Little Black Box

One day last September as I went up the steps to the museum I noticed that someone had left me a gift.   Alice sometimes leaves me items in plastic bags with notes inside.  But this was just a little black box.  I scooped it up and opened the door and went in and sat it on the volunteer desk.

Too late I thought..what if it is not a gift?  What if it is something not so good?  It was heavy..it didn’t feel like it could be anything alive?..or worse than that something deadly.   It looked old. Besides that it was too late..if it was going to explode it certainly would have done it when I picked it up.  Yup I was still alive..I work in a museum for gosh sakes..in a small town..stuff like that doesn’t happen here.  People drop off donations and set them on the step…that is normal.  

Just then Kelly and Sam ( Kelly is the Director of the Art Gallery upstairs and Sam is her son whom she homeschools. ).. came in the door.  I showed them the black box.   Sam was immediately captivated..who do you suppose left it on the step?  Cool..how does it open?  I wasn’t sure.  Finally we got it open..

It is a very portable Bennett Typewriter.  I told Sam to go upstairs and when he was done with his homework we would try it out and see what we could find out about it.

We found an advertisement..so we made a copy and put it in the typewriter.

New Typewriter $18

A remarkable typewriter carried in grip or in overcoat pocket.  Standard keyboard. Does work of $100 machine. Over 26,000 in daily use.  Bennett Portable Typewriter has less than 250 parts against 1,700 top 3,700 in others.  That’s the secret of our $18 price.  It’s built in the famous Elliot – Fisher Billing Machine Factory, sold on a money back unless satisfied guaranty.  Wt. 4 1/2 Ibs.  You can carry for home use, business or trips. 

D G Bennett Typewriter Company 365 Broadway NY

Charles Bennett invented this smallest keyboard ever produced. ( Well the smallest back in 1910.)

Sam and I had fun with our research..we even got the typewriter to type!   Later that day Sam came back downstairs and told me that he wrote a paper all about the Bennett.

When someone donates something I try to get as much information as possible about the item.  The paperwork for this accession is still in my “in” basket, I thought that someone may come by and take credit for the donation.

One of the great things about working in a museum is learning about so many different things and sharing them.  The museum is closed for the winter, the building has no heat.  I still work for them on a very part time basis, checking phone messages, emails  and writing the weekly blog:)

Projects and Fall Cleaning

The windows are all washed!  It was a beautiful day yesterday..warm..almost 50 degrees.  I helped Far Guy haul and stack some wood and then he helped me wash the windows.  Teamwork.

Slowly I am getting some Fall housecleaning done and some projects completed.  I had to sneak in a few hours working for the museum this week, updating a phone and email list and sending out the invitations for the Christmas Party.  I also had a meeting..brainstorming fundraisers..which ones are worth a try..and which ones we should pass on. 

The Christmas Ornament carving project is coming along.  Not as fast as I would like but we still have time.  This project is not only hand carved but painted too.  I am an idiot.

My cousins and I are doing another quilt to keep on hand just incase.  We are supposed to cut strips of fabric in 2 1/2 inch strips, I washed the material and will attempt to cut some strips one of these days. (It involves measuring and cutting straight..both things that challenge me.)  We are all donating fabric and will put all the strips in a bag and the gals that sew will just grab them out of a bag and sew them together..it will be what it will be.  I did not make a dent in my fabric stash..and I don’t even sew anymore.  The day we work on the quilt I will be a presser..my Aunt Anna will tell me exactly how to do it.

Which reminds me..I recently cleaned out the furnace/laundry room.  The ironing board was all dusty.  I grabbed it out of its hiding place and dust rabbits flew all over.  I had to vacuum it off before wiping it down.  I had to do the same thing with the iron.  Far Guy said “Maybe you should just toss it away?”  I said “Well it was a wedding gift.”  He said “Really? Who gave it to us?”   I have no idea..I could look it up.  The last time it was used..his sister drug it out..about five years ago.

I hate ironing..I used to do all Far Guys heavily starched military uniforms.  The Shelties hated the sound the metal sliding thingamabob on the ironing board would make when the ironing board was set up or taken down.  I could almost hear them barking… Chance doesn’t bark.. he rarely barks.  He whines sometimes..but he is really silent compared to the Shelties. They hated the vacuum cleaner too..they would bark and snap at it..  Funny what the sound of a thingamabob sliding on a 42 year old ironing board will remind you of.

Todays pretty picture.

Chance in the daisy’s last June :)

Out and About

One afternoon ( Wednesday Nov 08 before the snow..which melted! ) we went out and about for a ride.  Chance and I  were a little stir crazy.

There is ice on the river at the Dead Beaver Area.

This was taken at 4PM..the sun is on it’s way down.

We headed over to Guyles Lake..it was frozen over.  A group of Swans came over looking for open water..they attempted to land and took off trumpeting.  You can see them off to the left by those two trees.

 

The moon was almost full.

The sun was retreating.

The turkeys were in the neighbors field scratching around for leftovers.   Chance opened his window..but he just watched and watched until the turkeys took off. 

We headed home in the twilight just before dark..and it wasn’t quite 5PM.  We thought we might see a deer or two..no luck..we did see some hunters on their stands.  It has been quiet around here with very little shooting.  Two more days and  Deer Hunting season will be over:)

Eleven-Eleven-Eleven

This won’t happen again for another hundred years..and it is Veterans Day too!

We should never forget about the fight for freedom.

The granite is cold under foot.

My Dad and my Uncles..one of my Uncles is left behind buried on a foreign shore.  I believe it broke my Grandmothers heart when he was killed in action in 1944.

Far Guys Uncle Jimmy.

Far Guys Uncle Archie.

The names..the granite blocks form a walkway..a walkway of soldiers names.

ALL GAVE SOME……………………SOME GAVE ALL

All photos taken the The Veteran’s Memorial Park in Park Rapids Minnesota.

If you are a Veteran..Thank you for your service to our country! :)

First Snow

It started snowing yesterday afternoon..then I had a nap..when I woke up the ground was white.  I thought it might be an apparition or a nightmare..but it was not.

This is our first snowfall of the winter.  I have been wearing my crocs with socks..it may be time to put them away.  Winter doesn’t officially arrive for another six weeks or so..I knew it would be early again and it was only a matter of time.  I have to go upstairs and find my parka..and my mittens… and maybe my cheerful winter attitude too.

I am so not a winter person..I like it 72 degrees year round. I like sunshine and warmth…not cold and darkness.  Since some idiot decided to change the time..the sun sets at 5PM.  I think I would like to hibernate like a sleepy old bear..or a stinky old skunk.  ( I am hoping that all the skunks are sleeping away the winter..I let Chance out this evening off lead.)

We started the outdoor woodstove this year on October 30th. The woodstove keeps the house and the hot water toasty warm.  Far Guy is still cutting wood for the woodshed, he has enough cut for the winter but would like to fill it up …it must be a guy thing. 

**** Area News: Someone I have known for years ( since high school) is growing one of those Jack Pine Savage beards.  He looks like he is impersonating someone who wears a hat and has a horse and buggy.   I wanted to get a photo of his beard..since it was so interesting looking with multiple colors..brown, blonde and grey.  He was fairly uncooperative.  He only let me look at his beard when I put my camera away.

In our Senior Class in High School he was voted the “guy with the prettiest eyes” and  “a wolf” ..

I did get a shot of his other assets:)

Wistful Wednesday: Deer Hunting 1955

During November 1955 Far Guys Dad and Uncle were hunting near Northome Minnesota. 

Far Guy does not remember the hunting story.  It must have been a cooperative effort between brothers.

This is Far Guys Dad, Marvin with the deer.  The photo is labeled on the back.  Marvin nice deer.

This photo is marked. Jim and a nice deer. ( The little dog must be Tiny..he was a a Chihuahua.)

This sign hangs at the bottom of the mount.  It says:

Taken by James and Marvin Henderson Near Northome Minn Nov 1955.

I do know that the deer hung in the stairway that went upstairs at Far Guys House. When Trica and Jennifer were little they couldn’t figure out where the rest of it was. Some nights they would not go upstairs to sleep because the scary old deer was looking at them.  They would would sit on the steps and bawl.  When they got older we would encourage them to run up the stairs real fast and not look at the deer.  Some days they were very brave and wanted to be picked up and held on the stair rail to pet the scary deer.

Somehow we inherited the deer.  It hung in the family room in the house in Harwood North Dakota.  Nowadays it hangs upstairs on the wall above the bathroom door.

Some days I think it has a smirk.  We dust it off every once in awhile with the vacuum cleaner.  It looks really good for it’s age.

Cousin Bonnie gave the old photos to Far Guy last summer:)

Comb Case

How many of you have a comb?  I do not own a comb.  I have used a hair brush for years.  Far Guy has no hair but he has a comb, in the spring and summer he carries it in his back pocket so that he can comb through Chances hair and remove ticks before they have a chance to attach themselves to the dog.

Far Guy’s Dad used to have a comb in his pocket.  For the comb over..you know..he was one of those balding guys that tried to hang onto every hair on his head.  So he grew his hair longer on one side and combed it over..he looked funny in the wind.   He usually wore a cap of some kind outdoors.

This is a comb case from the museum. It is the pioneer cabin..it should probably be in the heritage room. It is one item that people comment on.  “ I have not seen one of those before.”  “I didn’t know there was such a thing as a comb case.” 

It is made from tin. I think this was painted by someone who might not be an artist.

It may have been in a Barber Shop and it may have held regular combs ..or it may have been in a dressing room of a fancy lady during the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.  It may have held pretty combs..for  holding your long locks in an updo:)

Hunting

My Dad got a deer on Saturday Morning.  He showed up for coffee and to wash his hands.

I can be a sensitive old broad sometimes so I will spare you the fresh kill photos. Knives..to cut open the body cavity..and water to wash it out. 

One less tick carrier is in the woods now.  I hope for a good deer harvest in our area.  If you ask me everyone that hunts should be able to harvest several deer.  Dad would have enjoyed hunting longer and would have taken another deer for his friend Darrel who is blind if multiple licenses were issued.

If it is a winter with heavy snow..the deer will be wolf meat anyway.  Mother Nature is sometimes cruel.

 

I found a feather, maybe from a Wild Turkey. It is on my desk so I can share it with Adam the next time he visits..I wonder if we can make a quill pen out of it?  I will heat up some sand in the oven in a soup can and then put the quill in the sand until it is cool..to temper the quill..so it makes the quill stronger.  I wasn’t hunting for feathers..but I was pleased to find this nice specimen.  I even found a recipe for children to make their own ink to use with a quill.

Natures Ink

Crush 1/2 cup ripe berries add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar.  Store in airtight container.

I think I will go hunting tomorrow for another feather:)

Flu shot or not?

Flu shots in the grocery store..flu shots in Wally World..flu shots in the corner drug store..walk in anytime. Insurance covers most shots and they do the paper work for you.

Far Guy gets a flu shot E.V.E.R.Y. year.  He was upset that he missed the one at his favorite grocery store..where you have to stand in line for two hours. ( But they have free cookies and juice.)  On Friday when we were in town he was insistent that he get his shot.  It must be the Military part of him..he musta missed being shot full of all kinds of strange serums.  You should read his shot record..then again maybe not.

I was not convinced.  I had a flu shot two years ago that irritated the bursa in my shoulder and I had a really hard recovery that included a cortisone injection and physical therapy for six weeks.  At least the flu goes away in a couple of days.  Since then if they want to give me a shot..they can find a nice fatty spot on my butt.  I had my pneumonia shot and my tetanus shot there with no adverse reactions.

The Nurse had never given a flu shot in the butt before..she thought it was a strange request. Come on sweetie..seen one seen em all..just pick a spot.  I figured if she didn’t want to give it to me..I would go without.

I have an area about the size of a grapefruit that is hard as a rock in my left butt cheek.  I have a scratchy throat..I am achy all over..I am cranky..I think I might have the flu.  I think I got the flu from the flu shot.  They say that is impossible..

I got the flu shot because I remember when I was little and had the Asian Flu and was in the hospital and the Nuns washed me in cool water and took my temperature rectally. I also remember in January of 1976 when we all got the flu..Far Guy, me and Trica..the only one that didn’t have the flu was Jennifer and she was just four months old.  My Mother had to risk her health to come take care of us all.

Last winter I did not get a flu shot and I did not have the flu.  Far Guy had the flu shot and he had the flu at least three times. I think I should cook up some soup and put it in the freezer and stock up on jello and seven up…maybe popsicles too for the scratchy throat:)

Pretty Picture Today: Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ a perennial.

Computer Woes, Works and Word

Far Guys computer has been on deaths door for over a year.  He has been babying it along.  It has been in the repair shop, he has replaced the power supply three or four times over the past six years.

I bought the laptop so we would have an extra computer if we needed one and when we go away from home it is really nice to have our own computer.

My last desktop lasted eleven years..it was kinda repaired once..and was really getting slow.  Now it is upstairs loaded with games for the Grand's to play. 

When Far Guys computer crashed..he took it to the repair shop.  She said “ It is not worth repairing, a capacitor was bulging and who knows what else.”

Far Guy was sad.  He told me “Well I guess I can bring your old computer down stairs and use that one for awhile.”  Can you hear the nickel  squealing yet?

He used my laptop for a few days..it was not a pretty site..he had it hooked up to his monitor. Every time he went to type he brought out his keyboard..and cussed because nothing was showing up on the screen.  For a short time one day he thought about taking the laptop apart, so that he could get rid of the that screen…he restrained himself.

His new computer came in two days.  It has a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard..and I think it is probably nicer than the new desktop I got last June.  He let me pick out his computer and we consulted with my baby brother who works for HP…hopefully this computer will serve his needs well.  He watches music videos, plays games and keeps the moderators  in Yahoo news on their toes. 

The computer repair gal made a disc for him of all his photos and data.  Most everything I had backed up to my simple save anyway.

For some reason..he had Works on his old computer.  I only have Word on mine.  So I cannot read some of his files..and I cannot read some of the files from the museum that were created in Works that I have in dropbox.

I am not sure what the solution is yet.  I tried one of those free converters..no luck.  I think I must need to purchase Works.

We are now a five computer household..and there are only two of us living here.  I have the Historical Museums laptop that I use to write their blog with.  I keep it updated and use it once a week. 

The computer repair gal says “ The new computers are meant to be disposable..three years is about all you will get out of them.”  I am not sure that I agree with her..but what do I know?  Years ago when Far Guy said we needed a computer..I said “Really?  Do you suppose it is just a passing fad?”

Well we need a pretty picture..because I had a friend once who said no post was complete without a pretty picture.

Beautiful Begonias from last summer:)

Brassiere

Someone lost their brassiere.

Now that is some over the shoulder boulder holder!  Very patriotic!  Yes, even a brassiere can be art.

Brassiere..now that is an old fashioned word.  I bet if I asked my Grands  “What is a Brassiere?”  They would reply “What is that Grandma?”

My mother called it a brassiere.  When I got my first brassiere when I was nine ( YES NINE) I didn’t know if I should wear my undershirt over the top or underneath. (Yes young girls used to wear undershirts..they were warm in the winter.)  I settled for over the top.

I was very self conscious and wore sweaters almost all the time.  I was the first girl in my class to get a brassiere.  All the boys stared..and not at my beautiful eyes either.

I know without looking it up that the brassiere was invented by some man.  In my opinion all brassieres should become art:)

The gathering

The Swans are gathering together before heading south.

We headed out last Sunday afternoon to get some supplies for the “Train project”  ..Far Guy pulled over at the public access at Sivertson Lake so I could take some photos. 

There were many pairs on the lake.  They stay near each other.

They must draw comfort and support from their mates. These two have it covered..between the two of them they can see all around.  They “have each others backs.”

The Swans were silent until we let Chance out for a walk.  The warning calls went on down the lake..from one pair to another..until they were all alert and watching.  Of course Chance is not a threat..but the Swans don’t know that.

Soon the lakes will be frozen..and the Swans will have gone south.  They will return in the Spring..in groups and then one day they will break off from the group to find their own private lake to raise their young.  So the circle continues..the gatherings in the Spring and the Fall must be like a family reunion:)

Wistful Wednesday: Hunting

I was raised in a hunting family.  My Dad always hunted deer in the Fall. If the weather was warm  he would take my baby brother and I along on Sunday during hunting season.   We used to walk with him through the woods and then sit someplace quietly and watch.  My Dad can walk through the woods silently..he was a soldier..small children learn to walk quietly..avoiding twigs that snap, following in his footprints.  His stride was long..I really had to work at following exactly where he stepped.

There was no horsing around.  When we got old enough my Dad taught us how to use a rifle safely.  I shot at a deer once..I think I probably just scared it..I tracked it..it ran off..apparently alive and well.  My deer stand was in a clearing at the fire, my uncles would come by and throw their sandwiches wrapped in aluminum foil into the fire to warm up and to sit a spell and tell me stories.

I used to hunt with Far Guy.  His family is nuts takes hunting very seriously.   They go out even when it is 20 below zero at O dark thirty and sit you next to a tree until daylight..then you get to sit there all morning..quietly watching and waiting. No warm fire..and no warm sandwiches either.

We no longer hunt.  Well that is not quite true..I like to hunt with my camera.  We both hunted because we enjoyed being in the woods..now we live in the woods.

I have an old photo today of my cousins and my Aunt taken in 1959 or 1960.  My Uncle George must have gotten a deer and he was home from the hunt:)

Goblins!

We had nine little goblins!

A Werewolf, a Ladybug and a Witch! ( The Werewolf and the Ladybug live next door.)

Ironman, Scooby Do and a Commando!   These three live next door too.

Aubrey showed me her tail.

She went back to preschool yesterday, the first time since the surgery to repair her palate.  She can make new sounds now, so with Speech Therapy her vocabulary should blossom..she is already much easier to understand!

Then Superwoman arrived!

She brought her sisters..Snow White and a Pink Puppy!

The Pink Puppy was busy going up and down the stairs.  I told her it was a rule to sit down while going down..that lasted a couple of times.

Her Father was kept busy following her up and down.

It was a fun evening, the little ones are always so excited.  It is nice that my nieces and nephews bring their children by to see the old folks in the neighborhood. 

We have left over candy..what to do what to do..

A few of you wondered how Jen got the centers in the A, P, and O’s in her Happy Halloween Pumpkins..I believe that she has the small parts skewered into place:)

Happy Halloween!

The candy has been purchased and put into cute little green bags decorated with scary black cats all hunched up.

We will be awaiting the hoards of goblins..we might get 8 possibly up to 10 children. Each one will have to pose for a photo before getting any candy!

Here is daughter Jen’s take on Halloween pumpkins this year. She goes all out for Halloween.

Of course it was more impressive at night.

Our grands are getting older..Adam is the only one who will go Trick or Treating this year. 

Here in the “boonies” kids still wait to go out the real evening of Halloween.  So what if Halloween isn’t on a weekend. I remember how excited our girls used to be to go out with their Dad in snow and sleet and icy rain..dressed in snowsuits and sometimes wrapped in blankets. It was always an adventure they shared on October 31st.

Of course I remember what I used to say on Halloween. “Trick or Treat..money or eats..or we will tip your toilet over!.” (this was a long time ago..when everyone in the country had outhouses.) :)