Far Side of Fifty

Frosty Morning

Posted on February 3, 2012 by farside

The hoar frost and snow fog was awesome yesterday morning. I think the roads were slippery in the early morning.

Chance and I went out to capture some frosty views.

He is the best model and companion for early morning outings.

The snow fog blocked out the sun all day long..so there were no Ground Hogs seeing their shadows in my part of Minnesota yesterday.

Lollygagging has officially begun. I am taking some time to just do whatever strikes my fancy for 15 days. I am going to nap if I want too..I am going to spend an entire day reading a book if I want too. It will be like a mini vacation right here at home:)

Treasures in the Trunk: Red Dress

Posted on February 2, 2012 by farside

Whilst I was rummaging around in the trunk I found some things that our daughters will have no idea where they came from, or why they were saved..they could guess of course..or they could read the blog.

My Mom marked the photo. First Day School 1959 Stuart, Iowa. We spent the entire summer and fall in Iowa while my Dad was working on Road Construction in the area. I started Third Grade there and after two months we went back to the farm. I loved Stuart Iowa. There was a library, and I had my own library card..for a reader like me it was pure heaven. There was also a city park and a bandstand.

My Mom sent the dress out to me one day when she was cleaning out some of her old boxes.

I suppose I should have ironed it..but it is old..and ironing it now may damage the fibers..besides that I just put it back in the trunk after the photos anyway.

This dress now has provenance .. yes this is a historical dress..a 53 year old historical dress. Provenance means “to come from” usually it is reserved for great works of art. In my case it works for the red dress. I know it was a store bought dress, and I wore it many times. Not my favorite dress..but it was my second favorite dress. I only wore it one season..cause then I got breasts and nothing fit right ever again:)

Wistful Wednesday: The Owl

Posted on February 1, 2012 by farside

A very long time ago. Something happened in a pasture..I do not recall exactly what the circumstance was. I believe a tree went down in a storm and a nest was disturbed.

Our neighbor Walt showed up with a gunnysack slung over his shoulder. Inside were two baby owls. The other baby owl went to live with his grandson just down the road.

Carey named our owl George Washington, Danny named his Theodore Roosevelt. Very patriotic names for owls!

We fed them grain and bugs..lots of bugs. Owls grow really fast on a diet of bugs. We may have fed them some ground up pocket gofers too because we always had a trap line going in the summer. I believe all this happened in the summer of 1962. One day towards Fall we released them back into the wild.

That is my baby brother giving the owl his arm he would have been 7 years old, I am holding my other baby brother who was almost 2 years old and I would have been almost 11 that summer. I cannot remember where we kept that owl..most likely in a rabbit cage in the barn. That is the old picture tree behind us and I noticed a set of concrete lawn ornaments in the background..a Hen with four chicks.

We always wore long sleeves when handling the owl. My baby brother took very good care of that owl. Have you ever been pecked by an owl? I have:)

My baby brothers version:

The baby owls were on the ground in the pasture, couldn’t fly or run. I and Danny B found them. They were Great Horned owls. The Owl Mother didn’t like the fact that her babies were removed and would sit on top of the barn and watch. The owl George lived in a case by the side of the chicken coop. Sharp claws. Ate hamburger. Released into Smoky Hills state forest, not sure how he faired

Posted in my siblings, wildlife, Wistful Wednesday | 3 Comments

Museum: Old Maps

Posted on January 31, 2012 by farside

I worked on the Historical Museums Newsletter yesterday again..it is finally ready to mail. I am all done with newsletters until May when I am back in my office.

I am working on several H.U.G.E. projects…it all takes time. If I would stop making suggestions and having ideas I would be less stressed and in charge of less projects. Ground work and making the road maps for an organization to follow is not an easy job. Attracting new members, raising funds, seeing that things get repaired and keeping one hand on the pulse of an organization is not exactly a walk in the park or a stroll down the road either. The board members assured me that they would send articles for the newsletter..three did and the other four dropped the ball. I filled in the blanks so I could get the newsletter off of my desk. I did not think I would feel burned out during the winter..but after yesterday and the day before..I sure was. I have to give them one more day this week..and then I can get all my ducks in a row on the next project. Most everything is in place. I just need to set the wheels in motion. I hope the map I made is a good one. I do not want to crash and burn after all the effort. Don’t worry I will tell you all about it sooner or later.

I thought that this was a cool map to share today. The map is all folded up inside this folder.

I wanted to see what 1924-1925 looked like in my neck of the woods. So I took a photo!

I was thrilled to find that Detroit Lakes was still called Detroit ( Later in 1926 it was changed to Detroit Lakes so that it would not be confused with Detroit, Michigan.)

Highway 34 went right past the farm I grew up on and very near where we live now. The stair step highway which we live near was featured in the opening chapter of Red Earth White Earth..which was written by a local farm kid and eventually became a movie.

Highway 34 was realigned in the 1940’s..and the booming town of Ponsford was no longer on the main route to Detroit. A new road was built, and the old part of Highway 34 that included Ponsford became known as Highway 225. Old roads were often the life blood of a community..that and railroad tracks..if you were missed by either of them your town was going to struggle before it eventually died.

I wonder did the powers that be ever wonder if their new road map was the way to go? Did they feel guilty..or was it all in the name of progress?

Yesterday I took one of my volunteers out to lunch..and one of these days I will take my other wonderful volunteer (Far Guy) out for breakfast..both of them are ready to hit the ground running in the spring and are looking forward to the Museum opening..me not so much..at least not today..perhaps tomorrow:)

Posted in Historical Society Museum, Ponsford, projects | Leave a comment

Saving National Geo’s and Time

Posted on January 30, 2012 by farside

The other night whilst watching Hockey..I searched for a photo I did not find..but I found lots of other things.

Like these.

I had a whole bunch of 1930’s National Geographics and then these two. Then I remembered the day that Far Guy and I were at a garage sale that had hundreds of these. We searched through stack after stack until we found one for each of the girls from the month and the year they were born..just for fun. It could be worse..they could have been photos of half dressed natives of some foreign country. Jen is not going to appreciate those Eels or whatever kind of weird looking albino fish those are.

I tried to save some time yesterday..by typing fast and not saving..I was almost done..and then the blankety blank old dying Historical Museum computer hiccupped..and lost everything I had written. I was working on the February newsletter. I came downstairs..disgusted. Went back upstairs after I was done feeling sorry for my stupid self..and every five minutes Far Guy would holler “Save your work!” I finally got it done, came down to print it out and discovered that I could not access a pub file from either of our computers. I called Jen to make sure I wasn’t missing something. I wasn’t other than a Microsoft Publisher Program on one of our computers. That program costs about 120 dollars…the Museum may have to spring for that software after their computer crashes. I believe a former Director loaded her personal copy onto the Museum Computer. So anyways we had to haul my printer upstairs and hook it up so I could print the Newsletter..and then I ran out of ink…twice. So now I need to go get ink before I can finish…I figured as much..but I held out hope that I had enough ink on hand to finish the project. It is not quite February yet..I still have time.

We tried one of those thingys from Wally World Electronic Department. It is a thinga mabobber that you plug into your USB port and it makes your old computer wireless..it worked as advertised on the Historical Museum’s ~~piece of junk~~ computer. Eventually I will use it on my old computer upstairs that has lots of games on it for the Grandkids. For now it limps the Museums Desk Top Computer along for the winter..which saves me the hassle of having yet another computer downstairs..but I am not sure it saves me any time at least not yesterday:(

Posted in computers, Far Sides Thoughts, projects | 6 Comments

Ta Da!

Posted on January 29, 2012 by farside

Finally it is accomplished. I am not sure it was worth all the time and effort I put into it..but the kitchen cupboard and drawers have been cleaned. Far Guy said “Perhaps I should just clean one cupboard or drawer a week.” I said “Knock yourself out sweetheart.”

Yes, I probably should be all matchy matchy and have a black fridge ..but the white one still works just fine..keeps stuff cold and makes ice cubes..what more could you want from a fridge?

I have cooked the last three nights in a row..tonight I am making my favorite popcorn. Usually once I announce that popcorn is what’s for supper Far Guy takes over.

Here is the new mixer with the storage thingy…it holds the cord and the beaters so everything is all in one place..ingenious..a woman must have designed it. The new mixer works just fine…the mixer mixes as advertised.

I made some meringue for the top of the lemon pudding we had for desert last night. I always feel guilty if I throw the egg whites in the garbage..so I make meringue. I sit down right outside the oven to make sure it doesn’t get burned. I have been known to walk away and forget about stuff under the broiler…and when the smoke alarm goes off I am reminded. So I have a personal rule..Do not leave the stove unattended whilst using the broiler:)

Posted in cooking, House, projects | Leave a comment

Icy Roads

Posted on January 28, 2012 by farside

The roads are terrible, it snowed some and then the wind blew and so the North South stretches of road are icy.

Milk was the only thing that drew us out of the warmth and safety of home. We should get a cow…or Far Guy should buy larger containers of milk.

It was a pretty day, even if the wind was blowing and there were small snow tornados in some of the fields.

I am not quite done with the kitchen yet..procrastination must be my middle name..we did stop by Wally World and purchase a new cheese slicer and a new hand held mixer. I declared our wedding gift one from 42 years ago..unsafe with a bare wire.. and too hard to clean with all it’s nooks and crannies. Mixer design has come a long way in 42 years with dough hooks and cushioned beaters. Far Guy was looking at all the choices.. we both agreed that we were not going to do any dough and all of our bowls are beater proof..and wouldn’t those cushioned beaters be a pain to clean anyway. Good thing I cleaned out the cupboards..this new mixer is larger than our other one and has a special resting bowl….Far Guy was anxious to use it.

I did finish up entering a whole bunch of recipes in the Cousin’s Cookbook. I am waiting for cousin Geraldine to email me more recipes. Cousin Kathy is all done sending hers. We have 200 plus recipes. I am writing a section of cooking tips now.

Make house rules..who ever gets hungry first should do all the cooking. Oh my I guess not those kinds of tips.

Some of these are interesting reading anyway.

Run ice cold water over popcorn before popping to eliminate old maids.

( What about the soggy package..will it still work in the microwave?)

Do you have any cooking tips that you would like to share? I could sure use them:)

Posted in cooking, Minnesota Weather | 4 Comments

Found: FBC

Posted on January 27, 2012 by farside

I found my FBC. Do you have one?

In the olden days you might have used it. It might have been on your table and never moved off until it had to be washed and refilled.

Give up? Need a different view?

A French Butter Chest dates back to the 18th Century. It was a way to keep your butter from becoming rancid. The inner cup holds 1/4 pound of butter. You put enough water in the larger outer cup so that it is 3/4 full. Invert the butter filled inner cup into the water filled outer cup. The unglazed inner cup will hold the butter in place whilst upside down. You add more water as the butter is used..and change the water weekly. A marvelous way to store butter before refrigeration!

My French Butter Chest was a gift from my Baby brother and his wife a long time ago..they must have been thinking of me and how I like quirky gifts.

I found this in the back of a cupboard yesterday..I can report that all the cupboards have been rooted out and everything inside washed and disinfected. I must wash the exterior of the last bank of cabinets..and then I am done. The end is in sight!

Posted in House, old stuff | 2 Comments

Blue Alligators and other stuff

Posted on January 26, 2012 by farside

You know you live in Minnesota when you stop to photograph blue alligators in the winter.

Someone has a sense of humor.

I took these photos yesterday..we still don’t have very much snow by Minnesota standards.

My kitchen cleaning was interrupted yesterday by Dentist appointments. “Look Mom no cavities!!” Far Guy did not fare as well..he needs to have a troublesome tooth pulled. We have a Dentist in a further away town so it takes all afternoon by the time we both get our teeth cleaned and have our checkups. We both like the same hygienist..so we schedule our appointments back to back. Then we go over to the bakery and buy some Finnish Flat Bread and an Apple Fritter to gunk up our oh so clean teeth.

One of our daughters wanted to know what was taking so long in the kitchen? She asked her Father “What is she using a toothbrush?” The answer is yes, sometimes and Q Tips and sometimes a tooth pick. There is nothing being done half a$$ed in that kitchen this winter. Beside that if I am in there half the day..Far Guy cooks..cause he feels guilty.

I scoured the oven racks whilst the oven was cleaning itself..and the fridge got moved out and cleaned. Not much left..one more day maybe two and I might have it complete.

My other projects are coming along as well..entries from Grandmas 1912 diary, entries into the Cousins Cookbook and Photo Cards are being made and Newsletter Articles are being written. One by one things are crossed off my January list:)

Posted in Minnesota observations, projects | 3 Comments

Wistful Wednesday: Solitaire

Posted on January 25, 2012 by farside

Far Guy’s Dad played Solitaire all winter long. I often wonder what he would have done with a computer.

He marked the cards..he marked the aces with his thumb nail. He had special marks all over his personal deck of cards. He played Solitaire for hours…and he usually won.

He got his coffee and settled into his chair, he played on one of those fancy tri fold table protectors that graced the dining room table on days when dinner was served in there. The linen tablecloths were never put on the table until the table protectors were in place. They made a excellent temporary tabletop for endless games of Solitaire in the winter.

Here he is in his spot. The lampshade still has the plastic shield. No doubt because he was a Tiparillo/ Pipe Smoker. He didn’t smoke while he was playing cards.

This photo must have been taken right around 1965. It is a Polaroid snapshot. He always wore flannel shirts in the winter, every shirt must have pockets..room for Tiparillos and Pipe Tobacco…and a pen. He was a connoisseur of GOOD pens. Only the finest pen made it’s way into his front pocket. No regular Bic pens for him.

He liked to play cards. We would often play 31 for nickels or Whist. If we played Whist we learned to play opposite couples..because he could remember every card played. If he was partnered with Far Guy’s Mom..she would be visiting away and forget all about the cards..she would miss a play.. he would tell her and she would cry..so I was a much better card partner for him.. because I did not cry easily over cards:)

Posted in Far Guys Parents,, Wistful Wednesday | 1 Comment