Some things are just hard to understand; like the fact that even though the temperatures have been at mid-summer highs for the past week or so I still get the same feeling I get when fall is in the air. It is kind of hard to describe, but whenever I feel a breeze I sense a breath of coolness that says fall is lurking in the shadows. With that being said September is just around the corner and for the hunters out there the season is about to begin.

The early fall goose season starts on September 1st and youth waterfowl day follows on the 7th. The small game season for rabbit and squirrel starts on the 14th of September along with Sharptailed Grouse, Ruffed and Spruce Grouse & Hungarian Partridge. The deer hunting archery season also starts on the 14th.

The small game season is a great way for our youth to get started on the great lifelong sport of hunting. I started hunting as a youth with my trusty Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. I wasn’t taking down any deer, bear or mountain lions with my high powered gun, but in my imagination I was that rugged mountain man surviving in the wilderness of the local slough. Actually all critters both big and small were pretty much safe from me and my trusty BB gun. I don’t recall anyone ever calling me “sure shot” when I was growing up, but then to me it’s always just been about being there. I really believe that a lot of today’s youth are not taking advantage of what the great Minnesota outdoors has to offer them. As adults we need to encourage youth’s participation in outdoor activities whether it is hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, disc golf or some other outdoor activity.

Just a reminder: there are 11 WMAs (Wildlife Management Areas) in Freeborn County alone that are there for public use. In the event you don’t have access to private land, you can visit one of these areas that are sprinkled throughout the county. If you are unsure where to find them go to the DNR Web site www.dnr.state.mn.us/wmas and select Freeborn County.

Remember that whether hunting private or public land, you need to respect it and leave it as good as or better than you found it. There is an old saying that goes like this: Abuse it - you lose it.

Deer licenses now on sale; lottery applications due Sept. 5th

Hunters should carefully review the list of lottery areas, particularly in extreme Northwestern Minnesota and the Iron Range area of Northeastern Minnesota. The following permit areas are designated as lottery this year but were not last year: 176, 101, 105, 111, 267 and 268. Elsewhere, other permit area designations have changed too in response to local deer population changes.

Regulations are detailed in Minnesota’s 2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook and Deer Season Map, which now are available wherever hunting and angling licenses are sold, online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations and in many DNR offices across the state.

Fifty-eight of the state’s 129 permit areas are lottery areas. The number of permit areas designated as lottery is unchanged from 2012. The number of either-sex permits available has increased about 10 percent.

People can purchase a deer license and apply for the lottery or a special hunt at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-665-4236 or online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Lottery winners will be notified in October.

Hunters can apply for lottery deer areas and special hunts using both their firearm and muzzleloader licenses. Although a hunter can be selected for both licenses, successful applicants can only take one deer in lottery permit areas. In the case of special hunts, a person may draw both a firearm and muzzleloader permit, in which case he or she must adhere to the bag limits established by each special hunt.

Lottery deer areas in 2013 are permit areas 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 118, 119, 122, 169, 171, 172, 176, 183, 184, 197, 199, 234, 237, 238, 250, 251, 252, 253, 260, 261, 262, 263, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298 and 299.

DNR encourages hunters to review new deer hunting regulations, permit area designations and boundary changes before applying. Current and up-to-date information is available online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/deer and www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting.

— — —

Until next time, whether you are a hunter or not, visiting one of our counties WMAs can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club meeting

"Boy, that was a loud thunderstorm last night. I wish someone would have awakened me."

"Why?"

"I can’t sleep through thunder and lightning."

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: the older you get, the harder it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have become good friends.

I’ve learned

• A true convenience store would be located along my driveway.

• Batting gloves should be outlawed in Major League Baseball. The constant adjusting of those gloves by hitters adds length to games.

• The easiest way to find a lost item is to buy a replacement.

The news from Hartland

• The Chicken Dance Center offers a class in which students learn the hula in two shakes.

• Local man's funeral had Minnesota Viking players as pallbearers. It was his wish that the Vikings let him down one last time.

• Old Man McGinty, the youngest Old Man McGinty ever, walked three miles to school every day. The school was only two blocks from his home, but he knew a long way.

She looked up to me

I could only guess at her age and I’m not good at guessing ages.

She said, "Oh, my stars and garters!"

I’ve never known anyone outside books and movies who said, "Oh, my stars and garters!"

She had to stretch to be five feet tall.

She looked up at me, nearly a foot and a half taller, and said, "I’ve never been that tall."

I believed her.

Going home

It was the summer of his school reunion.

He walked into one of those big hotel rooms. People from every fool place were there, wearing nametags. He was impressed by the preparation of his classmates in charge of the reunion. He was more impressed by how young and fit his classmates looked.

People asked how he was with equal parts politeness and concern.

It wasn't long before he realized, with some relief, that his reunion of older graduates was in another room.

He’d recently lost his job of long duration. He growled that they’d never be able to replace him.

I thought about a couple of trees that had fallen in my yard. I wondered how I should replace them. I wondered long enough that a volunteer mountain ash grew in one vacant spot and a dogwood filled the other. They are a perfect fit.

When we think of ourselves as irreplaceable, we’re wrong.

The man told me that the first thing he did upon arrival in his hometown was to drive by the house he grew up in.

It hit me, I can no longer drive by my boyhood home.

It was demolished and replaced.

I can still go home. There’s a road that leads from my mind to my heart.

Hotwire

Elwood P. Dowd in "Harvey," said, "Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be' — she always called me Elwood' — In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”

I could have been pleasant. I could have warned him.

Relatives from the city were visiting. They had a boy my age. We went for a walk to explore the farm. Curiosity caused his hand to touch an electric fence in fine working condition. He jerked away.

"Get a shock?" I asked with a minimum of concern.

"I would have," he replied, "if I hadn't been too quick for it."

Customer comments

Bill Courter, who farms near Jolley, told me it’s so dry in his area that his farm had received only 40 raindrops per 40 acres.

Did you know?

The most frequently searched words on Merriam-Webster.com over the past four months in descending order. 1. pragmatic 2. disposition 3. opportunity 4. didactic 5. esoteric 6. paradigm 7. holistic 8. comradery 9. integrity 10. caveat

Who is our Lieutenant Governor?

Nature notes 

Gene Pederson of Hartland asked what plant is called "devil’s pitchforks." It’s an annual herb called nodding beggar’s-ticks that has many names — devil's beggarticks, common beggarticks, common tickseed, devil's bootjack, stick-tight, bur marigold, and pitchfork weed. It’s grows up to two-feet tall with yellow flowers that are produced in early autumn. The flat brown seeds, that look similar to a tick, have hooked barbs that attach to clothing (especially socks) or to animal fur.

Gratefulness

Thanks everyone involved with the Aasen/Ausen Family Reunion and Kernel Days in Wells for allowing me to speak at their celebrations.

Meeting adjourned

How you treat others is a direct reflection of how you feel about yourself. Be kind.

As my Norwegian father used to say, “Yeenie, Yeenie, Yeenie, you are so busy in August, it must be your birthday month.” (He was right.)

Genie received many telephone calls, birthday presents and cards, plus in-person well wishes. She served birthday cake at the coffee hour in church and we sang “Happy Birthday” to her. She had a “Fair”-ly good time going to the Freeborn County Fair, the Steele County Fair (where we danced on the grass), and the Minnesota State Fair. She went out to breakfast at two different places, plus four different places for lunch in Albert Lea, and a dinner theater, plus the Hanson relatives’ birthday celebration at Olivia’s Restaurant in Owatonna for the evening meal. (Cheryl from Sacramento, Calif. attended and afterward we went to the Steele County Fair.) Olivia and staff made Genie feel like “Queen For the Occasion” as they brought her warm peach pie with French vanilla ice cream. Olivia is most certainly an expert at getting repeat business. (I did promise Olivia I’d mention our being there provided the experience was good. To which she replied, ”No problem.”)

One of the great birthday doings for Genie was going on a full bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins baseball game the day of her birthday, August 12. I think all the Lutheran powers, plus the Twins powers, decided to honor Genie by having Lutheran Night at the Twins on her birthday.

Gale Nelson also had a birthday on August 2, so we sang happy birthday to them on the bus. They both had their name and birthday greetings on the Twins scoreboard the fifth inning. They both had “Circle Me Bert” signs to hold up in their seats at the Twins game. Genie’s sign was “Circle Me Bert, It’s My Birthday, I’m Over the Speed Limit.” Gale’s sign was the same except for “Over” was “Under.” Sad to say, neither one was circled. (The Twins won.)

Drawings for eighteen prizes were held on the bus on the way to the game. Natalie Fell was drawn to help lead us in singing the National Anthem. (She can really belt out a tune.) Five-year-old Levi Griggs was drawn for a DQ Twins cap. (He wore it to bed that night and it has become part of his daily wearing apparel.) Spousal combinations drawn were Tonya and Joel Treptow, Gale and Lynn Nelson. Father-son combination drawn was LeRoy and Dennis Everhard. Barb First and bus driver Marilyn Matson were drawn for a 2013 Wins Yearbook each. Spencer Dahl was drawn for Twins miscellany to add to his collection.

Thanks to Laurel at Arby’s in Albert Lea for “Buy One – Get One” coupons for youth on the bus.

Thanks to Jamie, Hannah and Patty at DQ in Albert Lea for coupons for everyone on the bus.

Thanks to Guyla, Tricia and Terry at KFC in Albert Lea for a coupon designed like a Twins baseball for everyone on the bus.

If you have never paid $6 for a hot dog made in Albert Lea (Schweigert’s), paid $4.50 for a cup of soda pop, talked to Ginger or seen her play the organ, spun the wheel for a prize at Treasure Island Casino, sat behind Home Plate at the top of the stadium – in other words, been to a Twins baseball game …

Get with it! Go with us on the F.R.O.G. bus to Lutheran Night at the Twins next summer to experience the above. (There were 14 first-timers on the Twins F.R.O.G. bus this year.)

Next F.R.O.G. bus trip is to Christmas By The Lake on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Clear Lake, Ia.

———

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.

I heard on the radio recently that a study showed the two ages people are most happy are 23 and 69. I understand the 23: starting a career, establishing roots, maybe getting married. These are all things that would add to a person’s happiness. I can only imagine that at 69 you are retired and can do what you want when you want.

Over time, the idea of being “over the hill” has changed. Whereas it used to be 40, it’s now often contemplated at 50 or even 60. Those are more likely to be dates when the black balloons and cake show up.

I’d like to postulate that you are over the hill at 25. Bear with me here.

Think about a roller coaster. It seems to take forever to get to the top of the big first hill. Remember your early years. Those years dragged on, getting from your birthday to Christmas to summer vacation. That was part of the long climb.

Once you reach the top of that hill, the ride becomes a non-stop rush of excitement. You barely have time to think about what’s coming next. That would be life after 25. Every year seems to go by faster and faster. That’s not always a bad thing, but sometimes we miss the details on the roller coaster of life.

I’m turning 40 soon. I don’t try to hide that, and that number doesn’t bother me in the least. Forty is the new 30, and you’re only as old as you feel. My body tells me I’m definitely in my 30s and can’t do everything I used to in my younger days, but I can’t foresee getting out of bed on my birthday and suddenly feeling old and decrepit. After all, I’ve already long since gone over the hill of life.

At a recent check-up, my nurse told me that I looked pretty good for someone nearly 40. I figured that was pretty good to know. I must; in fact, I was carded while in Florida! It’s obvious to anyone who knows me that I had a baseball cap on, covering up all the hair that is much lighter than my normal dark covering.

Don’t let age get the better of you! It’s all mind over matter, and if you keep living your life to the fullest, you get the most out of the ride!

Speaking of semi-important events, this week marks the beginning of my second year at the helm of this column. When I started, I honestly wondered if I would be able to come up with enough topics to even write for a year. As it stands, I’ve still got quite a list to work from in coming weeks, and the world has had a way of providing fodder for waffle flipping.

I feel very humbled every time I meet someone new who tells me he or she enjoys my column. I’ve met people at parties, at school events, and even in the receiving line at a funeral home who have introduced themselves and had encouraging words about my writing. Thank you to all of you who read my diatribes, and I enjoy the commentary I hear.

It’s also nice to have a number of former stars read this online from wherever they roam. I enjoy the Facebook interactions and the face-to-face ones when they are back in town.

Not everyone enjoys this space; I know I’ve tweaked some folks who don’t agree with some of my ideas, and that’s fine. I always welcome a good dialogue with people willing to give their name.

Thanks again for reading, and I’ll do my best to keep flipping as I hop back on the roller coaster ride of life and plunge along the track, picking up speed all the time.

Word of the Week: This week’s word is postulate, which means to assume something is true, as in, “The lawyer postulated that his client was innocent at the beginning of the trial.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

So much for the scurs predicting high temperatures. Those 90-degree highs were unexpected and made everyone get acquainted with their air conditioner once again. Will we get back to reality soon or will September be the new July? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs near 90 and lows in the upper 60’s. Mostly sunny on Thursday with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Mostly sunny for Friday with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the lower 70s. Saturday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of an evening shower or thunderstorm. Highs again in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Mostly sunny for Sunday with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. For Labor Day, mostly sunny and slightly cooler with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the lower 60s. Mostly sunny becoming partly cloudy with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs near 80 and lows in the low 60s.  The normal high for September 1st is 77 and the normal low is 56. On August 27th the sun will set before 8 p.m. for the first time since mid-April. The scurs will be enjoying Labor Day in their hammock far from the madding crowd. Sheep farm, goofy dogs, yeah, it kinda fits.

Someone certainly decided we needed to come out of the refrigerator and onto the stove. While some are rejoicing that we are finally getting some warm weather for this crop, once again we need to be careful what we wish for. The pattern of sparse and randomly distributed rainfall in August has entrenched itself for the third year in a row. Without some rainfall in most areas, prolonged hot dry weather can only spell lower yields. Early planted corn has just begun to dent and without rainfall, tipping back on the ears given the generally shallow root systems is inevitable. Likewise on the soybeans. Where rainfall was received recently, the soybeans are setting additional pods on the plants. No such luck where it did not rain last week. 

Soybean aphids exploded with a vengeance last week keeping sprayer operators hopping. There is some puzzlement over the dynamic increase in populations despite the hot conditions. Were the aphids conditioned for the weather extremes by the cold temperatures preceding this recent heat wave or have they been fooling us into thinking they prefer a cooler weather regime previously? Difficult to say at this point. About the only thing certain about soybean aphids this season anyway is they don’t follow the rules and would rather make them up as they go along. After the season is over there will be lots of time to mull over what happened and perhaps something in the data will point us in the right direction. In the meantime, the mosquitoes should have taken it on the chin, at least around soybean fields anyway.

Another Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour is in the books as is our showing at the MN State Fair. While I usually dread going in either case, I’m usually glad I went and this year was no exception. On the Crop Tour we saw a good corn and soybean crop in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois with Iowa and Minnesota being more problematic. The thing I’ve always liked about the Crop Tour over the years though is the people. I’ve made friends all over the country and I’d like to think all over the world as a result. The State Fair is no different in that respect. I ran into my little fat buddy from Bemidji and we spent time seeing what might work for a Canadian fishing adventure. The last time I took an entire week off other than for an illness, showing sheep, or to work at home was 1987. I think everyone deserves a small vacation once in a while, including me.

One of the things I look forward to the most when I get back from Crop Tour is checking out the garden to see how much it changed in a week’s time. Man did it ever. With the heat there were string beans and radishes coming out our ears. There were some tomatoes that finally ripened as well. Not only that but the leaf lettuce was already in its prime, enough so that I purchased some salad dressing at Pete’s to start my diet. It’s never a good idea to step on the scale for at least two weeks following Crop Tour. The evening meals are superb and eating at places like the Angry Pickle in Decorah during the day probably doesn’t help. Did I mention they had raspberry pie? 

I was surprised to see there were still orioles hanging around the feeders when I got home. Their days are numbered however and usually sometime in September they bid us adieu. The goldfinches are numerous once again though after being almost nonexistent last spring and winter. The hummingbirds have been more sporadic this summer than some years with a few loyal customers at the feeders and planters, yet not consistently. There have however been plenty of white-lined sphinx moths taking advantage of the flowers such as the blue salvia. With the 4 O’Clocks just beginning to flower, they will be sure to enjoy them as well.

The dogs have been glad to have me back home while Mrs. Cheviot is riding herd on the exhibitors in the Open Class Sheep Dept. Even during the hot days the dogs would rather be outside watching what I’m up to as opposed to laying around the house. They do however seek shelter from the sun with Fudgie perching on the south porch while Ruby is content to watch the sheep in the barn. What for I’m not sure, but Border Collies will be Border Collies. 

See you next week…real good then.

Charlotte passed away on August 26, 2013 at age 64. She was born in Sherwood, ND, on November 22, 1948 to George and Sadie (Palm) Jensen.  She attended North Dakota and Ellendale schools.  She married Roger Holland September 7, 1969 in Ellendale.  They made their home in Hartland and had a son, Paul.  Charlotte enjoyed wildlife, nature, and flowers. She made many, many trips out west to the Big Horn Mountains. She was a wonderful wife and mother and will be deeply missed. Roger and her family and friends loved her very much and always will.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents and her son Paul in 2003.

Graveside services held Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. at Trenton Cemetery in Freeborn County. Everyone who needs directions to the service can meet at Hartland Community Center at 12:30 p.m. and follow the family to the service. In honor of Charlotte, a gathering of family and friends and a memorial luncheon will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Hartland Community Center.

The Steele Country Free Fair is always an open invitation to come and be with friends from the past as well as provides the opportunity to meet new ones. It has been said, "You see one fair, you've seen them all." Not true, and in the long run it is not the exhibits, the vendors, the midway and all the other hoopla that makes it a fair. Fairs are as old and traditional as time and people love them.

My mother, my daughter and I made a trip to the fair on opening day, not realizing officially it didn't open until 5, but still weren't disappointed. We were able to see a great number of things in various areas of the grounds. It wasn't crowded yet and there were places to eat, relax, have conversation and just enjoy the people. As three generations we all saw things differently but also collectively. It is hard to believe that the quiet streets I motored through hardly a week before could be transformed into such a colorful and exciting place. Vendors lined the streets almost bumper to bumper. I don't know how they get them all parked like they do. There was music in many places, like the Village Square, the Village of Yesteryear, the mobile LuVerne Wanous Concertina, from the cattle barns, from radios and loud speakers. There were those who danced. A grandma I am sure danced with her grandchildren to the sounds of Big Ben and the Brians.

We stopped to visit with ladies from Medford’s Congregational Church. When I mentioned that was the first place I stopped at for many years, the lady working laughed and said, "We are the oldest and longest running booth at the fair but we should be because we're the oldest church in the county.” I learned something special there.

She talked about how some items in the booth have changed because some of the ladies who used to work and made hand crafted needlework are no longer with us. Many items from the past are not seen in the booths today because the younger people haven't taken up those arts, probably because they are so busy with work outside the home. But there are other things that complete the picture, like soap, bath salts, other fancywork in wide assortment, and they still do embroider kitchen towels!

Another booth we as enjoyed was the "grab bags" to be purchased at the hospital auxiliary booth. Good things live on! Once under the grandstand and now a part of the Four Seasons, building the ladies were busy filling in all the corners of their booth.

Though there were still empty booths waiting to be filled, many were ready and some enterprising vendors were taking advantage of giving time for conversation with those early crowds, especially the older folks.

I was impressed with the creativity of the children, youngsters, teenagers and right up the age line. The art projects are unbelievable. The 4-H building, outstanding in projects and display. Things have really changed since I was in 4-H many years ago. I love my digital camera and I have a mass of pictures. Why? Because when I see so many interesting things I snap a picture so I can remember them. And like many say, "Today’s happenings are tomorrows history."

Of course there was food of more kinds than I could count. You couldn't go wrong at the 4-H grill and I saw that Authentic Grace’s advertised hard shell tacos for just $2! Amazing how many people take their noon hours from work to come out for fair food. My daughter, Krista, and I enjoyed a walking taco from the 4-H stand and mom had a reuben sandwich she said was "outstanding" from the Elks Club booth. There were definitely tempting favorites like corn dogs of all sizes and additions, pizza by the slice or the whole thing, real dairy products from the dairy wagon and liquids from malts to popular pop and ice cold water. Gyros seem to be a favorite, but you could also buy fresh fish.

Talking with a first-time vendor, he said, "It is impressive. I have always heard about this county fair and thought I sure would like to give it a try.” He was from out of state, perhaps Arizona. We couldn't stay for the grand opening after being there all day, but we weren't disappointed.  n fact Daryl and I took in the fair on Wednesday night where we saw more people, more things and enjoyed local talent at the Heritage Village. Ross Sletten and his daughter, Cassidy, and little nephew, Conner, along with Matt Arthur, gave us quite a show.

When you go to an old car show and meet someone you haven't seen in many, many years, it is something to cherish. Funny how we kept looking at each other, knowing it was someone we should know and finally something clicked. It was Bob Helmers, who has always "been with cars" and once lived in Geneva. He maybe wasn't able to put the name with the face immediately, but I think he was able to enlighten us on every car, make and model he has sold and who he sold them to.

The song, "We Could Have Danced All Night," comes to mind, but in this case it was talk, not dance.

I may go back ,though I may have seen everything there is to see except the midway, which has never appealed to me as much as other adventures at the fair. There are some things I'd like to see again.

Did I say the fair board does a good job in making this fair impressive? I should. There is something for everyone. It is clean, well organized with amazing amounts of things to see and do and they keep adding more. They provide for the comfort and relaxation with seating and various stage shows throughout the grounds. Like they say in their promotions, "SCFF, Steele County Free Fair - The place to be seen in 2013." They got that right!

P.S. I swelled with pride whenever, and it was often, people approached me about being a part of such a "good paper." Not to brag about our paper, but yes, we do have a great advantage because there is always more than enough to write about. We have so many great people and great things happening here in our area we can leave out the stuff found in the big newspapers. After I got to bed I thought about it again. There is more than one way to interpret “good.” Ever notice most of our news we include in "our paper" is of the "good” variety?

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 birthdays and anniversaries you would like included, 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.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, August 22nd: Thayne & Becky Nordland, Ava Moon, Julie Johnson, Kyle Wallerich, La Donna Cummins Fallen, John Butler, John Glynn, Diane Butler, Dale Kelly, Aaron Ladlie, Dale Kelly, Nancy TaBelle

• Friday, August 23rd: Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Jessica Lutgens, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Galen & Linda Christensen, Amy & Marshall Svoboda

• Saturday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Chrisensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen

• Sunday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang

• Monday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael Den Herder

• Tuesday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen

• Wednesday, August 28th: Mitch Helmers, Larry Motl, Bev Newgard. Waynetta Peterson, Rosy Fisher, Lorraine Christensen, Justine Randall, Marlys Van Kampen, Tammy Johnson, Gerritt Molenaar Sr., Jacquelyn Jensen, Linda Kelly, Marvin Thomspon, Jim & Fran Ladlie

May your day be filled with everything you enjoy most.

I do believe we couldn’t ask for any better weather than we have been experiencing this past couple of weeks. But, on the other hand, I have already heard rumblings from some folks it is too early for fall. I am actually a little biased in that area because fall, after all, is my favorite time of year. August is almost the perfect month because the temperatures still usually get into the 80s during the day but cool off nicely as the sun goes down. It’s hard to beat the refreshing feeling you get as the sun goes down and the temperatures cool as evening sets in on a clear August day. Even though I know what comes after the fall season it is, to me, still the best time of year.

I have heard reports that, although maybe not quite as big as earlier, there are still plenty of panfish being caught in Fountain Lake. This is a great time to get out and enjoy some fishing, especially in the early morning or evening. Although the channel is usually a productive place to fish I just can’t bring myself to do the elbow-to-elbow thing. For some reason it takes away from the serene part of fishing for me. I’d rather sit on the bank in an out of the way place and watch a bobber dance on the waves. Maybe that’s just me, but I’ve never judged a good day of fishing by how many fillets I can put in the freezer.

When I am up north, there is nothing more relaxing than being on the lake just as the sun starts to take that first peek over the treetops. It is exciting when the tranquility of the morning is disturbed only by the sound of a fish breaking the surface in search of breakfast. I can recall a few times when I’d actually get mad at myself for breaking the silence by dropping something as small as a split shot sinker on the floor of my old fishing boat. It wasn’t about scaring the fish, but it almost made me feel I had broken that peaceful bond that existed between me and nature. I just can’t think of a more exhilarating feeling than being on the lake at the crack of dawn and making the first cast of the day with a light layer of fog painting the shoreline. Good stuff; and if the fish are biting then it’s pretty much a time when you can say that “it just doesn’t get any better that this.”

I know a lot of folks are already shifting gears and anticipating the upcoming hunting seasons. This is great, but just remember there are still plenty of fish to be hunted before the water turns hard. Each year when I head north to the cabin I like to drive around and explore new lakes I haven’t fished before. There are always some surprises when it comes to fishing, like catching walleye in a lake that is not known for them or catching that big pike while casting for bass.

It is a fact that most trophy fish of many species are caught in the fall. The trick is finding them because once a lake turns over they can become less predictable. The one thing you can count on is that if you find the bait fish, you will find bigger fish. Fish, especially in late fall, are filling their bellies for the winter months that lie ahead. This is when you may encounter the one fish that memories are made of. For some reason I have one such encounter that has stuck with me. It was a cool, but sunny September day when I was fishing a bay on Spider Lake and had just cast a Suick jerk bait towards some lily pads. Just as the lure hit the water, it exploded and a northern came shooting out of the water like a missile and danced on its tail with the lure crosswise in its jaws. The fish was only about a 5-pounder, but the surprise element coupled with the picture of it dancing on its tail with that lure in its mouth has etched that picture forever in my mind. It was almost like pictures I had seen more than once in a Sports Afield or Outdoor Life magazine. This is what fishing, to me, is all about; making good memories and enjoying the outdoors experience.

We still have the late summer patterns to explore, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves and venture too far into fall. With Labor Day just around the corner I am reminded of some good days of fishing on Tetonka Lake in Waterville where I have caught some dandy bluegills and sunnies along with nice sized perch and largemouth bass. I have always seemed to have pretty good luck on that lake in late August and into the fall months. There may even be a trip to Waterville in the works for one of the upcoming fall days. Once school starts, the vacation season is pretty much over and the boat traffic is at a minimum so there is still plenty of fishing to be done and you just might want to take a day trip and give that area a try.

Until next time, enjoy the outdoors and maybe even take a little time to try out a new lake and make a few good memories.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

"I’ve decided to stop feeling guilty about everything."

"How does that make you feel?"

"Guilty."

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: with great power comes a great electric bill.

I’ve learned

• If my first guess is wrong, I should always go with my second guess.

• Nobody cares what kind of a car I drive.

• Everything and everyone is interesting.

The news from Hartland

• Rash of skinned knees believed to be the work of Jack the Tripper.

• Ringleader arrested at jewelry store.

• Senior Citizen Center Dance Contest winner credits leg cramp for his unique steps.

Ask Al

• "Have you ever seen the Catskill Mountains?" No, but I’ve seen what they can do to mice.

• "Why are some upscale restaurants so dark inside?" Because people eat less when they can’t see the food.

• "Does Hartland have a city celebration?" You bet. It’s the Hartland Humidity Festival. Come and sweat on the sidewalks while eating walking hamburger gravy on mashed potatoes from an old popcorn box.

T-shirts seen at the county fairs

• You lost me at "Hello."

• I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes a couple of days gang up on me.

• There’s a place for all God’s creatures...right next to the potatoes and gravy.

Fair memories

I watched a boy find a dollar bill in the garbage. I suspect that boy looked in every garbage receptacle at the fair.

I was on stage with a banjo player. He told me that it was easier to tune a chainsaw than to tune a banjo. I think it’s easier to tuna fish than it is to tune a chainsaw.

I picked up a free flyswatter at a county fair. I have a wedding anniversary coming up and, coincidentally, it’s our flyswatter anniversary. That’s one of the big ones. Next year is our fiber anniversary.

Sliding away

My wife and I walked the fairgrounds with some grandchildren. We looked at those scary rides that spin a passenger seriously before providing a sudden change of altitude.

I don’t need to go on any wild rides. I can get the same feeling by getting up quickly from a chair.

It was decided that several of the youngsters would go on a large slide. There was only one problem. The kids on the slide didn't slide. They had to work their way down like inchworms with ride tickets. There was no worry about sliding into the beer garden or suffering a dreaded slide burn.

Car talk

I saw a vanity license plate at a fair that read, "GOTTA P."

Another on a small car said, "I go where I’m towed."

A car passed me on the highway as if I were backing up. It carried a bumper sticker reading, "You are loved." I felt passed. 

Customer comments

Jim Borkowski of Crookston grew up in Kiester. Jim believes that if a city has a Walmart, it's not a small town.

A young Iowa farmer told me that while planting corn, he became stuck eight times in one day. A common complaint of humans is that the days are too short. I’ll bet he thought that particular day was much too long.

Barb Quillen told me that her grandmother, Bertina Olson, didn’t like grapefruit. She went so far as to say that grapefruit might have been God’s only mistake.

Did you know?

• The Steele County Fair had a 2012 estimated attendance of 321,926 over six days. It drew 5,000 during its first fair in 1918.

• A freegan is someone who practices the reclaiming and eating of food that has been discarded. Dumpster diving is one method. This means that raccoons are freegans.

• Gary Larson, creator of the cartoon "The Far Side" said that as a child, "I'd throw red ants in with black ants, and then play war correspondent."

Nature notes

Jean Schlegel of Rochester asks why birds sing so early in the morning. I thrill to the dawn chorus of birdsong. Many birds sing before sunrise, which is too early for some people to appreciate. Some scientists believe that early morning is the best time for males to attract females or to proclaim territory. The light is too dim to forage efficiently, so singing makes good use of a bird’s time. Weather conditions are often calm in the early day, allowing songs to travel a good distance and human sounds are at a low point. Claude Monet said, “I would like to paint the way a bird sings.”

Meeting adjourned

Kindness is the key to a heart.