what do I know about coffee?

wild black raspberries and tame red raspberries  - they made a delicious pie and I served it with coffee

Its aroma is better than it tastes I always tell Ellis, now that he has quit drinking coffee. It's no fun drinking coffee by myself so now our Mr. Coffee sits on the counter, rarely used.

Mom had a tall, stainless steel percolator with three pieces that went inside. A basket with holes in the bottom, a lid with holes in it and a tube that went up through the basket and lid to hold everything in place. Fill the pot with cold water to the fill line. Measure coffee into the basket then line up the tube, basket ensemble inside the pot and put the stainless steel lid in place. Plug the cord into the plug in and wait. As the water heated it went up the tube, splashed into the glass lid then fell back down over the coffee grounds inside the metal basket. 

When we raced downstairs in the morning we could hear the water gurgling and get the first whiff of coffee. When it stopped making noises Mom unplugged the pot and sat it in the center of the table. My sisters and I made faces at ourselves as we ate our oatmeal - we could see our reflections in the shiny sides of that tall, slender coffee pot. 

There's been quite an assortment of coffee equipment made since then. I'll admit, coffee shops are wonderful places to meet up with friends or to go there and be alone with a book or a computer or even a notebook and a pen.

Recently my sister put her hand on my forehead when I told her I don't drink coffee first thing in the morning.

"I'm just checking to see if you have a fever."

I'm not being a true Norwegian since I drink tea more often than coffee these days. I still have many conversations with friends and family when there is a tea pot in the center of the table. Pull up a chair and join us. 

 

"Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after."

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh 

practice writing

A white haired lady was pushing a yellow lawn mower outside my hotel window.  She wore a blue plaid shirt and navy blue knee-length leggings. Tenny shoes completed the outfit.  I wanted to be outside mowing lawn the instant I saw her. Instead I'm using a stick for support as I hobble down the hall toward the breakfast room. Arthritis caught up to me and the x-ray shows my right hip is bone on bone. Surgery is scheduled for October 9th. 

My girls suggested I use this time in between to write my book. Then Ellis was sent to Pipestone MN for a whole week, filling in for another manager that's on vacation. It's summer time. I don't have to ask the bus manager if I can take a week off. Instead, I can tag along and live in the lap of luxury and practice writing.  

Buy a cheap notebook and start in with the writing exercises this author gives. She says, "Too often we take notes on writing, we think about writing but never do it. I want you to walk into the heart of the storm, written words dripping off hair, eyelids, hanging from hands." end of quote  This sounds like Mark Twain to me. When I've read his books, especially the ones on traveling, it makes me feel like he just kept a running commentary of every thought that came through his head! 

It was fun to chatter away in my cheap notebook yesterday. I was surprised at how many memories rose to the surface just by watching someone mow lawn. All the way from dumping the grass clippings over the rail fence to our family cow - she was named Beauty and she gave a heifer calf once a year - to making ice cream, butter, cheese, and drinking quarts of chocolate milk at our round oak table in the dining room that was painted green. Grass green. A friend visited us for lunch and told us that dunking a toasted cheese sandwich in chocolate milk was delicious! I remember turning up my snoot just like you, my dear readers, are doing this very minute. Her persuasive personality soon had a bunch of us trying it and I, for one, found out she was right. It was delicious!

Yesterday afternoon I started looking through my blog trying to find some stories and essays I'd written. There was a story Krysta wrote that I was trying to find. After awhile it dawned on me - I've already written a book of essays and short stories. It needs to be organized into chapters and edited. How do I go about doing that?

I'll finish with a picture of these hydrangeas that are blooming like crazy in Mom's yard.

And pink phlox blooming in my yard. Even in the drought this summer the flowers are beautiful. 

I found Krysta's story written June 26, 2013.

North Dakota in 1963

Once upon a time ...

How many stories have started out with this line?

July 1, 2023 Ellis and I were driving kitty corner across North Dakota, admiring the yellow fields of canola. We were in a hurry so we didn't stop long enough to get as many pictures as I wanted. 

photo credit goes to Ellis 

As we cruised along I thought of another summer long ago. Sixty years ago, in fact.

My parents lived in Graceton MN. They were part of North Cental Conference, a group of Mennonite churches located across the top of these states. Eastern Montana, North Dakota,  Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Here is a bit of a time-line. 

Arnie and Leona were married April 8, 1960. Dad was halfway through his 1W Service in Fort Wayne IN so they lived in an apartment in that city the first year of their married life.

Dawn Kaye was born February 9, 1961

Six weeks later we moved to Graceton Minnesota 

Ladina Joy was born April 10, 1962 in Baudette MN. 

Dad needed a job. Emmett and Tillie Drawbond (because of health troubles) needed help with their farm. How did these two families find out about each other? Was it through the Gospel Herald - a periodical published weekly and distributed to Mennonite families across the United States? 

In early spring of 1963 we moved to Fortuna, North Dakota. 

A house was provided with the job. We lived 

north of Emmett and Tillie's house in The Peterson House. This was a big, two story house.Tillie's grandson and his family live there now.

    Andrew, Dorcas, Lane and Ella Drawbond 

Stairway where Ladina and I played church with our dolls. At least I imagine we played with our dolls here.

The house had indoor plumbing. (This seems like a side note but in reality it was quite wonderful. Somewhere along the line Dad and Mom bought a property across the road from Grandpa and Grandma Skrivseth near Graceton. Then they moved a house on that property and began pioneering. No indoor plumbing, cooking on a wood cook stove, heating the house with a wood stove in the living room.) Here my thoughts trip me up and I think, "I wish I could ask Dad what year he bought that land. What year did he move the house?" 

Maybe Uncle Sid will remember.  I can ask him.

While we lived in ND we went to church in Coalridge, MT where the Harshbarger family lived. Because of the time change we could leave at 10:00 am and get to church an hour later at 10:00 am. The trip home in the afternoon wasn't as restful because then we lost an hour at the border of Montana/North Dakota.

I have been told so many stories of this year in North Dakota that it seems I can remember it. There are faint glimmers of things I remember. 

This is where I met my future husband - when I was two and Ellis was three. Ellis, Sharon Drawbond and I were three toddlers out to terrorize the baby chicks on the farm. Ellis remembers being so pleased to show us the chickens. While we were in the hen house anyway, why not gather the eggs? No basket? Let's just fill every pocket with eggs. This went well until Ellis tripped and fell and smashed the eggs!

After the field work was done on Emmett's farm we moved to Grenora ND where we rented a basement house. I can remember this house - very faintly.  Dad worked for Darrell Kueffler at Darrell's Westland Service. 

Apparently after a year my parents decided to move back to Graceton. The reason I know this is because Trenda Lee was born May 5, 1964 in Baudette MN.

We met life long friends that year. People we keep in touch with to this day. June 25, 2023 Matilda Drawbond celebrated her 100th birthday! 

I wish we could have been there to help celebrate. We missed it by a week because of schedules not cooperating. So we made a flying trip out to MT for a wedding July 1st. I was able to wish Tillie a happy birthday yesterday at church.

Happy July everyone! Enjoy your summer to the fullest!

Birthday Parties and Reunions

Once upon a time there was a family with twelve children. Four of these were born in Canada. Lester, Ray, Grace and Mary. It is said that Martha was on the way when this family moved to Wisconsin to begin their pioneering life.

This is my Grandma, Gladys Byers Martin.

She is holding Martha. Lester, Ray, Grace and Mary are standing in front.

Clearing the land of trees, living in a log cabin, milking cows, a time of quarantine when Grace had polio, building a barn and house ....

Wait a minute - I got ahead of the story. I am going to attempt to name this dozen - in order - without peeking in the Martin book.

Lester, Ray, Grace, Mary, Martha, Lloyd, Alma, Leona, Earl, Alta, Marlin and Nelson.

Mom (Leona) said she was about two years old when they moved to the big house closer to the road. 

When I read this outloud to Mom she edited it because in my hurry I got Mary and Martha mixed up. I first wrote that Martha was born in Canada. It's all fixed now - the right order - with Mom's help.

Getting back to Reunions ... 

In my growing up years we traveled from Graceton MN to Sheldon WI every Christmas vacation that we could. We were going to the Martin reunion. 

If there was a Martin reunion we might as well have a Skrivseth reunion because - hold on to your britches - four of these Martin clan married four from the Skrivseth family. 

Ben and Christina Skrivseth family:

Norma

Arnold

Sharon 

Sidney

Carol

Jo Ellen

Rhoda

Philip

Leah

Philip died in October 1957 a little more than a month after Leah was born. 
Lester and Norma

Lloyd and Sharon 

Arnie and Leona

Nelson and Rhoda

To top that Sid married Ruth and Carol married Amos. Ruth and Amos are siblings.

Their mother, Aletha, is my mom's 1st cousin on the Martin side.

Just some interesting side line facts in our family. Way too confusing but incredibly interesting in my opinion.  When Rhoda sat down and explained this family lineage to her youngest son, Lance, he asked, "But didn't you feel like you were almost related to Dad before you got married?" (I hope you're okay with me quoting you, Lance.)

I am at the stage of life where my aunts and uncles are going to their Heavenly homes. Now I go to funerals to see my family.

That's why the adventure I'm on now is so exciting because Mom and I are going to a 90th birthday party and an extended family reunion where aunts and uncles and cousins by the dozens are going to be.

We also stopped to visit my grade school friend, Ellen Sandvold Daniels.

We sat at Subway for awhile, talking and reminiscing. Suddenly the banging music seemed too loud so we ordered sandwiches and drove to a near by park where we could listen to the birds and watch ducks float past in the water. The lilacs blooming on small bushes sent a lovely aroma on the breeze. Sunshine and a shady place to sit and talk about days gone by is very relaxing. 

I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the birthday cake or the birthday gal. Mabel Zimmerman Martin, Ray's wife, is the one who turned 90 on June 8th. Her family put on a lovely party and surprise open house for her. Mabel's daughter-in-law, Joyce, told me she counted the Ray Martin family and they are at 179 with several more babies on the way. 

(Maybe I can borrow a picture of the party  from facebook.)

I didn't get a recent picture of Grace, my mom's sister. When we visited her in Ladysmith I thought - we should get a picture! Then I forgot to do that before we left. 

Okay, I went back to my pictures and found this picture of Grace on her 90th birthday. 

Photo credits go to Rhoda Martin

I will get some more pictures and continue the story. Now I suppose I should pack my bags and continue on to the cousins reunion.

Happy Days! Enjoy your family today!

Twins

Twins would be fun I always thought, or maybe even triplets! Especially when I poured over the Martin book and read about the famous family that had twins and triplets -  plus a few more children. 

Ellis and I never experienced anything close to twins. Five years passed between Jeremy and the arrival of Evan. Then 20 months later Deanne joined our family.  After that five more years went by until Jorgan showed up. And Krysta came four years later. 

A year has gone by since these little girls came to our family through foster care.

This is how we could tell them apart. Krysta painted a toenail on one little foot. It would have been terrible to get them mixed up.

Jasper was 6 months going on 7 months when these little ladies arrived. What a whirlwind of days and months took over after that special day - May 25, 2022.

My mom came to help at least one or two days every week. My car automatically drove to Krysta's house after my bus route. Deanne was on night duty to help Allen and Krysta with night time feedings.  

Krysta organized a team of girls from our church and our girls club here in Blooming Prairie. She was rarely at home alone with the three babies during those first few months.

         We were charmed with these three grandbabies through the summer and fall. 

                           July 4th

Celebrating Jeremy's 40th birthday at the same time as Pearl's 2nd birthday in Heaven.

Picking wild raspberries for pies. Well, Papa and Marmee weren't picking  ... we were watching the babies while Allen and Krysta picked raspberries!

          A favorite picture last summer .....

This summer we'll say goodbye to these sweet girls. Hopefully we can keep in touch with them as they grow up. Our lives will never be the same and our hearts have been comforted in a way that's hard to explain.

Memories

January 2023

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; yea, I  will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand

of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

The eternal God is thy refuge,

and underneath are the everlasting arms:

and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Deuteronomy 33: 27

These are the verses I read this morning.

The sermon yesterday was titled 

                   Thy Will Be Done

                    God is in control

What is my response when control is taken from me? We explored three common responses. 

Anger 

Blaming someone else

Worry

Ouch! My toes were stepped on. I've been guilty of all three responses. The main thing to remember is: "God is God and I am not."

I know that phrase isn't original with me. I looked it up and found a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman   -- God is God --

where this phrase is found.

A thank you to Japheth and Aimee Stauffer for visiting church yesterday. Japheth brought the message. I'm thankful to be reminded of who is in control.

My mom and my siblings and I traveled to PA last week for a funeral. Mom is from a family of twelve. There were six boys and six girls in this family. Lloyd is Mom's brother. He was married to Dad's sister, Sharon. Sharon died rather unexpectedly 13 months ago with heart trouble. Lloyd was surrounded by family members who helped him in the grieving process. But now he has joined his bride in Heaven and sees Jesus face to face. 

Parents, siblings who have gone before, a son, Rodney, and many other family members and friends who went on ahead to that beautiful land are there to meet him.

Lloyd and Sharon have twelve children. Eight girls and three boys. In my family we have four girls and one boy. When Lloyd and Sharon visited us or we traveled to WI to visit them there was always someone close to our age to play games. We always had a grand time. So many memories....

I'm glad we could go to Lloyd's celebration of life. 

Look at those drapes and the chair. Yellows and oranges are coming back. And avacodo green. Well, that's come around full circle in my life time. 

Dawn, Maria and Hans standing in the back

Trenda, Mom and Ladina sitting in front 

February 15, 2023

Well, nothing like finding this all ready to send and here it is - still in my drafts - unsent.

Just like finding an envelope with an unfinished letter folded up inside.

I never thought the shortage of formula would affect me. This past summer found me at Krysta's house filling bottles with water and formula, feeding babies, washing bottles, changing diapers for twin girls who were in Allen and Krysta's care. They are foster parents. 

This brought back many swirling memories. My Grandpa and Grandma were foster parents. My uncle and aunt, Paul and Mary Stoll cared for three girls. Those three girls are my cousins even though they don't look like the rest of the Martin cousins. 

Later on Jerry and Trenda and John and Ladina became foster parents. Many children were cared for in their homes.

We don't know the future of these twins. Is there anything more charming than a cuddly baby drinking a bottle? Tiny, dimpled hands clutch my fingers or try to hold the bottle. Sparkling brown eyes stare up at me, searching my face. I am holding a miracle. 

Here we are on Pearl's 2nd birthday in Heaven. This weekend overlapped with our celebration of Jeremy's 40th birthday in October 2022.

We don't know the future, but our hearts have been comforted as we cared for these sweet girls this past year.

Waterloo

This morning, Tuesday, August 2nd, we were near Waterloo Ontario.

 

In the evening we drove through Waterloo Iowa on our way home. We decided to skip as much of Chicago as possible and drove west into Iowa and then north to our place. 

It's always amazing to me how far a car can go in a days time if you keep on moving. We stopped at Cracker Barrel for our supper. 

No, this isn't Cracker Barrel. This is a wedding venue in Brussels Ontario where our nephew had his wedding.  

           Congratulations Nico and Rianna!

                             July 30, 2022

    

     A good occasion to get a family picture 

  Photo credits go to many family members.             who took pictures and shared them.

                              Thank you!   

         John and Ladina, Jerry and Trenda 

      Ellis and Dawn, Mom, Doug and Maria 

                        JoAnna and Hans

                          August 1, 2022

         A late birthday celebration for me. 

       Here is a bit of the background story. 

                         

In February 2001 my sisters came to MN to.              surprise me for my 40th birthday. 

                          I was surprised! 

In 2002 it was Ladina's turn. We managed to shock Ladina with the help of John and their daughter, Janine. (Even though she knew we would arrive sometime that spring.) Dad and Mom and all of us girls with our daughters drove to Dryden Ontario.

In 2004 we repeated this scenario for Trenda. Jerry had arranged for an Airbnb for us to stay in. (Before that was even a thing!) 

Then in 2006 Ladina, Trenda and I flew to Toronto Ontario to surprise Maria. Mom and Dad were visiting at their home near Stratford. Dad was helping Doug on some part of their renovation project. Through some careful planning and strategic timing Dad and Doug picked us up at the airport. (All without lying to Maria as to their whereabouts for the past 2 - 3 hours =) Dad and Doug went in the back door while we waited for a short time then knocked on the front door. A🚪 they didn't use very often. It was sweet to pull off all of these events... 

In 2007 there was a family reunion at Doug and Maria's place and we had a birthday party to celebrate Hans and his 30th birthday. 

          Photo credits to JoAnna Skrivseth 

When Trenda asked what we were doing for my 50th birthday I was ready to say, "It's been fantastic! But how about not going to a lot of drama for this decade?!"

I was out voted. So we celebrated again in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017

There was an extended family reunion in 2019 celebrating Mom's 80th birthday 

I don't want to mention what happened in 2020 since we are all sick and tired of         #@&/%

It put a wrench in any plans for family reunions. So my 60th birthday went by quietly. Here I  should give you a link where you could go back to February 9, 2021 in this blog and see what happened. My family gave me 60 gifts so it wasn't very quiet - now that I think if it. (And I am not up to date with putting in links and all of that stuff.)

Ladina celebrated her 60th birthday in April of this year recovering from major heart surgery in Baltimore, Maryland. Janine put together a card shower for Ladina.

Next spring Ladina has plans for a belated party on the North Shore. Which was all very long winded to bring you up to date for my belated birthday party at a lovely park in Stratford Ontario. 

                A novel way to find dinner

             Doug grilled sausages/braats.

There was a gigantic salad with everything in it except onions and celery. Chips and hummus dip, buns and ketchup and mustard to go with the sausages and sauerkraut, too.

After delightful strolls through the gardens and more family picture we went back to Doug and Maria's place for ice cream cake and coffee.  A wonderful day! My main idea for this celebration was that we could all be together and the whole weekend was one long family reunion.

    Ice cream treats in Shakespeare Ontario