Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, August 11 with council members Helland, Reiter, Goebel and Groth present. Mayor Engel was absent. Also attending the meeting were Roger Swearingen, LeeAnn Hojberg, Ollie Reese, Helen Schimdt, David Brown and Cindy Goebel. 

The agenda was amended to include Mrs. Reese’s concern. A motion was made to approve the amended agenda.

David Brown, with David Brown and Assoc., was present to discuss the funding for the projects going on in the city. Brown informed the council of his firm’s bids for the bonds that will finance the projects for the city. The council firm received two bids for the projects. Brown said that Northland Securities, Inc. was the low bidder. The interest rate to the city will be 3.1687 percent. Brown noted the city will save about $20,000 in interest cost. Brown also told the council his firm would recommend using the micro loan program, through Minnesota Rural Water, for the street surfacing. Brown told the council this would be just a straight loan for a little under $100,000. Brown had for the council two resolutions to adopt. Resolutions 08-11-11-01 and 08-11-11-02 were passed.

The 2011 Waseca County Fair was the highlight of the year for over 250 members in Waseca County 4-H, as they saw their hard work pay off with livestock shows, exhibit judging, and other fun events. Below are the 4-H youth who received recognition for their project work at the 2011 Waseca County Fair.

DOG SHOW RESULTS – Saturday, July 9 & Monday, July 11, 2011

• Champion Beginner A Obedience -  Grace Schlueter, Janesville Jacks & Jills

• Reserve Champion Beginner A Obedience – Lindy Fiebiger, Palmer Sunbeams

• Champion Beginner B Obedience – Hannah Perry, Home Grown Explorers

• Reserve Champion Beginner B Obedience – Madelyn Perry, Home Grown Explorers

• Champion Graduate Beginner Obedience – Lydia Perry, Home Grown Explorers

• Reserve Champion Graduate Beginner Obedience -  Zachary Clayton, Riverside Ramblers

• Champion Novice Obedience -  Benjamin Lewer, Vista Busy Bees

• Reserve Champion Novice Obedience – Josse Crouch, Waldorf Peppy Peppers

• Champion Graduate Novice Obedience – Ryan Priebe, Clover Clan

The Winters family of Janesville has been named Waseca County’s “2011 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

Ray’s father and mother purchased the family farm in Janesville, in 1950.  There, they ran a dairy and crop farm while raising five sons.  Ray’s dad retired in 1985, so Ray and his wife Lisa were able to rent it. In 2000, Ray and his wife changed the farm by planting their first acre of grapes.  Two years later, the couple started Winterhaven Nursery, at which they grew grape plants for other vineyards.  Since the year 2000, the Winter family has expanded their vineyard to 13 acres.   In 2005, son Tom started working with his mom and dad full-time. In 2006, Ray ceased crop farming, and in 2008 the Winter family began building Indian Island Winery.  In the fall of 2009, daughter Angie came home to be the winemaker, and in 2010 the winery opened.  The business has been a major success due to Ray and his wife Lisa, son Tom, daughter Angie, and daughter-in-law Angela.

Once a year, Ed and Norrine Jensen invite the Ellendale Historical Society to a special meeting at “The Old Boat House” at Beaver Lake. This event was held recently, and got my mind and my mother’s racing with memories of those “good old days” at Beaver Lake.

I may have shared some stories previously about my early experiences at Beaver Lake But, I need to tell them again for those who didn’t read them “back then,” before I go on to tell some of my other memories and new stories.

The things that I and my parents remember about Beaver Lake seem so trivial compared to the history of this very historic landmark. Some of my first experiences I owe to Solvieg Sorenson, who took her children there for swimming lessons. She was kind enough to include my sister Kaye and I; who were too young for lessons. We played on the sandy beach where the boat landing area is now. Sometimes it was just a special treat because the day was hot and work had been accomplished for the day.

My dad, who was a compulsive worker, didn’t like to take time off, So, my great-uncle Viggo Christensen, had dad do some work for him and as a special reward, wanted our family to come to the lake for a steak fry at Minnie and Buzzy Lerums' cabin on the south shore. Dad hesitated in accepting the invitation, but we went and we were hooked forever. 

Dad so enjoyed that Saturday afternoon that he asked if he could come back the next day. We did. Following our second visit to the lake, he told Minnie he wanted to ask his brother in South St. Paul, who had connections with a “retired” bus company, if he could get an old bus. Dad thought that he could convert the bus into a motorhome and park it by her cabin so we could spend the summers at the lake, near her and Buzzy. 

Minnie said “Yes” to the idea, never believing it would happen, but buy he did and the next weekend we were “Beaver Lakers” in a motor home stripped of its seats with built in bunks and a cook top, that was really a coffee pot warmer from who knows where. 

 Viggo had a five gallon pail of paint and volunteered to paint our new motorhome blue. 

It was to be the beginning of one of our greatest adventures and probably the only “family vacation” persay, we had. Minnie was my Aunt Nancy's sister. She and Viggo had one “freckled face, almost red headed” son a few years older than I, and of course our hero. There were times he tolerated my sister and I, and times when we were just girls. One of our favorite times at the lake were Sunday mornings when Minnie and Nancy made breakfast on the cook stove Lerums' had out under their big oak tree. Fired up, it produced great pancakes, french toast, sausages and eggs — the whole works.

I say this was one of my favorite things growing up, because this happened to be a hot, hot summer. We literally lived in the lake. Because we were so little, it was compulsary to wear life jackets — clumsy Kapok life jackets. Mine was red and my sister’s blue. Our swim suits were navy blue - one piece. My sister was more adventurous. I and my aunt, suffered panic attacks, because of my sister’s water bravery. 

Often, our days started at sun up and we were still swimming at night when it was dark and the stars were like diamonds in the sky We thought that we lived at a gold mine. Though we had been taught “no rough housing” in the lake, something later disproved that, when Mark acquainted us with a very athletic young man whose last name was Neste I think. He was the lifeguard at the beach, who when swimming lessons were over - took time to play with us. He taught us to rough house because his theory was that it was important to learn what to do in a tramatic situation. We would get scared of what was happening to us in the water, but would be capable of meeting the challenge.

Before the summer was over, our swimsuits were no longer navy blue, but faded beyond color. My sister’s skin color was the color of sweet chocolate. When we were taking swimming lessons, others were able to stay on the beach or had to be out farther in the water, away from the swimming area. My mother soon learned that she not only could float with ease, but fall asleep on the water. She also realized she had nothing to fear of water, and learned that by just putting her mind to it - she could float.

Once our beach ball floated out of the swimming area and my mother swam out after it. Later, not realizing she was way beyond her depth, she immediately went down. She did not panic, and told herself, “I will float,” and she popped back up and retrieved the ball. She also learned that what is in your head affects you more than skill sometimes. 

She also knew that if her kids were going to swim, she wasn't going to sit on shore and play in the sand. With help from my sister and I, she also learned to swim.

There are so many things I remember about living at the lake and want to share. I remember the day I met the largest snapping turtle I have ever seen. Snapping turtles are vicious critters. We wanted to save him “for the guys to see,” so we put a washtub and a huge tree stump on top of him. That turtle just walked away — his burden on his back until it fell off. 

We even learned that little snappers can be vicious too. As one of our relatives, Mark, was to find out. Mark had a special friend, Noel Thompson. Mark could catch frogs and keep them in the resevoir of Minnie’s outdoor breakfast stove. One morning Mark was furious with Kaye and I. He thought that we had let his precious frogs out of the resevoir. 

We were innocent. After some fussing and fumming and later some investigation, we discovered that Mark had put a baby snapper in with the frogs. The hungry little beast had stripped them clean. All we found was a white vertebrae from the frogs. Lesson learned - do not mix snappers with frogs and never underestimate the power of a little pair of jaws.

Funny, just the other day I read in the paper about a lady who had been bitten by a snapper. It was the first case like it that had ever come into that hospital. We were always told if snappers bit, they hang on — even to a stick — like they there were locked on ‘til sundown. Fact or fiction?

Next week, I will continue to share more stories about my memories of Beaver Lake.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and birth or wedding announcements.

In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass it along to you. If you have news, please contact me.

Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

• Thursday, August 18th: Donny Bartsch, Ron Johnson, Rick Johnson, John Ross Vermedahl, David Klocek, Michael Ingvaldson, Kelly Schmidt Janning, Connie Robertson, David Rietsema, Gary & Kathy Anderson, Ryan & Jill Hanson, Tamara & David Jepson, Simon & Arlean Lee.

• Friday, August 19th: Daxter Carter Lee, Jason Langlie, Michelle Peterson, Jennifer Popiel, Cheri Krejci, Ruth Enzenauer, Cynthia Grubish, Lois Johnson Aitchison, Jodi Wayne, David Cooper, Alyssa Kay Jensen, Larry & Karen Carlson, Jackie & Travis Olson, Andy & Julie Arnold, Larry & Mary Ellen Walton, Kayla & Patrick Krause.

• Saturday, August 20th: Dale Nelson, John Scrabeck, Tammy Bergland Techau, Andy Christensen, Diane Cleven, Delbert Karsjens, Jozie Annamarie Johnson, Kim Jensen, Jamie Nelson, Larry Pierce, Tianna & Joshua Kubicek.

• Sunday, August 21st: Aveery Hullopeter, Abriana Harris, Scott Tracy, Larry Klocek, Viola Klocek, Dawn Dobberstein, Mary Richards, Cindy Anderson, Roger Johnson, Sara Degan Misgen, Jodie Lee, Jaden Jensen, Cody Lembke, Michael Olson, Jasmine Obermoller Evans, David & Cindy Callahan.

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

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

• Wednesday, 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.

• Thursday, 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, Wally & Janet Dunn, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.

Wishing you warm friendship and simple joys. Have a wonderful day!

It's almost been a year now. A year that my grandma Millie was taken from us. She's in heaven now, with my grandpa Lester who passed in 1970, with her parents and sisters and her other loved ones she outlived. And although that knowledge brings some comfort, it still can't fill the missing piece in my heart that appeared when she left. 

I still remember the day I was informed of her stroke. It was the afternoon of August 8th. It was a hot, sunny day, and I was already in a bad mood because I had to go to work at McDonald's. I was overtired, hot, cranky, and on my way home from Waterville to pick up my uniform when my phone rang. I wasn't planning on answering it until I saw that it was my dad. "What are you doing?" he asked me.

"Going home to get my uniform because I have to work. I'm tired and really don't want to go," I replied. At this point, I was already close to tears. Then he told me.

"Grandma was airlifted to Rochester; she had a stroke," he said. I instantly burst into tears. "I'm going over to Rochester right now, you can meet me there."

"O.K., I'll be right there," I said, hanging up the phone. I had never cried like that before, ever. I was in hysterics when I called my manager and told her I wouldn't be able to work. I didn't know what to do with myself. All I could think was that Grandma couldn't be taken from us — not then. I always knew the day would come, but nothing can prepare you for something like that. I just always thought she'd be around. I didn't want to think of the day when she might pass away.

I went and picked up my best friend, Jasmine, because I couldn't drive to Rochester by myself. First, though, I pulled over so I could calm down a bit and be able to drive safely. She was crying with me when I called her and told her about Grandma. She knew and loved Grandma, too, and seeing me so upset made her upset, too. 

It took what seemed like forever, but we finally made it to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. I practially ran to the Intensive Care Unit. When I entered her room, seeing her in that state, made me upset all over again. It was one of the only days she could still talk to us, although she didn't really know what she was saying. I held her hand and told her I loved her. She told me she loved me, too. That was the last time I heard those words come from her mouth.

She spent exactly two weeks in Rochester, her condition gradually getting worse and worse, and I went to visit her every day during those two weeks. The doctor told us the stroke affected over half of her brain, and even if she had pulled out of it, she would never be the same. I remember having to make the decision with my dad of whether or not to resuscitate her if something failed, and then having to decide to take her feeding tube out. We knew Grandma wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially. She lived a long, great life, and as she told me before, "When it's my time, God will take me." Those words were what helped us make those decisions.

On August 22nd, at about four in the morning, Grandma Millie took her last breath. My dad waited until I woke up the next day to tell me. It was the day before my 17th birthday. This time, the news didn't come as much of a shock, because we knew this day was coming soon. But that didn't help the pain at all.

My Grandma's funeral was really difficult to get through. My three best friends, Jasmine, Taylor, and Heidi went with me — they were there for me every step of the way. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to do it without them or my family. They gave me the strength, encouragement and love I needed to be able to get through each day. At the funeral, various relatives I didn't really know too well asked me, "Are you Jessica, Millie's granddaughter? She loved you so much. She used to speak so highly of you all the time." Those words warmed my heart. I knew Grandma loved me very much, but hearing about how she told others about me put a real smile on my face, my first real smile in about two weeks.

My Grandma's death was the most difficult thing I'd ever gone through. Besides my parents, she was the person I loved most in the world, and she was the first loved one I'd ever lost. As my brothers and I were growing up, she came over every Monday and Thursday for about six years (and any other day that my dad asked) to babysit us while my dad worked nights at the Albert Lea Tribune. She was there for every Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Christmas concerts at school, dance recitals, birthdays and more throughout the years. When I got my license, I would go and visit her at least once a week, usually more. 

Every time I went and visited her, I could tell how happy she was to see me, and she would tell me every time how it made her day just to see me. When she was babysitting us when I was little and I was crying because I missed my dad, she would hug me and tell me it was O.K. and that I would see him the next day when he was home. She loved my family so much, and we loved her just as much. 

There isn't a day that goes by I don't think about her. It still makes me really sad to think about her, but I also look back fondly on all the memories I have with her. Those are all I have left now — memories. But I know she's in a better place, and I know that she's watching over me. Just because she passed away doesn't mean she stopped loving me. I have to remind myself of that when I get upset about it, when I miss her so much I can't help but cry.

I can't believe it's almost been a whole year. I wish so badly she could be here with us now, to see me turn 18. I wish I could go to her house and hear her tell me stories about growing up on the farm. That was the thing about my Grandma — she loved to talk. I would just sit there and listen to her intently as she told me stories. She told me about what she did that day and what she was planning on doing that week. She was filled with so much love, and she lived an amazing 86 years. So here's to you, Grandma. I miss you, I love you, and I'll see you again one day. Until then, keep on shining, keep watching over us, my guardian angel. Your memory will forever live on, and my love for you is still as strong as it has ever been. 

As we venture into the “dog days” of August, I have to wonder what the fishing would be like for me if these days didn’t exist. I just spent another week in the north country with my son Brad, grandson Dylan and my wife Jean. The weather was just about picture perfect for August. In fact, I think I have read a blueprint of August days and these were it. We enjoyed warm sunny days and cool, comfortable summer nights. It was so nice up north that the mosquitoes even decided to take a few days off. The only downside to that was the abundance of over exuberant deer flies.

Those nasty little biters are bad enough when you are in the woods or sitting outside, but when they get you trapped in a boat with nowhere to run, it can be pretty uncomfortable. Our first day on the water, we experienced a swarm of them. Jean asked me where the fly swatter (which I usually keep in the boat) was. 

It was missing. I knew that it wasn’t going to be a pretty experience, as she spent more time swatting them with one of her sandals than she did fishing. We did manage to get through the day, and from then on, that swatter was in plain sight every time we were in the boat.

If you like catching and eating fish, then the “dog days” would be perfect for you because we caught plenty of fish. We took a few meals home and enjoyed a fine meal of fish at the cabin. I just don’t think that you could wish for it to be any better than that.

Now, if you only consider fishing a success if you catch walleyes, then you don’t want to fish with me. I don’t claim to be a master fisherman and I am surely not a whiz when walleyes enter the conversation. But for some reason, I usually end up catching one or two. I have always said most of my fishing success is about luck and time spent on the water. If you put in the time and keep trying different techniques, then good things will usually happen.

It’s always fun to watch when Dylan’s grandma lands a northern. We already know what she will say: “it’s a keeper!”  She did manage to get some legitimate keepers this week. All of us contributed to the weekly fish feed. Dylan caught some nice northern, bass, crappie and some dandy bluegill; it’s sure fun to see the smile on his face when he catches a fish. Brad was once again on top of the northern fishing and he landed some dandy pike during the week. Both were caught on his favorite lake using his favorite spoon (The Doctor).

We fished five different lakes in six days and had pretty good luck on all of them. Most of the fish caught were on our little lake that supposedly has no fish in it. The last evening there, Brad and Dylan took grandma out fishing for panfish. Only an hour later, she came walking back up to the cabin. I asked her why she was quitting already - “weren’t they biting?” I asked. She said that she had had it and was tired of catching fish; she said that she only reeled in twice without a fish. 

After catching about 30 bluegills and crappies she had had enough. They didn’t keep any fish that last night because most of them were a little too small, plus we already had enough to take home. It’s not too often that a person experiences fishing like that.

The unique thing about the week and for the most part the summer, is that we very rarely use live bait. This week we used none at all and caught plenty of fish. I guess plenty is a pretty strong word because when you’re fishing, you don’t usually think that you’ve ever caught enough. 

We kept enough during the week to eat and took a couple of meals home. We also threw back some “keeper” sized fish. I like to keep the “eating size” fish and return the larger ones to the water because they are the ones that lay most of the eggs and replenish the fish population.

I can still remember the old wives tale (can I still say that?) that northern always lose their teeth in August, which is why the fishing isn’t as good. August has always been good to me as far as fishing goes. I don’t think that my family will disagree with that as evidenced by the good week of fishing that we just experienced. It’s not all about fishing, but about spending time with family and enjoying the wildlife and all the natural wonders that surround us in the great outdoors. These are just a few more of the precious memories that we will have to cherish for years to come.

The fall months can also be very good for fishing and your chances of catching that “lunker” even increases as we move further into fall. The number of fish caught may not be like early summer, but there is some good fishing to be had at that time of year.

I was fishing on Lake Tetonka one late fall day. There was one other boat on the whole lake. I could see that they were fishing bass and seemed to be catching a few. 

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later, when I read in an issue of Outdoor News, that the state record bass had been caught on Lake Tetonka on that day. The record held for a few years before being broken just a couple of years ago.

Until next time do a little fishing, take a little time to relax and get out and explore our great Minnesota outdoors.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers during the coming year.

Last week’s column dealt with the quest for one more bobblehead. Kay and I had pretty much given up the chase and during the past few years bobblehead promotions had come and gone without much notice from us. But this year seemed different as there was to be only one bobblehead promotion and it would be in honor of the ‘91 World Series champs.

If you read last week’s column, you remember the frantic search for lost tickets the morning we were to leave. That was resolved after a phone call to Marge at the Twins’ ticket office.

We finally left, stopping in Rochester to pick up Swede, arriving at the stadium around 2:15 p.m. Jon said he would let us out at the main gate and look for a place to park

We were there almost three hours before the gates opened and there were two long lines stretching almost a block. When talking with Ticket Office Marge, I asked her what gate were we most likely to get a bobblehead. She said there is always gate 29, the main entrance. She mentioned gate three, but thought that would be a long walk for us. Then her voice brightened as she said gate 14 is the gate for us. I thanked her and when we got to the field I asked directions and was told that gate 14 was further ahead up a slight incline. Halfway up the block I thought, "Gate 29 is where I was to pick up the replacements for my three lost tickets." Marge was going to call down and have them reprinted and send them to the ticket window. So, I bid farewell to our little party as they marched on toward gate 14 and headed back to gate 29. Got there, went to the window and told my story. He brought out a file, sorted through it and voila! There were the tickets. Marge had come through. While at gate 29, I looked for Jon coming back from parking the car. There he was. He did not have an easy time finding a place in downtown Minneapolis, but got a good spot not too far away.

Now to reconnect with Kay and Swede at gate 14. With game tickets and parking stub in hand we started up the incline. We noticed small trees planted at intervals in sidewalk openings. We got to the end of a line and asked if this was gate 14. It was and there were Kay and Swede sitting on lawnchairs under one of the young trees. They had done a good job.

The weather was nice and we settled down in the shade to talk and wait for the gates to open. Our conversation soon turned to wondering what our chances were of getting bobbleheads We reasoned that there are five gates into Target Field and there were 10,000 bobbleheads. Therefore if the bobbleheads were divided evenly there were 2000 bobbleheads per gate. In addition there were two lines at each gate. So that meant if all the above were true there were 1000 bobbleheads per line. I took a quick survey and it appeared that we were about 300th in line. It looked good,

The line started moving and we got our bobbleheads with room to spare. It turned out to be the high point of the day as the Twins did not play well and lost. However we got our bobbleheads, had a good time with friends, drank a couple of beers at the game and with Jon driving had a safe trip.

P.S. The next morning I went down to my office to sit in my chair, but it was blocked by a fat dictionary. I moved the dictionary and there were the tickets.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

“I taught my cat to do imitations.”

“Who does it imitate?”

“Other cats.”

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: you can’t trust a hamburger with beets on it or a yellow light.

I’ve learned

1. To use a noisy shopping cart so that other shoppers in the supermarket can hear me coming. An aside — it must be someone’s job to mess up one wheel on every shopping cart.

2. He who limps is still walking.

3. A realist believes in miracles.

Missing the bus

I wasn’t far into my life’s journey when I hit a spell where I missed the school bus a few times. I missed the bus because I didn’t want to catch it badly enough. I knew what time I had to be at the end of our farm drive, but I didn’t always manage to beat the bus there. Life is like that. My father grew weary of driving me to school. He had a low tolerance for debt but a high tolerance for hitchhiking. That’s right, my father told me to get myself to the gravel road and thumb a ride. He gave me a verbal permission slip. They were different times when hitchhiking was an honored means of locomotion. A fellow could thumb a ride without a single shudder running up anyone’s spine.

My thumb did no work. The first car always stopped. I never needed to ask, “Can I get a ride?”

I didn’t get a single word out before a driver asked, “You need a ride?” 

I offered to chip in on the gas, but my offer fell upon deaf ears. That was good. I had no money.

Kind souls got me to school. I thanked each driver many times in the belief that I could never thank anyone too much. I considered each good deed I received as a loan to be repaid. The payment plan is that I try to do good things. I’ve learned that a giver gets.

We are here to help others get to where they need to be.

There aren’t many do-it-yourself pallbearers

She had reached what she had determined to be the time of little time. She had become physically fragile. She hoped I was taking care of myself because she was running out of pallbearers. I told her that I’d give up home repairs. I don’t have the proper gear for most jobs. I know it is a poor workman who blames his tools. A glass of water makes a fine level, but do-it-yourself projects are just asking for trouble. They always end with me saying to my wife, “O.K., turn it on. Turn it off! Turn it off!”

Oh, you know, whatshisname

Names are difficult to remember. Proper nouns escape easily from experienced brains. To make matters worse, when the brain does remember an elusive name, it doesn’t always share it with the tongue. In my case, this is not surprising. When I was new to the world, there were 149 million people in the United States. Now there must be at least 311 million. No wonder I can’t remember everyone’s name.

Listen

The woman told me her family had insisted that she buy hearing aids — good ones. She purchased a pair that ran over $7000. She said that the hearing aids worked great but she worried about the cost. I assured her that she had made a wise decision. Her family wanted her to be able to hear and she needed to hear things. She countered my reasoning by saying, “I’m 93 years old. I’ve heard enough.”

Nature notes

Insects are the most common form of life on the planet and beetles the most numerous of the insects. J.B.S. Haldane was a 19th-century British biologist at a time of great scientific and religious controversy brought about by Darwin's theory of evolution. Someone asked Haldane, “What has your study taught you about the Creator?" Haldane replied, “He had an inordinate love of beetles.”

Heat lightning is the light from a thunderstorm too distant for the thunder to be heard. The term “heat lightning” comes from the fact that the effect is most often seen on the warm, humid nights of July and August. When the sky is hazy, as is typical on sultry, summer nights, lightning is reflected from a layer of haze into the night sky.

Meeting adjourned

Lord Byron wrote, “All who would win joy, must share it; happiness was born a twin.” Be kind.

SKI Vacation Part 3 of 3

From Tacoma, we drove to Spokane Valley and stayed at a Super 8. The next day, we drove to Bozeman, MT staying again at the Super 8 with TNT checking us in. The evening meal was at The Garage. Keren once again served a great breakfast. Wednesday night, we stayed at the Comfort Inn in Glendive, MT.

Thursday, we arrived in the Badlands of North Dakota and stayed in Medora. Medora would be a good destination for a two to four day vacation. We toured Theodore Roosevelt National Park — a 36-mile scenic drive. We saw wild horses, prairie dogs, antelope, bluebirds, buffalo, a bull buffalo dusting plus great scenic views.

Genie did some shopping while I took a nap. In the evening, we drove to the Bully Pulpit Golf Course. It is an 18-hole course with unreal tees, greens and views. You golfers must play this course. You non-golfers must see this course right in the middle of the Badlands. When they found out we were from Minnesota, I was given a Pinnacle golf ball stamped “Bully Pulpit.” Wow! The reason for “bully” is President Theodore Roosevelt said “bully” a lot.

In the evening, we attended the Medora Musical in an outdoor amphitheatre. The setting was very unusual. The weather was great. The musical was excellent. This was truly a great experience. Medora can be driven to in a long day or two short days from Southern Minnesota.

We noticed many things worth mentioning. Following are some of them:

If you bring a boat into Idaho, on the freeway, you must stop for a watercraft inspection.

The view going east on I-90 out of Coeur D’Alene, ID looking over the lake is spectacular.

The convention center setting in Spokane, WA is very nice. There is a river and a walking path alongside, plus picnic facilities. It was the site of a World’s Fair.

The body has a tough time to jump two hours ahead and two hours back in a two week period.

We paid a low of $3.41 in Wyoming and high of $3.91 in Washington for gas.

At a Cenex gas station in Dickinson, ND, you could order food from McDonald’s next door. The food would be delivered to you at Cenex. You could put the gas and food all on one bill and pay at Cenex.

We saw mesh outdoor billboards on I-94 in North Dakota. The letters or whatever you want is clamped onto the mesh. The advantage is the neat appearance, plus the ease of changing what is on the billboard.

North Dakota has more than three trees. This is most certainly true!

North Dakota has large metal sculptures along what they call “The Enchanted Highway.” We saw one called “Geese in Flight.” There are 10 geese all made from scrap metal. Seeing is believing.

Going to Seattle from southern Minnesota by auto is the same distance whether you travel  I-90 or I-94.

The countryside is green all the way to the west coast. Even the sage brush is green.

The rivers, ponds and lakes were overflowing from eastern Washington to just west of Minneapolis when we came back.

We saw big bags along I-94 in low points on the freeway to keep water off the freeway. Water was up to Amtrak rails in many Montana and North Dakota locations.

In playing the license plate game, we saw every state but three. (Vermont, Rhode Island and Mississippi weren’t seen.)

The antelope population is much, much lower because of a hard winter. Antelope have mainly only three predators: Ford, Chevrolet and the weather.

We did a very good job of doing what you’re supposed to do on a SKI vacation.

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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. 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. This is the Hanson’s 36th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, 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. 

The scurs got the rain forecast and even though it was parceled out it was still a welcome sight. Will we see more this week? Starting Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs near 80 and lows around 60. Thursday, mostly clear with highs of 80 – 85 and lows of 60 – 65. Mostly sunny becoming partly cloudy on Friday with a slight chance of a shower during the day and a slightly better chance of showers overnight. Highs 80 – 85 with lows near 65. Partly cloudy Saturday with a modest chance of showers increasing by evening. Highs 80 – 85 and lows around 60. Slightly cooler for Sunday under mostly sunny skies. Highs 75 – 80 and lows of 55 – 60. Partly sunny for Monday with highs around 80 and lows near 60. Slightly warmer and mostly sunny on Tuesday with highs of 80 – 85 and lows around 60. The normal high for August 20 is 81 and the normal low is 58. The scurs will be hitting the food stands hard at the Steele Co. Fair as a warm up for the Great MN Get Together the following week.

After going o-fer the first third of the month, some nice rains fell over the weekend. While they were metered they were still welcome. Oh sure, the gloom and doom crowd has already weighed in that it wasn’t enough to maintain the crop that’s developing out here in the field. While that may be true in some respects, maybe they’d be happier if we didn’t get any rain at all. We may not have the crop we could’ve had but then we never do. We have a better crop here than many places so we’d better be thankful for that at the very least. Personally, I love to hear some thunder and some rain on the roof this time of year. Some early planted, early maturing soybeans are pushing R6 so the heat we had during July and the first part of August really moved things along quickly. Some early planted early maturing corn showing some denting already too so the corn is on the same page. Sweet corn yields have been respectable but no record setting yields are being talked about.

The area bird watching has included the sandhill cranes once again. Almost scared the bejeezus out of me one night while I was weeding the garden. It looked like three small airplanes were circling over my shoulder. At night they have been holed up by the pond letting out that almost creepy hollow call. This of course upsets Ruby to no end causing her to woof loudly. With me it just causes me to tell Ruby to be quiet then roll over to go back to sleep, glad to hear them once again. Speaking of hearing birds again, the chickadees that were setting up shop in the windbreak figured out that the goldfinches were hanging at the feeders for a reason. Now the chickadees flit back and forth when they find an opening, knowing the sunflower seeds are ripe for the taking. They’re a good guide too as when the feeder gets empty, they’ll hang upside down from one of the perches, trying to get an angle on one last seed stuck in the opening. The final nest of wrens appears to be on the wing as are the last of the tree swallows in the nesting box at the kindly neighbors. It is quiet now in the morning with no wrens or robins singing, only the sound of goldfinches and hummingbirds. Fall is edging ever closer.

In the garden the string beans are about ready for the first picking. The mosquitoes that were the bane of all lawn and garden enthusiasts have slowed immensely with the drier weather. This makes it more pleasant to find those zucchini that suddenly grew from 12” to 24” overnight. The first planting of sweet corn is coming to a close. It lasted longer than I would’ve guessed given the heat. The second planting is coming on although it may have some colored kernels due to the close proximity to the Indian corn that took its sweet time to tassel and silk. Oh well, it might look more like eating a bowl of Fruit Loops than an ear of corn.  

Was in the mob movie watching mode with such notables as Scarface and The Godfather the other day. Oddly enough, I never get the chance to watch any of these in their entirety. Someone usually calls and interrupts or I fall asleep. So with that in mind while drowsily channel surfing one night, decided to watch what I thought was a show about a mafia hit man. The show is called Billy the Exterminator and if any of you have ever seen it, you know that it has nothing to do with the mafia. As the name implies, it has everything to do with a guy looking like a biker from Louisiana who goes around killing cockroaches, wasps and rats as well as catching snakes, javelinas, raccoons and squirrels, etc. The show kept my interest and I couldn’t look away; must’ve watched 3 episodes in a row. Just something fascinating about watching someone getting stung or bit and coming out on top without resorting to excessive swearing and nuclear weapons.

See you next week…real good then.