Funeral services for James “Jim” M. Thompson of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. Pastor Richard Sliper will officiate. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 4 until 7 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. Interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Ellendale.

James died Monday, September 15, 2014 at the New Richland Care Center. He was 92 years of age.

Seven turnovers lead to loss for football team

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

It’s doubtful that NRHEG football coach Dan Stork will install the run-and-shoot offense this season, but the Panthers shot themselves in the foot last Friday.

NRHEG committed seven turnovers — three fumbles and three interceptions — and lost the ball on a muffed punt while falling 14-8 at Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial.

“It’s hard to win when you give it back to them seven times,” said Stork, whose team saw its record slide to 1-1.

The NRHEG cross country teams traveled to the Montgomery Invitational for their second meet of the season Thursday, Sept. 4.

The boys finished 24th among 25 schools while the girls did not field a full squad.

Glencoe-Silver Lake won the boys’ division with 63 points. Waseca was second with 72. The Panthers had 683.

For the NRHEG boys: Tyler Schlaak, 84th, 19:54.6; Josh Fleming, 119th, 20:37.3; Brenden McMann, 151st, 22:31.2; Ben Lewer, 159th, 23:07.7; Aaron Seath, 170th, 26:23.4.

The NRHEG High School volleyball team put one in the win column in a tournament at Minnesota State-Mankato Saturday.

The Panthers picked up the season’s first victory on a tiebreaker over Mankato Loyola. They lost their other matches, to Austin on a tiebreaker and 2-0 to Sibley East.

Last Thursday, the Panthers traveled to Blooming Prairie and dropped a 3-0 decision.

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, they hosted WEM in their home opener and fell 3-0, with game scores of 25-13, 25-20 and 25-13.

We played the strongest during game two,” said coach Onika Peterson. “We passed the ball well and were much more aggressive hitting. We really need to cut down on our mental errors; they killed us. We had numerous missed serves and players in the net.”

Most people are familiar with the song, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," made famous by Johnny Cash and others. For some reason that song keeps singing in my head.

When someone died in the old days, often their family and friends sat in a circle by a fire. In this song they ask the Lord if some day they will be reunited with them.

Maybe that’s why I keep thinking about circles - not just family circles, but friends too, with a place for each and every one. Does the circle get smaller as we lose loved ones? No, I think the circle gets larger as new people, friends and family, join us - not taking the place of loved ones lost, but adding to them. Everyone is different. The departed one’’ space in the circle isn't empty, for it holds many precious moments of things we shared.

One such person who comes to mind is my friend Alice Richards. Alice was everyone's friend. She was quick to visit, to introduce herself to others, and offer a smile. She was exciting, spontaneous, and never without words. In fact Alice could speak without saying a word.

She loved to sing and dance and made life fun. She left her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren with many happy memories, including her love of music and the silly songs she enjoyed, including her version of Chopsticks. She loved the family cabin and its many adventures. Did I say she was spontaneous? Someone would stop by her cabin to say "Hello" – and leave two days later.

Life was an adventure for Alice. If something needed to be tried, she wasn't afraid to try it. Like a trip to Alaska on a motorcycle.

This great lady was a nurse, and a good one. I am sure that her patients quickly felt much better having her take care of them. Once, leaving the doctor’s office after a visit which included some intensive tests, she remarked, "Now wasn't that fun!" Others would have cried and felt sorry for themselves. Not Alice!

Involved in a minor accident, did she get upset? Heck no! Instead she thanked the individual for giving her the opportunity to meet them. 

Alice lived on her own terms. Every day was a good day. 

When they announced in church that she had died, the entire congregation cried. Once when she danced at the alter during a local talent show, she wondered what God would say. I am sure he smiled. 

If heaven has a popularity contest I am sure Alice could be the winner.

Love is real. Sharing it with others gives it value.

A lot of people knew Stella Langlie. Stella knew a lot of people, but not everyone knew the real Stella. She was quick and soft-spoken with nothing but love and admiration for her children and her grandchildren. 

She was also a perfectionist, and her love for her husband, Eugene, was evident in the way she always wanted to make him happy, so she made sure things were always better than "good enough.” Like her cookies, everything had to be the best.

Stella was an excellent cook, baker and housekeeper and stylist, but she was still always afraid it was not good enough. She had happy days, but she was hard on herself too, and kept things inside that could have been shared. 

She loved people, but she often stood back and let others be in the limelight. She was honest but not outspoken. 

She was a granddaughter’s dream. She enjoyed her grandchildren to the fullest and shared their interests, and provided the good times most Grandmas can't provide. 

She loved to shop. She enjoyed nice clothes and boy did she love her shoes!

One of two, she and her twin sister, Helen, were so tiny when they were born, they nestled in shoeboxes on the oven door as babies. No incubators back then. That warmth never left her, or the closeness that she shared for her sister and the rest of the family. Different in appearance, but they were close as twins could be all through their growing up years, marriages and children. Most of Stella’s grandchildren were girls, Helen’s were mostly boys. Together they were like one big happy family.

When I think of Stella I think of a tiny person filled with love and tears and thoughts of others. She always considered others before herself. A real-life Barbie doll, stylish, accomplished, fun to be with and loved by all. 

Will the circle be broken? No. There will always be a space where Alice and Stella will be part of this circle, now filled with love and memories until we meet again.

Inside every person there is a heart that may stop beating but never stops loving. 

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, Sept. 11: Geoffrey Stieglbauer, Andy Arends, Dawn Misgen Meier, Craig Torgerson, Matthew Mueller, Kathy Nelson, Mark Calverly, Paul & Jo Otto, Steve & Mary Bailey, Leanna & Jared Peterson, Tim & Angie Butler, Brian & Jodi Wayne, Richard & Linda Weckwerth

• Friday, Sept. 12: Porter Kuchenbecker, Stacy Kubiatowicz, Joanne Vanden Heuvel, Chloe Sue Walterman, David Wacek, Robert Kasper, Courtney Thostenson, Nikolas Zimprich, Eric Hunnicutt, Jennifer Wallerich, David Jepson, Tuyen Vu, Kris Klocek

• Saturday, Sept. 13: Jaelyn Elizabeth Mckinney, 2013; Reece Ellingworth Drinkall, 2013; Tali Wayne, Jaxon Richards, Russell Goette, Jason Ingvaldson, James Plunkett, Clifford Tue, Sherre Utpadel, Lisa Zamora, Andrew Zinke, Korey Peterson, Amber Stohr, Lisa Ritz, Ruby Troxel, Ann & Rodney Hamilton, Rhonda & Derike Shelton, Carrie & Brian Farr 

• Sunday, Sept. 14: Rick Wangsness, Reece Breidenbach, Issac Wacek, Chris Hanson, Linda Pederson, Jill Peterson, Jack Jensen, Caleb Lunning, Ethan Lunning, Johnny White, Rick & Charlotte Miller

• Monday, Sept. 15: Korbin Wayne, Aiden McClasky, Daniel Hemingway, Ryan Johnson, Nancy Nelson, Tyrel Peterson, Wendy Schultz, Eric Nelson, Jarred Hanson, Dorothy Reichl, Roger & Patty Langlie 

• Tuesday, Sept. 16: Evon Damon Lucas, David L. Christenson, Carmen Fetterly, Emily Laudon, Howard & Carrie Peterson, Shane & Kelly Christensen

• Wednesday, Sept. 17: Duane Edwardson, Karen Hemingway Core, Al Routh, Kara Ladlie, Allen Brandt, Sue Tasker, Brock David Routh, Terry & Marlys Van Kampen

• Thursday, Sept. 18: Torsten Wayne, Laura Groth, Carla Scripture, Kevin Christenson, Ron Farr, Chris Larson, Becky Axmann, Laura Davis, Julia Spande, Randy & Cindy Horan, Andrea & Nick Miller, Todd & Mary Wayne, David & Malinda Hanson, Jill & Brian Wolff, Nicholas & Katie Wayne

• Friday, Sept. 19: Vicki Hill Kress, Carol Anderson, David Deml, Ben Cerney, Dan Underland, Kristine Sorenson, Bill Hatch, Jennifer Johnson, Gerald Trandem, Cindy Morris Erickson, Scott & Tracy Tracy, Kelly & David Wacek, Jill & Dustin Johannsen

May your special day be filled with sunshine and smiles.

As we approach the autumn season I have noticed a hint of what lies ahead in the air. It’s kind of funny how even on a fairly warm day I will get that certain feeling that tells me fall is almost upon us. The smell of the new season is starting to make itself known and there seems to be a hint of coolness in the breeze, even on the warm late summerlike days.

As a kid growing up north of town I always loved the smell of fall, which was somehow enhanced by my mom and my Aunt Ruby because of the big garden they planted behind our house each year. Our breezeway seemed to be the perfect place for ripening tomatoes and it’s also where they kept the squash, cucumbers, dill and other veggies they grew. If I close my eyes it seems as if I can still enjoy the smell of those vegetables ripening in that breezeway. Canning was a way of life back then and they canned everything from tomatoes to dill and refrigerator pickles. I have to say the refrigerator pickles were my favorite and my mother had this big old jar that took up half of the top shelf in the ice box (which is what we still called it).

I guess I could date myself a little and tell you that I remember the ice box my grandparents had when they lived on Bridge Avenue. The Albert Lea Ice Company was located on Main Street in the vicinity of where Godfather’s is now and that is where you could get ice for the ice box. I wasn’t very old before the ice box became a thing of the past; I still have an ice pick with their name on it. I can also remember when the coal man would bring coal to the house. Their house had a coal chute and a bin for storing the coal that was used to heat the house, and I can remember watching my grandpa as he shoveled coal into the furnace. I had to take cod liver oil for a while so my grandma would give it to me with orange juice, but that didn’t change the fact that it still tasted awful. Orange juice was a treat in those days because you had to squeeze the oranges with a “juicer” to get the juice and you didn’t even have to look for a made from concentrate sticker. Grandma’s kitchen always had the delicious smell of fresh baked bread and buns as they were taken piping hot from the oven. Then there were the fresh baked made-from-scratch pies, cakes and cookies that make my mouth water just to think about it. Yes, baking was a big part of life back then and as a kid I’d wait patiently for those goodies to come out of the oven, hoping to get a little sample before company arrived and put a huge dent in it.

I guess that must be a part of the “good old days” folks often refer to.

— — —

Bucks-only management strategy applies to archers, youth, and disabled hunters

As archery hunters prepare for the Sept. 13 Minnesota archery season opener, the Department of Natural Resources reminds them to become familiar with this year’s hunting regulations.

One change in particular may be a surprise to archery hunters, youth hunters, and hunters with disability permits: a bucks-only management strategy may apply to them as well.

In a bucks-only harvest area, all hunters may harvest one legal buck – no matter the hunter or the weapon used. In a lottery area, archers, youth and disabled hunters may harvest an antlerless deer without being drawn for an antlerless permit.

“It’s important that hunters review the hunting regulations handbook each year for changes,” said DNR Conservation Officer Sarah Sindelir. “Hunters play an important role in deer management, so as the state’s strategy changes, so do the rules for harvest.”

This season’s conservative approach to harvest is intended to protect more antlerless deer, which will likely reduce the statewide harvest and allow the population to rebound.

Hunters should consult the 2014 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook and deer season/area map for additional information. The handbook can be acquired at most electronic licensing agents, on the Minnesota DNR website at www.mndrn.gov/hunting/deer, or at a local Minnesota DNR office.

Until next time; fall is a great time to take a walk around the lake, do some fishing or just spend a day at one of our many area parks.

Please take a little time to remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

Echoes from the Loafers' Club Meeting

Do you know the difference between a chicken and an opossum?

No.

Well, I hope you don't do the grocery shopping for your family.

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’m a good friend to my garage door. I can always lift it up when it is down.

The cafe chronicles

After a parade, I’d held the door for a guy entering the cafe. I hold a mean door. I’d held the door open for a clown. I thought it was a nice jester.

A sign on the cafe’s wall said, "Free sympathy to anyone with a scar." Another read, "Free breakfast. Tomorrow only."

"Why doesn't AARP offer a senior discount on its membership fees?" I asked in the hopes of inspiring some conversation.

I ate at my kind of diner in Sterling, Illinois. It was named, "Eggs in Paradise." The breakfast was scrumptious. It eliminated those of the glum face. The waitress brought the bill, saying that it was my ticket out of there.

The breakfast reminded me of my father and what could have been any fast food restaurant, but it wasn't. My father was a meat and potatoes guy. He came to visit me in college. I took him to a McDonald’s for lunch. He’d never been there. He didn’t care what he ate as long as bread, meat, and potatoes were included. We ordered burgers and fries. We ate while talking of family things and the weather. I asked how he liked the burger.

"If this is beef, some cow ought to be ashamed of itself," he replied.

I should have gotten him a Happy Meal.

I met up with a local named Tim Keller. He's a prairie plants aficionado. He goes by Tim because when someone calls and asks for George, he knows it's a telemarketer.

As I left Sterling, I drove by an enterprise offering tattoos, piercings, and live bait. That's a nice combination. I can't tell you how many times when I've been getting a tattoo or a body piercing, that I’ve said to myself, "Boy, I could use some live bait."

He’s no loafer

A friend drives a bread truck. He has a route where he delivers bread to stores. I saw him in one of those stores recently. He walked towards me to shake my hand. I couldn't help but say, "Bread man walking."

It was fairly nice

The attendance for the 12 days of the 2014 Minnesota State Fair was 1,824,830, topping the previous record of 1,790,497 set in 2009. The weather was agreeable and the economy improving.

I’ve worked at the fair for years. My habit was to have breakfast at Epiphany Diner, a dining hall featuring traditional meals. It’s no longer in operation. Things drenched in gravy couldn’t compete with deep-fried butter on a stick. I miss Epiphany Diner. I truly understood hash browns for the first time there.

The Holstein

The Holstein is a retired dairy cow, so she has the time to talk. "Knock-knock,'" she said.

"Who’s there?" I asked.

"Interrupting cow," she responded.

"Interrup-"

"Moo!" said the interrupting Holstein.

Customer comments

Charles Christianson of Monticello told me that he has made 18 trips to Norway. His guide, Einar, speaks Norwegian, English, Danish, and German — often in the same sentence.

Mary Ebnet of New Richland said that Brenda Johnson of the same city had turned the speed limit. Mary wasn’t sure if that speed limit is for a gravel road or an Interstate highway.

Kathy Spooner of Hartland says she thinks of me when she watches a baseball game on TV and sees, "At Bat."

Al Batt of Hartland writes, "Happy anniversary to my lovely wife, Gail. Together is a good place to be."

Party in the park

My thanks to Vista Covenant Church for the Party in the Park in New Richland. I had a great time.

Nature notes

Dave Swanson of Glenville asks if feeding hummingbirds in the fall will keep them from migrating. It will not. There are a number of factors that trigger the urge for hummingbirds to migrate, but the most significant one is day length. When the days get shorter, the hummingbirds move on, regardless if there are feeders or not. Keep the feeders for a time after you’ve seen the last hummingbird in case there are stragglers in need of energy to complete their long journey south.

Meeting adjourned

"The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you."—John E. Southard

F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) is an outreach mission of our church, Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. Genie and I are co-chairs of F.R.O.G. We have a box (as does everybody) with our name on it in church. In our box, in April, was an unopened jar of jam with the label F.R.O.G. The jam is very good, but the problem is, the jar is almost empty. To whomever left the jar – we are ready for another.

Following is the powerful message from the funeral of Jennetta Ann Knudson held at First Baptist Church in Albert Lea: “If the song is to continue, we must all do the singing.” (What a neat way of saying “United we stand, divided we fall.”)

A fancy sign on the front door of a Lutheran church in Garner, Iowa reads: “Please wipe thy feet first before entering.” Just below the fancy sign is a scruffy looking hand-printed sign reading, “Please send thy rain first.” (The rain sign has been removed after the recent rains.)

I let it be known in my neighborhood about my free give-away. The following were the enticing requirements:

1. Could shimmy up a greased clothesline pole.

2. Could jump three feet from a standstill.

3. Could jump five feet from a run.

4. Could walk a tight wire.

5. Could get into any closed container.

6. Could chatter continuously.

(The hawk family sent me a thank you note for the free gray squirrel meal.)

A bit of traveling advice from Genie: fill your room ice bucket with ice the night before. In the morning you will have good tasting cool water.

This will please all you drivers of the green. Crossing over I-74 in Illinois is a well-maintained blacktop road. What is the name of the road? “John Deere Road,” of course! (I wonder if the color of the local water tower is John Deere green?)

Billboard as seen on I-80: “Stop the text and stop the wreck.”

As of this writing there has not been one summer day 90 degrees or warmer in Albert Lea. Starting in mid-July the water temperature on the Gulf side in Florida is 90 degrees!

On Iowa 380 at Cedar Rapids is a big sign: “Photo Enforcement Zone.” So far, I haven’t received a picture of our car license plate. Do you suppose it’s because I was driving Genie’s car when we went through?

Genie is ready for another week-long birthday celebration – next year. This year she received 22 birthday cards, went shopping in two different towns, ate a birthday celebration meal in four different towns at six different restaurants in two states. After 53 birthday celebrations with Genie, I think I will be ready for another one with a great lady – next year!

A reminder: Don’t forget the Soup and Pie Supper at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

This will be my last regular column this year. I plan on writing columns on a sporadic basis until back to weekly in April of 2015. Thanks for your faithful readership.

———

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.

NRHEG Secondary School will begin our second year of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) this week after a half year trial last year. This program sets aside a block of time every Wednesday for EVERYONE at school to just kick back and read something, whether it’s a novel, a newspaper, or a magazine.

Obviously, I love it as an English teacher and also as a voracious reader. Sometimes life gets so busy that I don’t have enough time to just relax and read. I heard many staff members last year talk about books they’d always wanted to read and had never had the chance before.

Ultimately, there are two goals to this program. The first is to improve student reading. The more you practice something, the better you get! The other goal is to develop a lifelong love of reading. Too many people leave high school and never pick up another novel again. It’s sad how much joy can be missed out on by ignoring the good literature that awaits one on library and bookstore shelves.

As the summer approached, I was excited since I had made a goal to read as much as possible in-between hauling the kids hither and yon and preparing some new material for this school year. I dedicated this summer to reading a batch of books that appeal to young adults. This way, I can recommend novels to my students. I’ve also discovered that one can really enjoy these, even as an adult. Following is a sample of some good reading I enjoyed the past few months.

I’ll start with The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Many of my female students read this heartbreaker last year, and I kept putting off reading it to see what all the hubbub was about. Finally, Jayna said, “Dad, you HAVE to read this.”

Now I’ve become a little leery of teenage girl love books. I’ve been burned by Twilight (ugh, pure schlock) and Divergent (hard to keep interest). However, I found that Green’s seminal novel delivered on many levels. The characters were likable and real. The basic gist was following a couple teenagers dealing with cancer. I freely admit that I shed some tears near the end, and that happens about as often as the Twins win the World Series.

Many of my students tried out The 39 Clues series last year. There are eleven books in the series, following two orphans on a mystery to discover a powerful treasure. They must fend off and team up (and sometimes both) with various family members searching for the same treasure. This is not earth-shattering writing, but the books are entertaining enough to keep one’s interest, and I’ll be recommending them to my struggling readers. I finished three books and look forward to reading the rest throughout the year.

It wasn’t all young adult novels though. I recently read World War Z by Max Brooks. Many people have told me they saw the movie starring Brad Pitt, but I can only imagine how different it is compared to the novel. This is a book that tells a unique version of a zombie apocalypse. However, there is no real central character to invest in as you read. There is a narrator who is going around after the zombie war collecting points of view of various individuals who were involved in the action. I’ve not read much in this style, but it was enjoyable, especially for someone who’s a big fan of The Walking Dead comics and TV show.

I’ve just started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is another book Jayna recommended to me and stars Death as the narrator. So far, it’s well written (especially the similes!) and engrossing. The problem is I just got a call from the Owatonna Library that a book I requested back in July is finally in. Oh oh, two books at once!

I wonder how many staff and students will pick up a book for the first time since May as we resume. Hopefully, it is less than could say that last year; hopefully, many have at least attempted to keep reading over the summer and can suggest some other great books to read!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is plangent, which means loud and resounding or sad and mournful, as in, “The plangent sounds as patrons left the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars could be heard in the next theater.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The parts the scurs ordered for the Weather Eye arrived and not moment too soon. Weather over the weekend was an absolute 10. Will our luck continue or will we see Jack Frost soon? Starting Wednesday, cloudy with a good chance of rain. Highs in the low 60’s and lows in the mid-40’s. Mostly cloudy and cooler with slight chance of a shower. Highs in the mid-50’s and lows in the low 40’s. Mostly sunny on Friday with continued cooler than normal temps. Highs in the mid-50’s and lows in the mid to upper 30’s. There exists the chance for patchy frost especially in low lying areas. Sunny again for Saturday with slightly warmer temperatures. Highs in the low 60’s and lows in the mid-40’s. Continued slightly warmer on Sunday under partly sunny skies. Highs in the mid-60’s and lows in the mid-40’s. Monday, rain likely under cloudy skies. Highs near 60 and lows near 40’s. Mostly sunny for Tuesday with continued below normal temperatures. Highs around 60 and lows in the mid-40’s. The sun will set before 7:30 p.m. on the 13th. The normal high for September 15th is 73 and the normal low is 50. The scurs have their blankets and tarps at the ready for Friday night just in case.

Crops are making their move toward the finish line. Corn is still R5 although the milk line is making its presence known. Some of the corn planted in the May 6-7 range has a milk line about halfway down the kernel. Silage harvest is underway in places. Soybeans continue to progress as well with some fields turning rapidly as they approach R7. Most are still in the R6 stage however. How much would a frost hurt either crop? It depends somewhat on the planting date. Some of those fields of corn with the milk line halfway down last week wouldn’t be hurt more than a few percent with a frost on Friday. Soybeans however would be a different story. Freezing them at mid R6 would probably mean a yield hit in the neighborhood of 15 – 20%. A couple websites gauging potential yield losses from an early frost: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/cropnews/2011/09/yield-and-harvest-consideratio.html http://thesoyreport.blogspot.com/2013/09/odds-my-soybean-crop-will-mature-before.html.

Let’s hope we don’t have to deal with frost just yet.

One can definitely see the change in the seasons is upon us. Looking to the northwest around 10ish when letting the dogs out or even if you don’t, one can see the Big Dipper prominently on display. Some of the trees in the yard are starting to show some color already which may have something to do with the stress they seemed to be under coming out of the winter in some cases. Speaking of fall colors, looking to the west the sun shining off the russet colored Indiangrass against the azure sky Saturday evening almost took my breath away. 

This was also a good weekend to notice the number of insect species that were active. We have had a very busy crew of bumblebees working over not only the potted flowers but any remaining vine crop flowers. The striped and spotted cucumber beetles have been working over any soft tissue they can, leaving divots in some of the string bean pods. Some of their cousins, the northern corn rootworms have also joined them. Monarch butterflies sailed lazily past the windows much of the weekend and other species such as the yellow swallowtails were occasional visitors.

We were still seeing the odd Baltimore oriole as of Monday although the jelly consumption has tailed off substantially. It won’t surprise me if that was their last day with cooler conditions coming soon to the area. In the meantime the hummingbirds continue to keep us entertained. They emptied one feeder and were working on whatever the orioles decided to leave them in their feeder. Goldfinches have returned in numbers once again and the chickadees have recently discovered there are sunflower seeds here for the taking.

The garden continues to be a beast. While there have been more tomatoes than we know what to with, we’ve been fortunate to find good homes for large amounts of them. Others haven’t been so fortunate. The vines are huge. Apparently they liked the large amount of potassium applied this spring. There are plants of one variety of grape tomatoes that are ten feet wide! Once it started raining the end of August, they covered the peppers and string beans on either side and touch the snap peas and other row of tomatoes on the other. A reader asked about how we find the energy to do the fall gardening thing. It’s probably because we really had very little early spring garden at the ranch this year. There were still snow banks on the garden in April and parts of it were covered with standing water shortly afterwards. There are some radishes that are ready to harvest and the lettuce isn’t far behind. Some of the kohlrabi is slow but there is hopefully a lot of time left before the ground freezes.

In the meantime the sheep continue to enjoy the spoils (literally) from the garden. Too often the bunnies or the picnic beetles seem to locate the ripe muskmelons before we do. While that’s unfortunate it’s nice to know that nothing goes to waste. Even the cobs from the sweetcorn are devoured completely. How they perform that feat is entertaining to say the least. They somehow manage to put the entire cob in their mouth then start grinding away. Within a matter of a few seconds it’s gone and they’re looking for another one. It isn’t so amazing, however, after one has tried slipping a bolus down their throat. A sheep’s molars are razor sharp and your thumb making contact with them will result in it looking like a piece of hamburger. Bloody, rare hamburger.   

See you next week…real good then.