This and that!

        Interesting temperature change yesterday. Monday night the temperature dropped to 49 degrees, corn doesn't grow much at that temperature. By mid-afternoon the temperature was 87! and it warmed up fast. At noon today we had a light shower of .2", not much but every little bit helps. Weather forecasts suggest some possible rain in the next few days, which is needed badly.

     There are always cedars to pursue in the grass. However finding them becomes more difficult as the grass grows. Maybe I should switch to rock picking. 

    Tomorrow the town's streets will be tarred and rock poured over the tar. That's about as exciting as it gets in Sinai.  There was a time when all the streets were gravel. Five miles west of Sinai, U.S. Highway 81 runs from Arlington to Madison (actually from Winnipeg to Mexico City). The section north of Madison is being resurfaced so many semi-trucks now detour through Sinai. 

Takk for alt,

Al

A little poetry, I particularly like the last line.

Things to Think

Robert Bly (born 1926)

Think in ways you’ve never thought before.
If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message
Larger than anything you’ve ever heard,
Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.

Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,
Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose
Has risen out of the lake, and he’s carrying on his antlers
A child of your own whom you’ve never seen.

When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about
To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,
Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s
Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

Annual Meeting!

       While I'm not allowed to attend congregational meetings, so far I have not been barred from attending the Sinai Cooperative Elevator's annual meeting. It was held last night. It wasn't a particularly good year for the Coop as it posted a loss of 141K. The current turbulence in the world of agriculture has farmers on edge, consequently the Coop's business was down.  

     A representative of CHS, that provides feed and fertilizer to the Coop, spoke. The essence of his speech was that the situation is in turmoil because of tariffs. Without mentioning the current occupant he said prices and availabilities of  products could not be predicted. When he said "Every things unpredictable" I was the only one who laughed.

    Most grain elevators have joined larger consortiums. Sinai's remains independent. Likely two factors are responsible for its independent status. The Coop has been well managed. The other factor in its continued success has been the loyalty of local farmers. By their continued patronage they keep it viable. It has the necessary assets to handle the current deficit. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Sinai Cooperative Elevator, Sinai, SD, 57061.

Slow Read!

     It's a long book, 581 pages of relatively small print, in my version. That's one reason it took me a long time to read it. But there are, at least, two other reasons for the expanse of time.  With my subscription to the WNBA League Pass, I watch a lot of basketball when I could be reading. Case in point; yesterday "my" team, the Minnesota Lynx, were playing as I drove to S.D. Les  kept me informed of the games progress via text. Then, after the fact, I watched the replay.  Parenthetically, the team is 9 and 0 this year. Watching them is time I could be reading.

    But another reason it took awhile to read was the book itself. It was so enjoyable that I simply wanted to savor and live with it. It was almost disappointing to finish it. Oh, you want to know the book?  Of course, why didn't I think of that? Willa Cather's Song Of The Lark  was published in 1915.  It's a masterpiece. A wonderful story it's full of insight about the struggles of truly gifted artists. It makes plain the costs they pay on the way to great accomplishment. The book perhaps even more enjoyable in my elderhood.

Takk for alt,

Al

The Little House

     After a rich morning which included a family confirmand, and new members in an inspiring Pentecost Service.  Being not able to find my Singha Beer tee shirt I wasn't clad in red as was encouraged.  Nevertheless, it was a fine morning. The choir was in rare form with solos in Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, German and Chinese.

    At a family  brunch later, a good time was had by all and that includes Al, who is now at The Little House for a spell. Having never been able to decide which abode is "home" now the OFH is named the 'vacation home.'

Takk for alt,

Al

Rare Opportunity!

      Six of us gather regularly for dinner Friday nights at the OFH, that is if I'm not at The Little House, when they meet without me.  Last night we gathered for a special occasion, a birthday party. One of our regulars has a birthday very soon and we got to have the first party for her. MonaMae will be 102 on June 9! So, naturally we needed to celebrate. It's a rare opportunity to celebrate a person's 102nd birthday. 

    MonaMae is blessed with a good memory and a large and attentive family. The family is planning a series of events to honor her. It was fun to be a part of the first one. She lives two apartments from me so we often meet in the hallway. In the card we all signed I wrote, "I want to be like you when I grow up." It happened once that it was only the two of us at dinner. It was a fascinating conversation as we discussed politics in complete harmony. 

Takk for alt,

Al

MonaMae, blowing out her birthday candles.

What day it this?

     Jim, the food service director for the OFH is a real gem. He retired from a successful career in commercial food service. Hanging around home too much his wife said "Go find a job!" So the OFH is the beneficiary of his talent. About four times a year he puts on a gourmet dinner. It's a themed multi-course meal with many extras. 

   So, what day is this?  It's National Donut Day!  It's also an illustration of Jim's creativity. Tables were set up by the continental breakast and inmates were invited to select a free donut. There was a wide variety but I quickly selected an apple fritter. It want will with coffee as I read the morning paper. This is one of the ways that Jim and the OFH spice up life for the inmates!

  So what day is this?  It's June 6, 2025 and 61 years to the day since Joanne and I were married. The service was at First Lutheran, Sioux Falls, SD. Pastor Marcus Gravdal Presided and Joanne's father, Pastor Oscar C. Hanson did the homily. The Augustana College Choir sang. Joanne's maid of honor was her sister Mary, and attendants were Jenine Peterson nee Jordahl and Maxine Kellany nee Amundson. My brother David was my best man, and the only survivor of the attendants. Attending me was my brother, Richard, and David Halvorson.

   Two very different days each special in their own way.

Takk for alt,

Al

Yes, we were young then.

Twice!

     Tom joined me for lunch at the OFH. Every meal there's a special in addition to fourteen menu items. Today's special was spaghetti and meatballs with mixed vegetables.  Portions are modest size suitable for old folks. The meal includes a starter of soup, salad, cold slaw, or fruit, beverage and dessert, which today was peach pie.

   After lunch Tom continued cribbage lessons. For the second time ever ever ever I won a game of cribbage...twice now! In all honesty I do occasionally ask for a bit of coaching. Tom also ascertains that my point counting is accurate. Too often I miss some points and counting them is one of the most complicated aspects of the game.

   It's a good game, accompanied by good food and good conversation.

Takk for alt,

Al

Meteora's (Greece) unique rock pillars and monasteries were built over centuries, with the rocky spires themselves being the result of geological processes over millions of years. The monasteries were constructed by monks who faced considerable challenges in building on these high, inaccessible rocks, utilizing methods like nets, buckets, and ropes to haul materials.       How would you like to be the bricklayer?