Updates -

UPDATE -- Jim Miller
by Dorothy

I am writing this on Tuesday, the 12th. Just had a visit with Jim on the phone. He says if there is any doubt if he is moving, it would all be put to rest if you could see his living room full of boxes and all the mess he has left to finish today. He is in the middle of emptying essentials from the refrigerator and chucking the non essentials!

Tomorrow is the day "All My Sons" (that is a moving company) backs their truck up to his door and starts loading. Jim would have a bit of logistic problems here if the man he is buying from was as unreasonable as the one he is selling to. His buyer demanded possession immediately after closing. His closing with them is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 -- with a walk through check of the property following closure and then Jim leaves for his new home.

Jim has bought a double wide manufactured home in a park. As I mentioned, he has been able to get several loads of things into it already, and can deliver the rest there tomorrow (Wednesday). His closing there will be on Friday. The man who he bought from is a part time employee of the Hyatt Regency and also works with Jim's daughter, Shari, in her business. Jim is looking forward to being closer to Shari. His granddaughters and their families also live close by.

Best wishes, Jim!

Now here is some information to help all of you update your address books:

JIM'S ADDRESS :
Jim Miller
6710 36th Ave E #92
Palmetto, FL 34221
His Phone Number is : 941-721-0124


UPDATE -- Working Girl
by Becky

Well I thought I would write you an update. First of all, since you don't know a lot about my job, I will explain it. I work in four different homes; two in Elbow Lake and two in Hoffman. I mostly work in one of the ones in Elbow Lake. I have four clients in each home.

In Elbow Lake at 1st street, I have Sylvia, Bruce, Brian, and Peter. Bruce is the one who has the most problems. He has been in and out the hospital since about my second week there. And I mean the state hospital. The first time I worked with him by myself, he went crazy; he kept saying he was going to kill me. I was scared but didn't let him know that. Then the four o'clock staff got there and took over for me. She called for back up. After she did that, about two minutes later one of our supervisors got there and she took over. I was ready to leave by then.

After he came home from the hospital the first time, he wasn't so bad, but then got worse again. Then off to the hospital again. Now he's back and seems to be doing fine.

And now a little about the other clients. About Sylvia: she is the only one in the house that can talk really well. That can be good but can be bad. She can be funny. There's not much else to tell about her.

Brian is the one my mom wrote about before. He signs to talk. He can be so funny when he starts laughing at you for no reason.

Now Peter has to be my favorite. He is so cute. He will sit by as close as he can and cuddle or he will sit on the floor and play with your shoes. He likes me a lot so if the other staff want him for some reason they will ask me to follow them and he will follow me. The only word he says is "yah, yah" we don't know why. He says it when he is happy.

Well that is all for now; will send you a letter for the next Bulletin. (Thanks, Becky; we will look forward to that!)


UPDATE -- Donna's Weekend
by Donna

Doug did a great write up on our cousin "convergence." It was so fun to get together and laugh and relax! Thanks Doug, Debby, Peggy and Shari for a wonderful evening together. May we do it again soon! Laughter ... the best medicine!

Saturday, Lori and Caity joined Shari and me, for a beautiful summer day spent in the neighboring town of Battle Lake. We browsed slowly through the weekend flea market they have, even buying a few items. We also wandered through some of the downtown shops, not purchasing anything, but checking things out. The weather was marvelous for being out and about, one of those days we dream of during a Minnesota / North Dakota winter!

We stopped in at the little Dona's Grill for a yummy luncheon. They make super homemade soups (and sandwiches). We all tried some: Shari the chili, Lori the clam chowder and Caity and I had the broccoli/cheese. We all shared a huge pile of french fries, plus helped Caity with hers. Too full to sample desserts ... although by the looks of the rolls, that might have proven delicious, too.

On our way home we stopped and Shari bought three dozen ears of sweet corn. That proved to be our Sunday afternoon meal. Very good, but still rather young, which meant we each ate several! Thanks, Shari!

Saturday evening, Shari had a class reunion at Spicer, Minnesota. She had mentioned it would be nice if I rode along with her. As it is some distance, figured it would give some good visiting time, so I agreed to go along. I thought I'd go and visit some friends in Paynesville, which is 15 miles away. However, when we got to the reunion, Shari talked me into going in with her. Probably a good thing I did. They had a very small turnout and had guaranteed 30 people for the buffet. Ended up being six classmates, two spouses, a man from across the lake they just called and invited and myself!

The bill was huge for that amount of people, so they seemed glad I'd come, to help eat a little of the food. They were all very friendly people and we had some good laughs as they did their reunion questions and told about those that could not attend. Afterwards, we went over to one of the classmate's home and continued to visit. I think we left around 11.

We stopped at Perkins in Alex for pie and more chatting. We had lots of catch up to do, as Shari has been very busy with moving, getting a new business up and going and her personal life with grandbabies and friends. I enjoyed all our time together and hope it's not so long between times in the future.

Sunday afternoon (after the corn feed), Shari headed out to her brother, Duane's and his wife, Ingrid's, to have a barbecue and spend the evening. She had to make a plane at 7:20 in the morning. Haven't heard, but assume she did so. :-)

Thanks for a super weekend, Shari!


UPDATE
by Elaine

Another warm day ... will be hotter than yesterday, I heard. Anyway, it's nice to be inside. Feel for those out working in the heat.

Tami had called that they are OK. Tami, Jason, Rick and Barb were spending five days in the New York City area on vacation and this had to happen! Just glad they are OK. What a thing to have to happen ... everything depends on electricity.

Will do some inside jobs today. Janie winds up the rummage sale at noon... Don's celebrate ... Good to have 53 years. Leona and Eric rehearsing for their event. Everyone busy with something. Hope all are well. Elaine


More Information on the New York Tourists
by Janie

Tami called about 6 p.m. last evening to say that she and Jason had been at Coney Island and, because of the power outage, had to walk about 75 blocks back to the hotel. I don't know where Brian and Barb were at that time. I do know that it was VERY hot there. I talked to Tami again about 11 this morning and the electricity in the area where their hotel was came on about 4 a.m., but they were asked to conserve the electricity, so they just used the air conditioning enough to prevent melting!

The valet service had been discontinued (I really don't know why), but they could get a voucher to get their own car out of the parking ramp (or whatever it is). Brian had gone to get the car, so they were all packed up waiting for him when I called her. Their plan was to try to get out of New York City and then go to Hazelton, Pennsylvania. That was their plan for today anyway, but they thought they'd get to do some sightseeing this morning before they went.


The Family Cookbook
Culinary Heirlooms
number twenty
by Doug Anderson

      Today's entry is short and to the point. Donna Mae does not mess around; she educates us and BAM, she's out of there. This may be useful if you've discovered wild cucumbers on your property and you're not quite sure what to do with them. Get your peanut butter and pregnant wife and prepare yourself for:

Donna Mae's Delicious Dill Pickles

1 large onion, diced
2 tablespoons salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon celery salt

Mix ingredients well. Do NOT heat the liquid.

In large jar, slice 7 cups of cucumbers.
Pour liquid over all.
Place some fresh dill on top.
Cover and refrigerate.

They are ready to eat after a few days.

      See what I mean? Now you can put that truckload of cucumbers you won at the tractor pull to good use. Pickles are versatile, universal and they make a good garnish for sandwiches. Got pickles?
      See you next week!


This and That
6
by Elaine Wold
Wahpeton, ND

Not being as culinary gifted as the chefs in the family, I do have a few simple things I did learn in Home Ec classes in high school. I think today they do teach some consumer education classes, but not the Home Ec as we had it. It seems with the frozen meals, ready to eat foods, and fast foods necessary with so many women working nowadays, cooking classes are not considered necessary as it was 60 years ago.

One thing we had to do was to work with a clean surface. We were graded on how clean or messy our work table was as we prepared food. This is also necessary for serving safe food. It is also very important to refrigerate food as soon as the meal is over and not let it stand out.

We learned how important it was to serve hot food HOT and cold foods COLD. I notice how fast coffee cools off at the Historical society when they pour up 8 or 10 cups ahead, rather than as people go through the line. Same with cold drinks. A salad fresh from the fridge is much better than one that has stood out a bit before serving, as it's much crisper.

ALSO, some foods are best heated up, like warm apple pie, or peach pie, with ice cream on, so much more flavor than when it's served cold.

Always soak your egg beaters and milk glasses in COLD water. Hot water "SETS" egg and milk on the dishes. This makes for easier cleanup.

Now that sweet corn is in season, one finds that salt toughens the corn, and Mom always added a couple spoonfuls of sugar to the water when boiling corn. Also, do not overcook corn, as it's best when tender.

We also learned how to cook economically. It is easy to make a meal when one has all kinds of expensive ingredients, but it's good to know how to make a meal nutritious without overspending. I remember hearing of how good a pan of bars were that one lady brought to a potluck. When I was happy to get the recipe, I threw it out. If I were to put that much money into a pan of bars, I would just as soon go to Fanny Farmer and buy the best of their candy. I also throw recipes that call for an ingredient that one usually does not have on hand in the house ... or one that uses a half teaspoon of a spice if I will never have use for the rest of the bottle...

It is interesting to see how good a meal one can make and still keep inside a budget. When visiting Don and Dorothy in Missouri, we came across a little shop that had cookbooks. I bought one called "6 Ingredients or Less." It is full of good recipes of quick, simple and inexpensive ingredients. Maybe it's a little old fashioned for some, but one recipe is one I have often made called "Ground Beef Soup."

Brown 1 and 1/2 pound lean beef with an onion. Drain fat, Add 2 cups cubed potatoes, 2 cups sliced carrots, and a can (2 pound can) of cut up tomatoes. Stir in 2 or 3 cups of water, cook an hour or until vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper. Good easy meal and nutritious too. Celery and other veggies can be added if wanted.


+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grandma A(+)

Just a quick note to let you know that we are thoroughly enjoying the bulletin. Sorry we've been too busy to write lately, but we still find time to read what you send! We promise an update from us real soon!

Love,
Wyatt, Jolene, and Rylie


A CORRECTION
An error has occurred in an article in last week's Bulletin called: A Cousin Convergence.
DOUG SENT ME THIS CORRECTION: I mistakenly said Debbie was from Tempe. She now lives in Mesa, not Tempe.


Mom:

I've decided that Doug got his writing talent from you! He has a different style, but you both put words together so nicely. I remember you telling that story "How Nightmares are Born." It reminds me of how scared I was of the "huge" sheep at Haglins.

Marlene

Editor's Comments
We thought you might also like to share the letter we received from Don's sister Mavis, on Friday (August 15th) -- very nice of her to write (I think??) At least it should unburden her conscience!

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew you would be up early today, like the day of your wedding when you were up at 4 a.m., worrying how everything was going to go. Your wedding was very nice and I was glad to be there in that sheer greenish and whiteish dress with the wide belt that I inherited from somebody. Perhaps it was Deloris's at one time. (It was new to me) I looked as nice as the bride!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yes, I can't forget the pre used (is it pomp) shoes, no hat.

That was in 1950 and I was 15 years old and you people were old enough to know what you were doing and as a result you have had 53 wonderful years together and taking the joys and sorrows (if there were any sorrows) with understanding and patience. You have a wonderful family that all think the world of you and those family ties are very precious.

Since the wedding was in Minnesota, I did not decorate my bike for the occasion. I had decorated it for the Anderson-Wold wedding just less than two years previous to that.

My memory takes me today to one event in your courtship. All know how our sister likes to have things shiny and clean and sparkling. Well you children of Harry and Cleo recall how that nice big (was it an International?) refrigerator sat against the north wall in the farm kitchen with the east side of it shining like a mirror. Well, the sofa in the living room, which was against the east wall, was a good spot to view the east kitchen window, with the help of the refrigerator reflecting activities going on in front of the window. Follow me?

It was shortly before Aug 15, 1950, and this couple were expressing their love and affection for one another like, well, normal I guess. It went on as long as I didn't move. I didn't need to pay for the show. Dodo still shines that refrigerator today!!!

Well anyway, you two have a great day, and many more Happy Anniversaries.

Your little sneaky sister. Mavis


Memory Lane

Country Living
by Dorothy

There are days in my life that are very special to me for one reason or another. The one I am about to savor again is one of those that were pleasant, good days, when I felt good about myself at the end of the day. (That wasn't such a frequent event, I am afraid.)

So you understand a little of the background of that day, it happened like this. I had just completed the 8th grade and had been appointed my mother's assistant for the summer vacation. My older sister (Blanche) was old enough to be hired out to pick strawberries, and to work in the canning factory. My oldest brother (Bill) had applied for a job as bookkeeper and parts man at Fritz Maine's Allis Chalmers dealership in Howard Lake. We were all proud when he was hired -- he liked it so much better than cow chores! My two younger siblings got to play quite a bit and they were expected to help either Dad or Mom on special occasions. Now then on to the "perfect day."

It was a beautiful day and Mom and I had a fun job lined up to do. We were going to can the bushel of ripe peaches that Dad had brought home earlier that week. There were jobs -- and there were NEAT JOBS -- I loved doing this one.

Mom had done her job teaching me how it all went so well that now we worked as partners. We had filled several shelves of the storage in the basement. I liked to go down and arrange it so it looked attractive -- but this morning we would have no time for that.

First I made a large batch of heavy syrup to pour over the peaches when we got them in the jars. Of course, first we had to wash and scald quart jars; even that is fun when it was my job that I felt responsible for, and when they were all lined up the Dake factory started into production.

We scalded the wonderful smelling, perfect peaches, placed them in ice water with a dash of lemon juice added to it as we slipped their fuzzy coats off. (The lemon juice was so they would stay pretty.) Then we packed them in the jar that we had already placed a rubber ring on, poured the syrup over them and sealed them with their zinc lids and placed them in the blue enamel canner. Next we covered them with hot water up to the rim. Then they were ready for the boiling that would cook them and preserve the taste of summer for next winter's use.

We finished two canners full and then, while I was finishing up that job, Mom made lunch for us and the farm crew: Dad, Bubsy (LeRoy) and Gert, who came in just as she was finishing. They were pretty well worn out, as they had been pulling weeds out of the grain fields. Now remember Bubsy was two years younger than I and Gert was four years younger than he was -- so they weren't expected to put in full days yet.

After lunch, Dad announced the plans for the afternoon. He needed to go to Cokato to the bank, so he thought Mom should come along to pick up the groceries that she needed, and the kids wanted to go to spend the "weed picking" money they would get when Dad cashed the milk check.

I decided I would rather stay home and finish up the last batch of canning. (I liked the work, but of course I didn't get my pay 'tll it was done, either!) So it was decided! As they got spruced up a bit to go to town, I whipped up a cake. (We used that basic recipe of Mom's and usually needed to bake one most every day.) I chose to make a white cake with cinnamon for flavor -- as I thought that would probably taste good with sliced peaches for supper. BUT that is not how it worked out. (to be continued)


CHUCKLES

Riding with GIRLS

My mother and father devised the perfect way of keeping me and my girlfriends in check. They sent my four years younger brother, Donny, along whenever we went somewhere in the car. My girlfriends didn't seem to mind nearly as much as I did; in fact I think they got a kick out of him.

That probably started out with one of the first days of school, or was it the first ... when he came running up to me and fell down in the process. From that day forward my friends would oft refer to him as, "Grace," very lovingly and not with an ounce of meanness.

So, away I would go to pick up my friends, with a little brother in tow. NOT my idea of a good time.

Many trips to various locations, with Donny learning to "GET DOWN!!!" (which meant hunkering on the floor in the back, out of sight) if we were to meet anyone we didn't want to see him with us. Especially older BOYS! He was a good sport and did so when we hollered. (Of course, we outnumbered him, so really he had very little choice.) All in all, we managed to have a good time in spite of my sibling tagalong or sometimes because of??

Thanks, Don, for your patience and understanding with my friends and I, for the numerous occasions spent on the floor! (Little late, but still worth something -- right??)

Your sister, Donna


QUOTATION FOR THE DAY: The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket. --Will Rogers


EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com


This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.