Bill

Our friend Bill died last week.  I went to the funeral two plus hours south of us...a fellow friend and woodcarver Jim and his wife Theresa went with me.  Far Guy stayed home unattended and did just fine.  There are too many germs and fragrances for him to be in a crowd.

Bill had many friends from all walks of life.  I first met Bill when I was working at the museum. I wrote a blog about him here. 

Bill died with his boots on working in the yard doing something with his lawn mower.   Bill was 80 years old.   He was born in Canada and raised in a home without running water or electricity.   His Dad worked for the Railroad.  They moved to Northern Northern Minnesota vs Southern Northern Minnesota.  After graduating from High School he went into the Air Force, with the GI Bill he went to school in Bemidji MN and then the University of Minnesota and got a degree in Biology, decided teaching and the classroom was not for him...so he went to Medical School.

He was a Doctor in the ER in Washington State for 9 years then he had a heart attack at the age of 39...city living had taken its toll. Seeking solitude and cold ( he liked cold weather) he headed to the Arctic Circle in Alaska.  He worked there for a number of years...he visited his village by dogsled, the other three doctors there used planes to get to outlying villages....but not Bill.   A nurse caught his eye and much later they would marry.

He came back to Minnesota to care for his aging Mother and in 1987 he married that Nurse he took a liking to in the Far North.

Bill and Janice have a primitive cabin...with a super dooper pooper outhouse in the Park Rapids area.  Bill moved that outhouse a few years back and dug a new hole for it...it was quite a story as he dug so deep he had a hard time getting back out!  Bill joined our woodcarving group.  Bill made 12 Nyckelharpas in his lifetime and would carve the keys at woodcarving and tell us stories.   He was a character...a good one...someone who was a pleasure to call a friend.  We would compare what kind of wildlife we had going through our yards and which birds we were feeding.  One of his favorite sayings was "Get over it!"

Until yesterday I had only heard one Nyckelharpa played at a time...there were at least ten being played in tribute to Bill.  There are only 20 Nyckelharpa players in Minnesota and half of them were there at the funeral.

Bill was frugal, his Nyckelharpa case was handmade.  I commented on the case once...he said it was custom made and fit his Nyckelharpa perfectly.   One time he left his Nykelhapa in my care, I got detailed instructions on how to remove it from the case...and then he said "Pick it up and hold it, I will teach you to play a note or two."  I did and my attempt at playing sounded like a dying cow...but he still left it in my care for a woodcarving exhibit...I was so relieved when Monday rolled around and I could return it safely to him.  He said "How did it go...did you play?" I replied "NOPE it stayed inside the case the entire time!"  He would often give impromptu concerts at woodcarving!

Bill's friend who makes Maple Sugar gave the eulogy and The Doctor's Doctor gave a blessing for The Healer.  They along with the button accordion player and storyteller all gave Bill a good send off accompanied with lots of music.

We stayed for  a funeral lunch; pretzel buns, ham, turkey, cheese, vegetables, fruit and cookies.

I was back home just after dark..

I am certain Bill was there in spirit...his hat and the box he put his foot upon were there.

A photo of Bill I took in 2013. 

Rest In Peace my friend.

Far Side

Lunch or Dinner

Whatever you call it we were invited to the 1 o’clock meal at Susan and Mikes. Fish and salad for lunch …yum.

The road up there was a little icy….but the sun was out and it felt so good to be blinded see the sun.

They live further in the boonies than we do and the road gets narrower as you go.  We met one snowmobiler and no vehicles.

We were a little late…took a wrong turn. Eventually we took the correct right turn. We were never lost  LOST we knew where we were and how to get home.

Susan and Mike lived across the street from us when we lived in Regal Estates in Moorhead Minnesota in the mid 1970’s.  We have kids the same age…she cried when she put Chadd on the bus for Kindergarten…I just waved happily goodbye to Trica.  So we have been friends a good long time.

We always exchange Birthday and Christmas Gifts.

Guess what?  Shiny Brites with Red Gingham Check design from the Poloron Corporation.  They purchased the Shiny Brite Division from Eckmar about 1974 and went out of business in the early 1980's.  A Poloron Trademark is on the box a red circle with a large P and the word Poloron.

Wonderful gift, wonderful lunch and wonderful friends.

For the record we are lunch and supper people.  We have lunch in the afternoon and supper at 6 PM.

Unexpected Gifts

A few days ago I received a packet of old photos from a gal in Fort Myers, Florida.  They are interesting old photos that I have scanned and I will mail back to her shortly.

Included in the package was a unexpected gift. Artvelopes.  She designed them to help keep letter writing alive!  The process to make them includes drawing, copying, glue making, folding, glue application and packaging.  I haven’t  seen anything like them before.

I am a letter writer..imagine that!  I have several friends that have refused to join the computer generation. I should write them more often. I try for one letter a month, but sometimes time just slips by. Sometimes they call and ask “Are you guys OK?”

Can you imagine opening your mailbox and finding an Artvelope inside?  Pam takes decorating envelopes to a whole new level!  She showcases some of her artwork on her blog. Spirituality 101: Introspection and Reflection ..check it out ..tell her Far Side sent ya over.

What was your last unexpected gift?  During the Christmas Season perhaps we get all wrapped up in what we will buy.  The last four unexpected gifts that I received were all homemade or gathered gifts..what were they?  A jar of plum jelly, these Artvelopes, a box of Cyprus knees and a bag of catfish! :)

A Gift From A Friend

The phone rang before eight yesterday morning..mail sorting time.  It rang twice before Far Guy lept out of bed to answer it.   I paid no attention..if Far Guy wants to traipse into the Post Office..fine.  I would have just said "Deliver it"  Our postman is such a dork..any package we get..he calls and whines that it won't fit in our mailbox..or he calls and tells us that it is hung precariously from our mail box, and we better run out and rescue it.   Now if his substitute Melanie is working his route, she just delivers it to the door..with a smile, and without a phone call.  Anyway I keep track.. and I am losing but only because of Far Guy..he caves every time.  So Mail Man 1 and Far Side 0 at the beginning of year three.

I covered my head and went back to sleep..it was too cold to get up anyway.  Far Guy and Chance drove into town and got the mail.  It was a very large box that they came back with!  I spied it in the center of the table when I was roused by someones very cold nose that signalled he was back from a very important trip.  Far Guy immediately stood next to the table with his pocket knife at the ready.  I was so excited..I didn't take any photos ..until later!   The treasures inside were heavily wrapped, there was a box within a box and lots of fluff.

There was a lovely little note..and three shiny brites ..one of which was in my sought after orange color..I am in Shiny Brite heaven with this color!

There were seven ornaments from Poland.  Three are indents.  The colors on these little treasures is just too much.  To think that they made the trip long ago all the way from Poland to the United States..to a tree in the 1950's in Illinois..to be enjoyed by a little girl who would grow up and appreciate the memory and want to share that memory with me.. so that next year I can tell a story of kindness and friendship to my Grands as we put these on my BIG tree.   Rae felt that I would appreciate her ornaments..and she was looking for a home for them.. yesterday they were safely delivered to Minnesota.  Thank you Rae!!  I have already written the little note that accompanies the ornament into my collection..so your story will continue.  Rae writes her heart out at Weather Vane..I am sure glad that I met her and I am sure that you will enjoy her also..she is one of a kind:)

Buffalo Gal and Bluebirds

Connections made through blogging with the right attitude can make a difference in your life. When I first began to blog, I told Far Guy, I just needed to write for the grand kids, so that they would know more about me someday if they cared to read my drivel. ( Someday when they are much older and more interested.) I also said that I would keep it real, and the truth as I know it or as I recall it. It had to be that way, for me. I was a blog reader before I became a blogger. Buffalo Gal the woman that inspired me to blog in the first place has become a friend. She might be a tad older than I am, but she is a very talented writer, I enjoy her style, and her stories! She has made me laugh and yes, she has made me cry too. She and her best friend whom she also just happens to be married to, visited with us on Friday afternoon. She knew I was going to be the real me, no makeup, no fancy outfit or shoes, I didn't thoroughly clean the house..but I did straighten up a bit. I did not weed my very wild naturally weedy perennial gardens. I like being me, and she is comfortable with that..thank goodness.

Buffalo Gal had never watched Bluebirds in the wild. Our set of Bluebirds seemed like such a small thing to share, so we invited them over, the Bluebirds busily kept feeding their babies while we feasted on homemade Buffalo Gal Rhubarb Custard Pie! I do appreciate a freshly baked pie, especially the first rhubarb of the season. She did share her pie crust secret with me..so in case I ever decide to bake a pie I will be prepared.

We had a lovely visit. I so enjoy their company, this would never have been possible..except for the fact that we are both "real" bloggers..my what you read is what you get attitude gained me a new friend. Let me tell you now- a- days everyone needs as many friends as they can get. This was the second time we have met, we are looking forward to a get together at their place on the Buffalo Bluff later in the summer. She reports that Chance is just as special in person as he is on my blog. I knew he would like her, he thought she was a wonderful ball thrower!

The blogging community, should you ever decide to join it, is a very interesting way to make new friends. That may seem foreign to some of the readers..but I know the bloggers understand! If you are lucky enough to actually meet a fellow blogger face to face, and still like each other your life will be just a little richer, and if they bake a great pie, that is an added bonus:)