Sunday, July 31, 2011
Woods and Weeds
Friday, July 29, 2011
Old Towns on Curly Roads
Richfield Springs, NY library and Foof |
Christy in garden outside the Richfield Springs NY library |
Monday, July 25, 2011
Keep On Truckin'
Yesterday morning I started looking at some of our information before we left Sheboygan. It turns out Grandpa Samuel H. had acquired another 80 acres of land and we had a picture of the house so it was off to Oostburg again. We found the house and farm. No one was home, but we got some pictures. It looked like the old house but beautifully restored.
We headed across country from there to Toledo, Ohio. I think half the trip was through Chicago. We had reservations at a Holiday Inn Express with a pretty good rate. We put the address in the GPS and away we went. That GPS took us all over the place. As Christy says “We’re driving through the Hood”. We were a little worried about where that hotel was going to be. The place turned out to be in a neighborhood that was being revitalized. Most everything was nice except for a few remnants. Those remnants were next to our hotel; a biker bar next door and a liquor store across the way. Glad it was Sunday night and they were closed. The hotel was lovely. We realized the next morning that we were right next to a 4 lane highway that took us to the turnpike. Wish the GPS had known that.
Today we drove. And drove. And drove. Tonight we are staying at a very nice Microtel near Utica, New York. Tomorrow we head to the library and historical society to figure out where to go next.
Ruth
Sunday, July 24, 2011
La Crescent Memories
I was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1944, which is just across the Mississippi River from La Crescent, Minnesota where my family was living at the time. I was number five out of seven. I have flashes of memories from that time, and yesterday we stopped to bring those memories into focus.
At first we lived in an old house behind the church. I remember the screen door slamming when going into the kitchen: My sisters discussing gum on the headboard and whether there was any flavor left when you chewed it again the next morning; The swing hanging from the tree; Kitty falling out of the loft in the old barn; and that’s about all from my 4 year old memory. We then moved to a basement house my father had built (probably promised to build the house on top when there was money.) The only room enclosed with walls was the bathroom. Curtains and bookcases divided up the other rooms. My brother Raoul, being the only boy shared the corner room with Mom’s sewing machine. The five girls got the other corner. Mom and Dad’s room between us and the living room. An old pot belley stove in the hall had one chair in front of it. The first one up got the chair to get dressed in. (The only time in my life I wanted to be first up.) It was all quite efficient and practical, just not much privacy.
We had all gravel roads at the time and walked the three blocks to Crucifixion Catholic school. Jeany thought she wanted to be a Nun at the time and made herself a Nun’s habit. I thought that was wonderful. I would walk home past Bob’s grocery and call my mom and ask if I could charge 5 cents for penny candy. She always said yes. I don’t remember having toys at the time, we just used our imaginations and played in the neighborhood. It seems quite wonderful when I think back on it.
My Dad and neighbors rigged up a ski tow on the hill one year. I was too small to ski, but I think Kitty and Raoul got to ski. We got to go watch. Dad also flooded an empty lot nearby for a skating rink. He got in trouble with the fire department for using all the water they might need for a fire. We moved away when I was in 3rd grade. I was happy, my Mother cried.
Foof
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Maps, Plats, and Door Knocking
House Heinrich Wagner Homestead |
House and Shed Heinrich Wagner Homestead |
Homestead Barn of Henry Wagner |
1808 Santee Trail ,Brookings |
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Homesteads and Headstones
Sandbagged McDonalds |
Joe Engelhart and Ruth Lundin -Cousins |
Joe Engelhart's House |
Shelter belt at James E. Hickenbotham Homestead |
Original house on Hickinbotham Homestead |
Summer Kitchen |
Grandma Mary and Grandpa Walter's Home |
Sacred Heart across the street |
324 Jackson St. (picture to right) |
Crazy picture that refuses to cooperate. Use your imagination Mary and Walter Hickenbotham |
Monday, July 18, 2011
Stavkirke
This morning I am writing from Rapid City SD. We packed up at the farm and left at 9:00am. We even surprised ourselves to get out that quick. Of course it took all day the day before to put away all the tools, deep water the gardens, etc. I finished sealing up the bees in the siding the night before at 9:30. They all go back to the hive when it gets dark. I put up black plastic all around that corner of the house after spraying Wasp and Hornet spray. I held the plastic on with lath and nails. I don’t think they liked it much when I started hammering, but I didn’t get stung.
We stopped at Wall Drug , thought we would get lunch but the line was long and we weren’t that hungry. We had been snacking. Wall drug is amazing. It just keeps getting bigger and better. I think it probably adds a lot to the South Dakota economy. I read in the brochure that in the summer, they can expect 20,000 people a day. Think of the tax revenue. They have a lot of free fun stuff, good prices, good food. Donuts to die for. And a lot of upscale stuff plus tons to just look at. And, of course, free ice water.
Benjamin's house in Rapid City |
We headed back to Ben’s to switch vehicles. Christy explained all the idiosyncrasies on the Cherokee, then Ben had to head back into the field, so we left with the pickup. We headed up to the StaveKirke to do some sightseeing. Beautiful.
Norwegian prospectors cabin |
Entrance to the Stavkirke |
We have a huge crack in the windshield so called John to see about getting it replaced before we headed out again. Then realized we would have to wash it before the new glass went in because you can’t wash it for 24 hours afterward. We got a lot of the crud off, but the bugs are like concrete. Will try to find a good car wash in Aberdeen. Safe Lite Repair will be here between 8 and 12, then we will continue our journey.
Foof
Friday, July 15, 2011
Secret Life of Bees
Today was Bee day. Yesterday was tupperware day, but tupperware day really started with the bees. Okay, from the beginning. We have a cupboard in the kitchen that backs up Wagainst the northwest wall. We started getting bees in the kitchen so went looking for the place they were coming in. Opened the cupboard and voila. Out flies a bee. Now we know where they're getting in. So, first order of business is to take everything out of that cupboard and examine the back wall. Well, you wouldn't believe what all was in that cupboard. A pressure cooker, a deep fat fryer, two soup pots, a roasting pan, five mixing bowls, 4 small loaf pans, a 3 tier cake pan set, a layer cake pan set, a coffe maker, a hot air corn popper, and numerous pieces of tupperware. I pulled everything out and thought I could at least put the tupperware in the tupperware cupboard. Okay, that is full to bursting. Guess I better sort through the tupperware cupboard. When I was done getting it all out, It covered the kitchen table, a long counter and the stove. (you all do remember that John's mom was a tupperware dealer, don't you?) Christy said I had enough tupperware to go on safari. Well, I got on the phone and called my neighbor Angie and asked her if she wanted some. Nice lady that she is, over she came. We had three piles. Keep, Angie's, and Goodwill's. Goodwill made out like a bandit. I hope Grandma Girlie isn't up there watching. She would be shocked. All the tupperware fits in one cabinet now.
Okay, back to the bees. Merle Brandt, our bee man who brings the hives, came out with his son and proceeded to take that outside north west corner apart. He said the hive wasn't where he thought it should be. It wasn't in the siding. He thinks they might have a hive in the basement rafters over the concrete cave. He sprayed a lot of Wasp and Hornet spray into the hole and the bees stopped coming out. But all the other bees are frustrated because they can't go in. And they really don't like being sprayed. Now the modus operandi is to spray the bees every hour until we've gotten most of them. Then we'll cover it with plastic to keep them out as much as possible. Then it's up to John and wonderful brother-in law Steve to figure out how to repair the mess.
Christy and I ate at MacGillys at the marina in Yankton last night. She had fish tacos and I had Torsk. It's called the poor man's lobster and does taste like it with melted butter, but then, I'd probably eat shoe leather if you put melted butter on it. What the heck is Torsk anyhow. It seems I heard it was a fancy name for another kind of fish. It was delicious.
On Sunday we head out for the Black Hills to switch vehicles with Ben, and then it's off to find old Homesteads and tombstones.
Foof
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
32 Cars
This afternoon we planned on riding the perimeter on golf cart....but alas, we had a flat tire. Time for a walk. We checked on the barberry but only 3 have survived. The mulberries are ripe so we stopped and snacked and made our teeth blue. The white mulberry tree has fruit too but we didn't eat any of those. We checked the bee water and it was down to about 2 inches. I think I've had enough of bees. Not only did we have to fill it we had to scrub the stock tank with a toilet brush for bugs who drink out of mud puddles. Mom's rules you know....
I decided to count the cars and trucks I could see...I got to 32. But I'm sure I missed some. I have an irrational fear of walking into the tall grass and getting mugged by a raccoon or a snake. It hasn't happened in 47 years but you never know.
And I'd really like to know what happened to this car. Was someone run into or are they really bad at backing up? The front doesn't look much better than the back.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Hollyhock Farm
For those of you who haven't heard, John and I have bought the old homestead farm from his siblings. Christy has christened it HOLLYHOCK FARM. If you were here, you would see why. We have some pictures from about a hundred years ago with the whole family, two vintage cars, and a garden of hollyhocks in front of the farm house. I always liked that old picture and when a brother-in-law (Ranzie), gave me a gallon bag of hollyhock seeds, I sprinkled them all along the chain link fence. VOILA! Hollyhocks! They bloomed this week. Second week in July must be hollyhock season. It's been in the 90's here with no rain so it's getting pretty dry. I spent yesterday watering and weeding. Thank God for central air. We had thunder and lightening last night, but no water.
Today we will go to Yankton to pick up some supplies. We will be here about a week before we head out to visit all the old homesteads.
My husband insisted I get a new Iphone and Hotspot so I can use my little laptop computer and keep in contact while at the farm and on the road. I am now connected. Christy is helping me so my frustration with learning new things is a bit lower than it would be otherwise. She is very patient. The learning curve is pretty scary. I have trouble just staying on the home keys.
From the Farm Foof/Ruth
Sunday, July 10, 2011
I am not at the Fryin' Pan
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Here we go
John insisted I get a new phone before the trip, so I got an Iphone4 with all the bells and whistles. Now I just have to figure out how to use it. We got hotspot which means we can use the computer anywhere. Don't know if I really want to do that. Sometimes I like being disconnected. Anyway, that way we can do this blog. Will try not to bore you. We are using it like a journal.
Bon Voyage, or Bon Appetite, or whatever. Adios
Foof