Wistful Wednesday : Summer of 1957

The summer of 1957.  I was almost 6 years old just about ready to start first grade and my baby brother was 3.

Apparently I found some dandy’s  in the truck yard.  We are sitting on the steps that went into the back of a truck where Dad kept lots of tools and stuff.  Our Dad was in charge of all the gravel trucks..he kept them running.  One of my jobs at night was to take the keys out of the ignition and put them under the floor mat..it was a very important job.  I took it very seriously.

We were in Ray North Dakota for the summer..while Dad worked.  We lived in a trailer..in the fall we would go back home to the farm. I started first grade in North Dakota.

I remember this time of my life as being very painful.  I must have been growing leaps and bounds.  The pain in my legs was just awful..growing pains the Doctors said..I didn’t know that growing could hurt so much.  The pain was especially bad at night.  The only thing that seemed to make a difference was jumping..if I didn’t play jumping type games or pretend to be a horse half the time then my legs didn’t hurt so bad.

My brother and I would play marbles..and jacks..he wasn’t old enough for cards yet.  I still collect marbles…I love the feel of the smooth glass in my hand..and I can get lost in all the different colors:)

24 Days and Counting

I am really looking forward to being done at the museum.  I am tired of people and their problems.  I am tired of being the bearer of the news that we have no handicap accessibility and no bathrooms on the main floor. Those quilting ladies about drove me nuts..what a bunch of whinny women.  I am not sure who the artist is this month but I am hoping it is a young artist with a young following.  Send me people with baggy pants and their underwear showing and ones with piercings and black hair and platform shoes…anything but blue haired ladies with canes and walkers.

I have some comp days coming so I will be leaving earlier than the 24 days..I am looking forward to being done..I guess I said that before.

I have a few ongoing projects to finish up.  I have workmen coming in to do some larger projects in September.  The windows should be all cleaned by then so that some kind of special tinting can be put on the windows in some of the rooms to stop the ultra violet rays.  Sentence to Serve is supposed to be coming in to redo a ceiling in the meeting room.  Now there is a group for ya. ( I always wonder..what did they do?) The judge sentences them to community service.  For the museum that translates to free labor.  I suppose most of them wrote bad checks or something.. it is highly unlikely that an ax murderer would get sentenced to serve…right?

View from the second floor landing.

Gus the resident ghost has been busy..I like it when he haunts some of the board members..way to go Gus!  He turned on lights in the museum one night when a board member was there to check on an alarm.  He kinda likes the alarm action..I suppose he is lonely at night.  I have never worked in a haunted building before..sometimes it is a little spooky. I won’t miss Gus:)

Tattoos and Toe Rings

I have no tattoos or toe rings.   I have a friend that has both.

I never noticed them before..well you know we live in Minnesota and most of the time we are all covered up so we won’t freeze to death.

I told her that the blueish purple of the Pansy accentuated the purple parts of her old lady legs. 

I am not sure I could wear rings on my toes..I am sure they would cause me to walk funny.

I cannot wear the flip flops that have that “thingy” in between my toes either.  I remember wearing them as a kid..you know the real spongy looking ones that came in all colors?  They didn’t bother me then..now whenever I put a pair on in the store..I start to feel light headed and oozy..then I take them off and the bad feelings go away. The web between my market toe and my home toe must be really sensitive.

I don’t think I would like getting a tattoo either…I don’t like needles and I don’t like pain..my luck I would get some huge infection. 

It used to be that only “ a certain type of woman” would get a tattoo..now any old lady can get one, just not me.

For the record this tattoo belongs to blog reader Ann..good thing she has a sense of humor, she walks just fine with rings on her toes and in those flip flops and hopefully she is still speaking to me:)

The Flags of August

Every year we try to go up to Howard and Trudy’s for the flag ceremony.

Howard built a Vietnam War Memorial on the side of the hill near their home.  Every year in August the flags are changed.  Yesterday was the day.

 

Dave on the left and my Dad on the right.

My Dad helped to put the Army Flag up last year, so he was on hand to take it down this year.  Far Guys Uncle Archie took down the Air Force Flag.

The Marine Color Guard was there.

 

  Cousin Elmer put up the American Flag.

 

The old flags were disposed of properly.

The new flags hung limp in the summer air.  Old men and young men and women all took part in the ceremony.  It was a good day to remember all the Veterans that have fought for our freedom. It was a good day high on a hill on the edge of the prairie:)

2008 One Man’s Dream

2009 Bunker Hill

2010 Vietnam Memorial on the Prairie

Corn

Well it is that time of year again.  Corn on the cob cooked to perfection and dripping in butter, seasoned with a little salt and pepper.  Life is good when the Minnesota crop ripens.

These are the girls that help their Dad (one of my many cousins) grow and sell the sweet corn.  They were out riding one night and I stopped and hollered how is the Sweet Corn crop?  They said “Fantastic!”

They are delivering ten dozen this morning.  I have the day off to cook corn!  The grands love it, Far Guys helps, he even bought me an new stockpot so we can cook larger batches.

I just had to go through the entire recipe box to find the magic recipe that we all like.  Here it is just incase I lose it again.

Freezer Corn

4 Cups of Water

1/2 cup of sugar

1 stick of butter

Cook mixture until the sugar is dissolved and the butter has melted.

Add in 16 cups of cooked corn that has been cut off of the cob.

Cool..and package into freezer bags so you can enjoy the flavor of fresh sweet corn all next winter.

Last year we did 10 batches with 187 cobs.  This year we will have about 140 cobs cause the girls always do a corn dozen..that is 14 instead of 12.  So probably 8 batches and it will make about 60 bags, the bags each have about two cups.

Now to make some room in the freezer:)

Silverware Art

I do appreciate some art..and if it is art that makes me smile..well that is a good thing.

Someone took a spoon..and welded it to a rod.

Then they made a second part using silverware handles. They look like Dragonflies. The two Dragonflies are connected by a rod.

This part balances perfectly on the spoon..even in the wind..the Dragonfly is stuck forever in a balancing zone.

It doesn’t take much to entertain me anymore.

This is the work of an Artist in the Fergus Falls Minnesota area, he or she must be a very clever person.  Yes, I splurged on a piece of art..after all it was made in the USA and it looks great in the Daylily bed:)

Amber Waves of Grain

We went for a drive to look at the fields. It is what we do for fun here in Minnesota.   Check out the crops, see who is out and about.

The grain harvest is almost over.

The dust in the air and my itchy eyes are almost at an end.


The humidity hung in the Smoky Hills last night..it must be why they are called Smoky.  I love the layers in this photo, the wildflowers in the ditch, the buffer along the grain field, the grain field, the irrigator, the hills and the sky.  This has been a familiar view for me now for fifty some years:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1971

 

I ran across this old photograph..it was a long time ago.

Even after I was married, my Mom insisted on sibling photos..I think that this one was for the church. You know the kind, disguised as a Church Directory..a photographer sells photos to everyone in the church.

It was 1971 just before Christmas.   I was wearing one of those heavy wool dress jackets, it was two shades of beige and had big gold buttons, it’s only saving feature is that it was fully lined. ( I was pregnant and it was roomy.)   My baby brother must have got a new suit to graduate in the next spring. My other baby brother had a new red suit jacket and a bowl haircut. It looks like my baby sister has a sailor dress on.

We were all younger 40 years ago. I was 20, my baby brother was 17, my other baby brother was 11 and my baby sister was 5.  Next month when I turn the big 60, my parents will have children that are in their 60’s, 50’s and 40’s:)

Chance: I was Vacuumed

Far Side went on a vacuuming binge.  She vacuumed the window ledges and the screens, she tore all the furniture apart and vacuumed under the cushions.  How does my hair get way under those cushions anyway..I will never know.  She vacuumed her car, Far Guy helped..I sat in the front seat directing..until she finally said “OUT.”  What no ride?  Bummer.

Then yesterday morning I was minding my own business and she said “Far Guy..vacuum that hairball before I shave him.” 

Far Guy was busy all last week, doing “guy” stuff so he got a little behind on brushing me.  Way behind according to Far Side.

So he sucked all the loose hair off me..and we are all caught up again.  Far Side was happy, and when she is happy we are all happy..:)

A day for me

Well..I am sure you all want to know what I did on my day off.  I did all the things that keep me sane. 

I did laundry. I cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom.  I washed some windows..oh they are sparkly clean.. pure bliss.  Far Guy helped me vacuum my car, and I washed the windows in the car too!  Tomorrow I tackle my garage, it just needs a little straightening and some vacuuming.  I finally backed up my July Photos to disk.  I played ball with Chance.  I had a nap and I cooked supper for the third night in a row!  We went for a drive to look at the fields.. and I watched Big Brother..(Go Jeff).

I feel better now, not so out of focus:)

Jimmy

Jimmy is eight, he is from Lincoln Nebraska.  He visited the museum with his Father and his Grandfather.  Apparently someone asked Jimmy what he wanted to do and he said “Visit a Museum.”

His Father held him up to get a great view of the Telegraph switch...Morse code you know.  Jimmy told me that the Morse Code SOS was brand new when the Titanic went down in 1912.  The radio Operator sent out two distress signals that night. CQD (Come Quick Distress) the old distress code and the new distress code SOS ( Save Our Souls). 

I asked Jimmy if he had a computer  “Yes” he replied “But I would rather read.”   I asked him what he liked to read?  I should have known the answer.  “Encyclopedias.”  His Father quickly added that Jimmy had saved up for his very own set.

I expect that not all kids are like Jimmy, in fact I think he might be one of a kind.  I saw hope that day, hope for our future..hope for history, hope for museums.   I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.  He replied “I want to have a job just like you, working in a museum.”   He thought I had the very best job in the entire world, after all I could look at things all day long that he could only read about in books:)

Going to the Dogs

I heard of a new program that  the local Veterans Service Officer is becoming involved with.   Dogs for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  The dog is obedience trained, and afterwards goes through a short amount of specialized training.  The dog blocks people from approaching a Veteran from the back.  The dog will lay right on top of the Veterans feet if the Veteran is getting nervous and stressed out.

Those of us with pets, either dogs or cats know how great they are as stress relievers.

Far Guy asked me to take photographs of all these military patches last weekend on one of the Eagle Staffs at the Pow Wow.

Do you see the PTSD patch?  It says P.T.S.D.  ALL WOUNDS ARE NOT VISIBLE.

I see no end to our Military involvement in other countries.  It seems to me that we police the world. It is not fair that our best and brightest young men and women go to war.   Send in some of those fancy talking politicians from Washington DC for awhile:)

I suppose I am Tired

I am tired..and way beyond cranky.  I am having a hard time keeping my head above water.

I need a bunch of days off in a row..to catch up, to wash the windows, to vacuum out my car, to clean my garage, to write letters to friends without computers, to just stay in my jammies one entire day the rest of my life.

Everyday this week I have needed a nap after supper.  I am exhausted.  Perhaps it is the weather. Perhaps it is working in a very warm environment. Perhaps I have had my fill of people and I just need to hibernate for a couple of days weeks.

Far Guy had to wash and fold his own socks this week.  I am a failure.  I am not a good juggler..I have six more weeks of work. I suppose Chance will just put more nose prints on the windows. I suppose my car will stay sandy and hairy. I suppose my garage can wait six more weeks to be cleaned.  I suppose my friends will understand if I send them a card with a smiley face and a Hi.  I suppose I could just buy more socks for Far Guy:)

August 18, 2011

The grain harvest is starting.  I could tell by my itchy eyes.  I could hear the combines.

I went to have a look see.  Yup, whatever small grain was in that field across from our drive was being harvested by the corporate farmer.

They were creating quite a dust storm .

No wonder my eyes were itching, no wonder I felt itchy all over and a tad cranky.  The grain dust..the dust on the road..and it all heads toward the house, even though we are hidden back here in the woods..that dust finds it’s way inside the house to languish on top of every surface. 

This is the crop along the front driveway.

My Purple Coneflowers and the White Coneflower the one called White Swan ( I think).  I planted this area about 12 years ago.   They did really well this year.   I even have a late blooming Monarda..that is a real pretty rose color.  Too much Poison Ivy to get much closer.  I hate Poison Ivy too..although I am all healed up..hopefully for the last time this year.

Someone asked the other day about Far Guys finger and how it was healing after he almost cut it off and then had corrective surgery to repair his botched self amputation.

So this is the finger report:   He has been through two rounds of physical therapy, he has movement, but he cannot touch that finger to his palm.  He can force it to touch, but it just won’t cooperate all by itself.  His surgeon says it is scar tissue causing the problem and he can surgically repair it..Far Guy said “No way.”  I think he should keep doing the deep massage and give it some time. I think that finger may also have some arthritis.. cause Far Guy isn’t getting any younger:)

Wistful Wednesday: Cousins

The old photo today is three sisters that are my cousins.

Bernice, Beatrice ( Petie) and Diana.  This must have been taken about 1948 or maybe 1949.   My Aunt Senia must have sewn the dresses and fixed their hair. In 1949 Bernice would have been 8, Petie  5 and Diana 4. 

Last Sunday we had our annual family picnic.  There were two weddings in the family last weekend so many family members were out of the area.   Those of us that showed up had a great potluck meal and enjoyed all the good company of many cousins gathered.

Four of the Aunts were there, Aunt Lila, Aunt Violet, Aunt Grace and Aunt Anna.  Aunt Senia did not come from the nursing home.

We drew names for a few gifts.  Our quilt theme this year was patriotic.   I did the square that is embroidered with the angel that says God Bless America.

Click on photo to bigify!

We did not consult with each other about what we were doing in our square..as always it turned out real pretty.  Cousin Diana won this year.  She is the littlest girl in that old photo.  She was pleased.  That would be cousin Marsha and cousin Kim’s feet:)

The Powwow

Far Guy and I attended the local powwow.  I can remember attending a powwow as a child. It was on the shores of Shell Lake. I saw my first teepee there..that was more than fifty years ago.  I still recall the warm evening air and the excitement.

The sound of the drums and the chanting.  Of course I didn’t know what they are saying..

It doesn’t sound anything like Hihowareya? Hihowareya? That would be the Native greeting that Far Guy and I use.

Show me the money??

We got there just as the dancing began for the Little Brave and Little Princess competition.  When the competition is down to the last four dancers..people run out with money to honor the dancers.  The dancers are supposed to acknowledge it by dancing on the money.  Elders walk around and pick up all the money on the ground. 

It was quite a dance off between these four grass dancers.

There were lots of young girls dancing.  Far Guys favorite dancer won.

She was a jingle dress dancer…and a pretty cute one at that:)

Comfortable

In Minnesota comfort sometimes comes with cooler weather.

There was a quilt display on the courthouse lawn last Saturday.

I really liked the yellow one on the right.  It belongs to a little girl from California and she sleeps with it when she visits her Grandma in Minnesota. No doubt she is comforted.

Comfort for me, is having my own pillow and being able to have my body on the same level as my head..then I can sleep…I like noise too, the constant noise of a TV will lull me to sleep.

Other people I know struggle with getting comfortable.  Last night, Jen came downstairs..and told everyone ( the grand boys and me) that we had to be quiet..she could not get to sleep whilst the boys and I were talking.  She has really good hearing..and she sounded really fierce..so we just whispered.  Last weekend she came all the way downstairs to turn the volume of our TV way down..we practically had to lip read what the people on the TV said..it was a good thing that we had seen the movie Stand By Me before.  I think ear plugs might be a wonderful gift for her, perhaps we could find one of those fancy nighttime blindfolds and attach some ear plugs.

I can sleep through almost anything..except silence..if the TV goes off in the night or someone shuts it off..I am immediately awake.

Comfort is elusive sometimes, if only it were as simple as reaching for a quilt made by your grandmother:)