Monday, June 17, 2024

Accurate!

         For over a week meteorologists have been forecasting that there would be significant rain here today. That was an accurate prediction!  The rain began around 3:00 a.m. and continued for almost twelve hours. It was the kind of rain about which farmers dream. It was steady with no drama, only a slight rumble of thunder occasionally and negligible wind. 

       The gauge by The Little House registered two inches. Tomorrow I'll check the gauge by the pasture. This didn't appear to be a spotty rain so there may not be much difference between gauges. Farmers are done with the first cutting of alfalfa. This moisture will ensure a good second crop. Two inches is about all the soil can absorb at one time..."when farmer's eyes are smiling!"😀 

Takk for alt,

Al

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Little House

       Eastern Minnesota is inundated from the recent rains. The western half looks as if there has been rain but in the east every low spot in the field is full of water. Ducks are swimming among the corn. With this much standing water there will be huge bare spots at harvest as the corn and beans drown. It's the most standing water I've seen. The drought is over! 

     Meanwhile The Little House was reported to have .3", though rain is predicted overnight. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Reading List

        After reading MJV erudite reflections on Jon Fosse's Septology, I'm seriously considering rereading it's 600 plus pages. Then a friend at the OFH lent me a book highly recommended. A Father's Day gift is James, a retelling of  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. from the point of view of the runaway slave, Jim. MJV advises re-reading Huckleberry before reading James.  So I'll look for a used copy. Reading these three, plus finishing the book I'm about half through, will take prescience over Fosse.

     So many good books even with the time I have!

Takk for alt,

Al



Friday, June 14, 2024

Thriving!

     As a contributor to Central Asia Institute, (CAI) (Three Cups of Tea) I received their annual report for 2023. It appears that CAI is thriving. They report 4,673 donors. Some statistics: funding for overseas programs increased 17% in a year, 1,135 teachers received support, 42,108 were reached through direct programs an increase of 41% in a year, 14,085 students enrolled including 9000 girls an increase of 35% in a year, 4,314 woman who participated in job skills and livelihood training, and 52 women who participated in apricot processing program increased their income and average of 180%. They reported fund raising cost of seventeen cents to raise one dollar. 

    A major emphasis of CAI has always been the education of girls. This has expanded to major support for women. There are also over 5000 boys in CAI Schools. CAI does good work!

Takk for alt,

Al

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Stunning!

Songs of Earth” portrays the bond between the endangered Norwegian nature and Olin’s (the director) 85-year old father. The documentary shows how nature is threatened by climate change, while also depicting the passage of generations.

   The film had its world premiere at the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival and marks the first time a documentary film has been selected as the Norwegian entry to the international feature film category." Variety

    Lisa took me to this marvelous movie from 2023 newly released in America. Filmed in Oldedalen, Nordfjord, Norway it combines spectacular photography with the reflections of the director's 84 year old father, as he hikes the mountains, and her 76 year old mother. It's in Norwegian with English subtitles, a great gift to this hearing impaired viewer.  "Breathtaking" said one reviewer.  Unfortunately it was the final showing in Minneapolis but if it shows near you GO!

Takk for alt,

Al

PS I think the last time Lisa and I attended a movie together was in 2008, we saw Gran Torino!

OFH

   So discombobulated by arrival at OFH yesterday I forgot to report!  My bad and apologies to both of you.

Takk for alt,

Al

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Absent grackles!

         Many grackles nest in the fir trees that surround the cemetery. While they are nesting they are very raucous when Kaia and I get near the trees. They create such racket that the only other bird loud enough to be heard is a nesting robin. Today the grackles were all gone.

       In the absence of their noise it was possible to hear many other birds. Using my phone's Merlin App from Cornell I made a  recording and these are the birds I heard: song sparrow, blue jay, common yellowthroat, red-winged blackbird, eurasian collard dove, chipping sparrow, house wren, american robin and grasshopper sparrow. Not a single grackle was recorded. Perhaps there could have been more varieties because this recording was less than five minutes. No ducks, geese or pheasants today. 

     The app is a free download from Cornell. Being able to identify species by their song adds to my outdoor pleasure.

Takk for alt,

Al




                                    Grasshopper sparrow.




 







Monday, June 10, 2024

Joanne's Magic

        It was summer Greek that kept me on campus the summer of 1963. Dr. Orvis Hanson was my teacher and he was tutoring me in Greek for college credit. At noon I went to the cafeteria at Augustana College for lunch. There I encountered two uncles and aunts who were visiting campus. Joanne was with them because her family was neighboring friends in St. Paul of one couple; uncle and aunt. So I was introduced to Joanne and joined them all for lunch. A few days later, again at the cafeteria, I encountered Joanne and we lunched together. That was the beginning.

     From the first time I met her I found Joanne very engaging. Throughout our life together there were countless times I saw Joanne work her magic on others. Often I've pondered what it was about her that was so engaging to people. Certainly her interest in the other and her willingness to listen were very significant. Reading the description of a woman in a book gave me an insight to understanding Joanne. The woman was described "...as full of vitality as her smile was full of light..."

    VITALITY...that I think is the word that describes Joanne.  She was full of vitality and that is much of what others responded to.  It was her vital energy and interest in others that made her a people magnet. Blessed I was to share so many years with her and I live with rich memories.

Takk for alt,

Al


At our fiftieth celebration.

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Gift

      One of the gifts of life in The Little House is proximity to extended family. Today was the celebration of my sister-in-law's milestone birthday. There were about thirty persons present. Several of whom live away so I don't see very often. Three toddler great-grandchildren upped the energy significantly. The energy they bring is infectious. 

    Naturally there was good food which was nice. Yet, the best part was conversation. It gave the opportunity to check in with the younger generation and their lives. At least two have new jobs about which it was interesting to learn. It's a blessing to gather for something other than a funeral.

Takk for alt,

Al 

Saturday, June 8, 2024

So many good books!

        This is the first one that I've read by the late Pete Hamill. It's not new, copyrighted in 2007, but it's a timeless story. North River is a love story set in New York City in 1934. Fallout from WW I and the reality of the depression are large in the book. It was a national bestseller many years ago. Hamill tells an engaging story one that's a pleasure to read. He's more famous for Forever and Snow In August.  Perhaps I should look for them. Reading keeps me off the street.

Takk for alt,

Al


Two images from my walk this morning, a sea of grass.


Friday, June 7, 2024

Unusual Sighting!

       Badgers leave their marks on my land. One spring there were seven sites on a hundred acre field where badgers had dug out pocket gophers. While the gophers are subterranean these leave multiple mounds above ground that are a real nuisance. Badgers are nocturnal, so while I see where they've dug for gophers, I've seldom seen them.

    Today I did see one running on the road just ahead of the truck. Judging from its size it was probably a young one. It ran down the road a ways on its stubby legs before plunging into the tall grass in the ditch. Unfortunately, there is a bounty on them. East of my land is a 480 acre pasture. The badger's den might be in that space.

    I also saw a killdeer chick. They're the cutest things. Little round, fuzz balls, on long legs. 

Takk for alt,

Al

PS I did see a badger on Crete last fall. We were driving from town to the farm after dark and it was on the road.

                                                 Badger


Killdeer chick.



Thursday, June 6, 2024

June 6, 1964

      Sixty years ago on this day Joanne and I were married at First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D. Pastor Marcus Gravdal presided, Joanne's father, the late Rev. Oscar C. Hanson, did the homily, Roger Hatlestad was the organist and the Augustana College Choir sang. The late Mary Hanson (Trodahl) was maid of honor and the late Jenine Peterson (Jordahl) and the late Maxine Amundson were Joanne's attendants. David Negstad was the best man and the groomsmen were the late Richard Negstad and David Halvorson.

    Joanne had resigned her faculty position at Agustana College to accept a position has a counselor at St. Louis Park, MN. Senior High School. Joanne had a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She lacked one course for certification by Minnesota as a high school counselor. That course was available in summer school at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. Our wedding was on Saturday and that summer course convened on Monday. Consequently there was not time for a honeymoon. Uber responsible Joanne never considered not being present for the beginning of classes.😀

    For 54 years we were blessed in our marriage. There are myriad things in our life together for which I'm grateful. Among those blessing was a wonderful celebration on our 50th anniversary. It's especially significant because Joanne did not live to see our 55th. A day such as this today is filled with fond memories and also the presence of absence.

    Recently a friend posted on Facebook a reflection regarding his gratitude for his wife.  He said when you choose a wife you also choose a mother for your children. Joanne's children, Lisa and Lars, have risen up to call her blessed.  God bless her memory.

Takk for alt,

Al



                                                                                 1964                                                  
                                                                             2014

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

1962 Con't...

        Yesterday's blog mentioned my USMC discharge, car purchase and trip to the Seattle World's Fair. Ed had a year left on his enlistment when we returned from Asia. For that year he was assigned to duty at the base in San Francisco; Treasure Island. That's where I met him for our trip to Seattle.

    Driving up the Coast Highway from San Francisco took us through the Redwood Forrest. Farther north we went inland until we reached Seattle. When we had completed our visit to the World's Fair we drove to Port Angeles, WA., out at the tip of Puget Sound. There my cousin Leslie Negstad, and his wife Esther, operated a Motel. Staying with them Leslie showed us the sights.

    He drove us up the Olympic Mountains and brought us into the rain forest.  Leslie was an avid fisherman and, when he farmed across the road from my boyhood farm, had introduced me to fishing.  Taking Ed and me to the Straits of Juan De Fuca, he rented a boat to which he attached his two and half horse Johnson outboard motor. With this tiny engine we were off to fish for salmon on the Straits. Never mind the ocean liners passing by.  Leslie landed and 18lb salmon and I a 5lb one. Easter cooked it for us.

    After our stay at Port Angeles Ed returned to Treasure Island. I, accompanied by Leslie's 16 year old son, Paul, drove to my home in South Dakota. Paul spent the summer with us. My brother, David, the farmer, had been activated with his National Guard unit and was stationed in Colorado. So I farmed for the summer until he was released from duty. In the fall I re-entered Augustana College to complete my degree.

Takk for alt

Al


                      It was a fun trip up the coast is this car.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Nesting Season

      Nesting season changes the dynamics of our life. Kaia is a hunter and given freedom to run she's always hunting. Consequently, it's not good for her to be loose in the grasslands while pheasants and ducks are nesting. That limits what we do for activity.  Several days lately we've walked in the cemetery. One loop of the path that circles inside the cemetery is a quarter of a mile. With the large fir trees surrounding the cemetery ground nesting birds avoid the area. The trees offer perching sites for hawks and the nesters know enough to avoid the area. So, it is a good place for Kaia to run.

   She did find a nester there recently. It was a moderately, large painted turtle that had left the slough near the cemetery to lay her eggs. Kaia was fascinated but I called her off and when we came around the circle agian she was gone.

   Bored of doing loops in the cemetery today I took Kaia to a pasture. The grass was grazed short last fall so it isn't a nesting site.  The pasture fence  has many cedar trees. With that in mind I carried a bow saw and cut cedars out of the fence while Kaia ran. That's a more productive activity than walking circles.

   The corn I planted was very slow to emerge, but it's up now.  Perhaps planting in cold ground when the weather's been cold slowed it's growth. The ground was covered with chopped stalks reflecting the sunlight. One day I plowed, the next I tilled and the following day I planted. Likely the soil was cold.

  On this day in 1962 I was honorably discharges from the United States Marine Corps. Discharged in San Diego, I purchased a car in Long Beach. Meeting Ed at Treasure Island, San Francisco, we drove to the World's Fair in Seattle. 

Takk for alt,

Al


The 1954 Austin Heally we drove to Seattle.

2

Prairie Ragwort growing in the pasture.


Bow saw

Monday, June 3, 2024

Dodged a bullet...

        Last night about 9:00 constant lightening was observable to the north of The Little House. It was far enough distant that a rumble of thunder was barely audible. The lightening was so steady that flashes were occurring simultaneously.  The map on my weather app showed it moving toward the north-east, so, away from Sinai. An un-official report this morning said that Willow Lake, about 40 miles northwest of here received four inches of rain in a few minutes. That would be very destructive. The reporter also said there was some wind damage at Lake Poinsett, about 30 miles to the north. Thus far rains here have been gentle.

Takk for alt

Al

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Karma

       Caitlin Clark probably needs no introduction to you after all the hype about her basketball skills. Drafted first out of University of IA, she went to the Indiana Fever.  The Fever got first pick in the draft because of their dismal record last year. This means that Clark went to the weakest team in the league. The team still struggles having won only two games this year.  It's not Clark's fault. She has put up amazing statistics as a rookie but it takes a whole team to win.

     Yesterday I watched a replay of the recent Fever game with the Chicago Sky. Clark was double-teamed defensively and the three point shots she manage to get off weren't falling. In the third quarter play was stopped and the Fever had the ball out of bounds. The referee was about to hand the ball to the Fever player who was prepared to pass it to Clark in-bounds. Sky player, Chennedy Carter, approaching behind Clark, threw her shoulder into Clark and knocked her down. The Chicago coach should have benched Carter for this un-sportsmanship action, but perhaps, because Carter was a leading scorer for Chicago, chose winning over ethics. 

   It was ruled a flagrant foul and Clark was awarded a free throw, which she made. Play then resumed with the Fever having possession. I once heard my dad say "Be certain your sins will find you out." The game had frequent lead changes and at the end the Fever won by one point. It's not a stretch to think it was won by that free throw by Clark. Not only did the Fever win, Carter's action was called out in the paper's report of the game.

Takk for alt,

al

Saturday, June 1, 2024

"What is so rare as a day in June?

       This is one of those rare days! The sun is out, the wind is moderate the temperature mild, it's perfect. It's also the day for which I've been waiting.  All of my tractors are open station, i.e., tractor-speak for no cab. That exposes the operator to the elements of weather. Heat is no issue for me but I don't like being cold nor do I look being wind buffeted. There was one machine that I wanted relocated so today was the day to get it done, and it is.

     The WNBA offers a season league pass for only $39.44. With this subscription I can live stream many WNBA games on my computer. Those that I can't live stream I can replay later. Consequently, my substitute for watching TV, other than reading, is watching basketball. An advantage of replay is that a game which typically lasts two hours replays in an hour by speeding through time-outs. quarter-breaks and half-time. It's also possible to replay situations to see more clearly what happened. This is a busy season for games before the league suspends for a month during the Olympics.  My favorite team, the Minnesota Lynx, are in third place with 5 wins and 3 losses

    Have a thought for Caitlin Clark, whose team, the Indian Fever, has only won two games, second to last place. 😞 

Takk for alt,

Al

Interesting Theology!

 



Answer to why I don't go to coffee question in comments:  I don't do circle time willingly.