Painting a picture of real life

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group will meet Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. The group meets monthly, every third Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 S. Washington Ave., Albert Lea, in Jacobsen Fellowship Hall. Enter through the door off of the parking lot.

Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide is welcome. The group offers support and understanding to each other, helping individuals know they are not alone in suffering their tragic loss.

Anyone with questions may phone John and Jodi at (507) 377-0332 or Judy at (507) 373-2461.

A day in my life....

When my husband, Daryl, decided to go up north fishing on Saturday, it seemed like it would be a fairly quiet day. I should know better - my days never seem to be quiet.

The day started out with my trip to the old Thompson Boat House at Beaver Lake. The Ellendale Historical Society had once again been invited by Ed and Norrine Jensen to hold their August meeting at Beaver Lake. Originally Norrine had planned to hold the meeting inside the boat house, but later decided it would have to be moved outside due to the large number of people who came to spend some time at the lake. People were able to sit at the picnic tables, as well as in their lawn chairs, and over the course of the morning a large number of stories were shared about those good old days at Beaver Lake. 

One of the topics included the big waterslide that had been a popular item to enjoy during those hot summer days in the 1920s and 1930s. As Barbara Mrotz shared in the Heritage Bits in the July 30 Star Eagle, people could rent a four-wheel cart, which they then carried to the top of the slide. Once they reached the top, they placed the cart on the track and would then ride the cart down into the water.

Carlyle Lageson, who is in his 90s, lives in Albert Lea and was in attendance for the gathering at Beaver Lake. Carlyle had informed Ed and Norrine Jensen some time ago that he saw a cart like the one that had been used at Beaver Lake, at the Freeborn County Museum, so the Jensens went to investigate, and sure enough they found it, and learned the cart in Albert Lea had been used at Beaver Lake.

While talking about the waterslide, I was able to pull out my copy of the Star Eagle from my tote bag and showed Carlyle Barbara’s story.

(The story about the day at Beaver Lake will be continued as a feature story in an upcoming issue of the Star Eagle.)

Following the great morning at Beaver Lake I came back to Geneva and stopped to visit my mother. Her grandson, Kade, reminded us that the upcoming week would be a busy one. In lieu of that fact, he suggested it might be a good time to drive to Owatonna to visit our dear family friend, Clarice Pence, at The Brooks. We had earlier in the week driven up to visit her but didn't find her home that day so we gave her a call to make sure she would be home. Clarice was home and she said, “Yes, please come, I was sorry to have missed your visit earlier this week.”

We were able to get caught up on all the news and of course before we could leave, Clarice had to take us outside to the patio area so we could see her flowers. Clarice is so proud of her geraniums this year. She has a huge pink geranium, that is just beautiful, but she is proudest of her two flower pots of white geraniums.  She is so very happy to be able to show them off.

Days are long when you when you live in senior units like The Brooks and are not able to get out and visit with many of your family and friends, so we try to visit some of our former residents as often as we can.

We returned back home to Geneva so that my mother could rest a bit after all the activities. Later in the afternoon I decided to head up to Ellendale a bit early for the Saturday night musical performance on the City Stage so I could stop at Lerberg’s and pick up another copy of the Star Eagle to replace the one I had given Carlyle.

En route to Ellendale, I happened to see a John Deere tractor pulling a hay rack. On the back of the hay rack was a sign that said, "Just Married." And for those of you who know me, I couldn't just leave it at that; I had to find out who had just gotten married and what they were doing on a hayrack.

I was able to see who the driver was while they were stopped at a stop sign, and I got out of my van and asked him if he would mind waiting a bit so that I could take a picture. Doug Willert, which many may know as "Gout," was the one driving the tractor, and he said, "No, but follow me," and we headed on down the road. I followed them to the farm site of Brian and Nicole Bergland, which many would know as the former farm of Bill and Ann Klemmensen just west and north of Ellendale.

Brian and Nicole had earlier that day been joined in marriage on the farm site. The wedding service, as you can guess, had a farm theme. The driveway leading into the farm had a very large rolled bale of hay in the middle, which was decorated with light orange colored flowers that were shaped into a letter "B" for Bergland. Several large urns of flowers decorated the lawn, and a number of trees at the farm,had been decorated with flowers and ribbon as well.

Upon arrival at the wedding, the wedding guests had been asked to sign the guest book. The guest book was actually a low wooden table that had been placed on hay bales, which made it easier for them to sign. 

I also noticed a sign had been placed near a large wooden spool, which I believe at one time may been used to transport electrical wire. The spool was used as a display area for family pictures and such. The sign stated, "Come as you are, Stay as long as you can, We're all family here, so there’s no seating plan."

The wedding guests had been able to sit on bales of hay that had been placed on the lawn during the service. A wooden climbing gym, located on the lawn, formed an arch and was also decorated with flowers and served as a backdrop for the service.

Following the service the wedding party had gone for a hayride while their guests gathered near the machine shed which had been cleared of farm equipment. The table for the wedding party was decorated in grand style in the machine shed and individual tables and chairs had been brought to the farm and set up under a large canopy for the wedding reception. The tables had been covered with white tablecloths and deer anthers; a candle and a vase of beautiful flowers were placed on top of small tree slabs in the center.

Janice Pederson and her crew served a delicious meal to Brian and Nicole’s guests. We wish Brian and Nicole all the best as they begin their married life together on the farm.

After snapping a number of pictures, this wedding crasher left the Bergland farm.

I then made my way back into Ellendale in time to hear "The Good Times Band" on the City Stage in downtown Ellendale. (Please look for this story in this week’s issue of the Star Eagle).

I guess one can say it was just another quiet day for me in a week of happenings here in Southern Minnesota.

— — —

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

• This week's birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, August 6th: Lynn Nechanicky, Rick Cook, Matthew Miller, Andy & Mary Lerberg, Wendell & Connie Kuehni

• Friday, August 7th: Shelly Mangskau, Zachery Vangen, Lori Titus, Dylan Waltz, Jack Jensen, Dakota Wayne Heideman, Kaityn Quimby, David Arbogast, Darren Casper, Allen Wacek, Tom & Katie Marlin

• Saturday, August 8th: Ian Matthew Wayne, Luke Wangsness, John Vander Stoep, Jamie Walworth, Kathy Born, Scott Crabtree, Jessica Marcus, Sharon Miller Jensen, Barb O'Conner, Gary Peterson, Emily Jensen, Marc Collins, Matthew Swift, Don Gould, Mya Glienke

• Sunday, August 9th: Aaron & Mickki Heimer, Linda Wayne, Mavis Knudtson, Steven LeRoy Christensen, Cherie Halla, Karen Holmes, Amber Nordland, Angie Reichl, Dustin Jepson, Sierra Ellen Misgen, Josiah Jeffrey Schei, Christopher Quentin Haberman

• Monday, August 10th: Jovey Kathleen Knudson, Lynn Arends, Linda Weckwerth, Teresa Wright, Jeff Olson, Vernon Cornelius, Michelle Brandt, Richelle Butler Chapman, Melisssa Cornelius Large, Dustin Dobberstein, Thayne Nordland, Ross & Kathie Lein, Steve & Kathy Nelson, Darrin & Linda Stadheim

• Tuesday, August 11th: Nicole & Daniel Burns, 2012; Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga

• Wednesday, August 12th: Linda & LaVerne Stieglbauer, Shawna Robertson, Tessa Christensen, Kristine Schroeder, Cindy Oswald, Cindy Nelson, Cynthia Crabtree, Thomas Smith, Ross Swearingen, Genie Hanson, Amy Tasker

• Thursday, August 13th: Dennis Deml, Tim Enzenauer, David Haddy, Bob Brandt, Lisa Dummer, Megan Dummer, Janet Hope, Kellie Petranek, Sylvia Jepson, Saxton Chad Ritz

• Friday, August 14th: David & Carrie Paulson, Mark Sorenson, Lucille Nechanicky, Gretchen Oswald Thompson, Peter Kasper, Leah Berg, Wes Neidermeier, Alison & Chad Muilenburg

• Saturday, August 15th: Roger Wayne, Obert Osmundson, Kaye Dee Hanson, Nancy Nelson, Stephanie Peterson, Rhonda Shelton, Cade Shelton, Brian Warnke, Dorrie Horan, Michael Suelter, Larry & Kathleen Jensen, Kellie Benning, Brian Warnke, Maverick Harold Knutson

Wishing you much happiness on your special day!

Here it is: it’s fair week, which to me, as a youth, signaled the beginning of the end of summer. It seems that once the fair had finished for another year the beginning of school loomed on the horizon, which for all practical purposes signaled the end of summer. I guess as a kid this was the downside to the event other than Christmas that I looked forward to the most.

Once the novelty of having all that free time to roam the great outdoors doing kid things wore off, the much anticipated fair was close at hand. The week or so leading up to the fair brought about great anticipation and curiosity as to what new and exciting things awaited us.

Usually bout the week before the big event my good friend Pat Smith and I would ride bike to the fairgrounds to scout things out. Now that brings me to another part of the story. My friend Pat had a Welsh pony that was a paint-colored horse. A paint is usually brown and white, which if you ever followed the Lone Ranger, you’d know that his faithful Indian friend Tonto rode a paint horse. Pat’s horse looked just like Tonto’s so it stood to reason that he would also name him Scout. One day Pat rode Scout over to the house and told me to hop on the back and we would ride to the fairgrounds and check things out. Although I had been around horses all my life, I’d had too many bad experiences to ever trust or really enjoy riding double on a horse. Now I have to say that Scout wasn’t too receptive of the whole idea either. We made it to the fairgrounds alright, but not without him letting me know that he didn’t particularly like me.

After spending an hour or so checking to see that all was ready for the big event, we gave it our unofficial stamp of approval and headed back to my house. After we had ventured a little ways down the hill on Bridge by Ridgeway Drive, I must have slid just a little too far back, at which time Scout decided it was time to dump the passenger. He took off running through the ditch bucking and jumping like a rodeo horse. I’m pretty sure I didn’t last the eight seconds required for a rodeo ride and I eventually flew off and came to rest on my back and neck. This is when I knew that being a cowboy was never going to be for me; I felt more like a rodeo clown than a cowboy or bronc rider.

I still rode horse from time to time after that, but whenever I’d happen to see old Scout he’d look at me with what seemed to be a mischevious twinkle in his eye. I suppose it was better than getting a horse laugh.

Pat and I would be at the fair bright and early on opening day to check out the midway and also to check the livestock. We always enjoyed walking through the cattle and swine barns, but the midway was where it was really at. One year there was a new ride called “the Mad Mouse” and as we watched intently as it was being set up the guy working on it asked if we would go find some cold water and fill his water jug for him. For that little chore he gave us an extra long free ride once it was set up and ready to go. Another time a guy running a game stand asked us to help and offered us free chances at earning a prize. As one thing led to another I ended up walking away without any of my hard earned lawn mowing and paper route money, but I did have a life lesson to show for it. Growing up in the country and going to country school I had learned to trust people, but after that experience I realized that not all folks were honest and that the challenge in life would be to recognize the good from the bad. That might sound a little deep and I know that I’ve written about this before, but I can still remember lying in bed with the window open listening to other folks having fun. It was a great leaning experience, although I didn’t actually think it was so great at the time.

I hadn’t attended the fair for quite a few years until my grandsons started to show their 4-H projects. Trevor showed chickens until he graduated and then his younger brother Grant stepped in. Both boys have done well with their poultry and the ribbons that they earned showed that their hard work paid off and made Grandma and Grandpa very proud.

It doesn’t seem possible, but the archery deer hunting season is about a month and a half away. The archery season actually begins on September 19 and runs through December 31. Hard winters really take a toll on the deer population, but the deer numbers statewide are expected to be up from last year because of the mild winter we had. I know I personally have spotted quite a few more deer in the general vicinity of our cabin this year compared to last year.

Another conservative deer season set to rebuild population

Hunters can expect another conservative deer season in 2015 as management continues to rebuild deer numbers across much of the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said. 

“The 2015 deer hunting regulations will be quite similar to last year, with one-deer limits in most of the state,” said Leslie McInenly, big game program leader for the DNR. “Hunters should check the 2015 regulations early, because in the majority of areas, hunters will need to apply for a permit to shoot an antlerless deer.”

Until next time, enjoy the fair and embrace the rest of summer, there is still plenty left.

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

A police officer pulled me over for speeding last night. I told him that I’d never gotten a ticket in my life.

What did he say?

He said, "Congratulations, you have now."

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: As I watched a driver drinking from a soft drink cup large enough to be a bucket, I realized that the car playing the worst music will always have the loudest speakers. If older people are the only ones using phonebooks, why do they make the print so small?

The cafe chronicles

His breath smelled of Copenhagen and coffee. He claimed that his wild rice soup had gone bananas. "She comes and stays in every month with an R in it. She’s either a mother-in-law or an oyster," he growled.

He wasn’t the family optimist. It was up to his wife to stitch silver linings into dark clouds.

Popcorn and cellphones

My granddaughter Everly told me that she didn't like seafood. She likes land food, like popcorn.

My wife and I went to the movies. I held her hand the entire time we were in the theater. That kept her from eating my popcorn.

My wife and I attended a friend’s wedding reception. It was held two days before the wedding. There was good food, fine company and swell fireworks. The pyrotechnics were so impressive that many people attempted to preserve the moment by taking photos with their cellphones.

Gunnar Berg of Albert Lea told me that he has a different cellphone. He added that he gets his wife’s hand-me-down phones. His previous phone had fallen into lakes and other containers of liquids. It still worked unless Gunnar dialed a phone number with a five in it.

I saw a bumper sticker in Owatonna reading, "CFICARE."

I attended Kernel Knudson's funeral. I’d known him all my life. Kernel was a remarkable man. After his father died and his mother’s health made it impossible for her to care for her eight children, Kernel took over. He kept the family together and made sure his seven siblings graduated from high school. His sister, Janet McDermott, told me that Kernel was much more than a brother. He was her father, grandfather and uncle. Quite an accomplishment at an age when just being a brother is a sufficient challenge. When I was a boy, Kernel was the township clerk who paid me for trapping pocket gophers. Later, I dealt with Kernel when he was on our county’s draft board. But mostly I knew him as a friend. Kernel could never have had a vehicle carrying a CFICARE license plate. Kernel cared.

Pondering a press pass

I was driving down the potholes when a highway suddenly appeared. I used it to go here and there. I ran into a friend at events in Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Maple Grove. They were sites of girls’ basketball tournaments. The parking lots held cars sporting bumper stickers reading, "You can't scare me. I have daughters." My friend teased me that I got into all of the games free with a press pass. I’ve written forever and four days, but I’ve never had a press pass. My own fault, I suppose. I’ve never requested one.

He asked me where I’d want to go if I had a press pass. World Series? Been there. Super Bowl? No way. NBA finals. No. March Madness. Nope. Wimbledon? Nay. Hartland’s Annual Bocce Ball and Bratwurst Juggling Championship. Of course, but they don’t charge. I’d use my press pass for sporting events involving a grandchild.

There were no quiet corners in those places in Hopkins, Eden Prairie or Maple Grove, but I found the quietest available to do a radio show. Right before I went on the air, a tournament official gave me a free pass. Sort of. I’d already paid.

This week’s travelogue

Reiman Gardens is on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. Situated on 17 acres, the year-round attraction features both indoor and outdoor gardens. As I enjoyed the many species of live butterflies flitting by me in the 2,500-square-foot Butterfly Wing, I noticed a monarch butterfly outside. I felt like the middle of a butterfly sandwich.

Nature notes

"Is there a way to tell the sexes of owls?" Males and females look alike. If you see two owls together, the female is larger than the male.

Meeting adjourned

Benefit all humankind by being the kind of person who is kind.

According to Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything. It is time for another one of my hopscotch columns. (A running of the words.)

When you live on a lake, you always fish on the other side of the lake. Mark Kath lives on Geneva Lake and is a very good fisherman. Does Mark fish on the other side of the lake? Oh, no! He does most of his fishing on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea.

We have a big welcome sign in our basement. “Welcome earwigs – first you will get a good squeeze and then a swim in the toilet bowl.” Genie and I can’t believe the enthusiasm shown by so many earwigs to take advantage of our welcome sign.

Genie and I attended the Farm and City Days pancake breakfast in New Richland, Saturday, July 11. We got in line, with about 400 others, to get good pancakes with lots of conversation from the two flipping sommers brothers. (The young man serving beverages truly knew and gave excellent service.)

We toured the tractors and cars on display. Of special interest was the 1959 Silver Hawk, shown by fellow columnist Mark Bernard, as it was identical to the Silver Hawk Studebaker at one time owned by the parents of Genie.

I was told (because I have a yellow Shine-fest T-shirt) by my CEO to be the greeter at the door when the Shine-fest tractor parade arrived at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. My job was to announce rest rooms to your right, refreshments straight ahead. It was a big job, but I pulled it off. (I was surprised with how many of the tractor drivers were ladies.)

I also learned that the black Farmall tractor, shown at Farm and City Days in New Richland, came off the assembly line in true Farmall red color.

In doing a crossword puzzle, the clue was a stone high at the top of a castle near Cork, Ireland.” The answer was Blarney. I did a Google search and found that if you climb to the top of the stone stairs in the castle and hang upside down while kissing the Blarney Stone, you will be blessed with the Irish gift of giving sincere flattery while speaking to someone. (Sincere flattery is both parties feeling good after talking to each other.)

The search went on to state that some people were blessed with sincere flattery even though they hadn’t kissed the Blarney Stone. It further stated one could submit no more than 15 of the first and last initials plus the area of residence and one would receive back a yes or no if they were blessed with sincere flattery.

I submitted M.B. and L.E. of New Richland; R.T. of Waseca; D.A. and N.J. of Beaver Lake; D.S. and L.H. of Albert Lea; M.S. and W.T. of Geneva; A.B. and V.T. of Hartland: A.B. and B.M. of Ellendale; O.J. of Manchester; and J.H. of Bath Road.

The answer was yes, all the submitted names were blessed with giving sincere flattery and there was no difference between male and females.

———

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.

Last week was the final week for Jayna’s softball season. Anton’s baseball team finished a couple weeks before that. Now what?

For much of June and July, Michelle and I were on ball fields four nights a week. Jayna had Mondays and Wednesday, Anton Tuesdays and Thursdays. Throw in some Sunday evenings for practice for Anton’s squad, along with field prep, and I logged many hours this summer watching and coaching ball.

And I loved it. It really can get long, especially when you consider that Jayna started practice at the end of March. When you think about it, kids who play spring and summer baseball or softball have a season at least as long as basketball!

Growing up in New Ulm, we never wanted baseball season to end. I was never a great player, but played out in one of New Ulm’s many suburbs, Essig (population 43), for many years. We had fun and learned a lot and played the game the right way.

This has been my philosophy in coaching Anton’s 3rd and 4th grade team the last two years; I want those boys to have the same experience I did at that age. Winning and losing was inconsequential at that age; we rejoiced in a victory, but quickly forgot a loss. I couldn’t even tell you for sure what our record was these past two years. I never wanted to tell them the score until the game was over – you should always play as if the game is on the line, both defensively and at the plate.

I really try to drill home playing the game the right way. You never throw a helmet or bat – it was not their fault that you got out. Remember, the greatest players in the major leagues get out 7/10 times. Keep your eye on the ball at the plate and in the field. Before every pitch, think about what you will do if the ball is hit to you when on defense. Before every pitch, think about what you will do if it’s a ground ball or a fly ball when you are on base. Get in front of the ball and keep it in front of you on defense; that’s better defense than making a fabulous play one out of 10 times.

These are all things I and the other coaches drilled to our players. Always learn from every inning and every at-bat. Listen to your coaches and work to get better. When the games really start to count, the cream that rises to the top in baseball is not always the most athletically gifted, but sometimes the kid who hustles on defense and knows how to take an extra base on offense. It’s the kid who hits the cutoff man instead of trying to throw it all the way home. It’s the kid who realizes he doesn’t have a play at a base and holds the ball so other runners can’t advance.

I see this in some players on each of the kids’ teams. It’s important to look beyond the kids who always seem to get big hits to see the ones who hit the ball to the right side to advance a runner to third base with less than two outs. I’m thrilled that both my kids proclaim their summer sport as their favorite, and while the big hitters are nice, I’ll be satisfied with my kids doing the little things right to contribute to the team effort. After all, a pitcher can constantly throw strikes, but if he or she doesn’t have a good defense, it doesn’t matter. Baseball and softball are the ultimate team sports.

So now what do we do? Well, at least the Twins are still playing meaningful baseball. It’s funny how most of us wrote them off in April and now get upset when they blow a lead or don’t win two out of three. The past four years, we would have just shrugged and turned off the TV. Now we are invested again since they have a chance at the playoffs. Last year the Royals and Giants showed us that all you need to do is get in the playoffs to have a chance to win it all.

This team reminds me a bit of the 1987 version that won our first World Series. There is not really a batch of stars that are recognized outside of Minnesota, but they do enough to win ball games. However, if you were paying attention back then, the 1988 version might have been more talented, but couldn’t compete with the mighty Oakland A’s. So even if the Twins don’t make a run this year, maybe 2016 will be the year!

The dog days of summer are upon us, but we still have baseball to watch, and that is always a good thing!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is tohubohu, which means chaos or confusion, as in, “The tohubohu that erupted on the field when the player got in a run-down between third and home was not helped when another runner arrived at third base.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs, courtesy of their trusty Weather Eye, delivered a knockout weather punch this past week. Sure there were some warm days, but we needed that to make up for some of the cooler days earlier in July. Will we see another warm week or will we see fall creeping up on us? Starting Wednesday, partly sunny with a modest chance of an overnight shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the low 60’s. Thursday, partly sunny with an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms by evening. Highs in the mid-70’s with lows around 60. Partly sunny Friday with a modest chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid-70’s with lows near 60. Saturday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the mid-60’s. Partly sunny on Sunday with a moderate chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the low 60’s. Monday, partly cloudy with an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms by evening. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the low 60’s. Partly cloudy for Tuesday with highs in the upper 70’s and lows around 60. The normal high for August 10th is 81 and the normal low is 60. The scurs will be watching for meteors from their chaise lounge.

The best viewing of the Perseid meteor shower will take place in August. The earth passes through the debris field from the Swift-Tuttle comet every year starting July 17th and runs through August 24th. The number of sightings increases until about mid-month and should decline from there. With the New Moon coming on August 14th, conditions should be about perfect the night of the 13th, with very little light interference. The peak time to look for them is after midnight when the meteors should be high in the sky, although there should be plenty to be seen prior to that. There is no reason to look in any one spot, just lay back in your lounger and enjoy the show, weather permitting of course.

Crops progress prospered under the warmer-than-normal temperatures last week with corn progressing to R3 or roasting ears as they are fondly known. Soybeans also made progress with many fields making R5. The soybeans are impressive to look at, although looking closely one can see the soybean aphids are increasing in many area fields. The temptation is to blindly spray when the neighbor does. This may or may not be the proper timing. The aphid infestations vary widely from field to field and the only way to know whether the insects are at treatable levels is to scout them.

Lots of insects to see this past week at the ranch. First, a yellow swallowtail made a bee line for the tiger lilies that were in full bloom, making for a colorful visual. Next, when attempting to fuel up the lawnmower, a paper wasp flew out of the cover surrounding the pump, causing me to spring into action. I dislike paper wasps immensely after having been stung numerous times by them over the years. I got out the dairy aerosol and sprayed up inside the housing and ran. Several more wasps flew out of the cover and did not return, I might add. Several have asked about earwigs. We’d never seen earwigs at the ranch until a few years ago after someone left a box that had contained wedding decorations. The box was loaded with earwigs and before we knew it, they escaped into the garage. Not too long ago one of the solar lights quit working. Upon dismantling the light, it was full of earwigs and worked fine after their eviction. Earwigs are rather ferocious looking insects with cerci or pinchers on their abdomen which are used to hold whatever it is they’re feeding on. Earwigs typically feed on decaying organic material as well as some smaller living organisms. What concerns people though is when they choose to vary their diet and go after flowers and vegetables. A good article from Jeff Hahn at the U concerning earwigs can be accessed at:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/earwigs/

It looks like the orioles have at least for the time being taken a hike. It may have something to do with another visitor, namely a Cooper’s hawk that has been terrorizing the bird feeder area from time to time. An unfortunate young mourning dove wound up in its grasp and as breakfast one morning last week. Since that time, orioles have been scarce. It hasn’t deterred the goldfinches that are becoming more numerous. There are very few females coming to the feeders now so one has to wonder if their nesting period has begun.

Fudgie has a birthday coming up on August 6th. She was one of a litter of three puppies born to our first Border Collie Lucy 13 years ago. Fudgie’s primary occupation for 10 years was to keep my mom company at the farm, which she generally did pretty well. Mom of course spoiled her rotten. I suspect there were many baked goods that found their way into Fudgie’s tummy over the years. To this day you can’t crack an egg but what it gets Fudgie’s attention, waking her from a deep slumber. When Mom became ill we promised to keep the dog until such time that she could get back to the farm. That of course didn’t happen so we suddenly had a second dog again. Now, Fudgie is not Miss Congeniality. She had things pretty much her way for a long time and is slow to warm up to strangers. She tolerates Ruby, although they do play some together yet, which is pretty remarkable considering their age and speed difference. The distance she travels some days following the lawnmower is truly amazing. She is also a natural when it comes to watching gates and chasing the sheep back in, for which we are grateful. Fudgie is welcome to live out the rest of her days here.

Mentioning baked goods above, Auntie Mar Mar came through with a plethora of goodies, the leftovers from all her fair baking projects. There were high fiber muffins, nut breads, lemon bars, and raisin bars. All tasty treats after a long dry spell of going without. She was obviously concerned about my health though. Mar Mar is a faithful reader of my rantings and apparently wanted to make sure I was still a regular columnist.

See you next week…real good then.

Ursula E. Harra, 86, of New Richland, formerly of Waseca MN, entered her eternal rest on July 26, 2015, at St. John’s Lutheran Community home in Albert Lea MN.

Ursula was born Ursula Liesbeth Martha Allstadt on July 20, 1929 in Walterhausen Germany, to John and Hildegard Geoborene Bahring Allstadt. Ursula came to the United States of America in the year 1950, and became a United States Citizen in 1960. Ursula made her way from the East Coast to Minnesota, and made Minnesota her home.

On July 22nd of 1961, Ursula married Walter Harra. They made their home in West Concord, MN. At some time, Ursula and Walt divorced, and remarried January 17, 1983, where they made Waseca their home.

Ursula worked for the E.F. Johnson Company for many years, until her retirement. After her retirement, Ursula and Walter owned and operated a craft store in Waseca, and also made their way all over Minnesota making and selling their crafts.

Marian Jean McMillan, 95, of Boynton Beach, FL, died on Monday July 20, 2015 at the Palm Beach Hospice in Delray, FL.

Marian was born in New Richland, MN on August 27, 1919, the daughter of Fred S. and H. Constance (Brynildson) Jensen. She graduated from New Richland High School in 1938 and from the Mankato School of Beauty and Culture as a beautician at the beginning of World War II. Upon graduation, she and her sister, Doris, opened the Modern Beauty Shop in New Richland. On January 23, 1946, she married Paul J McMillan (a survivor of the Bataan Death March and a P.O.W.) at the New Richland Congregational Church, with his father officiating.

Marian continued her career as a hairdresser until her retirement, having had shops in her home in Janesville and in LeSueur, MN. After they retired, the McMillans moved to Bella Vista, AK where they lived for six years before moving to Boynton Beach, FL in 1999 to be closer to their daughter, her husband, and their four precious grandchildren.