Once again we have suffered a minor setback in the weather department. It seems like every time I get revved up for spring, something happens to change the glass from half full to half empty. I’m usually a pretty positive guy, but there are times when I feel like I’m being tested.

This past weekend my wife Jean, oldest son Brian and I headed north to the cabin for a few short days. We went to mainly see if it had survived the winter and to bring up a few things in anticipation of the upcoming season. As we approached the Grand Rapids area I started meeting vehicles heading south with significant snow piled on their roofs. I was thinking to myself this can’t be a good sign, and indeed it was a sign of things to come.

As we started passing some of the lakes along the way, the ice had barely started to melt along the shoreline on some and not at all on others. Once we arrived at our lake, there was plenty of snow on the road and half way up our driveway a pine tree had fallen across. Luckily, Brian had his chain saw along and we made short work of cutting the tree up and moving it. I began to look back to last year when I came up and there was a large birch tree that had fallen across the drive and all I had to work with was an axe and a hand saw. This is all part of being in the woods and I wouldn’t have it any other way, although I’d rather not have to cut a tree up every time I go there.

Sunday was cold and windy, but Monday proved to be sunny and without that blustery wind it made even the high of 37 degrees seem nice. Brian split a bunch of wood and I helped him stack it (need to take credit when I can). This wood will be ready to burn in the fall when the weather turns cold again. We sat around the fire ring that afternoon talking and enjoying just being there in the outdoors, watching all the birds that were visiting the new feeders that we had just put up.

There was also a chipmunk, and this one red squirrel in particular seemed to be trying to take over one of the feeders. Brian was throwing snowballs at the squirrel hoping to chase it away. Fortunately for the squirrel, it seemed to have Brian’s number and when he threw the squirrel would move only a few inches to avoid being hit and then it would just sit there and stare at him as if to taunt him. This went on for most of the time we were there, with the squirrel not being deterred by the snowball-throwing Brian. I told him he would have to take it easy or he’d be in line for Tommy John surgery on his arm.

When I was packing to head for the cabin, I looked at my winter boots and thought, “I won’t need them, I’ll just take my old Red Wings”. It seems that my old Red Wings have no tread left on the bottom, so it’s more like wearing a pair of skis when it comes to walking on snow. I can now imagine what a newborn deer must feel like when it tries to walk on a frozen pond for the first time. I could get absolutely no traction and was slipping and sliding everywhere. This, no doubt, was not a pretty sight and although my wife and her eldest kept their chuckles to a minimum, I knew they were laughing on the inside.

Being able to see a lot of wildlife is always one of the rewards of being up in the north woods. On this trip we saw plenty of deer, some wild turkey and both bald and golden eagles. There is no substitute for seeing these critters in the wild. The morning we were getting ready to leave, our resident loons let us know they had indeed returned to the lake for another season. Although the lake wasn’t totally open, there was enough open water for them to enjoy.

There is just a special feeling I get each time I’m outdoors in the north woods. When you add in a little snow on the ground and a campfire, it makes it even better. I don’t think you can match the quiet beauty of the woods in the winter. Our cabin has no running water or electricity, so you might say in some ways it is pretty primitive, but I wouldn’t really want it any other way. We have an awesome wood stove that keeps that cabin toasty, a good cook stove and a radio, so it just doesn’t seem like it could get any better.

The fishing opener is just not that far off and, by the looks of the north country, old Mother Nature has a little catching up to do. I have no doubt the lakes statewide will be ready in plenty of time for the opener.

Until next time, it’s time to do a little fishing and get out and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors!

Remember our brothers and sisters who are proudly serving our country so that we can keep enjoying the freedoms we have today.

A baseball season is composed of many things. It has elements of an overland adventure, a movie or play, a Greek tragedy, particularly when the Minnesota Twins play the Yankees.

After an offseason of baseball politics with buying and selling, trading or not trading, the adventure begins. Set in semi-tropical Florida, all parties come together during the dead of our Minnesota winter to begin determining their team.

Much like the Lewis and Clark expedition, all the needed parts are brought in. The diverse elements are fused into one. Different personalities, characters and even nationalities. Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Dominican Republicans, Venezuelans and Australians become the Minnesota Twins. It’s truly an international effort. And like the Lewis and Clark’s Sacajawea, the baseball Twins need an interpreter to help the journey go well.

The Western expedition set out to find future treasure and glory. So too, do the Minnesota Twins, beginning their long seasonal journey in the cool rain of April, then through the hot days of summer, ending in the cool briskness of October. Playing in the south, east, north and west.

There will be injuries, both physical and emotional, to overcome. The baseball journey does not depend on one or even two individuals alone. As with all adventures when one player is injured, another must provide the skill lost. If it is a leader, a replacement must step forward.

In some adventures, the success or failure is decided in a day or two. Not so in a baseball season, for there are many days, weeks and months that must be traveled. What is good and works well one week may not work well the next week.

Much like a Broadway play, there must be a producer who provides the funding, the players and the setting for the upcoming production. With the Minnesota Twins that effort opens out of town in Fort Myers, Florida. As with all productions, there may be difficulties and the company must be revamped. Perhaps a current player is not adequate and the understudy must take his place or, in an especially difficult case, another actor is brought in or the play is rewritten. If that is necessary, can the producer provide the necessary changes?

Director Ron Gardenhire and his assistants work daily striving to bring the act together. If the producer, director and players jell, the team there will be a long run. If not, it is always the option of the producer and director to dismiss some of the current players, and if the team still shows no promise, the director may even be fired.

For all the seen and unforseen problems, their summer journey is not nearly as difficult as Marco Polo’s long ago journey. For example there are no signs on the schedule saying: "There be dragons here!" Although a group called the Yankees is scary.

Still, there are similarities to ancient times. The Greek plays had a device called Deus Ex Machina where a fellow suspended on a crane explained what was happening during an especially complicated portion of the play to the audience. Today, sportswriters and other media types get to try and fill that role.

There is only one final winner out of all the Major League teams and there are many more losers than winners. There are times a team is beset by injuries or other problems when near their goal, and all their work goes for nothing and their team fails. Perhaps not a Greek tragedy, but still it hurts both for the players and the fans. Nevertheless, the rewards are great if the team succeeds, and the Twins certainly have an appropriate stage in Target Field.

Echoes from the Loafers’’ Club Meeting

“How do I get back to the interstate highway?”

“Go back the same way you came.”

“I can’t remember how I got here.”

I can’t help. I wasn’t with you.”

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: when it comes to weather, we remember the highs and lows, not the averages.

Things I’ve learned

1. If you think that people don’t care how you look, try cutting your own hair.

2. Lutefisk should be eaten only during the months with a Q in their names.

3. Remembering things isn’t hard, but forgetting them is easy.

From the

neighborhood

My neighbor Old Man McGinty, the youngest Old Man McGinty ever, told me that when he was a boy, his father led the horse that Old Man McGinty rode to school. People complained that Old Man McGinty had no respect for his elders. He rode while his father walked. So his father started to ride the horse while Old Man McGinty walked to school. Then people grumbled about how terrible it was that a boy had to walk while his father rode. So they both walked. Then people said that they were foolish for walking when they had a good horse to ride.

I asked Old Man McGinty for the point of his story.

He replied, “I learned that you can never please everyone.”

The perils of

peregrination

I was speaking at a conference in a fine hotel. My room had a Sleep Number bed that allowed me to adjust the firmness of the mattress with the touch of a button. I didn’t get much sleep. I stayed awake doing math. I ate breakfast in the hotel’s self-service nook, a busy spot early in the morning. A fellow diner spilled apple juice on the floor. He began to clean up the spill with napkins. A hotel worker told him not to worry about it and that the worker would clean the floor. The man continued to mop up. The hotel worker smiled and said, “It’s nice to see someone who is willing to clean up his own mess.”

Prehistoric prom

I remember my senior prom like it was a long time ago.

I don’t remember what the theme of that prom was. I think it involved a plucked ostrich, black licorice, and dynamite, but I’m not sure. The band was Wilford Brimley and the Thick Moustaches. I shuffle-danced to the music with my lovely date, trying to be cool without knowing how. It was the end and it was the beginning.

You can’t tell the

season by the weather

We spend much of our lives being almost but not quite. In this case, it was almost spring but not quite.

I was sitting in my car at a gas pump, emptying my pockets. A friend told me, “Up the street the snow is coming down.”

The wind soughed through the advertising signs surrounding the convenience store. It was the middle of April and it was snowing. Real snow, not those flurries that panic parts of the world but are ignored by winter-weary people. Snow snow! Some saw the day as a glass that was half-empty with a fly in it. Not me. I realized how fortunate I am. I have experienced thundersnow and I have seen snow fleas.

The calendar said that it was spring. The seasons are what we expect. Weather is what we get.

Marital bliss

A lifelong friend named Keith Wakefield was married on his bride’s birthday. The couple celebrates their anniversary on her birthday. One year, Keith gave his wife a pair of earrings — one for their anniversary and the other for her birthday.

The question man

The man told me that he was from Duluth.

“What do you do there?” I asked, being nosey.

“I was born there,” he answered.

He apparently had had a lot of free time in his life.

Nature notes

Does a hummingbird weigh as much as a penny? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says that a ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 2 to 6 grams (0.1 to 0.2 ounces). A penny made before 1982 was mostly copper and weighed 3.1 grams. A penny made after that year is mostly zinc and weighs 2.5 grams.

Will Irish Spring soap keep deer out of gardens? Hot pepper spray, Irish Spring soap, predator urine, and human hair are used as potential deterrents. Some swear by such things and others swear at them. Scientific data confirming their effectiveness is lacking.

Meeting adjourned

Kind words shouldn’t remain unsaid.

An interesting thing about the Beaver Lake Ice Fishing Contest last February was who caught the largest fish. Nancy Cornelius has a cabin at Beaver Lake. Do you suppose she did a lot of research and thus knew exactly where to fish to catch the big one?

Are you aware there is a 29-inch, 10-pound walleye swimming around in Beaver Lake? It was caught and released by Stewart Graves last October. Does the above wet your whistle as to what to do at 12:01 a.m. May 14th? (Mother’s Day and the Minnesota fishing opener is not the same weekend this year!) A fishing I will go, a fishing I will go, hi-ho and thank you Genie, a fishing I will go.

Very important anniversaries in April: Ed and Arlene Miller, 60 years; Paul and Audrey Romer, Russ and Marie Tesch, 50 years.

President Ronald Reagan had a neat saying, “There you go again.” His saying would most certainly hold true in the case of Beaver Lake residents Lonny and Sue Klemmensen and Dave and Diane Broskoff. Brogan David Klemmensen, son of Cory and Angela Klemmensen, was born December 14th. As of this writing all four grandparents are in agreement that there will be more grandchildren.

Last September, in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, Genie and I were invited to a chicken breast cookout by some couples from Montana. They mentioned a couple that had an outfitter’s ranch where they lived. They referred to the wife as a “Minnesota Girl.” They also told us of the lady hog farmer back in Minnesota who they had met when she visited her “Minnesota Girl” sister in Montana. At a meeting of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Ladies in Austin, Genie and I were their program. After the program about our experiences with LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaires and Pilots,) we were talking to Ladies President, Ila Akkerman, about the nice new facility. Ila mentioned her husband Dale, was very involved in the design and layout. She mentions that they have four children Jill, Jack, Jane and Jay. Jill is a lady hog farmer married to Reed Demmer living by Hartland. Jane is married to Denny Chatlain and they have an outfitter ranch in Montana. Small world, isn’t it? 

Genie and I walked around Beaver Lake Tuesday, April 12th for the first time this spring. The lake level is normal for this time of the year. The ice went out early a.m. Sunday April 10th. Sunday p.m., April 10th, the first dock this spring was in the lake at Chuck and Jean Groth’s cabin. Why did you wait so long?

The water was turned on at Beaver Lake Saturday, April 16th. We won’t be hanging out at the cabin until our house is livable after the fire — hopefully by May 1st. Genie has gotten spoiled telling “her” chef what she would like for breakfast.

In the following order on Sunday, April 24th: Hubby Paul Hanson took Paula Hanson to Easter Sunrise Service. Hubby Paul Hanson took Paula Hanson out for her birthday buffet dinner. Hubby Paul Hanson took a nap in the chair, Paula napped on the couch at the cabin. (Fact or fiction, you decide.) 

 — — —

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 35th 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 should redeem themselves this week: no snow in the forecast! That said, will we see more seasonable temperatures? Starting with Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers. Highs near 45 and lows of 35 – 40. Thursday, cloudy becoming partly cloudy. Highs of 55 and lows near 40. Partly cloudy Friday becoming cloudy by evening with a chance of overnight showers and thunderstorms. Highs of 65 and lows of 45 - 50. Cloudy Saturday with a chance of showers. Highs of 55- 60 with lows near 35. Sunday, partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers. Highs around 50 and lows of 30 - 35. Mostly sunny both Monday and Tuesday with highs of 55 – 60 and lows of 40 – 45. The normal high for April 30th is 65 and the normal low is 40. The scurs are looking to cash in two weekends in a row, sure in the knowledge that May baskets are headed their way on Sunday.

The weather hasn’t been conducive to fieldwork for most of the month, but that could be about to change. Rather than being obsessed with the upcoming royal wedding, most farmers are tuned in to weather forecasts. Fortunately those of us in greater Bugtussle and environs have been spared the heavy downpours thus far. As of the 25th at the ranch for the month of April we have only recorded 1.37” of liquid precipitation. All it would take would be for some dry, warm breezy days and most would be able to get moving. It’s not early anymore, but the stretch of winter we’ve experienced since last November has been a throwback to the days many of us grew up with. Yes, those days when we walked to school uphill both ways in snowstorms during the month of April. Somehow we always managed to get a crop and sometimes surprisingly good crops when corn was planted in May. The data indicating we lose very little in yield before May 10th still has a great deal of validity. The restraint most have demonstrated to this point has been admirable. Sure, we might burn more dryer gas, but we need to keep things in perspective sometimes.

The weather has been affecting more than just crop farmers. It’s also having a negative impact on the movement of garden and nursery stock as well as making it tough to move ewes to pasture at the ranch. No sense to put animals out there if it isn’t sufficiently greened up to carry them. It’s getting time though. One muses how much longer the body can take the greedy, aggressive ewes pounding on knee joints that are designed to move primarily back and forth. What’s worse is some of the lambs are getting big enough so they can potentially inflict the same kind of damage. Snap! Crackle! Pop! It’s not just for breakfast anymore.

Gardening has been on hold too. Potato planting on Good Friday didn’t happen, nor did the radish, onion, pea, lettuce or carrot planting. There is still time however. Would rather do it once the right way as opposed to mudding it in and having to do it over. It takes time and money to do that too. There has been time for some tree planting. Think I mentioned the Patten and Parker pear trees we planted. We also got our Red Splendor crabapples planted. After the big ash tree landed on the nice one we’d planted about 20 years ago, it was great to plant some wonderful replacement stock in case that one bites the dust due to fire blight or other assorted maladies. Hopefully we get a chance to finish planting the Freeman maple and Nigra green arborvitae this week.

Some time was made for cleaning out the bluebird nesting boxes, although they usually are occupied almost immediately by tree swallows. This year was no exception and within minutes of seeing any mouse nests or last years leftover nests removed, the swallows were circling. A quick trip to the pond while on the birdhouse cleaning excursion revealed about a dozen blue-winged teal and a pair of giant Canada geese who took loud exception to my presence. The wood duck house needed to be cleaned too. The kestrels that nested in it last year were not particularly tidy tenants and removed all the cedar chips from the box before they constructed their nest. Due to the horrible mosquito infestation last year, I never did get back down there to see how many babies there were. Judging by the mess, there must’ve been several. The goldfinches are slowly but surely changing into their summer outfits. It won’t be too long and the orioles should make an appearance. One can only hope we don’t have to put heaters in their nectar feeders.

Ruby had another big weekend, this time travelling with us to visit my mom and her Border Collie Fudgie near Spring Valley for Easter. The two red and white dogs picked up right where they left off last fall with lots of running, growling and chasing. They genuinely seem to like each other as evidenced by Fudgie allowing Ruby to drink out of her water dish and eat her food. All dogs have distinct personalities, but Border Collies seem to take it to an extreme. One can definitely see that Fudgie and Gus were out of the same litter as some of Fudgie’s head tilts and expressions leave no doubt they are closely related. While Ruby is not as closely related, she has the same drive that her great grandmother did along with her same desire to play ball 24/7 if you’d let her. It’s time to get Ruby checked out for heartworm soon and would encourage those who haven’t done so to do the same for their dog friends. Mosquitoes are starting to show up with greater frequency. The last thing anyone wants to see is their favorite pet, companion or in our case little helper, suffer, and possibly die from that highly preventable affliction. 

See you next week…real good then.

John M. Goldsberry, 82, passed away on April 9, 2011. A visitation was held Friday, April 15, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. and a Memorial Service was conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise, ID.

He was born in the town of Geneva, MN to Larry and Sarah Helen Goldsberry. While there he farmed and also worked for IBM in Rochester, MN. Later moving to Oregon he worked for Trailways Bus Lines in Oregon and Boise and was a messenger for Idaho First National Bank in Boise until his retirement.

Being an avid reader he was well versed in many subjects. He was a kind and gentle man and loved his children and always looked forward to the get togethers with them. He liked country music and playing the organ. The highlight of his day was to gather at the mall for the coffee hour with his friends.

SECOND-PLACE TOSS — The Panthers’ Kaylee Maxon placed second in the discus with a toss of 103-6 as NRHEG placed fourth at Wells last Thursday. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG track and field teams faced some tough competition in a four-team meet hosted by United South Central/Alden-Conger at Wells on Thursday, April 21.

Both the boys and girls finished fourth.

Blue Earth Area won the girls’ meet with 190 points. USC/AC had 140, Waseca 119 and NRHEG 93.

“We really had a tough time against three very good teams,” said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber.

Carlie Wagner continued to score big for the Panthers, winning the 400 meters in 61.65 seconds and the high jump at 5-4. She was second in the 100 and third in the long jump.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

After one of its most dramatic wins in recent memory, the NRHEG baseball team was brought to earth Monday by United South Central.

The Panthers, who defeated Maple River on a seventh-inning walk-off hit by Lucas Meyer last Thursday, fell behind 20-0 to USC and lost the Gopher Conference game 23-13 at Legion Field.

NRHEG ran its record to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in the conference.

Against Maple River, Meyer laced a bases-loaded, one-out single to score Matt Dahle with the winning run in a 3-2 Panther victory. Dahle also had a big hit, driving in Chad Schlaak with a solid single to tie it. Brad Claycomb and David Lassahn each added a hit for NRHEG.

Sam Lundberg got the pitching win, going six innings while allowing two earned runs, with nine strikeouts and three walks. He gave up only three hits. Lassahn pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

Despite cool temperatures and a steady drizzle, the NRHEG Panther boys’ golf team had decent scoring as they topped Faribault Bethlehem Academy 174-183 at Riverview Golf Course Thursday, April 21.

Jon Walstrom led all scorers with a 40, earning him medalist honors. Senior Aaron Patraw was close behind with a 43. Sam Grothem (45) and Matt Nafe (46) also figured in the team score. Spencer Hanna fired a 48 and Jake Langlie had a 55. BA’s Aaron Forgaard had a 41.