Bulletin 416 June 6, 2010

The Bulletin
Sunday, June 6, 2010

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Photo © Lori Ostendorf
Memorial Day: McKenna & Kierra Ostendorf help "Grandma Beaver" (Donna Mae) weed around fern leaf peonies & clean up graves in the Johnson family plot at the Ashby Cemetery.

Photo © Donna Johnson
McKenna, Lori, Kierra & Shawn Ostendorf at the Veterans' Memorial. Amber, Caity & I opted to go directly to the grounds with Lori, Shawn, McKenna & Kierra, as we knew it would be tough for them to sit through the whole program at the school. I did hear many compliments that the program was wonderfully done.

Photo © Donna Johnson
Hot, tired marchers opt in for a breezy ride back to town.

UPDATE -- biking across Minnesota for multiple sclerosis
by Jason Quick
Huntsville, AL

I just wanted to let you know that my brother Travis and I have signed up for a 150-mile bike ride from Duluth, Minnesota, to White Bear Lake (a St. Paul suburb) in support of Multiple Sclerosis. To participate in the ride, we need to raise $300 each -- but I have set a goal of raising $600. If you are interested in making a donation or learning a bit more, please check out the links below.

We have signed up for the Bike MS: MS 150 Ride 2010, from Duluth to White Bear Lake June 11 to 13, 2010, because we want to do something about MS now -- to move toward a world free of multiple sclerosis.

My brother Travis challenged me to join him and the two of us joined several of his friends on Team Best Buy. This is our first multiple-day, long-distance bike ride, so we are both working hard to get our legs in shape. I actually enjoy uphill sections the most ... they remind me that plenty of other people have it harder than I do.

We are just starting to learn about multiple sclerosis and it seems to be a very difficult disease to live with. Our goal is to support the incremental effects of ongoing MS research through our dollars and to help generate awareness by participating in the MS 150 ride.

Why You Should Sponsor Us: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society uses money collected from Bike MS to fund cutting-edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education, and provide programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

For more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from Bike MS are used, or the other ways you can join the movement, please visit nationalMSsociety.org,

Jason, Charlie & Travis Quick at the Tour de Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama (2007).

Photo illustration © Virginia McCorkell
Sunsine makes me happy.
Click here to see what's new on Ginny McCorkell's Bitzidoodles blog.

UPDATE -- whole wheat bread, crackers and pizza crust...
by Sarah Dake Steinhauer
Wannaska, MN

My husband isn't a big bread eater, but we can both agree on pizza! You can use the same master recipe mentioned above to make a pizza crust. It is so handy because you can mix it up, let it rise, put it in the fridge, and then you have fresh dough ready for pizzas at a moment's notice (the dough lasts up to two weeks in the fridge).

Click here for the rest of the story, more pictures, the recipe and Sarah's video on making healthful breads in five minutes a day.

Photo © Larry Dake
Scout, the ox, tends to follow too closely when on the lead rope, sometimes bumping into me with his horns. I have screwed an eyelet into the end of a broomhandle, and snapped a double snap from the broomhandle to the chain on Scout's halter; this replaces the lead rope. Now I can gently control where he walks in relation to me. --read more on LTD's Storybrooke Ripples blog.

There were two Dogwood trees planted by the patio in front of Lou's crypt and I thought there was room for a third one. So, I bought it and had the Cemetery Association plant it, as they didn't want anyone else planting in their plot. The two original trees didn't look very good so I asked the nurseryman what to do, and I fertilized all three trees.

One of the originals was too far gone and it has died. I want to replace it but I want the nurseryman to do the planting, as he guarantees it to grow. Only the one I bought bloomed this year but it was just loaded and the cemetery folks were surprised! So they have given me permission to go ahead with my plans. Lou loved Dogwoods!

I saw your kin at Buttonwillow and I was kind of surprised! Thought Rich would be down that way, as he is working in Bakersfield and that is not too far away ... but then to see Marlene and Whitney ... it was a treat! We had a good visit and got to take some pictures, too.

Cheryl (my daughter) and Rick were down for a week and we went to Yosemite for a day. The falls are just too great to describe. We have had so much snow at higher elevations and it has been cooler than usual so the falls are just now at their prime. You must come and see! I have some more pictures and some we made with Cheryl so I will send them later.

Photo © Whitney Johnson
Tom Miller, Marlene & Rich Johnson at Buttonwillow.

Photos © Donna Johnson
Treasure Cove sign still hangs over Ashby Laundry, once Johnson family enterprises, left; Amber & Caity by tree that marks the Johnson family plot at the Ashby Cemetery, right. A gorgeous day to spend time at the cemetery, grooming the family plot and admiring the Veterans' Memorial.

Much of the Memorial Day weekend was spent swimming, fishing, tubing, playground, bonfire, eating and enjoying the get together. A real kick off to summer. Sunburns for some included.

Photo © Donna Johnson
Caity & Alexis working on their sunburns at the lake.

One day we spent at Ten Mile with Wyatt, Jolene and girls, plus many of Jolene's family. We were treated to absolutely delicious ribs, made by Jolene's brother ... hoping to have that opportunity again sometime!

We also spent time at the Ostendorf cabin and Jayce got in more swimming with McKenna and Kierra. More good eating, of course.

Altogether a lovely weekend, with the highlight being the tribute to our Veterans at the Memorial at the Ashby Cemetery.

Photo © Donna Johnson
Jayce swims with Kierra & McKenna as Shawn watches at Lobster Lake.

Photo © Donna Johnson
Overexposed at Lobster Lake: "So much for sunscreen," Caity says. "Ouch!"

Let's play a guessing game: we will run a picture of someone of the subscribers or staff members of our e-magazine. Tell us who you think it is -- we will let you know who was the first to guess it right -- and the correct guess -- in the following week's Bulletin.

Last week's Guess picture

Lorraine Slotten Jacobsen supplied last week's mystery photo.
Send us some mystery photos; we will line them up in our staging area to take their turn.

Editors' Note: Correct guesses appear in bold face type and incorrect guesses in normal type ... generally in the order we receive them, so the first guess received is on top.

On the guess picture, we find Roger and his brother Wallace Slotten with their catch of the day. How I would have loved to have been there for the delicious fish fry! Many pounds of delicious fish.

My guess for this week's Guess is: my lifelong friends, brothers Wallace and Roger Slotten.

I am sure the "biggies" were not caught in the Wild Rice River that runs near their boyhood home, but look like an African variety. Wallace and his family lived over there for some years. Roger was there on a visit.

Speaking of Slottens, it will be 60 years, come August, when Roger was best man at our wedding. Wallace took the honors of masterminding the decorating of our car. Lorraine, sister of Wally and Roger, was instrumental in my meeting Dorothy in the fall of 1949. Thank again, Slottens.

The Guess photo is Roger and Wallace Slotten. Obviously they've been fishing, but we don't know where!

I don't have a clue who the men in the mystery picture are; however, I would love to go fishing with them if they always catch that size fish!

Shari Miller Larson
Florida

Editor's comment: A hint: they are the brothers I talked about in my memoirs ... (several years later in time) and I expect the fish would be rather expensive to obtain ... as they came from the Nile River -- and that, my dear, is farther away than I would want to go to get a fish meal.

The GUESS picture was easy this time, as it was two friends from my youth, Roger and Wally Slotten. And as for what they were doing, they must be taking huge fish for a walk.

A series of recollections, of the five years when Bill and Lois Dake and their family lived in Minnesota, began with the episode in Bulletin 343. It's too soon to tell just how many parts there will be in this series, just after World War II. In Bulletin 349, I told more about polio (once called Infantile Paralysis) via two links, Polio and Sister Kenny, to minimize disruption of the narrative flow. Both documents are posted as a series of scanned images. We can't edit them or correct typos and they will not respond to font changes or printer settings as regular Bulletin pages do.

Here I am, back living with Blanche and Jim. I am in my nice room with the bed with the hard mattress (nope, they are not mean to me ... they are considerate of my needs) and my room is next to the second upstairs bedroom.

In that bedroom are two silly boys who live here. They are working for The Minnesota Canning Company -- where they are busy canning peas. They help Jim enough to pay for their board. It works out well for them.

However, they need us ladies to keep their clothes clean and keep them fed, so for that privilege they do such things as ride together and let us use the other person's car. They are expected to help a bit with the yard and garden, too.

Oh, I didn't tell you who the two fellows are. They are fun friends ... Dick Miller, who is Jim's next younger brother, and the other goofy guy is Les Benson, who is Blanche's and my second cousin. (I think so, anyway, as his mom, Doris, is Dad's first cousin.) We notice they find some time to goof off, too.

It was finally the perfect weather for putting up hay. Jim had cut it on Monday. The sun flitted in and out of the fluffy clouds drifting overhead and the breeze helped dry the hay, laying where it fell from the mower.

Jim had used his tractor to pull the mower; one of the boys had ridden on the mower. And then the next day, Jim had raked it all into windrows, ready to be picked up with the loader, put on the hay rack, and hauled to the yard to be stacked and used to feed the cows next winter.

When the time came to put the hay up, it was crucial that it be stacked safely in the yard before the rainy weather that was forecast soaked it there on the ground and spoiled it. Jim needed to pitch the hay back from the loader and even out the hay piling on the hay wagon, which would be hitched to the tractor. The tractor would pull the wagon along as the hayloader lifted the windrows from the field onto the haywagon.

Jim was now ready to get started putting up hay, but who was going to drive the Allis, while he pitched the hay? It wasn't a matter of which of the crazy guys would be doing it, as they were both working in a pea field somewhere. It was a matter of which of the ladies would do it. While Blanche was a far better driver than I was, I was in a less "delicate condition."

So, "Yes, Jim, if you think I can manage," I said, with a wildly beating heart. You see, my thoughts were on the steep side of the hill where those rows of hay lay! "I'll give it a try -- just have patience and tell me how it all goes!" Twice, "Please don't let me tip us over!"

Well, I won't forget that afternoon! Jim tells me I did a splendid job. Maybe, but I really think the boys and he could have had it up much faster. Anyway, I was there and we have nice, unspoiled hay in a stack out by the barn, ready for cows' dinners next winter. And I have memories of bracing my foot on the bar, just hoping we didn't tip it all over. And I, though I have sunburned arms, have a face that looks pretty normal, as I wore Blanche's straw hat!

Now this evening, after Blanche and I soaked "pea pack grunge" from the guys' dirty clothes, we went out to pull weeds and see if we had peas ready to use yet ourselves. Just about ready, but the weeds are coming pretty fast, so that might be tomorrow's job ... but I guess not for me, as I just got the call from the Sweet Shop and tomorrow I go to my first day of work with them.

It certainly isn't a boring summer. But now I shift gears and I am going to do some prep for my next job. You see, I have never waited on a table for a living, but I ate at lots of different restaurants -- almost every day for a year. I observed lots of things to avoid and also I know the things that made me sit in certain waitresses' areas every chance I could get. I think I learned a lot. My purpose now is to use the things I learned to see how many tips I can earn to round out the rather meager wages I will be making. Please wish me well!

Photo © Kjirsten Swenson
A pedicurist with a box of tools roams the market, providing services to vendors, Luang Prabang, Laos.

Photos © Kjirsten Swenson
Traditional transport, left, modern motorized transport, right, Luang Prabang, Laos.

Photo © Kjirsten Swenson
Snake whisky (with a real snake in every bottle), for treating rheumatism, lumbago & "sweat of limbs," Luang Prabang market, Laos.

This Week's Birthdays
June 6---Jettison Quaid Freesemann (5 years old)
June 7---Shane Swenson
June 8---Ashley Huseby (7 years old)
June 11---George John Larson
June 11---McKenna Christine Ostendorf (3 years old)
June 12---Andrea Dake Mendez
Happy Birthday!

This Week's Anniversaries
June 6---Wyatt and Jolene Johnson (12 years)
June 7---Clark and Susan Miller Smith (19 years)
June 8---Jeff and Jessica Myron Gauderman (3 years)
June 10---Jim and Kristi Larson Indermark (10 years)
Congratulations!

More June Birthdays
'
June 1---Jeremiah Dake
June 4---Merna Hellevang
June 5---Rian de Been van Gageldonk

June 16---Gina Henderson
June 17---Louise Cloyd
June 18---Caitlynn Mae Chap
June 19---Doris Anderson
June 19---Ashley Meyer
June 20---Spencer Aydelotte
June 20---Roy Droel
June 20---Julian Montford
June 21---Ary Ommert, Jr.
June 24---Aiden Montford (7 years old)
June 25---Ben Henderson
June 25---Carol Pokornowski
June 26---Greg Wm. Dake
June 26---Judy McCalla
June 26---De Myer
June 27---Sam Mellon
June 29---Tim Huseby
June 29---Trinidy Creede Roberson (4 years)

More June Anniversaries
Z
June 3---Larry and Ginny Dake McCorkell (38 years)
June 5---Art and Roxanne Mitzel (39 years)

June 18---Jason and Tami Anderson Hunt (6 years)
June 19---Curt and Patty Anderson Henderson (28 years)
June 20---Rich and Marlene Anderson Johnson (29 years)
June 20---Steve and Marian Miller (40 years)

June Special Days
June 6---D Day
June 14---Flag Day
June 20---Father's Day
June 21---First Day of Summer

Our sincere thanks for remembering us, Tom and Mavis, on our anniversary and me, Mavis, on my birthday -- both today (May 31). It was special to receive such cute cards and it "made our day." The sun is shining brightly and it looks like it will be a great day. We had a celebration last evening with some friends and will celebrate more this week, as we will be going on a vacation on Wednesday to The Cities for three nights.

Please drop Miss Hetty a line and tell us who, and what, we've missed. And how about a report (photos welcome) of YOUR special celebration?

Dorothy, I am so sorry to hear about your medical difficulties. I will certainly be thinking of you on Friday and wishing you the best.

The Bulletin is an amazing accomplishment. Over my career, I have been in charge of several newsletters and I know how much work they can be. I have never done a weekly newsletter and am just amazed at the great job you do week after week.

Thank you for the update. I look forward to reading in the Dorothy Dake Memoirs about my entrance into the world.

MEMORIAL DAY: Even the words bring a feeling of reverence. Then we know that this day is set aside to remember family and friends who are with us no longer, and we cherish their memory. If not, we can forgive and forget.

All the beautiful blossoms gracing the pages of our Bulletin this week, from Alaska to Ashby, are a bit of cheer, and we must admit that Caity Chap has a knack with the camera. The simplicity and beauty of the flowers, plus the angle of the old barn shows the makings of an artistic photographer, which skill I hope Caity will pursue.

Thank you, Ardis, for the story of your trip to Texas. That was short and sweet, but you accomplished a lot in that length of time. Was nice seeing the picture, too, with names that have become familiar through The Bulletin.

I had clicked on the Bitzidoodles blog, and my computer froze solid. Never did thaw out, and I had to shut it down and lose my LTTE. So, this is a second attempt. I am wondering if that photo image Bitzi created is of someone she knows?

The artisan bread looks like a picture we had previously, and I have always wished I could taste it. Now we have the tips for the ingredients, so no excuse for not seeing that loaf on our cupboard sometime.

We got pretty close to LTD this time. At least a photo by Larry Dake of his beloved baby ox, Scout.

I am anxious to click on the links necessary to watch the falcons Miss Kitty told us about. I hate to until I finish this, as I don't want another disaster of the computer freezing. I had to laugh at the little paws reaching out to touch the screen to get the birds, or nibble on them -- whichever.

The Living Wall with copper sculpture was unique, just like Kyra does things. That would require a lot of time and work to keep it living, as well as trimmed and watered.

How nice to have a story about Donna Richards. We had heard before how she fell, resulting in a broken leg, and one would wonder how she can manage, but being in the care home for rehabilitation would be a wonderful help.

Donna Mae, in all your tripping here and there that day, you could have swung past our home and visited the little Charlie's Café platter we have here. Did I tell you that we saw a museum of old buildings in Minneapolis, and there was a set of those dishes, but no little platter included? A big display of Charlie's Exceptionale mementoes.

Donna Mae, you always remember to take pictures, so your stories are very interesting to us. Thank you.

We are thinking of the Matriarch and the medical future she has ahead of her. With such a devoted, caring family, there will be the best of care, and a cushion for whatever the doctor may say. This is one of the reasons your coming home to Minnesota was so important. As you get older, your family will be there for you.

I can't tell you how happy I was to see this chapter of Memory Lane. Lorraine Slotten, at about the time that picture of her was taken, became my friend, too. I met her at a gathering, and thought she was the sweetest, kindest-faced person I had ever met. Getting to know her made her only more so, in my estimation. She had rosy cheeks and a ready smile for everyone.

Interesting those brothers, Roger and Wally, were in this same Bulletin. Lorraine could make bread, and I admired that so much as I couldn't (or didn't).

So, Dorothy, maybe you will be writing more chapters of your friendship with this special lady and lifelong friend. I'm sure she would oblige if you asked for recent pictures of them for us.

So, we don't worry about you now, Dorothy, in your going away from home to attend school in St. Cloud, when you have a friend like Lorraine.

The Travelogue is still in Laos. I am so curious about the rice cakes. How and when do they eat them? They look like little hard candies. One would have to be skilled to prepare a meal with that kind of a steamer.

I loved Anita Pfingsten Weiland's LTTE about her homemade soap. I remember her using that soap she made, and her clothes were so white and clean. She is the old fashioned kind of homemaker who gardens and cans and freezes, and it is sad knowing my brother has passed away, not being able to enjoy their home together anymore. She bakes to sell, and she is so capable. I admire her totally.

Oh, how sweet and cute ... William Dake almost giving Hunter some competition for being photogenic.

The Quotation for the day was so very fitting of our Memorial Day issue. We are hoping to deck the silent ground of green on Monday with flowers representing a heart of love and fond memories of our dear ones.

Thank you for taking time from your health concerns, Dorothy, and from your many projects, Jerrianne, to once again prepare a fitting and one-of-a kind Bulletin for us.

To search a name in Who's Who or Who's Where: click on the link to open the page, then use CONTROL F on a PC or COMMAND F on a Mac. To search for a second occurrence of the name, use CONTROL G on a PC or COMMAND G on a Mac. (This works on ANY web page with text, unless the text is converted to an image. Chances are, it works in your e-mail, too.) HINT: Search by first name only, as most entries list the family name once but do not repeat the last name for each family member. In Who's Where you can search on state or city names, too.

Quotation for the day: And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days. --James Russell Lowell

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.

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