Remember my post “Sausage Situation”, where I selfishly refused to give up the last Wishek Sausage? Something funny happened after that! A church member brought me a heavy gift bag. First item: a homemade kugen, another tradition I will write about later. Then, two packages of Wishek Sausage!!! Ha-ha-ha, you read my blog, I said!…
Wishek Sausage is famous in certain circles. In fact, when I told a friend in Wyoming that I was moving to Wishek, he salivated right before my eyes and gushed about the local sausage. Many of our small town grocers make and sell sausage, each one with a slight difference. The favorite is always Wishek Sausage.…
After only 1 year, I am still fascinated by the northern prairie: the birds, mammals, plants, wetlands. This ecosystem is both delicate and inviting, harsh and forbidding, depending on the season. A mild winter settles into the prairie this year. Snow is scarce, but the nighttime temperatures in the teens cause the lakes to freeze. People…
My goal this Christmas season is to find and focus on local traditions. I live in a mother lode of Americana on the North Dakota prairie, and I delight in witnessing locals cling to their ways. Enter into evidence Item #1: homemade kneophfla (spelling varies, pronunciation is either neffla or nip-fla, not sure which since I don’t…
The air turns chilly as I unpack in the late afternoon. I manage to ignite a small fire in the wood stove and turn on the small heater. I set up my newest camping gadget, a CO2 detector. At one point in my life I became paranoid about CO2 poisoning but only recently figured out…
We set out on a stunning late fall day to go fishing, heading west in search of a small lake that Don has not been to in 50+ years. He has childhood memories of catching bullheads, a local catfish and wanted to share the experience with me. As always, the deal is, you clean em,…
Monday Morning! The world and its people and/or critters amaze, irritate and/or delight me. Most recently: I am an embarrased Denver Broncos fan. Aqib Talib what were you thinking when you poked another player in the eye? Not intentional you say. Man up. Why do so many people care about Starbuck’s blank red cup? This is…
A lovely blue sky this morning, and the winter scene has melted away. A heat wave–50 degree days–replaces yesterday’s cold air blast. Still, my little fireplace warms my feet and disperses the early morning chill. At lunch yesterday, I drive out to a nearby lake/park. My goal is to walk, enjoy the winter scene, and scout…
I am eager to find a new writing topic; however, I must finish what I started. Besides, if I don’t write about the Auctioneer, you will read only about the enticing view from my large picture window– snow accumulated overnight and my world is white. I sit in my easy chair, taking in the view,…
When we last met I was writing a series about auction sales. A two-day minister continuing education event, youth group, Halloween, and Sunday worship interrupted that train of thought. On Monday, I fired up the faux fireplace, curled up into a little ball inside my warmest comforter, like a squirrel easing into hibernation in her…