Triggered Memory

       The book I'm currently re-reading, the first time in1998, is a report of the author's overland trip in 1930, through SE Asia. It's of particular interest to me because I spent much time there and traveled to many of the same places.

     This is the incident and the memory it triggered. Traveling in Vietnam the author comes to Hue. Yes, I was there. He embarks on a small boat on the Perfume River. It's lovely tropical night and the stars are in full array. Traveling alone and billeted in un-attractive hotel he decides to spend the night absorbing the romantic setting in the boat. A car is scheduled to drive him to Hanoi in the morning. He lights his pipe and settles in a for a delightful night. The next thing he knows the boat is bumping to a landing at dawn. He's terribly disappointed that he slept away the night.

    Now the Memory. Many years ago, Joanne and I, accompanied by my two brothers and their wives, travelled to Norway. Airline flights were arranged from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. There was a layover in Amsterdam so we could visit some museums. Leaving Minneapolis in the evening we arrived in Amsterdam early in the morning. We checked into our hotel and then, heading the advice not to give into jetlag but stay active, we headed out. One stop was a diamond shop where raw diamonds were being ground. Amsterdam is a city of canals. So, we took a boat ride on the canals to see the city. Jetlag hit me big time and I quickly fell asleep. When I awakened the other five were asleep, and so it went. None of us saw ten percent of the sites. 

Takk for alt,

Al

The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Welcome to Seattle!

      The farmer who said he hoped it didn't rain to much got his wish. (See a previous blog.)  Yesterday's rainfall measured .8". It's raining now as I type this. Rain, in small amounts, is predicted each day for the next seven days. There's a member of the family who wishes to live in Seattle. Not I. As much as I welcome rain my preference would be for a good soaking rain on a day, followed by blue sky days. Weather's reality has been the bane of humanity forever. Watertight houses are a gift and far better than damp caves in which to bear through repeated rainfalls. I'm fortunate that repetitive rain is no more than a nescience. 

Takk for alt,

Al

To offset the grey skies of these days I post this sunset picture from 2021.

      

Standing Corrected

       Typing the blog about local vocabularies in a recently initially I typed "Maid Rite". Thinking that can't be right (Rite) I changed all the Maids to Mades. Now the other reader informs me that the correct version is "Maid-Rite." Given the 'Rite' one might think it's some sort of gambol with young females.as in a 'rite of spring'.  At least it should be "Made Right". However, that would require more letters, more costs and not have the same panache.

    A bit of research reveals that there are approximately 25 Maid-Rite establishments in Iowa and 43 total Maid-Rite venues. It hasn't achieved the success of Culver's, my favorite fast-food venue.  As of July 2026, there were 1104 Culver's Restaurants. On your next foray into Iowa try a Maid-Rite. No money changed hands, unfortunately, for this promotion. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Maid-Rite, Muscatine, Iowa.

Things change!

        After a dry July and very dry August the weather has changed. For weeks the mantra has been, "I wish it would rain!" There were some showers that gave some help but not the soaking rain that was needed. Now there's been some rain that's equaled about an inch and a half. Lawns and pastures are green again. How things change was revealed in a farmer commenting on the predicted rain who said, "I hope it doesn't rain too much."  It's been raining today. 💧

    Why would a farmer, in a drought, hope it "doesn't rain too much"?  Well, it's harvest time. Think about trying to harvest in muddy fields. You get the picture. The rain is too late for benefit to corn and soybeans, and muddy fields are a trial. On the other hand, pastures and hay fields will reap great benefits from the added moisture. Greening pastures have made cattle happy and will serve to put them in good condition going into winter. The eight camels in the neighbor's pasture will also benefit.

Takk for alt,

Al

Two of the eight camels who hang out with the cattle and horses.

"Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry..."

      Okay, it's a huge stretch from this quote from American Pie about a dry levee and what I'm about to say, but humor me. 

     I drove my Chevy to the pasture to read the rain gauge and what did I find? The gauge wasn't really dry. Expecting to see a cumulative reading from the two and a half weeks I was gone, instead I found the gauge gone. It was on a fence post reachable by a cow. Is a cow the culprit? Possibly, though I doubt it. but, whatever, it's gone. Scottie, who rents the pasture, lives 20? miles away so I like to inform him of the moisture situation. At least there was enough rain in my absence to revive the pasture and now it's green.

    The mention of 'levee' brings to mind local vocabulary. Moving to Davenport, IA., in 1980 introduced some word usage new to me. Davenportians don't go to the riverbank they go to the 'levee'.  We were planning a meal for a youth group meeting when someone suggested serving "Made Rites." Turns out they were speaking of barbeque hamburgers or sloppy joes. In Iowa there's a chain of fast-food restaurants named "Made Rite." Living in Mohall, N.D., I learned to call gullies 'coulees'.  So, I'm a bit wiser, but not that much.

Takk for alt,

Al

The water buffalo is the one on the bottom.

 

USA World Cup Champions!

 

The Little House!

       There was two and half weeks in the OFH. Driving back to Sinai it felt like we left in summer and returned in fall. Here's the observations of harvest on the drive from MN. Some commercial sweet corn is still being picked. Beet harvest has begun with a few fields lifted. There's been some green corn combined. Silage was cut a month ago. Edible beans are being combined. No soybeans harvested yet. There's been some rain, so grass is greener than when we left.

      It's a gift to have two very different abodes. Each have their advantages and both are home.

Takk for alt,

Al

The street by which "my" house stood in Thailand.  As is typical there's dog lying in the middle of it.