Coincidence!

       Because it was less than 100 degrees today I decided to take a drive to Lake Andes, South Dakota, 170 miles away by the Missouri River. 

     This sweet little dog followed me home.  Can I keep him? He's an eight year old French, Springer Spaniel, who was looking for a new home.  He's quite small, I'd guess about 30-35 lbs. At the vet he'll be weighed. Now here's the sign that I should keep him. 

     When L and I discussed possible names for a potential new dog we decided on "Odin." It also occurred that very likely Odin would be nicknamed "Odie". The name of this dog who followed me home is "Odie." Wouldn't you consider that a sign?

   He's very attached to his blanket which came with him. He's fond of carrying it around. It will accompany him in his crate at bedtime.

Takk for alt,

Al

Family Time!

       L always like so see the extended family when she's here. So we gathered, at the place of my choosing because it's relatively quiet, last night. With the temperature in the 90s no one elected eat outside on the nice patio. Because three were missing, two in the Cities with their children, and the youngest one at work, we were eight diners. There were six r.s.v.ps when making the reservation so I requested a round table. But they seated all eight of us at a round table. Typically they don't do that thinking it's too small for eight.

    The table accommodated us fine. It was a gift because it facilitated conversation. With the proximity it offered each person could converse with any other person. When there was group conversation all could be involved.  Consequently, a very lively and helpful conversation ensued. A good time was had by all and that includes Al,

Takk for alt,

Al

Our venue last night.

Cool Cribbage!

       The joys of A/C.  A survey of the big bluestem was conducted from the cab of the air conditioned truck. It is beautiful and helps one to imagine when the entire country hereabouts was covered with this marvelous grass.

      Then there was the sight of four acres of Bee Balm, aka. Wild Bergamot. There are number of other flowers interspersed, such as Black-eyed Susan. It's a pretty thing to behold, again from the cab of an air conditioned truck. There should be many, many happy insects. As a perennial with a rhizome root structure subsequent years should be even better.

    With the temperature at 98 and the dew point 79, it feels just like Thailand, but a long walk was forgone. 

Takk for alt,

Al

  This is the stand of bluestem that grew after the field was burned in May.

Brief..

      Yesterday in preparation for company I cleaned in the truck, notice "in". The truck may not be clean but it's cleaner. Now it's time to clean "in" The Little House for company.  Consequently this will be a brief post. I'm still upright, which is a good thing.

Takk for alt,

Al

The Little House with Kaia.

Cleaning Memory!

         In my boyhood Uncle Henry and Aunt Inga lived across the road. Inga was a fastidious housekeeper. Apparently that was not her self image. Frequently she'd remark that she cleaned house "and I had to scoop out the dirt." None of us could imagine any dirt in her house.

       This came to mind when I scooped out the dirt from the truck. With distaff company coming it was time to do some cleaning. Kaia always rode in the passenger seat. You can imagine what she left on seat, dash and windows. Perhaps I should have left a corner so there would be a 'before and after'. It can't be said that it really sparkles but by contrast....

     Once I did some dusting but it all came back, so, no more of that.

Takk for alt,

Al

The late Kaia, wonder dog!

Basketball

      The Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, my team, are leading the league at 22-6. Until today there were without their superstar. Napheesa Collier, had surgery on both ankles in the offseason. The team has thrived because of a rookie point guard, Oliva Miles and the play of two veterans, Natasha Howard and Kayla McBride.

    Today Phee (Collier) returned to play for the first time. She had 24 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. The Lynx beat Los Angeles Sparks by 10 points.

   It's now mid-point of the season. The All Star game is in Chicago on July 25. The Lynx have two starters, Olivia Miles and Natisha Howard and, Courtney Young is also participating. Last year Phee was the most valuable player of the event.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

Napheesa Collier

Eerie!

            Living alone now has created an experience best described as 'eerie'. When completing a task what comes next feels strange,  like, "now, what do I do?"  It's hard to explain. The best I can make of it is, with Kaia present I often went from doing a thing alone to doing something with her. It's an empty house with just one old guy rattling around in it.

         In the field this morning I saw several monarchs. There were many milkweeds in the area. During WW II, our entire country school, about twelve students, were excused to pick milkweed pods. We were taken to the teacher's farm a couple of miles away. There was some low ground of several acres that was solid milkweed. The teacher's father had a team of horses hooked to an empty wagon. It didn't take long to fill the wagon with pods. They were used to fill flotation devices on ships. How they got from the farm to the packing areas I never thought about. Likely they were shipped by train. "Better than school" was my main  impression.

Takk for alt,

Al

Milkweed pickers at a later date.

Day 3!

       Days after major events often get counted. So, in that spirit...this is the third day since Kaia died. The grief is, both for what I miss in her absence, and for the ordinary joys she's missed these three days. As always with grief there are 'triggers' that brings it all back again. Of course I know the intensity will fade with time. Joanne often said "Grief touches grief."  It's so true that new griefs tie in to old grief from the past. One does not live as long as I have without having experienced significant grief. Though none compares with the grief of Joanne's death 8+ years ago.

   As was true when she died, the community of family and friends is once again comforting me. After her death I often wrote that it is relationships that sustain. Again, in this current sadness, that so many care so deeply, is a source of hope.  Thank you! I am very grateful.

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia spent hours looking out the sliding glass doors in the OFH.

Dimensions of grief!

         It almost seems as if the house is hollow as I rattle around alone since Kaia died. There's the immediacy of the powerful presence of absence. She's not in the usual places doing the usual things. At every turn their is an emptiness. Our little routines are no more.

       A second aspect of the grief is the uncertainty of what it means for my future.  I can't imagine hunting without a dog. So, is it time to quit hunting? If so, should I stay in The Little House this fall, or return earlier to the OFH?  Often I said "She keeps me from being a slug."  Will I find the motivation to stay regularly active without needing to meet her needs?

     Then, too, there is the sadness for Kaia herself. It was reasonable to expect she'd have another three happy years. She was a happy dog living a very good life. I grieve that her life was cut short before she could have more good times. She will miss out on a lot.

   Takk for alt,

    Al

In addition to being very good dog, Kaia was smart and good looking.

Kaia's Demise!

       Eight plus years ago when I was blogging about my grief  at Joanne's death, I other referenced the pain of "the presence of absence. Kaia's death has plunged me back into that experience. Upon my awakening Kaia would place her chin on the bed for a chin scratch. As soon as I arose I'd let her out into the front yard so she could relieve herself. After our breakfasts I'd settle into the recliner to read the morning paper online and check emails, while she slept nearby. Once she decided it was time for us to move she'd sit and look at me. Whereever I was in the house she'd be near. So, the house is full of the presence of absence.

     There's another aspect of grief in her death other than the immediate absence. She was significant in the future I planned. Hunting season opens in October. Hunting with her, was the most important part of hunting. Hunting alone has no appeal, so, I do I quite hunting? If so, why stay in The Little House during the fall? The OFH is perfectly comfortable, perhaps I should return earlier than the typical Thanksgiving time?

   Grief; obviously I've been here before, she's the 7th of my dogs to die. Then, too, this grief is in no way comparable to the grief of Joanne's death. Grief has the same features but clearly not the depth as loss of a spouse. I'm very grateful to have had the joy of Kaia's companionship for five and  a half years, which explains the depth of the grief at her death.

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia in front of the sliding glass doors in the OFH.

DEVASTATED!

      Kaia died this morning on the way to the vet. We'd gone to the field to cut cedars about 9:00, to beat the heat. Kaia quickly flushed a brood of half-grown pheasants. After about an hour of work we went back to the truck and headed to town. Uncharacteristically Kaia lay on the floorboards rather than her customary place on the seat. A few minutes later, in town, I realized she wasn't doing well. Immediately heading for the veterinarian in Brookings we'd gone only a few miles when she died. The vets' guess is it was heat related.

    Springer Spaniel, Kaia, born 2/25/2016, Pine Shadows Kennels, Brainerd, MN, died July 17, 2026, Brookings County, SD. Pine Shadows in a nationally recognized kennel and breeder. Kaia had great bloodlines and was to be a brood dog at the kennel.  Her estrus cycles were too irregular so they had her spayed and sold her to me in February, 2021.

    She was exceptionally well trained. When I released her in the park near the OFH she'd run while I walked. If I stopped she'd come to me. She avoided other people and other dogs. When I started toward the park entrance she'd run to the gate and sit, waiting for me to leash her. In the OFH she only went to people at their invitation, avoided other dogs, and didn't bark.   

    Kaia was my 7th Springer, going back to Christmas, 1976, when Frank gave me Thor. Our lives were totally intertwined. Scratching her chin before going to bed, when I awakened she'd put her chin on the bed. She kept me moving as I'd walk as she ran. Kaia loved the trees around the cemetery as I walked the perimeter road.

   Yes, I'm devastated!

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia's characteristic pose asking "now what?"

Kaia qualifies!

 

A farmer went out to sow...mow...

         Well that was funny! Checking on my corn on Monday I saw the four acre pollinator plot next to the corn had canada thistles blooming. Today was the day to mow those thistles, so I lubed the mower and set forth. Imagine my surprise arriving at the field and discovering the purple flowers I saw were not thistles but Wild Bergamot. (See the picture below, which doesn't capture the full effect.)

     It's been about ten years since that pollinator plot was planted. The first year thistles abounded and were mowed, no spraying allowed because it would kill the forbs like Bergamot. Thistles returned the second year and were mowed. Fewer thistle returned the third year and again were mowed. Lo and behold, the fourth year; no thistles.

    Each year there have been some Bergamot appearing until this year's profusion. Why so many this year is a happy mystery. There are quite a few Black Eyed Susan and a smattering of other flowers too. Even dandelions qualify as pollinators

Takk for alt, 

al

This is just one cross section of the field.

Attracting Pollinators: The plant’s nectar-rich, tubular lavender flowers are a magnet for native long-tongued bees, butterflies, skippers, and hummingbirds.

The funnies again...

 

Annoying Thistles!

      That title, Annoying Thistles, is intended as double entendre. Thistles proliferating where they are not wanted is annoying. There are places in that field of grass pictured yesterday where there are bunches of annoying thistles. The fire burned untold numbers of thistle seeds above ground. But these perennial thistles already rooted survived the fire and burst forth. Very annoying!

    Today's task was mowing those thistles to keep them from going to seed. Thistle seed, like that of dandelions, is attached to fuzz that blows in the wind, spreading near and far. Such mowing doesn't typically kill the the thistle, though in some cases it does. Because the thistle plant usually survives the mowing, it seems what the mowing does is annoy them.  At least they will not produce seed this year. Now thistles are ubiquitous.

   When I was a boy thistles were just becoming established. Few enough so we'd stop the tractor, take a plier, they have spiny stems, and pull them. Now I know that, this too, was just annoying them, because they quickly regrow from roots left in the ground.

Takk for alt,

Al

Canada Thistles have at least one redeeming  feature, pollinators like them.

Field Reports!

       There's a tale of two fields. Field number 1, didn't need fertilizing. It's fully tasseled and the corn looks healthy. Some late water hemp weeds are growing in it but there's nothing to be done about that now. The geese did not graze on it this year.

    Field number 2, badly needed fertilizing. The corn is growing but far from tasseling. Inexplicably it's almost weed free. It has much volunteer corn growing in it from last years crop. The section nearest the trees is sparse from pheasant predation. When corn germinates, and the shoot breaks the surface, pheasants pull up the plant to eat the seed from which it sprouted. So far there's no success at teaching wildlife the concept of 'delayed gratification.'

    Big bluestem grass has responded as hoped for in the field that was burned below. Waves of the grass are over six feet tall. (See pictures below.) There are some thistle patches in the grass, so mowing them is tomorrows task.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Wildlife seen today: half grown coyote and three broods of pheasants, also had a brown thrasher scolding me for being too close to her nest.

The first plant to emerge after fire is milkweed, see toward the bottom of the picture. Imagine the sea of grass experienced by the Native Americans.

The truck's roof is over six feet high, thus illustrating the grass's height. 

The Little House!

       It was a total of 800 miles of driving to Aurora and back for the funeral. We slept in Dekalb Friday night, due to  a bed shortage in Aurora. Dekalb is just a half hour away. After the service we returned home. 

    The funeral was well done. It was clear that Alvin (Al) was held in very high regard. It's uncommon that a funeral for a 93 year old person draws such a large crowd. He was a retired pastor who used his wisdom and energy to be a positive presence in the congregation.

     The schedule was: Visitation was from 9:00-11:00, funeral at 11:00 followed by a full meal. At the meal there were many testimonies from family and friends to the significance of Alvin in their lives. I'm very grateful I could attend. Alvin was a boyhood hero to me and that hero status never wavered even into his nineties.  

    Being absent from Sinai for two and half weeks in mid-summer is unusual. Tomorrow I'll head to the fields to see what's transpired since I left.

Takk for alt,

Al 

Hiatus!

      We're leaving this afternoon for Alvin's funeral in Aurora, Illinois. Because I'm leaving my computer behind the timing of the next blog post is iffy. Plans are to return to the OFH tomorrow after the funeral but that's a six hour drive. So, wait for it!😀

   In the meantime stay healthy and upright!

Takk for alt,

Al

Life in the funnies (comics)!

    Perhaps my life is comic becasue so often my life is reflected in them Take Hagar for example. One Sunday in Mohall, shortly before the service began it was discovered that there was no wine for communion. The usual fare was Mogen David, which is unfit for anything else. The only wine at the parsonage was Chianti, a far cry from Mogen David, but it was pressed into service. There were puzzled looks from the communicants and much smacking of lips. Were that to occur today I'd be wise enough to give the congregation a heads up. (See Hagar below.)

         Then there's Bernice the introvert posting her quite life in response to extroverts posting all their activities. I'm with Bernice

Takk for alt,

al

Open Skies!

    For most of June rainfalls in Sinai came in small showers, .3", .2" .5" etc. It was enough to sustain crops, especially because the weather wasn't very hot. Perhaps it wasn't adequate for pastures and alfalfa hay. A pasture I rent to a farmer is divided into two parts, maybe the 100 acres is divided 65 by 35 acres. This allows for rotational grazing. The renter started the cattle in the small section this spring. When I left for Iowa June 23, the grass in that section was grazed down and he was about to move them to the large pasture. This allows the grazed section to recover, think how your lawn responds after mowing.

   In the last couple of weeks Sinai has received about 5" of rain...happy pasture. The first significant rain, 2.75"  came just before this hot spell, that's critical timing. The neighbor to The Little House empties and reports on the rain gauge behind the house. On the other hand, the gauge at the pasture is not monitored in my absence. I'm keen to see what it registers next week when I return. Typical rainfall pattern is for less rain after June. Crops must be thriving.

Takk for alt,

Al

This is another (see yesterday's blog) of mangroves taken in Cambodia in 2020.

Still Upright!

      In the OFH a popular farewell when leaving another person or group is, "Stay upright!" Today I visited my civilian, as opposed to the one at the VA, primary care physician. She thinks I have a good prospect for staying upright, if I don't trip over Kaia, etc. It's been six and a half years since I was last sick, bronchitis in Asia 2020, so I hope to continue that streak. Consequently, I got a COVID booster hoping to remain among those who've never had it. This record of health fills me with gratitude.

   This medical appointment is one reason I've remained at the OFH this week. Last week's presence here was to keep Kaia from 4th of July fireworks in Sinai. They don't scare her but she gets agitated thinking that firecrackers are the sounds of shooting and she wants to be out hunting. The fireworks perpetrators have no sense of bedtime, lighting fireworks far into the night. 

Takk for alt,

Al

There is so much I don't know. Hearing about mangroves on ocean shorelines I always imaged huge trees, like a big cottonwood...not so!. These are mangroves on the coast of Cambodia. A recent news article reported an uptick in the world's mangroves, good conservation news. These trees are a part of a deliberate reforestation project we visited in 2020, while I had bronchitis, my last illness.  

Apologies to both my readers!

    The computer education classes at both Brooking county Rural District 21, and Sinai High School were lacking. Consequently my technical skills are rudimentary. Tangled up with an internet issue time escaped me and know I'm too tired for a longer post.

   There was a particular high point today when an author friend presented me with his first gift copy of his newly published book of haiku poetry. This will prompt much reflection...thanks PMFJ!  😀

  More another day!

Takk for alt,

Al

Greetings to you both!

    Guess what, I watched a basketball game today!  It wasn't "my" team. However, almost always I favor one team over another, pure prejudice. The preferred team won today, but these games evoke little anxiety. Watching as much as I do I can identify most WNBA players by sight. There, too, there are favorites and others for which I have less affection. Case in point; one of the excellent players in the league I've not liked. Learning about her has revealed a very fine person. So, why my dislike. Eventually I puzzled it out, it's because on the floor she never smiles, always playing looking dour. There, now, you see how arbitrary and subjective I am.

   The day ended with a delightful meal on a patio with, what for me is perfect weather; clear skies and 83 degrees. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Now there are five.

      My oldest aunt lived at Baalaton, MN. She'd accompanied her father, my grandfather, there to teach Vacation Bible School. She met and married a local farmer. Some where around 1910 she died of uremic poisoning after childbirth, her son and my first born cousin, Clifford, drown in a water tank when he was 3. His father died in the flu epidemic. Thus ended that family.

    This is story of my surviving cousins who made it to adulthood, grandchildren of my grandparents. Last week there six surviving cousins. Yesterday my oldest one, surviving at age 93, died from injuries suffered in a car accident. Alvin, five years older than I, was always my hero. Living twelve miles apart we had regular contact growing up. Saturday, I will attend his funeral in Aurora, IL.

   Grandpa and Grandma had nineteen grandchildren after the late Clifford. The gender breakdown is interesting. There were five boys, which included my two brothers and I, thus only two male cousins. There were 14 female cousins. Of all these grandchildren. I was second to the youngest and the youngest died several years ago. Giving some balance to this equation was my oldest cousin, Cecilia, who had four sons, one a year older than I, one my age and two younger.

  Now, surviving in age sequence: one is 92, another 91, the third 89, then 88, and 87. None have had birthdays this year. Interesting demographics.  Add those ages up and what do you get? I'm not allowed to do the math. 😀 

Takk for alt,

Al

Uffda...

     One of the challenges of retirement life is tracking the days of the week. When I was first retired I volunteered regularly at Hmong Academy for ten plus years. It was very enjoyable, satisfying with a side bonus. It kept me oriented to the day of the week.

   That volunteering gig ended with COVID. Now it would be challenging with my hearing problems but probably could be done with the aid of my hearing aid's remote mic. However, I now reside in St. Paul and the Academy is in the NW suburb  of Brooklyn Park. That's way to far to drive across Minneapolis.

  This subject comes up because tonight I spaced an event I intended to attend. In fact I even have a ticket for it. This leaves me feeling disappointed. My memory is a point of pride with me, with the exception of names which I usually remember...at 2:00 am.😉 

Takk for alt,

Al

I'm pictured with students from Noble Academy.

Shades of Thailand!

     Sitting outside at a local restaurant a bit ago, temperature 85, dew point 72, brought back my time in Thailand. Though I went in winter the weather there was very similar to what we're experiencing. Temperatures would run in the upper 80s to lower 90s daytime. At night 80 was typical. Dew points often in the 70s. This was without a/c, though I did have a fan at night. (Now it's 6:30 am in Ayutthaya and the temperature is 77 and the dew point 76.) Knowing that Minnesota temperatures were in the single digits to minus improved my attitude about the heat and humidity.  At school the students would play soccer and do other vigorous activities, e.g., jump rope, impervious to the heat. Of course this was their cool season.

   Were it not for the accident of birth I should live in a warmer climate. One positive, there are no scorpions here. At Camp Pendleton when we were in the field we'd shake our boots in the morning to be certain a scorpion hadn't moved in.

Takk for alt,

Al

Thai fourth graders, the girl in the middle is twin of the one on her right.

Power Shopping!

     In the market for a new blazer the plan was to go to a fancy men's store. The reason for that choice was there'd be measurements for a good fit. A store was identified in a suburb across town. Arriving revealed that the store was gone and it was being retrofitted for a fast food enterprise. So much for that plan.

   Checking my trusty smart phone I located a J C Penney store nearby. So I drove to it guided by GPS. Walking to the back corner of the store where men's wear is kept, no employee was in sight. Realizing that it was going to be totally self serve, I spotted a rack of blazers. After putting one on I walked to the checkout by the front door, paid for the blazer and my time in the store was no more than fifteen minutes. That was within my patience quotient. Who needs a fancy men's store? That's what passes for excitement  in my life.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Neighbor to The Little House reports 1" in my rain gauge! 

PPS The blazer fits well.

OFH has a 4:30 dinner seating, giggle...

 

"Things happen!"

      In certain situations I've found having a mantra is helpful. Living with a Thai family for 10? years there was a mantra I often employed. Papa spoke no English, Mama had a smattering and daughter was quite conversant. Frequently outings for the whole family, plus I, were planned. Seldom did I have a clue to the nature of an outing until he was fait a comply. Before, during, until the plan became clear, my mantra was "All will be revealed." It was sweet to have interesting experiences for which I had no responsibility. Usually a Buddhist temple would be part of the plan. No two temples are alike which added interest. At one a monk engaged me in discussion of American politics. (Parenthetically, anyplace in Thailand if a local is asked to escort one to a place of interest that local will conduct the inquirer to the temple.) 

    Visiting E & MJ, in Iowa, they employ the same mysterious approach, even though we're all conversant in English. It gives opportunity to once again use the mantra "All will be revealed."  Which leads to another mantra which I used today.

   Yesterday I purchased tires at Costco. The salesman said they could be installed at 1:45 today, even writing the hour on the sales agreement. When I presented myself today at 1:45, a different salesmen said "I see where your tires were purchased but there's no record of an appointment and we're booked up until 4:00." Where upon I threw a major tantrum...not. He was very apologetic. I said "Not your fault." Then I used a mantra that I find very helpful in moments like this. I said, "Things happen!" and, said further, "I'll return at 4:00."

   Then I did what any self respecting octogenarian would do, I went home and had a nap. As of this writing there are 4 new tires on my car. 

Takk for alt,

Al

A friend shared this...

 In Ireland, around 1880, the harvest wasn’t doing so well. 

To appease his tenant farmers, Lord Erne offered a 10% rent reduction. They countered with a request for 25%. He rejected their proposal and told his land agent, Captain Charles Boycott, to start evicting them.

That should have ended the story. Instead, it started one.

Irish nationalist Charles Stewart Parnell, a local leader at the time, made a simple proposal to the farmers: don’t attack Boycott. Don’t threaten him. Simply pretend he doesn’t exist.

Don’t work for him.
Don’t sell to him.
Don’t buy from him.
Don’t even acknowledge him.

The village happily obliged.

His laborers quit.
His servants disappeared.
Shopkeepers turned him away.
Even the postman refused to deliver his mail.

Within weeks, one man became socially radioactive.

The story spread around the world. The Irish Land Reform movement found new momentum. And Captain Charles Boycott achieved something few people ever do: his name became a verb.

OFH

       "Where are you?" "Here!"  After being wined and dined in Eastern Iowa, today it was back to St. Paul. Passing by Costco in Eagan I stopped and ordered tires, they've sure gotten expensive, for installation tomorrow. They should last longer than the 20,000 of the original tires. Honda makes money but selling new cars with cheap tires. 

   After the Costco stop it was time to rescue Kaia from doggy camp. She seems to be healed from the UTI encountered in camp. Her camp counselor took her to a vet for treatment. It just was lousy timing because thee are UTI meds in my apartment.

   It was a good trip to see good friends who dote on me. Neighbor to The Little House reports that there was 1.75" rain in my gauge the other night. It was much needed and much appreciated and particularly helpful before this hot weather.

Takk for alt,

Al 

My Experience!

 

That's all for today, folks!

Takk for alt,

Al

Lap Of Luxury!

      Today I made the move to Iowa City, IA. Ensconced in the guest room of an OFH, rather the guest suite, meals included, with good friends on the floor above, life is sweet. There was a funny incident. The friends offered to let me use their internet account. This precipitated a scramble to find the appropriate password. The problem was solved when a button was pressed on the router.

   Repairing to my guest apartment, upon entering a different room there was a note with the guest apartment internet log-in and password! 😀   

  So's where's Al?  I'm here!

Takk for alt,

Al

Dubuque Iowa!

     The day included several venues in Dubuque. It began with the fascinating aquarium and attached museum. On the way to ride the funicular, which we did, a memory was tantalizing me "Where else have I ridden a funicular...was it Bergan, Norway?" probably. But then it  came to me "Kunming, China." We went to Mississippi Lock 10, and watched a huge barge and tow go through the locks. Then it was north of Dubuque up the high bluffs for dinner in Balltown.

    Yup, it was a full wonderful day! Thanks, Ed and MaryJane.

Takk for alt,

Al

Balltown sits high on a ridge with this view, the Mississippi River is visible in the distance.

Not Old, long term...

        It was 1959 and Ed and I were in Marine Boot Camp. Fortune put us in the same platoon so we were acquaintances. Geography played a part. Because we finished Boot Camp on Dec. 15, we were given leave, no choice, over Christmas. With Ed's home in Eastern IA and mine in Eastern SD, we rode the same bus from San Diego to Omaha, a two day trip, on the way to our homes. On the bus we had the leisure to talk and two farm boys found we had so much in common. Fortune again hove into view when, after leave,  we were assigned to the same company at Camp Pendleton, then in the same office until I completed my enlistment.

    Though we remained friends, and in contact, fortune again intervened when I moved our family to Davenport in 1980. This put us 25 miles from Ed's farm. Now Joanne and Ed's wife MaryJane became good friends and, of course, I got significant time with Ed.

   When I retired in 2007 we started visiting every year since, with the exception of  2020. So, here I am again, once again being treated like royalty. Tonight included dinner with Ed's & MaryJane's neighbors, who over the years, have become friends of mine. 

   Life is good, sponging off long time friends!

Takk for alt,

Al

Where's Al?

       If someone were to ask me where I am I'd say "I'm here." But, then where's here? Perhaps it might surprise to know that I'm in DeWitt, Iowa. It's about 20 miles from Illinois. In fact we had dinner in Clinton on a deck where we could look across the Mississippi and see Illinois. 

    After dinner we went troll hunting and found 3 of 4. They're huge made of reused lumber, 1000s sf pieces attached by screws.  

  Clinton, Iowa is home to four massive, interactive wooden sculptures created by world-renowned Danish recycled-materials artist Thomas Dambo. The trolls celebrate Clinton’s rich 1800s lumber history. You can search for three brother trolls—Helmut, Marvin, and Warren—and a hidden fourth installation called 'The Enchanted Branches'.  Internet

Takk for alt,

Al 

This is Helmut, who is holding a maple tree.

This is Marvin, who is reclining inside a building. Each of the small pieces are attached with screws.

OFH

     Kaia and I motored to the OFH arriving this morning. So, to the query, "Where are you?"  the answer is that "We are here." It's the first leg of a little planned road trip. This stay will be brief.

Takk for alt,

Al

Screen Time!

     After watching a video about the effect of screen time on sleep I decided to experiment. Both of you, my readers know that I don't watch much TV. On the other hand I do spend quite a bit of time on the computer. After seeing the video about screen time and sleep I decided to experiment. The initial results suggest that when I discontinue screen time an hour and a half before going to bed I wake up less at night. To be continued...

  There was also a video about eight things a person age 70 should be able to do. Naturally I tested myself. Rise from a chair with out using hands? check; walk for 10 minutes? check; climb a flight of stairs? check;  carry a bag of groceries from the car to the kitchen? check; prepare a meal? check; maintain personal hygiene? check; engage in cognitive activities? check; and, socialize and leave the house? check. Seems a very minimal list, nothing about picking rocks nor cutting cedars. Not even remembering what was done yesterday. But then I'm not 70! 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

I've posted this street sign from Saladaeng, Bangkok. What does the sign advertise on the second floor?

Happy Father's Day and Summer Solstice!

       I've long argued that you don't have to be a father to have a happy Father's Day! For some, the logic of that assertion escapes them. But, what ever, hope your Father's Day is happy as mine has been. It's a blessing to have two children who dote on me.

    However, I do have to confess to a bit of depression. It has to do with summer solstice. The long daylight hours of this time of year, in this latitude, agree with me. The lengthy twilight is delightful. Though the retreat of the sun will not be observable for some time it's the  knowledge of it that makes me sad.

    In conversation with L today we were remembering the lack of twilight in SE Asia. Suddenly the sun rises and suddenly the sun sets. Close to the Equator day and night are almost the same length. It's very near 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

  The rooster crowing across the street from The Little House harkens to my time in Thailand. There was no clock in my Thai bedroom. There were two signals to me that it was time to arise. Roosters crowing was one signal. The other clue was the Muslim call to prayer at 6:00 am from the neighboring mosque. It's been many years since I used an alarm clock but it's helpful to have some signal of the time.

  Speaking of an alarm clock there's a funny story. L was staying with me. At breakfast he said, "Dad your alarm clock went off last night."  News to me 😀, checked and it was set to ring at 2:00 am. Without my hearing aids I didn't hear it. How many weeks had it sounded unheard?

Takk for alt,

Al

It must have been almost 6:00 pm when I took this picture over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

Gov. Waltz commenting on the reflecting pool fiasco;

 Minnesota governor Tim Walz commented: “Found an imaginary problem, said only they could fix it, didn’t listen to experts, hired buddies who grifted millions, failed miserably, bragged how great it went. The entire Trump presidency in a nutshell.”

Rare June Day!

         One of the realities of South Dakota geography is that it features frequent wind. Most days the wind blows and it is a rare day when the wind is calm. Thought nights are more often relatively windless. For at least a week the weather forecast has predicted that there would be little wind today. Needing to spray weeds in my corn a windless day is helpful. The forecast was accurate as I drove by the lake the surface was almost unbroken by wind and it reflected the opposite shoreline. Indeed, a rare June day.

     The necessary spraying was quickly accomplished. In the one field the corn is growing normally. In the other the corn is stunted. It should have been fertilized and illustrates the effect of growing corn year after year on the same ground, at least twenty years, maybe thirty. Fertilizer is on the agenda for next year. 

    A week ago the consignment auction sponsored by the fire department was the usual success. Gross sales were approximately $150,000. I did my part consigning a disc, buying a disc and a stalk chopper.

Takk for alt,

Al

This was this mornings view of Lake Joanne.

In Retrospect...

     The current book I'm reading is about travel adventures, or misadventures. This causes me to reflect on my travel experiences. Though I travelled quite a bit I experienced very little mis-adventure. Never was a flight cancelled on me and most of the time flights were on time. Only once was my luggage delayed.  That was on a trip to Argentina. My suitcase caught up with me after a few days.

   On a visit to New York City for continuing education, my flight was out of LaGuardia Airport. While waiting at the gate to return to Minneapolis the airline personnel announced that vouchers were being offered if a flier would relinquish a seat. When the offered amount reached $1200. I offered my seat. Apparently the airplane sent was smaller than the booked plane. The man at the counter said he'd take my name but the amount offered would go higher. It did! The voucher I received was for $2400.00 with no time limit on it's use. How long was I delayed? Two hours. 

   That was the only time I surrendered a seat. Never was I bumped from a flight. Yet, airports are a huge hassle and the thought of encountering it fills me with dread. Blessed with family within driving distance there is no need to fly to see them. 

Takk for alt,

Al

This is one of the last planes on which I flew. It was from Athens to Crete in 2023, and my knees were jammed against the seat in front of me. Fortunately it was only about a 45 minute flight.

Excellent Book!

      This novel has an exceptionally appropriate epigraph. "Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which other people find inadmissible." Carl Jung.  It accurately summarizes Elizabeth Strout's The Things We Never Say. This New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner is out with this 2026 book.

    Artie, husband, father, high school teacher, sailor, friend...finds little opportunity to speak what's really on his mind. A tragic event has frozen the relationship with his wife so that their communication loses emotional depth. Their life is further complicated  by a significant secret which he only discovers very late.

    Strout is one of those writers that engage from the first page. Her understanding of the human condition suffuses the pages as the characters live out their lives in relationship. Typical of Strout books, Artie is a loveable character who lives with the silent frustration of few understanding him. 

   I'm very glad it read it!

Takk for alt,

Al

And to think I have an apartment in an Old Folks Home

 

Impulse buy!

      At Saturday's consignment auction I attended intending to bid on the disc that followed me home. Aware that there was also a stalk chopper for sale, after buying the disc, I wandered over to the chopper curious how it would sell. I bought it on impulse when no one else cared enough to make a couple of bids. 

   It's a John Deere, Model 27, and, judging how much of the road it covered, a 16'. After pulling it to my shop I lubricated it and attached the PTO and hydraulic hoses. Much to my pleasure it worked. Both it and the disc came with the requisite hydraulic cylinder which increases their value. The chopper attaches to the 1000rpm power take off shaft.  After replacing a couple of tires I towed it to the field where it can rest until next spring when it will find use.

   So that's how I spent my work day. What did you do?

Takk for alt,

Al

Tire Follies!

        One of the tires on the disc that followed me home from Saturday's sale looked very old and weather checked. That disc's home is several miles from town. So, it seemed wise to head off possible trouble by replacing that tire. It was removed from the disc and, accompanied with a replacement tire, was transported to a tire repair shop in Volga 10+ miles away. Then the follies began. The tired tire had a 15" rim and the replacement I brought was 14". Stretching is not an option. Dilemma? Return to Sinai for a15" tire, or try the old one?  Folly two...deciding to put a new inner tube in the old tire and use it. Back in Sinai with the tire remounted on the disc it blew out in the first block while heading to the field. Off with that blown tire and back to Volga with the 15" tire I should have brought at the beginning.

     There was a time that this scenario would have frustrated me. No more, it's more entertaining than anything. The disc is now safely parked in the field and resting until it's time to use it next spring. The day's activity is another one that's better than a gym membership. The person who consigned the disc for sale was very lucky that the tire held air until it reached the Sinai sale ground.

Takk for alt,

Al

No comment...

 

June!

 

What Is So Rare As A Day In June

"And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And, groping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys;
The cowslip startles in meadows green,
The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice,
And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean
To be some happy creature's palace;
The little bird sits at his door in the sun,
Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illumined being o'errun
With the deluge of summer it receives;
His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings,
And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings;
He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,
In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best?"    James Russell Lowell

    Yesterday's consignment auction was at a new time. In the past it's always been the second Saturday of August. The date change didn't seem to inhibit the consignments nor the bidders. The weather was so cool that a jacket felt good, unlike the hot August days of the past. Will it be June again if there is one? We'll wait and see.

Takk for alt,

Al

Malacca, Malaysia is very interesting because of the layers of cultures. First there was Malay, then Portuguese Colonial, followed by Dutch Colonial, which was followed by English Colonial and finally independence in 1957. 

Look what followed me home!

      From a casual observer the Sinai Volunteer Fire Department consignment auction today looked like another success. There was a commercial source of many brand new attachments for a skid steer. Selling brought significant money but they sold for much less than would have been paid at a dealer. Good for the Fire Department and good for the buyer. This is one picture of less than a fourth of what was for sale.

  

    But, I did not escape unscathed. This disc followed me home as I  had hoped. There was one other interested bidder so I paid a fair, but not unreasonable, price.

 Then there was this stalk chopper, which I can use, but no one else wanted, so, it was cheap and also followed me home.

Takk for alt,

Al

Pretty much , my life!

 

Incredible!

       Every year before (and after) Sinai Firemen's consignment auction we say "It's sold now, next year there won't be a much." What happens? Next year there's more. This year is no exception. It's hard to get pictures that do justice, but I'll try. Bidding begins at 10:00 and ends ??? when everything is sold. The professional auctioneers volunteer their time and effort and their 10% normal commission goes to the the fire department. Those volunteers do an incredible amount of work to keep the department solvent.

    Perhaps the amount of consignment shouldn't be a surprise in a culture that is continuously building more rental storage lockers. In the classified section of the Minneapolis Paper there are columns of advertisements listing lockers that are abandoned and the contents to be auctioned. 

   We're slow to learn that every thing we own ends up owning us. A former prisoner of war said, after his release, "I had a tremendous feeling of freedom when everything was taken from me."

Takk for alt,

Al   

Showered!

       Sinai's been showered recently, including today.  It's been unusual. Several times there have been small rain showers. These have been up to .3" a couple of times Other's smaller as today it was .2". Cumulatively, perhaps something over 1.5" total. This is certainly helpful and an advantage is that there is no run off.

    Bird sightings: twice it has been Red Headed Woodpeckers, which have lost population numbers. They were in separate woodlands so not the same bird seen twice. Three Brown Thrashers were seen together. These birds with a beautiful song are quite reclusive.  A Mallard Hen with 11 newly hatched ducklings were swimming near the road. A local farmer reported seeing a Pheasant hen with a brood of chicks. These chicks and ducklings will be fully grown by winter increasing their chance of survival.

   Sinai Firemen's annual consignment auction is Saturday. Included in the sale is a never erected Quonset building. The final sale advertisement took a half a page in the local advertiser and late consignments continue to arrive. So far the only tractor offered is a John Deere 4020. No, I'm not bidding.

Takk for alt,

Al

The gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker is so boldly patterned it’s been called a “flying checkerboard,” with an entirely crimson head, a snow-white body, and half white, half inky black wings. These birds don’t act quite like most other woodpeckers: they’re adept at catching insects in the air, and they eat lots of acorns and beech nuts, often hiding away extra food in tree crevices for later. This magnificent species has declined severely in the past half-century because of habitat loss and changes to its food supply.

It can be tricky to glimpse a Brown Thrasher in a tangled mass of shrubbery, and once you do you may wonder how such a boldly patterned, gangly bird could stay so hidden. Brown Thrashers wear a somewhat severe expression thanks to their heavy, slightly downcurved bill and staring yellow eyes, and they are the only thrasher species east of Texas. Brown Thrashers are exuberant singers, with one of the largest repertoires of any North American songbird.

The advantage of hearing loss!

 

Book Report!

     Before passing it on to me L told me it was a very good. Reading it revealed that to be an understatement. It's one of those books that engages from the first page while getting better steadily in reading. Seldom do I read books currently on the NY Times current best seller list, but this is one.

    The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is totally in the form of letters sent and received, except for one that's more like a diary. Sybil, the primary character, a retired attorney living alone, has written, and, consequently received, letters since she was a girl. Now her pattern is to sit at her desk at 10:00 am every day and write letters.  These letters, and the replies she receives, constitute the book. A family tragedy much earlier in her life had a huge impact on her, to which she only comes to terms in her final years. 

   A brilliant and self reflective woman, her engagement with others causes her to significantly change in her latter years. The book is filled with the wisdom that comes with such reflection and her willingness to engage honestly with others. These include life long friends, family inc. a son and daughter, neighbors and young boy who's the son of a friend. She also writes  to authors, public figures and people in the news, often receiving a reply. Not only does she change with her correspondence so do others through her missives. Almost by accident long secret family members come to light.

   In her acknowledgments at the end of the book Evans give strong tribute to her husband, Mark. Then below the last line the acknowledgment is this.

   James 1:17

Takk for alt,

Al