Great Day

        Ed's limousine is a service to which I could get accustomed. This morning we drove to the Quad-Cities intending to ride the new river taxi to the Illinois side, Standing on the banks of the Mississippi on a gorgeous morning held its own delight. However, the taxi never arrived.

    Giving up on the taxi we went to the John Deere Museum, Moline, IL. There we saw old and new. It provided endless opportunities for farm boys' conversation. Of course it was all green and yellow. But in spite of that it was very interesting. The combine on display had a forty-foot pick-up that folded for  transport.  I thought our ten foot grain-binder was large!

   This afternoon the limousine service transported me to Catfish Charlies Restaurant (formerly Captain's Table), Moline, IL. We had a table overlooking the river on a beautiful evening. Both Ed's & MaryJane's birthdays are near so we celebrated them. Idyllic setting!  Once again a good time was had.

Takk for alt,

Al

                              Ed wearing his birthday gift cap.

                             Boat passing by while we dined.

 

      Spent the morning helping Ed with some small jobs around the farm place. We even got to move some rocks which is a task with which I'm familiar. It's just fun to do farm things with a friend where our friendship first took off by comparing our lives growing up on a farm. Ed's a real farmer while I enjoy my hobby farm. Ed's one of the farmers to whom I turn for advice. 

    This afternoon we explored old tractors, an interest for us both. Then we visited an interesting nature center at Maquoketa. The day ended with dinner in a delightful setting next to Maquoketa State Park. A good time was had by all and that includes Al!

Takk for alt,

A 

The nature center.

                              Loading rocks.

 

Iowa

      Kaia's at doggie camp and I'm in eastern Iowa a few miles from IL. Just finished a delightful dinner  with five friends. Our venue in Davenport was blessedly quiet!  Conversation and food were both excellent. It's fun to celebrate 65 years of friendship!  What a gift. It's delightful to share memories from this long relationship.

Takk for alt.

Al

Appropriate!

      He's his mother's son! Lars gave me an early birthday present for my Iowa trip. It is a t-shirt proudly emblazoned INTROVERTS UNITE SEPARTELY IN YOUR OWN HOMES. Joanne would be proud and I'll gladly wear it. It goes nicely with the t-shirt Jo gave me BOOKS: HELPING INTROVERTS AVOID CONVERSATION SINCE 1454, 😀 

    Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts In A World That Can't Stop Talking did a great service in the appreciation of the gifts of introverts. It helped me understand myself. For example, it explained why I avoid movies. Many, most?, of them are too intense.

   Remember the definition of an introvert. An introvert is one who gains energy from being alone. Joanne, the ultimate extrovert, was energized by being with others. One's not better than the other, each has unique gifts, they are just different.

Takk for alt,

Al 

A gift of the USMC!

      Marine Corps Bootcamp is not the ideal situation for establishing friendships. Acquaintances yes, friendships not so much. Ed and I were assigned to the same platoon in Boot Camp, Consequently we were housed in the same Quonset Hut barracks. That means we knew each other but there was minimal opportunity for fraternization.  Arriving in Camp late September meant a December 15, graduation  after twelve weeks of training. The Marines, in their wisdom, sent us home on a two week leave whether we wanted or not. The next stop after Boot Camp, for all Marines, is a four week assignment to Infantry Training Regiment (ITR). (All Marines are combat eligible, so chaplains,  corpsmen {medical aides}, doctors, etc., are Navy personnel.) Likely they didn't run ITR over the holidays.

    This was in 1959 before plane travel became ubiquitous so Ed and I found ourselves on the same bus headed to Omaha from San Diego. That was a 48 hour ride giving us significant time to converse. It didn't take long for two farm boys, one from Iowa and the other from South Dakota, to connect.

    Again the Corps came through for us assigning us to the same Company and the same office after ITR. Consequently, my entire enlistment was spent with Ed. This long term friendship is a gift of the USMC. Then the church came through with a call for me in Davenport, IA, about 20 miles from Ed's farm. This allowed Ed's wife, MaryJane, the famous MJV, and Joanne to become fast friends. 

   This week I'll travel to IA, for what I call my 'annual sponge off my Iowa friends trip' which I've been doing since 2007, to see Ed and MJV. New memories will be made, USMC memories recalled as well as memories from 65 years of friendship. Fifty years after we finished Boot Camp MJV urged a visit to San Diego and Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The four of us had a delightful trip.

   Thank you, USMC, for these gifts of friendship.

Takk for alt,

Al

Ed and I in a hotel room in Tokyo, 1961. We were in Japan for cold weather training and had a weekend off,

Committed!

    A couple of blogs previous reported that M.M., who is 101, planned to door knock for Harris/Walz. She is responding to Michelle Obama's challenge to "do something." When I met M.M. in the hall today she confirmed she's planning to knock on doors. She asked "Should I knock on you door?"  "Please do" I said not because I need convincing but because it's always a treat to converse with her. 

   Last night, while sitting out enjoying the heat, humidity and a bowl of soup, I engaged the waitress in a political discussion. She assured me that her politics were proper and that she was definitely going to vote. 😀 M.M. has inspired me.

   My friend, who has similar tastes in weather, planned to attend the State Fair today. She'll be fine. Let's hope her granddaughter likes heat and humidity, too.

Takk for alt,

Al

Random picture from the past called up by the recent family reunion.

This was in 1961, when Ed and I visited my Cousin, Oliver, his wife Judy, son Brian and daughter Naomi, in Japan.

Mis-located!

      Today is proof that I live in the wrong latitude! Mid-afternoon walking Kaia it struck me that it felt comfortable. Sitting awhile on a bench in front of the OFH confirmed it. It was 88 degrees with a dew-point of 76, ah yes, memories of Thailand. The fourteen years I lived with a Thai family was without air-conditioning. Today would be typical of the tropical weather experienced there. 

   It was too nice to stay hunkered down in the apartment in the OFH. A-Space is an eating venue in a former fire station nearby. It offers multiple tables outside. That suited me so I became the lone patron dining outside. It was a perfect night for a bowl of hot soup which was very good. It was a good antidote to the nine months of varying between chilly and cold.

Takk for alt

Al

                        Given the option my Thai family preferred eating on the floor.

Inspired

     One of the best features of  the journal The Christian Century is the first page by publisher Martin Marty. In the September 2024 issue he writes "Complaining about life rarely brings satisfying results. And cynicism about the word around us is just a way of keeping distance and exempting oneself from responsibility or involvement. As poet Christian Winman put it 'Cynicism is nothing but a retreat into your own little refuge where you can point and make judgements all the while feeling a sense of superiority'....Yes might be the most powerful word in the world. It can create, build and heal. It's capacity to change hearts makes it essential to a posture of hope." P. 1

    Friday nights at the OFH a group of us gather for dinner, if I'm in town, but they go on without me. Michele, Mary, Georgia, Mona Mae, Dick and I. I'm among the younger. Dick will be 100 in September. Mona Mae turned 101 in June, though she doesn't like to talk about it.

   Last night Mona May announced "After listening to Michelle Obama say "do something" at the DNC Convention I've made a decision. "I'm going to do something, I'm going door knocking."  Her life exemplifies the YES Marty is writing about. Perhaps that positive attitude is related to her longevity! Yes lets 'do something.'

Takk for alt,

Al

St. Paul

      Kaia and I motored to the Old Folks Home (OFH) this morning. We'll be here a few days for family, friends and an appointment. (Why does appointment have two pps?) A speller I am not. Nice to turn a key and have a comfortable apartment ready for us. Reminds me why I suggest that persons not attached to a certain specific locale, and over the age of 55, should consider becoming an inmate of an OFH.

   The bedroom in The Little House is tiny. It's easy to forget, while away, how large is the bedroom in the OFH. Two desks. file cabinet, large dresser, bookcase, bedside table, a queen size bed and yet there's much empty floor space. Yes, I like it here.

Takk for alt,

Al

                               The bedroom.

Country Boy!

       It's hard to imagine how naïve I was in 1959 when I shipped off to San Diego for Marine Corps Boot Camp. A couple of trips to the Twin Cities was the extent of my travels. TV entered our home in 1954 and football was not on TV watching agenda.

      Boot Camp was an arduous twelve weeks of total confinement. Reading two papers daily now I notice how much print is give in the Minneapolis StarTribune to the Vikings Football team. (I think football is morally bankrupt. A friend who is a retired orthopedic surgeon said youth football injuries were a huge part of his practice. The illusive goal of fame and fortune leads to significant permanent injuries for too many young people.) But that's a discursus.   What all the football news reminds me of is an oddity of Boot Camp.

      One Sunday during Boot Camp our entire company of four platoons were herded, yes much like cattle, unto buses. The buses took us to a game of the San Diego Chargers Football team. Why? It was the only time in our twelve weeks of training that we were off the base. Did the Chargers need to fill a stadium? We were all dressed in our green fatigues...we must have been quite a sight. When we arrived in Camp we were directed to pack our civilian clothes and ship them home.

   Knowing nothing about professional football, I played six-man football in high school, most of the game details are long forgotten. Who did they play?  No clue. Did they win? No idea. But it was treat to be off base for a couple of hours.

Takk for alt,

Al

                In my dress greens after promotion of corporal.

T-Shirt wisdom

       Joanne loved those catalogs that offered cute things. Consequently I have a t-shirt that says Books: Helping Introverts Avoid Conversation. Another t-shirt proclaims A Man And His Tractor, A Beautiful Thing. Not wanting to miss out Lisa gave me one that says Ask Me About My Tractor..

    At the recent reunion my shirt said Still Plays With Tractors, and today I did. Josh, who lives next door, recently erected a pole shed. Leftover from the building was a pile of dirt. Josh asked for help removing the dirt pile. That provided an opportunity for me to play with one of my tractors. Using a tractor with a loader I moved the dirt to a different pile. That pile is on the grounds where I played football and baseball in my teens. It could also be said that I like to play in the dirt.

Takk for alt,

Al

                          This the tractor used to move the dirt.

One of those days!

       This is one of those days without an original thought. Better to just admit it than write something that proves it. It's important to let both of my readers know that I'm OKAY if my a bit brain dead.😉

Takk for alt,

al

          Teaching in Thailand in 2020.

Logging

      Logging?😁 Well that's a joke. In fact I did cut many cedar trees today but seedlings hardly count as logs! With the grass cut and baled, the chicks and ducklings hatched, Kaia and I again have access to the fields. It's a never ending task to remove the invasive cedars from the native grassland.

    It's my own fault. It was I who planted cedars for wildlife protection. They just proliferate berries which become bird food and the birds distribute the seeds. Wither cutting cedars or picking rocks I rationalize the activity as better than a gym membership. It's more profitable and it's outside.

   One fact about the cedars is that they are often found in groups. Why? Perhaps particular soils make it advantages for germination?  Wondering, without an answer.

Takk for alt,

Al

                       The view this morning.

Report

     The family reunion came off with zero conflict and no drama. That's a testimony to our grandparents. Likely the fact that it is alcohol free is also a contributing factor. Many deep and meaningful conversations were had.

   When I was expressing some resistance to attending the reunion a friends challenged me about my attitude. She said "go with curiosity."  Taking that to heart, and with that approach, the event became deeply meaningful. It's a perfect illustration of one's attitude determining the outcome. What a gift she gave me!

   There are fascinating persons in the family. The family's Rhodes Scholar just accepted a job as the director of Blue Cross Blue Shield for California. Her husband just retired after 35 years as a correspondent for Reuters. For seven years he occupied a seat on Air Force One, while Clinton and Geo. W. Bush were the president. After that his beat was the U.S. Department of State. Another spouse is the daughter of a man who was expelled from a University in a Czechoslovakia in 1948, when the Communists took over. Stripped of his citizenship he fled to the U.S. and much later became the Czech consul for the central U.S. One attendee is a radiologist, another a psychiatrist and yet another was an Air Force Flight Surgeon. These and many others offered up fascinating conversation when approached with curiosity.

   Last night the five grandchildren of the founding Grandfather and Grandmother took turns telling stories of growing up with their parents. The succeeding generations were enthralled to hear these stories. For many of them it was their first hearing.

   Perhaps it's safe to say a good time was had by all, but for certain a good time was had by Al.

Takk for alt,

Al

   The oldest generation at the reunion, grandchildren and spouses.              

It''s late

      It was a day of conversation, memories and story telling. It was capped off with an evening of telling stories from the parenting by the ten children of Grandpa and Grandma who lived to adulthood. Much laughter and gratitude for the blessings of these parents their homes. Too late    now to tell some stories so that will follow in a subsequent blog.

Takk for alt,

Al

Joy Ranch

     It's the bi-annual Bergh reunion. My grandparents, Olai & Minnie Bergh, had ten children who grew to adulthood, two died as infants. Six of those children had nineteen children, between them. Of those grandchildren of  Grandpa and Gramma six are surviving. Of the grandchildren the youngest is 85 and the oldest 99, and all have sound minds. OK, maybe you doubt that of me.

     So we're gathered at Joy Ranch NW of Watertown SD, to re-connect, share stories and celebrate our heritage. Family members have come from Seattle, AZ, Illinoi, British Columbia, Minneapolis and points closer to the Ranch. We'll be together until Sunday noon and then scatter. The youngest here, one is 4 months old, are great great grandchildren.

Takk for alt,

Al

Alone Again!

       After stopping in Nunda for lunch, 2 pieces fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, dinner roll and dessert for $9.50, I drove Miriam to Sioux Falls. Thus ends her delightful two week stay with me. Because she's my cousin I'll see her soon. The Bergh reunion of my grandparents descendants begins tomorrow and we'll both be there. The reunion will be held at Joy Ranch near Watertown, SD. The last registration figure I heard was that 55 persons have signed up. I'm the youngest grandchild surviving and their are five  others, the oldest of whom is 99. All six of us are blessed with solid memories which is a real gift.

Takk for alt,

Al  

                               Miriam, in black top, at Feather's Nest, Ward, SD.

Never heard of it!

     There's always more to learn! This is the first I've heard of Berwick's Wren, and it's a surprise that they are here. It's time to clean out the nesting boxes used mostly by tree swallows. The cattle knocked one off an electricity post. The box was six feet above the ground so the culprit must have butted it down. The others boxes cleaned so far also had nests except one. That one was packed full of small sticks. There was one like that last year also. Curious about this phenomena I skipped Funk and Wagnalls and went directly to Google. This is what I learned. 

" If you have sticks sticking out the entrance hole then it means you have a Bewick's Wren nesting nearby. Male Bewick's Wrens will locate possible nesting sites and will show each of them to his potential mates, but it is the female that will choose which of the sites to use for nesting. The male will then fill most of the other nesting sites with sticks to make them unusable by other birds." Google

So, I learned the why of sticks filling a box and they were very packed full and tight. In addition I learned of Berwick's Wrens and that they are present. Who knew? not I.

Takk for alt,

Al

                           Berwick's Wren.

The Bewick's wren is a wren native to North America. It is the only species placed in the genus Thryomanes. At about 14 cm long, it is grey-brown above, white below, with a long white eyebrow. While similar in appearance to the Carolina wren, it has a long tail that is tipped in white. Wikipedia

Ya then

 

Redux

         During the season when ground nesting birds, pheasants and ducks, are nesting Kaia and I stay off the grasslands. Then the grass grows so tall and thick that working in it isn't feasible. So we wait until a farmer hays portions of it. He's cut it and begun baling the hay.

       With some ground cleared it was time to resume the hunt for invasive cedars. As previously mentioned, coniferous trees like cedars do not regrow if they are cut below the bottom branch. We did find some though the ground available to me was an area I'd covered last year. While there were some seedlings clear progress is evident. If I had bison to graze the area they'd remove the trees. 

       When the baling is complete there will be many acres to scour for cedars and rocks. It's more practical than a gym membership. 

Takk for alt

Al

Visitors

         The little pond across the street has hosted a few ducks all summer. Earlier there were some geese but they've moved on. Now the pond is host to a large number of visitors, puddle ducks. They are scattered over the water and often fly across the water.  Very active they seem to be in constant motion. Why did they come? Where did they come from?  It is fun watching them.

Takk for alt,

Al  

   This is a picture of the field that was described in yesterday's blog.

Fascinating!

     Ten or twelve years ago I planted some fields to native grasses. Then there was increased rainfall and one of the fields was not accessible. Access is a by crossing a dam and the water was too high to allow passage. To gain access I had a semi-load of rocks added to the top of the dam. When a farmer reached the field to harvest the grass, after the dam was raised, it was so infested with thistles that many of the bales were unusable and were burned. However, that harvesting operation had an interesting effect.

   Cutting those thistles killed them and the next year the field was virtually weed free and continues so now several years later. There was a good crop of grasses in subsequent years; side oats grama, rye grass, kentucky blue grass and others. But now there's a change.

    With the heavy spring and early summer rains this year the field is thick with big blue stem. It was in the original seeding but had been largely dormant until the proper conditions this year brought it forth. Fascinating how it can remain dormant for years and then emerge when the conditions are ripe.

Takk for alt

Al

Success

         The Sinai Volunteer Fire Dept. sponsored another successful consignment sale. Bidding began with two rings at 10:00 until 1:30 then moved to a single ring. When I left at 5;00 pm there was still quite a bit left to sell. Bidding numbers up to 276 were evident so there was a large crowd.  No, while I had a bidding number I didn't buy anything. It's fun to watch and see what sells for what amount. Seven boats and at least that many tractors were on the sale. 

Takk for alt,

Al

                                                                  Boats for sale.

They're Back!

       The little pond across the street from The Little House offers wildlife viewing. There's family of ducks growing toward maturity and the ability to fly. Flocks of ducks and sea gulls have been visiting. Two great blue herons stopped by recently. Today there were at least four egrets stalking the shore.

    Seeing the egrets made me glad because they were absent all last year and this year until now. Egrets are a conservation success story. Hunting them for their plumage decimated the population. It's only in recent years that they expanded their range to this area. 

   Recently a row of cottonwood trees have sprouted on the shore. As they grow my view of the pond will be obscured,  What was the ecological reason for their sudden emergence?  Perhaps the low water of the last few years allowed the seeds to f=germinate.

Takk for alt,

Al

              A previous view of the little pond.

Travel memories

         When I open my computer various international scenes appear. Recently the scene has been Machu Picchu in Peru. That brings back memories of a trip that Lisa and I took.

       She was in Lima on assignment so I met her there. After a few days in Lima we flew to Cusco and spent a few more days. Then we took a train from Cusco toward Machu Picchu. About three days hike from Machu Picchu we left the train to walk. Accompanied by two of Lisa's friends we made the hike to Machu Picchu using an Inca trail. That allowed us to enter the ancient place as would have the Incas.

     Many pictures of Machu Picchu show a small peak immediately adjacent to the stone works of the Incas. This peak is called Huayna Picchu.  Lisa and I also climbed to the top. Nearing the top the path led through a cave exiting which brought us to the oth

er side. It was a steep climb that took us about an hour. 

    The fun part of it all is now whenever I see a picture of Machu Picchu with Huayna in the background I think "I was up there."

Takk for alt,

Al

     Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu in the background.

Only In America!

      Our little town has a very active volunteer fire and rescue squad. If I have a fire or medical emergency they are prepared to quickly respond. There aren't very many men in town so many of the male volunteers are farmers and others who live out of town. It's a great service they provide.

     But here's the catch; they are largely self-supporting. Their two main fundraisers are an annual pancake breakfast and a consignment auction. The auction is Saturday and many auctionable items have already arrived. Auctioneers volunteer their services and the 10% commission that typical would go to them goes to the fire department. Consigners receive 90% of the sale.  Last years sale was exceptionally large. Total receipts were approximately $275,000. This year's sale will be smaller.  

    One of the fire department's major expenses is liability insurance. It seems that there are at least two oddities of these financial arrangements. 1. Why should it be the responsibility of the volunteers to raise the funds to protect the community? 2. Why should they also bear the burden of paying for liability insurance? Only in America.....

Takk for alt

Al

Silly Exercise

      Every morning I read the Minneapolis paper online.  On the weather page is listed temperatures from cities around the world. Today looking at that list I noted the various cities which I've visited. There were actually quite a few: from Bangkok to Lima, Oslo to Bucharest, Vienna to Nairobi, Buenos Aires, to Stockholm, Vienna to Singapore, Vientienne to Budapest, Manila to Tokyo, Hong Kong to Lisbon, Melbourne to St. Petersburg, etc.

    Having decided that I've had enough of airports it's interesting that I feel no grief about the end of my travel days. Obviously that list is not complete and could have been much longer had I not returned so many times to Thailand. That imbedded experience with a Thai family and school was worth the sacrifice of missing other places.  Now I'm very content to limit my travel and feel very fortunate to have two homes both of which I really like.  

Takk for alt,

Al

                            Joanne in Helsinki.

1Restored

        When I shut down my tractors typically I turn off the gas first and let the carburetor run dry. Modern gasoline left too long in a carburetor turns to jelly compromising its ability. The trick is to remember to turn the ignition switch off once the tractor has stopped. Leaving the switch on runs the battery down. 

     Oops I left the switch on the other day and when I was to use the tractor the battery was DEAD! Connecting a battery charger to the battery it was so dead it wouldn't take a charge. Must I buy a new battery?  Well, let's see what happens if I leave the charger on it for awhile. After about an hour it was charging 1 amp.  A glimmer of hope!  Another 30 minutes and it was up to 3 amps. Finally after a significant amount of time the battery held a charge, it's use restored.👍  

    There is an Interstate Battery Warehouse in Arlington about 12 miles away. They sell batteries with blemished cases for half price. This has saved me significant money over the years. But today I was spared even that expense.

Takk for alt,

Al

                              The tractor with the restored battery.

3.5 hours!

      That's how long ten family members sat at dinner last night, 3.5 hours. Yes, words were had. As the convener it is satisfying to bring people together. It was an opportunity for others to visit with my cousin my house guest.  The restaurant emptied out and we were among the last to leave.

    Today I introduced cousin to my high school classmate and they hit it off like long lost friends. Yes, Joanne would be pleased.  

Takk for alt,

Al

Ya then

 

Memories of Thailand

        This tropical weather we're having, 91 degrees and 72 dew point, brings back memories of Thailand. It was the end of February 2020 that I returned from my last trip there. I was scheduled to return mid-March but with all the concern about COVID, which I've still avoided, I left early to avoid the possibility of having to quarantine there. When I checked in at the airport in Bangkok to return home they asked if I'd been in China. When I deplaned in Seoul to change flights they took everyone's temperature.  Those of us with normal temperatures went right those with elevated temperatures went left.

    While I miss my time in Thailand and the people whom I know, airports and flying are too high a price to pay to return. Facebook and email helps to maintain contact with persons I know there. It was a very meaningful phase of my life.

Takk for alt,

Al

                    With students at my school.

Cozy!

       This weather is what my father used to call "cozy".  It's 90 degrees, 67 dew point and sunny at The Little House. It's similar to what I had in Thailand, without air conditioning. Just for fun I looked up the weather in Ayuttaya.  At 4:00 a.m. the temperature there is 80 and the dew point is 76! 😀 Yes, the tropics are humid.

    This means that I'm not cold for once!  No jacket, no sweater even a short sleeved shirt. Life is good! These days if the corn was already fully grown you could almost hear it grow!

Takk for alt,

Al

                  My house in Thailand!

"When farmer's eyes are smiling..."

      "When farmer's eyes are smiling" sung to the tune of "When Irish eyes are smiling."  When? When the farmer receives two inches of rain on August 1!  Yup, that's what my gauge showed. Reports from a bit east of here had 4.5", which is too much. But 2"?? Yes, just as things were beginning to look a bit dry. Soybeans are blooming and corn ears are filling. This is a great time for moisture. No storm damage here and hopefully not any anywhere.

     That dew point of 72 yesterday did make it feel as if a storm was brewing. The rain did come via a thunderstorm but here, at least, without damage. Crops, trees, pastures and other plants are happy today. That dew point reminded me of life in Thailand.

Takk for alt,

Al