I had been outside attempting to fence in the mosquitoes. I made a noble effort, but it didn’t work. What it did do was work up a thirst for both me and the mosquitoes – the former for water and the latter for blood. I needed a cold drink of water. I strolled to the kitchen, where I opened the refrigerator door and grabbed a jug of water. It felt sun-warmed, as if it had just … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Created Equal
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” You’ll undoubtedly recognize this from the Declaration of … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Vinegar on a Cold Winter Night and a Hot Summer Afternoon
Part two of a two-part series He was quickly recognizable by his “burly mustache that turned to a ruggedly silver color as he aged.” But his nickname was “Shakes,” reflecting his medical condition which caused tremors in his arm and hand. He did not mind, since the moniker provided not only notoriety but likely, also popularity for his business, the South Ridge Country Store, … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Fair Celebrates 167 Years of Family Fun and Farming Traditions
Fillmore County’s farming heritage comes alive each year as seen through the eyes of the county’s youth. The 167 annual Fillmore County Fair is July 21-26, in Preston, Minn. One lifelong fairgoer emphasized, “The fair is all about the kids.” They emphasized the importance of visiting the kids’ exhibits, watching the livestock shows, cheering on horse events, and attending … [Read more...]
Eat Well, Be Well, Have Fun – “AI won’t replace chefs, but it will expand what’s possible in the kitchen.” – IBM Chef Watson team
Ok, this is a departure for me, but I like experiments. This column (following my intro) was ENTIRELY written by an Artificial Intelligence interaction on Microsoft Copilot. I did not change a single word. I did not write a single word! I did NOT provide the recipe. I asked for a humorous story about a boy named Timmy making spicy chili, and to please include a recipe. … [Read more...]
I Felt Like a Water-Damaged Ceiling on its Worst Day
We weren’t circumnavigating the globe like Magellan. My wife and I were at a flea market in Mission, Tex. Flea markets are more common than fleas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Alex Tilley had searched high and low for a durable sailing hat that matched his passion for the outdoors. He couldn’t find one, so he created one. My wife bought me a Tilley Hat at that flea market … [Read more...]
Old “er” Age Shouldn’t Stop You
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches Noah built the ark at the age of 600, demonstrating obedience and faith for an aging man! Abraham was called by God at 75 years old to become the father of a great nation, while Sarah, his wife, was 65. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt at 80 years old, after a long life of preparation. Anna, a … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past: Sugar Sacks, Ugly Brown Stockings and Thursday-Evening Ice Cream
Part one of a series Ice cream attracted a crowd. When store owner Reinhold “Rein” Albert Wolter made his weekly Thursday trip from Houston County to La Crosse for merchandise, the last stop would be at the ice cream supplier. The summer best seller was packed into a metal cylinder two feet high and 10 inches in diameter, then encased in a thick insulated container with an … [Read more...]
North Woods Surprise
Summer brings a host of activities for us to enjoy. The warm and hot days also bring plenty of work, but I digress. One activity my whole family enjoys is going up north to the cabin. The cabin is tucked in the forestland of northern Wisconsin. Birches, poplars, tamaracks and pine trees help to cover acres of land. Whether privately-owned or publicly-owned land, such as … [Read more...]
I’d Fallen Prey to the Treachery of an Ambitious Appetite
I made the mistake of ordering two pancakes from a delightful cafe. I ordered nothing more than the two pancakes. The problem wasn’t that they weren’t good. The pancakes were spectacularly toothsome. The problem was that each one was the size of a manhole cover. They flopped all around the edge of a large plate. If I were the kind to take photos of my food, I’d have taken a … [Read more...]