wringers on those old washers consisted of two hard rubber rollers that the clothes had to pass through. My mother remembers having one of the first washers that had a tub on one side, and a spinner on the other side that spun the water out. 

Later on, she got a washer similar to those we have today, which also happened to function as a dryer. They disappeared for a while, but they are back and used more often in Europe.

Then came upright washers that washed and spun the water out of the clothes. Then came the water saving front loaders, many more equipped with dryers or steam cleaning.

There was a time when one could take dry cleanable clothes to a laundry mat by Morin Park in Albert Lea, which had washers that used a cleaning fluid instead of water.

One could write a book on soap. My Grandma Schember always made her own soap from tallow and strained grease, lye and whatever else. It was tough stuff, but it seemed to clean well. Sometimes, a scent was added to make the clothes smell better.

Earlier bar soap was P & G.  Oxydal was the powdered soap of choice for many years. Baby clothes were always washed in Ivory or Dreft.

Now, there are about as many varieties as you can count legs in a crowd of centipedes with various claims, strengths, smells and in liquid and powdered form. Tide has been a favorite of many, and Norwex is a brand where a little bit goes a long way, but is only available direct from the company and not in stores.

There are sheets for the dryer to stop static electricity and make things smell good. The only downside is that they have chemicals. 

Makes you feel a little sorry for the natives who use to have to pound their clothes on the rocks in streams, doesn’t it?

I guess that is why we now need exercise gyms. Old timers got their exercise automatically as a part of the homemaker’s normal day. Think about it.  

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405. 

• Thursday, July 19th: Charlie Glenn Fuller, Cheryl Dunlap, Natasha Marie Peterson, Nicholas Pete Johnson, Carolyn Plunkett, Alyssa Mumm, Travis Jensen, Michael Beckman, Ryan Schmidt, Warren Farr, David Cooper, Angie & Michael Kath.

• Friday, July 20th: Pam Muri, Paul Marcus, Wayne Sommers, Brad Eder, Richard Nelson, Cody McCartney, Howard Gallentine, Elvern & Jeanne Holland, Cory & Colette Bauers, Mark & Teri Ravenhorst.

• Saturday, July 21st: Julie Langlie, Riley Marzloff, Violet Elise Aronson, Lindsay Smith, Marilyn Sullivan, Trudy Abel Holm, Marcia DeVriendt, Randy Anderson, Michele Granowski Domeier, Mike Collins, Nicholas Miller, Micki Heimer, Ed & Nancy Ver Hey, Katie & Paul Troe, Mike & Amy Glienke.

• Sunday, July 22nd: Warren Torgerson, Colleen Brekke, Jodie Hohansee Waalkens, Shari Crabtree, Jeff Olson, Joanie Ayers, Jesse Collins, Tyler Joshua Lair, Carl Anderson, Vicki & Kory Kress, Tara & Scott Peterson, Tara & Chad Cliff.

• Monday, July 23rd: Barb Kubat, Jackie Layland, Diane Broskoff, Jim Brown, Ron Kraiser, Kelly Pitcock, Carl Glienke Sr., Nathan & Michelle Jacobson, Brooke & Isaiah Lundberg, LuAnn & Keith Miller.

• Tuesday, July 24th: Marilyn Goslee, Robert Carter Edwards, Katie May, Joy Peterson, Pat Schulz, Jeff Thompson, Phillip Briggs, Denise & Richard Olson, Trisha & Casey Johnson, Greg & Shari Lassahn.

• Wednesday, July 25th: Sue Hill, Kari Janka Hareid, Stan Mork, Ivy Oland, Ann Falksen, Rick Hagen, Cole Pospesel, Kristine & Jesse Routh.

Let your door open to every joy your special day can bring.