“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad” – Miles Kington The summer abundance is upon us! There is nothing better than picking fresh and using the bounty of a garden this time of year. Basil, tomatoes, garlic, onions, cucumbers, herbs and more just spilling out everywhere! The basil took off like a rocket this year … [Read more...]
You Should Have Seen the Size of the Lettuce That Got Away
We have too much or not enough, depending upon our viewpoint and our situation. That applies to most things. A friend uses the email closing, “I wish you enough.” That’s a good wish, but we’d still want more or less. A good reader wrote me about his ravenous rabbits. Their numbers had exploded in his neighborhood, and he was thinking of hiring a fox or two. There … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – In God’s World Everything Grows
By Rev. Debra Jene Collum Chatfield United Methodist Do you agree with that statement? I discovered a beautiful new book published by the Minnesota Historical Society which intrigued me and gave me the idea to base my children’s summer teaching series on this theme. “Rings of Heartwood: Poems on Growing” by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Claudia McGehee, explores, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – They Survived Without Knowing How
Head to Houston (Minnesota, that is) was the reply when Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Lyla Simonson reached out to the A&W restaurant corporation for a franchise opportunity somewhere in Minnesota. Living in Washington state, the couple wanted to move back to Minnesota for health and family reasons. Having previously resided in western Minnesota, they moved to Houston in … [Read more...]
This Big Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let it Shine
It would have been dark if not for the full moon. If that moon had been a musical instrument, it’d have been blaring. It caused me to think of the poet Tom Hennen’s book titled “Darkness Sticks to Everything.” It failed to stick on a bright night. I went for a walk in the moonlight. I needed to walk because I had stopped at a bakery and a meat market earlier in the day. I … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – Rainbow and Shadow
Excerpt from Tales From Heritage Farm written by Wenda and Randall Grabau. Squeak, creak went the old door. A flash of light split through the deep darkness of the storage closet. Many items had been set aside in the closet to hibernate while snow boots and mittens, stocking caps and parkas had their hey-day. The frigid winter waned, and signs of spring began to pop out … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Dedicated Couple Preserved History for Decades
At the Houston County Fair, he educated visitors inside the 1880 pioneer log cabin. His wife demonstrated how pioneer women spun wool on an antique spinning wheel in that same log home in the Houston County Historical Society complex, adjacent to the fairgrounds at the Main Street entrance. Harold and Ragnhild (Peterson) St. Mary donated countless volunteer hours at the museum. … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) Did you know that during his lifetime, Rev. Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 Christian hymns? He along with his brother Rev. John Wesley were major figures in the Methodist movement. Wesley’s hymns expressed some of the core beliefs … [Read more...]
The Best Time to Buy a Used Car is When it’s New
“You can keep the extra steering wheel.” I remember the car salesman saying that because it’s not something I hear every day. I was a whippersnapper buying a car that wasn’t secondhand. A few more hands than that were involved, but it hid its rust well, wasn’t haunted, and had an AM radio that could find WDGY and its pulsating rock and roll most days. The car didn’t run … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! Actually, Time Just Flies!
By Pastor Marke Geselle Valley Christian Center “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 I guess so!!! I went to my high school class reunion on Saturday and there were a bunch of old people there! A get together to celebrate (if that’s the right term) 45 years. 45 … [Read more...]