As I write this column I am sitting in the cabin looking out the deck door at the lake and watching the birds feeding busily at the feeders. My sister Judy and my brother-in-law Mike stopped by on their way home from their cabin, which is up by Northome, and that is about 40 miles northwest of my cabin. As we talked about different things Mike and I began discussing the different birds that we have visiting our feeders; just then a thought occurred to me – 40 years ago you’d never thought we’d be standing here today discussing birds.

It’s funny how time has a way of changing one’s priorities, I know part of it is the growing older thing but sometimes, not always, with age comes wisdom. I know some of the things that were important to me when I was younger have taken a back seat to other things. The only thing that hasn’t changed for me is my appreciation for the beauty of nature and the critters within. I’d have to say I have always been infatuated with wildlife and the habitat that is their home.

I love coming to the north woods because you can never tell what critters you may lay your eyes upon. So far this year we have had a porcupine walk under our deck on its way to the deep woods, and the last time I was up here I saw a bear standing on the edge of the woods about a mile north of the cabin. On my way to the cabin on Monday a wolf trotted across the road in front of me about two miles south of the cabin. This is what I love about the North Country and the area where we’ve built our cabin and even though it is over 300 miles from home, it’s well worth the drive.

I have written numerous times about my days as a youth and what a big part the “crick’ and the slough that surrounded it played in my appreciation of nature. I had many heroes, most fictional and some real, but they were always the guys in the white hats. My Uncle Ben was someone I always looked up to because he was the one that took me fishing; sometimes he and my Aunt Marcie would take me “up north” fishing for a week. This was about the only time while I was growing up that I actually got to experience a real vacation. They would leave early in the morning and I can remember standing in the yard looking down the road for headlights and getting chills of excitement every time a car’s headlights appeared in the distance.

Ben and Marcie had no children so that is probably why they liked taking me with them once in a while. Ben would also take me fishing for a day in the Waterville area. He taught me a lot about fishing, things that still hold true in today’s world of modern technology. To me the smell of fishing was the exhaust of that old green 5 horse Johnson as we trolled the shoreline for northern pike and bass. Basic, simple fishing that worked way back when and still works for me today.

For quite a few years I had gotten into painting landscapes and wildlife, not because of my Uncle Lloyd, but because of my Dad. He loved painting horses and when I started doing outdoors scenes and adding deer we would talk and he would give me pointers on painting animals and I would do the same for his background scenes. We fed off of each other and this gave me incentive to paint. My love of fishing and the outdoors showed in all of my paintings because I never did one without a fishing scene or, if it wasn’t about fishing, it had some form of water in it. Once Dad had his stroke and could no longer paint I lost my enthusiasm for painting and although my sister has done much to encourage me from time to time I haven’t been able to bring myself to get back into it.

My sister Judy has taken over as the family artist and has gotten very good at it. We used to vacation together with our families at Spider Lake and a couple of years ago on Christmas she gave me a watercolor painting she had done. One look at that picture and I could put myself in the boat on Spider in that exact same spot on the lake. I have looked at that painting on many a winter day and imagined I was there casting or trolling on a sunny summer day; talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

Until next time, take advantage of summer and get outdoors to enjoy a walk by a lake, have a picnic in one of our many city parks or visit a county or state park. Whatever you do, just get outdoors and enjoy!

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

My uncle Ralph died.

I’m sorry to hear that. Were you two close?

He was like an uncle to me.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: I don't need a weathervane to know which direction the wind is blowing. There are discarded plastic bags everywhere. When driving around the countryside and trying not to look at plastic bags, I’ve noticed that many farmers are hoarders. They specialize in rocks. I drove down the highway behind a police car. That experience was so relaxing when compared to having a police car behind me.

The cafe chronicles

He had a beard like a field of wheat. His eyes caught the attention of a waitress as if he were a frog snatching a fly out of the air.

He teased me about the shirt I was wearing. He said that it looked like a landfill. I told him that I’d consulted my wife before putting it on. What I didn't tell him was that when I’d asked her what would go with the shirt, she had told me that there was no clothing made that would go with the shirt.

The elevator

I spoke at a thing in Iowa City. I got into a hotel elevator with more than enough people in it. I hoped that it was going down, because I didn't think it’d have been able to go up. Earlier, I had stood in a cemetery on a rainy day at the College of Saint Benedict as I said a prayer for my wife's aunt Alice. It seemed like the right thing to do. Alice had just died. I'm sure she took the elevator up.

Hurling for distance and accuracy

The cat threw up. It’s her way of saying good morning. It was a trophy-sized hairball. If she had been wearing tights, it’d have been a demonstration of one of her superpowers. Call it what you want — barf, blow lunch, heave, bring up or hurl. Hurling is a sport in Ireland. I’ll bet cat upchucking is impressive there.

The phone rang after 10 o'clock that night. I feared that someone had died. I wanted to put my hands over my ears and ignore the phone. I do that at wedding dances. I don't do it so I can’t hear a phone. I do it because the music of the DJs has become too loud for me. So I hold my hands over my ears, which have become sensitive to loud sounds. There I sit, a dork with hand-covered ears, as a few dancers shuffle about the floor. Some nice person always asks me, "Are you O.K.?"

I guess no one is ever completely O.K., but I reply, "I'm trying to hold a thought."

As to the phone call, a loved one had gone into the hospital. Thankfully, she was quickly released.

Meanwhile, the cat was trying to hold both a thought and a hairball.

The amazing flying machines of Hobby Lobby

I was in a parked car in Mankato, in of all things, a parking lot outside of Hobby Lobby. My wife was in the store. I belong to the Harried Husbands’ Union (HHU) that forbids me to enter certain stores. It was a warm day, so I rolled down a window and began to read a book that had been downloaded onto my cellphone. I didn’t know that the Air Force Thunderbirds were in town. I watched as five jets of this elite, precision-flying team zoomed overhead performing incredible acrobatic maneuvers at 400 mph. Somewhere, penguins were tipping over. A barn swallow flew by the car. I turned to the video camera part of my cellphone. I wanted a video of the swallow flying accompanied by the sounds of the jets. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The planets weren’t aligned and the time wasn’t available. My wife exited Hobby Lobby and we drove off under a cloud of contrails.

Nature notes

A reader asked about a bald cardinal visiting a feeder. This condition is caused by an unusual molt pattern. The feathers will grow back. You might see the bird wearing a baseball cap until that happens.

Meeting adjourned

"Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change." — Bob Kerrey

Many Vermont natives need a few days in Minnesota to learn “Minnesota Nice.” Exceptions who could move to Minnesota and fit right in were: Liz, who we met in a café overlooking the lake in Burlington; Brittany at the Quality Inn desk (she refers to herself as “A Little Ray of Sunshine” – she most certainly is!); and the Bobbsey Twins, who take care of the breakfast bar at the Quality Inn (almost all the staff were of the Minnesota Nice standard).

We noticed Vermont promotes “Keep it Green.” The Highway Patrol cars are green. One taxicab company uses hybrid cars that are green – thus they call themselves “the Green Cab Company.” They have a statewide “Keep It Green Day” with green garbage bags given out to pick up trash yearly on May 1.

There is a business in Burlington staffed by all females. Their ad shows a beautiful lady winking at you. They go by the handle of “Girlington Garage.” Yes, they are a car-related business.

Cell phone service was very limited in the Huntington area plus some areas along the way in Canada. While driving in Vermont (also Ontario, Canada) all hand-held electronics are prohibited.

Just when you think you’ve seen all road signs, we saw a sign in Vermont that said “Moose Crossing” below the sign of an antlered deer.

In driving through the Heroes Islands, there was a sign along U.S. Highway 2: “Caution: Turtle Crossing.” A real live snapping turtle crossed as we went by!

A campaign sign on a lawn on a reservation read “Eric Thompson for Chief (Northern New York).” Did Eric move away from Clarks Grove?

Coming home on Canadian Highway 17 we saw a lot of blood on the highway where a big bull moose had been hit and killed by a semi. A native told me, if the meat is okay they give it to the local school for about six luncheons of moose burgers, and vegetable moose soup for about 10 luncheons. (I think I believe him but I’m not sure.)

By Fish Creek along Highway 2 in Wisconsin we saw a beautiful sculpture of a walleye with a red and white bass plug in its mouth. I guess they’re promoting a bass plug for all fishing occasions.

We saw a black bear running into the woods by a house in Wisconsin. We saw a female red fox guarding her den by the road in Wisconsin.

The last day of driving we saw five sand hill cranes, plus a pair with three chicks.

It seems that roundabouts have become the way to take care of stop signs, as we saw them in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Vermont. All of them had yield signs – no stop signs.

We followed the same route going to and coming from Vermont. It was a good drive even though we saw snow on the way there. After leaving May 11 and getting home June 4, Genie and I both agree the house sign “325 Burr Oak Drive” was most welcome. NPLH (in texting, No Place Like Home).

Whether you read this before or after July 4, remember: Democracy is what makes this a great nation! Amen.

———

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.

Many Vermont natives need a few days in Minnesota to learn “Minnesota Nice.” Exceptions who could move to Minnesota and fit right in were: Liz, who we met in a café overlooking the lake in Burlington; Brittany at the Quality Inn desk (she refers to herself as “A Little Ray of Sunshine” – she most certainly is!); and the Bobbsey Twins, who take care of the breakfast bar at the Quality Inn (almost all the staff were of the Minnesota Nice standard).

We noticed Vermont promotes “Keep it Green.” The Highway Patrol cars are green. One taxicab company uses hybrid cars that are green – thus they call themselves “the Green Cab Company.” They have a statewide “Keep It Green Day” with green garbage bags given out to pick up trash yearly on May 1.

There is a business in Burlington staffed by all females. Their ad shows a beautiful lady winking at you. They go by the handle of “Girlington Garage.” Yes, they are a car-related business.

Cell phone service was very limited in the Huntington area plus some areas along the way in Canada. While driving in Vermont (also Ontario, Canada) all hand-held electronics are prohibited.

Just when you think you’ve seen all road signs, we saw a sign in Vermont that said “Moose Crossing” below the sign of an antlered deer.

In driving through the Heroes Islands, there was a sign along U.S. Highway 2: “Caution: Turtle Crossing.” A real live snapping turtle crossed as we went by!

A campaign sign on a lawn on a reservation read “Eric Thompson for Chief (Northern New York).” Did Eric move away from Clarks Grove?

Coming home on Canadian Highway 17 we saw a lot of blood on the highway where a big bull moose had been hit and killed by a semi. A native told me, if the meat is okay they give it to the local school for about six luncheons of moose burgers, and vegetable moose soup for about 10 luncheons. (I think I believe him but I’m not sure.)

By Fish Creek along Highway 2 in Wisconsin we saw a beautiful sculpture of a walleye with a red and white bass plug in its mouth. I guess they’re promoting a bass plug for all fishing occasions.

We saw a black bear running into the woods by a house in Wisconsin. We saw a female red fox guarding her den by the road in Wisconsin.

The last day of driving we saw five sand hill cranes, plus a pair with three chicks.

It seems that roundabouts have become the way to take care of stop signs, as we saw them in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Vermont. All of them had yield signs – no stop signs.

We followed the same route going to and coming from Vermont. It was a good drive even though we saw snow on the way there. After leaving May 11 and getting home June 4, Genie and I both agree the house sign “325 Burr Oak Drive” was most welcome. NPLH (in texting, No Place Like Home).

Whether you read this before or after July 4, remember: Democracy is what makes this a great nation! Amen.

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.

I have to keep an eye on many things when I’m umpiring baseball or softball. In baseball, I always have to keep my eye on the pitcher in case he does something illegal, while in softball I need to make sure the runners don’t leave the base early.

But sometimes I notice other things. One of those things the last couple of years has been a dearth of players choking up on the bat. There are two occasions in which a batter should move his or her hands up the bat handle. One is that the pitcher is throwing very hard; this allows the batter to get around on the pitch quicker. The other is when a batter has two strikes. Choking up there again allows that quick bat and hopefully an ability to at least put the ball in play instead of striking out.

Why don’t players do this much anymore? I’d much rather ground out than strike out; by putting the ball in play, there’s a much better chance of reaching base than by a swing and a miss!

It’s been an interesting spring and summer of umpiring. I’ve noticed that the weather has overall been better than it has the past few years. Sure, I had consecutive nights in April where I was on a field with a temp around 30 degrees. Sure, I had games pushed back because of rain. But the amount of days with the sun shining and the temp in the 60s or above has been astonishing!

My love of the game is what allows me to love umpiring, but I thought I would be tested this year. Since Jayna was playing junior high softball, I was asked to umpire those home games. “Oh boy,” I thought, “junior high softball. I’m not sure I can expand my strike zone enough to keep games moving.”

Plus, I had to umpire with my daughter batting and sometimes pitching. There certainly would be questions of favoritism. I’ve always prided myself on not being biased for our local teams, and that would prove the case again this spring. Jayna didn’t get every close pitch when she was toeing the rubber, and there certainly was no question when I called her out on strikes while at bat one game. She knew it was a strike, so I escaped scrutiny when I got home!

I’ve been able to see fabulous come-from-behind wins and dramatic escapes by home teams fending off the opposition. I was happy for a team from Farmington who won in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off double that drove in the tying and winning runs. Why was I so happy for them? Earlier in the game, I had blown a call which caused one of their runners to be out. I hate to make a mistake that might cost a team a game, so it was nice to see them overcome that.

There were a few instances of parent discontent, which I mostly ignored, though I gave a stern look at a group from out of state and didn’t hear anything the rest of the game. But I did have to walk that path of ejecting a coach this year. This young man didn’t seem to realize that 9th grade baseball isn’t the most important thing in the world and didn’t know when to let his argument drop. He didn’t want to hear my interpretation of the rule and kept yapping.

I believe I gave him four warnings throughout the game, which is more than he deserved. I finally restricted him to the bench, a wonderful rule put in a couple of years ago which allows me to avoid ejecting someone, but keeps their mouth shut and their face off the field. This coach didn’t believe that was a real rule and told me to learn the rule book. That was a step too far after all the previous indiscretions, so I tossed him.

Okay, this happens sometimes. But he made it worse by coming back on the field after the game was over and berating me some more. In addition, the classlessness of some of his players was evident with their comments about my strike zone and their “fake shakes” with both the opposing team and me after the game.

We need more people to umpire. I had to ump two of Jayna’s games on the road this year because the other schools couldn’t find anyone. But is it any wonder folks don’t want this job? I don’t hear overt criticism every game, but it happens more often to younger, less-established umpires who might not have learned how to ignore some things or don’t know how to deal with coaches such as I encountered.

The pay is pretty good for a couple hours of work, and I hope that can draw some younger people to this occupation. Jayna is learning some basics by umpiring Anton’s 3rd/4th grade games this summer. I’ve worked with her on positioning and making strong calls, which she’s done well. I’m willing to help train in any younger folks who want to give it a try – I’m going to need umpires for Anton’s team next year when they move to the QCBA.

If you enjoy baseball, umpiring is the best seat in the house. You often get to watch good ball, and hey, you even meet some really, really interesting people, both good and bad!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is splenetic, which mean bad-tempered or spiteful, as in, “The splenetic coach soon found that he wouldn’t win any arguments with the umpire.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs and their Weather Eye got the rains to stop in places. However, in places they didn’t. Will they get a grip and dry us out for the 4th or will we have to light soggy firecrackers? Starting Wednesday, partly sunny with a high near 75. Thursday, sunny becoming partly cloudy with a modest chance of rain in the overnight. Highs near 75 with lows in the upper 50’s. Mostly sunny Friday with a slight chance of daytime showers or thunderstorms. Highs in the mid-70’s with lows in the upper 50’s. Saturday the 4th, mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the low 60’s. Sunday, partly sunny becoming mostly cloudy with an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms by evening. Highs near 80 with lows in the mid-60’s. Mostly sunny with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms on Monday. Highs around 80 with lows in the mid-60’s. Tuesday, partly cloudy and pleasant with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the low 60’s. The normal high for the 4th of July is 83 and the normal low is 61. We will have already lost a staggering 6 minutes of daylight since the summer solstice and the sun will be setting before 9 p.m. In the meantime, the scurs will be attempting to evade Mark Dayton’s jack-booted Fireworks Police.

After 3.1” of rain fell last Monday at the ranch it has dried out, sort of. We only received .77” for the rest of the week so that was a moral victory. Up until the 22nd we were living a charmed life with rains coming gently and not in large amounts. Now around the area one can see the toll the wet weather has taken on some fields. There are drowned out spots in both the corn and soybeans and there are signs of nitrogen deficiency appearing where drainage is an issue. Headlands on corn fields by and large look poor, in testament to some of the sins of past cropping seasons. No amount of tillage seems to remedy it, just keeping traffic in these areas to a minimum and time are about the best cures. Corn was V10–V12 with some flag leaves starting to show on the earliest planted fields. Soybeans were R1–R2 in some of the earliest planted fields. Small grains have in many cases lodged and many of the peas that looked so good earlier are showing the effects of excessive moisture, not only yellowing but the ruts left after harvest attempts. Baling hay? Fageddaboudit!

At the ranch the first fireflies of the season were spotted on the evening of the 26th. This of course viewed from the safety of the inside of a window screen. The rains have also meant a horde of mosquitoes awaits one if you’re foolish enough to venture outside for a closer look. There is no shortage of flying and biting insects no matter what time of day you’re out and about. The stable flies, those nasty little biting flies that sneak up and bite your exposed skin when you least expect it, have been downright nasty. Get around a river or stream and they compete with the deer flies and horse flies for a pound of your flesh.

Fortunately we have a large contingent of barn swallows to consume some of the flying insects. One doesn’t realize just how many until an intruder such as a cat or hawk shows up in the yard. There are plenty of birds to watch lately including a rose-breasted grosbeak and a swelling number of goldfinches, the males dressed in their brightest summer plumage. The younger orioles are coming to the feeders now, although they’ve had to compete with the young squirrel population. Putting the plastic baffle over the top of the feeder seems to have thwarted their attempts as they’re not the brightest bulbs on the tree just yet. Robins still start their singing prior to 4:30 a.m. One was trying to sing before 4 the other day but the others must’ve told him to shut up and go back to bed.

The gardens continue to progress in spite of all the rains. Prior to the heavy rains last week, nitrogen was applied in appropriate amounts and the plants appear to have responded nicely. The vine crops are dark green and running, with many initial blooms starting. The muskmelons in particular are flowering heavily. Of course the weeds are doing well too. Too wet to move on through with the tiller and the bugs when you try to hoe or pull the darn things about carry you off.

Mrs. Cheviot has been travelling lately, meaning that Mr. Cheviot has been left to his own devices. It used to mean watching lots of Clint Eastwood flicks after doing chores, but not this summer. The lawn has needed mowing a couple times a week and usually gets mowed once when there’s time. Oh sure, I get lots of dog help. After all, they’re my buds and I become the social director in Mrs. Cheviot’s stead. Fudgie and Ruby carefully monitor the progress of the mower, walking back and forth with each pass. With the loss of a ratty ash tree, the dogs were pressed into gate monitoring service while brush was hauled out into the pasture. Nary an ovine was in sight for much of the afternoon and the dogs soon lost interest. That is until a few ewes snuck up while their attention span had lapsed. Within seconds of my hollering, Fudgie was at the gate growling and nipping at their heels, running them back into the barn where they were no longer a threat. No more Mr. Nice Guy, er Girl! 

I hadn’t taken either dog on a ride for quite some time but was reminded that it doesn’t mean they don’t like to. Had the door open while cleaning the Silver Hawk out before last Saturday’s car show and heard a “ca-thump” only to see Ruby had jumped in the back seat. I scolded her and she submissively tucked her still wagging tail, making a quick exit after giving me “the look.” Once the car show was over, I needed to make a run for feed to the little store in Hope that has everything the store where you go to the bathroom in the big orange silo doesn’t. It was warm, so neither Fudgie nor Ruby were arguing about getting into the pickup’s AC for a while. Was a short trip and upon our return we all had treats. They had Milk Bones. Mine were of the Schwan’s variety. Everybody wins. 

See you next week…real good then.

Farm & City Days Parade Grand Marshals

• 2014 — WWII veterans Richard Crumb, Eugene Warke, Bud Shurson, Donnie Bartness, Tony Arnfelt, Dr. Albert Flor, Gordon Peterson, Harold Thompson, Winston Evenson, Kenneth Eaton, Donald Smith, Audrinne Smith, Marie Querna

• 2013 — 2012-13 NRHEG Girls’ Basketball Team: Hannah Lundberg, Maddie Wagner, Marnie Wagner, Carlie Wagner, Abby Crabtree, Paige Overgaard, Anna Stork, Jade Schultz, Katie Cole, Kelli Harrington, Raelin Schue, Ryann Hagen

• 2012 — Gail Schmidt

• 2011 — Pastor Paul Andree

• 2010 — Pam and Larry Goehring

• 2009 — Myron Schumacher

• 2008 — Gene and Sylvia Dodge

• 2007 — Mary Ann Schlaak

TRACTOR CARAVAN — Participants in the 2015 KOWZ/KRUE/KKOR 92.1 Country Minnesota Tractor Ride take a break during one of several stops along the route. (Photo by Darrell Hansen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

The 2015 KOWZ/KRUE/KKOR 92.1 Country Minnesota Tractor Ride was held Saturday, June 13 in our area. Brad Kubat, KOWZ radio, was in charge of organizing the event and reports he received a great deal of assistance from "Dude" Spatenka and Gene Linse.

A $20 entry fee was assessed, which included participation in the event, an event T-Shirt, and a meal was served at the Corn Palace ag center in New Richland.

Thanks to all the great sponsors: Keck’s Repair in rural Owatonna, Broskoff Structures in Geneva and SunOpta in Hope.

Upwards of 100 tractors and their drivers gathered at Ag Power in Owatonna at 8 Saturday morning for the annual tractor run. Following the National Anthem, 123 tractors of all makes, sizes, styles and years, including a few old Massey Harris, along with Allis Chalmers, International Harvester, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, McCormick, and New Holland, headed out of Owatonna.