By Pastor Kris Hertsgaard Kincaid Christ Lutheran Church, Preston On Wednesday morning, November 6, leaves covered our lawn, and as I was walking out to the car my foot squished into the ground. I realized I had stepped onto a “stinky dog nugget.” “Well,” I thought, “about half of our nation woke up today thinking things are a stinky mess.” Later, as I was walking … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Glassies, Willow Whistles and Pop Guns
Part three of a series “Commies” were not communists, but there were those who “lost their marbles.” The idiom “lose your marbles,” thought to have originated in the United States in the late 1800s, referred to someone behaving in such a silly or strange manner that they might have become insane. But some boys of that era literally lost some or all their marbles in … [Read more...]
Fresh Off the Farm – The Joy Dare
I stopped in my tracks as I read the sobering words; “It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you,” declared author Ann Voskamp. Which is it for me, I wondered. Both options are pretty extreme in my opinion. Imprisonment or freedom? And the choice lies within my habits? Could it be true? During my 12-year-old family Christmas, my 19-year-old cousin … [Read more...]
Thistlebottom’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Moment
There are legions of famous Minnesotans, and that includes you. There are too many esteemed Gopher Staters to count, but I’ll mention a few: Bob Dylan, Judy Garland, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, Charles Schulz (the creator of “Peanuts”), James Arness (played Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke”), Garrison Keillor, Prince, Jesse Ventura, Walter Mondale, Hubert H. Humphrey and … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Any Kind, Any Amount, Any Method
Part two of a series During pioneer days of the late 1800s in southeast Minnesota, fishing and hunting were more necessities than recreation. However, as well as securing food for the family table, each did provide enjoyment. Other activities, mostly on Sundays, existed only for recreation, two of which – target shooting and bowling – along with hunting, were featured last … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Citizens of the Kingdom
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger As I write, Election Day is a few days away; this will not be published until a week after. In these contentious times, I simply pray all goes properly, and that we who are Christians behave well, now and in days to come, as citizens – not just US citizens, but citizens … [Read more...]
Ripening in an Oklahoma Fast-Food Drive-thru
“Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat can sure smell sweet, when the wind comes right behind the rain. Oklahoma, every night my honey lamb and I sit alone and talk and watch a hawk making lazy circles in the sky.” I sang that aloud in the key of off on my drive to Oklahoma for a speaking gig. I sang because I was all alone in the … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Getting Vocal About God
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches I want to share an article from a pastor friend of mine who grew up in Chatfield, Pastor Chris Brekke: Minnesota Steve bought a horse. It was a strong and healthy steed that had been owned by a Baptist preacher. The oddity about the horse was that to get him to go you had to say “Praise the Lord” … [Read more...]
Your Flying Farmer – Smelling the Past
We stepped through the ancient door and were met with the unmistakable smell of the past. As we examined the coins from another century, gazed at the array of clothing from another era, and imagined the hands that wielded the impressive swords, we were sent through time in the presence of the well preserved antiques in the shop. As my kids and I walked around the dolls and … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback – A Brewery and a “Social” Prohibition in Rushford
By Nancy Snyder and Sally Ryman The Rushford Brewery was built in 1867, changing hands a few times before being purchased in 1875 by Jacob Pfeiffer. The brewery could produce up to 10 barrels of beer per day. Pfeiffer brewed beer for the saloons in north and south Rushford and other “outside markets.” There were at least 13 saloons in Rushford prior to prohibition. Jacob … [Read more...]