Saturday, November 21, 2009

Amber Waves of Maize


Oh beautiful
for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good
with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.

***

I couldn't help humming "America the Beautiful" today as the sun rose and lit the flag stationed on our neighbor's mailbox. Just beyond, the morning rays struck another neighbor's mature cornstalks, highlighting the field's rows. The flag-corn combination reminded me of soldiers standing at attention saluting our American flag amidst Amber Waves of Maize.

Giving thanks (for morning walks and more) as Thanksgiving draws near here Along Life's Road.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Capturing Moose




Capturing
a cattail,

I lost
Moose.




For awhile, this hunting dog ran loose.

I could hear him in the corn: Rustling. Hiding. Sneaking. Peeking. "Where's Mooser?" I called over again. Until at last I captured him!

Can you spy with your little eye something that is chocolate?

Monday, November 16, 2009

Re-Fresh!

In the
hazy
moments
of
morning,

I drove

taking in
the
serenity.



Traveling
solo,

yet
I
was
not
alone.



With quiet
conver-
sation
came
clarity

per

miles of
meditative
musing.


Rarely do I get hours alone in the car, but the past two Mondays I've taken day trips to visit family in my hometown. It's incredible how much one can pack into two jaunts - moments with parents, sisters, nieces and nephews, a cousin-in-law with their newborn and even a bit of shopping!

What's
more
amazing
is

how a
short
get-away

improves
one's
outlook.

Three hours round trip is my way to Re-Fresh!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Opening Weekend


As

the

hunters

sat

in

the

stand,




the

others

kicked

off,








threw

deep












caught

passes







made

inter-
ceptions









dodged

tackles








and

played

ball




on

Opening

Weekend!


(Aaron SO wanted a deer. He was tempted to take the one his uncle hit Friday night on the road with his van about a mile from the stand. One more hunting weekend to go!)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Nine is Fine

Noah wanted Norwegian cake for his birthday.

While browsing through a cultural coloring book, he found a recipe for "bløtkake" and presented me with his request.

This afternoon, I whipped three eggs, added 1 cup of sugar, folded in 1-1/4 cup of flour, poured the batter into a 9x13-inch pan and baked the sponge cake. An hour later, I whipped a quart of cream with a touch of sugar, split the thickness of the cooled cake in half, sprinkled 1 cup of ginger ale on inner side of the two spongy halves, layered sliced strawberries and whipped cream on the bottom, put on the top, spread on the remaining whipped cream and used sliced strawberries plus a few blueberries to form the Norwegian flag.

I then presented Noah with his wish. Dan and Aaron were hunting at Paka's Deer Camp. Tonight Dan returned home for Noah's celebration.

In honor of Noah's flag cake, Dan, Isaac and I joined hands, formed a ring around Noah and marched in a circle around the birthday boy. Meanwhile, I sang the Norwegian Birthday Song: Hurra for Deg - "Skogfjorden" Style.

(Anyone who's worked at Concordia's Norwegian Language Village in Bemidji, MN knows the routine: Adding a "CHING!" at the end of each line, lifting up still-joined hands and reversing the circling march.)

Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år! Ja, deg vil vi gratulere! CHING

Alle i ring omkring deg vi står, og se, nå vil vi marsjere, CHING

bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss omkring, danse så for deg med hopp og sprett og spring,(CHING)

ønske deg av hjertet alle gode ting, og si meg så hva vil du mere. (BOW) Gratulere!

Yes, turning Nine is Fine!

(Click on the pink Nine is Fine for a rendition of Hurra for Deg.)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Roasty Toasty

Cross-country teams run in all kinds of weather: hot and sunny at the season's start; cold and rainy as autumn settles in.

Isaac's school team concluded this year's season under extreme conditions. (One cross-country coach - with a 25-year career in the sport - said, "These are the worst conditions I can ever remember.")

During the October 30th sectional meet in Bagley, 4 inches (10 cm) of snow covered an icy course upon their arrival. Falling fluffy flakes created blinding conditions.
(Above: Isaac and his co-captain near the race end.)

When it came time for the captains to issue awards at tonight's Cross Country Banquet, Isaac received the "Creativity Award" for coining quotes throughout the season.

"What was the phrase after Sections?" his co-captain asked leading into a sample. Isaac grinned, "Roasty Toasty!"

Words befitting those on the mend.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Full Beaver Moon




It
was

the
afternoon

before
the
night.






The

sun

shone

bright.




As
we
walked
along
the
way,

sunlight
glistened
on
standing
water.






Morning
brought
change.



Frost
froze
the
range







while

the
Full
Beaver
Moon

hovered

on
the
horizon.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Confirmation


A

T-shirt

from

Mom...


And a church solo (of this song) sung by Dad...





...were two ways

we celebrated

Isaac's Confirmation

today on

All Saints' Day.




With Great Gratitude to all who helped in Multitude of Ways!