The Daniel Dayton saga by “Flip” (Brian) Huggenvik continues and – to recap: The 1890s found both Dayton boys, Zara and Aaron hard working farmers. They raised beef cows, pigs, chicken, and even had some sheep. The crops were wheat, oats, barley, flax, and corn. And of course lots of hay... 60 tons a summer. They would sell their grain in Harmony, but hold back enough to get … [Read more...]
The junk drawer couldn’t hold it all
By Al Batt I woke up one morning. That’ was the good part. I woke up and realized I had too much junk and I’m the only one who wants the junk I don’t want anymore. Let me clarify that: I’m the only person in the world who ever wanted my junk and I no longer want it. That didn’t give me a euphoric feeling, but discernment doesn’t come just for my beatitude. Everyone in my … [Read more...]
November Stroll
I made my way this morning to my rural mailbox to send a gift to a friend. Its blistered paint reminded me that it needs some tender loving care. Mild temperatures called out and lured me to stroll around this old farm. I noticed the sights and sounds today that I have so long neglected. Horizon to horizon stretched a canopy of varied shades of gray. Naked tree … [Read more...]
Making the most of murals
Have you ever seen a mural larger than life and wondered how the artist was able to paint it? The enormity of mural painting is fascinating and you don’t have to go all the way to some big city to appreciate it because there is a mural artist close by. Meet Wanda Scheevel, age 46, from Harmony, Minn. Wanda has lived in Harmony most of her life. She moved here in 2nd … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – The elimination of ACT and SAT requirements: an excellent thing… right?
By Kaylee Arndt There seems to be no end to the stresses of high school: lengthy assignments, essays with looming deadlines, frightening pop quizzes, and... the dreaded ACT or SAT test. These two standardized tests play a major role in determining college acceptance and scholarship decisions, so high schoolers have a right to stress over them — well, they did have a right to … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – Foster care
By Ryleigh Alery Currently, over 400,000 children are in the foster care system. Children are usually put into foster care when their guardians cannot provide the bare necessities such as shelter, food, or water. Children are also put into foster care when they have been orphaned, abandoned, abused, or neglected. Children can be in foster care for a couple of hours or until … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County – The Daniel Dayton family – The Ravine House… A pioneer life in Big Spring, Minn., Part III
We left off last week in this fabulous story authored by “Flip” (Brian Huggenvik), where Daniel Dayton’s son, Aaron is writing a letter from the steamboat named Magenta to his brother Zara, who is contemplating fighting in the Civil War. The last lines of Aaron’s letter to Zara last week were: “If you don’t volunteer you will likely be drafted...” and thus we continue! Aaron … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Taking oxen for a walk or putting ‘em on a ferry for 50 cents
By Lee Epps They came on foot, walking beside a yoke of oxen, which pulled a cart laden with their belongings. Sometimes the women and children rode atop the load in the cart. These were settlers of the early 1850s, making their way into what would become Houston County, Minn. Some of these migrants had accompanied oxen from as far away as southern Illinois. Others arrived … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – What school was like in 2020 (Fillmore Central edition)
By Kristina Biel Wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, do hair, pack bags, grab a mask, then wait for the bus. Wait – it’s Wednesday. So then you have to unpack your backpack and get ready for online school. As an 11th grader in this pandemic, school can be... different. First of all, we don’t have in-person classes on Wednesdays; instead, we log on to a virtual meeting website … [Read more...]
Enjoy your cranberry sauce and watermelon pickle sandwich
This year it’s turkey, stuffing and masked potatoes. I remember another rough patch at Thanksgiving back when Grandma was still living. We had a small turkey that year. There was a message tied to one of its legs. She didn’t worry about finding the perfect turkey. She knew it didn’t exist. James Beard, the late chef, said, “Food is our common ground, a universal … [Read more...]