Birds Just Like the Old Movie

Remember that movie “The Birds”  a horror flick from 1963?

Chance and I ran to the post office in Ponsford and took the gravel road on the way back.  We slowed down to take some photos of the Barn Swallow Gathering.

They were everywhere along the road. Swooping and darting over the fields, often stopping to rest in the middle of the road.  I am not sure why they were gathered..maybe they was a yummy insect hatch and they were all waiting for the feast to begin.

I don’t like scary movies and as I recall that movie “The Birds” was awfully scary:(

What we leave behind

I like to take photographs..well most of you know that already.  Sometimes I see things in photographs that I don’t like.

Do you see it?  The four wheeler tracks. In years to come will these tracks be like the wagon wheel ruts that the pioneers left behind…some of which are still visible?

The Tall Grass Prairie plants..how long will they survive?

These are in our wildflower area.  The land we live on must have been part of the prairie at one time..long ago ..maybe buffalo bellies were tickled by native flowers and grasses.

A remarkable fifteen year old girl left behind a sketch of her life in 1862.  She lived along the Minnesota River during “The Sioux Massacre”/Dakota Uprising/ U.S. – Dakota Conflict.  I am honored to share Catherine’s story on the Hubbard County Historical Museums Blog.  I am transcribing it just as it was written.  I am trying to boost the readership..so it will be a.. too be continued kind of a blog over the next ten days.  I may not have time to write every day. My hope is to create some conversation throughout the community and promote our Civil War Sunday and our upcoming program “The Dakota Conflict.”  Here is the link to 150 years ago: Part One.

So what are you leaving behind..tracks in the ditch?  Wildflowers? Or stories that will be read in the future? :)

Far Side Whatnot

I finally finished that darn book.  The Third installment of the Hunger Games..The Mockingjay.  I liked the first two but the last one just dragged and dragged. I had to force myself to read it.  For me that is not fun reading.

Right now I am reading at lunch all about the U.S. – Dakota Conflict of 1862.  What a scary time to live in Minnesota.  One of my volunteers at the Museum shared that his Grandmother lived in the Morton Minnesota area and she left an oral history.  I am interested in reading it.

I have been approached by a Television Producer to arrange some interviews at the museum for a Public Television Show called Postcards.  I am not familiar with it.  However it sounds like good PR for the museum.

Work is going fine..busy, hot and a little dusty.  We had a work day yesterday.  We did not accomplish everything on my list..but we made some headway.  Those rooms in the basement must be back together really soon..before July 29.  How many days away is that..10 days..panic??  Not yet .. maybe in a few days.

Far Guy has had real good luck with the injection to take away the Trigeminal Neuralgia pain he has had for the last four years!  No pain…yet…fourteen days and counting! HOWEVER he is still suffering with the two dry sockets from when he had two troublesome teeth pulled sixteen days ago. He wonders if he will ever be “normal” or “pain free” ever again. I keep telling him to be patient. He is tired of being patient.

Chance is doing something strange since Miney and Little Elvis were here.  Whilst they visited..he may have missed a meal.  Far Guy would make three dishes of food and put them down..his finicky ways may have resulted in Miney eating his supper one night.  Ever since they were here he eats his food all gone like no ones business. There is no taking a bit and wandering off to play ball..and no sitting with him until he finishes encouraging him “Good Boy..Good Boy.”  I wonder if we should be worried as he has been finicky for most of his eight years..and all of a sudden he isn’t? 

Shell Lake and a Great Blue Heron July 2012

I am tired.  Working in the heat and sweating all day long must be exhausting because I have a nap after work most days.  Maybe I am getting am old:)

Wistful Wednesday: Sweet Sixteen Savannah!

Someone is sweet sixteen today..she is the one that made us Grandparents for the very first time.  She was such a tiny little thing with frog legs she captured our hearts immediately.  I say frogs legs because Trica had a caesarian section and when the nurse brought Savannah out..her legs were not straight..she kept pulling her knees up..kinda like a frog.

This is one of my favorite photos of her and Chance.

She was throwing Chance water during a trip to Voyageurs National Park in 2006.

She still likes to throw water for Chance!  2011 on Cass Lake.

I heard she is taking her drivers test.  I also heard she wants her own car.  My goodness children grow up fast nowadays:)

Wildflowers

Just down the road a piece one of our old customers has a newly planted wildflower area.

It is very pretty.

We passed it once..I said “Oh my! Look at Sandra’s wildflowers.”  Well of course Far Guy missed it..so we turned around and went back!  Looks like Bachelors Buttons, Daisies,  Poppies and perhaps some Statice.

Far Guy said “I have a really good wildflower garden too..have you looked behind the sauna lately?”  Well I had not.  So I checked it out and took some photos.

His Gaillardia (Yellow and Orange) or Blanket flower is doing great as is his Rudbeckia Indian Summer (yellow with brown center).

 

He even has a few plain yellow Gaillardia.  A long time ago I also had a burgundy colored one.  Seedling variation can be real interesting.

It is that time of year where many of the native wildflowers that are blooming are yellow..with a few purples mixed in.

It has been so hot it is a wonder that anything looks decent.  We need rain again.  The hot weather exhausts me, after I have worked in it all day long..I come home to the AC and crash.  I don’t care if I eat..and my hair..well it never gets dry..or if it does in a little while it is wringing wet again..I have to watch out so it doesn’t start to mold:)

Berries and Buggies

We went to pick berries at my cousins.  He and his wife live on the farmstead where my Maternal Grandfather was born and raised.  I always call it Great Grandmas place..because she was the one that farmed there.. for many years she also took care of my Great Grandfather who had rheumatoid arthritis.  He died before I was born so I always associate Great Grandma with that farmstead.

Picking berries in one of my Great Grandmother’s fields I always listen for sounds.  Sounds that she may have heard..the Red Winged Blackbirds..children laughing..then there was this clop clop swish swish sound and then an aroma.  I was intent on picking my containers full as fast as possible in the midday sun.  Sweat was rolling off my nose in huge plops.  I held the container almost at arms length so I could pick with one hand and steady the container with the other and not ruin any of the berries with sweat.  I want to eat them next winter!

The clop clop swish swish with aroma..that aroma is what my cousins children call “buggy poop.”  It was the Amish and their every other Sunday…they were either going or coming from church.

I wished that I had brought my camera into the raspberry patch…I didn’t ..but I did get some photos on the way home.

The swish swish sound was the buggy tires on the loose gravel that was on one side of the road.

The berries were plentiful.  I am not convinced that we have enough for the whole winter yet.  I may have to go back again on a cooler day.

I don’t make jam and I don’t make sauce.  I freeze them in single layers on cookie sheets and then package them up into servings.  They will be great next winter:)

Fawn and Mom

Last night on our drive we spied a couple of deer.

A fawn with spots was on my photo bucket list this year.  We were thrilled to watch this doe and her fawn at the edge of Steve’s corn field.  The corn is just starting to tassel out. Were they going to eat corn..maybe?  Then again she could have just been showing the fawn around..hide here it is safe in the tall corn!

“No..turn around and ..RUN!”

Chance waited to bark until they were running away.

The other day Far Guy was woodcarving out on the patio.  A spotted fawn ran out of the woods toward him and then ran down our drive.  Chance did not see it and did not give chase..most likely because spotted fawns have less odor than their mothers or perhaps the spots confused him.

Friday on my way in to work just before town a doe was dead on one side of the highway and a spotted fawn on the other side.  Such a sad sight.  There seems to be lots of road kill lately…I don’t know if the bugs drive them out of the woods or they come out to feed..but many are dead along the highway this summer.  Until someone in the State wakes up and allows more licenses in our area the highway slaughter will continue:(

July 14, 2012

Bee Balm blooms right after the 4th of July.  Its flower head reminds me of fireworks.

Monarda something..I am getting old I cannot remember it’s second name. didyma that is it I had to look it up.  Years ago those names just rolled of my tongue ..not so much anymore.

I had many interesting visitors at the museum this week.

Jimmy from Lincoln Nebraska requested his Grandpa and Dad stop by on their way to get some bait.   Far Guy was working for me that day..but I was volunteering and sealing a rock wall in the Resort room. Both Grandpa and Dad were impressed that I remembered Jimmy’s name and where he was from.  He is a one of a kind kid how could I not remember him. I use his story in every talk I give.  Jimmy is doing great in school and so far he has marvelous teachers that challenge him.  He was bummed out that Civil War Sunday was going to happen after he goes back to Nebraska.

Vickie from Ellendale North Dakota came by the museum  because of what I have written about it on my blog. It is always fun to meet a blog reader!

My sister and her son have never visited the museum before.  They said they had a great tour!

It was a busy week.

Far Guy is still struggling with his dry socket after he had two teeth pulled eleven days ago.  He is into making his own concoctions now. Oil of Cloves and an Olive Oil mixture take some of the hurt away. He saw his Dentist and some kind of medication was put into the gaping holes in his mouth but the pain returned about six hours later. Another phone call to the Dentist yielded no results other than it should be on the down hill side by now…or very soon.  Far Guy was angry..and says he is looking for a new Dentist.

The other night when I was at Bingo he cooked up a concoction in the double boiler.  It was a mixture of Jewelweed stems, olive oil and he said a drop or two of clove oil just to make it smell good.  He cooked it all up and then strained it into a jar..it is his latest poison ivy remedy..and no I do not have poison ivy at the moment..so he is quick to offer it for any other problem I might have..like charley horses or dry skin.  He is waiting patiently for me to get poison ivy so he can get some real feedback:(

First Bingo

For you tried and true Bingo players out there..do you remember your first Bingo?   I think mine was on a fairground at a huge tent.  You picked a stool and a runner came over and sold you a card for 10 cents.  You covered your spots with hard kernels of corn that were up in the top section of the counter you sat at.  I loved looking at all the prizes you could win all stacked in the middle.  If you won you got a ticket.. and all the prizes were different amounts of tickets.

Then I played with the cards that had the little red windows that you slipped sideways to cover a called number.  It was less messy than the corn.  Then came the paper cards and the daubers.

I think I have had the same two daubers for over ten years now..how about 14 years.  I think we were building the house and still living in the camper when I bought one green dauber and one red one.  I don’t go to Bingo every week that’s for sure.

When we lived in Buxton North Dakota I had a part time job..you guessed it.  Bingo caller and Black Jack Dealer in the little bar on main street. I had previous Black Jack Dealer experience but being a Bingo caller was something I had never done before.  I really enjoyed it!

Last night my sister and my nephew were here so we all went to Bingo with my parents.  My Dad goes to Bingo just about every week.  He has a friend who is blind and plays with braille cards..Dad faithfully picks Darrell up and drives him to Bingo.  My Mother often times stays home and sews while Dad is gone.

I won once, Mom won twice and nephew Jake hollered “BINGO” for his very first time.

My sister Julie and her son Jacob or Jake.

Jake came to visit because he is leaving shortly for Ohi Japan where he will be teaching English. He speaks and writes Japanese. He spend part of last year studying in Japan. He is very excited about this upcoming year.  He told me that Saki tastes a little like vodka mixed with wine and he likes sushi…both things I have never tried.  His apartment is all set up and waiting for his arrival..it should be a wonderful adventure for him:)

Thursday Thoughts

I am twisted..yes sick.  The highlight of my day comes on the way home when I slow down to 25 MPH in a 30MPH zone because there is a hill and no passing..and all the tourists and out of state drivers must slow down behind me.  Everyday I wonder how many vehicles can I piss off..yesterday was a good day..three vehicles passed me just out of town but only one gave me the finger salute.  Ha..I think of it as a Minnesota friendly service..cause some days the Highway Cop is sitting there ready to nab people and I have foiled his plans.  I wish I knew what days he was going to be there..I would pull over so the speeding buggers would get a ticket.

I have had a busy week at the museum.  We have a big “ta –do” near the end of the month.  It is called Civil War Sunday.  I have Civil War re enactors coming in for the afternoon.  They will provide  insight into the life of a Union Soldier what he wore and carried and his everyday life.  It is a free event.  We will sell biscuits, lemonade and root beer floats…and have some Civil War era toys for sale and some coloring books and other books from our gift shop. It is not a big money making deal..but rather outreach into the community.  Maybe we will get a few new members.  I finished all the ads and created the posters and made the master plan that tells everyone what they will be doing. Sometimes I can be real bossy. Although I did ask several people what they would prefer to do.

That week will be really busy with Root Beer Floats for sale on Main Street during Crazy Days, Civil War Sunday and then on Monday a speaker on “The Dakota Conflict” after our regular meeting.

I think my American History teacher may have skimmed over the US – Dakota War of 1862.  During lunch I am reading  all about it. This year is the 150th Anniversary.  Luckily last fall I scheduled a speaker that is a state representative, author and an expert on the Dakota Conflict/Sioux Uprising/U.S. Dakota War…it is all the same thing.

The painting in the museum basement continues…that concrete floor paint really stinks.  I need the two rooms that are torn apart downstairs to be finished and put back together before the big “ta do” in case of rain. Yes some days I watch the paint dry and will it to cure up fast!  The rooms look all fresh and clean.  I am not a big fan of painted floors..but the paint came as part of a grant..so our only cost was brushes and rollers.

I am still the solitary janitor in the building even though the upstairs is subleased to the Fine Arts.  They are above cleaning bathrooms or the kitchen or even taking out their own garbage.  I have strongly suggested that the lease be rewritten to include some cleaning. Yesterday when I washed the front door..I left their side unwashed, and when I vacuum I no longer vacuum their landing.  Of course those omissions are very noticeable to me..but I am sure it will go right over their artsy fartsy heads:(

Wistful Wednesday: A Name

What is in a name?  What makes you choose one name over another for your child?

Far Guy is named after a childhood friend of his fathers.  They graduated from High School together.

I believe that Far Guy’s Mom wrote his name on this old photo.  If she had not marked it we wouldn’t know who he was.  I have heard that he was a really nice guy, not to mention quite handsome! I wonder what became of him?  His proper name was most likely Eugene.

Eugene is Far Guys proper name too..although only close family gets by with calling him Eugene.  He much prefers Geneo or Gene..although I sometimes call him Eugene to get his attention.

I am not named after anyone.  My Mom sent my Dad a couple of names to Korea..Connie and Sharon.  Well we all know which one I got with Joy for a middle name.

Trica’s name was supposed to be Christy it was all picked out.  Then Far Guys sister said she would never talk to me again if I used her favorite name.( She never used it anyway..Bethany is a far cry from Christy. ) I saw Trica’s name in a True Story Magazine when I was pregnant with her.  Her name is Trica Gene after her Father. No one ever spells it correct.  We joked that if she was a boy we would have named her Huckleberry..but it most likely would have been Travis.

Jennifer Joy’s nickname is Jenny or Jen.  I had a favorite Aunt Jenny and the Joy comes from me.  We never called her J J..although she has a bunch of friends that had a whole bunch of Jennys and Jennifers so most of them called her Dolly.  If she had been a boy her nickname would have been Duke..but her real name would have been Travis.

I don’t know anyone named Travis..it was just a boy’s name that we both liked:)

Little Things

I have been enjoying the little things in life.  Cool water on a hot evening.  A evening ride with the guys.  A Flea Market trip and the guys returning with the mail!

I resisted this purchase until I told Far Guy about it..immediately he saw why I was attracted to this little piece of art.  So he bought it for me!  I am not exactly sure what it is..a watercolor maybe it has a sealed back and I hate to disturb it.  It looks like a Collie to me..or a Sheltland Sheepdog watching over a flock of sheep in the evening light.

It isn’t very big and hardly takes up any space at all.  It came with the cute little stand.

We couldn’t resist this either.

The Gene Autry Collection grows..we aren’t actively looking for his “stuff” anymore. Isn’t that the way it goes..when you stop looking for something you find it all over.

I got a very nice surprise in the mail.  I won a drawing over at Punkin’s Patch.  Thanks Sara!

This is her collection of Christmas Cards.  She knows I love me a Border Collie!

They are wonderful and whimsical!

Here is the rest of the loot! What fun to get a package in the mail! :)

Chance: At the lake

Today Far Side is interviewing me.

Far Side:  Ahem..Chance do you like going to the lake?

Chance: Yes, I even like the pontoon.  That little yellow kayak not so much.

Far Side: What is your favorite water game?

Chance: I like to have you throw water high in the air with your plastic shoe.  I jump and catch the water in my mouth.  Remember the time over at Shell lake when I accidently snagged your finger with my teeth?  You bled all over and cried.  Your finger looked terrible..but that old finger healed up almost as good as new. We have made some great memories at the lake.

Far Side:  How are your swimming lessons going?

Chance: Just fine I can swim IF I want to.

Far Side: Do you want to swim?

Chance: Not really.  I like most of my feet on the ground. I like to herd the water.

Far Side: Have you been in the kayak lately?

Chance : Yes

Far Side:  Were you afraid?

Chance: If my ears are down I am wary of the situation. Define afraid.

Far Side: Where was your life jacket?

Chance: It was at home.  We only went back and forth by the dock.  I was in no real danger of drowning. I am certain that you would have jumped in camera and all just to save me.

Far Side:  Far Guy really likes to kayak, will you be a regular passenger?

Chance: I like to keep an eye on both of you when we are at the lake.  I can sit next to you so you won’t get lonely and then we can both keep one eye on Far Guy in the kayak. 

Far Side:  Okay!  Chance you are such a good boy! :)

Picnic Saturday

We had a busy day.  We headed way north to a family reunion for Far Guys Fathers side of the family.  We got to hear some “Lady” stories..it seems she was the Mother of “Tippy” who has been in a few of Wistful Wednesday posts.

Far Guy made a fruit bowl out of a watermelon and then filled it with fruit.  Chance was on his best behavior and kept a close eye on a dog at a neighboring cabin.

It smelled like “Christmas” up there. 

They missed the big winds last Monday night but had them on Wednesday night. In the Lake Movil area it seemed that the big old pines were uprooted by the winds.  Chain saws were buzzing on this corner and Christmas was in the air.

We saw something fly from this nest.  If I have to guess I would say it was a Golden Eagle.

I had Saturday  as one of my “off” days for the month of July.  It is real nice to get two extra days off every month so I can go to a picnic or one of Far Guy’s Doctors appointments etc…

Somewhere someplace in Missouri a dozen families were granted miracles Saturday morning.  A van filled with Boy Scouts was broadsided and then rolled over on one of the roads up north.  The driver of the van was air lifted out.  All of the scouts escaped serious injury.  Far Guy was one of the first responders.  First Responders never get the recognition that they deserve.  Thanks guys! :)

July something

I have been off a day all week.  One day I forgot to deactivate the alarm and the alarm went off when two ladies entered the building..it makes a terrible noise.  Then the phone call came from the Security Company “Yes I am fine..it was just me being forgetful.” 

One afternoon the phone rang and a lady asked what our hours were.. I told her..and she asked if we were open seven days a week..I said “Sure.”  Well some weeks it seems like seven days a week.. does that count?  Maybe the paint fumes are destroying what few good brain cells I have left.   The paint in the basement is really smelly:(

I guess Far Guy’s week has finally got to me..he had two teeth pulled then he had another injection in his face..Jen came and stayed overnight and took him to that appointment.  I am tired.  That is always my reaction to stress..sleep through it and when you wake up it might be all better.  So far so good with the last injection in his face..BUT he thinks he has a dry socket from where the other two teeth used to be.  I mixed him up a vile concoction of cloves and tea..he said it took away some of the pain.  It was the best I could do as it takes 15 days to make oil of cloves yourself.  Maybe tomorrow he can call his Dentist or we can go to the Health Food store and get some oil of cloves…it is the only thing that has ever taken his pain from a dry socket away before..yes he is prone to dry sockets.  I should have known that he would get a dry socket this time…if it ain’t one thing it is another.

Last night we went to the County Fair…we had our usual Pork Burger along with some cheese curds and homemade French fries..if you are going to indulge why not just go for it!   Far Guy was part of a woodcarving demonstration in one of the buildings.  I kept him company..I should have walked through all the exhibit buildings but I was just too tired it was a long hot week:(

Wistful Wednesday on Friday:Uncle Ron

What in the world happened to Wednesday?  Well it was a holiday and it threw me all off.  Yesterday at work I thought..I totally missed Wistful Wednesday.  Back to the photos in the trunk.
Far Guy’s Dad had three brothers.
This is Uncle Ron.

Looks like he and Tippy  Lady were fishing!  I am not sure why the fish are on an old broom handle.. maybe because it is easier to hold for the photo!  Those are some nice looking Northerns. I will guess that this photo was taken in the early 1950’s.
The photo was taken at Grandma and Grandpas farm.  We think on the west side of the house.  The vine covered windows would have looked into the front living room/dining room.  I say living /dining because the big oak table was in there along with a rocking chair and another chair and Grandma’s China Cabinet.
Uncle Ron loved to fish.  Winter, summer, spring or fall fishing was real high on his list.  He was a teacher and later a Principal.  He was the Principal for the elementary school that Far Guy attended.  Some days the bad behavior news reached home before Far Guy did.
About Tippy Lady.  Far Guy says she was a heck of a dog.  If you hooked her up with some baling twine to a wagon she would pull you around the yard:)

Fireworks!

We were invited into town for fireworks. Many thanks to Gravy and Dawn who were very gracious to include us!  They have a prime viewing spot along the river.

It rained this past week and we had a shower that went through earlier in the evening.  So it was reasonably safe for the fireworks.  The fire trucks were standing by. 

Jen borrowed my tripod, she has never photographed fireworks with a tripod before.

I just took these shots with my camera on the ground..they turned out pretty good.

 

I have one that I thought was way cool.  It looks like an angel!

For a small town Park Rapids puts on a very nice fireworks display.

We had a quiet day.  We ran an errand in town and stopped by the Dairy Queen for a Sundae.  It was very warm (95F or 35C) so we skipped the 4th of July parade.  Far Guy was not feeling too perky after having two of his teeth pulled on Tuesday:(

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th falling in the middle of the week makes for two weekends of celebrating.

Monday night the fireworks began..after the rain.  We can hear the pop pop of explosions down by the lake.

I put up a new flag.

The museum is closed for the 4th..it is just as well.  It was like a sauna yesterday.  Mark is painting the floors in the basement and the smell of paint thinner permeates the building.

Far Guy had two bothersome teeth pulled yesterday.  He is just a little miserable.  They were teeth that have been giving him fits, they are on the good side of his face.  If it isn’t one thing it is another. (The bad side of his face is the right side with the Trigeminal Neuralgia)  He had another special nerve block last week..it made the pain worse for a few days but since then has slowly become less painful. We are praying that the next injection will be the one that does the pain in..other patients are reporting good pain relief results..so we have a little bit of hope.

We have nothing planned for the 4th other than staying home and keeping cool:)