I remember a professor (I don’t remember his name) telling my class (I don’t remember what class it was), “I have three things I want you to remember today.” I don’t remember what the three things were, but I remember there were three of them. So, that’s been a big help, and I also recall learning (I don’t remember at what school) that a personal mission statement has three … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Strange Bovine in the Barn? It Must Be Halloween
“We never heard of trick or treat,” wrote local historian Ingrid Julsrud (born 1900) about her childhood in Houston, Minn., during the early 1900s. However, on Halloween, she and her childhood friends did dress up “funny” to visit their neighbors to have them guess who they were. She recalled Halloween being not as much for children as for “grownups who played pranks around … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – The Clanking of the Chain, the Rattling of the Wheels
Second of a series One of the first two automobiles in Houston, Minn., was the 1908 International Harvester Auto-Buggy, belonging to Dave Lord. Children were enthralled by that amazing machine, which looked much like a two-seated buggy heretofore pulled by a team of horses. The tires were small and made of hard runner about as big around as a one-inch garden hose. The … [Read more...]
Fresh off the Farm – Confessions of a Milk-mom (and Me, Too)
I wish you could have been in my silo farm store with one of my milk-moms the other day because she asked the most brilliant question that we all need. She had just finished an overnight nursing shift in the ICU (can we just say WOW?!) and came to pick up milk before she even went to bed (can we say WOW again?!). As we talked, it’s like she read my mind. I’m wondering if … [Read more...]
It Rained Tiny Halloween Pumpkins That Bit Me
There was something in the air. I was trying to weave my day into a seamless garment when a strange wind blew. Something was bugging me. I’m sure it was my imagination, but I could hear the theme from “Jaws.” Was it climate change? Some people call them ladybugs, but ladybugs are cute. These were flotsam floating on a sea of aggravation. It was October 8, a … [Read more...]
Discover a Fall Tour Crafted Just for You
Harvest season is upon us, and the landscape is ablaze with fall. With perfect weather for a tour, there’s no better time to explore the three wineries, two distilleries, and four breweries that call Fillmore and Houston Counties home. A one-of-a-kind tour crafted just for you makes exploring the vibrant farming communities of Bluff Country a breeze. Before you embark on … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”
Rev. Peter J. Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Death is a dread foe, stinging us, separating us from those we love. Death hurts. And that hurt is often sharpest when he swoops into our lives suddenly, without warning, seemingly out of nowhere. We must be ready. But we so often aren’t – especially we who are left behind. There is no easy fix for Death’s … [Read more...]
Mulch Perennials and Bulbs after the Soil Freezes
By Katie Drewitz While I continue to hope for nice autumn weather, we know that winter will come in the next few weeks. As the soil freezes, we need to be thinking about mulching both perennial and bulb flower beds. Although snow is the best winter protection for perennials, we can’t always depend on adequate snowfall to form sufficient insulation. Therefore, protective … [Read more...]
Up Up and Away!
Plan to attend the annual Caledonia Balloon Rally from October 18-20 where ten hot air balloons are scheduled to launch from the field behind the Caledonia Middle School/High School at 825 N. Warrior Drive. The Caledonia Balloon Rally planning committee is excited to invite everyone to this year’s event, which has been a beloved tradition in Caledonia since 1990. The balloon … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Model T’s Assembled at the Spring Grove Depot
First of a series In the early 1900s, there was a throng of men in front of Dave Schleich’s saloon, promoting a petition be presented to the village council, to prevent automobiles from being driven on the streets of Caledonia. During those horse-and-buggy days, newfangled motorized vehicles scared the horses, which would bolt away, thereby endangering the safety and … [Read more...]