Panther wrestlers come back from weak start for 2-1 in quadrangular

   DOWN – Cordell Peterson of NRHEG pinned Hunter Jennings of Triton in 3 minutes and 47 seconds.   Star Eagle photo by Nikki Erickson

Blue Earth Area 36 - 

NRHEG 35

The Panthers got off to a weak start in their hosted quadrangular last Friday, giving up 4 pins and winding up trailing BEA by one point.

“In the end it came down to them getting bonus points when they needed and us not being able to get them,” said coach Shawn Larson.

The Panthers will be looking forward to an opportunity to rematch.

1-3 • HAYFIELD 47 - NRHEG 38

The Panther girls basketball team took a loss at Hayfield last Saturday, after an up-and-down performance at the St. Olaf Invitational.

Hayfield took the lead early and was ahead 23-16 at the half. 

The Wagners led the scoring for the Panthers as usual, with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for Maddie and 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for Marnie. Gretchen Ramaker also came up with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, but the lead stayed with Hayfield.

Other Panther scorers were R.Hagen 6pts, 5reb, 3assists; K.Camerer 2pts, 7reb, 1assist, 3 steals; G.Johns 2pts, 1reb, 1assist.

The Panther Jr. Varsity beat Hayfield 47-38.

Panthers make 1-point lead last in squeaker

The Panthers continued to play strong against Hayfield on Saturday, Jan. 3, turning around a narrow lead with 5 minutes left in the game.

NRHEG got their 54-48 victory after a long close battle. 

“The word I would use to describe this game was grinder,” said coach Pat Churchill. “Hayfield tried to grind this game to a halt.”

NRHEG wrestlers place 7, make impression in major showing

THE PLACERS – Members of the NRHEG wrestling team who placed at Redwood Falls. From left, front: Wyatt Fitterer, Dillon Kubiatowicz, Cordell Peterson, Matt Jensen. Back: Nick Bartness, Todd Erickson, Keith Maxon.  Star Eagle photo by Nikki Erickson

Friday and Saturday, December 19 and 20, the NRHEG Panthers wrestled at the Redwood Riot. The Panthers finished in second place out of a field of 31 teams.

The only team placing ahead of NRHEG was Kerkoven-Murdock-Sunberg. 

The Panthers had seven place winners. These placewinners are:

Dillon Kubiatowicz 120 - Champion

Cordell Peterson 126 - Champion

Nick Bartness 170 - 4th Place

Keith Maxon 182 - 6th Place

Matt Jensen 195 - 6th Place

Todd Erickson 220 - 2nd Place

Wyatt Fitterer 285 - 5th Place

“This was a good showing from our athletes,” said coach Shawn Larson. “Our wrestlers have grown accustomed to experienced competetion, and this time they were prepared to compete. 

“I am very proud of a second place finish at a tournament like this, our boys deserved this finish after the work they have put in so far.”

From Coach Shawn Larson:

“Taking second place at the Redwood Riot is something that we are happy with, as our best finish at this tournament was eighth last season. It is a fairly difficult tournament to get wrestlers into the top eaight. 

“The reason we did so well comes from having seven wrestlers finish in the top six. On top of the points we gained from these wrestlers advancing, we were able to get bonus points in several of our wins throughout the tournament. 

“All the way up and down our line-up we were ready to compete. In the matches we lost we wrestled competitively, and in the matches we won we took charge and were in control. 

“We are excited about our performance here, especially getting Dillon Kubiatowicz, Cordell Peterson, and Todd Erickson into the finals. This is the first time in the five-year existance of this tournament that we were able to have three finalists. It was also the second time we had two champions dating back to 2010 when Dustin Esplan and David Lassahn both won the tournament. 

 “Although we are elated with how we finished at this tournament, we cannot stop in our efforts to get better. This is a long season and we have some very tough competition ahead of us, including a tournament involving Kerkoven-Murdock-Sundburg, which is the team we were runner up to at the Redwood Riot.”

Christmas is one of the happy times that families look forward to with all its remembrances, sounds, smells and images of loved ones.  Home - presence and presents are the passwords. What three words could be more important than "Home For Christmas?”

When something happens when we're sad or happy or hurting  - the first thought that comes to mind is "I want to go home.”

We can't always be together at Christmas and hopefully the technology of today helps us make contact with family and friends when one can't be there in person.  Even more so is being able to take the time to remember and share.

At Christmas - one remembers the trek Mary, Joseph and the baby took, which would become their gift and God’s gift to all of us.  The stories of the shepherds who came - the wisemen who followed a star - all told in various forms.  Because we are so "intelligent" we know the time, the climate and other events didn't all occur as we sometimes imagine them today.  But that is the miracle of Christmas.  The mystery of it all - tells us that Christmas is not just one day of the year.  It is not just one person or place.  "Home is where the heart is.”  Christmas is every day.  It may not be perceived as "Christmas" but it happens every day.  People search and find ways to share gifts with others.

We may celebrate one day of the year as a symbol but "Christmas" is every day of the year with reason to believe in the Christ Child and to go in search of things to do in His favor.

Whatever purpose God had in bringing us together, I am grateful that He did.  He has been a real source of happiness in our lives and it means more to us than we can ever say.

Once again this year as been another busy year in our lives.  Between our jobs, family, church, community activities, reunions, gatherings and special events the days have ticked away much too fast.

Our grandchildren are growing up.  Mallory is 12 years old and becoming quite the young lady.  She is busy at school, which this year moved her to Southwest, the Albert Lea middle school.  She continues to play volleyball, basketball and softball as the seasons change.  She also plays softball during the summer and is the pitcher for some of her games.  She also enjoys reading and is becoming quite an artist.

Morgan will soon have another birthday, her 10th, in January and is in 4th grade  this year.  She, like her sister, also participates in volleyball, basketball and softball.  Morgan enjoys reading, writing and math, or "arithmetic,” as it was once called, and she too enjoys her art classes at school.

Mallory and Morgan also enjoy spending time in the water, swimming and water skiing, as well as go fishing and deer hunting with their dad.  And if they didn't already participate in enough activities, Mallory is learning to play the piano and Morgan recently started to learn how to play the guitar.

Amelia, our little sweetheart, turned three years old in September, and loves to swim, as well as enjoys playing with her dolls.  She has the greatest smile and shares it with everyone.

Our three daughters continue to live close to home.  Krista lives in Rochester, Kimberly and Mike, live south of Albert Lea and Keralyn and Bill continue to live in Burnsville.  We are thankful that they do find time to visit us back here at the "old homestead.” 

Recently Keralyn and Amelia invited Krista, Kimberly, Mallory, Morgan and I all to Burnsville and we spent the day baking Christmas cookies.  Mallory, Morgan and Amelia had a great deal of fun decorating the cookies that they made.  Did you know that if you turn a heart shaped cookie "upside down" you can make it look like Santa Claus?

The First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea continues to keep Daryl busy six days a week.  They do let him off from work a day here and a day there so that he can travel Up North to the trailer so he can do a little fishing a few times a year.

During the winter months he throws the bowling ball down the lanes and has been able to record a few high scoring games on the score sheet.  He also serves on the local fire department and continues to do what he can when the fire whistles blows.

The NRHEG Star Eagle, our local newspaper, keeps me busy, some days too busy, but there are many great stories I feel need to be shared.   When I am not off covering stories, I spend time with my mother.  We continue to enjoy our visits with good friends, but many of our old friends and relatives have been called home, and we miss them greatly, especially my mother’s sister, Helyn, or "Toody" as we called her.

We continue to share special memories and talk about what is all happening in our busy world as we put jigsaw puzzles together.  I do manage to keep my cross stitch needle busy from time to time, too.  

Daryl and I still enjoy time spent serving our Lord.  We continue to serve on our southern Via De Cristo council - Daryl helps find churches who are willing to open their doors to host weekends here in southern Minnesota and I serve as historian.  Daryl also serves on our church council too.

 From family to family, from home to home, from one heart to another, the warmth and love of Christmas is a gift we give each other.

Wishing you a warm and joyous Christmas and a blessed Happy New Year!  

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.  Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share 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.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, December 25: Merry Christmas!  Mitchel Gale Evans, Krista Lee Hardyman, Tom Reitveld, Makenzie Butler

• Friday December 26: Nadine Strenge, Tom Hanson, Joshua Kasper, Jill Peterson Otterbein, Nicklas Hanson

• Saturday, December 27: Sue Bailey Billbray, Colette Hemingway Moudy, Mikkel Iverson, Jamie Hagen, Scott Christensen, Carly Titus, Stacy Osmundson Titus, Ron Peterson, Shannon Peterson Pederson, Brad Bothum, Joe Anderson

• Sunday, December 28: Hope Mikesell, Chad Toft, Tyler Titus, Charlie Marlin, Merrill Bunn, Laura and John Ortiz, Neil and Ellen Pence, Erin and John Christensen

• Monday, December 29: Maxx Greyson Richards, Maya Grace Richards, Gary Hunnicutt, Seth David Petranek, Brent Born, Craig Haberman, Darlene Underland Benjamin Paulson, Whitey and La June Hagen, Amy and Joe Louks

• Tuesday, December 30: Anita Casterton, Matt Christensen, Ryan Schrodt, Jane Simon, Jim Dobberstein, Gladys Peterson, Mark and Gail Skroch, David and Arianna Arends, Kyile and Rachel Aase

• Wednesday, December 31:  New Years Eve!  Bailey Joy Ihrke, Bree Olivia Ihrke, Larry Paulsen, Dean Pospesel, Lynne Flor, Brent Wiersma, Brent Worrell, Isabelle Wayne, Dorothy and Adrian Kilian, Greg and Cindy Oswald, Larry and Elaine Howell

• Thursday, January 1: Happy New Year!  Ross Aronson, Jerry Seath, Larry Schwartz, Amanda Beach, Lois and Duane Aitchison

• Friday, January 2: Grace Jolie Wangen, Brian Bedney, Jay Crabtree, Mark Dobberstein, David Lageson, Brenda Wayne, Aaron Nelson, John and Lorraine Lent, Kelsey (Wayne) and Matt Duncomb

With each passing year, grow stronger, grow wiser, grow richer in spirit,  May the year ahead be filled with new discoveries!

May you also celebrate the beauty of the season and may the spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the New Year!

It’s almost Christmas and the sound of the season can be heard playing in stores and on the radio. It’s the time of year for church Christmas programs along with choir, band and orchestra concerts. I had the chance to attend the high school orchestra and band Christmas concert the other night and was totally impressed. We have a lot of talented kids in our school system and that should make us very proud.

When I was a kid each year I looked forward to the school Christmas program even though I played no instrument and would never impress anyone with my singing prowess. It is really all about celebrating the birth of Christ and spending time with family. I don’t think that I, as a person realized how important this was to me until I spent time in the service away from home on Christmas. We would stand in line on Christmas day to use the phone to make a 5 minute call home where family gathered around waiting their turn to talk.

A long wait in line to have a short conversation with family back home was a pretty big deal. The only time we were allowed to call home was Christmas or family emergency but I am not whining or complaining because that is how it was back then and we just dealt with it. Yes, it was totally different back then; no Skype, cell phones or email, just regular mail. I considered myself lucky that year because many of my fellow servicemen didn’t even have the luxury of a phone call.

I can remember going to my Aunt Ruby and Uncle Harvey’s on Christmas day when they would call my cousin Tom who was in California. We would all gather around the phone hoping to say a few words and just hear his voice for a moment or two. Calling “long distance” all the way to California in those days it was a huge deal and if someone called “collect” it was pretty darned spendy but Christmas time was no time to skimp.

Getting back to the present; it’s almost time to boil the fish and melt the butter that is the key to any good lutefisk eater’s dining experience. My dad always said you are a true Norske when you roll up your sleeves, roll the fish in a lefse and pour on enough butter so that it runs down your arm. I learned to cheat just a little so that’s why I always eat my fish on lefse with some potatoes mixed in and topped with a lot of butter, salt and pepper. I don’t believe that you would find this fine dining experience listed on the Blue Zone to do list or on Mayo’s list of healthy eating habits. It is only once (or maybe twice) a year so I guess that like any other Christmas I will be throwing caution to the wind and enjoying it once again. My mouth is starting to water in anticipation of that delicious Norwegian delicacy that I know will be awaiting me on Christmas Eve.

Although we have had a few in my lifetime I just have a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit without just a little snow covering the ground. Christmas vacation as a kid always seemed to be about sledding, snow forts and snowball fights. I can’t remember too many winters where there was a lack of snow but I know there were some. I guess that I like to push the not so pleasant memories to the back and dwell on the good so that might be why I remember the “good old days” as being so darned good.

I am not really sure how to read the ice right now when it comes to being safe. There have been many fishermen out on Fountain Lake and I’ve heard mixed reports ranging everywhere from folks catching only small ones to slab crappies and nice pike with a few walleyes thrown into the mix. Hey, that’s fishing folks; not everyone is going to catch their limit of lunkers and not everyone is going to get “skunked” so the best thing to do is give it your best shot and enjoy the experience of being there. Most importantly you need to know that the ice is safe before venturing out.

Fishing reports from around the area for the past week have also been mixed. Fairmont has reported anywhere from 3-7 inches of ice on area lakes with some crappie, bluegill, perch and a few walleye being caught. Mankato reported some low light crappie action on Madison and Washington Lakes with a few walleye on Washington. The Waterville area had unsafe ice conditions before the warmup and looked for things to deteriorate after that. Driving past the channel by Frank Hall Park the other day I observed some fishermen standing in water while fishing through the ice. I have become fairly cautious as I have grown older but fish or no fish that just didn’t look like anything I’d be interested in doing.

Until next time, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remember it’s always time well spent when you spend it in cur great Minnesota outdoors.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers; especially during this Holiday Season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

  My job is just like Christmas.

  How is that?

  I do all the work and some fat guy in a suit gets all the credit.

Driving by the Bruces

  I have two wonderful neighbors--both named Bruce--who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: I leave the judging to Santa Claus.

Cafe chronicles

  They gathered at the Curmudge Inn. They were long john-wearing men, all suffering from ancient snow-shoveling injuries. Some had been around longer than their teeth. They’d figured that by the time they’d reached this stage of their lives that they’d have slim bodies and fat bank accounts. The opposite happened. Most of them hadn’t done any Christmas shopping yet. To them, shopping is like chewing tinfoil. Most of them were better at whining about shopping than they were at shopping. They have seen all the shopping that others have done and they are exhausted by it.

Family history

  This is the time of the year when I didn't close the door of the house properly. I was guilty of that all year, but it was more wicked in frigid temperatures. My mother said, "Close the door. It's cold outside." I'd reply, "If I close the door, will it be warmer outside?"

  I told my wife that JWP plays Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther/Truman in high school basketball. My wife replied, "Well, they should be able to beat one of them."

  My mother-in-law, Lorraine Nelson of New Richland, played an angel in a Christmas play. A perfect example of typecasting. I wanted to hold a sign reading, "My mother-in-law is an angel," but my wife put the kibosh on that.

When the 

dent fairy comes

  Cheryl McRoberts of Haines, Alaska, was in the local bank when someone told her that a man had backed his truck into her brand new Subaru--twice. Cheryl ran out of the bank and waved down the other driver. She told him that he'd hit her car.

  "So that’s what that was," he said.

  She had her bumper replaced. She encounters the other driver regularly. Whenever she does, he asks where her Subaru is parked.

Customer comments

  Ric McArthur of Morpeth, Ontario, sent, "Do you know the correct term for gluten-free, sugarless, vegan brownies? Compost." Ric also sent a photo of a livestock trailer carrying this sign, "Caution: Floor covered with political promises."

  Jerry Morstad of Albert Lea told me that as his father, Orvin, left the nursing home after a short stay and walked to the car, Jerry asked him if he knew what he’d just done. Orvin had no answer. Jerry said, "You’re 91-years-old and you’ve just walked out of a nursing home."

  Mac Ehrhardt of Albert Lea wondered aloud, "Which is worse-hiring a good employee and having him leave or hiring a bad employee and having him never leave?"

  Mark Light of Albert Lea said that he and his brother, Randy Light of New Richland, were talking about someone who had a sunny disposition. Randy described the person as being "golden retriever happy." That’s someone who is always happy, but isn’t always sure why.

  Denny Galagan of Albert Lea drives a 1993 Dodge Dakota. That’s because when he was a boy, he was advised, "If you can’t get 20 years out of a horse, there is no use owning one."

  A customer told me that she used to do a lot of air travel. When she heard someone say, "Uffda," she knew that she was home.

  While my wife and I were ringing the bells for the Salvation Army, LeRoyce Ingham of Hayward had this to say as he slipped a bill into the kettle, "If you had a bigger hole in the kettle, you’d get bigger bills." 

Talking with the Holstein

  The Holstein is a retired dairy cow, so she has time to talk. I asked her what Christmas was like for a cow.

  The Holstein chewed her cud thoughtfully before saying, "Being a cow is a great way to get out of Christmas shopping."

Nature notes

  Here are some old Christmas Eve traditions in other countries. In Sweden, the last sheaf of harvested grain, the julkarve or the Christmas sheaf is hung out for the birds. Germans place corn on the roof to feed the birds. In Denmark, a juleneg or cornstalk is hung in a tree for the birds.

Meeting adjourned

  "My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"--Bob Hope

 Merry Christmas.

Hello again, loyal readers, and Merry Christmas! This is the Star Eagle’s last issue of 2014, so I decided to seize the opportunity to bring my number of columns for the year to…three. I’m aiming for a slightly higher number next year – one of my many goals for 2015, but I’ll get to that later.

The last couple of months have been incredibly hectic, keeping me busier than I’ve been in quite some time. I moved out of my dad’s house and just got settled in to my house in Waseca last Friday; add holiday shopping/planning, extra work at the Star, drama in my personal life, (my best friend of ten years just got out of a three-year relationship, so I’ve been her support system/taxi while she gets back on her feet – which I don’t mind, but it’s another adjustment to deal with) and life’s everyday tasks, and the list of things to do seems impossible to complete.

However, I’m proud of myself for stepping up and dealing with it all; if I had been in this situation before, I would not have handled it well. But I’m 21 now, and it’s time to be a grown-up and accept whatever life throws, however difficult or unpleasant it may be.

Despite all the chaos, I’m still incredibly grateful: for all my blessings, for what I’ve overcome and the strength gained from those experiences, for the knowledge that things will always work out in the end, and for the ability to learn and progress every day. Even during the worst times, if I can remember the things I’m grateful for, I can find the strength to keep going.

Looking back at 2014, I had a good year:

I started working at the Star Eagle again in February, which has been amazing for many reasons, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I have here.

I got to spend a week in June with one of my favorite people and best friends in the world, Alex, who’s been in Japan with the Marines since the winter of 2013.

I turned 21, which obviously brought more first experiences, along with a sprained ankle after just having healed from one two months earlier; I was just glad it didn’t get sprained before the Atmosphere (a hip-hop group from Minneapolis) show the day before at First Ave. in Minneapolis.

I went snowboarding for the first time in February, which was quite an experience; let’s just say after about six hours, countless wipe-outs and much frustration on my part (and laughter from my friend Levi, who has years of experience), I did not make it down the hill once without falling and was so exhausted I could barely walk back to the truck. I felt massive bruises on my knees and elbows already forming and my muscles ached, but it was a really fun day with a good friend; I hope I get the courage to try it again this year.

I took out my first ever loan to buy a car in September after the 1995 Ford Escort I had been driving broke down, and on Sept. 30th I picked up my 2002 Mercury Cougar, which I love – maybe even more than my first car, a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse, that has since been passed down to my brother Eli.

But you know what they say: you can’t have good without experiencing bad, and if you’ve read my previous columns you know I’m no stranger to dark times in life – two and a half years ago, one of my best friends committed suicide, and the pain of that loss is with me every single day, but time has helped me to accept it. I thank God I didn’t have to attend a funeral in 2014, but people close to me did, and my heart goes out to everyone grieving the loss of a loved one this holiday season. I especially send condolences to the family and friends of Preston Peterson – I didn’t really know him personally, but I did graduate with his brother, Parker, and prayers are being sent their way.

Overall, 2014 was the first year since high school that I look back on with mostly positive memories, and once again I’m grateful. I’ve grown so much in the last year, but one thing that becomes more obvious as I get older is how much more I have yet to learn about life. Things are changing and I’m moving forward – I’m not exactly sure where I’ll be a year from now, but I’m getting there, and I’m excited to see what 2015 will bring. 

Hoping everyone has a lovely Christmas and a safe and fun New Year!

There’s a great scene in an episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza is at a gathering and dips a chip, takes a bite, then dips it again. Another character confronts George about it and says, “It’s like putting your whole mouth in the dip!”

 Most people’s first reaction is, “Gross! What a way to spread germs!” Hopefully, none of us would ever double-dip a chip.

The spreading of germs is a double-edged sword. We don’t want all those bad germs infecting our bodies and making us sick. However, there are good germs and there is also something good about building up a good immune system over time through exposure to all kinds of germs.

We’ve had quite a spate of illness in school lately, with over 80 kids gone some days in K-12. I walked into my first hour class one day to find eight students absent just in that one section. There have been cases of stomach flu, high fevers, and influenza. The school has been encouraging parents to keep kids home in these instances until they’re fully recovered. I’ve seen multiple cases of kids returning too quickly and going right back home.

 I can always appreciate a desire to get back to school or work. It’s always tough as a parent to know for sure when your child is healthy enough to return. Even with Anton, who had a high fever, he seemed back to normal, running a regular temp and feeling good, only to have a relapse on his way to school the next day.

We all dislike being sick. You always wonder just when you might feel anything close to 100% again. I had something run through my system where I didn’t feel quite right for a week. It wasn’t a fever or anything that knocked me out, but I felt like I was swimming upstream that whole time. Chances are, especially if you live around here, you’ve felt the tug of sickness at some point in the past couple of weeks.

 My dad will argue that we’ve done this to ourselves. It seems like there are more sicknesses and nastier bugs out there, and he will tell you it’s because we’re too clean. All this antibacterial soap and disinfectant is causing germs to evolve at a rapid rate. Dad will tell you that we need to not be so anal about germs.

 I think he has a point. When I was young, I know I didn’t always wash my hands thoroughly when I came in from playing outside. I certainly wasn’t singing the ABC song or whatever kids today use to know how long they should wash. I’ve been pretty fortunate and haven’t gotten sick too often in my life. I didn’t miss a day of high school due to illness, and I’ve built up a large number of sick days at work. Maybe that early exposure to germs helped me long term?

I sanitize my classroom every so often. I wash my hands when I should. But there are still some things that baffle me. I’ve always thought that when we distribute wine for communion in church that it should be individualized. We’ve been assured over and over that germs can’t spread with the alcohol. It’s not the wine I’m worried about, it’s the shared cup. I’ve been a Eucharistic minister and had to try to wipe off the lipstick and spittle.

I’ve heard different arguments as to why the Catholic Church won’t follow the lead of some other denominations and give out cups. The bottom line is that we’re reprimanded when we don’t consume, but you’ll never get a majority until the shared cup goes away. I’m not afraid of the germs so much (we sit near the front of church), but I know I’m a carrier of germs, being so exposed to kids, and I don’t want to risk spreading those to others.

At the end of the day, we all have to do what’s best to stay healthy. The scary event with the girl from Owatonna dying of influenza brings things too close to home. As her father said, any medical cost is worth the peace of mind.

I’d like to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas! Please stay safe and healthy and enjoy the time you have with your families! One of the best gifts I have gotten the past couple of years has been your comments on my writing – thank you so much for reading!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is oneiric, which means relating to a dream, as in, “The young girl wasn’t sure if she was in an oneiric state, or if she actually heard reindeer on her roof.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs were right in assuming they’d connected the cables for the Weather Eye incorrectly. Hot is cold and vice-versa. Sorta like those faucets some amateur plumber at a gas station hooked up. Will they switch the cables or continue to live on the edge for a white Christmas forecast? Starting Wednesday, cloudy and breezy with a modest chance of snow. Highs in the low 30’s and lows in the low 20’s. Christmas Day, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow. Highs near freezing and lows in the mid-20’s. Cloudy and colder with a slight chance for snow on Friday. Highs in the low 20’s and lows in the low single digits. Saturday, mostly sunny with a high in the upper teens and lows near 5. Mostly cloudy on Sunday with a chance for flurries. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the upper single digits. Monday, partly cloudy with a few flurries possible. Highs in the low 20’s and lows near 10. Continued cold on Tuesday with some occasional sunshine. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the mid-single digits. The normal high for Christmas Day is 24 and the normal low is 6. The scurs will be trying to find a sunny day so they can start Christmas shopping.

A dusting of snow last week made for a semi-white Christmas in spots if you look hard enough. Come press time however we may see enough to qualify as white although the accumulations forecast are not heavy for this area of MN. There’s time for that to change however. Just in case, several have mentioned putting snowblowers on and I may even decide to put the chains on the tractor. That usually is enough to make sure it won’t snow much. Some last minute tillage was accomplished last week in area fields following the thaw once the ground froze again allowing for better traction. A season that started with much promise is finally in the books for many. 

A fellow weather freak sent me this link to a story from Science Daily detailing the activity of golden-winged warblers ahead of a major storm. Over the many years, I’ve noticed bird and animal behavior that seems to be weather related. For instance, the cardinal’s appearance at the ranch has been linked to recent precipitation events and the sheep seem to be able to detect rainfall before it arrives or is about to pass. Sometimes they’re just hungry so it doesn’t matter. While the article takes some liberty with presumptions about bird behavior related to climate change, the gist of the matter is that bird activity is indeed a harbinger of things to come, sometimes anyway.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/ 141218131413.htm

Around the yard at the ranch we continue to see sparse appearances of winter birds. A new “squirrel proof” feeder (believe it when I see it) has been employed and so far it has worked. Even the birds haven’t eaten out of it yet. It will take them a while to get used to it. It was time to make another attempt anyway after the squirrels finished off the last one by chewing through the cable. I guess if you’re a squirrel and have lots of free time that’s what you do. While watching for activity on the new feeder, we spied what is likely to be a Little Jerry progeny. This rooster pheasant was definitely one of the longest tailed models spotted in a long time. He came out of the plumb and sumac thicket then over to the brush pile. Then back to the plumb thicket. Yup, definitely a Little Jerry relative.

Was questioned by one of Al Batt’s Bruce’s the other day concerning the progress of the Studebaker restoration. Not much has happened since seeing 5 out of 6 exhaust valves stuck open back in June. A decision was made to have the engine overhauled however and a gentleman who works on flathead Fords in Mankato has been contacted. Interestingly enough, this particular Bruce was once a Studebaker salesman and mentioned the ’61 Lark VI that the dealer allowed him to use. According to him it was a well-made little car and he enjoyed driving it. I don’t doubt that a bit. The ’60 Lark VI was the same way and the ’61 should’ve been an improvement with the OHV Skybolt Six engine Studebaker put in it. The 1960 Lark VI still had a flathead six with its origins from their 1939 Champion model. If there’s been one common theme on this project though, it’s that the Studebaker folks I’ve run across loved their cars and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. 

Had the good fortune recently to attend not one but two Gopher women’s basketball games. Anything other than working sounded good after last weekend. Within a few minutes of each other last Friday I had two offers to go to The Barn and was able to accept both. First from friends whose company we enjoy and another from none other than Vista’s noted Swedish astronomer. It’s been cloudy so he had some free time on his hands. Can’t remember having more fun at a place that brings back memories along with people we have come to cherish. The icing on the cake was the Gophers and Carlie won both games! Gotta love it when a plan comes together.

Last but not least, presents for the NRHEG Star Eagle staff. Not sure if I’m missing anyone so don’t feel left out if I do. For Reed, a 1939 Superman comic book. Not as fun to look at as what Reed draws but worth some ching. For Jim, a discount on haircuts. I know Jim, my day is coming. Leo still likes to trick me by flipping the mirror over and showing me the back side of it when he’s done. For Tracy, memory pills and a note pad. If you write it down you’ll know when to take them. For Nicole, sweets for the sweet. Some of my signature hand-dipped pretzels, sans Ruby hair of course. For Al Batt, my old “squirrel proof” birdfeeder. I am a ‘re-gifter”. Works well especially if you don’t have any squirrels. For Kugie, my Sid Hartman bobblehead doll. I predict he and Don White will someday take over the Dave Mona and Sid Hartman show on ‘CCO.

Merry Christmas!

See you next week…real good then.