Rolling on a stinky, dead carp. That wasn’t my idea of winning the lottery. But it was my dog’s idea of hitting the jackpot. A sweet voice on the phone said, “You’ve won the lottery.” That didn’t happen, although an occasional crooked caller has all but guaranteed that. I dreamed I’d become a billionaire by starting a company that made “Now hiring” signs. And I … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – History of a hobby
It can be interesting to learn the history of a lifetime habit or a hobby. Recently, I have been caning an antique rocking chair. Its back and seat need to be caned. I enjoy the weaving and the beauty I see when the project is done. I learned caning when we still had babies growing up in our house. From my husband’s parents, we inherited a high chair that my husband’s … [Read more...]
Each day is a gift you can’t return
I didn’t have to herd cats. My shirt had as many buttons as buttonholes and there were more hills than pills in my life. Those three things are wins in my book. Life is made up of small victories. Here are more. My pillow hadn’t had a restless night and my socks matched. No one had unleashed the flying monkeys. I dropped something on the kitchen floor and it didn’t … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Summer kitchen provided dishwater dining for swine
“We didn’t have air-conditioning, electric fans or even ice cubes to cool a glass of water, but we survived,” wrote Houston town history writer, Ingrid Julsrud, about growing up in the early 1900s. An evening dip or swim in a river was one relief for those living close enough to a waterway. Sitting on a porch might provide more moving air than was possible inside the house. … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – “Faith’s Check Book” inspiring and uplifting
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) Uanited Methodist Churches During a particular rough time in my life, I very much appreciated the inspiring, uplifting, encouraging words of a wonderful pastor who lived in England. Charles Spurgeon lived from 1834-1892 and he was a prominent clergyman during this … [Read more...]
The Plant Lady
As plant growers, we do all that we can to ensure happy, healthy plants are sent home with customers. We hope that the plants are installed immediately, watered in to settle the soil, and lovingly cared for all season long. Sometimes, however, Mother Nature has other plans for that particular plant. I lost quite a few plants this winter, likely due to the lack of insulating … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past The Lady on the Hill still receives visitors
Part three of a three-part series “The Stone Lady” or the “Lady on the Hill,” a unique hand-stacked landmark on a hill in Black Hammer Township has surveyed the landscape ever since the late 1860s or 1870s. Black Hammer Hill was the most pronounced feature of the topography, overlooking to the east where the Winona-Fort Atkinson Indian Trail crossed an older trail between the … [Read more...]
You conquered the grind, now clang the grad gong
Angry hailstones the size of bowling balls had battered my poor car. That was not on my to-do list. OK, the hailstones weren’t quite that large, but that’s what I told my insurance company. That’s not true, either. I haven’t called them. I did call my health insurance company because they denied a $3,000 bill from the clinic because I’d had the right test done at the wrong … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotion – That we should be called children of God
By Pastor Michael Harman St. Johns Lutheran Church and School There is great comfort in First John 3:1. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” ESV. God’s Word tells us we can’t earn His love. It’s given. A free gift. By His … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that
I spent some time recently in a sisterhood. No, did not enter a convent or escape to a nunnery! I spoke at the Root River Conference Spring Gathering at the Chatfield Lutheran Church. The church is beautiful with a rose window. I found the expert on the church organization, Michelle, the administrative assistant. She found a small table that I needed for a demonstration … [Read more...]
